Case number 801

“Katy, can you move?” A faceless woman approached me.

The only thing I could remember clearly was the pain in my body and the rotting marks on hers.

“Some people are coming for a talk. Can you join us?” the stranger smiled. “Do you still have the strength?”

I didn’t remember how I got to the dining room, but I ended up sitting in on that conversation. Or, well… kind of.

“Mrs. Shimizu, you understand the situation…”

I remembered staring at the ceiling, aching, while the adults talked.

I remembered the faceless woman handing them a white envelope…

“There’s only enough for one operation of that magnitude. Removing so much of our bodies, even with the metropolitan government’s aid, it was impossible to afford two procedures…”

What were they talking about?

“You know what needs to be done. The quarantine team is on its way…”

Why did those words hurt so much?

That night, there was a storm…

Why did I run out into the lightning?

Why were those men in white chasing me?

What was the injustice I had experienced?

I remembered my health improving over time, but it felt wrong…

I felt frustrated. Sad. But why?

Why did the world feel so empty beside that glass coffin?

What was I doing in that hospital?

…

Who was the dead woman lying next to me?

“No!” I screamed in fear, breaking the calm of the night. “W-what the hell?”

I gasped for breath, scanning my surroundings.

Beside me, Isayama was still asleep.

“Mom…” I buried my face in my hands, consumed by the deepest darkness imaginable. “I don’t want to forget you, Mom…”

Alone, I cried silently, overwhelmed by helplessness.

Cold. I was terrified of losing everything.

My memory was no longer a safe place, even my partner’s soft sheets couldn’t shield me. Pulling them over my head, squeezing my eyes shut—it was all was in vain.

As if that would scare away the monster…

…

June 1st, Year 2308.

Conflict Summary:

S-Flu: 598,871,711.

Humanity: 0.

District 3

Katy Shimizu, 18 years and 9 months old.

Two weeks after Shinpei’s death, on that Tuesday morning after my nightmare, Isayama and I visited potential clients in District 3.

Despite our recent successes and my partner’s company, the terror I’d felt last night hadn’t faded. Even so, I chose not to tell him.

My legs ached and struggled to move; every hour, my hands trembled; coffee didn’t taste the same anymore. At one point, I even forgot my mother existed for a few minutes…

Isayama’s been pushing himself for days to save Dr. Yamaguchi… Worrying him further would only bring him unnecessary stress…

That afternoon, we strolled together beneath the setting sun, exploring the picturesque neighborhood filled with shops.

If my symptoms are correct, he’s already helping me without realizing it…

Admiring his new black tie, he carried a couple of shopping bags with clothes for both of us.

Why is it so hard to breathe? Calm down, Katy…

“What do you think? I’ve got good taste, right?” He held it up with pride—ironically, I’d picked it out for him.

“Yeah, see? Formal colors really are the best,” I replied, struggling to keep pace due to the pain in my knees.

“You were right. So this is what it feels like to be a proper man…” he murmured jokingly.

Then, he offered me his hand with that magnetic smile—the very one I’d fallen in love with.

I hesitated for a few seconds before taking it, which made Isayama frown as he opened and closed his hand insistently.

What if my hand trembles again and he notices?

Still unsure, I gave in to his insistence.

And then, I experienced one of the most horrifying sensations of my life.

We walked calmly. The street was clean, the atmosphere pleasant. Cars passed to our right, and the orange sky painted a magical scene alongside the person I loved.

We slept together, ate together, worked together, fought together…

And yet, despite loving him with every cell in my body, at that moment, I could barely feel his touch.

No… this can’t be…

I suppressed my growing distress as much as I could.

So cold… Why does his hand feel so cold?

It was as if I wasn’t touching him at all. As if my hand wasn’t holding anything.

My breathing became shallow, but I refused to slow my pace. I couldn’t do that to him.

What is this tingling in my fingers?

To him, who looked ahead with determination to save his mentor. To him, who loved the piano. To him, who was ready to avenge his father’s death.

I couldn’t burden him with anything more…

“Look at that.” He stopped in front of a storefront.

“H-huh?” I snapped back to reality.

The sign read ‘Memorias.’ I took the moment to glance at my hands with fear. They looked fine.

“Isn’t this one of those shops from the mall?” he asked cheerfully. “Huh? You look pale. Are you okay?”

When did Isayama and I visit this shop?

“Of course it’s the same store. Haven’t you heard of chains before?” I tried to divert his attention from my state.

“Geez, it was just an observation…” he muttered.

I can’t remember it…

“Um, want to go in and see if this one has anything different?”

“N-no, no need. If we check out all the stores today, there’ll be nothing left to see next time.”

“That’s true.” We kept walking.

Things are slowly returning to normal. I can’t be the one to ruin it…

“Hey, Isayama.”

“Huh? What is it?”

We walked toward the sunset.

Even as it carried uncertainty along with it.

“Would you like to go out for dinner somewhere this Friday?” I asked, blinded by the sun.

Walking beside me, his silhouette blurred against the light. I felt him leaving me behind, and I could do nothing but drift further away as my condition worsened.

I don’t want to lose him… Isayama…

I held back my tears as we talked.

“An elegant restaurant?”

“Something like that…”

“Sure. Have you got somewhere in mind?”

“Not yet…”

“That’s okay. We’ll figure something out. No rush.”

No rush?

It echoed in my mind. That’s what I wanted to believe, but the signals my body warned me told a different reality…

I’d say there is.