Aiko is still wobbly on his oddly long legs as he tries to get used to them, and at the same time, his new perspective amazes him — how far and differently he can see from up here. It feels both frightening and admirable.
As he staggers on, a strange, quiet whisper reaches his ears after a few moments, as if trying to reach him through a thick haze, like a distant point of light in the darkness. Aiko’s heart lifts, filled with pure hope. For the first time, he feels there might be a way out of this — something speaking to him, calling him toward the right path.
Like an invisible rope, a hand that holds and directs his, Aiko strains to hear it more clearly. Stumbling towards it, he blindly follows it, unaware when his legs start dictating a faster pace, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. By the time he realizes he is running, a strange calmness and astonishment wash over him. He doesn’t even want to slow down.
But he notices too late that there is a sharp turn just ahead, one he should take suddenly. Even if he wanted to, he couldn’t slow down now. With all his effort he can summon into his legs, Aiko tries to lean back, to stop his marching, to do anything — but his legs refuse to listen. They tangle beneath him, momentum dragging him forward like a runaway cart.
He skids around the corner and, all of a sudden, he slams straight into something.
Or someone?
A startled yelp escapes him as both of them tumble to the ground in a chaotic tangle of limbs. Aiko lands on his side, while the stranger he collided with lets out a sharp, pained groan.
Aiko raises his head — and a long, black‑haired girl catches his eyes, holding her head.
Aiko freezes.
"Oh no! Oh no, no, no— I'm so sorry! I didn't meant to— I wasn't looking— I mean, I was looking, I just— I just didn't realize— oh my, are you okay? Please, be okay, I hope I didn't break anything, did I?"
The words pour out of Aiko like a flood, even as the girl’s eyes darken.
"Please.." she mutters quietly, almost begging. "Just one moment silence, please."
Aiko clamps his mouth shut instantly. His legs, however, keep trembling beneath him.
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