7 - 2

As Mary waited while Zukafu was gone, she watched as families past by her, going on with their lives and this had her thinking about the day she first met the Zukafu's father, Yu back when they were just strangers to each others.

PRINCIPAL OFFICE, FLASHBACK

Mary stood in front of Yu while the headmistress had left them to discuss by themselves.

Yu asked Mary, "Do you know why I asked for you?"

Mary answers bluntly, "No clue."

Yu chuckles, amused by Mary's answer. He then asked her, "Tell me; What reason would someone like yourself be that bold to go out of the safety bunkers during an Enigma attack?"

Mary again answers "No clue."

"Ah but you do know..." said Yu as he took out his phone and showed Mary a text message that was sent to her as it revealed that Yu was the anonymous texter. He then asked, "Seem familiar?"

Mary stayed silent before she asked "Why?" With a serious tone.

Yu sighed and answered "It's simple... I need your help!" He then shut his phone off and put it back into his pocket and then stood up and walked up to Mary as he explained to her, "You saw what my son Takehaya had done and you may ask why he does not utilise this power like his siblings, and the answer is dark and simple; He has lived a troubling life and that is the reason why he acted so cold towards your friends earlier..."

Curious, Mary asked, "What is he? And why does he act the way that he is?"

Yu answered, "Because he wants to be alone and he's even convinced individuals about a story that he pretends to hide from all that know of his abilities and that it was with a girl named Raimei..."

"What about this Raimei character?" Asked Mary.

Yu answered "Zukafu tells those that he was in love with a girl named Raimei and that he isolates himself because of her 'death' when in actuality..." Yu then paused, not wanting to tell Mary of Raimei's aftermath.

Mary pushes him, asking, "What happened?!"

"She became one of them?" Answered Yu, referring to a drawing depiction of an Enigma parasite.

"She became an Enigma? How?" Asked Mary.

Yu then smiled and said "It seems I've drawn your curiousity young Amano... I'll tell you what, I can let you learn about her aftermath yourself... But the way to do it isn't simple as..."

Yu then slided a piece of paper for Mary to take to which she does and upon looking through it, she was surprised to see that Yu wanted her to be Zukafu's partner.

Mary then confidentally asked "Why should I accept this?"

Yu shrugged his shoulder and sat down on the desk as he said, "It's simple... It's your ticket out of this MUNDANE life you have... Don't think me as a dummy, I know you well Mary and what you truly desire..."

Yu then saw a reaction as she realised that she was getting to do what she dreamed of doing and that was to experience an actual adventure and/or mystery as she had always dreamed.

END OF FLASHBACK

Mary sat down there, lost in thought as she had to go through so much as such a short time and she thought in her mind how this 'adventure mystery' that she was so desperately after wasn't what she was expecting it to be.

She was then grabbed on the shoulder by someone, causing her to react and hit whoever grabbed her. Later revealing that it was Ema who appeared worried and realising it was her, she immediately began apologising.

Mary said "Ema! I'm so sorry, I didn't know it was you!"

Ema responded with a smile, "No its okay! It was just a little tap thats all." She then asked "Mind if I sit down beside you?"

To which Mary responded, "Yeah sure!"

Ema sat down next to Mary. She then said "I'm very sorry for startling you, I hope I wasn't disrupting anything important in your mind!"

Mary laughed and said "No it's okay, it wasn't anything important!"

"Well it must have been important if you were so lost in thought." Ema commented.

Wanting to change the topic, Mary asked, "So... What brings you here?"

Ema answered "Oh, I just came to pick up supplies for a big event! Everyone around this district will be involved! Its going to go out with a bang!"

Mary was amazed by this event but immediately realised that there wasn't anything big happening in the district which made her curious but also suspicious and therefore, she asked Ema more about this event.

She asked "Tell me more about this event. Sounds interesting."

Ema responded "I'm afraid I can't detail much more about the event but I can assure you that it'll be a blast!"

This furthermore making Mary suspicious about Ema and made her think whether she was an Enigma or not. Ema then looked at her watch and stood up and bid farewell to her.

"Ah shoot, I have to go! Sorry I can't stay, I'll see you later." Said Ema as she waved at Mary.

Mary stayed silent and just waved back at her, unsettled by Ema. She looked at her clocked and said to her "What's keeping him?"

But before she knew it, Zukafu hastily returned, almost out of breath. He sat down to quickly catch his breath and after doing so, he said, "Sorry if I took too long!" While he was still recovering.

"Nah its okay." Said Mary, "It wasn't too long I hope." Referring to him going to get the item that he said was getting.

Zukafu answered "It kind of was... But it was worth it." He then handed Mary a box.

She asked "What's this?" With bewilderment and curiousity.

Zukafu just answers "Just open it..."

Mary opened the box and saw a ring that had a very detailed diamond, leaving her in shock. She said "This is-"

Zukafu finished her sentence, "Something that I had someone that I knew to craft since you know... You're really in it for the adventure and I thought-"

Mary was left strucken by what Zukafu just said. She looked up and interrupted him as she said "You knew?"

He responded with, "Course I knew..."

Mary was almost about to drop the ring but Zukafu caught it.