The Hikoboshi Series

Charge level: 95%. My eyes flutter open. A white ceiling hovers over me as my system boots up and spills status lines across my field of vision.

When Rikki strolls around the corner an hour later, my shoulders sink in relief. I don’t know, but something about him screams competence and security.

Rin’s eyes keep darting to the stacks of cryo-freeze coffins while we take care of the intake. With his help, the routine goes much faster, even though I’m checking the documentation at every step.

We crowd around the tablet and watch the footage streaming on the Aoi Uma News Network. As usual, I don’t expect to get the whole truth, just a sliver of what’s really going on.

I have access to the Inochi freezing documentation, so I find a chair on the opposite side of the room and sit down to read up as fast as possible. I already know the detachment protocol because that’s what I’ll need to get my body out of here, but I skipped the information about the initial freezing process.

“Okay, I’m approaching the side entrance, so we’ll go to text from here on in,” I mutter as I cross the street and approach Kadoma Ward General Hospital. “Got it, Kara. I’m here if you need me,” Rin responds.

I spend the night studying my plan and rehearsing my role in the mission. I should sleep and recharge, but I don’t want to be back in the apartment.

“Soooooo, you’re Yumi’s cousin. Is that so?” Aimi pumps my hand up and down, her critical eyes taking in every detail of my face and body.