Ace stared at Natsumi, a knot of apprehension twisting in his stomach. She seemed so normal, so kind. Could she really be connected to the Crow Imagin, the one disrupting the timeline? It felt impossible.
Asahi, oblivious to Ace's inner turmoil, finished the last of his katsudon with a satisfied sigh. "Man, that was good! Thanks, Natsumi!" He beams at her.
"No problem, Asahi. Glad you enjoyed it," Natsumi replies, her smile warm and genuine.
Ace remained silent, picking at the grains of rice left in his bowl, his mind racing.
Ace and Asahi exited Sakura Diner, the bell above the door [🔔 Ding Ding 🔔] announcing their departure. The sun hung high, casting long shadows down the street. Asahi, still buzzing from the meal, stretched his arms above his head. Ace, however, remained cloaked in a heavy silence, his gaze fixed on the ground.
"That was a good meal! You okay, Ace? You've been kinda quiet," Asahi asked, concern etching lines onto his face. "Did you not think the food was good enough? Natsumi always makes it with love!"
Ace stopped walking, his expression serious. "Asahi, listen... There's something I need to tell you. Something about Natsumi."
Asahi's smile faltered. "What is it? Is something wrong with the restaurant?"
"It's not the restaurant," Ace began, his voice low. "It's Natsumi herself. I think... I think she might be the host of the Crow Imagin."
Asahi stared at Ace, his mouth agape. "What?! That's impossible! What are you talking about?" He shook his head, disbelief etched across his features. "There's no way Natsumi would do something like that!"
"I know it's hard to believe, but I can sense a host if I'm close enough. And when we were in the diner… there was something there," Ace explained, his tone laced with reluctant certainty. I can't mistake it, I hope.
"No! You're wrong, Ace! Dead wrong! I know Natsumi! She would never team up with some monster!" Asahi retorted, his voice rising with each word. "You must be mistaken! Maybe it's someone else nearby!"
Ace sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I hope I am, Asahi. I really do. But right now, she's a strong suspect."
Asahi looked stunned, his usual exuberance completely extinguished. "So, what? You're just going to accuse her? Without proof? That's not like a hero!"
"I'm not accusing her. I'm investigating," Ace said, trying to soothe his friend. "There's a huge difference."
Asahi's eyes narrowed, a spark of defiance igniting within them. "Well, I'm going to prove you wrong! I'll show you that Natsumi isn't the host. There's no way she's a bad person."
Ace regarded Asahi, a mixture of concern and curiosity swirling within him. "And how exactly are you planning to do that?" He asked, crossing his arms. This is going to be messy.
Asahi squared his shoulders, his determination hardening into a tangible force. "I'll spend the day with her! I'll show you how kind and normal she is. You'll see, Ace. You'll see you're wrong."
Ace watched Asahi stomp off, a sigh escaping his lips. He hoped Asahi wasn't walking into danger, blinded by his nostalgia. Ace hung back, tailing Asahi from a distance.
The next day dawned bright and sunny, the kind of day designed for reminiscing. Asahi met Natsumi outside Sakura Diner, his expression a mixture of forced cheerfulness and underlying tension. Natsumi greeted him with her usual warmth, seemingly unaware of the internal battle raging within Asahi.
They strolled through their old district, their footsteps echoing on the pavement. Asahi desperately tried to maintain a casual tone, reminiscing about their childhood antics, but an uncharacteristic awkwardness hung heavy in the air. Natsumi responded with polite smiles, but Ace, watching from afar, could sense a subtle distance in her demeanor.
Asahi pointed to a shiny new arcade, drawing her attention. "Remember when this place was Mrs. Sato's bakery? Man, her cream puffs were the best!"
Natsumi nodded, her gaze lingering on the arcade's flashing lights. "Yeah, it's been a while." Her voice was soft, lacking its usual enthusiasm.
The new stores stood out like gaudy jewels amidst faded treasures. A sleek, modern cafe with an outdoor patio was prominently displayed, drawing crowds away from Sakura Diner. A trendy boutique with mannequins sporting designer clothes occupied the space where the old bookstore once stood. It was a stark visual reminder of the changes sweeping through their district, changes that threatened to swallow Sakura Diner whole.
Asahi shifted, his voice rising slightly. "So, Natsumi, what do you think about all these new places opening up around here? Pretty cool, huh?"
Natsumi's smile tightened ever so slightly. "Yeah, they're alright, I guess. A lot of people seem to like them."
Asahi pressed, a nervous energy creeping into his tone. "But do you like them? I mean, they're changing the whole vibe, right?"
Natsumi turned to him, her eyes losing some of their light. "To be honest, Asahi, I don't like them much at all."
Asahi's forced smile wavered. "What? But they're so popular..."
"It's just…" Natsumi hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her bag. "Ever since they opened, things have been getting harder for my family. People are always lining up for those fancy cafes and boutiques, and nobody comes to Sakura Diner anymore."
Asahi reached out, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry, Natsumi. Sakura Diner is a classic! People will always appreciate good, honest food."
But Natsumi's frustration reached a boiling point, her voice laced with resentment. "It's not fair, Asahi! We've been here for years, serving the best food in town. But now, everyone just wants the latest trends."
Ace, watching from his vantage point across the street, noticed the subtle shift. Natsumi's growing distress was tangible, and he sensed a darkness gathering around her, a sign of something sinister closing in. This is it, she's about to lose control.
Natsumi's hands tightened into fists, her nails digging into her palms. "They're ruining everything, Asahi! Those stupid stores are going to put us out of business!" A cold gust swept through the street, and she flinched, her body tensing.
Suddenly, a wave of dark energy erupted from Natsumi. The air shimmered around her, and shadows danced like living things. Black feathers began to coalesce around her form, swirling, and solidifying into sharp, avian features. Asahi gasped, stumbling back.
Natsumi's eyes glazed over, pupils dilating until her irises were mere rings of color. Her mouth curved into an unnatural smile, devoid of warmth. A chilling whisper escaped her lips, a voice not entirely her own. "Erase… the competition."
The transformation was complete. The Crow Imagin stood where Natsumi once did, its eerie visage a grotesque mockery of her former kindness. He surveyed the street, a predatory gleam flickering in his eyes.
"Erase..." the Crow Imagin repeats, the word a command.
Asahi is frozen in fear and stares at his friend's distorted face, his heart pounding. The Crow Imagin raises a hand, black feathers gathering like deadly shuriken.
Panic seized the street as the Crow Imagin launched a volley of its razor-sharp projectiles. The trendy cafe's windows shattered, its outdoor seating exploding into splinters. Screams echoed as fleeing civilians tripped, the sidewalk slick with spilled lattes and shattered glass. The boutique was next, its mannequins ripped to shreds by explosive feathers, designer clothes torn and scattered like confetti.
Ace sprinted into the scene, adrenaline coursing through him.
Asahi remained rooted in place, a statue carved from disbelief. His mind struggled to reconcile the monstrous figure with the kind-hearted girl who served him katsudon just moments ago. The world tilted on its axis, reality fracturing around him.
"Natsumi... How...?" The question was barely audible, lost amidst the chaos, a whisper of denial in the face of undeniable horror.
***
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Advance chapters are in my P@|r3on - Najicablitz