In a dark room where the dim light from outside spilled through the cracks of the curtains, the air felt heavy, almost suffocating. Two girls sat beneath the window—Ai and Haruka. Ai sat cross-legged, chewing a tiny piece of bread, the faint light highlighting her pale face. Her breath was heavy, hinting at her struggle to recover. Meanwhile, Haruka stood slowly, her eyes darting between the empty streets as she peeked through the window. She clutched her shirt close to her chest, her breaths heavy with the tension of the oppressive atmosphere surrounding them.

  Ai’s eyes fixed on her, and the sight of Haruka’s anxious state made her frown. She sighed, the sound cutting through the silence. “They know we’re in Chiba, but that doesn’t mean they know exactly where we are,” she said, her voice sharp but tinged with exhaustion. “Stop looking so serious, will you? It’s making me lose my appetite.”

  Haruka turned and sat beside her, fists clenched as she let out a heavy sigh. “Back there...” her voice faltered, and she swallowed hard. “Sakura’s head really exploded, right?” Her voice was low, barely above a whisper, but Ai knew exactly what she meant. The question made Ai freeze mid-bite, her jaw tightening. She set the bread down and lowered her gaze.

  “I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. Her expression betrayed a mix of guilt and sorrow. “I didn’t realize the system had such a firm grip on the dominions. I think...” she hesitated, her eyes clouding as if searching for answers in the shadows. “I think she pushed too hard against the boundaries the system set for her, to the point that she exploded for trying to act beyond its control.”

  The explanation hung in the air, cold and unforgiving. Haruka’s knuckles whitened as she pressed her lips together, her eyebrows knitting in frustration. “B-but... why didn’t it happen to me?” she asked, her words lingering in the cold air of the room. “If the dominions—including myself—have a role set for us, then why am I still alive? Why didn’t I face the same consequences that she did?” Her tone was sharp as she bit her lip.

  Ai studied her quietly, her expression a mix of curiosity and unease. “That’s true,” she said, her voice thoughtful. She glanced at the floor, her expression blank as if trying to piece together a puzzle. After a moment, she sighed. “I can’t think of any reason. I... don’t know.”

  Suddenly, Ai’s eyes widened as a thought struck her. She looked at Haruka, her expression shifting to one of realization. “As far as I know about dominions, they were...” She paused, pressing a finger to her temple, trying to recall something elusive. “I’ve forgotten some details but let me say this one thing.” She lifted her gaze, her eyes shimmering with an intensity that caught Haruka off guard. “You’re the first and the last dominion to save my life. No dominion has ever done that for me in my entire life.”

  Haruka blinked, her eyes widening in surprise. Ai’s words stirred something within her, a warmth she couldn’t quite name. A faint smile spread across her face.

  “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice carrying a vulnerability she rarely allowed herself to show.

  Ai shook her head. “That should be my line. Thank you for saving me earlier.” Her blue eyes shone so brightly that Haruka found herself momentarily mesmerized. Their eyes met for a long moment, and Ai tilted her head, her expression curious. “What’s wrong?” she asked quickly.

  Haruka’s gaze drifted before she exhaled deeply. She then turned to Ai with a hesitant but curious expression. “Your name is Ai, right?” she asked, pausing briefly. “Can I ask you something?”

  Ai nodded, taken aback by the sudden shift in tone. “You’re Haruka, right?” she replied with a small smile. “Sure, you can ask me anything you want to know.”

  Haruka hesitated, searching for the right words. “What... are you?” she finally asked, her voice a mix of doubt and determination. “You’re not a dominion because you don’t act like you’re under control. And—” she paused, inhaling deeply. “Your eyes—they’re blue, not black like us. And those fractures on your face... they’re different. I need to know.” She shook her head. “No, I want to know.”

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  Ai blinked, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then, she straightened her posture and let a small, confident smile grace her lips. “I’m human,” she said simply, the words carrying a quiet pride.

  Haruka stared at her, the revelation settling like a stone in her chest. For a moment, all she could do was sit in stunned silence, her mind reeling with questions that had no immediate answer. She froze as she stared into Ai's radiant blue eyes, which were fixed on her as well. The silence felt like an eternity, Ai’s words reverberating in her mind. She wasn’t expecting that answer—not at all. For the first time in her life, she saw a human in the flesh.

  Until now, she had only seen humans in pictures printed in textbooks at school. They were taught how cruel humans had been back when they ruled the world. But all those teachings, ingrained through her school life, instantly faded away as she gazed at the girl in front of her—a girl who now wore a confused expression while staring back at her.

  “A-Are you really a human?” she asked, her voice stuttering as her wide eyes trembled, the circle of her irises quaking slightly.

  Ai’s lips curved into a faint pout. “Do I look like some machine mindlessly following orders?” she retorted, her tone carrying a trace of annoyance.

  Haruka blinked, then chuckled softly. “No,” she admitted, her laughter breaking the tension as she recalled the sight of Ai bleeding earlier—a sign no dominion could replicate. “You really are human,” she said, her tone soft, carrying a mix of relief and wonder.

  Ai nodded in agreement as she took a bite of the bread in her hand. “That’s right. I’m human.” She paused, and suddenly her demeanor shifted. Her eyes grew sharp as she looked at Haruka. “And you’re a dominion. Our races have been at war for nearly two decades.” Her blue eyes seemed to shine, even in the dark room. “My people have been fighting for the freedom your kind took away from us.”

  Silence fell between them for a moment before Ai sighed. “But, despite the hatred boiling in my heart for dominions, being saved by one earlier feels... ironic, to say the least.” she said, scratching her head.

  Haruka caught the seriousness in Ai’s tone and nodded. Ai’s statement was correct, but it wasn’t how she had been taught in school. The textbooks claimed that humans fought not for freedom, but to sought to reclaim dominance over the world. “I thought humans wanted to rule the world,” Haruka said hesitantly, her voice soft and filled with uncertainty. “That’s why they kept fighting.”

  Ai shook her head twice. “Do you really think we have the power to win against dominions?” she asked, staring at the floor. Her expression was blank, devoid of any emotion.

  “No,” Haruka replied instantly. The bluntness of her answer left no room for doubt.

  Ai frowned, biting her lip. “Exactly. This war is no more than a one-sided battle. We have zero chance of fighting back, let alone winning it.” Her voice cracked, and suddenly her emotions overflowed. Her angry expression was evident as she smacked the floor with her fist. “All I ever wanted was to live—TO LIVE A NORMAL LIFE! All my life, I’ve been in prison, trying my best to survive. I’ve already come this far. I won’t let anyone decide my fate!” she growled, her trembling hands clenching as her breaths grew heavier.

  Haruka, on the other hand, observed her quietly. She witnessed how quickly a human’s emotions could shift. Without hesitation, she patted Ai’s head, a faint smile spreading across her face. Ai looked up at her in surprise, her eyes wide with confusion.

  “Don’t worry, Ai. I’m here. I will protect you with everything I can,” Haruka said, her voice low but filled with kindness.

  Ai stared at her, the weight of Haruka’s sincerity sinking in. For a moment, all she could do was blink, stunned. A dominion—one of the very beings she had been taught to fear—was offering her protection.

  After a moment, Ai raised her pinky finger, her gesture playful yet earnest. “Here,” she said with a grin.

  Haruka tilted her head, puzzled by the sudden movement. “What are you doing?” she asked, confusion evident in her tone.

  “This,” Ai explained, intertwining her pinky with Haruka’s, “is a human tradition. When we make promises, we seal them with a pinky swear.”

  Haruka’s eyes widened in surprise, but then a warm smile spread across her face. Without hesitation, she linked her pinky with Ai’s. “I swear to protect you, Ai.”

  Ai’s smile brightened as she closed her eyes. “And just like you promised, I swear to protect you too, Haruka.”

  They laughed together, the tension melting away as they shared the simple but profound gesture. In that moment, the bond between them grew stronger—a fragile but unyielding connection forged amidst uncertainty.