3 3 301 DialogEnable It's a day like any other—or at least it was supposed to be.
4 4 301 The boy has been reading in the storage late into the night, yet he's still yet to hear the familiar knocks coming down the ventilation duct.
5 5 301 AniZhuanchangBegin Seeing that it now reads 4:00 am on his device and feeling helplessly edgy, the boy decides to crawl out of the ventilation duct and tiptoes his way back home.
8 8 301 AniZhuanchangEnd With the door ajar, he sees that the lights in his mother's workspace are still on.
9 9 301 Badly wounded, Rachel sits before his mom with a frown on her face.
10 10 201 11 500518 -800 1
11 11 201 12 500515 -200
12 12 301 1 Mom It's not the first time the Cargo Crew let things go missing. 11
13 13 301 1 Rachel I didn't do it this time. 12
14 14 301 1 Mom Which means you've done it before? 11
15 15 301 1 Rachel ...That's a really bad joke. 12
16 16 301 1 Rachel Some of the guys from before tried to rob our things, and I was the one that stopped them. I'm sure you know who I'm talking about. 12
17 17 301 1 Mom I do, of course, except they all say you're the one that did the robbing this time. 11
18 18 301 1 Rachel Do you trust me? 12
19 19 301 1 Mom ... 11
20 20 301 1 Rachel Makes sense if you don't, though... I mean, you probably would have been much better off without me anyway. 12
21 21 301 1 ??? ...?
22 22 301 1 Curious about what that means, the boy was about to open his mouth to ask—yet stops in his tracks. The timing isn't quite right just yet.
23 23 301 1 Mom Do you regret all of this? 11
24 24 301 1 Rachel No, because the riot just had to happen. 12
27 27 301 1 Mom No, don't be. You didn't kill him. The perp took advantage of the riot. 11
28 28 301 1 She stops for a few moments before she continues.
29 29 301 1 Mom ...Ashlar used us all. 11
30 30 301 1 Rachel ... 12
31 31 301 1 Rachel "Used", you said... 12
32 32 301 1 Rachel The same way I've been using him and those good-for-nothing royals, I bet. 12
33 33 301 1 She says these words with sizzling anger.
34 34 301 1 Rachel But I'm not ready to turn the tables with him just yet... There are things that I just can't do without him. 12
35 35 301 1 Mom ... 11
36 36 301 1 Rachel But Julie, I'll never become one of them, and you know I never will... 12
37 37 301 1 Mom ... 11
38 38 301 1 The boy doesn't exactly understand what Rachel is saying to his mother.
39 39 301 1 But he now knows that they've been working with someone they both hate, and that there are people in the Cargo Crew who take what's not theirs.
40 40 301 1 This isn't the first time their conversation turned tense, but every time he tries to ask about it, they brush him off.
41 41 301 1 "You're 11 and an adult now," the boy's mom said to the boy a while back—but when he asks her a question she doesn't want to answer, she'd go back on her words and say, "You're still too young to worry about that."
42 42 301 1 Mom What happened to Assad? 11
43 43 301 AniZhuanchangBegin 1 She drops the topic and starts asking about Rachel's friend.
94 94 301 ??? Did Aunt Rachel do something bad to you before? 1
95 95 301 He ventures the question.
96 96 301 ??? The riot she was talking about... Is that why Dad was killed...? 1
97 97 301 Mom Look, this isn't something... 2
98 98 204 1 5
99 99 301 ??? I'm not a kid anymore! 1
100 100 301 He talks back in a lowered voice.
101 101 301 ??? I can work on my own in the Maintenance Crew! 1
102 102 301 It's a lie, but the urge to know the truth drives the boy to use it as a chip for bargaining. His attempt, however, fails to fool his mother.
103 103 301 Mom Work? 2
104 104 301 Mom You think I don't know what you've been doing? 2
105 105 301 Mom I only took her up on her proposal because she said it's too dangerous for a nine-year-old to work in the Cargo Crew, and that books can help you with learning... and that you won't come in contact with the guards if you stay there. 2
106 106 204 1 3
107 107 301 ??? ... 1
108 108 301 Mom You should sleep now. 2
109 109 204 1 14
110 110 301 ??? But... 1
111 111 301 Mom You should sleep now. 2
112 112 204 1 3
113 113 301 ??? ... 1
114 114 301 Those words are supposed to be words of comfort—except they come out sounding like an order and trigger an explosion of all the feelings that have been bottled up inside the boy over the years.
115 115 204 1
116 116 401 1 202
117 117 301 ??? Mom. 1
118 118 301 Mom Yes? 2
119 119 301 ??? People say that if Dad were still alive, he would never leave us here. 1
120 120 301 DialogDisable ??? He would never let others call you a witch, or a... 1
129 129 301 DialogEnable 1 ??? Have you heard these? 1
130 130 301 Mom Why does it matter? I'm too busy to feel bothered. 2
131 131 204 1 5
132 132 301 ??? But don't you feel sad... when you hear them? 1
133 133 301 Mom How does feeling sad help us? Is it going to change anything? 2
134 134 301 ??? Just because it isn't going to change anything doesn't mean you don't feel sad, right? 1
135 135 301 Mom ... 2
136 136 301 Mom It doesn't matter if I do... These feelings will only suffocate us. 2
137 137 301 Mom Your father is dead... There's nothing I can do for him. I don't even have a chance to feel sad. 2
138 138 301 Looking at the boy's determined face, she keeps her cool and explains their situation to him—for the first time.
139 139 301 Mom Asslam has always been in chaos. Everyone does what they can to survive this hellhole. 2
140 140 301 Mom Some resort to violence, some to trickery, and some... can only rely on others. 2
141 141 301 Mom Regardless of which path they pick, when the sky comes tumbling down, everyone has to bear the consequence of their choice. 2
142 142 301 She rubs her fingers on the edge of her mask. Her fingers are shaking slightly.
143 143 301 Mom Rachel wants to change the status quo. At that time, as an aristocrat from the upper level, your father was part of the problem. 2
144 144 301 Mom I begged him to change, but he died just after the riot began. Rachel didn't kill him. The perpetrator just used the chaos she caused. 2
145 145 204 1 3
146 146 301 ??? ... 1
147 147 301 Mom There are still many more people up there like your father—or even worse than him. 2
148 148 301 Mom He died without ever having the chance to prove that he could change, and people down here just can't be bothered to understand me. 2
149 149 301 Mom But I can understand why they feel this way. To them, I am an "accomplice" of the aristocrats. 2
150 150 204 1
151 151 301 ??? ...Mom. 1
152 152 301 Mom Do you hate me, [—]? 2
153 153 301 Mom Even at the very bottom of Asslam, people wouldn't have treated you like this had you been born into a different family. 2
154 154 204 1 3
155 155 301 ??? ... 1
156 156 204 1
157 157 301 ??? Can't we leave? 1
158 158 301 Mom The world out there is much worse than this. The Punishing Virus has taken over the land, and you need to be around a CPF to be safe. 2
159 159 301 Mom You can stay here because I still have a job here, but when I'm gone, you'll have to leave and join the ranks of the Scavengers if you can't fend for yourself. 2
160 160 301 Mom When that day comes... there will be no food, no shelter, and you might get infected anytime. When you want to rest, the Corrupted and robbers will swarm up to you. 2
161 161 301 ??? What should we do? 1
162 162 301 Mom Trust Rachel. She has a plan to free us from this oppression. 2
163 163 204 1 7
164 164 301 ??? Will she become a great leader? Just like the heroes in the books? 1
165 165 301 Mom ...Yeah... 2
166 166 301 She lets out a heavy sigh.
167 167 204 1
168 168 301 ??? Are you helping her, Mom? 1
169 169 301 Mom Yes. I'm trying to help her... I don't always agree with the way she does things, but I have no right to question her, either. 2
170 170 301 Mom She's good at winning people over to our side—and that's just one of the things she's good at that I'm not. 2
171 171 301 She puts her hand on her mask again—to make sure it just sits safely on her face.
172 172 301 Mom When I was your age, my dream was to become a merchant that brings people whatever they need. 2
173 173 301 Mom Except... 2
174 174 301 Mom ...I realized that I had nothing to sell... but my own future. 2
175 175 301 ??? Your future...? 1
176 176 301 She nods and hides all the scars of time behind her mask, revealing no further details.
177 177 301 ??? Why do you sell your future? 1
178 178 301 Mom To buy things that I otherwise can't afford. 2
179 179 301 Mom For someone ordinary to become a hero, there is a steep price to pay, and it might even hurt those around you. 2
180 180 301 Those words turn into sharp knives and stab him in the heart.
181 181 204 1 14
182 182 301 ??? ...Mom... 1
183 183 301 Mom [—], I've given your situation some thought over the past few days. You're no genius, and it's way too difficult for you to learn a skill on your own. You need a teacher. 2
184 184 301 Mom Rachel will put you on her Carge Crew once you turn 13. 2
185 185 301 Mom Like it or not, you need to learn how to keep yourself alive. Time to sleep now. 2
186 186 204 1 5
187 187 301 ??? ...No, I don't want to sleep. What did you mean when you just said you're selling your future? Where are you going? 1
188 188 301 Mom You should sleep now. 2
189 189 301 Without saying another word, she drags a tattered blanket over and puts it over the boy.
190 190 301 ??? Wait, you haven't answered my question! 1
191 191 301 Mom You should sleep now. 2
192 192 301 Her lowered voice now sounds menacing.
193 193 204 1 3
194 194 301 ??? ...Are you going to stay here tonight? 1
195 195 301 She lets out a non-committal response through her mask—which is then followed by coughs.
196 196 204 1
197 197 301 ??? Did you catch a cold? 1
198 198 401 1 36
199 199 301 She shakes her head without saying anything.
200 200 202 1 2 1
201 201 201 1 500518
202 202 401 1 148
203 203 301 1 She lies down on her side next to the boy. Then, lifting her hand to touch her boy, she starts singing the same gentle lullaby that she always did many, many years ago.
204 204 301 Mom ～Sleep, sleep, my child,～ 1
205 205 301 Mom ～For there are fireflies here that will keep your heart alight.～ 1
232 232 301 1 ?? ～For only when you wake up free of worries～ 1
233 233 301 ?? ～Can you smile at the world warmly.～ 1
234 234 201 1 500506 14
235 235 301 1 Young Man A ...
236 236 204 1
237 237 301 The young man wakes up from his memory—and sees that he's all alone now, having been left here by the Constructs and the commandant from last night.
238 238 202 1 1
239 239 301 From the distance, the boy can hear a Construct girl singing away as she fixes a toy with the parts she has.
240 240 401 1 208
241 241 201 1 500335 -400
242 242 201 2 500506 400
243 243 301 1 ?? Oops. Did I wake you up? 1
244 244 301 Young Man A Did I fall asleep holding this pen? 2
245 245 301 ?? Yup, and good morning. 1
246 246 301 Young Man A Where are the others? 2
247 247 301 ?? They all left on a mission. 1
248 248 204 1 1
249 249 301 Lillian My name is Lillian, by the way. They told me about your memory loss, and I'll be taking you to Medical Center 09 in a bit. 1
250 250 301 Young Man A Medical Center 09? Someone from yesterday told me that I should go somewhere with better medical resources and get myself checked up and treated there, but they never said it's Medical Center 09. 2
251 251 301 Lillian That's what they were talking about, because that's the only place around here with better medical resources. We'll be on our way when the transport vehicle is here. 1
252 252 301 Lillian Have you recalled anything? Do you remember your name? 1
253 253 301 Young Man A I've recalled a lot of things, except for my name... 2
254 254 204 1
255 255 301 Lillian Seems like you really hated your name, huh? 1
256 256 204 2 7
257 257 301 Young Man A What makes you say so? 2
258 258 301 Lillian According to our instructor, you'll tend to have a harder time recalling something if you tried to shun it before the memory loss. 1
259 259 301 Lillian That's probably what's happening to you now, I'm guessing. 1
260 260 204 2
261 261 301 Young Man A ... 2
262 262 301 Why would I try to shun my name, though?
263 263 301 Lillian ...Oops. Did I say something wrong? 1
264 264 301 Young Man A No. I'm just feeling a little lost here. 2
265 265 301 Lillian But you said you've recalled a lot of things already, right? 1
266 266 301 Young Man A But they're all from before I was 12, and they all have to do with my family and friends, and... 2
267 267 301 ...And the picture books and mangas I've read.
268 268 204 2 10
269 269 301 Young Man A (But why am I remembering everything I've read...) 2
270 270 301 Lillian Anything else? 1
271 271 204 2
272 272 301 Young Man A Well, they're nothing worth mentioning. 2
273 273 301 Lillian I bet they're just some of the bad things you've done. 1
274 274 204 2 11
275 275 301 Young Man A ...Unfortunately, no. 2
276 276 301 Young Man A Just memories of some situation we couldn't work our way around, dreams I couldn't make happen, a nice aunt who would occasionally come to my rescue, and my mom who basically never told me a thing. 2
277 277 301 Lillian Boy, those are lame with a capital L. I swear you'd be some guy if you were in a game. 1
278 278 204 2
279 279 301 Young Man A I guess you're right... Say, do you think an ordinary person might just someday find himself on the wrong side of justice? 2
280 280 301 Lillian ... 1
281 281 301 Lillian If anything, an ordinary person is exactly the type that would fall on the wrong side of justice, since they've got nothing that would help them land on the right side of it. 1
294 294 301 1 The boy once again recalls his mother's words.
295 295 301 ...The boy died in what little he still has of his memory—yet here it is, alive and well in this body he doesn't recognize. What price did he have to pay exactly for this miracle to have happened?
296 296 301 Young Man A ... 2
297 297 301 Lillian The transport vehicle is here. Here, they left your weapon here for you. Let's get going. 1
298 298 301 With her toy only half-fixed, Lillian stands up from the desk.
299 299 301 And it's only now that the young man sees that the toy is a firefly put together with parts.
300 300 204 2 9
301 301 301 Young Man A Wait a second... Where did you get that thing you're holding? 2
302 302 301 Lillian Are you talking about this firefly toy? 1
303 303 301 Lillian I found this out there when I came. 1
304 304 301 Young Man A Can I have a look? I feel like... I've seen it before... 2
305 305 204 1 19
306 306 301 With a worried look on her face, Lillian hands the damaged firefly toy over to the young man.
307 307 204 2
308 308 301 Young Man A ... 2
309 309 301 This toy is put together with gears and used lightbulbs. Here, you just need to give its head a little twist and the wings will flap away.
310 310 301 The body of the toy, however, is now twisted at such a weird angle that it seems as though it's been hit by something.
