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Chapter 12: The One Unforgivable Thing

Ms. Eve was touched by Bubbles’ heartfelt declaration.

But beneath the warmth, a flicker of anger ignited within her.

She masked her emotions, patting Bubbles’ head gently. “Go back to the dormitory, Bubbles. ‘Justice Man’ is about to start, isn’t it?”

“Oh!” Bubbles gasped, realizing how late it had gotten.

“Bubbles is going now!”

As Bubbles hurried out of the classroom, Ms. Eve’s mind raced.

She had high hopes for Bubbles.

She had studied the girl’s file. Abandoned by her parents, raised by her sister, only to lose her last remaining family member a few months ago…

Ms. Eve sympathized with Bubbles’ tragic past, but she also saw potential in her.

The potential to leave this place, to rejoin normal society.

Bubbles seemed to love it here, but Ms. Eve knew it was just a child’s naive perspective, a temporary attachment to a sheltered environment.

Private Cherry Blossom Elementary School was, in essence, a containment facility for Polluted individuals.

Polluted individuals, a term coined after the Great Calamity, referred to a specific segment of the population.

The world they lived in was a world tainted by Chaos.

Everyone carried within them a certain amount of ‘Chaos Factor.’ The higher the ‘Chaos Factor,’ the higher the ‘Pollution Level.’

And when the Pollution Level exceeded a certain threshold, things… things tended to get messy.

The average person had a Pollution Level between 15% and 30%. Anything above 30%… well, that was no longer a normal person. That was a ‘Polluted individual.’

Underage Polluted individuals were quarantined and observed. Special schools like Private Cherry Blossom Elementary School had sprung up all over the country, catering to these children.

They received a basic education, and if their condition improved, if their Pollution Level dropped below the threshold, they could rejoin society.

As for what happened to adult Polluted individuals, or those who remained above the threshold even after reaching adulthood… well, Ms. Eve didn’t know, and she didn’t want to know.

There were many reasons why someone might have a high Pollution Level.

Some were born Polluted, even if their parents were perfectly normal.

Some had encountered Chaotic entities, surviving the encounter only to have their Chaos Factor triggered, turning them into Polluted individuals.

Some had experienced traumatic events, their minds shattered, their Pollution Levels spiking as a result.

And some… some simply woke up one day and found themselves Polluted.

In Ms. Eve’s opinion, Bubbles was a classic case of trauma-induced Pollution.

Knowing the cause, and having observed Bubbles closely over the past few months, Ms. Eve believed the girl had a good chance of returning to a normal life.

Bubbles hadn’t become cynical or bitter despite her difficult childhood. On the contrary, she was a model student, kind and well-behaved.

The results of her three monthly blood tests showed that her condition was stable, her Pollution Level remaining at 30.5%.

Stability was good. Stability meant hope.

The only way Ms. Eve knew to help these children lower their Pollution Levels and rejoin society was to provide them with a positive environment, to foster a sense of belonging, to educate them, to nurture their mental well-being, to fill their hearts with hope…

In short, it all boiled down to one word: love.

To guide these children with love, to help them find their way back to the world.

Just like… just like her own teacher had done for her.

……………………………………………………..

Eve, once a Polluted individual, now a teacher.

The story of how she became Polluted was a rather cliché one.

Eve had a happy childhood, a loving mother, a busy but doting father.

Until that day, when a robber broke into their home.

The police later told her it was his first offense.

And first-time offenders were often the most prone to making irreversible mistakes.

Eve couldn’t recall the details of that day. All she remembered was the sight of her parents lying in a pool of blood, and the fleeting glimpse of the robber fleeing the scene.

Her life had shattered that day. Soon after, she found herself whisked away to a special school by a group of strangers in black suits and sunglasses.

The trauma transformed her into a bitter, rebellious child. Her volatile temper made life at the school a living hell.

Her classmates ostracized her, and most of the teachers treated her like she was invisible.

More than once, she overheard them talking about her.

“She’s a lost cause.”

“She’ll never get out.”

“She’ll never be normal again.”

The world had given up on her.

Except… for Ms. Matsuo.

Ms. Matsuo was a kind, elderly woman, a gentle soul.

She never shunned Eve. Instead, she treated her with extra care and attention.

“I have a granddaughter your age, you know,” she would often say.

She tolerated Eve’s outbursts, her anger, her resentment, her pain.

One day, Eve finally asked, “Do I look like your granddaughter?”

“Hmm?” Ms. Matsuo looked at her, puzzled. “No, not at all.”

“Then why are you so nice to me?”

“Silly child, I’m your teacher.” Ms. Matsuo smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

“…”

Despite herself, Eve was touched. Slowly, she began to heal.

The rebellious, volatile Eve disappeared, replaced by a friendlier, more cheerful girl.

Eventually, the Polluted Eve became Eve again.

Life after returning to society wasn’t easy. The stigma of being a former Polluted individual followed her everywhere.

Despite her excellent grades, she struggled to find a job after graduation.

But society hadn’t completely abandoned her. She eventually found a job, a rather unique one, but one that she found deeply fulfilling.

The unemployed Eve became Ms. Eve, the teacher.

She was eternally grateful to Ms. Matsuo, and she vowed to become just like her.

She poured her heart and soul into her work, studying each student’s file, searching for ways to help them heal.

But after five years, five long years, she had yet to see a single success story.

What was she doing wrong?

Was it because some children, like Kyoko, were born Polluted, and there was nothing she could do?

Was it because some children, like Kosan, were trapped in their past traumas, unable to move on?

Or was it… because she wasn’t loving enough?

And then, Bubbles arrived.

A new transfer student, with a tragic past, yet devoid of bitterness.

A kind, gentle soul, despite the pain she had endured.

A good girl, a good girl with a Pollution Level of only 30.5%.

Ms. Eve knew that if she couldn’t help Bubbles rejoin society, then the very foundation of her beliefs would crumble.

‘It will work,’ she thought, her jaw clenching.

‘It has to.’

‘Because Bubbles is a good girl.’

‘But… if she’s such a good girl, why would she say she doesn’t want to leave?’

Ms. Eve’s eyes narrowed. That was the one thing she couldn’t tolerate.

Chapter 11: Curtain Call for the Romantic Comedy

As soon as Kyoko stepped out of the dormitory, she saw the boy pacing under a tree.

“Yo!”

“Kyoko!” The boy’s face lit up as he called out her name.

He had been waiting for what felt like an eternity, convinced that this was just another one of Kosan’s elaborate pranks.

But it wasn’t…

‘Sorry for doubting you, Kosan,’ he thought, a wave of gratitude washing over him as he walked towards Kyoko, who was looking at him with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension.

“Yo, have you been waiting long?”

“N-no, not really.”

“…”

“…”

The two stood there, gazing at each other, a comfortable silence settling between them.

“I heard you wanted to talk to me,” Kyoko said, her voice barely a whisper.

Seeing the hope in her eyes, the boy nodded.

“There’s something I need to tell you, Kyoko.”

A cold wind whipped around them, but the boy felt his cheeks burning.

“I… I’ve always had this girl I cared about,” he began, his voice gaining strength as he spoke.

“She’s responsible, kind, and…”

Kyoko blushed, her heart pounding in her chest.

“But lately, she’s changed.”

The boy paused, his voice laced with sadness. “For some reason, she’s lost her smile.”

Kyoko opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again, unsure what to say.

“I realized then… that I had lost something precious.”

“Yo…” Kyoko’s eyes softened.

“I wanted to do something for her, but I didn’t know what.”

“Thankfully… someone pointed me in the right direction.”

He nodded towards Kosan, who had emerged from the dormitory and was hiding behind another tree, watching them with a mischievous grin.

‘Not bad, Yo, not bad at all,’ she thought, giving him a thumbs-up.

“It turns out… I was the clueless one all along.”

The boy gazed at Kyoko, his eyes filled with warmth.

“I like you, Kyoko.”

“I… I like you too.”

Tears welled up in Kyoko’s eyes as a wide smile spread across her face.

“Yo…”

“Kyoko…”

They moved closer, about to share a tender moment, when Kosan, unable to contain herself any longer, let out a piercing shriek.

“Reeeeeeeeeeee!!!”

“What?!”

“What was that?!”

The earsplitting scream echoed through the dormitory, jolting the couple apart.

“Come look, everyone! Kyoko’s about to do something naughty!”

The next moment, the other students, alerted by Kosan’s well-timed interruption, poured out of the dormitory, their faces a mixture of curiosity and amusement.

“Wow, Yo, you’re a bold one!” A girl with sparkling eyes exclaimed.

“Kyoko, you have terrible taste! That scrawny little runt?” A jealous boy scoffed.

“Nice one, buddy!” Yo’s roommate nudged him, grinning.

“Glad I stayed up late for this,” a girl yawned.

Kyoko and Yo stood there, frozen in the spotlight, surrounded by their classmates.

After a moment of stunned silence, Kyoko snapped.

“Aaaaaaaaaaahhhh!”

“Kosan, I’m going to kill you!”

(And thus, the romantic comedy came to an abrupt end.)

……………………………………………………..

Thanks to Kosan’s well-timed interruption, Kyoko and Yo’s relationship remained somewhat awkward.

Instead of becoming inseparable lovebirds, they returned to their usual routine.

Well, not entirely.

“Here you go, Kyoko.” The boy placed a bowl of food on her table.

“Thank you, Yo.” Kyoko mumbled, blushing.

“Hee hee.” The boy grinned sheepishly.

“Get a room, you two!” Kosan groaned, rolling her eyes.

“Go eat somewhere else,” Kyoko said, glaring at the uninvited guest as if she were something unpleasant.

“Ouch! Is that how you treat your matchmaker?” Kosan feigned hurt.

“You? My matchmaker?” Kyoko scoffed.

“What’s wrong with that?”

“…”

Bubbles, watching their interaction, giggled happily.

She was glad things had turned out this way. When she first arrived, she had been filled with anxiety.

Compared to the familiar orphanage, Private Cherry Blossom Elementary School was a completely unknown world.

She didn’t know what kind of people she would meet, how she would be treated… everything was uncertain.

But it had all turned out better than she could have imagined.

A kind teacher, friendly classmates, a caring class president, a mischievous deskmate…

Bubbles loved it here. She cherished every day.

‘It’s so much fun being with everyone. I wish I could stay here forever,’ she thought.

Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. Spring arrived, chasing away the winter chill. Bubbles had been at Private Cherry Blossom Elementary School for three months now.

She had learned so much: basic arithmetic, the fact that the Federation was a multi-ethnic nation…

And most importantly, she had finally learned to write.

After school, while her classmates were back in the dormitory, enjoying their favorite TV shows, Bubbles stayed behind in the classroom.

With Ms. Eve’s encouragement, she concentrated all her effort into writing her name, the characters wobbly and uneven.

“Bub-bles.” Ms. Eve smiled, her heart swelling with pride as she looked at the two characters scrawled on the page.

Bubbles had started with almost no foundation, unable to read or write.

Knowing this, Ms. Eve had dedicated an hour each day after school to tutoring her.

“You’re a fast learner, Bubbles,” Ms. Eve praised.

Bubbles beamed, wiping her nose with the back of her hand. She was proud of herself too.

“You’re doing so well, Bubbles. In a few years, you’ll be ready for a better school.”

Bubbles’ face fell. “But Ms. Eve, I don’t want to go anywhere else. I like it here.”

“Silly girl, you haven’t been to other schools.”

“There are more friends to make, more teachers to learn from…” Ms. Eve tried to reason with her, hoping to motivate her.

“The cafeteria is bigger, and they have meat every day.”

“They have more snacks.”

“The beds in the dorms are softer…”

“No! No! Bubbles doesn’t want to leave!” Bubbles shook her head vehemently.

“Are you afraid of making new friends? Don’t worry, you’re such a sweet girl, everyone will love you.”

“No!”

“Then… are you worried about falling behind? About not being able to keep up with the other students?” Ms. Eve pointed at herself. “You have to trust me, Bubbles.”

“No! No!”

Bubbles was unusually stubborn. “I just don’t want to go!”

“…” Ms. Eve was confused.

Bubbles looked at her, her expression serious. “No matter how good other places are, if Ms. Eve and everyone else aren’t there, Bubbles doesn’t want to go!”

Chapter 10: The Girl I Care About

The boy had a girl he cared about.

She was lively and intelligent.

Though a girl, she excelled at sports, her energetic figure a common sight on the playground.

She was a caring friend, always the first to offer a helping hand.

She was a responsible student, always completing her tasks with a smile.

She was… the girl he admired.

The boy loved playing soccer, not just for the sport itself, but for the chance to see her in her element, her confidence and skill on full display.

He won some matches, lost many more.

But it didn’t matter.

Seeing her bright smile was all the reward he needed.

But lately, everything had changed.

For some reason, the girl had become withdrawn.

She was distracted in class, lost in thought during breaks.

The classroom felt empty without her cheerful voice, the playground dull without her energetic presence.

What had happened to his bright, cheerful girl?

That day, the boy couldn’t take it anymore.

As soon as class ended, he walked straight up to her.

“Kyoko, is something bothering you?”

………………………………………………………………..

“Yo?”

Kyoko, startled out of her reverie, looked up to see the boy standing before her, his expression filled with concern.

‘Yo… It’s Yo…’

‘What do I do? He’s talking to me!’

‘He’s worried about me… I’m so happy!’

‘But what should I say?’

‘He’ll think I’m weird if I don’t say anything…’

“…”

In the end, all she managed was a stammered, “I-I’m not feeling well.”

And with that, she fled the classroom like a whirlwind.

“Not feeling well? You should…”

“Drink plenty of fluids.”

The boy finished his sentence, his voice laced with disappointment, but the girl’s seat was empty.

He bit his lip, his shoulders slumping. After a moment, he turned and trudged back to his own desk.

“Oof!”

Lost in thought, he bumped into someone.

“Oh, sorry about that. Yo, isn’t it?”

The boy looked up to see Kosan staring down at him, a knowing smirk on her face.

“It’s okay,” he mumbled, brushing himself off. “I should’ve been paying attention.”

“Right.” Kosan drew out the word. “Say, there’s something off about Kyoko lately, don’t you think?”

“You’ve noticed it too?” The boy looked at her in surprise.

“Of course! She’s my friend, you know. I’d be a terrible friend if I didn’t notice something was wrong.”

“Friend?” The boy frowned. He didn’t recall them being particularly close.

“Yes, friend. Why are you so surprised?” Kosan looked at him as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Sure, we bicker sometimes, but that’s just how we show our affection.”

“Is… is that so?” The boy was skeptical.

“So, Yo, do you know why Kyoko’s been acting so strange?” Kosan asked, a mischievous glint in her eye.

“You know?” The boy’s head shot up.

“Hee hee hee, I do. But why should I tell you?” Kosan’s expression shifted in an instant, her earlier concern replaced with playful malice.

“But… you’re her friend, aren’t you? Tell me what’s wrong! Maybe… maybe I can help!”

The boy’s anxiety spiked. He didn’t care if Kosan was messing with him. All he wanted was to do something, anything, to help the girl he cared about.

“Oh, you want to help her that badly? Since when did you two get so close?”

The classroom fell silent, all eyes on them.

The commotion had drawn the attention of their classmates, their curiosity piqued by the unexpected drama unfolding before them.

“I… I…” Caught between a rock and a hard place, the boy wished he could disappear like Kyoko had.

As if reading his mind, Kosan spoke, her voice laced with amusement. “Come on, Yo, don’t be a chicken. Running away won’t solve anything. Besides, Kyoko hates weaklings.”

“Kyoko…” The boy froze, his gaze fixed on Kosan.

‘This is working even better than I expected,’ Kosan thought gleefully.

She stood up and walked over to the boy, clapping him on the shoulder.

“Give me one good reason why I should tell you.”

The boy’s expression shifted rapidly. Just as Kosan was about to give up on him, he seemed to come to a decision.

‘There must be something I can do!’

He took a deep breath, trying to appear calm, but his voice trembled with nervous energy.

“I… like…”

“Oh?” Kosan’s eyes widened. “Like what, Yo? Be specific.”

“I… I like Kyoko!”

…………………………………………………………..

Just as the bell was about to ring, Kyoko slipped back into the classroom.

She walked back to her seat in silence, acutely aware of the curious stares following her every move.

‘I’m never doing that again,’ she thought, assuming her classmates were simply reacting to her uncharacteristic behavior.

She snuck a glance at the boy. Their eyes met for a fleeting moment before they both quickly looked away.

Kyoko’s cheeks burned as she lowered her head, her heart pounding in her chest.

Class, daydream, break, daydream, class, daydream, lunch, daydream…

The day passed in a blur.

Later that night, as Kyoko lay in bed, unable to sleep, she heard a soft knock on the door.

‘Who would be knocking at this hour? Is someone playing a prank?’

She had no intention of getting out of bed.

But then…

The lights flickered on, and a familiar voice broke the silence.

“It’s no time to be sleeping, sleepyhead.”

“Huh?”

Kyoko sat up to see a wide-awake Kosan and a sleepy-eyed Bubbles standing in the doorway.

“What are you…”

“Don’t just lie there! Get up, we went through a lot of trouble for this.”

“Even if you say so…” Kyoko frowned, confused. “What’s going on? It’s the middle of the night!”

“Yo is waiting for you downstairs,” Bubbles mumbled, stifling a yawn.

“Yo?”

Before Kyoko could process this bombshell, Kosan grabbed her arm and pulled her out of bed.

“Come on, let’s go!”

“Wait! It’s freezing!” Kyoko protested, shivering. “Let me get a jacket! It’s winter, for crying out loud!”

“Do you really want to keep him waiting? He poured his heart out, you know.”

“If you’re too scared to face him, I’ll just tell him you chickened out.”

“No!”

Kyoko was wide awake now. She grabbed Kosan’s arm.

“Well? Are you coming or not?” Kosan raised an eyebrow.

“I’m coming! I’m coming!”

Before Kosan could say another word, Kyoko was out the door.

Chapter 9: You Must Be Sick!

“Kyoko, you’ve been acting strange lately,” Bubbles said, looking at Kyoko, who was sitting on the bed, lost in thought.

“Strange?” Kyoko jumped, “No way, what are you talking about?”

“You weren’t paying attention in class today and got scolded by Ms. Eve.” Bubbles held up a finger thoughtfully.

“Well… it was almost lunchtime. I was just a little distracted.”

Bubbles shook her head and held up another finger. “You’re not eating as much. You’ve only had two bowls of rice at every meal these past few days.”

“Heh heh.” Kyoko gave a dry laugh. “It’s not good for girls to eat too much. What if… what if I get fat…”

Before she could finish, she saw Bubbles’ eyes widen in alarm.

“You’re sick! Kyoko, you’re sick!” Bubbles cried, turning to run out the door.

“Wait, hold on!”

“Bubbles, wait!”

Sensing disaster, Kyoko leaped off the bed.

She caught up to Bubbles in a flash and grabbed her arm. “Where are you going?”

“I need to get Ms. Eve! Let go of me, Kyoko, let go!”

Bubbles struggled for a moment, then gave up, her small limbs no match for Kyoko’s grip.

“We need to see a doctor when we’re sick! Don’t be stubborn!” Bubbles pleaded, her face etched with worry.

“Who’s sick? I’m perfectly fine!” Kyoko said, exasperated.

“…But you said you couldn’t eat anymore. You must be sick!” Bubbles insisted. “We have to tell Ms. Eve!”

Kyoko’s eye twitched.

‘Does she really think of me as some kind of bottomless pit?’

She sighed. “Bubbles, I’m really not sick. It’s just… you wouldn’t understand.”

Kyoko released Bubbles, her expression troubled.

“I wouldn’t understand?”

Bubbles tilted her head. “Bubbles might not be the smartest, but how would you know if I don’t understand if you don’t tell me? Maybe… maybe I do know.”

“Hmm…” Kyoko pondered this.

“Tell me, tell me!” Bubbles pleaded, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

“Well…” Kyoko hesitated.

“Please, please, please!” Bubbles shook Kyoko’s arm insistently.

“Fine, fine, I’ll tell you.”

“But you can’t tell anyone! Promise?” Kyoko fixed Bubbles with a serious look. “Not even Ms. Eve!”

“Not even Ms. Eve?” Bubbles’ curiosity deepened. After a moment, she declared, “Bubbles is a good girl. Bubbles never lies. So…”

“I promise I won’t tell a soul.”

Reassured, Kyoko took a deep breath.

“Bubbles,” she began, “Have you ever… felt this way?”

“There’s this person… someone you pretend not to care about…”

“But whenever they’re near, your heart beats so fast you think it might burst.”

“You act tough whenever you talk to them, but later you regret every word you said.”

“You think about them constantly… during class, during meals…”

“Even when you’re back in the dorm, your mind is filled with thoughts of them.”

Kyoko’s voice trailed off. She sounded as if she were speaking both to Bubbles and to herself.

“What’s wrong with me?”

“What’s wrong with you? It’s obvious!”

A voice interrupted them, smug and self-satisfied. “Our dear class president has a crush!”

Before Bubbles could even process Kyoko’s confession, the door swung open, revealing an unwelcome visitor.

“Kosan!” Kyoko shrieked, her face turning crimson. “You were eavesdropping!”

“Eavesdropping? How could you accuse me of such a thing?”

Kosan spread her hands innocently. “I just happened to be passing by and heard a commotion. Naturally, I was concerned. What if our usually uptight, goody-two-shoes class president was bullying our precious Bubbles?”

“Out of concern for my fellow classmates, I decided to linger for a bit.”

“That’s still eavesdropping!” Kyoko cried.

“Must you shout? What if someone hears you?” Kosan smirked. “It wouldn’t be good for certain secrets to get out, would it?”

She shut the door behind her, clearly not planning to leave anytime soon.

“What are you doing?” Kyoko asked, a sense of foreboding washing over her.

“Well, let’s just say…” Kosan drawled, enjoying Kyoko’s growing discomfort. “You might be bossy, loud, nosy, and act like a tomboy most of the time…”

Seeing Kyoko’s darkening expression, she quickly changed her tune. “But… you do have your moments of girlishness.”

Kyoko lowered her head. After a moment, she pulled out three candies from her pocket.

“Hmph, here.”

“Hmm?” Kosan didn’t move.

“This is all I have!” Seeing Kosan’s nonchalant act, Kyoko’s temper flared again. “Don’t push your luck!”

“Bubbles has some too!” Bubbles chimed in, her voice filled with reluctance as she produced the milk candy Ms. Eve had given her. “If it’s not enough, you can have Bubbles’ too.”

“Bubbles…” Kyoko was touched. She stepped in front of Bubbles protectively.

“This is Bubbles’! You can’t have it!”

“Oh, come on, you two.” Kosan waved her hand dismissively. “Do I look like someone who would exploit someone’s private affairs for a few pieces of candy?”

“Aren’t you?” Kyoko narrowed her eyes.

“Ahem, it seems you have a rather low opinion of me, Kyoko… Fine, I’ll be frank.”

Kosan’s expression turned serious. “This time, I’m here to help.”

“Huh?” Kyoko stared at her incredulously. “What was that?”

“Don’t sound so surprised. I, Kosan, am offering you my assistance.”

“Ms. Eve is worried about you, you know,” Kosan added.

“Ms. Eve? Worried about me?”

“Of course! You’ve been moping around for days. Naturally, she’s concerned.”

“I don’t really care how you feel about me, but…” Kosan continued, “This is stressing Ms. Eve out.”

“So let me help you.”

“Go back to being the bossy, nosy, class president we all know and love. Stop worrying everyone.”

“Even if you say so…” Kyoko sighed, deflated. “You can’t help me.”

“…”

Kosan raised an eyebrow, feeling a little offended.

“Hmph.”

“Hahahahahaha!”

Without warning, Kosan burst into laughter.

“What’s so funny?” Before Kyoko could finish, Kosan interrupted. “It’s Yo, isn’t it?”

“You… you… you…” Kyoko pointed a trembling finger at the smug girl before her, speechless.

“‘You, you, you…’ What? Are you asking how I knew?”

Kosan snorted. “Please, it’s so obvious.”

“Obvious? What do you mean ‘obvious’?” Kyoko’s cheeks flushed crimson.

‘Really? Does everyone know?’

“Hello? Earth to Kyoko?” Kosan snapped her fingers, interrupting Kyoko’s spiraling thoughts. “Now do you believe me?”

“…”

Looking at Kyoko, speechless but clearly expectant, Kosan drawled, “I might have an idea.”

Chapter 8: Short Legs, Slow Walk

“Go, Kyoko!”

“Don’t let the girls win!”

“Shoot! Goal!”

“Yay!”

“Go, go, go!” Bubbles cheered from the sidelines.

On the makeshift soccer field, a group of children were engaged in a spirited, if somewhat chaotic, match.

It wasn’t a proper game, not with their limited numbers and varying ages. Some of the younger children were relegated to cheering from the sidelines.

They had agreed on a few basic rules: one point for each goal. As for the rest…

“Kosan, you’re the goalie! What are you doing all the way over there?”

“Never mind that! I won’t let you hog all the glory, Kyoko!”

Kosan sprinted across the field, shouting at the top of her lungs. Distracted, she tripped over her own feet and landed face-first on the ground.

“Now’s my chance!”

A boy with tanned skin and a bright smile seized the opportunity, dribbling the ball with impressive speed.

This point is mine! He thought, his competitive spirit burning. A surge of adrenaline coursed through him as he pushed himself harder.

Faster! Faster! Faster!

He had never run this fast before. The unguarded goal was within reach!

“Not so fast!”

The sound of a certain girl’s voice made him falter.

“He’s open!”

Kyoko didn’t hesitate. Taking advantage of the boy’s momentary lapse in concentration, she slid tackled the ball, sending it flying in the opposite direction.

“Hee hee, it’s mine now!”

Cheers erupted from the sidelines as Kyoko regained control of the ball.

She glanced down at her opponent, surprised to see that he wasn’t upset. Instead, he flashed her a good-natured grin.

“Nice one, Kyoko. You’re too good.”

“Well, of course I am.”

“You’ll have to try harder than that to beat me, Yo.” Despite her confident words, Kyoko’s heart skipped a beat.

‘Was that too mean?’ she wondered. ‘Should I be nicer next time? But I’ve always been like this with Yo. What if he thinks I’m weird for acting differently all of a sudden?’

Her thoughts in turmoil, Kyoko glared at the boy’s cheerful face, a strange mix of annoyance and something else bubbling within her.

“Come on, team! Let’s score another goal!”

“Yeah!”

Fueled by a strange cocktail of emotions, Kyoko charged back into the game.

…………………………………………………………

“One more, please!”

Kyoko held out her empty bowl at the cafeteria window.

“…” The burly man behind the counter silently refilled it.

“Kyo- Kyoko…”

“What is it, Bubbles?” Kyoko mumbled through a mouthful of rice.

“Isn’t that a bit too much? You just finished a whole bowl!” Bubbles stared at her in awe. She had struggled to finish even half of her own portion.

“I’m a growing girl! I need my energy.”

Kyoko picked up a piece of pickled radish and popped it into her mouth, chasing it down with a spoonful of rice. “Man, I wish we had some meat.”

She eyed the meager offerings on the table: pickled radish, boiled cabbage… “It’s almost the end of the month,” she said wistfully. “We’ll have something good to eat then.”

“Something good?” Bubbles looked at her curiously.

“Yeah, something good.”

Kyoko didn’t elaborate, focusing on finishing her lunch.

A few minutes later, she was back at the window. “Excuse me, sir, one more!”

Meanwhile, at the school gates, Eve greeted the burly man with a smile. “Heading out, Captain Araki?”

“Yes, Ms. Eve. A bit earlier than usual today.” Araki smiled back, a rare sight. “I hear the new student arrived. Planning a little welcome party?”

“Indeed.” Araki pulled out a logbook. “If you’ll just sign the entry and exit log, Ms. Eve. You understand, it’s protocol.”

“Of course, Captain. You’re too kind.”

Watching the woman before him, Araki couldn’t help but feel a surge of respect.

Ms. Eve was a remarkable woman. It took a special kind of person to persevere in this line of work.

No fancy clothes, no close friends, no loving partner.

Bland food, meager rations.

Basic accommodation, devoid of any luxury.

The pay wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t exactly enticing either.

And most importantly, their freedom was severely restricted. One outing per month, five hours maximum.

Teachers came and went, many leaving within a month, unable to handle the isolation and pressure.

But Ms. Eve? She had been here for five years. Five long years.

‘How many five years does a person have?’

That was why he and his men often turned a blind eye to her little transgressions.

Like her monthly grocery runs to supplement the children’s diet.

Like the extra snacks she always seemed to have tucked away in her pockets.

Araki felt himself becoming softer, more lenient, ever since Ms. Eve had arrived.

By the book, he should have confiscated the bag of snacks Bubbles had brought with her.

‘I’m getting old,’ he thought wryly, his expression returning to its usual stoicism.

He scrutinized the logbook, ensuring everything was in order before looking up at Eve. “Remember, Ms. Eve, you have five hours. Please return to the premises on time.”

“Of course, Captain. See you later.”

Eve waved goodbye and hurried off, her mind already buzzing with dinner plans.

She didn’t see the salute.

“Salute!”

The moment she was out of sight, Captain Araki and the other guards snapped to attention, their hands raised in a silent gesture of respect.

………………………………………………………………………..

“Dinner time! Food waits for no one!”

The moment the bell rang, a certain ravenous girl bolted towards the cafeteria.

“One serving of rice, please. And make it a big one!”

A heaping bowl of steaming rice appeared before her. As Kyoko reached for it, a small plate of braised pork materialized beside it.

“Huh?”

She blinked, then noticed Ms. Eve peering at her from behind the counter, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“M-Ms. Eve?”

“Don’t block the other students, Kyoko.”

“Oh, right! Sorry!”

Kyoko scurried back to her table, her face beaming. “Bubbles, come on! We’ve got something good tonight!”

“Coming!”

Short legs, slow walk. Bubbles, as always, was the last to arrive.

She finally reached the front of the line, collected her food, and turned to leave.

“Bubbles!” Ms. Eve called out.

“Yes, Ms. Eve?”

“This is a special reward for being such a good girl.” Eve handed her a piece of milk candy, winking conspiratorially.

“Don’t tell anyone.”

Bubbles stared at her, then broke into a wide grin.

“Okay!”

Chapter 7: Our Journey is to the Stars!

A new day began, and with it, Bubbles’s school life.

“Class is in session.”

“Stand up.”

“Good morning, everyone.” Ms. Eve surveyed the twenty-three children seated before her, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. “Excellent, everyone’s present.”

“Good morning, Ms. Eve!”

Bubbles bowed along with her classmates and took her seat.

She had been assigned a spot in the front row, directly facing the teacher’s desk. While this was partly due to Ms. Eve’s attentiveness, it was mainly because Bubbles was rather short.

It wasn’t that she was underdeveloped; compared to other children her age, Bubbles’s height was perfectly normal. However, her classmates ranged in age from seven-year-olds like herself to thirteen-year-olds like Kyoko, the class president.

Despite the age gap, the children sat attentively, listening to their teacher, creating a surprisingly harmonious atmosphere.

“Today, we’ll be revisiting the history of the Federation. Those who haven’t heard it before, please listen carefully. As for the rest of you, I expect your full attention as well.”

“Three hundred years ago, the Blue Planet was a thriving world. Technology had reached unimaginable heights, far surpassing what we have today.”

“According to historical records, the first interstellar spacecraft had been successfully developed, and the ‘Second Home’ project was entering its final stages. Interplanetary migration was on the horizon.”

“People all over the world were united as never before. There was a popular slogan back then.” Ms. Eve smiled. “Can anyone tell me what it was?”

“Yes, Kyoko, you were the first to raise your hand. The floor is yours.”

Kyoko, seated in the back row, stood up and declared with a flourish, “Our journey is to the stars!”

“That’s right!”

Ms. Eve beamed. “What an inspiring, empowering statement.”

“If only everything had gone according to plan, perhaps…” A wave of emotion washed over Eve as she imagined the lost potential of humanity.

“But then… the Chaos came.”

…………………………………………………………..

Ms. Eve continued, her voice filled with emotion as she described the arrival of the Chaos and humanity’s struggle against the overwhelming disaster.

Earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons… natural disasters of unprecedented scale ravaged the planet.

Grotesque, bloodthirsty, and utterly alien creatures, the harbingers of Chaos, descended upon the world.

The hostile environment and terrifying enemies were daunting challenges, but humanity refused to yield.

Countless heroes fought and died, their bravery and sacrifice a testament to the indomitable spirit of mankind.

The war raged for a century, and in the end, humanity emerged victorious, albeit at a terrible cost.

The environment, scarred by the taint of Chaos, remained hostile. Human civilization, once a beacon of progress, lay in ruins.

To make matters worse, remnants of the defeated Chaos still lingered, lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to unleash their fury upon the world.

Bubbles listened intently, only partially comprehending the gravity of Ms. Eve’s words.

The idea of restoring the Blue Planet to its former glory, of the Federation carrying the torch of their ancestors, was lost on her young mind. But if Ms. Eve said it was important, then it must be true.

And so, with a mix of understanding and wonder, Bubbles completed her first lesson.

“So, Bubbles, how was it? Getting used to school life?”

Kyoko, Bubbles’s roommate and the class president, approached her, her expression surprisingly gentle.

“It’s nice,” Bubbles replied with a nod.

“If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask. I’m the class president, after all.” Kyoko puffed out her chest proudly. “Bubbles…”

“Since when did you become so caring, Kyoko?” Kosan, a girl seated behind them, interrupted playfully. “You were never this nice to me.”

“Hmph.” Kyoko glared at her former roommate and resident troublemaker.

“Don’t you know?” Kyoko lifted her chin.

“Ms. Eve asked me to look after Bubbles.” She emphasized the words ‘Ms. Eve.’ “It’s a very important task, one that only the class president can handle.”

“Oh…” Kosan deflated slightly, realizing that her favorite teacher was involved. “I see.”

Kyoko pressed her advantage. “Besides, you have some nerve!”

“Who hid my backpack and made me cry for hours?”

“Who put a frog in my bed and made me roll off in fright?”

“Who scared me while I was eating and made me choke on my food?”

“Who…”

Kyoko continued listing Kosan’s past transgressions, her expression a mixture of mock anger and amusement.

“That’s awful! Who would do such a thing?” Kosan feigned innocence.

“You! It was you all along!” Kyoko pointed an accusing finger at her. “You’re a menace, Kosan! I bet you’ll be crying yourself to sleep in that empty dorm room of yours!”

“That’s what you think.” A sly smile spread across Kosan’s face. “Who said I’d be alone?”

“And for your information, I never cry.”

“Let’s see… there are twenty-two students in our class, and we share dorm rooms, right?”

“Yeah, so?”

“So?” Kyoko gestured towards Bubble, then herself. “Now that Bubbles’s here, and I, being the kind and considerate senior that I am, moved in with her, that means…”

She folded her arms triumphantly. “You’re all alone, Kosan!”

“…Hahahaha!” Kosan jumped to her feet, looking down at Kyoko. “You thought you had me, didn’t you?”

“Huh?” Kyoko frowned.

“One, two, three, four… twenty-three.” Kosan counted the students in the classroom under her breath.

“Twenty-three divided by two doesn’t result in a whole number, Kyoko. You should pay more attention in math class.”

“…Don’t treat me like an idiot!” Kosan fumed. She had planned to drag out the suspense, to savor the look on Kyoko’s face when she revealed her trump card, but now she couldn’t wait any longer.

“Ms. Eve, she… she moved in with me!”

“What?!”

“Really?”

“No way!”

The children flocked around Kosan, their eyes wide with disbelief.

“It’s true! Ms. Eve spent the whole night with me!” Kosan basked in their envious gazes, her expression triumphant.

“With Ms. Eve, there are twenty-four of us. Twenty-four divided by two is a whole number!”

“Looks like you’re the one who miscalculated, class president!”

“Hee hee hee!”

“W-what? How is that possible?” Kyoko was devastated.

“How is it not?” Kosan smirked. “Looks like you’re stuck with the newbie, Kyoko. Ms. Eve is all mine!”

Her victory was short-lived.

“No fair! Ms. Eve belongs to everyone!”

“That’s not fair!”

“Kosan’s being selfish!”

The classroom erupted in protest. Ms. Eve belonged to all of them; they wouldn’t let Kosan monopolize her.

“I want to be with Ms. Eve too!”

“Me too!”

“No way! Ms. Eve is mine!” Kosan shouted back, her voice laced with panic.

“You don’t get to decide that! I’m sleeping over at your dorm tonight!”

“Me too!”

“Me three!”

“And me…”

Ms. Eve paused outside the classroom, hearing the commotion within.

‘What a lively bunch,’ she thought to herself, a fond smile touching her lips.

Chapter 6: A Cigarette and a Promise

The ‘veteran’ drove smoothly and swiftly, but Aya, sitting in the passenger seat, was not pleased.

“Senior, slow down! You’ll run a red light!”

The man glanced at the rearview mirror. Bubbles, her face a mixture of anxiety and curiosity, sat quietly in the backseat.

‘My driving skills are impeccable after all these years.’ He thought to himself, but nonetheless, he eased off the accelerator.

“Bubbles, you have to listen to your teachers at school, okay?”

“Okay, Aya.”

“Don’t fight with your classmates. Make lots of friends.”

“Okay!”

“You’re still growing, so no picky eating.”

“Okay! Bubbles is a good girl, Bubble never picky eats.”

“And pay attention in class…”

Bubbles’s heart warmed as she listened to Aya’s endless list of reminders.

“Bubbles will study hard and make her teachers proud!” She declared resolutely.

No matter how slow the journey, there was always an end.

“We’re here.”

The car rolled to a stop. Aya studied the imposing building before them, “Private Cherry Blossom Elementary School,” her expression grim.

Located far from the city center, the school was secluded and eerily quiet. Surrounded by towering walls, with burly, watchful guards stationed at regular intervals, it felt less like an educational institution and more like…

“This is private property. State your business.” A stern-looking man approached them, his eyes wary.

Aya noticed the gun holstered at his hip and frowned as she presented their documents.

“We’re here to enroll this child.”

The ‘veteran’ flashed a friendly smile, offering a cigarette. “Care for one, comrade?”

The man remained impassive. He took the documents with one hand and began examining them carefully.

Unfazed by the cold shoulder, the ‘veteran’ put the cigarette in his mouth and was about to light it when Aya nudged him discreetly.

“?”

He followed her gaze and saw the little girl watching them with wide, curious eyes.

‘Can’t corrupt the youth.’ He sighed inwardly, reluctantly putting away the cigarette.

“You have twenty minutes. Leave the premises after that.” The man said curtly after verifying their documents, stepping aside to let them through.

“Come on, Bubbles.”

Aya took the little girl’s hand and led her through the gates, her heart heavy with apprehension.

“Ms. Eve is a good teacher.” The man’s voice called out as they passed him.

The ‘veteran’ paused, turning back to see the man’s usual stoic expression, as if he hadn’t spoken at all.

“Thanks, comrade.” The ‘veteran’ gave him a nod and hurried after Aya and Bubbles.

“Welcome to Private Cherry Blossom Elementary School.”

Bubbles, with her yellow safety helmet, red backpack, and a small bag of snacks, froze.

Standing before them, in front of the school building, was a tall, elegant woman with long, wine-red hair. A warm smile graced her lips.

“Children, this is your new classmate. Let’s give her a big round of applause.”

“Welcome, welcome!”

“A warm welcome!”

“Clap, clap, clap!”

A chorus of small voices rang out as the children behind the woman clapped enthusiastically, their eyes filled with curiosity as they looked at Bubbles.

Aya hadn’t expected such a reception. She had imagined this place to be much more… sterile, perhaps.

The ‘veteran’ studied the young woman before them. Tall, with cascading auburn hair and kind eyes, she exuded an aura of warmth and compassion.

“And you are?”

“I’m Eve. I’ll be this child’s homeroom teacher.”

After shaking hands with both adults, Eve crouched down to Bubble’s level, her eyes meeting the little girl’s. “Won’t you introduce yourself, dear?”

Aya let go of Bubbles’s hand and gave her a gentle nudge. “Go on.”

Flushing bright red, Bubbles shuffled over to the group of children. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Finally, she stammered, “H-hello everyone.”

“I’m Bubbles!”

“The snacks… they’re… they’re for everyone!”

She held up the plastic bag. “Here, take some!”

A moment of silence, then a wave of excited shouts.

“Ooh!”

“Jelly! And milk candy!”

“Look, croissants!”

“I want spicy strips!”

“…”

The contents of the bag disappeared in a flash. Seeing their happy faces, Bubbles couldn’t help but grin.

“What a sweet child.”

Eve’s smile widened. “Thank you both for your thoughtfulness.”

“It’s no problem at all.”

Aya hesitated for a moment, then exchanged a look with the ‘veteran.’

Understanding her silent cue, the man stepped forward, positioning himself between the women and the children.

Eve looked at him in surprise, but before she could speak, Aya pressed a red envelope into her hand.

“Thank you for all your hard work, Ms. Eve. A small token of our appreciation. Please take care of Bubbles…”

Before Aya could finish, Eve clasped her hand.

“Ms. Eve?”

Aya stared at her, bewildered.

“Are you Bubbles’s older sister?” Eve asked, her expression serious.

“No.”

“Her mother, then?”

“That’s… I’m not old enough to be her mother.” Aya chuckled awkwardly.

“A relative, perhaps?” Eve pressed on.

“No, Bubbles and I aren’t related.”

“In fact, we haven’t even known each other for a fortnight.”

“Oh?” Eve nodded slowly. “Then why are you so concerned for her, Ms. Aya?”

“…”

Silence hung in the air for a moment before Aya finally spoke. “Bubbles is a good kid. That’s all the reason I need.”

“I hope you find my answer satisfactory, Ms. Eve.”

The ‘veteran,’ sensing the sudden shift in Aya’s tone, knew his partner’s temper was about to flare. He was about to intervene when Eve smiled again, reaching out with her other hand to clasp Aya’s between hers.

“Please, trust me.”

Her voice was sincere, filled with warmth. “I share your sentiments, Ms. Aya.”

“This child has suffered enough.”

“I cannot change the past, but I can promise you this…”

“From this day forward, I will care for Bubbles as my own.”

“I will do everything in my power to ensure her well-being and help her grow.”

“Believe me, she will rejoin society as a healthy, happy young woman one day.”

Eve’s words, spoken with unwavering conviction, resonated deeply with both Aya and the ‘veteran.’

Exchanging a look with her partner, Aya felt a weight lift from her heart.

She was suddenly embarrassed by her earlier suspicion.

Returning Eve’s smile, Aya squeezed her hand gently.

“Ms. Eve…”

“Bubbles, you’re in good hands now.”

Chapter 5: Little Student Bubble

“Dinner together tonight?” A young woman with a briefcase asked Aya.

“Ah, another time. I have something to do tonight.” Aya glanced at her watch. “I’ll be going then.”

Watching Aya hurry away, the colleague who had spoken to her tilted her head. “Has Aya been acting colder than usual lately?”

“Yeah, I noticed that too,” another colleague chimed in.

“Do you think it’s because…”

“No way, who could it be?” A woman with long hair asked, surprised.

“I heard it’s someone from the Third Division.”

“Hmm?”

“Her partner from the last mission,” someone whispered, leaning in conspiratorially.

“Oh, I knew it!”

“Hee hee, someone’s got it bad…”

Ignoring the gossip behind her, Aya strode out of the office.

Arriving at her destination after a short taxi ride, Aya thanked the driver and entered “Romantic Moment.”

It was a small, cozy cafe, its name a clear indication of its target clientele: lovebirds on a date.

Aya walked straight towards a table where the ‘veteran,’ dressed casually, sat waiting.

“Senior, you’re early.”

“It’s unbecoming of a gentleman to keep a lady waiting.”

The man chuckled, then shrugged at her lack of response. “Coffee? Juice?”

“Water,” Aya replied casually.

“One water, then.” He signaled for the waiter. An awkward silence fell between them.

The atmosphere was undeniably strained, but then again, they weren’t there for a romantic rendezvous.

“How’s Bubbles doing?” Aya finally broke the silence.

She had intended to take care of Bubbles personally during her time at the facility, but the investigation, initially expected to last a few days, had been delayed for reasons unknown to her. Left with no other choice, she had entrusted the little girl to the ‘veteran,’ who had more connections within the organization.

“It’s only been a few days. Didn’t realize you were so attached.” The man chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she’s happy and healthy when you see her again.”

“Senior, it’s been seven days,” Aya said pointedly.

The man’s smile faded. He took a moment to choose his words carefully. “There have been some complications.”

“…” Aya remained silent.

“We sent specialists to investigate the scene. There were no traces of Chaotic entities. The sea of flowers seems to be another unexplained phenomenon, no immediate threat detected.”

“Then why haven’t you released Bubbles? She doesn’t have to go back to the orphanage. We can find a family willing to adopt her.” Aya’s voice rose in frustration.

The ‘veteran’ sighed, his expression grave. “The problem is, Bubbles’s contamination levels are too high.”

“How high?” Aya’s eyes widened in alarm.

“30.5%.”

“That’s…” After a moment of stunned silence, Aya continued, “That’s a precarious number.”

“Tell me about it.” The man downed his coffee in one gulp. “Anything above 30% is a serious problem. Thankfully, the Federation laws are more lenient towards children.”

“30.5%…”

Seeing Aya’s crestfallen expression, the man tried to reassure her. “Look on the bright side, Aya. Bubbles is a good kid. We have to have faith in her.”

“This is just a temporary setback. I’m sure she’ll be able to return to a normal life soon.”

………………………………………………………….

This place was strange. Every day, Bubbles met new aunts and uncles who ran countless tests on her.

Sometimes, Bubbles wondered, “Bubbles isn’t sick. Why are there so many tests?”

The adults would just smile and tell her that the tests were necessary, and that Bubbles was a good girl who always listened to her elders.

And Bubbles was a good girl. She never threw tantrums.

Perhaps it was because they saw a lonely little girl who was well-behaved and obedient. Or perhaps it was because the 30.5% contamination level was indeed an anomaly.

Whatever the reason, within a few days, the adults started showing their kind side.

There were always candies and snacks, and they even allowed a certain someone to visit.

“Bubbles, look what your uncle brought you!”

The man in the black suit and sunglasses walked into Bubbles’s temporary residence, carrying a bag of snacks.

“Uncle ‘Veteran’!” Bubbles’s eyes lit up as she ran towards him.

“Give me a hug!”

The man, initially embarrassed by the nickname, softened at the sight of the little girl’s enthusiasm.

He bent down and nuzzled his beard against her cheek.

“Tickles!” Bubbles giggled.

“Bubbles, is anyone bullying you here? Tell me, and I’ll take care of them.”

“Everyone’s been nice to Bubbles.” The little girl smiled, her dimples appearing on her chubby cheeks.

“That’s good, that’s good.”

The man straightened up and said cheerfully, “But you can’t stay here forever, Bubbles. It’s time for you to go somewhere else.”

“Somewhere else?” The little girl looked confused. “But, the director…”

“Not that place.” Realizing his tone was a bit harsh, the man softened his voice. “Bubbles, you’re a big girl now.”

“Yes, Bubbles is seven years old!”

“Seven years old. Where do seven-year-olds go?”

“?????”

Seeing the question marks in her eyes, the ‘veteran’ revealed the answer. “It’s time for school, Bubbles.”

“School?” Bubbles’s blonde pigtails bounced. “Bubbles is going to school?”

“Of course! A good girl like you should go to school.”

“Look, your sister even brought your uniform.”

Bubbles turned around to see a familiar woman standing in the doorway.

“Aya!”

“Bubbles…” Aya’s eyes were filled with warmth as she pulled the little girl into a hug. “Look what I brought.”

“Wow!”

A yellow safety helmet, a red backpack, and… the plain white school uniform she had been longing for.

“Try it on,” Aya urged.

“Okay!”

Bubbles quickly changed into her new clothes and turned around. “Aya, what does it say on the back?”

“Pri-vate Cher-ry Ele-men-ta-ry School.”

Aya read slowly, enunciating each syllable. “This is the school you’ll be attending from now on.”

“And because it’s a boarding school… it’ll be a long time before I can see you again.”

A hint of sadness crept into Aya’s voice, but Bubbles, lost in her excitement, didn’t notice.

At that moment, there was only one thought on the little girl’s mind.

“Bubbles is finally going to school!”

Chapter 4: The Mischievous Big Sister

“Sasha!” Bubbles pushed against the door, but it wouldn’t budge. She turned to her sister for help.

“Well, this is troublesome.”

Sasha put her hands on her hips, surveying their surroundings for an escape route.

“The window… no good.” In the blink of an eye, the raging flames had blocked their only other exit.

“The door won’t open… the window…” Looking up, Sasha realized that while the door was indeed locked, the transom window above it couldn’t be bolted shut.

“Bubbles, help me move a chair!”

“Coming!”

Bubbles rushed over, her movements clumsy with fear. Together, they dragged a chair towards the door.

“Sasha, what are we going to do?”

Bubbles was frantic, her eyes red-rimmed with tears. This was all too much for her young mind to process. Instinctively, she turned to the person she trusted most for help.

“One chair…” Sasha compared her height to the window, then glanced back at the approaching flames.

“No time.” A wave of sadness washed over Sasha, but seeing the desperation in her sister’s eyes, she forced a smile.

She climbed onto the chair and held out her hand. “Bubbles, come here.”

“See that window up there? Yes, that one. You’re going to climb on my shoulders and climb through it. Trust yourself, Bubbles, you can do it.”

“But, what about you, Sasha? I can’t leave you behind!” Bubbles shook her head vehemently.

“Silly Bubbles…”

Sasha wiped her stinging eyes, her vision blurry from the smoke. “Once you’re out, go get help. Promise me you’ll save me, Bubbles.”

Something felt wrong, but with her sister’s insistent urging, Bubbles stepped onto her shoulders.

“Bubbles.”

“Yes?”

Halfway through the window, Bubbles froze at the sound of her sister’s voice.

“Be a good kid, okay?”

Sasha’s tone was strange, almost wistful. With that, she jumped up, pushing her sister’s feet with all her might.

“Ahhhh!”

Sasha crumpled to the floor, her body aching from the fall. She didn’t even try to get up.

Whispering a final blessing for her sister, she stared at the flames licking their way towards her and sighed.

“If only I knew… who…”

………………………………………………..

Silence descended upon the room as the little girl finished her story.

A rare pang of regret struck the ‘veteran.’ Perhaps he had been wrong this time.

Aya, tears streaming down her face, walked over and embraced Bubbles.

“Bubbles…”

“Waaahhhh!” The little girl burst into tears, burying her face in Aya’s chest.

“Bubbles is a big dummy, it’s all Bubbles’s fault. If it wasn’t for finding Bubbles food, Sasha, sister wouldn’t have…”

“It was an accident, sweetheart. Let it all out, you’ll feel better.”

The man quietly excused himself, stepping out of the room and leaning against the wall, lighting a cigarette.

The sound of the little girl’s sobs tugged at his heartstrings.

A while later, his phone vibrated. Glancing at the message, he extinguished his cigarette and knocked on the door.

“Aya, bring Bubbles out. Backup is here.”

The chatter inside ceased. A moment later, Aya emerged, leading the little girl by the hand.

“Senior, since this was all a misunderstanding, about Bubbles…”

“I understand how you feel, but we have to follow protocol… There’s nothing I can do.”

The three of them descended the stairs in silence, passing through the sea of flowers. As they stepped out of the orphanage, they were met with a group of heavily armed soldiers, standing guard as if facing a formidable enemy.

The man raised his hands, his expression unsurprised. “Stand down, everyone. It’s a misunderstanding. Please remain calm.”

Aya, after calming the anxious Bubbles, followed suit. “Easy there, we don’t want to scare the child.”

The soldiers, faces grim behind their helmets, remained motionless, as if they hadn’t heard a word.

A moment later, a tall, imposing man in a black suit and sunglasses approached them.

He studied Aya and the ‘veteran’ carefully, then glanced at Bubbles.

“I expect a detailed report on my desk.”

“Understood.” Aya and the man responded in unison.

The man in sunglasses nodded curtly and gestured to the troops behind him.

“Pack it up!” His voice boomed across the courtyard.

“One, two!”

“One, two!”

“One, two!”

“One, two!”

The soldiers chanted in unison, falling back into formation and boarding the armored transport trucks with practiced efficiency. Within minutes, the only ones left in front of the orphanage were the three of them and…

“Officer…” A hesitant voice called out. The orphanage director approached them cautiously.

The earlier display had clearly shaken the old man. Only after the soldiers had withdrawn did he dare to approach them.

“Director, I apologize for the inconvenience.” The man bowed slightly. The old man waved his hands dismissively. “Oh, no, it’s alright, officer…”

“It’s all over now, you can rest assured.” Aya added, “We just need to take Bubbles with us for a short while. Don’t worry, we’ll bring her back safe and sound once everything is cleared up.”

The director fell silent, his eyes downcast.

Mistaking his silence for distrust, Aya reassured him again. “Director, you have our word.”

“I’ll take good care of Bubbles while she’s away. I promise she’ll be happy and healthy when she returns.”

She turned to Bubbles and made a funny face. “Isn’t that right, Bubbles?”

“Hee hee!” The little girl giggled, her tears drying up. “Bubbles will be good. Bubbles won’t cause any trouble for Aya.”

“You…” Aya’s heart ached for the child’s understanding. She turned to the director, about to say something, but stopped short. The old man’s gaze flickered, avoiding her eyes.

Sensing something amiss, the ‘veteran’ frowned. Before he could speak, the director spoke, his voice trembling slightly. “That’s… that’s very kind of you, officer.”

“I’m relieved to know she’ll be in good hands, but… she doesn’t have to come back.”

“…What?”

Aya blinked, her mind struggling to catch up. “Bubbles will be back soon. This is just a formality, we…”

“I’m sorry, but we can no longer accommodate her here.”

The old man kept his head bowed, unable to meet Aya’s gaze. His voice, however, was firm. “This has always been a peaceful place, nothing like this has ever happened before.”

“The fire was the only exception… alas.”

“Officer, you don’t understand. Ever since Sasha… passed, everyone’s been on edge. It was an accident, but… people talk.”

“And now this…”

“There are far better facilities in the Federation… It’s for the best, for both us and Bubbles.”

“So please, don’t bring her back here.”

The old man bowed deeply. “Please!”

Aya instinctively looked at Bubbles. The little girl had her head down, clutching the rabbit doll tightly, her face pale and drawn.

Snowflakes fell around them, and Aya shivered.

“It’s cold,” the ‘veteran’ muttered, exhaling a cloud of breath into the frigid air.

Chapter 3: Bubbles and Sasha

Chaotic entities were known for their strength, ferocity, greed, and bloodlust… but not their intelligence. At least, the man had never heard of a Chaotic entity possessing extraordinary intellect.

Therefore, it wouldn’t resort to tactics like ambush, deception, or divide-and-conquer. Generally speaking, if there were no monstrous creatures lurking around the prime suspect, then this mission was likely a false alarm.

With that in mind, the man asked in a gentle tone, “Bubbles, where is your friend now?”

“Kuroro? She went on a trip far away.”

“Oh, so she’s out.” The man nodded slightly. “When will she be back?”

“I don’t know. Kuroro said she’s going to find her way home.”

“Home? Huh?” The man froze, a strange expression crossing his face. “Bubbles, did she tell you that herself?”

The little girl looked at him curiously and nodded vigorously. “Kuroro and Bubbles are good friends. She told me before she left.”

‘Since when could Chaotic entities talk?’ The man exchanged a look with Aya, the same question surfacing in both their minds.

“What does your friend look like?” Aya couldn’t help but ask.

“Small,” Bubbles gestured with her hand, about the size of her palm. “With wings.”

“Very pretty.”

“She has a nice voice.”

“She’s very kind to Bubbles.”

“……….”

The two officers exchanged uneasy glances. Based on Bubbles’s description, this didn’t sound like any Chaotic entity they knew. Intelligent, kind to children, a small humanoid creature with wings…

“That sounds like a fairy from a storybook,” Aya muttered under her breath.

Perhaps they had been mistaken from the very beginning.

The sea of flowers, Bubbles, the Chaotic entity… they had naturally linked these three elements together.

Now it seemed that the girl before them wasn’t a severely polluted individual, but a child struggling to cope with the loss of her sister and escaping into delusions. As for the sea of flowers… it was just another unexplained phenomenon, not necessarily related to Chaotic entities.

Having somewhat untangled their thoughts, Aya looked at the little girl, a pang of guilt washing over her.

Because they had overestimated the severity of the situation, they had already called for backup. Regardless, Bubbles, the ‘suspect,’ would have to be taken back to headquarters for a thorough investigation. Only after they confirmed she was safe would she be allowed to return to the orphanage.

“Bubbles, how old are you?” Feeling a twinge of remorse, Aya softened her tone.

“Hmm.” The little girl counted on her fingers. “One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.”

“Bubbles is seven years old!”

“Seven years old, that’s old enough to start school.”

The little girl nodded repeatedly. “In another month, Bubbles is going to school with my sister, but my sister, Sasha…”

Bubbles’s eyes dimmed, her dejected expression tugging at Aya’s heartstrings.

“Bubbles, you said your sister… where is she now?” The man asked, his expression unreadable.

“Senior!” Aya stared at him incredulously. “Bubbles’s sister, she’s not, she’s not…”

“Sister, sister is gone.” The little girl hung her head, tears welling up in her big, round eyes.

“…Gone? What happened?” Ignoring Aya’s accusing gaze, the man pressed on, determined to see this through.

Let his junior misunderstand him, let them think him a bully of a child. There was a lingering doubt in his heart, and as a ‘veteran,’ he knew better than to let compassion cloud his judgment.

The little girl walked back to her bed and picked up a crudely made black rabbit doll, falling silent.

Aya was mortified. She wanted to say something but found herself silenced by her senior’s stern expression. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, swallowing her words.

“That night, Bubbles was hungry.”

The little girl’s small voice broke the silence. “My tummy was rumbling.”

“Sasha heard it and wanted to find me something to eat.”

……………………………………………….

“Silly Bubbles, you have to eat when you’re hungry.” A girl who looked remarkably like Bubbles, but with a completely different demeanor, spoke with a hint of reproach.

“You have to tell your big sister when you’re hungry. Come on, let’s go find something to eat in the kitchen!”

“But, but, the director said we can’t go to the kitchen after seven o’clock.” Bubbles looked at her nonchalant sister, her voice barely a whisper.

“Silly! Silly! Silly! You’re hopeless!”

“Ow!”

Bubbles clutched her head, bewildered by her sister’s sudden outburst.

“Bubbles is a good kid, I know that. But Sasha isn’t.”

A mischievous grin spread across the older girl’s face. “Tonight, the bad kid Sasha is taking Bubbles on an adventure!”

“Umm…”

Looking at Sasha’s excitement, Bubbles knew she had no choice but to go along with it.

“Let’s go, let’s go!”

Hand in hand, the two girls made their way towards the kitchen. At first, Bubbles was worried, but their mission seemed to be going surprisingly smoothly. There were no patrolling caretakers, no other children up for a late-night bathroom break.

Reaching the kitchen door, Sasha gave it a push, and it swung open easily.

“Wow, you’re amazing, Sasha! Did you know the door wouldn’t be locked?”

Bubbles was impressed. It seemed her sister wasn’t acting entirely on impulse; she was also observant and…

“I had no idea it would be unlocked.” Sasha looked surprised.

“Then, what if it hadn’t opened?”

“We’d figure something out.” Sasha shrugged, her carefree attitude returning.

“But, but…” Bubbles was still apprehensive, but Sasha cut her off.

“Come on, stop dawdling, let’s go!”

Sasha stepped inside, undeterred by the darkness of the kitchen. She fumbled around, finding the stove and turning on the gas. The small flame brought a wave of relief to Bubbles’s anxious heart.

“Okay, close the door. We don’t want any patrolling aunties catching us.”

As she spoke, Sasha opened the refrigerator. “There’s plenty of food.”

“Sis, sister…”

“No more eggs, but there’s milk and plenty of bread.”

“Sasha, Sasha!”

“Eating some leftovers shouldn’t be a big deal… What is it?”

Hearing the panic in her sister’s voice, Sasha turned around.

“The fire, the fire’s getting bigger!”

Sasha’s eyes widened. The stove seemed to be malfunctioning.

The small flame was now dancing erratically, growing larger and larger, taking on a menacing life of its own.

Without hesitation, Sasha slammed the refrigerator door shut, ready to take action, but it was too late.

“Whoosh!” The orange flames spread with terrifying speed.

Crackle, sizzle, hiss

In the blink of an eye, the situation spiraled out of control.

“Strange, this is… too strange.”

Sasha couldn’t comprehend what was happening. It was all happening so fast, too fast. How could a fire spread so quickly, so fiercely?

“Bubbles, open the door!” She shouted, seeing her sister frozen in fear.

“Oh, okay!”

Snapping out of her daze, Bubbles scrambled towards the door.

“Click.” The sound of the deadbolt locking echoed through the kitchen.