SCENARIO ONE: What if you met Shen when he was human?

You loved reading. More specifically, reading fictional novels. Hence, the library was a safe space where you, and many others, could indulge in a fictional world, crafted by words along a sea of lines. So, ah. Why was this library filled with information textbooks? Every book you'd pulled off the shelf had been some dense, never-ending science tome. Actually, wait. This wasn't even the library in the AEI! Also, why was everyone wearing a labcoat—wait.

Why am I ALSO wearing a labcoat?

There was a lanyard around your neck, which had your full name and a picture of you. You held it up, scrutinising the image. Wow, you looked depressed in the photo.

"(Y/n)."

A sudden voice called from behind, and you turned around with a very embarrassing squeak. You faced a woman with red lips and eyes so sharp that knives looked blunt. By her sheer aura, you were guessing she was your superior.

"Yes?"

"We have a new project to which you'll be assigned as an assistant. Have you checked the details sent to you?"

"Oh, uh. I was about to! But I got so caught up in uh..." You pulled up a random book. "Quantum Mechanics: The Specifics of Subatomic Particles... and Wave Functions."

What the fuck was that.

She didn't seem annoyed at all, weirdly enough. "Please do so soon."

With that, she left. You decided to head to a corner of the library so no more unexpected people could jumpscare you. You took out your phone. Wow, this was an old model. You checked the date. Wait, 19XX? That was half a century ago!

Did you go back in time?

"Insane," you mumbled. "Uh... I guess I should read the details."

There was... so much science jargon. Still, you pieced together the basics: they were running tests on apparitions, trying to figure out how to communicate with them and what role self-preservation played in keeping them around. Okay, that much made sense. You were still a bit wary—because, hello, the whole issue in Anomalous centred around unethical experiments—but at least you wouldn't be useless.

"Let's see, my superior is..."

Wait, what? Staring back at you was a picture of a ridiculously familiar young man with white hair, unfairly long lashes, and a facecard that was sculpted by the gods to ruin lives.

"Shen?" you whispered. "Wait, human form Shen???"

Oh my god??? I am SO excited––wait, would he even like me? Hold on, what kind of person was he before he became an indifferent apparition?

Well, you didn't have time to be shocked—not with Shen expecting you in less than twenty minutes. Stuffing your phone into your pocket, you set off at a brisk pace.

The building wasn't like the AEI at all. In fact, it was the original research building, which became abandoned and left to be part of the SF trials in the future. There was, thankfully, a map you encountered, so navigating wasn't an issue. Plus, its blueprint had been featured in the official Anomalous artbook. You may or may not have written a fanfic in this setting.

This is SO COOL.

If it weren't for social norms, you'd be jumping in excitement. Not that you were fooling anyone, though—your excitement was obvious in your wide smile and cheerful hums. A group of women researchers passed by, their attention diverting from their conversation to you.

"You're smiling an awful lot, (Y/n)."

"Ah, well..." You laughed sheepishly. "I got assigned to Shen as my superior, so..."

"The head researcher? That explains it."

"Shen is unlike the others. The men here talk far too much," another chimed in with a huff. "Always trying to flaunt their so-called intelligence while looking down on us."

"He is also quite the looker. I'm surprised he hasn't gotten a girlfriend yet."

Good on you, Shen. You're popular.

You bid the ladies goodbye before getting back on track. Then, you passed a vending machine and paused. Rummaging through your pockets, you smiled in delight to find you had some coins. Nice. Without hesitation, you fed the machine and picked out a couple of sweet snacks.

This should be a good way to get him to warm up to me.

Okay, onwards!

While walking down the hallway, you gazed at the windows. Night had fallen, and the moonlight bathed the corridor in an ethereal glow that reminded you of Shen. Before long, you stood at his door, raising your hand to knock.

"Come in."

At the sound of Shen's muffled voice, your heart leapt to your throat for a moment. You slowly opened the door. It took every ounce of self control to not gasp when you saw Shen in the FLESH. Granted, he looked no different, but it was the principle. Shen was checking over paperwork. The window behind illuminated his features in the cool light of the moon. Shen was literally too beautiful. How could anyone focus at work with him around?

"Hello..." Wait. How were you supposed to address him? "I—ah. I came to help? I was assigned as your assistant to... assist."

Fuck. You fumbled SO hard.

Shen looked up, his expression unreadable—neither annoyed nor amused. It was an expression very familiar to when you met him as an apparition. Although, there was a difference that was hard to word...

... He seems softer? Warmer? Not sure, but it's not the same cold indifference he showed as an apparition.

"I am aware," he replied. Shen proceeded to rise from his seat. With a gesture to stacks of papers, he said, "Please carry all of these and follow me."

"... Got it."

Shen blinked, then paused, his gaze softening slightly. He raised a hand to his lips—wait, was he laughing at you? "(Y/n), was it? You should speak up if I make impossible demands."

"Wait, huh? I thought if I went against my superiors, I'd be executed or canceled."

Shen smiled. "I can assure you I am not that strict."

Shen teasing you?? Granted he did become a tad more playful when you got to know him back when he was an apparition, but you didn't expect him to be this friendly so soon.

"Also," Shen continued. "Has anyone told you that you speak quite oddly?"

Well, you were from fifty years in the future.

"Don't think too much about it," you said.

"I will be."

"Ah, damn."

"There it is again."

After that playful exchange, you followed Shen into a high-ceilinged laboratory filled to the brim with researchers. Everyone was focused, barely regarding your presence as they focused on their experiments. You shivered a little as you walked further in, it felt like someone had blasted the AC on full. Apparitions floated in the room, some visible to your eye, others invisible to your eye as you were not an exorcist. However, you felt every single one of their presence.

Huh. I think I still have my abilities.

The apparitions were confined behind glass walls, encased in a material designed to prevent them from phasing through. To the researchers, they were nothing more than anomalies to be studied—enemies of the city. Sympathy was absent in their clipped tones and cold eyes.

That left a bad taste in your mouth.

Some researchers regarded Shen with a respectful nod while others narrowed their eyes and cast bitter glares, muttering that he was unfit to be the head researcher because he cared too much for apparitions. Shen paid the negative attention no mind as he led you to a separate room.

"(Y/n), could you please organise the files on the desk over in the corner?"

As Shen looked over some paperwork, you took a moment to glance around. That's when you felt a presence, a familiar one. Wait, no. Three. There were three. Your eyes widened. The apparition children? Right! Why hadn't it crossed your mind? According to Anomalous lore, the twins and Copper were brought up in these very labs. With that realisation, you almost sprinted over to Shen's side.

"Shen, could you tell me more about this project?"

Shen didn't look up as he scribbled something in his clipboard. "This project was originally under someone else's direction. I didn't agree with their methods, so I requested to take over, which was approved. The researcher was upset, not that their feelings were my concern."

You nodded slowly. "... You're not going to hurt these apparitions, are you?"

This time, Shen paused, his pen hovering above the clipboard as he looked directly at you. Huh, he was far more expressive as a human. His eyes were wide with surprise.

"You..." Shen sighed and placed the clipboard down. "Your way of thinking is different. It could get you in trouble."

"I know."

In the past, opinions on apparitions were more rigid compared to modern-day Anomalous. However, you had a strong feeling that you could trust Shen to react well to your opinion. After all, the apparition twins had referred to Shen as the 'nice' scientist.

Shen studied your expression. Was he trying to discern if you were lying? The silence plus the eye contact screamed tension, so you decided to distract yourself the only way you could think of: initiating a silent, self-proclaimed staring contest with him.

Catching you off guard, Shen patted your head. "I'm glad you were assigned as my assistant."

Darn. You lost the staring contest.

"Oh, are you flustered?"

You glanced away with an awkward chuckle. "Yes."

"You're very honest." Shen pulled his hand away. "Today we won't be doing much, just observation and assessing the current situation."

Shen turned around, expecting you to follow him. Just as he reached for the doors to yet another room, you rummaged through your pocket, pulled out one of the sweet snacks you'd picked up earlier, and tossed it his way without warning.

"Think fast!"

Shen blinked in surprise, turning back just in time to catch the treat. If he wanted to glare at you, that was overshadowed by the excited look in his eyes when he realised what was in his hands.

"Ah..." Shen smiled. Damn. All you needed to see an angelic smile was some cheap snack from a vending machine? "You didn't have to, but thank you."

Shen looked tempted to eat the treat immediately, but ultimately decided to put it in his pocket.

... That's kind of cute.

With that out of the way, you and Shen stepped through the doors. The moment you did, your eyes narrowed in distaste. The space resembled a playground. Clocks of all shapes and sizes aligned the colourful patterned walls, the sounds of ticking echoing. The room looked as if an adult, one who was disconnected from a child's mind, had haphazardly cobbled together this mess.

Shen didn't seem impressed either. A soft sigh escaped him as he jotted something down on his clipboard.

"This project," he began, "is an investigation into whether we can enhance the abilities of a deceased human who once possessed exorcist abilities. To put it simply, it involves repeatedly forcing them to relive their deaths through near exorcisms and compelling them to use their abilities. These apparitions—these children have no families. They were found deceased and were deemed... appropriate for experimentation."

No words could express the disgust you felt.

"... It's terrible," you muttered.

Shen closed his eyes for a moment. "I have no right to comment."

"... But you weren't the one who initiated this project, right?"

"That may be true," Shen replied, opening his eyes to meet yours. "But I didn't stop it from moving forward either."

Before you could respond, a glimpse of ash blonde hair caught your attention. Two heads peeked out from behind one of the slides. Light brown eyes that had an antique clockwork pattern, the hands frozen at half past twelve, were staring at you and Shen with hesitance, fear, and only the tiniest glimmer of curiosity.

You were so used to seeing those very eyes light up with excitement. With a deep breath, you approached the twins. They didn't run away, but their expressions were wary. Kneeling down to their eye level, you showed the same smile that you always did when these children were your companions. It took a few minutes, but Sam eventually took a step forward. However, her brother quickly grabbed her arm, shaking his head.

"I promise I'm not here to hurt you." You held out a hand. "Let's be friends."

Sam tilted her head.

"I'm a ghost," she said. "I can't shake your hand."

"Are you sure?"

She planted her small hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes with childish defiance. "Yes!'

You smiled. "Prove it."

Sam seemed to have taken the bait you laid out. With a frustrated huff, she reached over to your hand.

"Look, see—?" Sam froze, then she gasped loudly. Her hands were cold against your warm hands. "What? What?? I can touch you!"

"Told you."

Then, light returned to her eyes. With how eager she looked, you almost hallucinated sparkles twinkling around her.

"Are you a ghost too?"

"I'm very much a human." You grinned. "Just a very cool one."

Meanwhile, Alec lingered nearby, his weight shifting from one foot to the other as he watched the exchange unfold. Sam noticed her twin brother's hesitance. With a large grin, she motioned for him to come with an exaggerated wave of her hand.

"It's okay! She's nice. There are no weird machines and she also doesn't turn off the lights like the other guy."

Alec approached you, hiding behind his sister. "Hello."

"Hello—"

Your own shadow suddenly twisted unnaturally before surging from the ground and solidifying into a hand with sharp claws—a sight that would make anyone assume the devil had crawled up from hell to bring them down. It was a terrifying sight, but this ability was used to help you so many times, so you found comfort in it.

Then, the claw retreated, dissolving into the ground and revealing a child with black eyes with silver diamond-shaped irises.

"You're not running."

"I'm not a fan of exercise."

Copper raised an eyebrow. "Weirdo."

Wow. Okay.

Copper then looked past your shoulders, pointing behind you. "Who is that?"

Ah. You'd completely forgotten about Shen. He stood a short distance away, quietly watching the whole exchange, his expression conveying faint surprise. Even after being hurled back in time, your habit of doing suspicious actions still persisted. Sam dashed over to him, opting to—like, slap his leg or something. Either way, it didn't work as her hand phased right through him. She frowned in such an exaggerated manner to where you swore the expression took up half of her face.

"I can't touch him."

Shen showed an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I don't have a special ability like (Y/n)."

"That's fine!" She grinned. "You seem nice as well. Are you two going to visit us from now on?"

"I really don't like the other man," Alec said.

Copper scoffed. "I don't care if he comes. The next time he does, I'm going to attack him and win."

You and Shen took turns cautiously explaining the situation. After all, these poor kids had never been told what they were or what this place actually was. It took a few stops, starts, and reworded explanations, but eventually, they understood.

"So what are we doing today?" Alec asked. "Usually the bad scientists would try to hurt us."

Shen mentioned today was just to observe. You glanced back at him, and his gentle nod conveyed a silent message: do what you think is best

"Then..." An idea popped into your mind. "Do you want to hear a story?"

The children exchanged curious glances. You giggled at that and sat on one of the seats, motioning them to come closer.

"Wanna hear one too?" You asked Shen. "I bet all you read are scientific textbooks."

Shen pouted. Oh my god, he pouted. "That's not true."

"Really?"

"... I read the comic strips in the newspaper from time to time."

You let out a short laugh at that, and Shen looked extremely offended. His expression only made you laugh harder. Despite that, he sat down beside you, and you began telling stories like the author you were. You understood the kinds of stories the apparition children liked. Thus, whether it'd be existing tales or tales of your own, it was easy to capture their attention. Even Shen seemed invested.

After an hour or so, it was time to go. The twins whined, clinging to your leg while Copper pretended to look disinterested (he was standing in front of the entrance, blocking your way). It took some convincing for them to let you go.

"We will see you again right, big sister?" Sam asked.

Your heart swelled at the familiar nickname. "For sure. I'll have more stories to tell."

After you two left and entered the empty hallway, you breathed out a sigh of relief. It was tiring being a storyteller for children. Sam and Alec had way too much energy. You even roped Shen into it. He tried to refuse at first, but you convinced the twins to give him puppy-dog eyes and he finally gave in. Spoiler: Shen was a terrible actor, but he tried his best.

"You're a good storyteller," Shen said. "I think you're more suited to be an author."

"Should I quit this job?"

"No." His response was instant. "I like having you here."

You almost stopped walking at his words. After replying with a bashful thanks, silence stretched between the two of you.

Now the hard part... Explaining to him how I can touch apparitions.

"It's alright," Shen said. "Don't feel pressured to tell me anything if you're not ready."

Huh. Was the conflict that obvious on your face?

"Thank you." You glanced down for a moment before a thoughtful expression crossed your features. "They're good kids. I don't want to experiment on them."

Shen nodded, expecting that comment from you. "I'll do my best to not let them suffer."

It was a voice laced with subtle conflict, like a winter's night that silently buried everything beneath an unforgiving frost.

"Why not let them go?"

You already had a pretty good idea of the answer, but you asked anyway.

"That... My position would be compromised, and I also seek to understand apparitions more deeply." Shen avoided your gaze. "I need this position for my endeavours. I need more power to enact change."

Then, he looked back at you, offering you a smile. A bitter, distant smile. A smile that held a sense of regret you couldn't quite grasp.

"I'm quite powerless, aren't I?"

"..."

You didn't say anything.

That was how the night ended, and the next day came by fairly smoothly. You were walking alongside a group of female researchers, their voices tinged with frustration as they vented about how they were never chosen to lead projects because of their gender. You listened to them and mildly played therapist. Then, you felt a tap on your shoulder. When you turned around, you saw that it was Shen.

"Hello." He offered a polite smile. "Am I interrupting something?"

The ladies practically beamed at Shen.

"Not at all! Did you need something?" one of them asked.

"I have important matters to discuss with (Y/n)," Shen replied.

One of the women patted your back. "You're a lucky one, (Y/n)."

Another ushered you to go. "Do not miss this opportunity!"

Shen seemed confused. You quickly grabbed his hand and led him out of the scene before he had a chance to figure out what the women were implying. You were leading him for a solid minute before you realised—

"Wait, you're supposed to be the one taking me somewhere."

"Yes."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"The situation was amusing."

"..."

Thus, Shen directed you—in the opposite direction, might you add—to where he wanted you to be. It was a small, empty kitchen. Shen told you to sit on the table whilst he went over to the fridge to grab something. Confused, you complied anyways as you watched him take out a—You blinked. Is that a whole cake?

"Is it your birthday?"

Shen settled the cake down before gathering the necessary utensils and plates. "It isn't."

"My birthday?"

"Is it?"

"No."

"..."

Shen sat down across you, pushing an empty plate in your direction. There was a subtle playfulness in his smile.

"We're eating this together."

"A whole cake????"

"I've always wanted to eat one. It would be odd if I were to indulge alone. You're my accomplice now."

"????"

"My mother would also be upset if I had a whole cake to myself."

You bursted out laughing at that, and Shen pouted.

"... You can laugh, but have some with me."

"Alright, alright." You then mumbled, "So cute."

Whoops, that kind of slipped out of nowhere. However, any regret that might've tried to settle in was instantly wiped away when you caught sight of Shen's face turning pink. As an apparition he didn't have blood to rise to his cheeks. This sight was a TREAT.

"... Please don't tease me."

"Frankly, that will only encourage my behaviour."

Shen let out a soft huff before he cut you a slice of cake and then one for himself. When he took the first bite, he sighed in content. It took all your, and your ancestor's, willpower to not stare at his joyful expression.

"Oh, please don't tell the others about this," Shen said, expression serious. "I don't want to share."

"Pft, alright. Why did you choose me?"

"You offered me a snack yesterday. This is my way of saying thanks," Shen replied in a matter-of-fact-tone. "Off topic, but I assume you like reading?"

"Mainly fictional books."

"We can visit some bookstores outside of work hours," Shen suggested. "You can provide me with some recommendations."

A normal life with Shen, one where he wasn't an apparition. Experiencing a semblance of normalcy with him, to feel his warm hands, to hear his beating heart, to interact with society with Shen by your side not as an enemy, but as a friend—it all sounded unbelievable, yet painted a very fun picture.

"I like your company," Shen continued, his voice softening. "And I can tell you're a sympathetic person with a kind heart. There's a lot I can learn from you."

He then gently held your hands in his and showed you a warm smile, the happiest one you've ever seen.

"I hope we keep seeing each other."

SCENARIO TWO: What if you met Finn and Eve when they were children?

The sting of scratched palms were the first anomaly. Next, the gritty texture of dirt beneath your fingers. You blinked hard, trying to make sense of what the hell was going on. Last you checked, you'd collapsed onto your bed after a long operation, but now you were... outside?

??? Did Caleb prank me?

Glancing sideways, a rusty window caught your eye, which showed the reflection of a younger version of yourself.

What the––huh? Why am I a child?

"(Y/n)! You're out. You have to be the apparition now."

A child's voice snapped you out of your daze, and you began to assess your surroundings more haphazardly. It looked like an old neighbourhood, nothing like the modern and bustling main city. There were a few adults in sight, but for the most part it was like a ghost town.

... Wait, is this outside the city walls?

The cold gust of wind that blew by made everything feel all the more real. You shivered, the chill seeping through the worn clothes you hadn't noticed you were wearing until now. What was up with them? They were faded and had several stitched patches in place.

"Hey! Are you listening?"

Okay, who was this brat? You glanced up ahead and saw a group of children. The one calling out to you was a boy with bushy eyebrows and a frown that definitely needed to be turned upside down. The hell was going on?

Before you could piece together an answer, a small hand reached out toward you.

"Are you okay? Can you stand?"

Your eyes grew just a little wider. The child who offered his hand stood taller than the rest. Dark brown hair fell over orange eyes, orange eyes filled with a sense of kindness that any kid raised in this environment would try to desperately latch onto. If you had actually been a child, you would've wanted to be his friend at first sight.

You accepted his gesture. "Thanks, Finn."

Calm down, he is a literal child, a child who did not almost kill you.

"(Y/n)'s new to the game," Finn said, turning to the other children. "So please be patient."

You looked at the other children. From clothes hanging loose over undernourished bodies to matted hair—yeah, it was clear that they were not being taken care of properly.

"Ugh, Finn, you're too nice!" a girl whined.

Finn laughed before turning back to you. "I'll go over the rules one more time, okay?"

Essentially, it was kind of like a game of tag. There were two teams. One for apparitions and one for exorcists. If an exorcist catches an apparition, they're out. If an apparition catches an exorcist, they try to possess them. To win the possession, the apparition has to knock the exorcist to the ground. If they succeed, the exorcist becomes an apparition

Currently, there were five exorcists and three apparitions, with you being an apparition. Once the game resumed, the children dispersed and ran around. Who was your target for 'possession'? Obviously, you were gonna go for Finn. Just a small bit of payback for almost killing you when he was an adult.

Why the hell is he so fast??

Oh come on, why was your body so unathletic? Finn even seemed to have taken pity on you and began slowing down a bit. He glanced back, giving you a smile that looked like it said bless your soul for trying. Nope. That was it. You stopped running, hands on your knees and gasping your lungs out. This was clearly not working.

Okay, new plan. Let's see if you could use your abilities.

The air was cold and there were apparitions nearby. You couldn't see them, but you could sense them vividly. For the most part, they were harmless.

... What if I borrow some of their strength?

You stood there for a moment, closing your eyes and concentrating. Slowly, the apparitions began to gather around you. It was working! Your foot dug into the earth, and with a powerful push, you rushed towards Finn. The child clearly wasn't expecting that, and you managed to push him over. Maybe a bit too harshly

"Uh."

Finn was wide-eyed, and you genuinely thought for a moment he might cry. Then, he laughed.

"This is the first time I've become an apparition."

"Haha..." You offered your hand with a nervous smile. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be that aggressive."

Finn's gaze lingered on you for a moment before he showed you his usual kind smile. The child clasped your hand firmly, letting you pull him to his feet. The game continued on from there. You didn't pull any more stunts since you weren't sure how well your current body could handle your abilities and you also did not want to raise suspicion.

Suddenly, the temperature dropped sharply. Everyone stopped running. Laughter and shouts were silenced.

"Another apparition attack..." a kid muttered, his voice thick with fear.

"Ugh..."

Instinctively, the children huddled closer around Finn as if he were a fireplace amidst a snowy storm.

"Just leave it to me." To further reassure the kids, he lit a small fire on his palm. "Run inside your homes."

The children didn't need to be told twice. Immediately, they retreated into their homes. As the last door shut with finality, you realised that it was only you and Finn outside. Huh. It seemed like Finn had his exorcism abilities at a young age. Wait, how often did he use them? Finn grew up outside the walls, away from structured training and proper education.

When Finn took a step forward, you grabbed his arm.

"I'll handle it," you said.

Finn's smile didn't falter, but you did catch a glimpse of surprise. "You don't have to. This isn't the worst attack."

"It's fine. Leave it to the adult." You pointed to yourself. "Me."

"...?"

You proceeded to ignore Finn. You glanced beyond. Finn was right, you believed him when he said it wasn't the worst attack he has encoutered. There were a few apparitions. They could cause a few possessions and discomfort, but no buildings would crumble and such.

With a snap of your fingers, your book and pen materialised in your hands. Despite your abilities emanating cold air, your heart was warm at the familiarity. You began writing, trying to sympathise with the apparitions. There was a chance that you could be rejected, but that was fine.

In the corner of your eye, you noticed that Finn was a few steps away. His orange eyes were wide with a child-like wonder and fascination. After a few minutes, the apparitions became drawn by the words you wrote down, their forms dissolving into your book as the letters on the pages illuminated a soft blue light.

"There." You closed the book then held it up with a proud smile. "Apparitions are taken care of."

Finn looked like he had so many questions. He kept furrowing his eyebrows and glancing back and forth. You could see his brain working overtime. It was hilarious. Showing off was so worth it.

"What was that?" he asked. "I've never seen an exorcism ability like yours."

"The apparitions are inside here. It's kinda hard to explain the logistics, but I basically write down how I think they're feeling. If they accept me, they'll enter. If not, the ability fails."

"So... It's not an exorcism?"

"I guess not. They still exist and I bet they can exit if they want."

"That's..." Finn's expression softened. "So peaceful."

"Mhm. Not everything needs to be resolved with violence. I know it's wishful thinking, but it lightens my mood."

You then pointed an accusing finger at Finn. The poor child looked so surprised.

"You use your abilities too carelessly. Do you know what could happen long term?"

Finn blinked. "Well, I don't think too much about my future."

Right, he doesn't know that he'll eventually become a respected SF member in the future.

"And how do you know?" Finn asked.

"I just do."

"..."

"..."

"You're not going to explain, are you?"

"Nope."

Finn sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing as he let out a laugh—a carefree, light-hearted sound. Of all the times you'd heard him laugh today, this one was the most joyful.

"(Y/n)." Finn took a few steps closer to you before holding out his hand. "Can you protect this place with me?"

Oh. In those kind, unassuming eyes, you saw a glimpse of Finn from the future. This was a look that was far too mature for a child.

"Do you consider this town your family?"

"Yes. This is my home, after all."

"... What does family exactly mean to you?"

Finn faltered for a moment. "People I find meaning in protecting."

You sighed. Instead of taking his hand, you tapped the centre of his palm, looking at him straight in the eyes. "That includes you as well. You need to protect yourself, prioritise your own wellbeing before you can do the same to others."

Finn was flustered. A flustered expression that was very child-like.

"Uh..." He took a moment to gather his words. "Have we met before?"

"We haven't?

"Eh, well... What I mean is..." Finn shook his head. "Never mind. (Y/n), let's play again sometime. I need to get you back for turning me into an apparition."

You laughed at that. "You'll need several tries for that."

You and Finn parted ways after that. The child mentioned that he wanted to check up on his parents. Darn. You were so curious about what his parents were like, but you had to (regretfully) leave him be. You began wandering around the town. Now that the apparitions were gone, children were scattered across the streets again. There were a few shopkeepers or adults doing mundane chores.

How does this town function?

Before you could piece together any theories, a sharp thud followed by angry shouting caught your attention. Carefully, you peeked around the corner of a building. A man stood towering over a child on the ground. The child's hand was pressed to their cheek from what looked like a fresh blow.

Wait, is that...?

The child's short hair and lack of twin buns threw you off for a moment, but there was no mistaking the pink of their hair or the distinct odd eyes patterned with concentric circles.

"Eve," you mumbled. "That's them."

Ah, shoot. What should you do? You wanted to step in and be a hero, but that man would overpower you in seconds.

... The apparitions in my book.

You took a deep breath. Alright, let's hope this works. You summoned your book, then proceeded to release the apparitions that had just entered the pages. Blurry white silhouettes of people loomed silently at your side, their presence a strange mix of comforting and unnerving.

"Let..." You took a shaky breath. "Let me borrow your strength."

A soft hum came from the apparitions, as if they had positively answered your plea. They phased into your body. However, unlike a possession where you'd feel your control slipping, you felt additional strength. Next, you rushed in, sliding between the man and Eve just as his hand came down. The impact landed across your face.

Oh my GOD that hurts.

But hey! You managed to stand your ground.

"Who the fuck is this brat?"

The man glared at you with bloodshot eyes, voice sharp with contempt. You froze. He was taller, broader, and far more intimidating than you. Swallowing your fear, you quickly commanded the apparitions to crowd around the man. The temperature dropped and frost began to lightly coat the ground.

"What the hell...?" he muttered.

For a moment, you thought the man would stand his ground. However, he eventually sneered and entered the house, slamming the door behind him with a loud thud. You wiped the sweat off your brow. The warmth of your body from your nerves was a stark feeling against the cold air.

"Holy shit..." You breathed out.

Though you were in a child's body, you were mentally an adult. However, just experiencing everything from the perspective of a child, someone far smaller and vulnerable—it was terrifying. You sighed and turned around. Eve was still on the ground, their eyes looking directly at you through their overgrown bangs, eyes that had dark circles and looked exhausted.

How do I approach them?

As you fumbled to come up with something to say, Eve suddenly stood and grabbed your arm. The touch made you tense for a moment, but it didn't feel malicious—just firm with a hint of desperation. They opened their mouth, hesitated, then closed it again. Eventually, they whispered,

"Why?"

The quietness of their voice caught you off guard. This wasn't the Eve you were used to—the rambly, expressive individual who would talk for paragraphs.

"You were getting hurt. I was worried."

They tilted their head. "Why does it matter to you?"

"I think lives are precious." Fuck, that sounded so generic. You scrambled to add something else to say. "It's not feasible to care for everyone, but I think this world could use a little more sympathy."

Eve blinked slowly. You didn't think your answer resonated with them, or if they understood it, but at least they seemed somewhat satisfied.

"The apparitions listened to you," Eve said.

"It's part of my ability."

Eve's eyes widened. However, they still looked timid, unsure as they let go of your arm. Then the soft pink of their irises darkened into a vivid, glowing red. Without warning, strings of the same luminous red began to materialize in the air. The threads weaved around you; however, you didn't feel threatened at all. After all, you've been an SF member long enough to identify danger.

Eve furrowed their eyebrows. "You're not...?"

"I'm not?"

"... People hate me after this. They say a lot of terrible things or they run away screaming."

"Why?"

"Because it doesn't exorcise apparitions normally. I can also play with apparitions using these strings," they mumbled. "Are... Are apparitions bad?"

"There's no right answer for that."

Eve frowned. "There isn't?"

"Just like people, they are neither bad nor good. Some are harmless whilst others harm the living." You smiled. "I believe as long as you approach things with some sympathy, it'll be fine. Try to understand others a little, even the dead."

"..." Again, you were not sure if Eve digested any of your words. "I..."

"Yes?"

"I like your smile."

That was not what you were expecting.

"... Thank you?"

Eve's compliment was sudden, so your expression of gratitude came out more confused than you would have liked. Eve didn't seem to mind. With a flick of their fingers, the glowing strings dissipated into the air

"Your smile is nice, so I'll try to remember what you said," Eve said. "Can I ask another question?"

You nodded slowly. "Yeah, sure."

"Can I hug you?"

You planned to ask why Eve requested something so sudden. However, you changed your mind upon seeing them nervously play with their hands as they waited for your response. You simply opened your arms. For a moment, Eve stared at you with a surprised expression. Then, with a small, shaky breath, they stepped forward and wrapped their arms around you.

"I never knew someone could..." They tightened their hold on you. "Could be so warm."

The hug was angled a bit awkwardly. It didn't settle into place until you adjusted, shifting gently to guide Eve's arms. It was the kind of hug where you could tell Eve had never embraced anyone in their life. Eventually, they pulled away.

"Uhm..." They smiled. It was an endearing, clumsy smile. "Will I see you again?"

You'd have to stoop lower than the devil himself to say no to that. "Of course!"

Eve's expression lit up. "Great! That's... That's great. I can—uhm. Oh! The tree. You can almost see the whole town from up there. I can take you there."

As the child began talking, their gestures grew animated, arms waving enthusiastically when emphasising certain points. Slowly, you saw a glimpse of the Eve you knew as an adult

"How about we go now?" you offered.

They gasped. "You want to be around me more?"

"Yeah, you seem fun."

Eve practically bounced on their toes, a wide, joyful grin stretching across their face. "Okay! Let's go! I'll even help you climb."