“I gave her a second chance, but will it change his fate?”

  Two years ago:

  “Akari!” a gentle voice called. There was no response, so the voice called out again. “Akari!”

  This time, she responded, “Yes, Papa?”

  Her father's face appeared below the stairs with a wide grin. “Come, I have something to show you.”

  Akari paused for a moment, glancing at the pencil in her hand and the book on the floor. Should I drop this pencil or bring it? A second passed before she dashed down the stairs, holding the bright blue pencil. She emerged from the corner, and her face brightened. In front of her, on a small wooden table, sat a book. Akari walked toward it, slowly passing the nearby chairs as her gaze focused on the book, its small frame, coloured cover, and the picture of a superhero. She inched closer and reached out. Touch. The book was real.

  “A colouring book!” The words came out in a short burst. There was nothing Akari loved more than art. She spent her time drawing and colouring. Her parents glanced at each other. There was nothing they loved more than seeing Akari happy, the way she jumped, her bright face, and wide smile.

  Takeshi, her father, stepped forward. He lowered himself to her level. “You know, this was a gift from your grandparents.”

  Akari paused. The brightness on her face dimmed. She stood in front of her father with a look of confusion. Then she replied, “Really? Did they come here?”

  Takeshi turned to face Akari’s mother. She puckered her lips and pretended to count sheep in the air. Takeshi turned back. Ok, what on earth do I say now? There was silence for a couple of seconds, then he spoke. “Akari, sweetheart. They did, but they couldn't stay for long.”

  Akari’s face lit up. “Really?! But I wanted to see them too!”

  Takeshi raised his hands, gently placing them on Akari's. “Don’t worry, they will come back soon, ok?” But before Akari could get another word out, he continued. “But! They did say something very, very important.”

  Akari stood in silence, her eyes wide.

  Takeshi stood and ran to the corner of the room. He found one of Akari’s teddy bears. Holding it by the leg, he pretended to be Akari’s grandfather. “Make sure she doesn't lose it!” he said, with a stern look on his face.

  Akari stood for a second, then held her stomach, bursting into laughter. “Grandpa doesn't speak like that! And that's Mr. Teddy! He's upside down!”

  Takeshi looked at the toy in his hand, pretending to be confused. “Oh... it is Mr. Teddy.”

  The two paused for a moment. Akari’s mother let out a sigh as she sat on a nearby chair. She was tired, but the sound of laughter was all she needed. And the chair, of course.

  A week had passed. Now, in the middle of the night, Akari had fallen into a deep trance. She dreamt a world of superheroes and villains. Planes soared through the sky, minutes from nearby cities, their shadows sliding across the world below. Everything felt so far away, yet close enough to touch.

  The world is in danger!

  She shuffled in her bed, pointing at the ceiling, her heart racing with excitement. Somewhere below, people were waiting. Somewhere, something terrible was about to happen. She leapt further into the sky, her cape billowing in the wind. Several miles away, she saw the descending plane, its wings caught ablaze. She paused, raising her hands slowly. She knew she could not catch the plane with her strength alone. But Super Akari was more than just a superhero. I can do this! After all, I’m the Queen of the Seas! And with her might, she raised giant pools of water from the nearby sea, forming a giant hand to catch the plane. Akari let out a gasp. She had saved everyone, the passengers and the citizens who watched from below. But there was one more thing she needed to do.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  Akari narrowed her gaze at the plane’s windows. If any had broken during its descent, there would be problems even she could not solve alone.

  “Hmm, I don't see anyth...” Her words cut off abruptly. She had seen something strange.

  A book had slipped from an open window, slowly falling toward the vast sea. Akari’s eyes widened. Something about the book was odd. She focused on the falling book, seconds before it vanished into the water. Then it struck her.

  “My book? Wait, where is my book?”

  Suddenly, the world came crashing down. The planes, busy cities, and even the sea all vanished. The aching pain of realisation replaced them. She leapt from her bed, eyes darting across her dark room. She ran to the light switch, turned it on, and continued her search. She dug under piles of books, heaps of clothes, and her box of toys. Seconds passed as she searched, sweating profusely. Minutes passed, and she kept going. Yet she could find nothing. No matter how hard she threw her belongings in desperation, the colouring book her grandparents had given her was nowhere to be found. Then it occurred to her.

  “Papa will know what to do... he always does.”

  She rushed to her parents’ room and burst through the door. She glanced around. The high table, her dad's work clothes neatly set on a nearby chair. But none of this mattered. She leapt on top of her parents, who were fast asleep.

  “Papa, Mommy. Wake up!” Akari screamed, her voice clawing through the silence. After what felt like an eternity, her parents finally woke up. Takashi looked at Akari’s ghostly figure, his eyes heavy with sleep. But even so, he saw the crying child calling his name.

  Akari continued, “I’ve lost the book, Papa! Can you help me find it?”

  Takashi paused for a moment. The room had become as bright as day. There was nothing wrong, not really. She hadn't hurt herself. Nobody had broken in. She was simply upset. She probably thinks Grandpa will be upset, huh. He raised his hands, and a gentle smile appeared on his face.

  “Akari, we will find it tomorrow, ok?” His words brushed over her like a gentle cloth, wrapping her safely between her parents. He continued, “Sleep, Akari. Do not cry.” And with those words, she slowly dozed off, forgetting her troubles in the comfort of their warm embrace.

  The next morning, Akari returned to her search, hoping she would find the book she had carelessly lost. Then, a voice appeared from her doorway.

  “Akari, it’s time for school. We can look for it when you come back... ok?”

  Akari turned to face the source of the voice. It was her father, Takashi.

  “But if I don't find the book, Grandpa will get mad at me,” she said as she stood, wiping the dust from her knees.

  Takashi paused. He understood why she liked the colouring book; she loved to draw, after all. Akari stood in the middle of the room, her eyes glossy.

  “Wait here, sweetheart,” he said, sprinting down the corridor straight to his room.

  Akari remained still, trying her best to put on a brave face. I’m not sad. I’m not going to cry, she told herself. Then, seconds later, her father returned with a large smile on his face. He knelt on one leg, holding out his arms. Akari looked at him, then focused on his hands. Something's inside. She raised her hands, reaching for his own. She tried to open them, hoping to find whatever was hidden inside, and for a split second, a smile emerged on her face.

  Takeshi, having noticed, instinctively smiled back. He had found something for her and wrapped it in a little game. He knew it would make her smile. Make her forget about her troubles. His smile widened. I’m such a great dad, hehe.

  As Akari dug into his closed hands, an object slowly became visible. A silver light shimmered through the cracks of his hand. A bracelet, with words etched in silver. She took the object from his hands, reading the words on it.

  “Second... chances?”

  Takeshi took the bracelet from her, gently placing it on her wrist. Then, as the memory faded and the vision of her father was slowly replaced by another in black, she remembered the final words of her father.

  “Akari, sweet, everyone deserves second chances. So when we find this book, you have to make sure that you don't lose it again... ok?”

  “…and so, how would you like to become one of us?” A voice snapped Akari back to attention. In front of her, Associate Director Reco knelt, still holding her hands. Akari glanced behind him, at the woman who stood behind the man in black. She then turned to face the Pillar who sat next to her.

  Akari’s eyes widened. She had completely forgotten how she’d ended up in that chair. Just a moment ago, she was in the Forest of Darkness. She paused, her eyes widening even more as her gaze locked with the Pillar’s.

  “I’ve seen you before… in the trees.”