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 - Beneath the Red Rain: Don't Carry It Alone
Red rain was falling.
He could hear it. Not the sound of rain. Something lower. Wetter.
The sound of a Glow swarm crawling across the ground. Bodies like black mist. Red eyes. Dozens of them.
Kurusu Kimihito was running.
Out of breath. Legs tangling. Tripping on rubble.
Claws stretched out from behind. Grazed his back. Skin tore. Blood flew.
It hurt.
But he couldn't stop.
"—gh!"
A scream that wouldn't form.
His vision went red. The rain covered everything like blood.
The girls' faces floated up.
Fallen. Motionless. Cold.
"Miia... Cerea..."
He reached out. Couldn't reach them.
The Glow swarm closed over him.
—.
Kurusu Kimihito woke up.
White ceiling. Smell of antiseptic. Rhythmic electronic beeping.
His body was heavy as lead.
(Where...)
He moved his eyes. IV tube in his right arm. Blood pressure cuff on his left. Bandages all over.
A hospital.
Amagasa General Hospital.
(I... survived?)
His head throbbed like it was splitting. He'd overused the precognition blade. Nausea rose to the back of his throat.
"So you're awake."
A voice.
Kimihito turned his head. A man stood beside the bed.
Black suit. Cropped hair. Sharp eyes. Makabe, a Guardian officer of the Amagasa Guard Bureau.
"Makabe-san..."
His voice came out hoarse. His throat was dry.
"Don't force yourself to talk. You were out for three hours."
Makabe's voice was calm. But his eyes were stern.
"I'll explain the situation."
Makabe sat in the chair beside the bed. Back straight, looking directly at Kimihito.
"First, your body. Your external wounds are minor. Bruises and lacerations. Nothing life-threatening. But you have severe fatigue, and likely backlash from overusing your ability. Absolute rest for a while."
Kimihito exhaled.
"So..."
His voice trembled.
"Miia and Cerea—"
Makabe's expression clouded slightly.
A moment of silence.
His heart made an ugly sound.
"Centorea Shianus. Abdomen penetrated by tentacles. Massive blood loss. Emergency surgery saved her life. She's currently unconscious in the ICU."
Kimihito stopped breathing.
"Miia. Slammed into a wall, severe head trauma. Skull fracture. Critical condition, unconscious. Also touch and go."
Kimihito stared at the ceiling.
White.
Nothing.
The sound disappeared.
Makabe's voice came from far away.
"Why were you two in that place? A red rain warning Level 4 was in effect. Citizens are required to shelter indoors. Violators are subject to fines."
No answer.
He couldn't answer.
"...Well, fine. I'll hear the details later. More importantly, the Chief wants to know about you."
Kimihito's fingers moved slightly.
"The Chief... Ms. Muzusu?"
"Yeah. Chief Muzusu is looking into your background. And why you happened to be at that scene."
Makabe's voice dropped.
"...Why? Why is the Chief so interested in a high schooler like you?"
Makabe's eyes pierced through Kimihito.
Kimihito looked away.
(Ms. Muzusu... is looking into me...)
The words Muzusu had spoken in that red rain.
'What is it that you know?'
Those eyes.
Eyes that weren't smiling.
Something cold crawled down the back of his neck.
"...I don't know."
Kimihito forced the words out.
"I don't know anything."
Makabe stared at him for a while.
"I see."
Makabe stood.
"Anyway, rest for now. We'll talk once you can move."
Makabe headed for the door.
"Also, I'm holding onto your phone. As evidence."
The door closed.
Silence.
Only the electronic beeping, rhythmic and endless.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
Kimihito closed his eyes.
(Cerea... Miia...)
Memories of the future flashed back.
A burning city.
Red rain.
Fallen girls.
Cold hands.
(Again.)
(Again, I couldn't protect them.)
Heat rose in the pit of his stomach.
His throat burned.
Kimihito pulled out the IV tube.
There was no pain.
He got off the bed.
His legs shook.
He braced against the wall.
Cold.
One step forward.
He opened the hospital room door.
The hallway was quiet.
A hospital at night.
White fluorescent light.
Kimihito walked.
The ICU.
He could see inside through the glass.
On the bed.
A large body covered in white bandages.
Cerea.
Silver hair spread across the pillow.
Her horse lower body was wrapped in bandages too.
Thick gauze on her abdomen.
A red stain seeping through.
The monitor's sound.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The ventilator's sound.
Hiss. Hiss.
Kimihito pressed his hand against the glass.
Cold.
(Cerea...)
The memories of the future overlapped.
That day had been the same.
Cerea, soaked in blood, fallen.
No longer moving.
Growing cold.
"...gh."
His stomach heaved.
Kimihito covered his mouth and ran to the restroom.
He slammed the stall door shut.
Vomited into the toilet.
Stomach acid burned his throat.
Tears came.
Wouldn't stop.
"U... gh..."
He dropped to his knees.
Cold tile.
(It's my fault.)
(Because I tried to change the future.)
(Alteration was born.)
(And it turned its blade on them.)
Kimihito pressed his forehead against the toilet seat.
(If I hadn't moved.)
(If I hadn't known the future.)
(They wouldn't have been hurt.)
Tears fell into the toilet.
The sound of water.
Kimihito stood.
He looked in the mirror.
Pale face.
Dark circles under his eyes.
Stomach acid at the corner of his lips.
(...Let's go.)
To the rooftop.
He climbed the stairs.
His legs were heavy.
One step. Another.
He opened the rooftop door.
Rain was falling.
Red rain.
Kimihito walked out into the rain.
Cold.
Red droplets soaked his hair, his face.
The sky was red.
A sky like blood.
"AAAAAAAH!!"
Kimihito screamed.
Until his throat felt like it would tear.
"Why... why?!"
The rain drowned out his scream.
"I have memories of the future...!"
"And I couldn't protect anyone...!"
Kimihito slammed his fist into the ground.
Concrete.
The skin on his knuckles split.
Blood seeped out.
It hurt.
But that was fine.
"Because I moved... because I acted...!"
"Alteration was born...!"
"Cerea... Miia...!"
He slammed his fist down again.
Blood flew.
Mingled with the red rain.
"I... I just wanted to protect them...!"
Tears streamed down with the rain.
Kimihito crouched low.
His shoulders shook.
(I don't want this anymore.)
(I don't want to do anything.)
(If I weren't here.)
(No one would get hurt.)
—Then.
Buzz. Buzz.
The vibration of a phone.
The phone he'd given to Makabe.
No.
This was his chest pocket.
Kimihito pulled out the phone with trembling hands.
The screen was wet with red rain.
A notification.
Sender: Muzusu.
Kimihito's fingers stopped.
He opened it.
'The Alteration occurrence patterns. They match your actions perfectly. Let's talk tomorrow.'
Kimihito stared at the screen.
The rain blurred the letters.
(Ms. Muzusu... knows.)
(She knows everything.)
(My actions.)
(She's watching me.)
The back of his neck went cold.
Kimihito gripped the phone.
His strength surged.
The screen cracked.
"...But."
His voice shook.
"I can't stop."
Kimihito stood.
Red rain pounded his whole body.
(If I stop, it's over.)
(To protect them.)
(I have to keep moving.)
But.
(The more I move, the more the world distorts.)
(Alterations increase.)
(And the blade turns on my friends.)
Contradiction.
What should he do?
He didn't know.
Kimihito looked up at the sky.
Red sky.
Rain got in his eyes.
It hurt.
—.
He returned to the hospital room.
Kimihito stood in front of Miia's room.
He opened the door quietly.
It was dark inside.
On the bed.
Miia was sleeping.
Oxygen mask.
Bandages on her head.
Red hair spread across the pillow.
Her snake lower body lay limply on the sheets.
Kimihito approached.
He looked at Miia's sleeping face.
She looked in pain.
Her brows were slightly drawn together.
(Miia...)
Kimihito reached out gently.
He touched Miia's cheek.
Cold.
Lamias are cold-blooded.
The room was warm.
But Miia's skin was cold.
Memories of the future.
That day.
He held Miia's hand.
It was cold.
She never moved again.
Kimihito closed his eyes.
(I'm sorry.)
(I'm sorry, Miia.)
(It's my fault.)
(All of it is my fault.)
Kimihito took a folded piece of paper from his pocket.
A note.
He placed it on the side table.
'I'm sorry. When I'm near you, you're in danger. So I'm leaving. Take care.'
Kimihito looked at Miia's face one last time.
(Goodbye.)
He turned around.
Toward the door.
—Then.
"...Da...rling...?"
A voice.
A faint voice.
Kimihito's feet stopped.
He turned around.
Miia's golden eyes were slightly open.
"Miia..."
Kimihito caught his breath.
"Darling... where are you... going...?"
Miia's hand moved slightly.
The IV tube swayed.
Kimihito headed for the door like he was fleeing.
"Wait...!"
A sound behind him.
The bed creaking.
Something falling.
Kimihito turned around.
Miia had fallen off the bed.
She lay on the floor.
The IV stand had toppled over.
"Miia! What are you doing?!"
Kimihito ran to her.
He lifted Miia's body.
She was trembling.
"Darling... don't go..."
Miia grabbed his clothes.
Her grip was weak.
But she wouldn't let go.
"Miia, you can't move yet. Let's get you back to bed."
"No...!"
Miia shook her head.
Tears spilled from her eyes.
"If you're going, Darling... then I'm going too..."
"You can't. Your wounds—"
"I don't care!"
Miia shouted.
"I have something I need to tell you, Darling!"
Miia's golden eyes looked straight at Kimihito.
"Don't carry it all alone."
Kimihito's chest tightened.
"Me, and Cerea, and Papi — we're all on your side, Darling."
Miia smiled.
Smiled while tears streamed down.
"So... please. Don't go."
Miia's hand gripped Kimihito's.
A trembling hand.
A cold hand.
But there was definitely warmth there.
Kimihito closed his eyes.
(Miia...)
(You're always like this.)
(Straightforward. Passionate.)
(You shake my heart.)
Kimihito slowly opened his eyes.
He gently loosened Miia's hand.
"...I'm sorry."
Kimihito's voice was shaking.
"I don't want to put you in danger anymore."
Miia's face twisted.
"Darling..."
"If I'm not there. If I'm not by your side. You'll all be safe."
"No! That's wrong! That's not it!"
Miia cried out.
"It's way scarier without you, Darling! Way harder!"
"Miia..."
"Please... don't go, Darling..."
Miia clung to Kimihito's legs.
Her snake lower body writhed weakly on the floor.
Kimihito bit his lip.
He tasted blood.
"...Goodbye."
Kimihito shook off Miia's hand.
Miia collapsed onto the floor.
"DARLING!!"
The scream echoed down the hallway.
Kimihito ran.
He didn't look back.
If he looked back, he'd never be able to leave.
"Darling!! Don't go!!"
The voice chased after him.
Kimihito wanted to cover his ears.
But he didn't.
This was punishment.
The punishment he had to bear.
He ran down the stairs.
Burst out the hospital entrance.
Outside, it was still dark.
Before dawn.
The red rain had stopped.
But the sky was red.
Red like blood.
Kimihito started walking.
To the Kurusu house.
To pack his things.
(If I leave.)
(At least no one will get hurt because of me.)
He told himself that.
But.
Deep in his chest, Miia's tears wouldn't fade.
'Don't carry it all alone.'
Those words echoed over and over.
Kimihito took out his phone.
The screen was cracked.
But it still worked.
He opened the red rain warning app.
A notification.
'Red Rain Warning Level 2 (Alert). Signs of red rain observed in northern Amagasa City. Please stay alert for further information.'
Kimihito closed the app.
He looked up at the sky.
Red sky.
Not sunrise.
This was an omen.
(Red rain will fall again.)
(Glow will appear.)
(But I won't fight anymore.)
(If I fight, someone gets hurt again.)
Kimihito kept walking.
Under the red sky.
Alone.
Miia's voice still lingered in his ears.
'Darling!'
That scream.
Kimihito bit down on his lip.
The taste of blood.
The taste of iron.
(This is fine.)
(This is how it should be.)
But the pain deep in his chest wouldn't go away.
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