Chapter Text
“Ta-ku-mi… Su-mi-no… So that’s your name, huh?” She read the placard hanging just above his head. It took her a little while to sound out the foreign letters, but it was a surprisingly normal sounding name. “It’s nice to meet you, Takumi-kun.”
“……”
“I’m here with my mom. Are your parents here too?”
Again, there was no response.
He didn’t need to reply. Just listening was enough.
They were birds of the same feather, she thought. Her own secret and mysterious friend. His existence alone as just another kid in the hospital was enough to be the ideal friend for her. She reasoned that he too must be here for similar reasons. No other explanation crossed her mind.
And in some sense, it was better that way.
“You must be the others that mom talked about. We’re kind of like comrades in arms, aren’t we? The treatments… must be tough for you too.”
“……”
She let the silence sit, all the while staring at his face. If she could, she'd have brushed his bangs away to get a better look.
“Hey, I know it's sudden. But do you mind if I… call you ‘Takkun’?” She let out an embarrassed giggle at her own silly suggestion. But leaning closer to the glass, she couldn’t help but picture for herself a friend who was close enough to share nicknames with. “Ha ha… it’s a bit tacky isn’t it? But you won’t mind, right?”
The sleeping boy didn’t confirm or deny her request, but she liked to imagine how he would reply. After sharing her closely guarded secrets to him, maybe he would comfort her. Maybe even tell her how cool she was for being part of a project that would save all of humanity. With her worries and insecurities laid bare, he would say that it was no big deal at all. That she could overcome whatever came her way.
They were words that she wished someone, anyone, would say to her. And in kind, she’d return those very same sentiments to that someone who shared her pain–just like this quietly sleeping boy in the capsule. As selfish as it may be to project her own loneliness onto him, she thought it a fair deal.
“I’ll come to visit you again, okay, Takkun? So… stay strong until then. I’ll be doing my best too.”
“……”
“……”
It was the first time he felt the stagnant air shift.
The light tickling of his skin was an alien feeling as the draft from the changing air pressure sent a chill down his spine. Vibrant blue eyes peered open to see that the ever present glass overhead had disappeared. He wasn’t quite sure what to feel about the sudden change in surroundings, but curiosity was at the forefront.
Where…?
He tried to vocalize his thoughts, but the words caught in his throat. Nothing but a low moan escaped his lips.
“Can’t believe we had to wait nearly a whole damn decade to even start the first phase.” A man’s voice, a mixture of excitement and impatience, echoed in the room. “At this age, the cryptoglobin levels should be adequate.”
“The time and money will be well worth it if we can get results.” Another had replied. “We’re the last hope ever since Dr. Kirifuji’s research hit a dead end.”
Though his limbs felt too heavy to move, the boy had just enough strength to shift his head slightly to get a better look at the source of commotion. Long red bangs fell to the side, obscuring his vision slightly. But through them, he could see a small gathering of familiar researchers and lab technicians. Footfalls on metal grating echoed in the room as they shuffled around to take measure of the machinery.
“We should be in the green to extract a blood sample for the preliminary tests. Unit Zero has the least amount of genetic impurities, so we should start there to create a benchmark.”
“Oh–wait a moment. Unit Four is also exhibiting some irregularities. While we’re here, let’s do a quick checkup to make sure it’s growing properly.” Another had spoken up from across the room. They tapped a few buttons on the console next to another of the strange capsules. “This one is one of our more promising candidates. We can’t afford to lose more units than is necessary. Three backups is all we have left to fill in the main ranks if we make any mistakes.”
The boy strained his ears to listen. He comprehended the words, but understanding the conversation itself was a different matter. Besides that, the content of their discussion wasn’t what he was focused on.
Oh… she’s not here…
He didn’t recognize any of their voices as hers.
A vague sense of disappointment settled in his heart. She did always seem to appear and disappear from his side. And he couldn’t help but wonder when or if he would see her again. Though he didn’t have long to linger on those thoughts as his attention shifted to the figures overhead. Long shadows cast over his vision.
“Careful with it. Bring him out slowly.“
The even tone and professional demeanor contrasted with the anticipation that dripped from their expression.
Large hands reached out, grasping his wrist before carefully tugging away the lines and feeds that entangled his limbs. It was quick and methodical.
Cold fingers brushed his hair aside to remove the last of the wiring connected to his left temple. And as the fog that had been eating at the edge of his consciousness began to disappear, questions began to bubble up. Strength returned to his limbs, and he found his voice for the first time. Shakily, it came out as a small rasp.
“Where… am I?” he finally asked.
An uncomfortable silence was his answer as the staff stopped their chattering. They turned to look at him. Though not just simply at him. He didn’t realize it until now, but this was the first time they made direct eye contact with him.
“Where am I…? Who are all of you?” Nervously, he asked again.
The researchers turned to each other. Shock evident on their faces.
“Strange, I thought the template persona wasn’t uploaded yet. How did it develop this level of awareness?” A bespectacled lady, bags under her eyes from overwork–was the researcher closest to him. She murmured something barely audible while cupping a hand over her mouth. Looking him over again, the previous excitement faded into apprehension. His sentience wasn’t something she’d been equipped to handle.
“In theory, an ego manifestation can occur if enough external stimulus is provided even on the subconscious level. Though, where could that have come from…?“ The man from before made a contemplating hum before offering an explanation. From the way he carried himself, he looked to be the lead of the project. Locking eyes with the boy, he smiled. “But this might work to our benefit. If he’s formed something of an identity already, we might be able to proceed with testing of Hemoanima activation as well.”
“Wouldn’t that be a bit premature? At this stage, it may ███”
“That won’t be a problem. Even if it breaks down mentally, by phase three it won’t ██████ a████ing.”
“Yes, that’s true. But what if ██ █ factors in.”
“We don’t ████ the ████ of time to debate █████. Opportunity like this doesn’t–"
“████ ██!”
“██ ████ ██████…”
It was hard for him to focus on the conversation as words began to blend together. But he could tell no one had any intention of answering his more pressing questions.
He was in an unknown place, with unknown people, and in an unknown situation. Recognition of his current circumstance began to dawn on him. But more terrifying than that, he searched his memory for what he did and should know but found nothing. He felt his heart quicken and his anxiety began to spike.
Clutching his head, he squeezed his eyes shut. He didn’t want to think anymore. He just wanted to go back. Back to that hazy dream–or was it a memory?–where his only concern was wanting to comfort a crying girl about a terrible scar she had.
I… I’m…
“Takumi Sumino.”
Suddenly, the head researcher from before was standing in front of him. It broke him out of his trance.
“I’ll say it again.” Irritation seeped into the man’s voice as he tapped his pen against a clipboard. “Repeat after me, ‘Ta-ku-mi Su-mi-no’.”
“Ta-ku-…mi…Su-…mi-no…” He held each syllable as if it were made of glass. Rolling it over his tongue with the utmost care, he paused slightly before repeating it once more. Fluently this time. “Takumi… Sumino.”
Takumi Sumino. Takkun. A fond memory of a nickname he’d been given came to mind.
“That’s right, ‘Takumi Sumino’. That’s your name.” The man nodded, gratified that the subject had seemed to calm down after attaching to an identity. “Understand?”
Takumi returned the nod.
“You must have a lot of questions…” Debating on the prudence of explaining, the man decided to refrain. “And you’ll know in due time. But you’ll have to follow our instructions, okay?”
It wasn’t really a choice, but he nodded again.
“Can you stand?”
It was a simple directive, but Takumi wasn’t sure. Tentatively, he tried to move his arms. Pushing his body up while bringing his knees closer, he shifted his body such that his legs began to dangle from the edge of the pod. It was unfortunate that his feet couldn’t touch the floor.
He looked up at the other adults, to see their expression. They were waiting to see if he would follow their request.
With some hesitation, he pushed himself off. While his bare feet landed flat on the cold steel, his knees all but buckled under the sudden strain to support his falling weight. He collapsed into a pile, like a puppet with its strings cut. His head banged against the side of the pod as he tumbled.
Regret.
He felt a painful swell of a headache. Maybe if he had climbed down more carefully instead of hopping off– but he wasn’t sure if his arms could support his weight either. If he had asked, would the adults have helped him?
...
......
...
“Can you stand?”
Takumi wasn’t sure, but he felt a sense of deja vu. He found himself sitting upright, his feet dangling again at the edge of the pod. There was a nagging feeling that jumping down wouldn’t be a good idea. His legs still felt like jelly from the long period of inactivity.
He looked up at the adults. They were waiting patiently.
“I… don’t know if I can,” he admitted.
“I see. Yes, that’s probably as expected. Your muscles must be underdeveloped.” The head researcher motioned for the bespectacled lady at his side to assist. Though she looked far from strong, his small frame must have been quite light as he was effortlessly scooped up by her. “Take him to Observation Room 2 and prepare the activated samples from the source donor. We’ll reconvene later.”
She made a small nod before making her exit.
“I’m sorry…” she quietly whispered under her breath. It was just loud enough for only him to hear. “I’m sorry that it has to be this way.”
Takumi had the feeling that the apology was more for herself than it was for him. It’s not as if guilt alone would be enough to dissuade whatever it is they were planning.
He was being carried away somewhere now. To another unknown place. With more unknown people. But even so, he couldn’t help his body from relaxing being cradled by human warmth.
Mentally fatigued, he felt a wave of tiredness wash over him. All his energy was spent, but on what he was unsure. He had only just woken up from the longest of dreams, and yet he found himself being lulled into darkness once more.
Through half lidded eyes, he glanced back through the doorway. Someone else–another kid, one with silver hair, was slowly sitting up from another of the pods.
And as he sunk deeper into the depths of sleep, an ear piercing scream was the last thing he heard from the room he’d left behind.
Her arrival was always marked with small taps on the glass. Two rhythmic thumps, followed by a greeting.
“Hey, Takkun…” It was a weak and hushed whisper.
He could tell if it was a good or bad day by the way she said his name. And today was decidedly a bad one. There was a long silence, with nothing but her labored breaths to fill the air. Burying her face in her arms, she curled in on herself as she leaned against the capsule. The coolness of the glass calmed her fever somewhat.
“Mom… looked so sad today. It sounds like her work isn’t going well…”
She paused again. The muffled words caught in her throat, but she forced them out anyway. If there was anyone that she could spill her thoughts to, it was him.
“But even so, she smiled at me, and said how strong I am for being able to handle the treatment. And it makes me happy too… just getting to spend time with her like this. It’s all I ever wanted.”
Her voice began to shake. It quivered into a whimper as she struggled to hold back tears.
“But… it really hurts. It really really hurts… but I know that mom is hurting deep down too. I know how important this is to her. So… So I want to do my best. I want her to be proud of me.”
A desperate justification for her pain was appended to her anguish. And yet the confession that came loose broke the dam of heavy teardrops as it streaked down the glass. She didn’t dare cry out though, lest others hear her stowed away in the restricted room.
It was a small comfort staring down at the sleeping boy. She felt just a little less alone in her suffering. He too must be fighting an unknown battle. One that no one will ever see. Just like her.
“You’re doing your best too, right, Takkun?” she asked, knowing that it would go unanswered.
“……”
“Yeah… that’s right. Our best is all we can do.” After rubbing her eyes red, she dried the rest of her tears on her sleeve. “And I know I– no, we can do it, as long as we keep trying.”
“ Please… don’t cry… ” A soft whisper escaped from him. Those were the words that he wanted to say at the time.
He was dreaming. Or, perhaps, he was remembering. Takumi wasn’t entirely sure which. Though, whether it be fact or fiction, one thing was for certain. His heart ached.
With his own name as his only sail, it was a tangible something in the sea of unknown he found himself in. That longing throb in his chest helped to orient him.
When did I last hear from them? What was their name? How did they look? Disconnected between periods of awareness, it was hard to remember the when’s and what’s of his scattered experiences. He sifted through the shattered fragments of his memory to grab hold of even a single concrete detail. And what was unearthed was an image of a soft yet pained smile framed by silver white hair.
Silver hair… Takumi thought back to whom he’d caught just the briefest glimpse of. It could just be a coincidence, but he couldn’t help but wonder about the possibility. He wanted to go back and check. He wanted to finally “meet” the owner of that voice.
It was the sound of choked sobs that finally stirred Takumi fully awake.
His eyes flew open. Gasping in surprise, he was startled by the image of a boy with fiery red hair marked by black streaks along his bangs. His small frame was laid out on an operating table. Piercing blue eyes stared back at him with a mirrored expression of shock plastered on their face. Takumi reached up to touch his cheek, and saw that the reflection followed.
“That’s… me?” he said it allowed, as if to confirm his own existence.
His reflection in the large window-like mirror seemed to speak back to him.
Who are you? The boy in the mirror with piercing blue eyes asked.
A shiver ran down his spine. It was a premonition of danger.
The overhead surgical lights had yet to be turned on, but the ambient fluorescents above were enough for him to gather his surroundings. Clean surgical equipment was neatly placed on a small table beside him. Though, he found himself looking away from the dangerous glint of the scalpel and other sharp objects that laid there innocently. Its potential use made him uneasy.
More importantly however, he wanted to find the source of the crying. It was hard to tell exactly where it came from, but it sounded to be from an adjacent room.
He carefully slipped down from the table, and made his way towards the far wall. Placing his ear against it, he could hear it more clearly. It sounded like another kid.
He was tempted to yell out to ask who was there, but his attention was drawn back to the opposite side.
There were rumblings from behind the mirror– chattering voices from the other end. Takumi understood then that the mirror itself was two way. He was being watched. The door at the side opened, and striding in were the familiar faces of the head researcher and the assistant who had carried him earlier.
“How are you feeling, Sumino-kun? You passed out so suddenly. Are you feeling any dizziness or nausea? Ah–Hold still please, stay where you are. We’ll need to start by drawing some blood.”
Takumi had the impression that the questions were just a reflexive courtesy. Before he even had a chance to answer, he was already being led by the hand back to the operating table. But this time, he had the strength–or rather the will–to resist.
“This is… a hospital.” Takumi looked at the head researcher. Since his questions weren’t being answered directly, the next best thing was for his guesses to receive confirmation. “Am I… also having ‘treatment’ here?”
“Also…?”
The man’s eyes narrowed.
Language and basic concepts were provided to subjects by default as a means to acclimate their mind for the later stage of life simulation. And it wasn’t out of the question that the boy had overheard some details about the facility during the researchers’ regular checkins. But the wording Takumi had used was off.
This was on top of the troubling predicament of concocting a satisfactory answer to placate him. Or, rather more importantly, the man needed a means to motivate him.
“Yes. That’s right. You see, you’re special, Sumino-kun. You’ve been chosen to save humanity because there’s a power sleeping inside you. And we need your help to understand it.”
“Aren’t there others here too?” Takumi asked.
The man contemplated while tapping a finger against his chin before continuing his explanation. “Ah, yes. You must mean the others that were in the incub–I mean, the other room you woke up in. They’re a lot like you. But they aren’t ready to wake up yet. Not until we fully understand how this power will behave in all of you. It would be dangerous otherwise.”
“What do you mean by power…?” Takumi tilted his head, looking for clarification. “And dangerous how?”
“It’s called ‘Hemoanima’. A miraculous power derived from the cryptoglobin running through your blood.” Wishing to convey the weight of their expectations, he clapped his hands onto the boy’s shoulders. “We’ve yet to unlock all the mysteries surrounding it, so this will be our first time observing it in this type of controlled environment. Its capabilities are something we want to explore thoroughly.”
It was hard for Takumi to look away, let alone break from the man’s grasp. The others in the room leered over him with that same eagerness. Like a deer in headlights, he froze, unsure of how to reciprocate the intense feelings directed at him. Somewhere along the way, the pretense of empathy had faded.
“I… I don’t…” Takumi hesitated. Did he even have an option to decline? Would they just… let him go if he said no? Where did he even have to go?
“Sumino-kun, you’re the trailblazer. The prototype that will pave the way for the rest. Your existence here is the product of our blood and sweat. There’ve been many sacrifices for us to reach this point, and we’re on the verge of a breakthrough. All we need now is your cooperation." The grip on his shoulders tightened as the man broke into a fevered pitch.
Like staring into the maws of a predator, their appetite for knowledge was voracious. Rather than a child to be coddled, he was closer to that of a new toy that they were eager to play with.
He couldn’t help but be apprehensive. The dangerous aspect had been noticeably glossed over, and Takumi couldn’t help but linger on the thought of those who were ‘sacrificed’. Those who suffered to harness this ‘Hemoanima’ power. Could that girl be one of them?
It hurts… It really really hurts…
The memory of her anguish and the heaviness in his heart still felt fresh.
Clenching his chest, he glanced back to the far wall. It sounded like the crying had stopped. He wondered if whoever was there was listening in as well, waiting for his answer too.
“If I help… then no one would need to suffer anymore.” She wouldn’t need to have that ‘treatment’ anymore, was where his thoughts really lead. A small spark of conviction burned in his eyes as he finally stared straight back. “So, what is it that you need me to do?”
There was a sigh of relief from everyone–the nurses and lab technicians included. Everyone had been unconsciously on edge. What would have happened if he refused? Intuition told him that the answer would be something unpleasant.
“Good. That’s very good, Sumino-kun. We’re really fortunate that you have such an amiable personality.” The head researcher smiled once more before releasing his grip. This time, Takumi didn’t resist being led back to the operating table he’d found himself on originally. “It’s simple really. You don’t need to be nervous. We’re just going to ‘activate’ the cryptoglobin in your blood and observe its effects.”
Whether it was from genuine ignorance or malicious intent, it didn’t seem like they planned on providing further details of what to expect. He didn’t necessarily have a reason to not believe in their authenticity, but something still bothered him. An itching feeling that something was going to happen.
[ Begin Recording... ]
[ Subject: Unit Zero. Current Date: XXXX-XX-XX ]
The hanging monitor on the ceiling corner flickered on as a mechanical voice recited out its announcements. Displayed was a video feed of the room itself. No doubt the recording was for posterity along with referential purposes. Looking again at the large two way mirror, he wondered just how many people were watching from the other side.
Yes. Take a good look. Remember everything that you are at this very moment. Or else…
These were the wordless sentiments that his reflection conveyed.
[ We will now begin our first clinical trial for Hemoanima activation. ]
[ Method of activation: Direct administration of source donor’s cryptoglobin to stimulate subject’s innate ability. ]
The assistant had already circled around to his left. Lifting the sleeve of his hospital gown up to his shoulder, they began swabbing his arm with a disinfectant wipe. Carefully, they lifted the syringe from the tray. Its contents, an ominously red liquid that Takumi guessed was the ‘cryptoglobin’ in question. His nerves were wracked in anticipation as he broke into a cold sweat.
“Hold still, Sumino-kun.” Kindly patting his head to try and calm him down, the nurse did her best to sound reassuring. “It’ll only hurt a little bit.”
Looking away as the needle was inserted, he winced upon feeling the small pinch in his skin. The effects were almost immediate.
He felt his heart thump. The cannibalistic nature of his cryptoglobin greedily devoured whatever morsel it was that they injected him with. It only needed a small taste to make his blood begin to boil.
“Aa-aagh… aaaaah…” Takumi gripped his arm–the entrypoint of the stimulus. His body felt hot, almost burning to the touch.
Memories began to flood into his head. The sound of gunfire and screams. Purple flames shrouded a vision of carnage and bloodshed. There was a baby’s cry–was it his own voice?--as they were ripped out of the hands of their caretakers.
A dragon of bone and black reached out to him–to save him from his captors. Its fierce glow of gold streaked through the air and tore asunder all in its path. But despite its best efforts, he was being taken away further and further. Up into the sky, to an unknown place, with unknown people, in an unknown-–
Takumi’s eyes grew wide, the pain was indescribable as he felt the blood in his arm begin to coagulate. It twisted itself into writhing black beneath his skin, desperate to pierce through and burst out. Bulbous and sick, pressure began to build as his arm swelled into something unrecognizable. It needs to be released–the blood it’s–!! He realized it too late. Like a balloon, it burst.
A cacophony of curses and panicked yells surrounded him. It was hard to make out exactly what they were saying as his mind began to go blank. But through it all, he could distinctly pick out the head researcher’s lamentation.
“Ah… this one’s a failure… Next time, we should–…”
…
……
…
[ …first clinical trial for Hemoanima activation. ]
[ Method of activation: Direct administration of source donor’s cryptoglobin to stimulate subject’s innate ability. ]
A familiar sense of deja vu. Takumi could have sworn that he heard this mechanical voice before. Maybe during his long sleep, similar announcements like this played in that mysterious room.
“Hold still, Sumino-kun.” A soft voice tried to comfort him in his bewilderment. The nurse at his side– once again(? )--patted his head. “It’ll only hurt a little bit.”
“Ah…!” He felt a small prick on his skin.
His confusion turned to panic as a familiar power surged in his veins. Brushing aside unfamiliar memories that began to well up, he focused his thoughts instead on how his body was reacting. His ears thrummed with the sound of his beating heart, but no visible effects had manifested. At least not yet.
Instinctually, he had an idea of what he needed to do. Gritting his teeth, he sunk his nails into his arm, scratching deep into his skin until red blood peaked from underneath.
“Sumino-kun–!! What are you–?” The assistants and nurse moved to stop him, but faltered as unnatural amounts of blood began oozing from his arm. Takumi couldn’t help but scream through the pain as he tried his best to rip open a wound large enough for blood to spill out. He had to dig harder into his flesh. Deeper– deeper –or else–!!
“He’s…Oh, I see…! Ah ha ha, I see. I see! ” The head researcher’s eyes sparkled with fascination as he watched the boy tear into his own flesh. Motioning for the others to slowly back away, he seemed almost giddy at the hypotheses that came to mind, “The subject is trying to externally release their cryptoglobin. Is this something that all Hemoanima users know intuitively? Ah… how mysterious. Hemoanima really is mysterious…!”
Takumi couldn’t reply, he was too focused on just surviving the rioting of his blood.
He didn’t have the strength nor the pain tolerance to continue clawing through muscle. His arm was no longer swelling, but it didn’t stop the excruciating feeling of the cryptoglobin in his blood running wild. It shifted erratically from liquid to solid form, as if it were alive and confused on the shape it was meant to take.
There was a sharp build up of pressure in his shoulder–then his elbow–then his forearm–before finally it burst. Sharp protrusions mimicking the structure of bone jutted out from his skin. The blood that flowed out darkened into a black mist. Almost as if the blood in his veins was retaliating from being held back, he felt something internal puncture his chest.
Liquid began to fill his lungs, and the taste of copper filled his mouth. Those same spurs of bone must have formed internally as well. His screams became gurgles as he felt himself fall over from the operating table. The tray at the side clattered to the floor, scattering the tools that the doctors had abandoned. Among them, the glitter of the scalpel caught his attention. Mere surface level wounds hadn’t been enough, he had to penetrate deeper–somewhere where the blood flowed harder. Those were his last thoughts as his consciousness left him.
…
……
…
[ …first clinical trial for Hemoanima activation. ]
[ Method of activation: Direct administration—- ]
The stilted voice of the announcement had barely finished before Takumi jerked his arm free from the nurse. He wasn’t sure what came over him, but he had a change of heart. His gnawing apprehension had hit a crescendo as he kicked and screamed. “No–! Stop–!”
“Sumino-kun, what’s wrong?! Please, calm down!” The nurse exclaimed, shaken by the boy’s change in behavior. Others came to assist, quickly pinning each of his limbs down. Despite his best efforts, he had no chance of resisting an adults’ strength. “Hold still. It’ll only hurt a little bit.”
He squirmed as the syringe containing that mysterious red liquid–(Again–? Is it happening again?!)--came close. They had no intention of listening to his protests. As his screams fell on deaf ears, he wondered if these people even regarded him as human.
The needle punctured his skin, and he watched as its contents flow into him
Images flickered into his mind. The casualties of war shrouded in purple flames. The charred flesh of his kidnapper’s arms in his peripheral vision as he (me–?) was carried away. The radiant visage of a dragon-like creature that swept through the battlefield. How Takumi wished that he had that kind of strength to tear through these binds.
“Aaa–!” That same strange wave of tiredness from before began to brush against him, but the racing of his heart chased it away. “AaAaaaggh–!! Get away–! Get away!! Let go of me–!!”
Using the whole of his weight, he twisted the entirety of his body to shove one of his captors off balance. As they staggered backwards, he rolled himself off the operating table, letting gravity do the work to break the grip of the others. His shoulders hit hard against the tile flooring, but he did his best to ignore the pain and focus on looking for the tool he needed. Uncanny intuition told him to look at the tableside tray for what he needed.
Frantically, before the assistants could pin him down again, Takumi pushed himself back up and grabbed hold of the scalpel. Almost immediately, the assistants and nurses backed off. None of them had been prepared for any risk of injury when dealing with a child.
“Sumino-kun, please. Calm down, just calm down and lower the blade.” The nurse from before spoke in a hushed tone, trying to deescalate the situation. Her kind facade had been replaced with wary apprehension. “I’m sure it was scary. But it’s over now…”
Takumi knew that it was definitely not over. They couldn’t see–they couldn’t feel what he felt.
“I… I… I need… to… ” His breath was ragged. The small scuffle combined with his racing heart winded him. But still, his attention was focused on that ominous and unstable something squirming in his veins.
Takumi braced himself, eyes squeezed shut, as he slowly brought the scalpel to his chest. His arms were shaking, but the adrenaline high overcame his nerves as he slammed the blade deep into his flesh.
A second of silence permeated the room. Everyone held their collective breaths at the strange spectacle of a young boy piercing his own heart. And before anyone had the chance to speak, a sudden geyser of blood erupted from the wound.
Oddly, like a relief off his shoulders, it was pleasant in how it spilled out freely. The stream of blood transformed into red silk-like strings. It wrapped around him tenderly like a cocoon.
When next he opened his eyes, Takumi found himself floating in a sea of red. Lost and directionless, he felt “himself” melt into something unidentifiable. His flesh–his entire body–began to unwind, deconstructing into a black amorphous thicket of tendrils. Desperately, it was trying to weave itself into a new tapestry. A voice whispered to him, prodding his mind, it asked him with urgency on what he wanted to be.
Who are you? Who are you? Who are you?
He was looking at a mirror again. No—it wasn’t just a reflection. He was standing in front of a red haired boy who he recognized as himself.
I’m Takumi Sumino.
And who is ‘Takumi Sumino’?
He paused, though he wasn’t sure for how long. In this red realm of the unconscious, time felt both exceptionally short and yet unbearably long.
…I don’t know. He admitted.
With no point of origin, no past to speak of to base himself on, it was hard to define it. But he did know that ‘Takumi Sumino’--or more precisely ‘Takkun’--was important to someone . And from there, he could derive meaning and a goal to hold onto. This identity was far more important to him than anything the researchers had described.
But I do know… that I don’t want to see her cry. I want to be able to help her… to protect her. That's who I believe 'Takumi Sumino' is.
He imagined an ideal that he wanted to strive for. A paragon from which his form could be based on. And so, while immature, that ego took shape.
“Incredible… “ One of the researchers whispered in awe. The shock of the event gradually transformed into elation. The red blood that had spilled out from earlier had all but disappeared–or rather it reformed into what was standing before them. “Its structure is just like the enemy commanders we’ve seen in the reports! We’ve done it–! We’ve really done it—!”
Furniture and operating equipment was strewn across the floor, and the far wall had crumbled. The room could barely contain the strange and ominous creature that had manifested. A long white ribbed neck that spewed black mist between its cracks and limbs of mismatched length and density tipped with bone-like appendages—it was humanoid in the barest sense. Like a child’s crude drawing of a human in black crayon. It was strangely docile, almost as if it were asleep.
“Finally! We finally have our own weapon to take down those damn monsters!” The cheer and jubilation of the staff was a strange contrast to the abomination that laid still on the floor. “It’s a true breakthrough–a step forward for humanity!”
“How mysterious... To think that the subject knew intuitively to release its cryptoglobin externally to transform. It’s a bit malformed though. Maybe the subject’s psyche was too underdeveloped…? Now it’s just a matter of stabilizing and tailoring it to something more suitable.” The head researcher mused to himself as he scanned what became of the boy. Its face—or what he believed to be the creature’s face—was looking away, staring at something that was in the other room.
“Sumino-kun.” he called out. “Can you hear us? Takumi Sumino!”
It was like being submerged in luke-warm water. The struggle of holding himself together had left him mentally exhausted. Takumi thought he was at least due some rest, but the calling of his name brought him back to the surface.
When next he opened his eyes, he was staring down at someone. Looking up at him in awe and wonder was another kid his age, one with silver hair and grey blue eyes. The oddity of his towering perspective hadn’t quite struck him yet. Takumi was far more preoccupied with verifying the other child’s identity.
“Were you… the one who was crying…?” Takumi asked. His voice echoed strangely, and he almost doubted that it was his own. Its source certainly wasn’t from his own throat. “Are you hurt…?”
Briefly taken aback, the other boy looked almost defensive in his reply. “N-No—! I wasn’t… I’m not…”
Ah… it’s not her. Upon hearing the other boy’s voice, Takumi realized he was mistaken. It’s not her after all. She’s… not here…
The thought of it made his will waver, and his form began to crumble. He was just so tired now. Even with his name being called over and over, he ignored it.
There were hands wrapped around him again. Smaller this time. But that feeling of human warmth once again lulled him to sleep. Takumi hoped that at least in his dreams, he would find some peace.