𝙖𝙜𝙖𝙥𝙚 | 𝘢𝘬𝘪 𝘩. ᯓ ᡣ𐭩

010. | ᴜɴᴅᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʀꜱ

As Touko came to consciousness, her body jolting awake in a cold sweat, she sat up in bed, her breathing coming in pants and gasps. It took her a moment to get her bearings, her mind foggy and disorientated from the sudden awakening. She glanced around the room, taking in her surroundings as she slowly remembered where she was. The weight of the images from her dream lingered in her mind, and she couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in her chest.

Touko finally came back to reality with a jolt, her mind snapping to attention as she realized it had all been a bad dream. She felt a wave of relief wash over her as the events of the dream faded away, but the lingering emotions still weighed heavily on her heart. As she sat up in bed, she tried to shake off the remnants of the nightmare and convince herself that everything was okay. But the memory of the horrors she had witnessed in her dream stayed with her, casting a shadow over her thoughts and leaving her feeling shaken and uneasy.

She took a deep breath, willing her heart to slow back to a normal pace. She realized then that her room had suddenly become too stifling and cramped, leaving her feeling restless and uncomfortable. With a sense of determination, she quietly slipped out of bed, needing to escape the confines of her room and find some fresh air to clear her mind.

Touko crept silently through the corridor, her bare feet making no sound on the cold wooden floor. The apartment was eerily quiet at this time of night, the only sound being the faint rustling of her own clothes as she moved. The darkness that surrounded her was almost complete, broken only by the faint moonlight streaming in through a nearby window. Despite the darkness and the quiet, Touko felt a sense of peace and solitude as she walked, a welcome respite from the tumultuous events of her dream.

She reached the balcony door and slid it open, the cool night air greeting her with a gentle breeze as she stepped outside. She took a deep, cleansing breath, letting the cool air fill her lungs and calm her restless mind. Touko sat gingerly on the chair that sat on the balcony, feeling a sense of relief as she allowed herself to relax and unwind. As she sat there, watching the stars above, she found that the thoughts and emotions that had been weighing her down earlier were staying with her.

As she stared at the stars above, her mind involuntarily drifted back to her family, the thoughts and emotions swirling around her once again. Despite her best efforts to push them away, the memories of her family remained at the forefront of her mind, refusing to be ignored. She thought of her parents, the way they loved each other and her, the way they laughed together and made her feel safe and loved.

Touko's mind then drifted to her younger siblings, Itsumi and Kaito. She thought of their sweet smiles, the innocence in their eyes, and the pure, unconditional love they had for her. She thought of the times she had spent with them, playing games and exploring the world around them. She remembered the way they looked up to her, how they would come to her in times of need and trust her to make things better.

The sudden realization that they were gone hit her like a punch in the gut, and she couldn't help but feel a fresh wave of grief wash over her. The weight of losing them weighed heavily on her heart, and she wanted nothing more than to have them back.

The memories of her father's words resurfaced, her mind replaying his words in her head. He had called her strong, and had asked her to keep them safe because he trusted her. But how could she be strong now, when she had failed to keep them safe? The weight of her failure to keep her promise, combined with the pain of losing her family, made her feel both guilty and weak. She had failed her father, her family, and her own sense of self-worth.

Touko's emotions were a whirlwind of conflicting feelings. Grief, guilt, and helplessness were the strongest, but there was also a underlying sense of anger and frustration. She was angry at herself for not being strong enough to keep her siblings safe, angry at the world for taking her family away from her, and angry at the devil that had caused all of this suffering. She felt helpless, like there was nothing she could do to change the past or bring her family back. She was lost and alone in her sadness.