Cinnamon Girl | Chishiya Shuntaro

prologue

Ayaka glanced at the night sky, waiting for other players to arrive. The stars glistened just as beautifully as they ever did. Her eyes locked on the moon and she remembered the story she told her younger sister every night. The story of the moon and its unrequited love for the sun.

Asami handed her one of the phones that was laid on the table. "What kind of game do you think this is?"

She shrugged, taking the phone from her sister and attempting to turn it on. Nothing.

Soon, other players arrived. They stood in the centre of the field, gazing in awe at the stadium around them. Asami glanced at Ayaka, "do you think we'll go home if we win?"

"I'm not sure," Ayaka replied, tugging her varsity jacket closer to keep her warm. "Maybe it'll take us to another city, and we'll have to complete more games there."

Asami groaned and threw the phone on the ground. It slid along the grass and landed by the foot of the final player to arrive.

She picked it up and handed it to Asami, straightening the wrinkles on her school skirt, "I think you dropped something."

Asami fumbled, struggling to find the words to thank the girl. Ayaka smiled, biting back the urge to tease her sister.

She gingerly took the phone from the player and turned away, muttering a quick, "thank you."

Suddenly, Ayaka's phone turned on along with the rest of the players. A card appeared on the screen.

"Difficulty, Seven of Spades," the nearby computer chimed. Ayaka and Asami shared a look of confusion. "Game- Boiling Death. Rules- escape. The game ends when the arena fully collapses."

The ground began to shake violently. Without hesitating, Ayaka grabbed her sister's hand and ran towards the nearby doors that led into the inside of the stadium.

She heard a deafening explosion from behind her. She refused to look back and dragged Asami with her as she ran into the stadium.

Adrenaline coursed through her veins and her legs began to burn. She refused to acknowledge the bangs and explosions coming from behind her.

"Ayaka!" Asami yelled, trying to get her sister's attention. "I love you-"

Another explosion went off. This time, it was right in front of her. She felt a force throw her backwards. Her head hit off something hard and suddenly, everything went black.

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The first thing she noticed when regaining consciousness was the sharp ringing in her ear. She winced, holding her hand to her ear, praying for it to stop.

Blood trickled down the side of her face and from her nose. Her eyes opened. She groaned and trembled as she tried to sit up.

Scratches and bruises painted her arms and legs. Dirt was engraved beneath her fingernails.

The world around her was in ruins. The stadium had almost completely collapsed. Piles of rubble surrounded her, along with puddles of water and small fires.

She rolled over and hoisted herself onto her knees, gazing at the burning environment around her.

"Ayaka," a hoarse voice called out. She looked behind her. Asami's body was wedged beneath a large pillar that had fallen.

"Asami!" Ayaka cried, rushing to her sister. She grabbed Asami's hand, thankful to see her sister still alive.

Asami smiled half-heartedly, then groaned. Ayaka looked at the pillar that was laying on top of her legs.

Tears welled in Asami's eyes, "I can't feel my legs." Her voice was barely a whisper. Her chest rose and fell quickly, Ayaka knew she was trying not to panic.

Ayaka tried to push the pillar off her. She placed her hands on the side of the pillar and pushed as hard as she could.

"It's not going to work," Asami said with tears pouring from her eyes. Ayaka shook her head and kept pushing, despite the pain in her arms. "Don't say that. I'll get you out."

"I want to go home," Asami's voice cracked as she broke into a sob. Ayaka bit her lip, holding back the tears in her eyes.

Finally, she let go of the pillar and sat back, giving her hands a rest. "I'll bring us home. I promise."

Ayaka smiled in relief when Asami's sobs finally stopped. "Just try to stay optimistic. No matter how long it takes, I'll get you out."

She frowned when there was no response. "What's wrong? Asami?" No response.

She risked a glance at her sister. Asami's eyes were open and lifeless. Her tear-stained cheeks were pale and her body laid on the ground without any signs of movement.

Ayaka's bottom lip quivered as tears filled her eyes. "Asami? Asami?" She grabbed Asami's shoulders and shook them, desperately wishing for Asami to give some sign that she was still alive.

She wiped her hand across her forehead, removing a mix of dirt, sweat and blood. She let out a sob, clinging to her sister's dead body.

As the stadium around her continued to fall, she held her sister, sobbing into her hair. Her body trembled furiously as she reluctantly let go of her sister and stood up.

"I'll bring us home. I promise."

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