The Dark Nights: Ankoku Kishi (VOLUME 6.)

The Dark Nights

Vol 6, Chapter 1: A World Unraveling.

(This volume is an Akemi focus, as this volume will reveal her backstory, so only Akemi and Ai will be the only characters mentioned in this volume.)

——

June 29th, 2009, 3:30.

Akemi and Ai sit together in the dorm, because the three other girls (Luna, Yuka, and Emi) went on a shopping spree. Akemi sits on her bed, staring out the window, and Ai suddenly sits beside Akemi.

Ai: "Hey~ you seem zoned out.. what's wrong?"

Akemi glances at Ai, then speaks softly.

Akemi: "Nothing."

Ai crosses her arms and rolls her eyes.

Ai: "Yeahhhh.. sure."

Akemi huffs.

Akemi: "I'm just.. thinking."

Ai gets closer to Akemi.

Ai: "About what?~"

Akemi shifts a bit away from Ai.

Akemi: "I just.. don't really like.. all this."

She says, gesturing to the sight of the corrupted trees, grass, and other nature in the distance. Ai nods in understanding.

Ai: "Yeah, but, you seem to have more on your mind than just the corruption."

Akemi pouts.

Ai: "Am I right?~"

Akemi sighs and nods, letting her guard down a little.

Akemi: "yeah."

Ai raises an eyebrow.

Ai: "Ooh?~ really? What do you have your mind? I'll listen, don't worry."

——

Vol 6, Chapter 2: The Haunted Past.

Akemi: "What I have on my mind.. is just.. uh, my past, that's all."

Ai moves even closer to Akemi.

Ai: "Oh! Now I'm interested, come on, girlie, tell me! Tell me!"

Akemi looks at Ai and raises an eyebrow.

Akemi: "You seriously just.. want me to trauma dump?"

Ai blinks innocently, silently begging.

Akemi: "ugh.. whatever, fine."

Ai listens closely.

Akemi: "I was..born into an orphanage, I was the eldest there so I helped raising the kids along with the caretakers until they got adopted, I also happened to be in the same orphanage as Yuka, so.. we're childhood friends, and we had special lessons there, about how to defend ourselves in case a corruption happened in the orphanage.."

Akemi sighs and continues.

Akemi: "And one night, we unfortunately.. ended up having to put those lessons to use."

———

(THIS IS A FLASHBACK.)

It's a bright sunny day, the orphanage is filled with lively chatter, children laughing, and running.

Kids are shown surrounding Akemi, talking to her and even hugging her.

Kid 1: "Auntie Akemi! Auntie Akemi!"

Akemi: (consider this a voiceover, like what it does in anime) "I was the oldest, so the kids there always called me "Auntie", it was.. heartwarming to say the least."