Fracture Bloom

A week had passed since Kentaro and Serica began living together.

Surprisingly, Serica adapted to college life faster than anyone expected. With Kentaro's help, and a little extra patience, she found her rhythm. Even Tenka's trio of friends, infamous for teasing, had grown fond of her.

The only thing missing?

Kira.

Kentaro hadn't seen her once since that night.

No texts. No class. No sightings.

And honestly, that was fine with him, for now.

Knock knock.

A soft tap on his door stirred him from sleep.

"Um… Kentaro? Are you awake?" Serica's voice floated through, shy but familiar.

By now, he should've been used to this.

And yet… it still felt strange.

"Yeah, Serica, just gimme five minutes."

He sat up, ran a hand through his hair, and sighed.

Living together had taken some getting used to. Originally, Kentaro offered her the bed while he took the couch. Serica refused. In the end, she insisted on the couch, claiming she didn't want to be a burden.

She said it was temporary.

But somehow, it was starting to feel less so.

By the time Kentaro dressed and stepped into the kitchen, Serica was already seated, waiting with that innocent smile that made mornings a little less brutal.

She'd offered to cook once.

The fire alarm still hadn't emotionally recovered.

Since then, Kentaro had taken over the stove, surprisingly well, considering he used to survive on nothing but instant ramen. Something about cooking for someone else, seeing Serica smile over slightly burned eggs, made it feel worth the effort.

After breakfast, they each grabbed their bags, stuffed with essentials and probably too many snacks, and stepped out the door together.

It was finally here.

The trip.

On the way to campus, they talked casually.

"I want to try that pineapple ice cream they mentioned on the travel sheet," Serica said, holding her suitcase like a child dragging a stuffed toy.

"I just want peace and quiet," Kentaro muttered. "No missions. No drama. No Cradle snipers."

"You know that won't happen, right?"

He sighed.

"Yeah. I know."

PZZT.

"Ken. Can you hear me?"

A sudden buzz in his ear made him flinch. The voice crackled through his Halcyon earpiece.

"Shogo?" Kentaro whispered, glancing around.

"Yep, live and direct," Shogo replied, voice smug. "And yes, Commander Tenka is still off-grid. But don't worry your pretty little hair—she'll be back before you hit the island."

"I wasn't worried," Kentaro mumbled.

"You should be," Shogo replied, cackling. "You're officially on your own, Mr. Playboy."

Kentaro didn't reply.

He looked ahead, past the crosswalk, past the school gates, past the group of students already gathering with their luggage.

He had a weird feeling.

Something in his gut told him this trip…

It wasn't going to be the vacation he hoped for.

He got the his classroom where there were about 40 or so students all with their suitcases some were wearing holiday-themed hats and clothes some were chatting some were smiling.

But a specific group of people were getting their photo taken by someone, a photographer, and those people also included Tengen.

As soon as he made eye contact with Kentaro he rushed over pushing past people.

"HEY KENNY I THOUGHT YOU SLEPT IN HAHA!" He shouted as if Kentaro were miles away but only a couple of feet.

Tengen's arm slammed against Kentaro's shoulder with all the subtlety of a falling piano.

"Brother! You had me scared, thought you were ditching your wingman on a once-in-a-lifetime beach trip! I was ready to weep, Kentaro. Weep!"

The slaps came again. And again.

Kentaro's smile twitched. "Okay, ow, yeah, I wasn't ditching you. You're acting like I'm late. Mr. Tachibana said we could arrive at this time, remember?"

Tengen froze. Smile still plastered on his face… but his brow twitched.

"…Are you telling me… I could've had TWO MORE HOURS OF SLEEP!?"

His voice cracked through the air like a gunshot. "DAMN YOU, KESTREL!!"

He whirled in place, looking for someone, presumably the mysterious Kestrel, but whoever they were, they weren't in the room.

Serica flinched from the volume, instinctively stepping behind Kentaro's shoulder like a bird ducking behind a tree. Tengen noticed and softened his expression instantly.

"Ahem. My bad. Didn't mean to scare Serica."

He dusted off his hoodie with a dramatic sigh.

"Name's Kestrel," Tengen said, answering their unspoken question. "Friend of mine. He's tagging along for the trip to do a little photography and write a blurb for his travel blog. Helps pay the bills. He's a ghost most days, so don't be weirded out if he pops in and out."

Kentaro raised a brow. "Never seen him in class."

Tengen waved that off. "He's not in college. Freelance guy. You'll like him. Dead behind the eyes but charming."

He grinned. "Told him to get a good shot of you two. Especially you, Serica. Gotta capture that natural glow for the 'gram." He winked.

Kentaro rolled his eyes. "Right…"

But before he could ask more.

The door creaked.

Louder than it should've. Like the hinges had been waiting for silence.

Tengen's smile vanished. Just flickered out like a candle.

Kentaro noticed. So did Serica.

They both turned slowly.

And that's when the temperature in the room dropped.

The classroom chatter evaporated in an instant. Everyone's eyes locked on the doorway, as if a phantom had stepped into the frame.

Because in a way… one had.

Kira.

The girl who hadn't been seen since that day.

The girl whose presence was more weapon than aura.

Her black boots clicked softly on the tile. Her black hair fell past her collarbone in sharp, militant strands. She wasn't in uniform, but her every movement was strict. Cold. Calibrated.

Kentaro's stomach twisted.

"This is bad," he muttered.

Serica froze, then shrank behind his back like a shadow returning to its owner.

Kira had a suitcase in one hand. Or had. The moment she saw Serica, really saw her, she dropped the handle.

Her eyes widened.

"You're… here… How…"

The suitcase hit the ground with a dull thud.

Chatter reignited, but now it was speculation. A storm of whispers filled the room like wind through broken windows.

"Wait, is that really her?"

"She's alive?"

"I heard she vanished after a nervous breakdown…"

"Someone said she snapped and got arrested…"

Kentaro didn't listen. He knew the real story. Or enough of it.

So did Serica.

Shogo's voice crackled in Kentaro's earpiece. "Ken… I don't like this. Her whole body language is telling me she's ten seconds from exploding. Watch her hands."

"She won't," Kentaro muttered. "She can't. If she were still armed, she would've drawn already."

But that didn't make things better.

In fact, it made it worse.

Because instead of aggression… Kira smiled.

Or at least, tried to.

Her lips twitched upward, but it wasn't joy. It was something more dangerous, restraint. The kind of grin you show a rival in public when you're not legally allowed to punch them anymore.

Kira leaned over and whispered something to the girl beside her. The girl looked confused at first, then pointed toward Serica and muttered something back. Kira gave a slow nod. Then her shoulders rose.

A sigh. Long. Bitter. And very, very cold.

She picked up her suitcase, stood tall again, and marched forward.

The crowd parted around her like water retreating from a shark.

Kentaro stayed still.

So did Serica.

He turned to her for a second. Her lips were trembling, but she nodded.

"I want a normal life," she whispered.

He smiled faintly. "Then leave this to me."

They turned as Kira stopped in front of them.

Inches away.

So close Kentaro could smell her shampoo, lavender and ozone.

"U-uh. Hey, Kira. Long time no see. Hahah…"

Kira said nothing. Her eyes were locked on Serica.

And then.

She moved.

Not toward Kentaro. But behind him.

"You," she said, her voice like a scalpel. "What have you done to him?"

Serica flinched.

The crowd was quiet again. Some of them whisper, but most are too stunned to speak.

Kira's tone was still soft. But her words cut.

"You seduced him, didn't you? Got him playing house so you can pretend to be human. Is that it?"

Serica shook her head rapidly. "N-no! I… I didn't."

"You don't belong here," Kira said.

Her breath was cold on Serica's cheek.

"You're not a girl. You're a trigger. One wrong touch and the world burns."

Kentaro stepped between them.

"Kira. Please. For me."

His voice was quiet.

"She's not the enemy. Just let her go."

Kira's eyes didn't waver.

"No."

Kentaro's hands clenched. Sweat slicked his palms.

"Crap. She's going to lose it," he whispered.

But she didn't pull out a weapon.

She didn't scream.

Instead…

She smiled again.

And leaned in. Close.

"I can't kill her," she whispered into Kentaro's ear. "Not yet. They locked my gear. Protocols. Restrictions. Rules."

Her voice darkened.

"But I can take back what's mine."

Kentaro blinked. "Huh?"

Kira pressed her body forward and hugged him. Tight. Her arms wrapped around his waist like vines.

Serica's breath caught in her throat.

"I'll take back my boyfriend, you dirty little homewrecker," Kira muttered loud enough for only the two of them to hear.

Kentaro's soul nearly left his body. "WHAT?!"

Kentaro blinked as Tengen stepped back into the awkward gravity well forming between him, Kira, and Serica. His friend's usual grin was still there, but something in his eyes had dulled. Not curiosity. Calculation.

"Um, Ken… what exactly just happened?" Tengen asked, rubbing the back of his neck.

Kentaro didn't answer. His brain was buffering.

He looked around and realised the entire class had shifted into a slow-motion carousel. A loose circle had formed around them, some on chairs, some standing near desks, others casually peeking over phones pretending not to stare.

Gossip bloomed in every corner.

"Yo, was that his ex?"

"She's still into him?"

"He's totally cheating. No way she hugs him like that otherwise."

Kentaro forced a laugh, nervous, shaky, unconvincing.

"Ahahaha… p-please ignore this! Just a friendly joke! Totally normal… classmate… interaction…"

The crowd didn't buy it, but they dispersed enough to pretend they did.

Kentaro turned back to the scene behind him.

And froze.

Because Kira and Serica were locked in what could only be described as a psychic death match. Their eyes didn't blink. Their expressions didn't waver. If looks could kill, Serica would be a puddle, and Kira would be smoking.

Serica was visibly shaken, her body trembling slightly. Not out of fear, exactly, but pressure. That heavy, invisible weight only someone like Kira could bring.

Kentaro opened his mouth to speak, to diffuse, to do something, but Serica beat him to it.

"I-I didn't seduce him," she said softly, her voice cracking at the edges. "He's my friend. And… you're his friend too. So maybe… we could be friends?"

It was an innocent attempt. Honest. Polite. The kind of thing that would've worked on 99% of people.

But Kira wasn't in that percentage.

She stared blankly at Serica for a long second.

Then sniffed.

"Hmph. You think I'll fall for those crocodile tears?" she said, deadpan. "You'll have plenty of time to cry later. After I take back what's mine."

Her voice was robotic. Not angry. Not sad. Just flat. Like a system prompt before deletion.

Then she hugged Kentaro again. This time tighter. Purposefully dragging her chest up against him, as if measuring her hitbox against Serica's hopes and dreams.

"UHHH-KIRA?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?" Kentaro squealed.

She didn't answer.

Instead, she muttered something even more insane.

"We must reestablish our connection. Through rubbing. Friction improves emotional sync."

"…WHAT?!"

Kentaro's voice hit an octave previously thought unachievable by the human male.

Tengen, from the sidelines, had entered full meltdown. He wiped a trickle of drool from his chin like he'd just seen the gates of heaven open.

That is, until something snapped him out of it.

A voice.

Louder than it should've been.

"NO!"

Everyone turned.

Serica's voice cut through the noise like a whip.

Eyes widened. Even Kira blinked.

Serica stepped forward, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides.

"If… if you're not going to be my friend," she said, her voice trembling but rising, "then that's fine. But you can't take Kentaro from me. He's not yours. He's not mine either. But he's not… not some prize to fight over!"

Silence.

Even Shogo, in Kentaro's ear, stayed quiet.

Then, after a long pause.

"…Ken," Shogo finally said through the comm, voice hushed. "You need to calm her down. Right now. She's not just emotionally distressed, her Bloom signature is climbing."

Kentaro looked at Serica.

And for a moment, just one, he saw something behind her eyes.

Not anger.

Hurt.

Deep, simmering hurt that was just now starting to boil.

And Serica… she was doing everything she could to hold it in.

"Crap," Kentaro whispered. "She's pushing too hard. Serica's not like the others, she'll break if this keeps up…"

"Kira," Kentaro said, voice steadying. "Stop."

Kira glanced up at him. Blank. Unfazed.

"Please just stop Kira, let's just all be nice okay?" He said with a soft smile.

Kira tilted her head.

Then, slowly, like someone rebooting a system, she stepped back.

"I see," she said. "So you're defending her now."

Her eyes narrowed. Not furious—just quietly calculating.

"…Interesting."

Kira let out a sigh but still stayed uncomfortably close to Kentaro, now avoiding eye contact with Serica.

Only everything came to an end and when Kira stopped talking did the tension finally pop.

Kentaro sighed.

Tengen let out a long, "Yikes." 

Serica stood frozen, eyes wide, breathing shallow.

Kentaro thank Kira 

Then turned to Serica. "You okay?"

She nodded. But her eyes said no.

Kira and Serica now sat on either side of Kentaro, both glaring across him like rival queens in a silent war. Their postures were stiff, their expressions locked, Serica's brows furrowed with defiance, Kira's icy composure barely masking her irritation.

Kentaro glanced between them, lips parted as if about to speak… but wisely didn't. For once, he was actually surprised they weren't at each other's throats, just yet.

But what stunned him… was Serica.

Not long ago, she'd flinched at every harsh word, apologised for bumping into chairs, and spoken like the world was made of glass.

Now?

Now she was squaring her shoulders, puffing her cheeks, and leaning in like she might lunge across him any second.

All because Kira had tried to claim him.

She's changed, Kentaro thought, blinking. Just like that… something's different.

It was protective. Almost primal.

And somehow… kind of cute.

Before he could speak or wave a peace flag, the classroom door creaked open again, this time, with a calm voice that sliced through the tension.

"Alright, class," said Mr. Tachibana, stepping in. "Let's get moving."

Beside him stood a man with a camera bag slung over one shoulder and aviator shades that looked like they belonged to another timeline.

"Hey, Kestrel! Where've you been?" Tengen called out cheerfully, suddenly chipper.

Kentaro blinked. Wait. Didn't he say Kestrel made him wake up two hours early? Weren't you furious five minutes ago?

But Tengen was already strolling over like they'd never missed a beat, chatting up the quiet stranger with a laugh Kentaro didn't quite trust.

Mr. Tachibana gave the usual pre-trip speech, forms, reminders, sunscreen, and before long, the class was piling onto the bus, then boarding the plane.

The skies were clear.

The trip was smooth.

Except for the chaos in seats 14A, B, and C.

"I want the window seat," Serica announced, arms crossed.

"Go away, homewrecker. You've already torn this relationship apart," Kira said flatly, already buckled in by the window like she owned the fuselage.

Kentaro slumped into the middle seat.

Again.

"Someone please crash this plane," he muttered under his breath.

And yet… part of him was smiling.

They were alive. They were here. They were together.

Even if his spine might never recover.

Hours passed. The clouds parted.

And finally, after the ferry, after the customs form, after one final debate about who would carry the heavier suitcase…

They arrived.

The sun hit them like a spotlight.

Warm, golden, dreamlike.

The Island of Bloom is a coastal paradise nicknamed The Island of Dreams.

But what none of them knew, as they stepped off the boat and into the salt-kissed breeze…

Was that this island?

Was already watching them…