Chapter 1: The Irregular Hayashi Twin, Part 1
1.0.1 Prologue: The Blue Garden
It’s over. I can only look towards the sky, to meet my end. I’m tired.
“It isn’t your fa—”
Cough Cough
“—fault, Don’t—”
I couldn’t find any words or a glance for her. She sounded so fragile like it might break any second. But...
I was sitting on my knees. Her head had been resting on my lap for a while. When I finally looked at her, bending my neck just a bit, her eyes still sparkled with life, and a big, bright smile was on her face. Even though tears streaked her cheeks, her smile outshone them.
She was smiling at me. That smile, like she thought I hadn’t done anything wrong—it hurts. Is she blind to my faults?
It was my fault, even for her, and everyone else. I was the connecting point of those beads over the years. It was me for whom all the beads started to detach from the necklace one by one.
The street lights started flickering. In that light, her face looked half-lit. And here I was, still alive.
Tip, Tap...rumble, rumble, Tip...tip, rumble
The frequent lightning illuminated the sky. A few raindrops tapped on my skin. I felt a sudden icy but delicate touch on my
right cheek. Ah...her palm.
“You must live okay...aack—”
A faint scream cut through her lips.
“I can say the same for you.” I did not avoid her eyes anymore, keeping my hand over hers.
“Huh? Don’t worry about me, I’m already a lost cause, Hehe...” Lost cause? Rain started pouring down heavily.
Just after a few moments, I was shocked to see her face. Her smile started gradually disappearing, red tears shading from her eyes without any control. The smile could not hide her true feelings anymore.
“It seems, I am still too afraid to die, what to do...please tell me” she said, her speech faltering.
“I wish I ha—HAH...HAH...”
She started taking heavy breaths. What wish!? “Haaah...HaAAh”
My heart beat faster as every second passed.
“HAH....wish I had die....HAHH...”
Stop spea—
Her hand suddenly slipped from my cheek, leaving my palm alone. A meek smile was on her face.
Her eyes widened...and then moved no more.
They were hollow.
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RUMBLE
Her whole body was still. She couldn’t talk, laugh, or cry anymore...Her body was icy cold, blood dripping out from her mouth, her dead-soaked eyes, and her head still resting on my lap. My idle heart ached, my gut paining as if crunching out my life from the inside. But, there wasn’t a drop of tears left in my eyes.
Her wish… maybe the blue garden.
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗∗
“This flower bed feels like a soft cushion of the sea, right?” “Well, if you say so, but they are just blue cherry blossoms.”
The area was windy. Cherry blossoms floated in the air randomly while we walked through the ground covered by them. It was indeed beautiful. There was a sweet aroma roaming in the air.
Suddenly, I felt arms wrap around my throat from the back.
“Being nonchalant as usual—don’t you feel refreshed when we are here alone?” she said while wrapping her hands around me and bringing her face close, just by my left cheek.
She was slightly hanging from my back, given our height difference supported by my shoulders.
“Can’t deny that.”
Yes, the area was beautiful, with a fresh atmosphere. No other people knew of this place; we discovered it a year ago. It was as if we were the owners of this field. It was peaceful to heart.
I looked at the hanging girl again, turning my neck. Her eyelids 4
lowered. Was she thinking of her past again?
“Stop thinking about useless things,” I told her.
She left my back. She intentionally lost her balance and fell on the flower bed, surfing her hands and legs through them. Her bright pair of eyes mixed with both happiness and...
“You know—if, if I were to die someday, I want to die lying on this flower bed.”
“How philosophical and poetical of you.”
“At least be a bit sad when I speak of my death.” She puffed her cheeks slightly.
“Well, you aren’t leaving me as long as I am with you,” I assured her while letting out a small sigh.
“I am sure you just meant you will save me, but the feeling’s mutual.” She let out a meek smile, her eyes softened.
I crouched beside her over my knees...She lifted her head. She blinked her eyes a few times as if in some deep thought. She kept her head on my lap. Was she thinking about what to do for a whole minute?
I caressed her hair.
“You love caressing my hair, don’t you?” she chuckled.
We looked at each other silently, feeling the gentle breeze—knowing the words we said to each other weren’t a lie.
∗ ∗ ∗ ∗ ∗∗
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I see, so that’s how it is.
The ground below us looked like a deep red pool instead of the flower-filled sea cushion. A metallic scent roamed in the area. The rain was washing away our wounds. Water rolled down my cheeks, but they probably weren’t my tears.
The rain felt like it was replacing my tears. If only, I could tell you, that now, we are both a lost cause. But, probably it was good that she still didn’t know of my condition before she could rest forever. Seems like, the words I once said to her, were just words.
Rest forever, huh? I can’t even use the word death, trying to fool myself with such an optimistic choice of words. So hilarious, isn’t it?
“Isn’t it ?” I asked her.
Indeed, there could be no reply. Neither did I expect it, yet, I asked her.
The rain slowly came to a halt. I caressed her hair.
“Tap, Tap...”
Oh, they have caught up to us...Uh...Not us anymore, now, it’s just me. Maybe I should just surrender?
You must live.
It still resonated in my ears.
I gently lifted her head and carried her to sit on the side of the pavement, keeping a rest against the wall. And, I started running, without a clear reason, as if my legs worked on their own.
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1.0.2 Prologue: The Story Without A The End
“Hah..Hah”
I could hear my heavy breath echoing off the narrow walls. It’s worse than a nightmare. My vision was changing between dark and blurry. At this rate, I might black out any second.
How long had I been running through this damn alley—Half an hour, an hour, maybe more?
The narrow lane seemed to have no end or opening no matter how much I ran. The track itself was barely visible. The few twinkling lights did not affect the darkness. I lost track of turns, but each one felt like I was getting closer...to my end.
I tripped and fell forward, over my face—
“Clamp”
I could see my weary face’s reflection in the water above the broken pavement, stacked by the accumulation of rain...Without a second’s delay, I held myself up and started mindlessly running again.
My limbs weren’t listening to me anymore, yet the surge of adrenaline kept me pushing forward. Death seemed like the easiest and best way to escape this reality. But, I still didn’t want to die!
“It hurts...it hurts...”
I looked down while keeping my pace, gripping my sticky, damp clothes. Oh, how pathetic...in this condition, I should have just rested a bit beside her instead of running carelessly. How can I forget? I’m running on borrowed time, my clothes are blood-soaked, and I’m losing blood at a steady rate.
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Yeah, I am a lost cause just like you, it is just a matter of time...
It’s a wonder that I was still running and holding my own with such a thoroughly tortured body. I had lost count of how many times I had been stabbed. A bullet was still lodged near my abdomen.
I don’t get it—Why I’m the only one still alive?
Should I not give up now? Please... There’s no point since I will die from blood loss even if I escape their grasp by some chance.
My legs won’t stop; they are refusing my wish. Or maybe I don’t even know what I want. Is this how much I want to live in this cursed world or is it just my mind that gives that much importance to her words?
“Tap, Tap...”
Oh, they have caught up to me, again. I see.
Despite hearing those footsteps closing in, I don’t want to look over my shoulder anymore...I don’t want to turn back. I would rather die by myself than by them. They won’t even let me die without their interference. Even after such a long struggle to fix everything, this is where I have finally ended.
Was everything I did until now pointless, was it rea— Slash
Suddenly, a searing pain gripped my throat. My vision was stained by a splash of brick-red fluid.
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“Wha—””
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My mind was swirling. In a surreal twist, I found myself staring at my own body from a distance, the ground upside down.
Blood spilled from my headless neck. My once-pale body, if it could be called one anymore, was a canvas of scars visible through torn pieces of clothing, drenched in crimson red.
“Huh?”
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1.0.3 Prologue: Who Exactly Am I?
Modern Japan, Year 2000
“He is soooooo cute!”
The sensation is absurd, I cannot feel most of my body.
What’s more surprising is that I don’t understand the situation I am in or why I am having difficulties opening my eyes. Though with much effort, I open them to see a lady staring at me passionately. It is like she is in paradise just by the mere sight of me. The room is beautifully decorated with some photo frames on the yellow walls with interior design. She is probably sitting on a bed. Ah...it’s a bit chilly.
I took up my hands and looked at my limbs. So small—wait, huh?
Even if the attention is momentarily flattering, the reality is shocking —-I’m just a little kid, cradled in her arms. Although I am still confused, I can understand that she is my mother when the person not directly visible to my eyes addressed me as her son.
A bigger question is, who am I exactly?
To my surprise, I indeed know how to read, write, and think logically despite being a baby. Am I a prodigy to have consciousness at such a young age? Wait, not really. I already know this world, its laws, and its basic norms since I am aware my knowledge is that of an experienced grown-up kid, maybe a teenager or a young adult who just started his college life at most. This strongly suggests that I am reborn.
Even when I have this knowledge, it is evident most of my memories of my previous life are missing. I don’t even remember who or what I was in my last life, or any of my family and friends.
It can be just my imagination, but I have a mysterious mixed feeling of anger and disappointment.
Although the interactions I had before were missing, I still remember the name Elena. I was sure it wasn’t my mother’s name since a voice was addressing her as Jenny.
Who is Elena? An acquaintance from my past? Perhaps a dear frien...Uh, not that it matters anymore.
It was no wonder that I thought there was a chance that she was a dear companion in my previous life. However, it was an immediate letdown once I remembered that I was not going to meet her anyway
“Jenny, your daughter is demanding your attention as well, they both look adorable.”
I spotted a small girl in Jenny’s left arm. I completely missed the kid because I was so immersed in myself. It was not hard to guess that she was my twin sister or at least somewhere around my age. A second chance at life? well, without my past life’s memories, it’s more or less my first life only.
I will deal with it carefully.
My sister and I were laid down in a small bed, guarded by four sides. I forgot what this thing was called. It was a bit problematic to have these partial memories where I remember even certain things partly.
Since we were now left alone, I tried to find out if I could talk. Surprisingly, I was able to do it easily (if I am not wrong, I am probably
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just around a year or so).
Though my words were somewhat fumbled, they were good enough for understanding. My words captured my sister’s attention. Her bright eyes were staring at me and blinking constantly at regular intervals. After some time, my sister fell asleep.
Oddly enough, I still didn’t know her name, which proved to be quite a letdown.
Before knowing my sister’s name, I needed to figure out my name as well. I felt dizzy and tired; it seemed like a baby’s system could not withhold too much logical thinking.
The dream-like day finally came to an end. I closed my eyes, believing that my days of bliss would continue similarly.
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1.0 It’s your fault
A small child was standing in the room. It was me. The room was dimly lit and completely silent. A small child was weeping in the corner of the room, not even sharing a glance with me.
“Tip, tip...”
Drops of a dense liquid tapped rhythmically on the floor, streaming down from my hands. There was a sticky, clumpy sensation on my palm. I stared at my right hand. What—Blood!?
My right hand, and the sharp knife I was holding, were completely coated with fresh blood. What is it doing on my hand? I looked towards my feet–
I jumped backward, dropping the knife from my hand. What in the world is happening? Am I dreaming? I am dreaming, right? Her still-widened eyes stared blankly at me. The body was lying on the ground. One more still body lay nearby. Both were drenched in blood. As if someone had stabbed them with a knife multiple times.
Who did it? I ran towards her and pulled her hands. “Hey, hey...wake up, it’s not the time to prank...”
I took a deep breath.
“What’s wrong with you? Wake up already!”
I shook her frantically, but still, there was no response. This can’t be true. No, right? I could still hear the child sobbing, sitting near the corner.
WAIT...what was a knife doing in my hand? Why am I covered 13
in blood when there isn’t a single wound on my body? This can’t be right. I didn’t do anything to them. Why would I? It’s not my fault, right? Why do I have so many questions, but not a single answer? I’m not at fault, right? I smashed my two palms on the floor.
Isn’t the answer simple?
A faint whisper echoed in my mind.
It’s your fault.
“My fault?” I widened my eyes while listening to the unseen voice. It was as if, the voice resonated within my mind and not from any side.
Huh? Oh, I see...right.
It’s probably my fault. So, this result was brought by me? How hilarious... It’s my faul—
Someone suddenly caught my throat and pinned me against the wall.
“Aack...Aack..”
I can’t breathe...I can’t breathe.
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1.1 Life is moving forward
Modern Japan, Year 2014
“Aack! I can’t, can’t brea..th, Aack! Sto..op it, stop it, I..” “Hiroshi, wake up now already! Hey! Hey!? Could you be any more disturbing? Even falling from bed does not affect you?”
“Huh...Hah...”
I woke up with a gasp in shock, feeling short of air... I opened my eyes. Everything in front of me was blurry.
What’s this red thing?
“A red creature?”
I felt a slight pain in my belly as if someone had pinched me, finally eliminating my first dose of sleepiness.
“So now I am a red creature? ” she said.
“Oh, it’s you? Why are you sitting on the floor?”
The red creature was none other than my intellectual twin sis ter, Hayashi Emi. Her vibrant red eyes and hair combined with my drowsiness made me imagine her like a red creature.
“I think your question should be about what you are doing on the floor.”
“What are you sayin...Oh, did I stumble off the bed again?”
Even on such a large bed, I managed to fall off. It’s been almost 14 to 15 years since I got back those hazy memories. The recurring dream still
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hasn’t left my side—a blurry, suffocating scene where someone is trying to take away my breath by gripping my throat. Every time, I’m on the verge of suffocating, only to wake up suddenly. Unfortunately, the entire dream is quite blurry and my memory never catches it.
“Was I sleep-talking again? Also, good morning.”
She clenched her fist while twitching her face in the worst possi ble way.
“What’s so good this morning? The same dream again, huh?” I nodded.
“Can you at least try not to ruin my precious sleep so often with your dreams? The next time you do this—”
She clenched her fist more tightly, and I am sure I heard the sound of grinding teeth in the quiet.
“—I will surely knock your brain out of your head”. Dreams aren’t exactly under my control.
“Well, it’s not me who tells you to sneak into my room.” “Umm, you know right...the gho—”
She stood up without completing herself. Just when she was about to leave the room, I whispered to myself,
“Stop sneaking into my room due to your phobia of ghosts—you have got a scarier face.”
That was a lie; she is one of those magazine beauties people rarely see in real life. However, the pinch sure offered me some pain, and hence...
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When I say she is beautiful, that does not mean concerning me. I too am handsome but rather on a mid-scale if I were to divide the degree of handsomeness into three levels.
She probably caught onto some part of it and stared at me while keeping a visually pleasant look asking me,
“Sayin’ something with your straight face? Your always-composed look kinda irritates me. At least let me know if you are angry, irritated or taunting—”
It was best to ignore most of her words right now.
“Nothing at all.”
I would not like to instigate a martial artist prodigy anyway. Both of my sisters are prodigies in self-defense and offense skills along with their studies. Aiko excels at most sports as well along with martial arts and various self-defense skills and is far more proficient than Emi in them. I didn’t have the urge for comparison though. But Emi, she was no longer the twin little sister who used to stare at me innocently.
That does not mean she is always moody. She isn’t most of the time unless she is angry.
That is—unless I spoil her mood, which is often intentional unlike now. And well, people are usually at the edge during the breaking phase of their sleep time.
And again, she sleeps at night pretty late due to her studies; vacations are no exception. So, it’s indeed a bit rough if I wake her up like that. Even though, she still rises before me. My dreams don’t have the power to usually wake me up unless someone interferes.
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1.2 Was It An Act of Kindness Or ...
I freshened up and wore a casual hoody to surf out of the house. It was a free day of vacation, which we got between the end of Genesis Junior High and the start of Genesis High School.
We both turned 15 and were ready to enter a new phase of our lives. Technically speaking, we turned 15 five months ago. Genesis School, especially the high school, is the most prestigious in Japan. That’s right, not one of the; rather, it is “the”. It would not be an exaggerated statement if I were to say it is the dream school for most of the students in Japan. A rare percentage of students can get a chance. The competition level in high school is deemed to be terrific. They have separate exams for each division. Just because you passed junior high does not necessarily give you a ticket to Genesis High School.
After I prepared myself, I went towards my room again. This was an efficient way to avoid using stairs to go out of the house, encountering Emi, and unlocking and locking the door.
I opened my window from the first floor, jumped out of it, and landed on the roof of the ground floor, thanks to our house structure. From there, I took a small jump and caught hold of the nearby tree in our garden. After fixing my position on the tree, I climbed down the tree and escaped my house area.
A morning walk was a pretty healthy way to start the day through this empty lane. Today was a lucky day because I woke up early. I was doing the morning walk in an actual morning, unlike other days.
Vacations laze my mind. Sleeping all day, playing with online chess players from Emi’s account, and multiple box tic-tac-toe were
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the only things to do indoors. Unfortunately, I still don’t have a phone of mine, despite being urged to buy one. I have my laptop and an iPad though, which are necessary for my favorite work. I don’t need to buy a cell at the moment.
Looking forward, I saw a boy with a fairly shorter stature than mine and a cap on his head. His sense of clothing was strange or more like it did not seem to be one fit to him, especially his body structure...
He was probably around 5 feet 4 to 5 inches. The fickleness in his eyes... wait, his eyes... To add up, his hands were in light but constant motion.
Did he just increase his pace slightly?
Despite looking sideways, I realized he was looking at me with averted eyes.
“Uh! Sorry man, I didn’t mean to push you!” He said. It disoriented my balance a bit.
“It’s fine.”
He made a smiley face and passed me at a slight pace. At any moment he could call me back. There were two things I could do now,
* Wait for him until he calls me back after realizing. This was what I had created the situation for.
* Increase my own pace to evade his eyes. It’s not like I would gain profits every other day.
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“HEY!”
A shout pierced my ears—his response was faster than I had assumed. I turned back instantly. He ran towards me, clearly trying to punch me in my face. I dodged it with no effort which threw him off his momentum resulting in a fall facing his mouth.
“What’s your deal?” I asked while turning towards him.
“Give it back...You fox!” he growled while attempting to stand back on his foot.
Fox?
“What?”
He lowered his eyes brows and swirled his eyes,
“Do you think I am some random fool who won’t understand anything? You think you’re smart? I’m telling you again, give it back!”
“Can you come to the point already? ”
“My wallet...the wallet you stole from me.” He said.
I closed the distance between us. Despite being wary of my presence he did not not make any movements. However, he was slightly sweating. I slid my hands through his clothes pocket, took out a wallet, and pointed it out before his eyes.
“I thought it was you who stole my wallet instead. See...I have my details on the wallet as well”.
“Bu...but...” he stammered.
“Oh, of course, you have seen it, haven’t you? ” I said. He slightly trembled, her eyebrows swirling. Did my voice mistakenly come off as scary?
“What the he..hal..hell do you mean? Just let me check—” Don’t say curses if you can’t.
Just when he was going to slide his hands into my pocket, I caught it.