~'¶\ Broken Lies \¶'~(Ai Hoshino X OC)

Chapter 32: Nightmare

-After the incident-

-Tokyo's Hospital-

Everything was in ruins. The aftermath of the incident left countless casualties, and Aqua couldn't face the harsh reality. He looked out the hospital window, witnessing the victims being treated. Fear hung heavy in the air, and it had only been two days since he woke up here. His head was wrapped in bandages, as was his left arm.

He glanced at his phone, where news of the incident spread like wildfire. One video showed Kai in a berserk state, fighting without regard for the destruction he caused to Earth. This changed everyone’s perspective; fear of the Gaia now gripped the populace.

Closing his phone, Aqua turned to his mother, Ai. She sat quietly, her face etched with sadness. Beside her, Ruby was trying to cheer her up despite her own injuries; her head was also bandaged. Ever since Ai had asked where Kai was, she had been in this state of despair. Ruby had told her that Kai had been taken away by villains, and hopelessness filled Ai's mind.

Aqua could only imagine Kai's condition and felt a surge of urgency to warn the others. In his mind, he formulated a plan: return home, find the time scroll, and head back to the Time Nest to alert Chronoa and the others about the situation. His house remained intact; only Shibuya had been decimated. However, it was still far from the hospital, and Aqua wasn’t capable of flying yet due to his injuries. He wanted to do this alone, not wanting to risk Ai or Ruby getting involved.

But did he really have a choice now?

"Aqua..." Ruby called out, pulling him from his thoughts. He turned to see her looking at him with concern. Standing up, he walked over to his twin sister.

"Mom?" Aqua tugged on Ai's shirt, and she glanced down at him. Her eyes were red; it was clear she had been crying.

"What is it, Aqua? Are you having some nightmares?" Ai asked softly as she wiped her tears and forced a smile. She gently patted his head, but Aqua could see through her facade; pain lingered in her now-dim star-like eyes.

"Mom, I have something to tell you," Aqua said seriously.

"What is it?" Ai asked curiously. Aqua wasn't one to open up easily; he was more introverted than Ruby. His serious demeanor made Ai nervous.

"I have a plan to save Mr. Kai, but I need your help." The room fell silent as Ai's and Ruby's eyes widened in shock. Ai's expression shifted from surprise to grim realization.

Aqua pressed on despite their reactions. "I need to go back home. I think I can use the time scroll to get to the Time Nest. Trunks and the rest can save Kai." He looked deeply into her eyes for emphasis.Ruby chimed in eagerly, "Yeah! Please Mama!"

Ai felt torn; she couldn’t allow them to put themselves in danger—especially with Aqua's current condition—but saving Kai weighed heavily on her heart.

"I'm okay, Mom! Please let me do this! Kai got captured, and I want to save him!" Aqua pleaded desperately.Ruby nodded in agreement, trying to bolster their mother's resolve.

But Ai had reached her limit. "Shut up!!"

Aqua and Ruby fell silent in shock; it was the first time they had ever heard their mother yell at them. A tear slipped down Ai's cheek as she realized what she had done.