Chapter Text
Asahina Mafuyu was "perfect". "Perfect" did not exist in this world. She wanted to disappear so badly it hurt.
"Ah-! Doctor Asahina, good evening!" A charming young man with short blond hair greeted Mafuyu with a grin. Mafuyu, in response, returned the greeting and smiled. Judging by his attire, he was one of the higher-ups in the government that resided in this building.
Mafuyu closed the metal door behind her. Once he left, Mafuyu quickly slipped the file—taken from the room she had just left—into the large inner pocket of her black trench coat.
The weather had been growing colder the past month. Truth be told, the temperature had always been a mild cold on Planet 39 — falling around 12 to 18 degrees depending on location. But the sudden drop of 1 to 2 degrees on average had been a mystery to all that dwell on this planet. She had a slight suspicion on what was causing it. She wished she didn't.
Mafuyu glanced around the area, the lighting was dim and orange, the walls were sleek and dark brown in colour. Doors bearing different numbers lined the hallway, slight murmuring could be heard beyond them. She then looked up at the door that was behind her. 01: President of Peace. She turned to walk away.
The hallway was cold. The air was heavy. A few more government officials passed by her, she smiled automatically, they smiled back. It seemed like there was a meeting that was to be held soon. It was none of her concern really, but right before Mafuyu turned the corner, she could hear the suited men talk about the temperature drop. She shivers. It was cold.
It was cold. It was cold. Why was it cold? It was—
Mafuyu had made it out of the government building, it was tall and towering, walls painted an ashy black, built with a strong and stable geometric foundation, the doors were made of thick, reinforced metal, strong and impenetrable, rusty pipes slithered up the wall, some disappearing into the sides. Parts of the wall were made of translucent black stained glass, allowing outsiders to see the intricate machinery that fueled the building. The mind of the great architect that had built this building made it so that it was still pleasing to the eye.
Mafuyu made her way to the nearest anchor station, the station was built right outside the government building. Anchor stations — containing shuttle cars— are one of the fastest travelling methods in the Upper Skies; one came every few minutes on time, stopping to let passengers on and off before going to another anchor station.
This anchor station was one of the less crowded ones in the Upper Skies, only a few men and women were shuffling around in exquisite and meticulous suits, lugging heavy suitcases and bags. Mafuyu hung her head low, she didn't have much energy today. Being a famous doctor was not an easy task, the cumbersome demands of a doctor were only amplified even more when snobby nobles would specifically only ask for you.
But if she helped so many people, and if her mother wanted it for her. It would be worth the pain. Right? It could only be the right choice.
She stepped onto the arriving shuttle car, a few passengers recognised her, flashing bright grins and smirks. Mafuyu simply nodded gratefully in response to the fanfare, moving to a dark corner of the shuttle car where none would probe. All she wanted to do was go back home, and soon that may be as it was only a 15 minute walk and 6 stations away.
The star in the sky had turned a blazing red, casting the Upper Skies in beams of oranges, yellows and reds, it would stay as that for an hour and a half before finally succumbing to navy. Mafuyu stepped into her apartment — well… more of a lab, per se. The only sounds heard were the keys jingling as she hung them onto a hook at the door and her light breathing. She walked through the dark hallway, finally entering her room, Mafuyu proceeded to slump against the wall.
The file slips out of her pocket and onto the floor, but before she could pick it up and flip it open—
"Pshk!" A metal canister secured with a blue gemstone embedded on its lid shot out from a special pipe connected to the wall near Mafuyu's table. It landed on the floor with a loud thunk.
Mafuyu sighed, combing her fingers through her indigo hair. She grabbed the two items from the floor, setting the file aside on the table. She twisted the lid of the metal canister, it popped open with ease.
Message canisters were the most common way of sending contactless messages to other people, every home usually had 2 or 3 message tubes that would be implemented into rooms, however with popularity like Mafuyu’s, such messages were common, sometimes she would come back, only to find her whole desk littered with canisters.
The colour of the gemstones embedded into the lid of metal canisters signified the meaning of the message. Orange meant that it was casual —usually from a friend or for a situation that was easy to handle— purple was for formal messages and blue meant…𝘜𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵.
Mafuyu’s eyes widened ever so slightly, she slid out the neatly tied scroll. Turning it to the side she saw a small wax seal securing the tie. The wax was a shimmering teal in colour, however, the most prominent part of the seal was the family crest; it bore an eye in the center, surrounded by two rings circling around it and 3 wings on either side, a very recognisable crest — That of the Hinomoris.
The Hinomoris were a special family, or that is what most people would say, they were a family specialising in the art of music. They were also the only pure blooded family of Archangel’s left in the Upper Skies. If Mafuyu had remembered correctly, she had heard that the youngest (adopted) daughter was a bassist but had recently disappeared, the speculation was that she had joined the government. Whether that was true or not, Mafuyu felt that she should not pry.
The elder sister was the one she knew more about, Hinomori Shizuku — that was her name. An idol, a model, a singer, Mafuyu regularly saw her posters plastered around more populated areas at The Centre, the same dazzling smile, the same date of the concert tour, the same songs. The two had also attended the same prestigious high school — duly named Icarus Royal Academy Of The Upper Skies, although Mafuyu had always found it a mouthful to say during her days as a Council President. Albeit Mafuyu’s memories of her high school life was a blur, there was not much she could recall.
But what could this letter possibly be about?