Kanashimi: “You need to calm down, Najun.”

  Kanashimi tries to calm the agitated Najun. He holds his hands to his head and drops to his knees on the floor.

  Najun: “This completely surprises me. How did he get here?”

  Kanashimi: “Who are you talking about?”

  Najun: “Him.”

  Najun points at the capsule.

  Kanashimi: “You know the man in the capsule? So you’re something like acquaintances?”

  Najun: “Well… sort of. He is my—”

  His sentence is interrupted by the loud slam of a door. Rapid footsteps follow, heading straight toward Najun and Kanashimi.

  Dr. Bunny: “Najun, it would be best if we repeat the experiment as soon as possible. Even though I thought it might overload your body, it’s also possible that right now your body is able to overcome the blockage.”

  Najun: “What do you mean by that?”

  Dr. Bunny: “Your body is extremely active at the moment. After the first attempt, your memory particles, your brain, and other systems in your body are in a state of agitation. Because of that, I assume that during another execution your body will be much more ‘cooperative.’”

  Najun: “I don’t know if I can handle another experiment.”

  Dr. Bunny: “If you managed it once, you can manage it again. Remember, we’re doing this for you and for science.”

  Najun walks toward the capsule and looks at the monitor next to it.

  Najun: “You don’t understand. I can’t do the experiment because you have my brother inside one of your capsules.”

  Dr. Bunny and Kanashimi look at the boy in confusion. His statement came far too suddenly.

  Dr. Bunny: “Who is inside my capsule?”

  Najun: “My brother.”

  Dr. Bunny: “Wait a moment… I found this boy a few days ago. He was lying near the hospital—unconscious and injured.”

  Najun: “Naki was lying in the middle of the forest? Alone?”

  Dr. Bunny: “Yes. I brought him here and took care of him.”

  Najun: “Let him out.”

  Dr. Bunny: “Excuse me?”

  Najun: “Let him out.”

  Dr. Bunny: “I’m not sure that would be a good idea. His injuries are healed, but whether he can properly recover without the capsule is unlikely.”

  Najun continues tapping on the monitor. Dr. Bunny pulls him away from it so he doesn’t accidentally press something wrong.

  Dr. Bunny: “What are you trying to do with the monitor?”

  Najun: “His vital signs.”

  He looks at the doctor sternly. Kanashimi stands to the side, observing the conversation, ready to intervene if necessary to subdue Najun.

  Dr. Bunny: “Here are his vital signs.”

  Najun studies them carefully. Even though he doesn’t truly understand what the numbers mean, he can at least roughly tell what seems positive or negative.

  Najun: “He seems to be doing well. So he really can’t leave the capsule yet?”

  Dr. Bunny: “Well, he should be able to soon, but definitely not at this moment. Maybe in about an hour?”

  Najun: “I can wait that long. Until then, we need to talk.”

  Dr. Bunny: “Yes, we do need to talk. We need to talk about the potential your brother possesses.”

  The word “potential” is a trigger for Najun. Potential was never something associated with him or granted to him. It was always others who were seen as potential leaders.

  Dr. Bunny: “Your brother is truly wonderful. He possesses two Birth Abilities and one Birth Projection. His body is extremely well-trained. His blood looks better than yours. His hair is very beautiful.”

  Najun interrupts Dr. Bunny with a cough, signaling him to stop worshipping Naki and focus on what matters.

  Dr. Bunny: “In Jakan, I have rarely seen people with Births, but I have never seen someone with three before your brother. I must further analyze his blood and study his abilities down to the smallest detail.”

  Najun: “My brother is not a test subject. From now on, you will leave him alone.”

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  Dr. Bunny: “I only need to take a few more samples and run additional scans. I would also like a precise video recording of his magical abilities.”

  Najun: “He is not a scientific attraction. In one hour, you let him out, and that’s final.”

  Offended, Dr. Bunny returns to his private laboratory.

  Kanashimi: “So that’s your brother?”

  Najun: “Yes. I can hardly believe it myself.”

  Kanashimi: “What is he like? Is he like you?”

  Najun: “Not really. He’s very open, cheerful, active, and always highly motivated. Of course, he has his quiet moments too, but he’s one of the loudest people I know.”

  Kanashimi: “You sound a bit distant. Aren’t you close?”

  Najun: “No, we are very close. It’s just that we have different positions within our family, even though recently things were starting to look better for me.”

  Kanashimi: “You talk about your family as if it were the military.”

  Najun: “No. The military is fairer.”

  An uncomfortable atmosphere settles in. Kanashimi continues cleaning Naki’s capsule.

  Kanashimi: “I’m sorry you feel that way about your family.”

  Najun: “It’s fine. It is what it is.”

  Kanashimi: “Can I ask you something? Would you wish for a different life? Because of your family and all that.”

  Najun rubs his chin and looks upward.

  Najun: “Even if it would probably be better, I wouldn’t wish for it to be different. Because what if it were worse? Or what if I were an ungrateful child and it still wouldn’t be enough?”

  Kanashimi: “A wise answer.”

  Najun: “How long until he can leave the capsule?”

  Kanashimi: “Fifty-three minutes. Should we eat something until then?”

  Najun: “No, thank you.”

  The cleaning is finished. Both of them sit down at the dining table. Kanashimi eats a few sandwiches and a cupcake. Najun just sits there, doing nothing.

  Najun: “[What is this strange feeling? Naki being here should make me happy, but somehow it feels different. Almost neutral.]”

  Deep in his thoughts, Mister Mysterium and the dark dimension come to his mind.

  Najun: “[I was in that dimension. I was chosen to go there. I could visit it again…]”

  Kanashimi: “Najun? You look a bit pale. Are you feeling unwell?”

  He is pulled out of his thoughts and returns to reality.

  Najun: “I’m fine. I was just thinking.”

  Kanashimi: “Those thoughts must have been… frightening.”

  Najun: “Yes, they were.”

  His expression darkens, even frightening Kanashimi a little.

  Kanashimi: “Najun, since we’re talking like this, I need to tell you something. I don’t know exactly how to phrase it, but…”

  Najun: “Go ahead. Let it out.”

  Kanashimi: “I think I’m… I think I’m in—”

  Dr. Bunny: “It’s tiiiiiiiime!”

  He runs toward the two at the dining table and slams his hands onto it.

  Dr. Bunny: “Your brother is ready to stand up.”

  Najun: “Huh? Already?! But it should still be more than half an hour before he can leave the capsule.”

  Dr. Bunny: “Normally, yes. But in my private laboratory, I mixed a serum that should stabilize your brother’s condition. It shouldn’t have any side effects either.”

  Without waiting for Najun’s response, he walks over to the capsule and starts the program.

  Najun: “Wait, I want to look at it first.”

  Dr. Bunny: “Here, but I doubt you’ll recognize anything.”

  He hands him a small ampoule. Inside is a red liquid with several bubbles.

  Najun: “What exactly is it made of?”

  Dr. Bunny: “Various painkillers, chemicals that are non-toxic to humans, and your blood.”

  Najun: “My blood?!”

  Dr. Bunny: “Your blood has a ‘connection’ to your brother. Even if your blood isn’t in the proper active state, it can still help stabilize his magic and his brain.”

  Najun: “That’s insane… and something like that works?”

  Dr. Bunny: “It should. At least in theory.”

  Najun: “Okay… then please do it.”

  The doctor injects the liquid into one of the mechanical arms. He activates the system at the monitor. A needle emerges from one of the arms and pierces Naki’s head. Once the serum is injected, his face turns slightly red and his values change.

  Najun: “I thought there were no side effects.”

  Dr. Bunny: “There aren’t. His body is just adjusting to the serum.”

  After a few seconds, Naki moves inside the capsule. He is immediately removed and placed in a bed. Even though the serum seems to work, Najun is still unsure what to think of it or whether it is dangerous.

  Kanashimi: “He’ll wake up soon. Then you can ask him what happened while you were unconscious.”

  Najun: “I know. That question has been burning inside me since the first time I woke up.”

  They wait patiently beside the bed. Even though the moment is short in reality, it feels like an eternity to Najun.

  Najun: “[When will it happen…]”

  In the middle of his thought, Najun is suddenly knocked over by someone. Arms wrap tightly around him in a strong but loving embrace.

  Najun: “N-Naki?!”

  Naki: “Yeeeeeeeees!”

  Najun: “You’re awake.”

  Najun hesitates briefly, then hugs his brother back. They lie on the floor while Kanashimi watches them.

  Kanashimi: “[His brother has a completely different nature than him.]”

  Naki is finally awake. He is given proper clothes, a good meal, and a detailed explanation of the situation. Since Naki is too distracted while eating, they have to explain it to him again.

  Naki: “And this is under the hospital?”

  Dr. Bunny: “Well, my laboratory and living space are larger in area than the hospital itself, so we are beneath and beside it.”

  Naki: “And you woke up here? In the hospital?”

  Najun: “Yes. I was helped, and then everything I told you happened.”

  Naki: “Wow, you’ve experienced a lot while we were separated.”

  Najun: “Exactly. Do you know how you ended up alone and injured in the forest? Where are the others?”

  Naki: “No. None of that is in my head. I only remember that you, Noiji, Kogiri, Zackory, and I went into the forest. After that, there’s nothing.”

  Najun: “Ah… Kogiri.”

  Naki: “He’s a traitor, right?”

  Najun: “Huh? How do you know that already?”

  Naki: “I had something like that in my head. My first reaction to it must have been extremely intense, because I can still remember it after being unconscious.”

  Najun: “Ugh, good. I was afraid you wouldn’t care.”

  Naki: “No, my feelings about it are probably exhausted, but I’d still like to punch him at least once.”

  Najun: “Nothing else in your head?”

  Naki: “No, I don’t think so.”

  After eating, Dr. Bunny examines Naki again, just to make sure nothing is wrong.

  Dr. Bunny: “You’re a much better examination subject than Najun.”

  Najun: “Hey!”

  Dr. Bunny: “Sorry, but it’s true.”

  After the examination, Dr. Bunny returns to his private laboratory. Kanashimi goes back to her duties, and the two brothers retreat to their room with some American snacks.

  Naki: “I’m impressed that you survived alone for so long.”

  Najun: “Why? Did you think I’d die immediately without your protection?”

  Naki: “No, that’s not what I meant. You’re just not really a solo fighter, and especially without your magical abilities, you seem like easy prey.”

  Najun: “I see.”

  Naki: “Man… when we were in Tongyo, I briefly hoped you’d start opening up to me, but your emotional wall of ice has only grown bigger and thicker.”

  Najun: “What do you want me to say? There’s nothing I need to tell you.”

  Naki: “Surely not… isn’t there any secret or guilt inside you?”

  Najun: “No. I already told you that.”

  Naki: “Now you’re disappointing me. You really manage to change opinions about you quickly.”

  Najun: “What?”

  Naki: “I know what you did.”

  Najun’s heart starts beating faster, and a single drop of sweat runs down his face. He wonders what Naki is remembering.

  Naki: “I know that you killed Shinoa.”