Spark in Darkness: Unworldy encounter/Prototype

Spark 13: The news that reached his ears

A woman woke up to another silent morning. There was nobody to greet her cheerfully, nobody in the house except her. Her husband had returned to America, back to his workplace, after accompanying her for a month. She had cheered up a little, but now that he, too was not with her, the pain of losing her child crept back slowly. She got out of her bed, and as if in a trance, got up and went to open the door of room on the second floor. Even until now, she kept the small hope of her son returning to her, to this room where he lived.

The room was void of life. A study table where a school bag rested on. A window. A wadrobe where the futon was neatly tucked in, untouched for a month.

Yes, her son had went missing for around a month now, and despite police searching the city, nothing could be found.

Just then, the doorbell rang. She looked up at the clock. It was Friday, and it was already two in the afternoon. She was here.

The woman hurried down the steps. Recently she had been sleeping only when the Sun began to rise, desperately trying to work her worries away with a job at the convenience store with a night shift. It was when she would keep her mind off the worries and pain she had in her heart at night. The nights where she was alone in her room were unbearable, the darkness threatening to crush her. She had been able to sleep better in the day, after a night's worth of fatigue.

The woman opened the door, and standing there, was a beautiful girl. Suzuki Meiyu.

The girl who shared her worries when her son went missing.

"Good afternoon, Auntie Mafuyu," Suzuki Meiyu greeted politely.

"Welcome in." Haruki's mother nodded with a small smile. She had been surprised her introvert son had managed to get a cute girlfriend at first, but realised he had not been able to give his reply to her confession before his untimely disappearance. How it must have felt for Suzuki Meiyu, she need not ask to know. The feeling of a confession left hanging in the air was miserable, not knowing if the partner could even reply.

"Another day worth of notes for him again, Meiyu-chan?" Mafuyu Yamata asked warmly.

Meiyu nodded her head, flames of determination dancing in her eyes. "I finished another book! I'll make sure when he comes back, he'll study till he drop!"

Mafuyu Yamata gave a round of applause. Meiyu had been diligently copying notes for her son, and she had now finished a book for each subject. The two had made small talks for a while now, and Mafuyu must admit, she had gotten quite fond of this teenage girl.

"I hope Haruki-kun gets back soon..."

"I hope so too..."

Seriously, what kind of a man would make two women wait for him? That son of mine will get it when he gets back. Mafuyu Yamata smiled slightly.

***

Haruki opened his eyes. He remembered talking to Rinya before his consciousness slipped again. He turned to see Rinya was no longer in the room, and he felt a little disheartened. Still, he smiled slightly and pushed his body up. It was sore at some places, but otherwise alright. However, just as he got up and stretched his stiff body, the door opened and Rinya came in holding a bowl.

"Oh, you're okay now?"

Haruki's heart skipped a beat. Such a pretty girl bringing food for him! This must be Paradise! But he did not say that out loud, of course, and nodded.

"Kinda. So now you're kind enough to bring food for me?" Haruki joked.

Rinya frowned and put the bowl on the table a little too forcefully, the porridge in it spilling over slightly. "Can't I do that? I was thinking you might be hungry."