Call Of The Night

“Heh, what you gonna do?”

“She’ll probably go crying back to her mom!”

“…”

“Leave her alone!”

A sharp voice rang through the small neighborhood park, making the three bullies turn all at once.

Even when the odds weren’t on his side, the boy who shouted those words had never been the type to look away from trouble. If anything, he had a bad habit of charging straight into it.

“Tch, it’s that punk again…” One of the boys—probably the oldest—clicked his tongue, shifting his attention from the frightened little girl to the new nuisance.

“I said leave her alone!” the boy snapped, fury plain on his face. Getting this angry over a total stranger wasn’t exactly normal, and that only made the others stare at him in even greater disbelief.

“Heh, he thinks he’s some kind of hero…” another one muttered mockingly.

For a moment, the whole playground seemed to go still.

Then, despite being hopelessly outnumbered, the brave—if slightly stupid—boy lunged forward, giving the younger girl the one chance she needed to run.

“AAAAAAAHHH!”

⌁◉⌁

“OW! OW! OW!”

“Eiji, how many times do I need to tell you…?”

The young woman sighed as she dabbed iodine onto a piece of cotton, carefully tending to the bruises on his face.

Her voice was clear and gentle—always carrying a calming presence.

“But Nee-san—”

“But what, Eiji?” she said, brushing a strand of brown hair behind her ear as she continued.

“She was—OW!” he winced. “She was being harassed by those ba—”

“Language!”

“…Stupid kids.”

“That still counts as swearing, but I’ll let it slide.” She put away the kit and glanced back at him. “…For now.”

She ruffled his short black hair.

“Ow…”

Maybe a little harder than necessary.

The young woman’s name was Kanzaki Hifumi, Eiji’s older sister. Tall, slender, and honestly far too pretty for her own good.

Shame she was already taken.

With his face finally patched up, Eiji hopped down from the kitchen counter and landed lightly on his feet.

Hifumi fixed her loose hair into a ponytail, and knelt in front of him,

“Eiji, listen…” she looked at him, a mix of concern and affection in her eyes, “…If you’re going to fight anyway, I’m at least glad you did it to protect someone.”

“Nee-san?”

He blinked at her.

Coming from someone as against violence as Hifumi, that wasn’t exactly what he expected to hear.

“BUT!”

Eiji rolled his eyes. There was always a “but.”

“…Violence is not the answer to any problem. Most of the time, words will save someone far more than physical strength ever will.”

“But Nee-san, no matter what I said they wouldn’t—”

“Did you try talking to them first? Solve the matter peacefully?”

A brief silence followed.

“No?”

“See? You didn’t even try!” Hifumi narrowed her eyes.

“But at the end that girl managed to escape, anyway!”

“Yeah, and you got a bruised face as a medal!”

“Ow!”

Eiji winced again when Hifumi poked his cheek.

“It’s a shame I have to patch up that cute face of yours every single time, don’t you think?”

“What’s all the fuss about?”

The door opened as a tall blonde man walked in. Officer’s uniform, cigarette in his mouth, cheeky grin already in place.

“Asahi!” Eiji lit up, and the man answered with a wink.

“Hey, kiddo.”

“I was just telling Eiji how he shouldn’t get into fights…” Hifumi said, walking over before slipping into a brief embrace with him.

“Welcome back.” She said softly.

“Glad to be home.” He replied in kind, setting down a few shopping bags as he headed farther inside.

This was Asahi Bryce, Hifumi’s boyfriend. With a Japanese mother and an English father, his naturally swept-back blonde hair was the first thing that caught one’s eyes.

“Now those’ll make for some cool scars, Eiji-dono!” Asahi joked, poking the bruised boy’s cheek as he sat across from him on the sofa.

After rubbing the sore spot, Eiji grinned. “You should’ve seen the other guys!”

Asahi put out his cigarette and raised a brow.

“Guys? You fought two at once?”

“Three, actually…” Hifumi added with a shake of her head.

“Woah, he’ll make an even better officer than me!” Asahi exclaimed.

Eiji could only smile wryly at that ridiculously self-serving comment.

Still, that was just Asahi. Stirring things up was second nature to him.

“And who says he’ll be an officer?” Hifumi’s tone carried the faintest hint of disapproval.

“Hifumi-chan! Can’t you see? He’s destined to be—”

“A punching bag, if he doesn’t learn what’s dangerous and what isn’t.”

“Ouch,” Eiji muttered again.

“Nobody poked you now,” Asahi pointed out.

“The damage was emotional this time,”

“Hifumi, he’s catching my sense of humor!”

“A-NY-WA-Y!” Hifumi clapped once, “I’m willing to let it all slide, if you don’t say a word to mom about it tomorrow, okay?”

Eiji perked up. “We’re seeing mom tomorrow?”

“Yep. And with her condition being what it is, we don’t need her worrying about her son’s fight club antics on top of everything else.”

Asahi snorted. “She said fight club antics…”

“Asahi!”

Before Hifumi could properly start scolding him again, Eiji tilted his head in confusion.

“Why tomorrow of all days?”

“You really don’t know?”

“It’s your 11th birthday, silly.” Hifumi chuckled, smiling warmly at her little brother.

“It is?”

“Oi, oi you don’t even know when your own birthday is?” Asahi raised a brow.

“So? Do we have a deal, dear brother?” Hifumi brought the subject back on track.

“Okay, I won’t say a word to mom.”

“Good. Now let’s get dinner ready!”

“What’s for dinner?!” Asahi asked brightly as he started to head off to change.

“Roasted Asahi, if you don’t come back here and help me!”

“Yes ma’am…” Slightly less enthusiastic now, Asahi slumped his shoulders and walked to the kitchen. Hifumi had him thoroughly wrapped around her finger for years now.

Eiji sighed and sank into the couch.

Their home wasn’t big, and money didn’t come easy. Still, the two of them had somehow managed to build a life worth holding onto.

After Eiji and Hifumi’s father left while Eiji was still a newborn, the three of them had struggled for a long time. Things only settled once their mother found work as a teacher at a nearby high school. For a while, they managed. Then she fell ill, and before long, the hospital had become her second home.

That was when Hifumi moved in with Asahi—and brought Eiji with her.

For the past three years, life hadn’t been easy for the Kanzakis.

But somehow, they had made it work.

Even if their father never came back, they still had a place they could call home.

⌁◉⌁

“Come on, wake up, Eiji!”

“Eeeeh…?”

Eiji groaned as he pushed himself upright, rubbing at his heavy eyes. The smell hit him first—warm, sweet, familiar.

“Dinner’s ready!” Hifumi called.

By the time he stumbled into the kitchen, everyone had already gathered around the small table.

“…Omurice?” Eiji muttered, poking at it with his fork.

“Yeah, it’s your favorite right?” Hifumi grinned.

It’s actually your favorite…” Eiji muttered.

“Don’t sweat the details.”

Meanwhile Asahi was already digging in.

“Amnh.”

“Oi.” Hifumi shot him a look.

“Wut?”

Eiji stared at his plate for a second.

“Itadakimasu.”

He pressed his hands together and started eating.

Omurice again.

Not that it was bad. It was actually tasty. Really tasty. It was just…

Again.

It showed up on the table a lot. Probably because it was easy to make.

…And because it was Hifumi’s favorite.

Which meant complaining was basically not an option.

“Itadakimasu!”

“Iadakfimaf!”

“No speaking when your mouth’s full…” Hifumi sighed.

Asahi didn’t even react. He just kept eating like a man on a mission.

…He was really going all out today.

….

Dinner ended quickly.

As expected, the one who ate the most got stuck with cleanup duty.

“Asahi, you missed a spot.”

“Yes ma’am!”

He scrubbed the table with exaggerated enthusiasm while Hifumi watched over him like a strict supervisor.

Meanwhile, Eiji had already retreated to the living room, eyes glued to the small TV.

He was watching his favorite anime called Onmyouji Yakuin, and followed the adventures of two brothers fighting evil spirits in Feudal Japan.

“…Cool.”

“Asahi, here too.”

“Yes ma’am!”

“You really ate a lot today,” Hifumi said, arms crossed.

“Today was extra delicious.”

“It was the exact same.” Eiji commented.

Hifumi glared, “What are you trynna say?”

Eiji turned back to the TV, sweating profusely.

“…”

“No, I tell ya, today was extra delish.” Asahi continued wiping the table clean with renewed vigor “And hey—it won’t be long before you start eating for two anyway, so—“

“Shhh!”

Hifumi shushed him, but it was too late. Eiji had already overheard what he probably shouldn’t have.

The boy’s eyes snapped away from the screen.

“…For two?”

“Asahi.”

The tone in Hifumi’s voice changed instantly.

Asahi continued wiping the table.

“Nice day today, right? Sunny and—“

Hifumi stood over him, a dark aura emanating around her.

Asahi immediately pressed his hands together, wordless. Yet he knew, no amount of praying would save him.

“Nee-chan? What is Asahi talking about?” Eiji’s questioning brought Hifumi back from her menacing transformation.

She turned back to face Eiji, fidgeting.

“We were going to tell you soon, but we just couldn’t find the right time.”

Hifumi cleared her throat, shaking away her embarrassment.

“We are expecting…”

Eiji stood still, the sounds of his favorite anime blending into the background.

“You’re having a… baby?”

Hifumi nodded, somewhat nervous and a tad bit embarrassed.

Eiji blinked once.

Then twice.

“…But you’re not even married yet.”

“Gah—!”

Asahi clutched his chest like he’d just been shot and leaned dramatically against the counter.

“Hifumi, I’m dying—”

“Eiji!” Hifumi snapped, her face now completely red.

“But isn’t that supposed to—”

“Eiji. Bed. Now.”

“Eh?!”

“Yes! Off you go!” Asahi added immediately, betraying him without hesitation.

“…Et tu, Asahi?!”

“Yes, me too. Go.”

“But it’s not even eleven!”

“No buts. Look—your anime’s over anyway.”

Eiji turned just in time to see the credits rolling.

“…I missed the ending…”

⌁◉⌁

Half an hour later, he was still awake.

Tossing.

Turning.

Staring at the ceiling.

“Haah…”

Sleep wasn’t coming.

Not tonight.

His mind just kept looping.

A baby.

He was going to be a big brother.

Could he even do that?

What if… things changed?

What if they didn’t need him anymore?

What if they moved out… and he—

He stopped.

…No.

Nee-chan wouldn’t do that.

Neither would Asahi.

They weren’t like that.

But still…

They were already struggling.

Even he could tell that much.

And he didn’t even know what it meant to raise a kid.

“…Haah…”

Another sigh.

Bigger this time.

If I were older…

If he were older, he could help.

They’d rely on him.

He wouldn’t just be… there.

And then—

His mom.

The hospital.

The treatments.

He didn’t understand it fully.

But he understood enough.

It wasn’t something small.

“…Haah…”

And yet—

Despite everything—

The thought made him smile.

A little.

“…I’m gonna be a big brother…”

He sat up.

The room felt quiet.

Too quiet.

So he looked outside.

The moon hung high in the sky—bright, full, almost unreal.

It felt like it was calling him.

Tokyo didn’t have many stars.

But the moon?

It was always there.

Watching.

Waiting.

And tonight…

It felt closer.

“…Alright.”

Before he could think twice, Eiji slipped out of bed.

In a matter of moments he had swapped his pajamas for fresh clothes and his pair of trainers. And just like that, he simply leapt out of his bedroom window. Landing lightly outside like he’d done it a hundred times before.

He didn’t hesitate. The night didn’t scare him after all.

Since he couldn’t sleep…

He knew exactly where to go.

The night air brushed against his skin as he walked.

The city felt different at night. The lamp posts seemed like large antennas of a living breathing creature, and the paved road like the throat of that same monster.

Yet it didn’t faze Eiji. The lights of the night district ahead cast a colorful rainbow on top of the horizon. This inanimate mass of concrete finally felt… alive.

Eiji always felt at home during the night.

He wasn’t afraid of the dark like the other kids… But of course he wasn’t fearless either.

Although the streets were mostly deserted during such a time, and most people were already back at home, some of them still roamed the streets.

But… they weren’t just ordinary people.

Eiji didn’t even know if they should be called people at all . There were figures, translucent and hazy by the side of the road. Inside the park, sitting on a bench. Sometimes he felt like they were staring straight into his eyes, his soul, and at the same time, nowhere at all.

They only appeared at night, and rarely even moved from their spot.

They simply stood. Observing.

He had tried telling Hifumi about them once. And Asahi too. But they just laughed it off.

“Just your imagination.”

They had said.

…Yeah.

Right.

Because imagination totally stared back at you.

Those people, those entities felt real. Eiji felt like he could reach out and touch them.

But he didn’t dare…

He was wary of them, but not exactly afraid. What scared him the most were the abominations. The weird, monster-like creatures, that appeared rarely during the night.

They weren’t of the same translucent glow and light blue color as the others. They looked more real… more solid.

Eiji made his way past the scarce figures.

Until—

He stopped.

A small building stood in front of him. Dim lights.

Quiet atmosphere and deeply familiar.

A sign hung above the entrance.

DREAM

Eiji stared at it for a moment. Then smiled faintly.

For some reason this place always felt right.

Like he belonged there.

Like…

Home.