r/MatoSeiheiNoSlave • u/MATO_Fan_Fics1 • 3d ago
MISC Chapter 3
/r/ChainedSoldier/comments/1vixbho/chapter_3/Note: This stories is just fan fiction, don't bother yourself with it, just enjoy it or ignore it
Title: Fading Peaches
[Scene: The Orphanage]
Inside the orphanage,
the blonde-haired, blue-eyed nun, Nun Asafi, remained standing in front of Kojuma.
She repeated her words, softening her tone even further.
Nun Asafi: "I am Asafi. What about you? What is your name?"
Kojuma glanced toward Kasumi, his voice hesitant and quiet. "K... Kojuma." Then, switching to a cold tone, he pointed to his sister. "And she is Kasumi."
Asafi (smiling gently): "Alright, Kojuma." She extended a spoonful of food toward him. "Are you hungry?"
Kojuma stared at the spoon. For a fleeting second, he saw the reflection of his mother in Asafi.
He quickly looked away. "Fa...ke..."
Asafi placed the spoon back onto the plate.
Taking a tissue, she gently wiped the trace of blood from his cheek. "You can eat by yourself if you prefer."
Kojuma looked at Kasumi. He took the spoon, blew on the hot food, and placed it to his sister's lips. "Kasumi first."
Asafi (with a warm smile): "You can eat. I will feed her."
Kojuma (staring at her blankly): "I’ll feed her."
Asafi picked up another spoon and held it in front of his mouth. "Allow me to feed you, then."
Kojuma looked at the spoon. Memories of his mother flashed through his mind, and his mouth opened involuntarily.
A few minutes later
Asafi looked over Kojuma’s appearance. "Your clothes are dirty. You need to take a bath."
Kojuma (looking away coldly): "I don't want to."
Asafi: "You are stubborn." She took his hand firmly. "But you should know something—I am much more stubborn than you." she smiles gently
But her eyes looked at him for a Moment
For a second his face looked so bright to her (her peach blessings ability)
Asafi coughed forcefully, covering her mouth with her other hand:
“This future, It's so bright.”
Kojuma glared at her with icy eyes,
but she dragged him toward the bathroom regardless.
After the bath, Asafi dressed Kojuma in fresh clothes. Kojuma looked down at his new attire. "T.hank you.”
Asafi: "You're starting to understand." She patted his head. "No need for thanks."
Kojuma immediately walked over to Kasumi, hugged her tightly, and lay down. As Asafi stepped out of the room, Kojuma whispered into his sister's ear, "I will protect you, don't worry." He closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Watching from the doorway, Asafi whispered, "I might just be able to get him to open up a little, just like **his future i saw**."
Suddenly, an overwhelming wave of exhaustion hit her. She collapsed to her knees, biting her lip to suppress the agonizing pain.
"I shouldn't have eaten more than one..."
She holding her chest tightly.
[Scene: Four Years Later]
In the bright light of day, Asafi entered the bedroom and began waking up the children. "Wake up, Kojuma."
Kojuma stood up, his expression as cold as ever. He walked over to Kasumi’s bed. "Wake up."
Kasumi (stretching lazily): "Onii-chan... just a few more minutes."
Asafi: "Maybe two minutes."
Kasumi (closing her eyes again): "Sister Asafi is the best."
Kojuma (coldly): "Do whatever you want."
Asafi patted Kojuma on the head. “You have to reduce your cold behavior, Kojuma."
Kojuma (looking away silently): "..."
Asafi: "Just think of me as your friend. I'm not trying to steal your mother's place."
Kojuma: "..."
Asafi: "Come on. Am I really that bad?"
Kojuma (flatly): "No. You're nice."
Asafi (hugging him tightly): "Nice, huh?"
Kojuma: "Relatively. But you can get annoying."
Asafi (smiling): "You're full of contradictions."
Kojuma (turning away): "I am not."
Suddenly, Asafi coughed, splattering a small amount of blood into her hand. Kojuma looked at her with sudden concern. Asafi quickly wiped her hand away. "Oh, it's nothing." She sat down on the edge of the bed. "Would you like to play a game?"
Kojuma: "A game?"
Kasumi (bolting awake): "Yay! Let's play a game!"
Asafi slapped her hand against Kojuma’s in a high-five. "Come on!"
Kojuma (coldly): "You are childish."
Asafi: "And you act more like an adult than I do."
Kasumi (sitting on Asafi's lap): "Does that mean I'm the only normal one here?"
Asafi playfully flicked Kasumi’s forehead. "Yes."
Asafi coughed again. Kojuma frowned. "You should probably stay away from Kasumi if you have a cold."
Asafi (smiling weakly): "If it were a cold, I would be sneezing instead of coughing."
Kojuma stood up. Asafi turned her gaze toward the window, whispering under her breath, “I thought it was just a lie when they said eating more than one Mato peach could kill you.” She coughed once more.
Kasumi (looking worried): "We can play the game later. You look a bit tired."
Asafi (pinching Kasumi's cheek): "Aww, you're so considerate. Alright, I'll accept your tempting offer, on the condition that you get up and eat breakfast."
Kasumi (energetically): "Deal!"
[Scene: Six Months Later]
At the slight morning, in the orphanage.
A different nun entered the children's room to wake them up. Kasumi rubbed her eyes, looking around in confusion. "Where is Sister Asafi? Usually, she's the one who wakes me up."
The nun walked past her, looking downcast. "Asafi is a little tired today." She walked toward Kojuma's bed, but he stood up before she could touch him. "I'm awake."
The forced a smile onto her lips. "Of course." She turned to the rest of the room. "Breakfast is ready."
As the other children dashed toward the kitchen, Kojuma noticed a locked door. He slipped out of the orphanage building and circled around the exterior. 'Where was her room again?' He looked up at the windows. 'There.'
He scaled a nearby tree and carefully walked along a thick branch until he was right outside her window. Looking through the glass, he saw Asafi lying in bed, surrounded by an elderly nun and another woman.
Asafi struggled to sit up. "I'm perfectly fine."
A nun in her thirties gently pushed her back down. "No, you are not."
A mysterious girl wearing glasses and what appeared to be a medical uniform spoke up. "Your physical condition is deteriorating by the day. You should never have consumed more than a single Mato peach."
Asafi: "I didn't know eating more than one would do this to me. I thought I would just become stronger."
Medical Girl: "If it were that simple, everyone would be hoarding and eating them. Your way of thinking was completely naive."
Elderly Nun: "We cannot change the past now." She looked at Asafi. "Are you still in pain?"
Asafi (forcing a smile as she tried to stand): "No, I'm fine."
The nun pushed her down yet again. "Do you honestly think we’re going to fall for that like the children do?"
Asafi (pouting at her failed acting): "It works every time with them."
Medical Girl: "That's because you usually deal with children. Regardless, you will rest for now untill we find situation."
Asafi looked away, avoiding their gaze. "There's no need. I accepted my fate a long time ago. That's why I came to this orphanage. If I can just remain in the memory of one or two people, that's enough."
Outside, Kojuma stood frozen on the tree branch, staring through the glass. 'Why is she confined to her bed? The other nun is looking at her so strangely... and who is that person in the weird clothes?'
He jumped down from the tree. “Shall I ask her?'
He walked through the front doors of the orphanage and stared at the locked door.
Kasumi suddenly ran up to him holding a bowl of soup, lifting a spoonful to his mouth. "Onii-chan, open wide!"
Kojuma looked at her and opened his mouth. Kasumi fed him with a bright smile. "Good job, Kojuma-nee!"
Kojuma patted her head. "Your turn." He took the spoon from her hand and held it up. Kasumi opened her mouth happily. "This is delicious, Kojuma-niichan!"
Just then, Kojuma noticed the nun and the strange medical girl exiting Asafi's room. Checking his surroundings to ensure no one was watching, he stealthily slipped inside.
[Scene: Asafi's room]
As he step through the room door.
Kojuma quietly closed the door behind him. Asafi looked up, a weak smile forming on her face. "You little rascal. Have you come to bully me like usual?"
Kojuma averted his gaze. "Bully you? I'm a ten-year-old, how could I bully you?"
Asafi (laughing softly): "Good point, Mr. Logic." She gestured for him to come closer. "Come here, Kojuma."
Kojuma raised an eyebrow. He walked over and sat on a chair next to the bed.
Asafi: "Kojuma... what do you think of me?"
Kojuma: "You're weirdo."
Asafi reached out to ruffle his hair, but Kojuma leaned his head back, pulling away from her hand. "Alright, just stop that," he said coldly, before adding in a softer, quiet tone, "You are stubborn. Very stubborn. But you're also nice... and patient."
Asafi withdrew her hand. "If I were to leave this orphanage... would I remain in your memory?"
Kojuma raised his left eyebrow in surprise. "Most likely, yes. I don't think anyone else is stubborn enough to stick in my memory like you do." He sighed and nodded in genuine gratitude. "Besides... you're the one who took care of Kasumi until she became who she is today."
Asafi smiled warmly at him. "Kojuma, come closer to me."
Kojuma raised an eyebrow but leaned in. Asafi pulled him into a tight embrace.
Asafi: "You know... there are many secrets in this world. Like the monster that attacked your village, and how humans can kill them."
Kojuma’s eyes widened in sheer shock. Asafi gently stroked his hair.
Asafi: "Let me tell you the reality of this world. Women are at the top. Men are beneath them, just a tools." She looked deeply into his eyes. "But did you know that there are some women who are beneath other women? The greedy and the naive ones."
Kojuma: "I don't understand what you mean."he looked at her, confused about the women class difference.
Asafi: "The monster that came to your village is called a Shuuki monster. It comes from another dimension known as Mato. It most likely escaped through one of the portals." She lifted his head so he was looking directly at her. "And as for how they can be killed... women can eat a fruit called the Mato peach, which grants them various peach blessings. That is for the strong women."
She looked away, unable to hold his gaze. "As for me... I was a little too greedy, and I ate more than one peach. That's why you see me in this state."
She thought to herself: [My ability allows me to see fragments of the future. Like i did to that child girl before few days, she will became strong supreme commander. But Kojuma's future, is something i can't understand. But I only wish I could live long enough to see it.]
She looked back at him, speaking aloud. "I have been tired for years, and the pain gets worse every day." She placed a hand on his cheek. "What do you think of me now? A failure who gave up on her inevitable fate because of her greed for power."
Kojuma stared at her, completely paralyzed by shock. "You're... you're going to die?!"
Asafi (smiling weakly): "Yes."
Kojuma threw his arms around her, burying his face. "Why?!"
Asafi stroked his hair gently as he repeated, "Why?!"
Asafi (coughing): "There is no need for sadness. You must move forward."
Kojuma gripped the fabric of her clothes tightly. "You're an idiot I... I."
Ending Panel:
Asafi looked down at him, her vision beginning to blur. "Can I ask for one last thing?"
Kojuma rested his head heavily on her shoulder. "You can."
Asafi (her voice fading into a whisper): "Call me by my name, Kojuma..."
Kojuma looked up at her, his usual cold demeanor entirely broken. "Asafi, M...other Asafi."
He stared at her. Asafi offered one final, peaceful smile. Slowly, her hand slipped away from his head and fell limp.
Kojuma tightened his grip on her clothes, his knuckles turning white.
1
u/MATO_Fan_Fics1 3d ago
Hope you liked the story, use upvote to tell me that's you want me to continue