Who are you?

Eirian's POV:
Flashback to Darien (Hikaru) regaining consciousness:

This is my fault. I should have known Darien would follow me secretly again (even though everyone in this orphanage had known about it for a long time, I never brought it up to him). I shouldn't have let him keep doing that.

If only I had arrived faster, if only I had realized Darien wasn't following me then. maybe he wouldn't be in this condition.

Sigh.

I continued walking down the hallway, lost in my regrets, heading towards my room. Children were running and playing around me, but to me, all those sights looked like blurred video clips. I just wanted Darien back. My life felt dull without him.

It's been a month now; why hasn't he woken up yet? Don't tell me- I immediately shook my head, dispelling the negative thought. I don't want to imagine my brother leaving me, too. No matter what the doctor says, Darien will wake up again.

He'll be okay... He will... My God, please don't take Darien too. I beg you... Please...

"Eirian-niichan?" I immediately looked up to see who had called me. For a moment, I thought it was Darien, but it wasn't. It was just a boy with bright blond hair standing in front of me. Besides, Darien had a unique name to call me by.

Sigh... I might go crazy if this continues...

He looked nervous and didn't meet my gaze, but he seemed to want to say something. I knew this boy; he was friends with my brother, even though they rarely played together due to Darien's health.

I wondered why he came up to me. He always seemed nervous when talking to me, though.

"Ah... Raiden? Is there something you want to say?"

"Erk!? That... Ah... Are you okay, Eirian-niichan?" I flinched slightly at the question. I had managed to hide it, but I was still shocked why he asked that. No one had ever asked me that before.

Raiden must have seen my confused face because he immediately explained why he asked, even though he still didn't meet my eyes.

"... Eirian-nicchan... You... You're crying right now."

...Huh?

I blinked many times in disbelief, but then I felt my cheeks were wet, as if raindrops had fallen on my face, and that's when I realized my tears must have welled up earlier, and when Raiden spoke, I hadn't noticed them flowing.

I quickly wiped my tears; it was embarrassing to cry in front of a child, even if he was the same age as my brother, but it was still embarrassing. He must have been surprised because he'd never seen me cry before. Everyone considered me the most mature child.

Even though there were older children here than me, the staff and others here considered me mature beyond my age. Well, it can't be helped. I was raised to be overprotective of my brother since he was born. He's too precious for this cruel world.

"... Darien will definitely wake up again... He is a strong person, so Eirian-niichan can't give up on him." Wow, that was a bit out of character for him. I knew Raiden was a good kid, but no one had ever tried to comfort me when Darien wasn't around. Usually, it would be my brother comforting me, but now he's in a coma.

I felt touched, so I gave him a sincere smile from my heart before ruffling his hair and leaving, whispering, "Thank you" to him. I felt a little better; I could tell Darien about this. I saw the boy blush a little; hehehe, he must have been even more shocked.

Skip...
In the bedroom...

"Darien?" My brother woke up? When? His confused face immediately turned to look at me. He looked shocked, then confused again, which was quite weird, but I didn't care because Darien had woken up.

After a month of that nightmare, my little brother had awakened from his sleep. I didn't care if I cried again because I was truly grateful. I immediately ran to him and hugged him tightly, but not so hard as to hurt him.

Darien's body tensed as I hugged him, but I didn't care. I missed my brother too much. I was afraid every moment, thinking he would leave me someday.

This morning, I had a dream where Darien said goodbye, then disappeared after a shooting star passed. It was a strange dream, but it felt so real. I remember waking up immediately and looking at him with a terrified gaze. I exhaled in relief when I saw Darien still hadn't woken up, but his chest rising and falling showed he was still breathing.

"Hiks... I'm relieved you're awake, Darien... Please don't scare me like that again," I said, sobbing and still not letting him go. After a while, I felt strange.

Why isn't Darien saying anything? He's still tense as if being hugged by someone he doesn't know, and silent. Something is wrong here, but I can't figure out what.

I then broke the hug and looked at him with a confused expression. Darien seemed puzzled, and his gaze seemed not to recognize me. Suddenly, I remembered the dream from this morning, but I immediately pushed it away, trying not to recall it.

Maybe he's still sick? He's been in a coma for over a month; of course, he's still confused. "Darien? Are you okay? Still in pain? Wait! I'll go call the warden and doctor!" I ran out of there, feeling anxious and scared, not because of Darien, but because that dream kept repeating in my mind as if reminding me.

No... This is Darien. He's still alive and has woken up. I just need to call the doctor to confirm it. He's just confused. I kept running out of the room and thought Darien had called me, but I ignored it.

"... I don't like this feeling...," I felt irritated. It felt too real. That's impossible. Because that's Darien, but... I must stop thinking about it and find a doctor quickly. I hope this feeling isn't right.

Skip...

It's only been a day since Darien woke up, but my feelings only grew stronger, and my suspicion of him increased. I shouldn't feel this way about my own brother, but... How?

The way he talks and his personality are indeed my Darien, but why does his presence feel different? He also seems more mature than usual and acts differently. He's still Darien, but at the same time, he's not? Damn it! I don't know anymore.

Even so, I am still comfortable and overprotective of him. I can't help but act normal in front of him. Why am I doing this? Is it because I'm afraid to face reality? I didn't realize I was lost in thought until Darien seemed to want to say something.

"... Eiri-niichan..."

"If you want to ask to come along, the answer is no."

"Ehhh!!! But I haven't said anything yet."

"I already know what my beloved little brother wants to say~"

The way he responds is also the same. But I still don't feel at ease. If he's really not Darien, then where is the real Darien now? Who is this person in front of my eyes?

Suddenly, I remembered the dream again. My brother's smile and guilty face were still fresh in my dream.

"Eiri-niichan, I'm sorry I can't be with you anymore... Please continue to live and take care of yourself. Also, please take care of 'him'. I'm sure Eiri-niichan can accept 'him'. I'm sorry again, Eiri-niichan...

Please don't die and sayonara... I always love you hehe."

Why did he say that? Why was he still smiling even though he looked like he didn't want to leave? Why was he crying?

"Wait-!"

End flashback...

"EIRIAN!!!"

Darien? He yelled my full name... Darien never yelled my full name when he was scared. So, it's true he's not Darien? Heh, I don't know anymore, but it seems I'm going to die here. Maybe I'll know the truth if I die, but Darien will be mad at me, and 'he' will be alone here.

What am I thinking? He must not be my brother, but-

"DUCK!" I immediately ducked without realizing it. My body spontaneously followed his command. I turned to see the Grim Reaper trying to shake off the blanket obscuring its vision, and then someone pulled my hand and dragged me.

I almost fell again but managed to regain my balance and ran, even though I didn't know what was happening. It happened too fast for my brain to process everything.

I looked down at the small hand tightly gripping my wrist, then looked ahead at Darien's back as he ran, holding onto me as if he didn't want to let me go, his eyes filled with determination, focused forward.

I remembered when he said everyone would die tonight, including me. And seeing him act like this... It only confirms my suspicion. This is not my brother. This is not my Darien. He... is someone who has taken my brother's body. That means...

Darien really did leave me?