Chapter 7 – The Night
The apartment was quiet, unusually so. Ai had put us to bed earlier than normal, saying she had a rehearsal in the morning, though her smile never quite reached her eyes. She was tired, that much was clear. But there was also something else an air of unease that I couldn't shake.
I lay in my crib, eyes open to the darkness, the faint sound of Ruby's soft breathing mixing with Aqua's restless shifting nearby. The dreams had been coming more often lately, repeating themselves with almost cruel precision. Dreams of Ai, lying in her own blood. Dreams of Aqua screaming. Dreams of Ruby too young to even understand, her hands stained with tears instead of crimson.
And me, helpless.
But I wasn't helpless anymore.
I stared at the ceiling, fists clenched. The system had taught me something simple but powerful: growth was effort, progress was measurable, and change was possible. If I worked hard, I could shift the scales. If I tried hard enough, maybe even fate wasn't set in stone.
I whispered to myself, the words barely audible.
"I won't let it happen. Not like that."
The door creaked open. Aqua's small figure padded across the room. He tugged at my blanket.
"Oni-san," he whispered.
I blinked at him. He didn't usually wake me up at night. "What is it?"
He frowned, glancing toward the window as if something outside disturbed him. "Can't sleep. Something feels… strange."
I hesitated, then nodded. He wasn't wrong. The air itself felt heavy, as though even the night was holding its breath.
Ruby stirred in her crib, her thumb still in her mouth, murmuring, "Nini…" before rolling over and drifting back to sleep.
I pushed myself up, sitting on the edge of the crib. My body wasn't strong enough for much, but I'd learned to climb down without hurting myself. My muscles ached from the awkward drop, but I didn't flinch. The dull burn was a reminder of growth.
We sat there together in silence, two toddlers in the dark, our breaths shallow. I almost laughed at the absurdity of it Aqua and I sensing the shadow of death like we were in some thriller. But there was nothing funny about what was about to happen.
The knock came just after midnight.
Three sharp raps. Too loud, too deliberate.
Ai stirred in the other room. "Coming," she called softly, her voice hoarse with fatigue.
My blood ran cold. It was time.
I scrambled to my feet, wobbling slightly. "No," I hissed under my breath, heart pounding. "Not tonight."
Aqua blinked at me. "Oni-san?"
I didn't answer. My legs carried me toward the door before my brain could catch up. Every step felt like dragging a mountain, but I refused to stop.
The knock came again.
Ai opened the door.
He stood there the man whose face I knew too well. A fan. A fanatic. His eyes wide with obsession, a bouquet trembling in one hand, a glint of steel in the other.
"I finally found you, Ai…" His voice cracked with emotion, the smile on his lips chilling rather than warm.
Ai's expression froze, polite shock plastered on her face. "Oh… you're a fan?"
The knife flashed.
My body moved before my mind. I shoved her with everything I had, small arms straining, tiny legs screaming in protest. Ai stumbled backward, surprise flashing across her eyes.
The blade missed her chest.
But it found her side.
Blood blossomed across her shirt, dark and terrible. Ai gasped, collapsing against the wall.
The fan's eyes widened, wild. "Why?! Why won't you love me back?!"
I screamed. A raw, high-pitched sound that burned my throat. "Help!"
Ruby woke, wailing, her little arms reaching toward Ai. Aqua froze, trembling, before his instincts kicked in. He lunged for the phone on the table. His fingers fumbled, but he managed to hit the emergency number.
I threw myself between Ai and the fan, shaking, but standing. My voice cracked as I shouted again. "Stop! Leave her alone!"
The man raised the knife again. My legs felt like lead. My hands shook. But I didn't move away. If he tried again, it would be me first.
Maybe that was foolish. Maybe it was reckless. But if fate demanded blood, it would take mine before hers.
The sound of footsteps thundered down the hall. The producer's voice, sharp and furious, cut through the chaos. "Police are on the way!"
The fan froze, panic flickering across his face. He turned and bolted, the bouquet tumbling to the floor, petals scattering like false promises.
The apartment filled with noise Ruby's sobs, Aqua's frantic voice into the phone, Ai's shallow gasps.
I dropped to my knees beside her, my small hands pressing against the wound. "Stay with us, Mama. Please…"
Her fingers, weak but gentle, brushed my cheek. She smiled through the pain, her eyes shining with tears. "You… saved me."
"No," I whispered, my voice breaking. "I just… bought time."
Sirens wailed outside. The paramedics rushed in, their voices urgent, their hands swift. Ai was lifted onto a stretcher, her face pale, her breaths shallow.
I watched them carry her away, my tiny fists clenched so tight my nails cut into my palms. For the first time since my reincarnation, the story had shifted. Ai was still alive.
But at what cost?
The apartment emptied, leaving only us children and the producer, Ichigo, his expression grim as he tried to comfort Ruby. I sat frozen, trembling, my mind a storm.
And then
Ding!
New Feature Unlocked: [Fate Divergence]
You have altered the predetermined path.
My breath caught. A new window shimmered faintly before my eyes, words etched in glowing script.
Chance of altering character fate: [Unlocked]. Success depends on effort, timing, and resolve.
I exhaled shakily. It wasn't a guarantee. It wasn't easy. But it was possible.
For the first time, I believed it.
Ai Hoshino would not die. Not if I had anything to say about it.
Progress Log – (5 years)
Stood against the attacker: Strength +0.5, Charisma +0.3 (New Skill: Courage Lv. 1 – XP 0/10)
Called for help successfully: Charisma +0.2, Intelligence +0.2
Tried to stop Ai's bleeding: Perception +0.3, Intelligence +0.3 (Skill learned: Basic First Aid Lv. 1 – XP 0/10)
[Comprehension System]
Name: Alexandrite Hoshino
Age: 5 years
STR: 6.0
AGI: 5.2
INT: 15.0
CHA: 7.0
PER: 4.0
Skills:
-Basic Body Movement (Lv. 7– XP 22/40)
-Basic Singing (Lv. 5 – XP 12/20)
-Basic Acting (Lv. 4 – XP 4/10)
-Language Comprehension (Lv. 5 – XP 1/20)
-Courage (Lv. 1 – XP 0/10)
-Basic First Aid (Lv. 1 – XP 0/10)