Kurusu Kimihito has lived this day before—and he has watched everyone he loves die.
When he wakes on the morning of April seventh, trembling and drenched in sweat, he knows what's coming. Miia's arrival. The red rain. The Glow. The night that, decades from now, will still haunt his every waking moment. He survived it once, carrying nothing but regret for the girls he couldn't save. Then he died.
And then he woke up. Six in the morning. The same date circled in red pen on his calendar. A second
Monster Musume: Rewriting the Fates of Despair - Red Rain and Darling's Hand
I woke up.
I grabbed my phone from the pillow. 6:47 AM. April 8th.
Kurusu Kimihito stared at the ceiling.
Yesterday, Miia arrived. In the memories of the future, tonight, red rain will fall. And on the banks of the Amagasa River, Miia will be the first to die.
No.
Not this time. I won't let her die.
Kimihito slowly sat up. Birdsong drifted in from outside the window. A peaceful morning.
The memories flickered in the back of his mind. A burning city. Black mist. Red eyes. Miia's hand, motionless.
Sickening.
His stomach churned.
Kimihito took a deep breath.
"It's okay. I'll figure something out."
He said it out loud, to convince himself.
He left his room. The hallway air was chilly. April mornings were still a little cold.
On the way to the kitchen, he noticed something off.
Something burning.
And something was sizzling.
Kimihito quickened his pace.
He opened the kitchen door.
Smoke billowed out.
"—!"
A black lump was smoking on the frying pan. What it used to be, he couldn't tell anymore.
And beside it—
Miia stood there, her vivid red long hair swaying. Her golden, vertically-slitted eyes narrowed in distress. From the waist down, a long serpentine body. Deep green scales reflected the morning light, gleaming glossy.
She was a lamia. A half-human, half-snake subspecies. An exchange student who had just come to stay at this house yesterday.
"Ah, Darling! Good morning!"
Miia's face lit up. Through the smoke, she gave a bashful grin.
"Morning... Miia. What are you doing?"
"Pancakes! I wanted to make breakfast for you, Darling!"
"Pancakes...?"
Kimihito looked at the black lump in the frying pan. It didn't look like pancakes at all.
"I looked at a recipe, but I thought I'd make it even tastier, so I tried mixing in some sauce!"
"You mixed in... sauce?"
"Yep! Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, and a sweet sauce I found in the fridge! I figured if I put them all in, it'd add depth!"
Kimihito silently turned off the burner.
The memories of the future came back vividly.
Miia's cooking was catastrophic. Her sense of taste was different from humans', so she couldn't follow recipes. She mixed condiments however she pleased. The result was always a disaster.
In the future, they'd laughed about it countless times.
But now—
That everyday life was precious, and it hurt.
"Darling? What's wrong? You look pale."
Miia twisted her serpentine body and peered into Kimihito's face.
"...It's nothing. Just choked on the smoke a bit."
"S-sorry! I'll open the window!"
Miia hurried to open the window. The morning breeze carried the kitchen smoke outside.
"I'm gonna get better at this."
Miia puffed out her cheeks.
"I'll practice cooking. I want you to tell me it's delicious, Darling."
Kimihito gave a wry smile.
Words he'd heard so many times in the future.
Each time, Miia had been smiling. Kimihito had been smiling too.
Now, seeing that smile, something tightened in his chest.
(This smile—this time, I won't lose it.)
"...Yeah. I'm looking forward to it."
"Really!? Yay! Then I'll make dinner tonight!"
"Huh?"
"Leave it to me! I'll make all your favorites, Darling!"
Miia happily wiggled her serpentine tail.
Kimihito desperately searched his future memories.
Tonight, the dinner Miia makes is, if he recalled correctly...
He remembered.
After eating it, his sense of taste was off for three days.
But for now, that was fine.
If the future memories were accurate, red rain would fall tonight.
He had to do something before then.
Kimihito gently touched the old scar on his left wrist.
Past noon.
Kimihito was on his way home, carrying grocery bags.
On the banks of the Amagasa River, neighborhood kids were playing.
The sound of a ball being kicked. Laughter.
In the memories of the future, Miia died on these riverbanks.
Kimihito stopped walking.
The kids noticed him and waved.
"Hey, mister!"
"You came again!"
Kimihito put on a smile and walked down to the riverbank.
"Hello. You're full of energy today."
"Mister, come play with us!"
"Sorry, I'm on my way back from shopping. But first—there's one thing I want you all to promise me."
"What is it?"
"If the sky turns red and it starts raining, go home right away. Never stay on the riverbank. Got it?"
The kids exchanged glances.
"Mister, that again?"
"Red rain hardly ever falls!"
"It said on TV that this area is still safe!"
Kimihito bit his lip.
He wanted to tell them the truth.
What appears along with the red rain.
But the Guardian Confidentiality Act wouldn't allow it.
Informing ordinary citizens about the existence of Glows was forbidden by law. Violators were punished.
To prevent panic, it was concealed by a barrier technology called Veil Field.
Kimihito clenched his fist.
(Frustrating.)
(I know, but I can't tell them anything.)
"...Anyway, promise me. Please."
"Okaaay."
"Got it!"
The kids gave casual replies and went back to playing ball.
Kimihito stood there for a while.
The wind swept across the riverbank.
The smell of grass. The murmur of the river.
A peaceful spring afternoon.
But to Kimihito, this scenery overlapped with the future's devastation.
"...Time to go home."
Just as Kimihito turned on his heel—
"Daarling!"
A cheerful voice rang out from behind him.
He turned. Miia was deftly winding her serpentine body toward him.
"Miia? What are you doing here?"
"You were taking so long, so I came to get you! And I thought, this river is pretty!"
Miia lined up beside Kimihito.
"Mister! Who's that lady?"
The kids gathered around, full of curiosity.
"I'm Miia! I'm going to be Darling's bride!"
"Bride!?"
"Her legs are a snake!"
"It's called a lamia. Cool, right?"
Miia curled her serpentine tail around to show them.
The kids cheered.
"Awesome!"
"Can I touch it?"
"Sure! But it tickles, so be gentle!"
Miia immediately hit it off with the kids.
Kimihito watched from a little distance.
Miia's brightness changed the very air around her.
It had been the same in the future.
Just by being there, she always made the Kurusu house bright.
(That brightness—I won't let it be lost.)
(Never.)
Kimihito made a quiet vow in his heart.
Evening.
The Kurusu kitchen had become a battlefield.
"Darling, look, look! This sauce is an amazing color!"
"Oh, yeah... it really is an amazing color."
"If I put it all in, it'll definitely taste great!"
"...All of it?"
Kimihito looked at the condiment shelf.
Soy sauce, mirin, vinegar, ketchup, mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, yakiniku sauce, ponzu, sesame oil.
Miia was holding all of them in her arms.
The future memories sounded an alarm.
Stop her.
Stop her now.
But Kimihito couldn't say it.
"Here goes!"
Miia dumped the condiments into the pot all at once.
A strange smell rose, bubbling.
Sweet, sour, burnt—an indescribable odor.
Kimihito took a step back.
"How is it? Smells good, right?"
"...Yeah. It's a very unique smell."
"Right, right! Maybe I'm a genius!"
Miia stirred the pot.
A sludge-like liquid bubbled and boiled.
Kimihito made his decision.
"Miia."
"What?"
"Want to cook together?"
"Huh?"
"It's more fun making it together, right? Besides, I want to teach you some cooking tips."
Miia blinked her golden eyes.
"Really!? Yay! Cooking with Darling!"
Miia lunged at him.
Her serpentine body coiled around Kimihito's arm.
"H-hey, Miia, the pot!"
"Oh, sorry, sorry!"
Miia hurriedly pulled away.
Kimihito cautiously looked at the contents of the pot.
...This wasn't cooking anymore.
It was some kind of experiment.
"First, let's dump this out for now."
"Aww! What a waste!"
"It's fine. We still have ingredients. Let's start from scratch, together."
"...Okay. Got it."
Miia nodded obediently.
Kimihito poured the contents of the pot into the sink.
A foul odor filled the kitchen.
He opened the window. The evening breeze carried the smell away.
"Okay, first let's cut the vegetables. Hold the knife like this."
Kimihito demonstrated.
Miia imitated him with a serious face.
"Like this?"
"Yeah. You're doing great. But be careful not to cut your fingers."
"Okay!"
The two of them stood side by side, cutting vegetables.
The tap-tap of the knife echoed through the quiet kitchen.
"It's fun, being with you, Darling."
Miia said softly.
"...Yeah. I'm having fun too."
Kimihito put on a smile.
But inside, another image was playing.
Red rain. Black mist. Miia's scream.
His hand almost stopped.
The fingers gripping the knife trembled.
(No. I have to show a smile now.)
Kimihito gritted his back teeth and kept the smile.
"Darling, what's next?"
"Next, let's stir-fry this. About this much oil."
"Okay!"
Miia swung the frying pan.
She was clumsy, but she was trying her best.
That was precious.
In the future, he'd lost this sight forever.
Now, she was here beside him like this.
Just that made him want to cry.
"Darling, what's wrong? You're acting weird."
Miia peered into Kimihito's face with concern.
"It's nothing. The onions just stung my eyes a bit."
"Ah, onions! My eyes are starting to hurt too!"
Miia rubbed her eyes.
"Don't rub them. Let's rinse with water."
Kimihito led Miia to the sink.
"Here, open your eyes here."
"O-okay..."
Miia wound her serpentine body and brought her face close to the sink.
Kimihito gently splashed water.
"It's cold!"
"Bear with it. It'll feel better soon."
"Uu... Darling, you're so kind..."
Miia blinked her eyes.
"...Thank you. I'm okay now."
"Good. Then let's keep cooking."
"Yeah!"
After that, somehow, dinner was completed.
The appearance was, well, normal.
The taste...
"Huh? It's delicious!"
"Really? Thank goodness."
"It's all thanks to you, Darling! If I'd been alone, I'd have made that black thing again!"
"...Well, cooking is all about getting used to it."
"I'll practice more! Together with you, Darling!"
"Yeah. That's right."
Kimihito laughed.
This time, it was a genuine smile.
Night.
"I'm going for a little walk."
"Huh? It's already dark! I'll come too!"
"It's fine. I'll be right back. Miia, take a bath and warm up."
"But..."
"Please. Let me go alone."
Kimihito's voice was serious.
Miia's shoulders drooped.
"...Okay. Come home soon, alright?"
"Yeah. I promise."
Kimihito left through the front door.
The night wind was cold.
He looked up at the sky.
Stars were visible.
But to the north, a faint red glow was bleeding through.
(It's coming.)
Kimihito started running.
To the banks of the Amagasa River.
To the place where Miia died in the future.
Streetlights illuminated the road.
No people in sight.
Amagasa City was designated a Red Rain Zone. Residents had a habit of avoiding going out at night.
He reached the riverbank.
The sound of the river echoed quietly.
Grass swayed in the wind.
Kimihito clenched his fist.
In the memories of the future, the first Glow appeared here.
The red rain began to fall.
A drop.
A cold droplet struck Kimihito's cheek.
The rain quickly grew stronger.
Zaaaaa...
Red rain.
An eerie rain, the color of blood.
Kimihito looked up at the sky.
"...Here it comes."
At that moment.
The earth of the riverbank swelled.
Something crawled out from the mud.
Black mist.
Red eyes.
A Glow.
A humanoid monster made of mud.
Nearly two meters tall.
The red eyes locked onto Kimihito.
"—!"
The Glow attacked.
Its claws tore through the air.
Kimihito activated his foresight.
Fragments of the next few seconds appeared.
Right.
Kimihito jumped right.
The Glow's claws gouged the spot where Kimihito had just been.
Dirt scattered.
"Hah...!"
His head throbbed.
Continuous use of foresight put a strain on his body.
But he couldn't stop.
In the future memories, the Glow's weak point was its red eyes.
Attack there.
Kimihito picked up a thick tree branch lying at his feet.
The Glow charged again.
Foresight.
Left.
Kimihito dodged left and thrust the branch into the Glow's red eye.
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