“The dragon will awaken and monsters will run rampant. The world will return to its beginning. Put simply: the world will reset itself and start anew.”
“Dragon?”
Yuki dug through her memories to see if she had heard anything about a dragon. Irritation slowly bubbled inside her at Vivi’s offhanded explanation. She didn’t understand what Vivi was after, what she wanted, or why she was telling her these things. Would she answer if asked?
“…Why?”
“Again with the whys. Didn’t you hear my answer the first time? I’m tossing my bets and investing in you.”
“Investing in me…?”
“I saved your life. As such, you have an obligation to entertain me. Furthermore, you interrupted and interfered with my fun, thus stripping yourself of any right to refuse me. That’s. What. This. Means,” she stressed.
Yuki’s jaw dropped. What did she mean? An obligation to entertain Vivi. The price for interfering with what she was doing. Those things didn’t add up to playing a game with the world on the line. This wasn’t a funny joke.
The world is going to…fall apart.
She couldn’t fathom what it meant for the world to fall apart. Monsters appearing didn’t mean much to her when she had never encountered one before. Sure, she had a concept of monsters from movies, but how they would be in reality exceeded her imagination. Back in Japan, she had studied about global warming in school and how an increase in heat would melt the polar icecaps sending Earth back to the Ice Age. But global warming seemed like a different kind of world ending than falling apart or crumbling under the threat of monsters and dragons.
Things are going to return to the beginning? What was this world’s beginning?
In her own way, Vivi was trying to impart crucial information to Yuki, but it wasn’t sinking in.
“…Why?” she asked again.
“I told you it’s because I’ve grown sick of it. That’s why, Yuki, you need to put your life on the line to do the best you can to entertain me.”
“…That’s not fair.”
It was as if someone had given her a math test with a problem that didn’t have a formula—she needed to solve the problem without knowing how to do it. As Yuki became overwhelmed and dispirited, Vivi’s elation grew.
“I like you, Yuki. You’re honest to a fault and are more ignorant than a fool. I’m titillated and filled with fondness for precious little Yuki. So do your best, would ya? This is a game. The stakes are the world itself. I’m positive this will be a thrilling and fun game, Yuki,” Vivi chirped. Sparkles glimmered in her eyes and she hopped on the bed like an excited child.
Once she got this way there was no stopping her. Filled with despair, Yuki could only watch Vivi bounce away.
“…That’s a big game for just one person,” said a terribly nostalgic voice.
Yuki had longed to hear that voice for so long she thought she was hearing things. Paralyzed, she couldn’t turn toward where she heard it. Barely managing to cast down her eyes, she saw the sky-blue eyes fringed by platinum lashes blink on the face of the person who had been sleeping.
…How?
When someone is unduly shocked, it renders them speechless. Luca’s eyes were open. He stirred in bed and clumsily pushed himself upright. Too stunned to do anything, Yuki dumbly stared at Luca’s back as he got up. His sky-blue eyes wouldn’t look at her—his gaze was locked on Vivi.
“Oh? You were awake? Is it all right for a gentlemanly prince to eavesdrop on a lady’s conversation?”
“It’s not a problem. I would have learned of it sooner or later,” he said smoothly, casting doubts on if he was really in a coma for months.
“Good for you…. You’ve spiked my interest in how you would have learned of it. Yuki might not have told you? How would you get it out of her? Torture? Seduction? Sex?”
“…It doesn’t matter. Do you care if two people take part in this game of yours?”
“There would have to be someone whose head is so messed up they would be interested in playing. I’d say you can do what you want?”
“Can I?”
“You see, I’ve started to have itty-bitty expectations of Yuki and her newfound impudence.”
“…Is that so?”
“Well then, I’ll be watching you.”
Their conversation went through one ear and out the other. Yuki heard their voices and saw their lips moving, but their words meant nothing to her. Luca had his back to Yuki and she couldn’t see his face.
“The rest is up to your discretion! I’m looking forward to seeing how you play the game! See ya!” Vivi smirked. With a snap, she transformed into bright-red rose petals and scattered away.
The strong scent of roses filled the room. Even after the petals turned transparent and disappeared, Yuki couldn’t move an inch. Luca’s once white pajamas were dyed scarlet with his dried blood. Patches of darkish-brown and white stained the rest of the material.
“……”
Silence filled the space between them. There was no wind, sounds from the town, or trees rustling to ease the quietness. Only the sound of Yuki’s hammering heart pounded in her ears.
Finally. I’ve finally reunited with him. He’s alive. He’s moving. He’s awake.
Yuki’s tears fell without pause. The inside of her nose twitched and heat built behind her eyes.
“…It’s cold in here, isn’t it?” Luca remarked, breaking the silence first. “It appears I’ve been asleep for a very long time…. I’ve also put you through a lot.” He didn’t turn around to look at her. His back was still pointed toward her, but she still vehemently shook her head.
“That’s not true! You didn’t do anything wrong! I-I…I…”
I was at fault for all of it. Those words lodged in her throat and wouldn’t come out. Tears continued to fall; she could only suck in ragged breaths through her sobs.
“…Luca,” she hoarsely whispered.
The mattress springs squeaked as the back in front of her twisted around.
Red. White. Gold and sky blue.
The instant all those colors filled her vision, they were consumed by a plethora of bright-red rose petals.