In the Monitoring Room
Nemu, Terumi, and Nemuri finally relaxed when they saw that Maki was safe from the fall.
Nemu didn't know what had just happened or why she had acted so strangely, but she sat back in her chair and regained her composure. She placed her fingers back on the keyboard, and while watching Maki closely, she typed at an unbelievable speed.
Nemuri and Terumi looked at each other. They pulled chairs over and placed them beside Nemu, then continued to closely watch Maki's every movement—especially Nemuri, who had grown up watching over him.
She knew something had been different from the very first time she met him. He had always acted more mature, but she never lingered on the thought. In a world like this, different powers could affect people in countless ways—sometimes even harming the user or those around them.
So she assumed it was a side effect of Maki's power.
That was why Nemuri treated him like an adult rather than a child. And because of that, Maki had naturally taken on the role of the man of the house.
Still, Nemuri was bewildered.
For all the years they had been together, she had never seen Maki leave the condominium building. Not once had she seen him go out and explore. She had asked him many times and tried to come up with countless excuses just to drag him outside with her, but he always replied with the same line:
"I'd rather wait for fish inside than look for another spot to fish."
Nemuri never really understood what he meant.
So she said nothing.
And every weekend, they stayed inside the condo together.
But this time was different.
It was a promise he had made back then—one Nemuri had given him with a condition he couldn't refuse.
This was the first time Nemuri had ever seen Maki like this.
To others, it looked like excitement—like freedom.
But Nemuri knew what he was truly feeling.
The women watched as Maki stood up and clasped his hands together. He closed his eyes. Minutes passed.
Then they heard it.
It was low—but all of them heard him clearly.
[Mokuton: Shù wū]
Roots suddenly burst from the ground where Maki was standing. They multiplied rapidly, spreading outward and downward. The roots sprouted like branches, coiling together and molding into a massive tree trunk.
But it didn't stop there.
The trunk continued to grow, branches extending outward, fresh green leaves blooming instantly. Slowly, a single-level house made entirely of wood began forming in the very middle of the tree.
When it was finished, a massive tree—around fifty feet tall—stood before them. Nestled in the center of its branches was a wide, flat treehouse.
It was a display of pure artistic skill and showmanship.
( ＾ω＾)"A treehouse ," Mei whispered.
Then she added, "It's beautiful. Is that our future house?"
Chop.
( ｡ﾟДﾟ｡)" Quit your imagination," Nemuri said flatly from beside her.
Unlike the other two, Nemu remained silent, watching the display of wood creation without a word.
Her right hand moved. She placed it on the mouse beside the keyboard and clicked open a file.
Maki's information appeared on the screen.
Nemu read it—and raised an eyebrow.
Almost everything was blank.
(￣ー￣)
Name: Maki
Age: —
Address: —
Birthday: —
Birthplace: —
Number: —
Parents/Guardian: Nemuri Kayama
And so on.
Nemu turned to the woman on her right.
"Midnight-sensei… who is he?"
Nemuri heard her name and looked at Nemu as she asked about Maki. That was when she noticed it again.
Nemu's eyes were shining—with curiosity and interest.
And naturally, a woman's intuition was never wrong.
Nemuri met Nemu's gaze. They stared at each other for a moment before Nemuri smirked.
"Why, Nemu?" she said teasingly. "Don't tell me you too."
Of course, Nemu didn't understand what Nemuri meant. She simply tilted her head and turned back to the monitor.
Onscreen, the man clasped his hands again and whispered softly:
( ＾▽＾)
[Mokuton: Mù zhù]
♤ (mù): Wood
(zhù / zhùzi): Pillar, column, or post ♤
A wooden pillar erupted from the ground beneath him, shooting upward toward the tree he had created—connecting directly to the treehouse above.
Mei watched Nemu's strange behavior with a knowing smile.
"Ohhh," she said. "Looks like someone's infatuated."
Nemuri turned to Mei.
"No," she corrected calmly. "It's more like smitten."
Mei raised an eyebrow.
"Aren't you jealous? Normally you would be. What's wrong this time?" she teased.
Nemuri glanced at Nemu, who was completely unaware of their conversation.
"Well," Nemuri said softly, "I always knew this would happen someday…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
Instead, she smiled and turned her attention back to the monitor—where Maki was opening the door to the treehouse.
"We talked about it," she whispered.
"…Well, actually, it was me talking and explaining things to him."
(*￣∇￣)ノAM N. NOT.