Kira's POV 🫧

After our discussion ended and we went into the lab, things have been settled down for a while, within the past few days.

Maybe weeks too.

Strangely though lately, Sada and I didn't have another dream involving her inner demon again for once.

For a bit, everything was kinda normal.

Except Sada came down with a nasty illness recently a while back, even though it isn't the time of the year for that to happen.

During that time, it made me really worried about her, so I was constantly checking in to see how she was doing, while providing her with anything she medically needed.

Luckily in the end, she recovered from it and is back up on her feet again, which made me feel relieved.

But, the fact her inner demon had been awfully quiet lately during these events in amidst of it all, is what currently unsettles me the most.

"I have a bad feeling about this..." I thought to myself as I stared intently at the wall, clearly unfocused on what I'm supposed to be doing.

"Kira? Is everything alright? You've seemingly been distracted a lot lately."

Hearing that, I suddenly snapped out of it and turned to look at my left, seeing Sada standing a few feet away but next to me.

"O-Oh! Sada, I didn't see you there..." I went before looking away, feeling a little embarrassed.

"You're fine...You don't need to feel embarrassed about it. But, is something wrong?" She chuckled a little bit before asking.

"Sorry...I-It's nothing. It's just...I've got a lot of thoughts in my head...That's all, really." I answered as I turned to look back at her.

"Hm...Lemme figure something out for you, and I'll tell you later." Sada went.

"No, no...It's fine. I just need to clear my head and focus."

"Alright..."

Right after I said that, my rotom phone started ringing.

Ro-to-to-to-to... ♪

Then my phone slipped out of my pocket, before I pressed 'Accept' on the screen, seeing it was a phone call from Mao.

"Hey, lil bro...What's going on?" I answered.

"Onee-chan...It's mum, dad, and little sis..." He began, immediately making me aware something wrong had happened, when I heard a choked sob from him.

"...I was just about head out to the academy when I woke up and got ready for the day...only I found them..."

"What's wrong? What happened?" I asked, demanding him to tell me.

"I'm so sorry, sis! If I knew this was gonna happen - " He began.

"Mao. Tell me what happened. Please."

"Mom, dad and little sis....th-they're..."

"They're what?"

"They're DEAD, sis! I found them dead this morning!"

Just after Mao said that and started crying a little, I just froze, unable to say anything.

"Mao, please tell me this is just a cruel prank they're pulling on us...R-Right?

Because if it is...It's seriously not really funny." I asked, as I laughed a little nervously, thinking that's what they're doing to get back at me.

"No! It's not! They're been murdered! The police are already over here in the house and investigating this right now, after I contacted them just recently not too long ago!"

To show me that this was really serious, Mao sent me two photos as proof that he wasn't lying and it wasn't a cruel prank.

When he did, I felt my face lose color as soon as I saw the pictures.

In it, the police officers were shown, currently doing an investigation inside the house while mum, dad and Miroko were found dead on the floor, laying in their own puddles of blood.

Just by judging the scenery, from the sight of it, it looked like mum, dad and Miroko were murdered by someone with a machete and an axe.

"They want to talk to you and Sada too, since you both were also the last ones to see them in person, alive, aside from me, before their deaths..." He only said next.

"...I'll meet you both over at the lighthouse, where you last were, before you left."

Then he hung up.

When Mao did, both Sada and I could only just stand there silently in shock.

"Kira..." She started while looking at me.

"I know. We should go right now, before the police starts thinking we're the murderers behind my parents and little sister's deaths...

It's the only way we'll keep our names cleared, even though they know we're only innocent bystanders." I sighed as I buried my face in my left hand for a moment.

"Well, that's part of what I meant but not all of it...." She went before sweat dropping a little.

"Oh. My bad. The least you can do is tell me the other half later..."

"Okay..."

"Yeah...Let's get going."

- - -

Once we left and arrived at the lighthouse, Mao was waiting for us, just like he said.

Getting out of the flying taxi, me and Sada walked over to him, before Mao ran over and embraced me into a tight hug.

In return, I got down to his level and hugged him back tightly, knowing he needs all the comfort he can get from me right now, despite the situation that's still currently going on.

"Sis...." I heard him choke out tearfully.

"Shh...It's okay. I'm here now." I gently said, while rubbing his back soothingly in attempt to reassure him.

Without saying anything, I heard Mao sniff a little before seeing him nod his head.

After I calmed him down enough, I stood back up and held his hand like he was still a 6 or a 7 year old child, before letting him lead the way to our home, while Sada followed behind me.

- - -

When we showed up at the house, Mao let go of my hand and headed over to one of the police officers to inform them that we came as they asked us to.

Nodding, the police officer looked and went over to us, while Mao followed from behind.

"You're miss Kirara and professor Sada, correct?"

"Yes."

"Come with me then...We have much to ask and discuss with the both of you."

"What about my little brother, Mao?"

"He can come too."

Nodding, I held Mao's hand again, as the police officer took us to the station, while the others continued investigating.

- - -

After we were taken to the station and were interrogated a little with questions, the police determined that the both of us and Mao, were indeed confirmed to be innocent and dismissed us.

While we headed back to the lighthouse, I looked over at Mao worriedly and gently gave him a head pat.

"Sis, I'm scared...I don't know what to do, now that mum, dad and Miroko are dead." He whimpered a little.

"I don't know either..." I replied, still feeling a little bit in shock.

"The only thing I can recommend is asking or talking to the home economics teacher or the director for any help or advice. Maybe they can figure something out for you." Sada recommended as she looked at him.

"Remember the pass I gave you as well? You could put that to use too. No one can't get in there anyways except for me, you and your sister."

"This thing?" Mao asked before pulling it out of his pants pocket and showing it to her.

"Mm-hm..." She went while nodding.

"Okay...Also, I've been meaning to ask you this, but, why give it to me aside from what you already explained before?"

"I noticed I had an extra one on me that I hardly use at all, so, I gave it to you. And like I said before, I don't come to the lab at the lighthouse very often, so, I figured you'd be able to use it well."

"I still don't understand. Out of all the people out here, who would've gotten this from you...Why me?"

"I'll leave this up to your head and let you figure it out..." She chuckled.

"Hey!" He went before pouting a bit.

Seeing this, I smiled at their interaction.

"Also, Mao? Since mum and dad are gone, I'll take you under my wing and take care of you in their stead, until you feel like you're ready and can take care of yourself.

Sada and I can come over and visit you for a few hours too, if you're alright with that.

I'll prepare you some meals and give you some of my spending money, so you'll have something to eat when you're at the academy. Just make sure to keep it in your dorm room okay?" I mentioned while looking at him.

"Okay. Thank you, sis." He replies before hugging me tightly.

"No problem." I said as I smiled gently and rubbed his back soothingly.

Sada's POV 🍊

After Kira hugged her little brother, then sat down on the grass next to him, I turned away to look at the view behind us and the lighthouse.

Staring out at the Paldean sea, while watching the wingulls, pelippers, fletchlings and the squakabillys pass by.

But at the same time, I was hiding a smile. It wasn't full of happiness or anything though.

It was a different kind of a smile.

Thinking about what's happened so far, I couldn't contain myself from giggling anymore longer, while I rested my left hand on my face.

"I can't believe I did it...I killed both Kira and Mao's parents and their little sister. And I got away with it too." I thought to myself as I started laughing a little.

"The police didn't even suspect me, and I'm actually relieved I got rid of every single bit of evidence that has my DNA on it.

Surprisingly...It felt wonderful when I killed their parents and little sister. And I don't feel bad about this at all! Not one bit!

Now, Kira and Mao both, won't have to worry and deal with any stress from them anymore from now on, starting today..."

"Sada? What's so funny?" I heard Kira ask once I stopped laughing.

"Sorry, I was laughing at a private joke that just came in my head..." I lied while turning to look at her.

"Oh..." She went. "You laughed like a madwoman though."

"Again, sorry about that..." I replied before sweat dropping a little.

"You're fine."

In response, I walked over and sat down on the grass next to her.

When I did, Kira rested her head on my shoulder, making me look over and smile gently.

"Kira? About earlier, on what I was gonna say...I'm sorry for yours and Mao's loss." I mentioned while resting my head on top of hers in return.

"It's fine. I'm not worried about them anymore, now that they're gone. Maybe now my life will finally be at ease without them in the picture." She replies as she looks at me.

"You're a little too cold and heartless, Kira..." Mao and I both said in sync together, while we sweat dropped a little.

"Sorry, but, I have to be honest with the both of you...Don't I?" She bluntly replied.

"Well, you're not wrong at all, but still..." I went.

"Oh hush...After everything I went through during both my childhood and the academy years I've had with you two together, do you really expect me to still feel remorseful for them in the end?" Kira sighed wearily.

In response, Mao and I didn't say anything, as we unfortunately both knew she had a point.

"My point exactly..." She finished.

Without saying anything next, Kira got up and walked over to the lighthouse lab and went inside before closing the doors behind her, once she used her pass to get in.

Looking over at Mao for a moment, I just pulled him close to me and hugged him, while looking back up where Kira was last standing at.

Seeing her like this didn't surprise me, but, it still worries me a little.

Does she really don't care about her parents at all? Or did she used to?

Eventually, I parted the hug from Kira's little brother and moved away, before laying myself down on the grass and rolling over to my side, as I started to feel a sick spell quickly kicking in so suddenly, out of nowhere.

"Ugh...Not again. Why does this keep happening to me lately?" I thought to myself as I closed my eyes and tried to relax.

"I thought I recovered from it?"

Unfortunately, just before I dozed off to take a light nap in hopes it'll go away, I felt a sharp pain circulating through my body, making me groan softly in pain as I gripped my left arm a little.