Chapter 2: Haruka; The Eccentric Dominion,,

The sun had finally risen, and the sky, once dark, was now painted in shades of gold and pink. The long-awaited day Haruka had dreamed of for years had finally arrived—her first day of high school. It was the day she would finally step out into the outside world.

Haruka lived on a remote island in Japan, where there was only a small amount of entertainment infrastructure. The people who lived there were mostly a programmed dominion as an elderly, and the only student in the island was Haruka because of its low population. The only form of social interaction was school yet sadly for her, she is the only student in the school. Haruka had been raised by her foster parents until she turned 16, and they made a promise with her—after graduating from elementary school, she would go to school in Tokyo, the capital city of Japan, where her parents believed all dreams could come true.

Haruka was excited. She couldn’t wait to experience a life she had never known before. She looked forward to finally interacting with people her own age. How wonderful it would be, she thought. But little did she know, even though her classmates were the same age as her, they seemed to share a cold, distant, and stiff personality. Their feelings and behavior felt strangely similar to the elderly people back in her hometown—transparent, unengaged, and detached.

Haruka let out a heavy sigh as she lay in her bed. These days felt especially hard—her expectations had been shattered. She frowned and covered her eyes with her hand. “I thought I’d be able to make friends my age, but the reality is much crueler than I imagined. What a letdown.” She closed her eyes, hoping for a restful night’s sleep.

The morning came, just like every other. She woke up at 5 a.m., as her apartment was far from the school. She didn’t want to risk being late, especially given the strict rules of her scholarship. As usual, she arrived at school. The movement of the students, teachers, and staff seemed mechanical, as if they were all programmed to go through the same motions for the rest of their lives. Haruka, wearing a poker face, tried her best not to let the situation bother her.

She took her seat, and a female student approached her with a cheerful smile.

"Haruka, what did you have for breakfast?" she asked, her tone overly friendly.

Haruka forced a smile, trying to match the female student's enthusiasm. "I had bread, eggs, and a small portion of salad," she paused. But in her mind, she thought, How many times has she asked me the same question? She sighed. “How about you, Sakura?”

Sakura tapped her finger to her chin and paused, thinking. "Hmm, I usually don’t eat breakfast because I'm dieting," she said with a wide grin.

Haruka muttered to herself, "You’ve told me that plenty of times already, Sakura."

She smiled at Sakura and pouted slightly, her brow furrowed. "Skipping breakfast is bad for your health, Sakura. You really should eat something."

Sakura burst into an enthusiastic laugh. "Stop making that face, you’re so cute!"

Just then, the bell rang, Sakura and the students rushed to their seats as if they were programmed to act accordingly. The teacher walked into the room, his face stern and serious. The students, including Haruka, quickly stood and greeted him politely.

As they all stood and bowed in unison, the class president spoke first. "Good morning, Sensei." Everyone else followed. The teacher gave a brief nod, signaling for them to sit, and the class began.

To Haruka, it felt like she was living the same day over and over again. Everything was too predictable, too transparent. She could already tell that nothing new would happen. The class ended, and just as she had expected, it was exactly like every other day. On her way to her apartment, Haruka noticed something strange—a young girl panting heavily, standing beneath the bridge. The girl gripped the fabric of her clothes tightly around her chest, her face tense and stiff. Suddenly, she collapsed.

Haruka was taken aback, but without hesitation, she rushed to her side, unsure of what was happening but certain she needed to help. Haruka gently held the unconscious girl in her arms, gazing at her face in confusion. There was something completely different about her—nothing like the appearance of the Dominions Haruka saw every day. As she was about to touch the girl's face, she heard a faint groan. The girl's eyes slowly opened, her brow furrowed in discomfort. Haruka was taken aback when she saw the girl’s eyes—blue. All the Dominions have black eyes, Haruka thought, feeling even more bewildered. She had no idea who this girl was.

A warmth spread from her arm, and Haruka noticed the girl’s hand resting gently against her.

“Please, help me,” the young girl whispered, her voice strained with pain.

Haruka, still processing the unexpected turn of events, asked, “What happened to you?”

“T-They’re coming to kill me. If I stay here any longer, they’ll definitely find me. And... I’m wounded,” the girl said, her voice shaking. “I can’t go any farther. You have to help me!”

Desperation clung to the girl as she gripped Haruka’s clothing, her face contorted in pain. Haruka noticed the girl's side—where the fabric of her clothes had turned red with blood. Frowning in sympathy, Haruka immediately removed her blazer and draped it over the girl’s body, lifting her onto her back.

“My apartment is far from here,” Haruka said, her voice tight. She swallowed hard, feeling sweat begin to bead on her forehead, her heart racing rapidly. “We have to stay low.”

As she began to move, she realized the gravity of the situation—how heavy it was for her. Helping a stranger, and above all, someone completely different from the Dominions she knew. As Haruka started walking down the street, she sensed something—someone—was following them, moving stealthily. Her heart raced, and she bit her lip, taking a long breath in, trying to steady herself.

The young girl, noticing Haruka’s nervousness, gently hugged her from behind.

“You’ve noticed, haven’t you?” she whispered. “By the way you’re acting, I can tell you’re nervous. At this point, if you don't calm yourself, they’ll definitely know we’re aware of them. Please, calm down.”

Haruka tried to take in the girl's words, but the situation was overwhelming. This was all new to her—she didn’t know how to handle being chased by unknown pursuers.

“I’ll tell you what to do,” the girl continued, her voice calm despite the tension. “First, don’t go straight to your apartment. If you do, they’ll know exactly where we’re headed. We need to lose them somehow.”

Haruka nodded, trying to process the instructions, grateful for the girl’s guidance.

They wound their way through several streets of Tokyo, passing by various Dominions along the way. Haruka did her best to stay calm, but it felt like they were always being watched. No matter how much they tried to shake them off, their pursuers seemed to anticipate every move. The pursuit was relentless—highly intelligent, always one step ahead, Haruka also noticed the numerous drones following them, hovering silently in the sky. The weight of the situation was pressing on her, but then, amidst the chaos, she heard a familiar voice. It was cheerful, with a hint of enthusiasm.