Chapter Text
Saiki woke up in a strange place, surrounded by emptiness on every side. A bit dizzy, he got up, wearing his glasses and antennas – everything seemed okay. As he walked, he stumbled upon a corridor of yellow flowers, and one with a face caught his attention.
"Welcome, visitor!" the flower greeted. "You seem lost and confused. Let me help you."
"I don't trust you," Saiki responded telepathically. "Did you bring me here?"
"No need to hurry! Take these petals; they'll make you feel better." The flower shot them towards him, but Saiki skillfully dodged.
"What's the rush? Think I'll harm you? Accept the petals!"
Again, Saiki dodged, adjusting his glasses. "I'm not foolish. What's going on here?"
The flower laughed. "Can't read my mind, can you? Your powers in this universe are limited, but they may work as you progress in my game."
"Game?"
"Exactly. You'll find it quite realistic."
Footsteps approached, the flower glanced aside, then back to Saiki. "You'll soon learn the true hell you've stepped into. You have to go to the end to return home. Farewell."
The flower vanished into the ground, leaving Saiki unsure of what was happening. The one responsible for the footsteps appeared – a beautiful woman with short black hair and a long purple cloak.
"A visitor!" she greeted with a gentle smile. "I thought I heard voices. Are you lost?"
"I can say that," Saiki replied.
"I'm Saiki Kurumi, been living here for a while. What's your name?"
"Saiki Kusuo. I think we've met."
"We share the same last name! Perhaps destiny brought you here. Come, you must be hungry. You're invited to my home."
"Do you invite every stranger who shows up here?" He frowned.
"It's a way of saying," she laughed, leading the way. "These ruins can be dangerous, but don't worry; I'll protect you."
"I don't see how, but thanks."
They walked through the place, the woman carefully navigating. "Many creatures live here, beyond the king's dominion. I welcome them all."
She seemed to have a big heart, even for ancient ruins. Creatures weren't hostile, but a roach appeared, making Saiki jump – he hated insects.
Kurumi laughed, conjuring a fireball to kill the roach, surprising him. "What was that?"
"Pyrotechnics. I don't know why or how, but I have this power."
"Probably why I can't do that anymore," he thought to himself.
Arriving home, she showed some rooms before reaching the bedrooms. "You can stay here for now; it's vacant. The other room was my son's, but..." She hesitated, a melancholic tone indicating a long-lost son and a subsequent separation from her husband
He didn't want to delve into family drama but felt a twinge of pity.
"I'll leave you to it, I'll call when there's food." Saiki sat on the bed, the room oddly familiar. He wandered a bit, feeling the need to see the other son's room, filled with books and yellow flowers – suspicious.
"Kuu-chan! I made dessert for you!"
In the kitchen, his eyes sparkled at coffee jelly – his favorite. Enjoying each spoonful, he unintentionally uttered, "This is perfect, Mom."
"M... Mom..." She repeated, genuinely happy. "You know, Kusuo, you could stay here, be treated well, like a son."
Suddenly, Saiki felt something strange in his mind, as if a memory wanted to return – this was his real mother. He stood abruptly.
"I need to leave."
"Why? What happened?"
He left without explaining, she hurried ahead to the ruins' exit.
"I need to go," he telepathically communicated.
"I won't allow it. Those who leave through this door never return." Her tone darkened. "I won't lose another child!"
The scene shifted suddenly. Gray tones surrounded everything, a red heart on Saiki's blouse. Trying to comprehend, his mother attacked with fire.
"I won't let you go!" she exclaimed. "You're all the same – appear in my life, leave, and die! I can't allow it!"
He didn't retaliate, unsure if there was another way. Was this the hell the flower spoke of?
Feeling cornered, he threw a fireball back, causing a fatal injury. She knelt with a hand on her chest.
"Mom?"
"You're stronger than I thought," she said weakly. "When you pass through the door, walk as fast as you can. Don't let the king catch you. Be good, my son."
She vanished like dust, leaving Saiki in disbelief. Whether a game or not, killing his own mother was inconceivable.
Looking at the door, he could leave, but he couldn't. Trying a power he didn't know was possible, he attempted to go back in time to prevent her death.n
He returned differently than expected – no temporal paradox, just memories. Facing his mother again, she challenged him.
"Prove you're strong enough to survive if you want to leave, Kusuo!"
He was more cautious this time, avoiding without retaliating, searching for a weakness.
Then he realized she wasn't attacking anymore.
The fireballs came his way, but he didn't need to move as before. Her eyes betrayed everything; in her mind, she pleaded for him to give up.
Saiki sat on the ground as the attacks veered away. She started crying, stopping the assault.
"Kuu-chan... I'm pathetic, aren't I?"
Silence followed; she approached slowly and hugged him.
"I understand you need to go. I won't hinder you anymore. I wanted to protect you." She held him tighter before letting go. "Be careful with King Kuniharu."
She handed him a cellphone before he left, a means of distant communication.
Passing through the gate, the flower reappeared, mocking him.
"I saw what you did. Who knew you could kill your own mother? I warned you, Kusuo. It's kill or be killed here, not just a game. Let's see if your luck holds from now on."
The flower vanished, and Saiki continued his journey out of the ruins.