Days after the dramatic uncovering of the Gainen real identity, we find ourselves among the pine trees surrounding Pine Hill.

The town was surrounded by woods, which for many years served the lumber industry until the last recession, which took the lumberyard down with it.

The hills, covered in pine needles that formed a soft cushion, were now threaded by Gen, Sophia, and others in their class as part of a biology assignment to study the forest biome.

“I hate everything,” Sophia declared as she stepped on a puddle of mud, her sneakers sinking a couple of inches.

“Don’t complain so much,” Gen replied, taking a deep breath. He would never admit it, but he loved the outdoors.

His childhood was mostly locked rooms and tutors, quite the torture for somebody with enough energy to power a small town on a bicycle generator if needed.

Reiji took him fishing, camping, and hiking as often as he could.

“Builds character.”

That’s what the old man would say as they climbed the mountains surrounding Pine Hill on the weekends, after Reiji picked up Gen from a nearby city after he fled his home.

“Enjoy the peace while it lasts, we haven’t had any-” Gen began speaking, only to be interrupted by Sophia.

“Are you insane?” she snapped. “Do you want us to get in trouble?”

Gen was puzzled by her sudden vehemence.

“What? Ya tellin’ me ya’re thinkin’ I’ll fuckin’ jinx us?” the young brawler asked. “Ya ain’t like that, aren’t ya the smart one between us?”

Sophia looked around with furtive glances, making sure nobody was close enough to listen to them.

“Look, these things seem to react to thought and imagination…” she explained. “I don’t want to draw them in by thinking or speaking about them.”

“But ain’t ya thinkin’ ‘bout ‘em right now?” Gen asked. “If ya think about not thinkin’ ‘bout ‘em, ya’re thinkin’ ‘bout ‘em.”

Sophia’s eyes narrowed, glaring at Gen with intense disgust.

“When did you start using your brain? I’ll be out of work,” she retorted, pointing at him.

“Somebody has to, since we read ‘bout the Gain-” Gen began talking, but she interrupted him again.

“Ah! AH-AH!” she exclaimed, pointing with her finger again, stopping him from saying the name of their enemies.

“Okay, since we read about ‘em, ya’ve been actin’ fuckin’ weird,” the young brawler finished his idea.

“How wouldn’t I? We just discovered there are other dimensions and that mankind creates monsters just by existing. Can’t you see the implications of that?”

“We have been fightin’ ‘em for three months, it's not like we just found out ‘bout ‘em,” Gen replied, shrugging.

Sophia let out a long sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Yeah, but this changes everything,” she snapped. “There are many questions that spring from this and we…” Sophia stopped, looking down for a moment and then back, glaring at Gen. “Doesn’t it surprise you in the least?”

“Not really, they were either aliens, government experiments, or interdimensional invaders.” Gen shrugged again, lifting his arms.

“How in god’s name did you arrive at that conclusion?” she asked, miffed at his gung-ho attitude.

“Ya need to read more manga,” he replied.

The silence between them stretched for almost too much time before Sophia let out a frustration-laden snort and threw her arms up before walking away.

“What? I like readin’ fuckin’ manga,” Gen quipped as he followed her up the hill toward the rest of the students.

Unknown to both of them, a pair of strange eyes, red and white concentric circles, were following them through the brush.