Chapter 12: End and Morning

—Five days later.

Ephnel was woken up by her alarm clock.

She fumbled by her pillow, turned off the alarm, and picked up her phone.

The morning light outside the window was dim.

She squinted, the screen’s glow feeling a bit too harsh.

She glanced at the time.

It was 6:40 in the morning.

There were many messages on her phone, but none of them were emergency contacts from headquarters.

She pressed her lips together, put down her phone, yawned, and sat up.

After the “Erosion” disaster five days ago, Seikyo City had suddenly become much more peaceful.

Although disasters still occurred from time to time, they were all relatively small in scale and were easily suppressed by a few of the junior Agents.

This brief period of calm had given her ample time to rest and recover.

It was concerning why Seikyo City, a hotbed of Erosion disasters, would suddenly become uncharacteristically calm after a massive, large-scale event.

But in any case, no large-scale Erosion disasters meant no more casualties, which was something to be happy about.

However… the price paid for this peace was a bit too high.

Fifina was still in a coma.

Lily and Furan were injured.

Lily’s arm had been severely wounded, but after a few days of recuperation, she had mostly regained her mobility.

Furan, however, had lost her “sync” due to exhaustion in battle and was showing signs of severe infection after being attacked by an “Erosion organism.”

She was currently under observation and treatment at the joint hospital along with Fuurin Shion.

In addition, of the five initial combat Agents led by Seiran, the bodies of three had been found.

They were discovered under the rubble, already lifeless, and were registered as “killed in action.”

The other two, codenamed Qinran (Seiran) and Swallow, were still missing and were registered as “missing in action.”

According to the on-site report from the search and rescue team at the time, numerous signs of battle and the “Beacons” of both Seiran and Swallow were found near the initial landing site of the “Whale.”

Because their bodies had not been found, the search for them was still ongoing.

But it was clear that hope was slim.

Unless a miracle occurred.

But miracles are wished for precisely because they don’t happen.

Nothing ever changes simply because people wish it to.

For Ephnel, the increasingly clear end of the road felt more real than the vague hope of a miracle.

Since it was a battle where everything was on the line, it wouldn’t be surprising to die at any moment.

Ephnel was well aware of this.

She gently pressed the wound on her waist with her fingertips.

The pain had significantly subsided, and there were no obvious external injuries.

It had to be said that an Agent’s regenerative ability was indeed far superior to that of an ordinary person, and Ephnel’s was even stronger than that of other Agents.

Just then, a rustling sound came from outside her room.

It must be Yukina waking up.

Since it wasn’t a workday, Ephnel hadn’t prepared breakfast early.

“Hah…”

Thinking of this, Ephnel took a deep breath, letting the cool morning air fill her chest and clearing her thoughts.

Most of her sleepiness had been swept away.

She slipped out of her pajamas and went to the closet, taking out a chest binder and a wig from a hidden compartment.

A little grooming.

She combed her hair neatly and tucked it into the wig.

The bandage on her waist was completely hidden, and the prominence of her chest was pressed flat under loose clothing, making it unnoticeable.

In a flash, she had transformed from Ephnel into Yanase Naoto, a boy who would be praised more for being “handsome” than “cool.”

If only she had an Adam’s apple, the disguise would be perfect.

Clearing her throat, Ephnel deliberately lowered her voice and then opened the door.

As soon as she entered the living room, Ephnel saw Shiomi Yukina walk past her, carrying her commuter bag.

Today, Yukina was wearing a light blue dress.

Her hair was clearly well-cared for, and she wore delicate, light makeup.

Her youthful aura was on full display, like a single, brilliant star that captured Ephnel’s entire field of vision just by being there.

At that moment, Yukina had a piece of bread in her mouth and was scrolling through something on her phone, a faint smile on her lips.

She seemed very happy.

“Good morning, Yukina.”

Ephnel greeted Yukina.

“Morning…”

Yukina replied with a very natural expression, as if she didn’t mind at all that Ephnel had stood her up a few days ago.

But even though she didn’t say anything, Ephnel could see a fleeting shadow of darkness in the depths of her eyes.

‘To be such a failure as a brother… it’s a kind of failure in itself…’

Ephnel sighed inwardly, but her expression didn’t betray anything.

She didn’t force a smile, nor did she let the disappointment in her heart show on her face.

“Are you heading out?”

“Mhm…”

“I’ll make you breakfast now.”

“No need, this is enough for me.”

Yukina’s voice sank like an autumn leaf.

She didn’t stop in front of Ephnel, naturally averting her gaze.

Carrying her bag, she walked silently to the entryway, squatted down, and changed her shoes.

Ephnel couldn’t say anything more.

She watched Yukina’s back until she left the house.

There were no more words exchanged between them.

She stared at the closed door, pressed her lips together, and dragged her feet to the bathroom.

She began to wash up.

These past few days, her sister’s attitude towards her had been as lukewarm as ever, but Ephnel could still hear a hint of distance and rejection in the subtle changes in Yukina’s tone.

As for the reason, it was, of course, related to Ephnel standing her up again that day.

But it was for that very reason that Ephnel couldn’t defend herself.

She had to fight as “Ephnel,” and that was something she had to keep secret from Yukina—because of the secret Yukina herself carried, Ephnel didn’t want her to have any contact with this side of things, no matter what.

Under these circumstances, making excuses had become pale and feeble.

“Because I had something very important to do”—without a proper explanation, such words were just an excuse to fool a child and would probably only increase her resentment, right?

Ephnel wasn’t immune to feeling helpless and disheartened by the change in Yukina’s attitude, but even if she wanted to do something, she didn’t know where to start.

But more than just worrying, there was something else that concerned Ephnel even more right now…

—Yukina’s attire today was a bit special.

Yukina had a rather introverted personality, but today she had boldly tried a style she would never normally wear.

She had carefully applied light makeup, and her hair had been meticulously styled.

The usual Yukina was already exceptionally beautiful; now, she was even more captivating.

And the smile Ephnel had inadvertently glimpsed on Yukina’s face.

As if she were looking forward to something, it was a rare expression that hadn’t been seen on Yukina’s face in a long time.