Chapter Text
I. WHERE THE DEEP OCEAN ECHOES - YOU AND ME
Shadow Milk
"How should I put it?" - He didn't know when it started, but he'd always dreamed of strange, faraway places. In those places, everything seemed to be turned upside down, truth and lies intertwined like a theatrical performance, inseparable. A tangled drama interwoven with strange, echoing refrains. A place where he – Shadow Milk – was trapped in this wretched central role. When one play officially ended, another would be performed, revolving around it like an endless dream loop. Time and time again, he was forced to witness moments changing according to the setting, the "supporting characters" constantly changing "actors" according to each script played.
He thought that each story in that tiny play of "them" would never intersect with Shadow Milk at any point. Because, in a drama series, viewers only focus on the talented "main character," rarely paying attention to the insignificant extras, the NPCs, no matter what they are. That's how it should be.
But then, when the dreamy gears of this fantastical story derailed, at that very moment, Shadow Milk realized he himself would be destroying this rotten script. Nothing guaranteed a good outcome, because from now on, there would be no script. There was no safe path left, but who was Shadow Milk to be afraid of taking risks?
This time was no different. Just like every other time...
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The wind howled in his ears, a haunting melody repeating itself endlessly, a single tune that wouldn't stop. It wasn't a raging storm, but it was enough to halt the unconscious, listless steps of the blue-haired boy.
His steady breathing now felt weighed down by an invisible force, so heavy it was almost unbearable. He took a deep breath before forcing his heavy body to continue into the void, trying to find what "it" wanted him to find.
The further Shadow Milk went, the clearer he heard the sound echoing from the distance. It wasn't the deafening noise of meaningless rumors; it was something entirely different. The melody was gentler, yet strangely quiet and bustling. Shadow Milk needed to find out what it was. He needed to get closer! Just a little closer!
His breath, already constricted in his throat, grew heavier with each gasp. His initially labored steps quickly became hurried.
An unnamed urgency was called upon.
He ran and ran until the salty smell of the sea became clearer, waking Shadow Milk from his aimless reverie. He paused for a moment, trying to regulate his breathing. Shadow Milk began to look around, assessing the surroundings.
The sky remained a deep black. Suddenly, a small dot from the edge of the shore flickered in his eyes, emitting a soft, golden light… Was it a starlight?
No! As he got closer, the truth became clearer in his blue eyes. It… wasn't a light or any kind of light source.
It was just... a small silhouette of someone glowing with a warm golden light, the only source of light in the darkness. But who was it? Shadow Milk couldn't make out the person's face. He could only tell that the other person was shorter and standing with their back to Shadow Milk.
Well, how on earth was he supposed to know who it was? It was as if the world was some small place.
"Hey! Hello, you there."
A greeting, but no reply. Everything quickly returned to its usual eerie silence. Sigh! Shadow Milk had hoped it would at least work.
Was it the wind too strong, or the waves crashing against the shore drowning out his voice? Or was there another reason? It didn't matter anymore.
His footsteps once more trod the white sand, moving forward towards the faint, flickering light. His eyelashes trembled slightly, his deep blue eyes never daring to close for even a second. He feared that in a flash, Shadow Milk would lose sight of that small figure. One step, then another, just a little more, and he would be close to the truth.
And yet, before Shadow Milk could catch up and reach that tiny figure... The small light instantly flickered out in a flash, leaving only a towering pile of ashes before its entire form collapsed into the vast ocean.
“WAIT—”
But it was too late. The pile of ashes quickly merged with the vast, cold sea, silently carried away.
What was that? Wait! H-How could this be… It shouldn’t be like this.
It had never been like this… Since “that time.”
RING RING RING
Shadow Milk woke up utterly exhausted. It was as if he had just endured every kind of agonizing punishment imaginable. And indeed, that was quite the truth. His forehead and back were now drenched in sweat, evidence of what had "happened." This suffocating, oppressive feeling... Shadow Milk couldn't adapt to it immediately. He hated it! It was indescribably unpleasant, a suffocating, restless feeling with every passing second.
Why was that? He had almost "reached the truth"... But in an instant, everything seemed meaningless.
Looking at the clock, it was only 5:45 AM. A time when everything should have been silent, yet the phone on his bedside table kept ringing with notifications of new messages. Incessantly and rapidly, he let out an annoyed groan before reaching for his phone. He checked to see who the crazy person was texting at this hour. To his disappointment, it wasn't a surprise; it came from his group chat, and of course, the sender of those messages – the one who had disturbed his peaceful sleep (even though it was only seconds ago) – was none other than Eternal Sugar.
[Hi~ My sleepy friends. Are you all awake yet?] – Cutest in the universe
[What kind of prank are you pulling so early in the morning?] – Clown
[What? You're already annoyed at the start of a new day, Shadow Milk? Did someone do something to my friend?~] – Cutest in the universe
His eyebrows twitched slightly at Sugar's message. He wondered if she'd eaten something poisonous to prepare for this new prank this morning.
But thinking too much would only give him a headache. So, just before Eternal Sugar's message was about to be sent, Shadow Milk immediately exited the app, and to be on the safe side, he decided to turn off his phone completely.
Now no one would disturb Shadow Milk's peaceful sleep anymore. Just pull the blanket over himself, lie down, and drift off to sleep again.
That's what Shadow Milk thought. As he was beginning to drift back to sleep...
CLICK
???? What was that sound? Was it the door opening??? Or maybe not? Maybe he was just too tired and his brain was making itself anxious by imagining strange things. Yes! Definitely.
Sleep was overwhelming; he was sure he'd fall asleep again quickly. Shadow Milk was certain of it.
After lying there for a while, he finally sat up. THAT WAS DEFINITELY THE SOUND OF A DOOR UNLOCKING. Shadow Milk was a light sleeper, so he would definitely never miss even the smallest detail. But he had clearly locked the door yesterday. Shadow Milk might be crazy, but he couldn't be forgetful.
But trying to remember if he'd locked the door yesterday was pointless now. The "intruder" was probably already inside. The only solution now was:
To beat the "intruder to a pulp." That's right! If he couldn't fix what had happened, he'd just deal with the culprit. Suddenly, everything seemed so simple.
But reality played a cruel trick on the blue-haired guy. Once again.
His spirits plummeted to negative infinity. Because the illegal intruder was none other than his friend, Eternal Sugar. And the three accomplices were still half-asleep. They were definitely going to be woken up by Sugar.
"There's a doorbell! Do you need me to show you how to use it?"
“I understand you so well~ By the time you get down there and open the door, we’ll all be turned to dust.”
Sugar said, shaking the small, pretty key in front of her with a proud expression. The ' jingling ' sound echoed as she shook the key back and forth, then spun it around, creating a jarring cacophony. I swear! If she didn’t stop, Shadow Milk would definitely keep hitting her on the head until he got bored.
“Your ridiculous reasoning is refuted. Do you know you just gave me a heart attack, Sugar? And how did you get a key that you shouldn’t have? Huh?”
“Because, obviously, we – your precious friends Shadow Milk – are always worried about your safety. So I secretly made a spare key for you~”
Shadow Milk was dumbfounded. This girl is truly beyond help. Shadow Milk glared at his three accomplices, questioning who had started this nonsense with Sugar. But all he got were bewildered stares; each of them shook their heads, denying responsibility. Or maybe they were just genuinely honest.
Ultimately, Sugar was definitely the guilty party. But she didn't seem remorseful at all; in fact, she looked incredibly proud. Oh, that bright smile on her face!
Someone please, let Shadow Milk be honest so he doesn't smack Sugar on the head!
“Stop making that gloomy face! I really came here today because I have something to ask you guys~”
The last syllable was almost deliberately drawn out.
“Explain it.”
“As you know, the opening ceremony starts tomorrow. So I’ve meticulously planned for us to have some fun all day today.”
“...”
A weary sigh, ruined a day of rest before the grueling exam preparation period.
“Why are you all sighing? I did that because… Because we’re going to be parting ways this school year.”
Her crystal-like eyes began to well up with tears, adding to her beauty and revealing a hint of sadness. But this trick would work on strangers, not on this group.
“We’re just in different classes, Sugar. It’s not that serious.” – Mystic Flour finally spoke first.
“I think everything will be alright,” – Silent Salt
“It’s like facing a new challenge! Quite interesting!!” – Burning Spice
“It would be a blessing if I didn’t have your rambling nonsense,” – Shadow Milk retorted sarcastically.
“You cruel people. You’re all ganging up on my poor little heart. Hmph!”
Eternal Sugar put on a sulky face, pretending to turn away, crossing her arms after emphasizing the last word loudly, as if deliberately making sure everyone could hear.
“Whatever you’re sulking about is none of my business. If you want us to follow your plan, at least do it after breakfast.”
“I knew you’d say that. So on the way here, I – Eternal Sugar – generously stopped to buy breakfast for you guys!~”
After saying that, Eternal Sugar took out breakfast boxes from her bag and pushed them in front of everyone, not forgetting to accompany it with a friendly smile and winks, waiting expectantly.
Why is she suddenly so nice today? Shadow Milk thought, glancing at the breakfast boxes that had just been pushed towards him. He was afraid she might have put laxatives in the food. Sugar would definitely do that. The thought flashed through his mind, making him shudder; what a devious scheme.
“I know you’re thinking badly of me, Shadow Milk. How can we be friends without trust?~ I’m sad about that.”
This girl is so mischievous. He reminded again, if it were anyone else, they would have been tricked by Sugar. Well, that’s why she and Shadow Milk are such close friends. A pair of equally mischievous friends.
Among all the people in this world, our meeting is like karma.
Then, when he opened the breakfast box that Eternal Sugar had bought for him, he hoped it would at least be something normal. But true to form, Sugar never disappointed Shadow Milk in making him despair.
"What is this, Sugar?"
"Huh? Breakfast, of course," Sugar replied, leaning over.
"Who eats breakfast with a pile of pastries like this, SUGAR!?"
"I think it's normal~ Besides, it provides sugar – the energy that's essential for our bodies."
Mystic Flour quickly stopped Shadow Milk from hitting Eternal Sugar on the head.
"Isn't it because you went to the bakery just to chat nonsense for over half an hour with that pink-haired girl with two pigtails?" Burning Spice interjected.
This time, Salt joined in to stop the blue-haired guy from hitting the pink-haired girl on the head.
He should be grateful there are no laxatives inside. The reason is obvious to everyone.
"So, what exactly do you want us to do?"
Upon receiving the question, Eternal Sugar excitedly pulled out a long piece of paper, like a scroll, and began studying it with an extremely confident expression.
"How about we cycle around the city from morning till night? With such fresh air, it would be perfect—"
"Stay home!" Shadow Milk vehemently objected to Eternal Sugar's stupid plan.
"But it would be so much fun! We'd get to enjoy the fresh air of the new day and strengthen our group friendship—"
"I'll give you ten seconds! Change your plan or press the 'GO HOME' button."
What a heartless, boring guy. Eternal Sugar pouted, silently cursing him in her thoughts.
“Hey Shadow, where did you put those game discs we were playing the other day?”
“I put them right under the shelf.”
After showing Burning Spice where the game discs were, Shadow Milk turned around to check on Sugar. Surprisingly, she was still sitting quietly in her chair, not complaining at all, though she looked like she was about to sulk.
“Don’t make that gloomy face, it’ll bring bad luck, girl.”
“Hmph! Just leave me alone. Anyway, I’m just a vulnerable young girl who dressed up cutely to go out with you guys today. And now look what happened.”
Oh! She’s really angry. Don’t expect Shadow Milk to comfort her, because he’ll only make things exponentially worse. Probably because he’s not good at comforting people.
“If you beat me in a fight, I’ll consider giving you a ride. How does that sound? Not bad, right?”
Shadow Milk handed the remote control to Eternal Sugar with a challenging smile.
“I accept the challenge. Just wait and see how I beat you.”
She seemed happier. That was reassuring.
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Pure Vanilla
A few days before the start of the new school year
While the sun hadn't fully risen and the morning dew still clung to the leaves and petals around the house, birds chirped merrily on the branches, their melodies echoing far and wide as if to awaken everyone.
Pure Vanilla woke up still half-asleep, rubbing his eyes a few times to wake himself up before getting out of bed, preparing to start a new day.
Hearing the movement, Brownie – his dog – immediately sat up and ran to him, running around him, wagging its tail happily. It was as if it had been waiting for this moment all night.
"Good morning, Brownie. You look as energetic as ever, don't you? Alright, wait until I'm ready, then we'll go for a walk, okay?"
With just that, the dog's sparkling eyes widened. It barked excitedly and ran around him. Just a moment ago, Pure Vanilla was still half-awake, half-asleep, but seeing Brownie so happy made him happy too.
Having been energized by this fluffy yellow creature so early in the morning, Pure Vanilla felt like the luckiest person to witness this adorable creature every day.
Before leaving the house, Pure Vanilla tied a leash around the dog's neck, just in case Brownie got too excited and ran away. Those nimble legs always run incredibly fast; if there wasn't something to hold them back, Brownie would probably have already run off somewhere.
Today the sky was very clear, and the cool morning air made everything feel so pleasant. It was light and airy. Each breath was gentle, and for no reason, his legs kept hurrying forward. Each step was faster than the last.
A song played on a record, its melodic refrains echoing hurried, chasing each other on the rhythm of crashing waves. It stopped just as the melody reached a pause.
Pure Vanilla paused.
“Brownie, let’s stop and rest for a bit, Ok?”
That idea had only just flashed through his mind, because only in this place. A place where there was no beginning, nor an end. Only him and the whispering songs beside him – the sea.
Where his memories were preserved, carefully stored within the waves.
In the distance, the sun was beginning to rise higher. The shops around were also opening, welcoming another day.
Pure Vanilla had to hurry home; he needed to pack his things so he wouldn’t miss the 8 o’clock train.
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“Remember, Brownie, be very well-behaved when you go to your aunt’s house. Don’t cause her any trouble, okay?”
After giving the instructions, he noticed Brownie kept whimpering, its big, sparkling eyes staring intently at him, as if trying to melt his heart. Pure Vanilla couldn’t bear to part with his cutest dog in the world; if he could, he’d want to take Brownie with him. But the dorm rules were very strict, not allowing students to bring pets. So he had no choice but to leave Brownie with his aunt while he was away. His aunt’s house was nearby, just a few steps from Pure Vanilla’s.
“I’ll come visit you on holidays, okay? I promise.”
He knocked on the door a few times, waited a while, and finally someone opened it. It was his aunt! She asked why he had come so early in the morning. Pure Vanilla answered honestly, then handed Brownie, whom he was holding, to his aunt. Although it was quite heavy for Vanilla, he wanted to hold Brownie one last time since he was about to leave.
He wouldn't see this little golden ball of fluff every morning anymore, and Pure Vanilla would feel so lonely.
His aunt nodded in agreement. She then reminded him to be careful when he went to another city, not to worry too much about Brownie, and that she would take good care of it while he was away. Hearing this, Pure Vanilla felt somewhat reassured. He bowed and waved goodbye to his aunt and Brownie before leaving.
With each step, he moved further away, but he couldn't help but turn back for one last look. Looking at the place where he had grown up.
As if remembering something, Pure Vanilla took out his small phone and turned on the recording mode.
[ Mom! I have to go now. ]
Then he lifted his feet and ran straight towards the train station.
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After a long summer vacation, she was finally back to those boring school days. So boring!!! Golden Cheese wanted to let loose, why did summer fly by so fast? She sighed wearily as she got off the train. She still had plenty of free time until the start of the semester, and going home now wouldn't do her any good. After thinking for a while, Golden Cheese decided to stop by White Lily's dorm to see if she needed any help. Then, after she finished cleaning, Golden Cheese would invite her to watch a movie to kill time.
“Which movie did she say she wanted to see?”
While she was checking the list of movies for today, a figure caught her eye. Golden Cheese had to look up to see what was going on. Not far away, a boy was standing with his back to her. The sight was so hilarious that Golden Cheese couldn't help but laugh; his whole body was slumped like a lost soul, his face pressed against the wall, looking utterly dejected.
Lost! Pure Vanilla didn't even know where he was. Just moments ago, after getting off the train, he'd lost his station map, but he quickly reassured himself that there was nothing to worry about. With a spirited and hopeful teenager anticipating a bright future at a new school, Pure Vanilla confidently continued walking, believing he'd find his way out. There was no need to panic.
But that belief began to waver when he'd walked in a large circle and returned to his starting point. Pure Vanilla wasn't even sure if it was the correct station where he'd gotten off, or if the station layout was just similar. He couldn't even find anyone to ask for directions. That was it! His promising and exciting school life had officially ended. Pure Vanilla would be stuck at this train station forever. A truly tragic ending.
“I want to go home…”
“Hey! Are you still alive, blonde?”
Startled! Pure Vanilla was lost in his gloomy thoughts when a hand suddenly placed on his shoulder, making him jump. If he continued like this, his heart might jump out of his chest, and he didn't want that.
He finally looked up to get a better look at the person who had approached. She looked about his age. Her neatly trimmed orange-blonde hair, with a small, pretty hair clip in her bangs, accentuated her small, bright face. Her tanned skin, combined with a t-shirt, jacket, shorts, and sneakers, gave her a dazzling energy. Like the sun.
“Hey! Are you even listening to me?”
Golden Cheese snapped her fingers in front of Pure Vanilla, trying to bring him back to reality. Realizing he was being impolite by staring while someone was asking a question without answering, he adjusted his posture.
“S-Sorry, I’m listening… Uh—Um, what’s up?”
“Huh? Well, I saw you standing here looking like a ghost. So I just wanted to come and ask you.”
Pure Vanilla didn’t know, but this might be a good opportunity to ask for directions to school.
“Um… Do you…”
“Huh? What? Can you speak a little louder?”
He was trying his best to catch his breath.
“D-Do you know the way to Earthbread Academy…?”
The two looked at each other for a moment, then Golden Cheese burst into a hearty laugh.
“Wow! What a coincidence! I’m a student there too!”
“Really!”
Pure Vanilla was overjoyed; it seemed his dream school life wasn't over yet.
"Let me lead the way."
Golden Cheese quickly pulled Pure Vanilla's hand, leading her along.
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Sitting on the bus, the two chatted as if they had known each other for a long time.
"You traveled all this way to study here, so where are you planning to stay?"
"Um... I'm staying in the school dorm, it's more convenient."
Golden Cheese couldn't help but ask.
"Do you know which room you'll be in yet?"
Pure Vanilla paused for a moment, then took his phone out of his pocket and checked the dorm room assignment list.
"It says I'll be in room 217—"
"What a coincidence!?"
Golden Cheese exclaimed in surprise, grabbing Pure Vanilla's shoulder and shaking him vigorously. He was startled and confused.
"W-What's wrong? Is something wrong?"
But she didn't answer immediately; instead, she flashed a mischievous smile.
After getting out of the bus, Pure Vanilla tried to ask why Golden Cheese had said that. Saying it halfway like that could give someone a heart attack! Luckily for him, this time she finally answered his question.
“Sorry! I was really surprised too. Who would have thought that a friend I just met would be in the same school and share a dorm room with one of my best friends.”
Oh, so that’s how it was. That gave Pure Vanilla a real scare.
Stepping into the dorm elevator, Golden Cheese chattered on about her story while waiting for the elevator to reach their floor.
“Oh, right, we’ve been talking for a while now, but we haven’t introduced ourselves yet, have we? My name is Golden Cheese, remember that name for the rest of your life, Ok.”
“I will. And my name is Pure Vanilla, nice to meet you.”
They chatted animatedly as they walked down the quiet hallway. That was understandable, since there was still almost a week until the start of the semester, so there probably weren't many students moving into the dormitory yet.
Now they had reached the door of room 217.
KNOCK KNOCK
“Lily! Are you in there? I’ve come to visit.”
“I’m coming right out!”
A clear, yet hurried voice replied. After some rustling sounds from inside, the door finally opened. A girl with neatly braided, pure white hair stepped out. When her eyes met Pure Vanilla's, the girl paused briefly before turning to her friend.
“Golden Cheese, who is this…?”
“Huh? Oh, he—”
But before Golden Cheese could finish her sentence, a terrifying scenario flashed through White Lily’s mind. Her face turned pale, and her hands trembled as she pointed at the two people in front of her.
“C-Could it be… Is it your… your b-b-boy-f-f-f-f-friend—” – As she spoke, Lily’s lips trembled uncontrollably. She couldn’t accept this cruel reality!! Lily hadn’t even…
“Did you just wake up dreaming? I just met him a moment ago. Coincidentally, he’s your roommate, so I brought him straight here. I was free anyway, so I came to help you.”
Phew. So that’s it. Lily felt somewhat relieved.
“Ah! I’m White Lily. Please forgive my haste earlier. I just… I was just jumping to conclusions.”
Saying this, White Lily extended her hand and gave a slight smile. Seeing this, Pure Vanilla immediately responded cheerfully, taking her hand.
“Um, it’s nothing. I don’t mind. I’m Pure Vanilla.”
After a moment of silence, Lily quickly stepped aside, clearing the way into the room. She brushed the dust off her clothes and smoothed her white hair. Once finished, she turned back to the two.
“Oh I didn’t expect my roommates to be here so early. So… I haven’t had time to unpack my things yet. Could you bear with me a little?”
White Lily led them into the room, avoiding stepping on the boxes scattered on the floor.
Well, today was going to be a long day for the three of them.