trigger warnings: mentions of experimentation on and neglect of children

Prologue

She — was crying.

She didn't actually feel sad.

It was just that her tears were flowing mechanically out from somewhere in her eyes.

Unexpectedly, the feeling of the tears gliding down her cheeks made her feel much better.

So, she continued to cry.

She had long forgotten...... what the emotion of sadness felt like.

Everything related to reality, was now dissolving into her tears.

The line between dream and reality was slowly becoming blurrier.

Everything was mixed together, swirling endlessly.

Endlessly...... reincarnating.

A carousell —

A Viennese waltz — (1)

A ring of gears —

And then — reincarnation.

"...... Nagi —”

The past...... or the future —

"...... Nagi ——"

 A gentle touch...... on a shaking soul —

On the other side of the tranquil fog —

A constraint...... that felt both far and near, was waiting for her —

"............. -ome ——"

...... Swaying...... swaying ——

...... That was...... the other name that was carved onto her body —

"...... My cute —"

"...... My cute...... Chrome —"

1

The youth was silent.

"..................."

This place was dubbed the worst corner of Kokuyo Centre. A sign outside the building read "Kokuyo Healthy Land".

The teen sat on a rusty bench, angrily turning his face away.

He had a unruly and harrowing hairstyle, ferocious-looking eyes, and wore an obviously dirty school uniform.

Also, in his mouth lay a very long tongue.

"..................."

Next to him stood a teenager as silent as he was.

The sitting teen had a wild-looking appearance. He was the direct opposite of the standing one, who was as quiet as a shadow.

He wore glasses and a beanie, and when he spoke, he sounded exhausted:

"Reason?"

Let me hear what the reason is. The simple word was able to convey what he meant.

Yet, the other party kept mum.

The two of them didn't say anything, and time flowed on.

Five minutes...... Ten minutes...... —

"...... Ehhhh...... What is it! Heyaa!"

The first to be unable to bear the silence was the wild teen.

"What is it, Kakipii! Why do you keep staring at me!"

"............"

"What are you, a statue in that really impressive temple on the mountain? Or a national treasure-level Four-Eyes?"

"..........."

"It's not my fault, these guys were in front of the shop going all 'kufufu', so I couldn't resist and just...... bought all of them!"

The bespectacled youth unblinkingly took on a shocked expression.

"......What did you just say?"

"These. Guys!"

The teenager quickly got up from his position on the bench and pointed next to his feet.

Beside his feet were a huge pile of yellow and green tropical fruits—

"...... Can't speak."

"Huh?"

"Pineapples can't say that."

"I'm telling you they did! These pineapple heads all 'kufufu'd together like....."

SMACK!

"That hurts——!"

A sudden jolt of pain made the teen jump up and start yelling.

Somehow, in the bespectacled teen's hand appeared a yo-yo-like assassination weapon, "Hedgehog".

The needles shot out of "Hedgehog" landed precisely onto the wild teen's butt.

"W-What, you used your poison needles on me ?"

"Those needles...... don't have poison on them......"

"Heheheheh! I don't care if they did or not, if you prick me again, I definitely won't spare......"

"You want me to change to the poison needles?"

A chilling killing intent belied the rage in the teen's voice.

"...... Uh...... Ah...... Ehh........ H-Hold on, now."

The teen frantically picked up an armful of pineapples and fled the scene.

".......... How troublesome."

The bespectacled teen muttered as peace returned to the ruins.

Why had it become like this —

That guy had went out alone, and for some unknown reason had bought a huge amount of pineapples that they were surely unable to finish. And when he had been asked to return them, the two had begun to argue —

"........................."

— No.

That wasn't the real reason.

— The real reason was that they felt very anxious inside.

Whether it was the bespectacled teen, Kakimoto Chikusa, or the other partner Joshima Ken; they both felt the same.

"...... Mukuro......"

Rokudo Mukuro.

In his right eye was carved the word "six", and he wielded the illusionary abilities "The Six Paths of Reincarnation". 

Ken, Chikusa, and Mukuro were members of a mafia familglia known as the Estraneo Familglia.

But now the Familglia no longer existed in this world.

The young Mukuro had massacred all the adults, and destroyed the familglia.

The Estraneo Familglia had gone against the moral code of the Mafia, developing inhumane weapons and eventually using the Familglia's children as test subjects.

These children that were experimented on included Ken and Chikusa, as well as Mukuro.

Under those circumstances where they could have lost their lives at any time, it was Mukuro who had saved them. Hence, Ken and Chikusa swore loyalty to Mukuro and became pawns of his ambitions.

To change the world — for this, firstly the Mafia must be eradicated.

Having been targeted by other Mafia familglias simply for being a member of the Estraneo Familglia, Ken and Chikusa were naturally more than happy to follow Mukuro's plans.

But, in the fight with the influential Vongola Famiglia's 10th successor, who had been the core of the plan, Mukuro was only faced with utter defeat.

After that, they were captured by the Vindice, enforcers of mafia law, and made to endure unimaginable pain, both physically and mentally.

Yet......

— Want to come with me?

It was like the time he eradicated the Estraneo Familglia — Mukuro asked Ken and Chikusa the same question, then proceeded to save them from that hellish place.

But the price was...... Mukuro himself.

"........................."

Chikusa noticed a pineapple that had rolled near his foot.

It must have been dropped by Ken.

Chikusa picked it up, and uttered that name again:

"...... Mukuro."

But there was no response.

2

"Really, that Kakipii actually got mad! I think he should eat some spectacles vitamins or something."

It was early evening in the garden.

Joshima Ken laid in the grass, looking up at the red-dyed sky.

He released a soft sigh, his expression at odds with his appearance.

"Mukuro......"

Ten days ago—

To allow Ken and Chikusa to escape from Vindice Prison, Mukuro used himself as bait and got recaptured.

And to save Mukuro, Ken and Chikusa decided to embark on an objectively strategy-less rescue mission.

It was just before they were about to go on their mission that Ken saw Mukuro in his dreams during one of his naps.

— Find the other me.

Chikusa had also received a similar message.

It was an order that Mukuro had sent through the psychic realm with his ability.

Because it came so suddenly, Ken and Chikusa were conflicted at first, but they knew Mukuro's orders were absolute.

They halted their rescue mission, and went to the location that Mukuro had instructed them to —

They were here again, in Japan.

"What in the what? Another Mukuro... I just don't get it."

Ken and Chikusa gave up meals and sleep, and searched ceaselessly for any information regarding "the other Mukuro".

But there were no leads.

"...... Mukuro........."

Ken's eyelids become heavier and heavier.

His exhausted body finally relaxed, and he quickly entered dreamland.

For Ken, there were unforgettable memories shared between him and Chikusa.

One of those was the first night that he spent with Mukuro and Chikusa after they had escaped from the demonic Estraneo Familglia.

Ken and Chikusa could only tremble as they hid in the trash heaps of an abandoned alley.

Their only company was terror.

Ever since they could remember, they were always treated as guinea pigs for experimentation. Any opposition was certain death right there and then, and even if you were obedient, death would come inevitably one day. This was a type of trauma that would be impossible to break free from in a short time.

Even though they had successfully escaped, the duo were still worried about the darkness at the other side of the street. Would there be pursuers from the mafia—

And if so, they could be brought back to that hell—

When his silhouette came into view, they were in the peak of their terror.

—!!!

Ken let out a silent scream, and Chikusa quietly passed out next to him.

But the silhouette did not belong to a pursuer.

It was Mukuro.

The Mukuro that had slipped away without a sound or a trace had returned.

He held a bunch of red, ripe apples in his arms.

Mukuro smiled lightly like he always did, and handed Ken an apple.

His stomach made an desperate noise, but Ken still had no intentions to accept the apple.

Though Mukuro had killed all the adults in the Estraneo Familglia and brought him out, Ken still did not trust him completely.

This wasn't some kind of trap, was it?

The paranoia that carved itself into the child over years made him instinctively raise his guard.

"You're not eating?"

Mukuro's voice did not carry a hint of regret. He brought the apple in his hand to his mouth.

The crisp sound made when he bit into the apple made Ken's ears prick up.

Little by little, the small mouth consumed the apple.

Ken could not tear his gaze away.

The saliva in his mouth would not stop flowing. It went down his long tongue and dripped onto the ground.

"Eat."

 When Ken came back to his senses, a fresh apple was already right in front of his eyes.

He reached out towards it.

Without hesitation, he took a bite.

After that, Ken could only focus on tackling this apple in order to fill his empty stomach. When Chikusa came to, he joined Ken in devouring the apples before them.

Ken would never forget the taste of those apples for as long as he lived.

He couldn't.

It was — the promise made between him and Mukuro.

"...... Mm."

The fading sun shone into Ken's bleary eyes, his mind still not fully awake.

Judging from the fact that the sun had not set, he did not nap for that long.

At that moment —

"Mm?"

Ken realised that there was someone watching him, and the sun was shining on their back.

"Mm? Mmmm!?"

Not only that, under his head was something that was most certainly not there before. It was soft, warm, and actually pretty comfortable —

"Ahhhhhhh!!!"

Ken let out an scream of surprise, and jumped to his feet.

"Th-th-thighs......"

It was the first time he had used someone else's thighs as a pillow.

Even if he had been that exhausted, he found it hard to believe that he would have let a stranger come so close to him.

".................."

A girl, who looked about the same age as Ken, stared at him with wide eyes.

She gave the impression of a girl that would be blown over by the even a slight gust of wind, light and airy.

She was dressed in an unbecoming shirt, and her long black hair looked like it hadn't been cut in a while. Under her bangs was a large, round left eye, while her right eye was covered in a medical eye patch.

"Wha-What are you doing? You punk!"

Ken threw his arms up, wanting to put some distance between himself and the girl.

"Ah......"

DONK.

Ken's agitated flailing just so happened to hit her on the forehead.

She fell backwards without so much as a struggle.

"W-what? You're down just like that......"

"................."

The girl said nothing.

She just lay on the ground, unmoving.

"!?"

— She's dead? No, how's that possible? No way she died from that, right......

"Woah!"

Suddenly, the girl sat back up.

".......... Ouch......"

She murmured without any emotion in her voice, rubbing her forehead.

"........................."

The speechless Ken pulled himself together.

"Who, who in the world are you? How did, I...... with me......"

Ken's mind was a mess, he didn't know what he should say. He frantically shook his head.

"Ah, really. Whatever it is, why the heck did you do that to me? Why!! Tell me!!"

"..........................."

The girl's neutral expression did not change.

"......... Because, you looked like you were about to die."

"Ah?"

"If you died...... that would be so pitiful."

Not expecting such an answer, Ken became even more flustered.

"Wh-what are you talking about? Am I some sort of stray cat to you?"

"..................."

"Don't look at me with that 'duh' expression—!"

Ken's frustration could only be put into his yells, turning quickly into mania.

Weirdo!

This girl is so weird!

Even though Ken doesn't really understand girls, but he was certain in this assertion.

This girl is an incomprehensible weirdo!

No matter who it was, they would definitely agree!

Grumble......—

"...... Ugh."

Ken's outburst stopped. 

".................."

His face turned red, and he looked timidly at the girl.

"...... 'Grumble'?"

"!"

The girl tilted her head, her words making Ken turn even redder.

She heard it......

He squatted down in embarrassment.

"Are...... you hungry?"

"I-It's none of your business!"

"...... You'll die, though."

"I'm not going to die! Stop treating me like someone who's always going to die at any moment, okay? Listen here! I'm not some weak woman like you......"

Ken's words trailed off.

".............."

The girl silently put something in front of Ken.

It was an apple, whose red could rival the colour of the setting sun.

"Ah......"

An apple—

It was like the apple that Mukuro gave him back then...... A fruit that shone almost like a jewel—

His hands moved before his brain could even process it.

He began to devour the apple without shame.

"!"

Ken started to cry.

Before he even realised it, massive teardrops fell from his eyes.

"Ah..... W-what. This...... Wh-why...... Why......"

As Ken used the sleeves of his dirty shirt to roughly wipe his face, he turned his back towards the girl and ran. 

Tears continued to bead and fall down his face as Ken ran without stopping.

He didn't know why.

He really...... didn't know.

3

The clock's hands pointed to half past twelve.

It was the only clock in the dump that still moved.

Ken watched the clock as it bathed in the moonlight with a dumbstruck face. He was sitting on the mud-ridden floor.

"Sigh......"

When he came to his senses, his mind could only conjure up the image of that eye patch-wearing girl.

He still could not believe what had happened.

He had eaten the apple presented to him by a random stranger, and then burst into tears—

Forget it...... How could something like that have happened...... It must have been my imagination......

Ever since Ken had escaped from the mafia and decided to live with Mukuro and the others underground, he refused to eat anything he did not catch or get himself.

The only exception were things that Mukuro gave him.

That wasn't some sort of internal will, but instead a sort of basic instinct. It was an unchangeable principle, and proof of his loyalty to Mukuro.

And yet, he had so easily broken that promise. Ken felt an indescribable sense of annoyance and anger.

Also, he couldn't tell Chikusa about these kind of things.

After he had returned, Ken kept to himself in frustration.

Why did I do that...... Dammit......

"Ken."

"!!!"

Chikusa's voice suddenly appeared right next to his ear, startling Ken so much he almost stopped breathing.

Just as he was about to let out an uncontrollable scream, Chikusa's hand quickly shot up to cover his mouth.

"...... There's an intruder."

Ken and Chikusa ventured into the dingy abandoned site on silent feet.

Chikusa quietly held "Hedgehog".

Ken also reached into his pocket for his own "weapon". He didn't take it out immediately since there were multiple variations, and he needed to assess the situation before he decided on which one to use.

First things first, they must first determine who the intruder was.

The two were vigilant as they moved, looking for any rooms with traces of human movement.

It was at that moment—

"Ahhhhh—!???"

A scream traveled from within the ruins.

Chikusa clicked his tongue softly, then rushed out from behind the door.

"Wait, wait a minute! Kakipii!"

"..................."

Chikusa turned his head coldly.

His hand did not dare to put any more pressure on the intruder's neck.

"You...... Why......"

Ken approached to take a better look as his voice trembled.

"What are you doing in a place like this?"

The intruder was —

The girl with the eye patch that gave Ken an apple.

"You know her?"

"Nuh uh!"

Ken shook his head frantically.

"How could I possibly know someone like............"

"..................."

Chikusa slowly walked away from the girl.

"Ken, I'm asking you again. Who is this girl?"

"...... Sh-she is....... Um......."

"!"

Chikusa suddenly felt a bout of nervousness.

Because, the girl that had been on the ground, was now getting up without hesitation.

Moreover, her hand was moving towards the bag that had fallen on the floor.

"D-Don't move! Do you even know what kind of situation you're in right now?"

Ken's shouts fell on deaf ears. The girl pulled the bag towards her, and reached inside.

Chikusa's reaction speed was superhuman.

If she was allowed to take out her weapon, he and Ken would be in danger.

With a flick of his wrist, he poised "Hedgehog" for attack without hesitation—

"......"

Chikusa stopped.

Because Ken had grabbed his wrist from behind him.

"...... What do you think you're doing?"

Ken didn't reply. He didn't know why he did it, either.

"Kakipii...... I-I......"

While this was happening, the girl had already retrieved something from her bag.

"Huh?"

Orange slices of salmon, golden brown pieces of fried chicken, bright yellow rolled egg omelettes, and glistening grains of white rice — all packed neatly into a square box.

Whatever way you looked at it, it was just a "bento".

".................."

Ken could not say a word, and could only stare at the bento.

The enticing aroma made his stomach rumble.

Another sound joined the chorus, layered with that from his tummy.

"Kakipii?"

"................"

Chikusa looked away silently.

His stomach let out a very loud grumble.

"This is......"

"!"

Ken and Chikusa snapped back to attention.

The girl was pushing the bento boxes towards them with an expressionless face.

"Hey...... hey......"

Ken croaked out from his parched throat.

"Did....... you make this?"

The girl nodded her head.

"Don't tell me...... it's for us?"

The girl nodded again.

"Ah......!"

Ken's mind was filled with a fury previously unfathomable to him.

"Y-You must be a idiot! Why would you do something so ridiculous! N-No one asked you to make this kind of bento!! By suddenly bringing that sort of thing over here, you think we would eat it?!"

Ken yelled manically like his life depended on it.

"......................."

Upon being scolded to such an extent by Ken, the girl lowered her gaze.

".......... I understand."

The bento box slipped from her hands.

"!"

It happened so fast that Ken and Chikusa were unable to react in time.

With a thud, the bento box landed on the floor.

The beautifully packed rice and dishes spilled onto the ground.

".........................."

Ken and Chikusa fell silent, and stood dumbfounded.

The girl, meanwhile—

"..........."

Bowed.

She nodded slightly, then turned her back towards them.

With lithe steps, she took her leave.

Ken could only send her away with his gaze.

4

After the girl with the eye patch left Kokuyo Healthy Land, within the ruins, Ken and Chikusa stood in silence for a good while.

"...... Ken."

Finally, Chikusa spoke.

"...... You know that woman?"

Ken nodded mutely.

"How...... how much does she know about you?"

"Me?"

It was really a ridiculous question.

 "About me...... That punk doesn't even know anything. Because I only met her earlier today! I don't even know her name......"

"If that's the case...... That's strange."

Chikusa's gaze regained their usual sharpness.

"That woman...... How did she know that you would be here?"

Ken inhaled deeply.

"It would be troublesome...... But I'll ask you again. You didn't tell her about the plan, did you......"

"H-How could I! How would it be possible? I really only just met her, she knows nothing!"

Chikusa looked silently into Ken's eyes.

"She said she brought food for you. It's too troublesome, so I won't ask why. But...... how did she find us in this place?"

"Well......"

"You're not so dumb as to have been followed, right?"

".............."

Ken abruptly ran off.

"Ken!"

He completely ignored Chikusa's voice telling him to stop, rushing out of the building in an instant.

That woman...... She wouldn't have.......

Ken's eye twitched as he made his way through the ruins.

She wouldn't have lied to me, would she? No way she's someone from the mafia or the Vindice, right? She...... She played me like that, it's......

His face contorted in rage as he clenched his teeth.

"I won't forget this...... I swear I won't let her get away with this!!!"

Ken roared as he charged into the outdoors.

He held what looked like a set of canine teeth, and wore them with a practiced ease on his own teeth.

Instantly, his body began to change.

His unruly hair became even wilder, his eyes glowed, and his muscles rippled with strength.

Animal Channels. As long as he wears these animal teeth cartridges, he possesses the physical abilities of these wild animals — this was Ken's special skill. 

There were multiple animal teeth cartridges, and Ken was currently wearing that of the Wolf, thereby inheriting the abilities of wolves.

He crouched to the ground, nose sniffing.

The olfactory senses of canines were one hundred million times better than that of humans. Ken was immediately able to identify the scent of the girl with the eye patch.

"Over there!"

Ken loped forward on all fours like a real wolf, in pursuit in the dark night.

Slosh......

The sound of something being washed came from inside the home.

"...................."

In the massive, empty house, she stood still by herself.

Even though the pots and pans were washed, she stood motionless in the kitchen.

"...................."

After realising that he was hungry, she went home to make a bento.

But, he refused to eat it.

She...... failed again.

The first time she had bumped into the duo was two days ago.

She tried following them, but lost them in a panic.

From then on, she kept looking for them. Today was meant to be the day they met again—

"........................."

She stood, staring into space.

The tap was running.

Right now, she was the only person inside the expansive house.

Mum and the Dad with whom she had no blood relation, rarely came back to this house.

She didn't know where they were at that moment.

I suppose they should be wherever they belonged.

And...... as for me, where I belong is—

The water in front of her eyes flowed without stopping.

She slowly shut her eyes.

The sound of water, the darkness of night, pushed against her drop by drop.

Bit by bit...... it overflowed.

Everything melted.

"Kangaroo Channel!"

Ken swiftly changed the cartridge on his teeth.

With a leap that even athletes would be impressed by, Ken made it over the massive wall that surrounded the house.

As he stood in the wide back garden, Ken took in the residence with furious eyes.

The eye patch girl's scent led straight inside.

"She's here...... That woman...... is in here......"

Ken approached the porch and flung open the huge door.

"!"

Then — Ken was swallowed by darkness.

"...... Idiot."

When Chikusa found 'it', he was rendered speechless.

He had wanted to chase after Ken, but stopped himself inside Kokuyo Healthy Land.

At first, he just felt that something was off.

The air in the ruins — no, more accurately, the non-physical "space" was moving.

That feeling of instability, and the oppressive strength that accompanied it —

Chikusa found 'it', which should not have existed up till yesterday.

In the past, during the battle with the tenth Vongola successor, in this dump, Mukuro —

'It' should have been crushed into powder.

Chikusa held 'it' with trembling hands.

In an instant, 'it' glowed with an unstable light.

As if —

It was waking from an eternal hibernation.

5

Slosh.

The sound of water moving.

".....!"

Before he knew it, the water surrounding Ken had reached his ankles.

It was pitch black all around him, and he couldn't see.

Even the door that he should have just entered from was no longer visible.

"What...... this is......"

It was a mysterious feeling.

Normally, this sudden inexplicable situation was something that should have made one even more on edge.

Yet, for some reason, Ken felt not a shred of fear or unease.

"!"

Suddenly, in the darkness, a ray of light shone.

Tiny lights appeared, glowing softly. It was so beautiful that it was otherworldly — a blue lotus.

"...... Mukuro......"

Ken said his name without even thinking.

"...... Mukuro? Is that you? Are you here? Mukuro!"

His calls became yells.

He finally found it — he looked for so long for any clues related to him.

"Mukuro! Answer me! Mukuroooooo!"

Ken shouted as he ran.

He raced through the water, in the dark illuminated by the lotus.

He could feel that...... on the other side of this unending darkness, Mukuro was there.

"!"

Ahead, a pale figure appeared.

"Mukuro!"

Ken increased his speed.

He ran swiftly, and closed the distance in the wink of an eye.

"Mukurooooo!"

Ken practically flew through the air as he pounced on the figure, knocking them to the ground.

Then —

"Ahhhhhhhhhhh——!"

Ken let out a scream mixed with horror.

His arms were wrapped around their slender back, and his hand had grabbed a slight swell on the chest.

"......... Ken......?"

Even though the girl with the eye patch had been pushed to the ground, her expression was as if nothing had happened at all.

On the other hand, Ken's face was green one moment, then red the next, almost like a traffic light.

"Ch-chest...... Chest....................."

"...... Heavy."

"!"

Ken frantically jumped up.

"................."

The girl sat up slowly, then stayed seated in the water, staring blankly at Ken.

"Ken...... why......"

"Wh-what why, I should be the one asking that......."

Ken panicked and wanted to retort, but couldn't think of anything to say.

At this time, the girl lowered her head quietly.

"............. I'm sorry."

The flustered Ken halted.

— I'm sorry...... I'm sorry?

Why was this woman saying that she's sorry?

"!"

The figure of the girl with the eye patch began to sway.

"Ah......"

Ken reached out his hand in a panic.

But when he remembered himself pouncing on her, his hand stopped itself before he touched anything.

Her figure swayed more and more —

Finally, she vanished like mist. 

When Ken came back to his senses, he found himself alone on the porch.

"What?"

He looked around hysterically. 

There was only that run-of-the-mill house.

No water nor lotus. 

And — of course, she wasn't here either.

"Hey, where did you go? What the hell was that just now!"

No response.

In the still air, Ken gulped.

"...... Hi-hiding? Hey!"

Ken entered the house without even taking off his shoes.

The kitchen, the dining room, the living room, the guest room — any door he passed, he opened.

But he didn't find her.

"Dammit......"

Unease attacked Ken.

Just a while ago, he was in that dark world, what was all that about —

Why did he feel like Mukuro was just nearby —

Also, where in the world was that woman —

"ARGH——! I don't know, okay!"

"Me neither."

"!!!!!"

Not expecting a reply, Ken turned his head in surprise.

In the dim corridor stood Chikusa.

"K-Kakipii!!! When did you get here......"

"Ken."

Facing the conflicted Ken, Chikusa spoke.

"...... It's her."

"Ah?"

"...... It's her.......... — She's the other Mukuro."

That feeling —

— Of the lonely blackness, of slowly dissolving into it.

"..................."

Ken —

Why was he here?

That person told her before, that he hoped that she would be together with Joshima Ken and Kakimoto Chikusa as a trio.

But, they didn't need her.

It didn't work out after all.

She couldn't become that person's supporter. 

Even in the battle that was in the near future, she couldn't help.

It was so saddening...... so much that it made her want to disappear.

"Mukuro......"

Drowsiness surrounded everything.

"What are you saying — Hey!!!!"

Ken yelled loudly, as if wanting to shatter the serenity of the night.

"Ah, indeed, I didn't think that woman would be Mukuro himself......"

".........................."

Chikusa looked around, paying no mind to the booming Ken.

"...... Where is she?"

"W-who knows! It's more like she vanished by herself......"

"Vanished?"

A shadow cast over Chikusa's expression.

"Is that so...... Judging from the fact that she managed to find your habitat, her power has awakened......" (2)

"Hey, can you not figure out things by yourself over there? What power? Explain it clearly to me......"

"...... It's too much of a bother."

"What do you mean 'bother' — What are you saying?"

"...... There's no time. If this goes on, we'll lose her."

"......? L-lose?"

"She...... is not Mukuro."

"Huh? Kakipii, you just said......"

"Other than Mukuro, no one can effectively use all six Reincarnation Paths."

Through finding 'it' in Kokuyo Land, Chikusa understood what Mukuro meant — the remnants of Mukuro's memory in the psychic realm.

When he gave Chikusa and Ken that cryptic message to "find the other Mukuro", it was probably to prevent being tracked down through that psychic realm.

If they had discovered it earlier, they would probably have been able to find her. 

But that was more difficult than said.

When she went to Kokuyo Land, the hidden ability within her resonated with the remnant of memory left behind from that battle.

Thus 'it' could finally appear in the physical world.

"........................"

He had an answer.

It was to not lose her.

If so...... then the only thing to do was —

"...... Ken........."

Chikusa gripped 'it' tightly from where it was hidden under his clothes.

"Oh! You're finally going to explain what's going on! Quick, tell me everything you know......"

STAB!

"!"

Ken didn't even have the chance to scream.

"...... Ka...... kipii......."

A searing sensation bloomed in his abdomen.

Then, it became a shooting pain.

"..............."

Ken looked down.

'It' was plunged deeply into his abdomen — a trident.

⁕

...... It hurts —

...... It hurts...... It hurts...... so much...... —

Ken cried out many times.

But the adults looked down on him with cold stares.

He was strapped onto the operating table and attached from head to toe to all sorts of weapons. 

What followed was blistering pain. He screamed so hard, it sounded like he was going to throw up blood.

Save me — !

Whoever — however—!

Save me from this place — from this hell—!

This was — a memory that was carved deep into Joshima Ken's psyche.

Then — it overlapped with another painful memory.

...... No —

...... Don't go there...... you can't go there...... No—!

She chased after the black cat, dashing out onto the road.

Blinding headlights, and the blaring sirens of an ambulance.

In mere seconds, her body suffered an impact she had never felt before.

Pain or any other sensation...... vanished in an instant.

When she felt pain, she was already on the surgical table.

At the same time, she could see and hear everything.

The doctors, looking down at her coldly, like she was already a lost cause.

And her parents, who were expressing that they did not want her to live on.

The two...... were the same —

By adults —

By the world, abandoned —

"—......"

It was at that moment.

Filled with pain...... the world of memories began to shake.

"—————————————————— Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"

A roar.

It was at a superhuman volume.

All of the twisting images were blown away, and white light enveloped them — Ken and her.

She looked at Ken.

Ken stared at her.

".......... Ah."

Ken reflexively held her hand.

She lost her balance.

Ken caught her as she fell into his chest.

"...... You...... You've got to be kidding me......"

Ken understood.

Why when he saw her for the first time, he could not forget her......

The biggest reason — was because she had the same eyes as he did back then.

"...... I'm definitely not going to forgive you, you know......"

"...... Oh......"

"...... I won't forgive you...... definitely not......"

"If you dare to disappear in a place like this, I definitely won't forgive you!"

She raised her head in surprise.

Hot tears rolled down his bright red face.

"......... Ah......"

It wasn't the same.

Ken's tears weren't the same as the ones she knew before.

"....... So....... warm.........."

She touched it lightly with her fingers, caressing it gently.

Her body was completely nestled in that warmth — quietly, she closed her eyes.

⁕

"..............."

Ken slowly got up from where he was on the floor.

The trident that was supposed to be stabbed into his abdomen had disappeared without a trace. It hadn't even left a scar.

"...... Ken..........."

Chikusa, who was next to him, seemed relieved.

For the typically deadpan Chikusa, this was a rare sight.

"......................................"

Ken looked expressionlessly at him.

And then.

"—!"

BAM!

A merciless fist met Chikusa's face.

His glasses flew off, and his slender frame crashed to the floor.

"I told you before....... Kakipii......"

The standing Ken looked down at Chikusa and murmured.

"If you ever prick me again, I wouldn't spare you."

"..................... Ah?"

"I told you before!!!"

".........................."

Chikusa's gaze wavered for a bit after thinking.

".......... Sorry."

A frank apology fell from his lips.

"Hmph......"

Ken snorted coldly and looked away from Chikusa.

Then, he roughly wiped away the remaining tears from the corners of his eyes.

"Ahhh——————! This punk! She really just jerked me around like a fool, I'm so pissed off!" (3)

Ken glared at the girl that was sleeping peacefully like a baby.

She was holding the trident tightly to her chest.

"What? You sure are sleeping soundly! That trident belongs to Mukuro, right? Don't overdo it, hey!"

Ken went to snatch the trident from her hands.

But she held it it tightly, as if refusing to let it go.

"...... No......"

"I don't care if you say 'no'! This little — You ugly woman, how dare you refuse me......."

"................... Huff......"

"What? Are you sleep-talking? I said wake up!!!"

Chikusa watched as the two of them looked like they were bickering playfully.

"...... How troublesome."

He sighed like he usually did.

6

When the day broke, Ken and Chikusa returned to Kokuyo Healthy Land.

With them was the girl with the eye patch, who was still sleeping.

"— Chrome Dokuro."

Chikusa said, sitting across from Ken.

"That is the name that Mukuro imprinted on her body."

"..................."

Ken listened to Chikusa with his full attention.

"She's the only child of a wealthy family. Her mother is an actor, and her father is a department head in a big company, but she has no blood relation to her father."

"......................"

"Ten days ago, she was in a traffic accident and was lost some of her organs and her right eye. When her soul was on the edges of life and death, in the psychic realm...... she met Mukuro."

Shock......

The silent Ken reacted a little.

"She has a special ability. She doesn't need to be forcefully possessed or brainwashed to become Mukuro's vessel for his psyche and his powers."

"...... So, that was why she was chosen by Mukuro?"

"Of course."

Chikusa replied with a stony look.

"Would there by any other reason?"

"...... Never mind."

Ken looked away from Chikusa.

Chikusa continued, unbothered:

"What I'm telling you now, is what I found out after touching Mukuro's trident. Because that trident...... is a physical manifestation of Mukuro's psyche."

"And then you still stabbed me with it......"

"To enter that illusionary realm, I figured that was the fastest way."

Chikusa's tone was not apologetic in the slightest.

"I think after today, her power won't go out of control anymore...... Mukuro's trident should be able to suppress it."

"................."

Ken furrowed his brow.

"I can't accept that."

"......?"

"That punk can use Mukuro's power. If that's so, why is she not Mukuro?"

"Ken......"

Chikusa sighed, and the look on his face said: You should know.

Even if he could connect with them on the psychic realm, his physical body was currently locked up in Vindice Prison.

"Anyway, I won't accept her!"

"Is that so......"

Chikusa placed his hand on Ken's shoulder.

"It's only when you get her...... that you don't cherish her."

"Yeah, it's only when I get...... What? That's not it!!!"

The usually cool Ken couldn't hold back a shout —

It was at this point......

"Ah......"

The two turned towards the sudden presence of another person.

Standing in front of them was the girl that should have been sleeping in the other room — Chrome Dokuro.

"....................."

Chrome hid in the darkness as she looked at them silently.

Her expression made Ken nervous.

"Hey! What are you doing there?"

"...... Uh....... I have something...... to say......"

"Something to say? You punk, if it's anything stupid, I'm definitely not going to let you off the hook!"

"...... Then...... forget it."

"Hey, that's really annoying! Spit it out! Come on!"

Ken's anger made Chrome shake uncontrollably. Finally, she said softly:

"Mukuro told me...... that he wants me to...... fight alongside you two......"

"I will take Mukuro's place during the battle."

Instantly, Ken's fury exploded.

"You dare to say that you will replace Mukuro!!!"

Ken rushed towards her.

"Ah......"

He put Chrome's head under his arm.

Chrome frantically flailed both her arms, but her struggle was frankly useless.

"Hold on, Ken......"

"Don't hold me back, Kakipii! If she says another word about replacing Mukuro in battle......"

Ken yelled.

"Then I want to see her turn into Mukuro completely!!!"

Ten minutes later — 

Chrome stared dumbly at her reflection in the small mirror.

On the other side, Ken was holding a pair of scissors, a smug look on his face.

"How is it, Kakipii?"

"................."

Chikusa couldn't take it anymore, and shook his head.

His gaze fell upon — the hairstyle that sat on Chrome's head, which looked exactly like Mukuro's.

"I wasn't just looking at pineapple tops for fun everyday, you know. This is a piece of cake."

Ken, who Chrome had been following around, looked content, like he finally was able to retaliate in some way.

However —

"............................."

Chrome calmly placed the mirror on the floor.

The sound of her sharp inhale entered Ken's ears.

"Ah......"

Ken looked like he had messed up. He waved his hands in front of him desperately.

"Y-you said you wanted to become Mukuro, that's why I did it! Whatever you say now, it's not my fault!"

Chrome said nothing as she ran into the other room, face in her hands.

"...... Ken."

"W-what, Kakipii! What kind of look is that? Are you saying it's my fault? I-I don't care what relationship she has with Mukuro, it's none of my business! It's all her fault, okay...... Woah!"

A knife appeared in front of Ken's eyes.

Chrome had returned, and was standing in front of them holding a knife.

"Y-y-you! Where did you get that from? You want to fight? Let's go......"

"Do you...... have anything you don't like to eat?"

"Anything I don't like to eat? Whatever you make for me, I......"

"I'm going...... to go cook now."

With that, Chrome ran off with a pitter-patter of her feet to the other room.

"...................."

Ken was frozen in his battle position.

Then, Ken and Chikusa's stomachs grumbled simultaneously.

She — started to cry.

But she didn't feel sad.

These tears were different from those that flowed when the despair was too much, these —

What were they?

"......... Mukuro......"

She murmured that person's name.

The one that gave her her life...... a new name...... and —

Irreplaceable companions —

"..................."

She she was so happy.

That someone noticed her on purpose, and was willing to treat her like a person —

Having somewhere she could be a part of, this made her happier than she ever felt before.

"...... Thank you...... Mukuro......"

She — let out a genuine smile.