(Hope's Whispers)(Reality's Broadcasts)

A small localized earthquake stopped them from seeing one another on the day she aged out. They had planned for her to head over as soon as she was released, but instead, a tectonic plate had shifted and a 4.5 scale quake had knocked the tracks of the bullet train out of alignment by two millimeters. Thus service was suspended for several days, and the weekend was lost.

Miu resigned herself to finding a shelter to set up temporary residence in while they waited for their joint hearing, which was a week later. Every night, she would call Yuki’s home from the green public phone near the main train station. They would talk until Yuki’s time allotment was over. That was how the days passed in the lead-up to their reunion.

That reunion finally came. Nine days after she had aged out, they had their joint hearing for Miu’s guardianship over Yuki. This time it was in the central prefecture family courthouse in Asahikawa. Both of them had to navigate to their destination alone, and when Yuki finally arrived in his wheelchair, Miu was there waiting. Her unruly hair was braided for subtlety, and she was in a professional blazer and skirt. Yuki himself was in slacks and a jacket, whose sleeves were two centimeters too long. Above them, an enormous glyph was visible.

It hung in the air for over a minute as Yuki finally reached Miu, then slowly faded.

At first, neither spoke as they reached one another. Then Miu noticed Yuki’s new wheelchair.

“Your chair.”

“Arcan tech. Zero resistance bearings, so it rolls over anything super easy!” Yuki smiled.

Miu’s hands were already at the grips of the wheelchair back, and soon they were off.

“It feels really smooth,” Miu observed.

“Right?” Yuki agreed with a thumbs up.

Half an hour later, they were in the courthouse waiting room. Neither could speak due to nerves. All they could do was cling to one another.

A countdown was ending on the nearby television. Currently, a variety show was playing. But Yuki noticed the countdown was in its final seconds. His eyes stayed on the television screen as the number reached zero. When the countdown ended, every television in the room cut to a government broadcast.

Several adults stopped to look up in curiosity. Even Miu looked up to see what was happening.

The prime minister was on the television, joined by the president of the United States. An air of seriousness and formality permeated the screen. Now both children sat up in curiosity. A remote was retrieved and the television volume was amplified.

The prime minister cleared their throat.

“Good afternoon,” they said as they tapped their desk, and the president rolled their shoulders.

“This broadcast is currently going out to every television channel and radio station in the country. The government of the United States is currently hosting the same broadcast.”

Their demeanor was cold and serious. Something about this didn’t sit well with Miu.

“We are here before you today to speak about a situation that is rapidly unfolding.”

“By now, many of you have heard the whispers and rumors of what happened on the morning of Christmas Day two years ago. We are here before you today to give clarity to those rumors. What we are about to explain is information that all governments around the world have been debriefed on.”

The United States president spoke.

“On the morning of December twenty-fifth, an invading force arrived in our world…”

Miu and Yuki looked at one another in confusion. Murmurs drifted through the waiting room as the adults listened in surprise. The president continued.

“What we have come to call the Arcans are beings not of this world. They came from the spaces between our known existence, and on that morning, they arrived in our world with the threat of destruction. Their weapons, the shards, were deployed across the entire planet. Overnight, millions died.”

“But due to swift action by our leading scientists and military leaders, their threat was contained. You have all seen the domes. Now, you can finally know what was behind them. Within those containment zones were the bases and populations of the Arcans.”

Another gasp filled the room. Yuki’s hand found Miu’s once more.

“Up till now, the governments of the world have kept the Arcans at bay. Our scientists and sociologists have engaged with them daily to identify how to best deal with them. But unfortunately, those efforts have fallen short…”

Just then, the waiting room door opened. The young worker briefly glanced up at the television in curiosity, then found Yuki and Miu.

“We are ready for you,” they said.

With that, Miu and Yuki’s focus abandoned the television, and their thoughts returned to their mission. They were led into another interview room, where they were seated before seven adults. Beneath the table, their hands were interlocked for support.

“Moekawa Miu and Dokuyama Yuki, you are both here for the confirmation hearing of your request for guardianship transfer.”

“Yes,” they replied in unison.

Yuki’s hand was clammy in Miu’s shaking palm. All of it seemed like it could evaporate at any moment.

“Moekawa Miu. Do you consent with full clarity to be Dokuyama Yuki’s guardian?”

Nerves rattled Miu’s throat, but she was ready.

“I do,” she replied.

“Dokuyama Yuki, do you consent to the transfer of your guardianship responsibilities from the government of Japan to Ms. Moekawa Miu?”

Yuki’s hand gently tensed against Miu’s as he sat upright in his chair.

“I do, please,” he replied.

The civil workers all adjusted in their chairs. Some nodded. Some took notes and stamped forms.

“Then, by the power vested in me in the civil oversight department of this prefecture, I hereby approve your request. Moekawa Miu, henceforth, you are the guardian of Dokuyama Yuki…”

Miu’s eyes closed as her head tilted upwards in quiet victory. Yuki couldn’t help but let out a whimpering laugh of what felt like the unfamiliar warmth of joy. They had done it. Shaking hands clasped together as the two children fell into one another’s arms. Whatever sinister news was being unveiled on that television a few meters away, it didn’t matter. There in that room, for the first time in years, Yuki and Miu were told they could be together again. 

"We did it, Miu! We did it," Yuki whispered as his hand met her face.

Miu couldn't speak through her gasps of relief and joy. All she could do was cling to his touch.