Following the events of the huge explosion which ended roughly 150 million lives in total (roughly, because verifying such information was an impossible task given both the scale and location of the incident) while covering a huge amount of land, Isaac and Ellen introduced Elliot and Karen to the Deus Ex Machina Industries corporation.

There, they would be given their own positions, albeit not high on the hierarchy. The goal of DEM was clear, the finding of the mysterious figure which was presumed to cause the disaster. Isaac and his friends kept their magus identity hidden from everyone else, but for varying reasons.

One of the worst days for modern civilization was ending, but there was another perspective one needed to see to understand what happened next. That same morning in the nation of Japan, a family was waking up, or rather two siblings who always went to school together. The city they lived in was nothing unusual, it was not small nor significantly large, but it contained about everything you'd have need of such as schools or a hospital.

The siblings were of school age, both attending high school. A boy and a girl. Ironically, the girl's name was Mana while the boy's name was Shinji, both sharing the family name of Takamiya. And proudly they shared it, both being close with each other. Life demanded some degree of co-operation between them, since their parents were out on business trips a lot of the time. However, they were able to march forth with ease on their own footing, allowing their parents to make a good living for both. Shinji and Mana shared the same hair and eye colour, their hair like the endless ocean laid bare in a limitless blue and their eyes brown gleaming with life and passion.

As the sun rose with a new dawn over their city, their alarm clocks pulled them out from their sleep, starting their daily routine. Mana got up from her bed first, seeming extra energized. Her attire consisted of a school uniform both her and her brother had to wear to school with the girl's and boy's version differing, respectively. She put her hair often in a hair tie to wear a ponytail with her brother's hair being short but moderately dense.

Having dressed up, Mana came out of her room and waited for Shinji to come out of his. A few moments later, he came out and Mana was already grinning at him.

"You're late, sleepyhead. Later than me at least, for a time I stopped counting by now," teasingly said Mana. Shinji was still half asleep, barely making out what she said.

"Yeah, yeah... You'll have to explain to me later why that's a problem in the first place. Were only talking about a few dozen seconds here," responded Shinji.

"Says the one who preached about how every second counts countless times before," smirked Mana.

"Let's go make our breakfast already. With how long school days are, I'd starve without a proper breakfast."

"Of course, of course... Beat you to the kitchen!" Mana said before running off. Shinji didn't bother running after her, walking at his own pace towards the kitchen.

Both Shinji and Mana knew how to cook, with Shinji having the upper edge due to being the older sibling and having more experience. When they prepared their breakfast, they seated themselves at a small table opposite of each other and wished each other a good breakfast. Silence was mostly kept when they were eating, but their total amount of conversing was sizable.

After they finished their breakfast, they brushed their teeth and prepared to head off to school. They made sure to double check everything before they left their house and stepped out into the street, turning to walk in the direction of the school. Along the way, they conversed.

"Say, Mana... How are you doing in your classes? It's been a while since you last told me," asked Shinji. Mana's expression turned to that of pride.

"Pretty good. Don't I look like it?"

"Now you do, but it's hard to tell most of the time. You always wear the same expression."

"As if you don't do the same, dummy. How are you doing in your classes then?"

"Decently... average. But to be honest, the coursework is much more difficult than last year."

"Is that an excuse I hear? Hehe, I wonder when you'll just outright admit you're a slacker."

"Real funny. How about we pick up the pace instead of this chit-chat?"

"Be careful what you wish for, Shinji. I'm also pretty good at PE."

"How about we race to school then? Last one cooks the dinner."

"Sure, you're on! Countdown to start?"

"Three, two, one... Go!"

Upon saying go, both Shinji and Mana sprinted. Shinji was faster initially, but Mana eventually surpassed him because of her superior stamina management. Out of breath, Shinji reached Mana who was already waiting by the school gate, grinning and arms crossed.

"How did you... manage to last... for so long..." uttered Shinji.

"Stamina. And you gave it your all too early," responded Mana.

"Maybe we should exercise more together. I can't let you spiral out of shape, Shinji," pondered Mana.

"You got me there, but you'd better not lose sight of yourself in the process."

"Hehe, so thoughtful of you. I look forward to dinner today," responded Mana with a grin one grade higher than the last. Shinji didn't seem to share the same level of excitement.

"I forgot about that... Fine, fine. A bet is a bet. Anyway, see you after school?"

"After school? Why not during lunch break?"

"Well, we don't usually spend lunch breaks together."

"That's because you're the one who stays in the classroom all the time. Come on, just this once please? I really want to show you something," pleaded Mana with Shinji.

"Jeez, what's gotten into you? Fine, but where do we meet?"

"The rooftop. Oh, I have to go! See you there, later!" hastily said Mana before running off. Shinji scratched his head in confusion, but it was not like he could step down now, so he too made his way to his own classroom.

Both Shinji and Mana were quite introverted, keeping to themselves most of the time. Shinji didn't really have any friends himself, but he would often converse with Mana's few friends given the chance. Outside of school, he would spend most of his time with Mana or in his house doing various chores and other things to pass time. In classes, he mostly sat in the back.

Upon reaching his class, Shinji sat down and prepared his desk for class. The school bell rang shortly after, and the teacher soon followed by entering the classroom. Several lessons later, the lunch break begun. Shinji remembered Mana's request to meet her on the roof, so he packed his belongings in his school bag and got up to go to the roof.

The hallways were occupied by both students and teachers who were either chatting or eating their lunches. He took the stairs up upon reaching them and eventually found himself on the roof. The sun was shining brightly, casting warm sunrays upon everything that wasn't hiding under a shadow. It was not long before he saw his sister who waved at him to come over.

"Shinji! Thanks for coming. On time too!"

"Of course. So why did you tell me to come up here?"

"Hehe, you'll have to close your eyes first~"

"Why do I have to close my eyes?

"Because it's a surprise! Come on, do it please?"

"This is embarrassing, but fine. I'll do it," said Shinji, promptly closing his eyes.

"Are they really closed?" asked Mana.

"As closed as they can be," responded Shinji. Mana stood still for a moment unsure if Shinji's eyes were closed, and then she took something out from her school bag.

"Okay, you can open them up now!" said Mana with excitement. Shinji opened his eyes, and his glance fell upon a lunch box that Mana was holding in front of him.

"Eh? What is this?" asked Shinji.

"Surprise! I made us lunch today!" responded Mana with a smile. Shinji's face swiftly became flushed, which he tried to hide.

"M-Mana! What are you doing?! There are other students here!" said Shinji with embarrassment.

"Eh? So what? You've been making both of us lunches for a while now, so I thought I'd make something in return,"

"B-But to others this could seem like we're..." Shinji uttered in an almost whisper. Mana stood proudly.

"Can't I show affection to you, my brother? And if people have a problem with that, they can tell me, because I don't care what they think."

"R-Right, let's just sit down," said Shinji before taking a seat at the nearest bench. Mana joined him shortly after. When Shinji looked at Mana, it looked like she was expecting for him to say something.

"Thanks..." said Shinji eventually. Mana looked satisfied.

"No problem! Let's eat now, I want you to tell me how it tastes!" said Mana. Shinji then opened the lunch box to find a dish he didn't recognize.

"What is this? I never saw this food before."

"Of course you haven't, this is my first time making it! Go on, have a taste!"

"I'm on it, slow down. All right, here we go..." said Shinji before taking a bite of Mana's food. The taste was much better than he expected, replacing his non-expectant expression to that of surprise.

"Wow, it tastes really good actually. You've done a good job on it," said Shinji. Mana smiled.

"Thanks! I was hoping you'd say that. It took me a lot of time to make this dish."

"What recipe is this? Anyway, you'll have to show me how to cook this later."

"Hehe, should I? It's no fun if you know all the tricks, Shinji," said Mana.

The two of them sat to eat the lunch together with the Sun casting its sunshine on them.

"I don't know, but it feels like the Sun's extra bright today," said Mana.

"Or isn't it perhaps just that you're in a good mood?"

"Eh? Do you think it rains when people are sad?"

"I don't know whether that is true or not, but I meant how you view the world around you could be connected to how you currently feel."

"Wow... Is that how you view the world, Shinji?"

"Er... Sometimes, perhaps. But we both know our opinions change as often as the wind changes its course."

"You sound like one of those old men who ponder philosophy every day for the entirety of their life. Is this school instilling its hold over you?" said Mana teasingly.

"You're one to talk. Didn't you say you were good at every subject before?"

"Hey, you asked me. Besides, our race spoke for itself."

"...Let's just eat our lunch. We shouldn't talk while eating anyway," said Shinji dismissingly.

The two of them then resumed eating their lunches in silence, occasionally glancing at their surroundings. From the rooftop of the school building, they could see far and wide. The spanning mountains, lush forests, and the city itself. Above them were the blue skies spanning across the horizon with the mighty Sun at the very pinnacle.

By now, Shinji could feel the Sun's brightness and warmth too. After all, even though he didn't express it in its full value, the act of his sister making lunch for him as a show of gratitude for what he does touched him. It was little things like these which always served to further strengthen their bond which transcended all their differences. Time passed swiftly, and their lunch was soon finished, and with it the time of their break was ending as well.

"Thanks again, Mana. That was a nice change of pace."

"I'm glad. And don't forget, I'll be eagerly awaiting todays dinner! See you after school!" said Mana before again walking off, leaving Shinji no chance to respond.

***

Shinji went back to his own classroom soon after, resuming the second half of his school day. The rest of the school day flew by quickly, and the school bell signalling the end soon rang. Shinji was in no rush, packing his belongings before leaving for the school gate where he would meet with Mana. When he came out of the building, the Sun was no longer shining, and it was instead covered by clouds. Shinji came up to Mana, who looked mystified.

"Hey Mana. Ready to walk home?" asked Shinji.

"Shinji, why do I feel so eery all of a sudden?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"Something is off with the sky..." said Mana in an almost hypnotized voice.

Shinji looked at the skies again in an attempt to understand what his sister meant. This time, he could feel something was off too. Before he could tell Mana about his findings, a shockwave came forth and swept everything and everyone light enough off the ground while damaging some windows. Thankfully, no one was hurt, including Shinji, Mana, and all the other people that were nearby.

"What the hell--?! Mana, are you okay?" asked Shinji as he reached out to Mana, ignoring his own health.

"I-I'm fine, I'm fine..." said Mana with a hint of shock in her voice. Shinji was relieved and proceeded to help Mana get up.

"We have to go home right now," said Shinji. Mana composed herself and regained herself.

"Agreed. It's not safe out here. That morning jog will have proven useful, let's go!" said Mana before running off.

Shinji didn't waste a moment and ran after her towards home.

When they got home, they'd both learn of the incident, the explosion which ended the lives of many. They immediately dialled their parents who were likewise relieved they were safe.

It seemed like the story for the Takamiya's drew to an end, but this explosion was not the last Earth would suffer. In the following days and months many more smaller explosions of the same type occurred around the world, with one of the biggest ones yet to come.

***

End of chapter.