The nausea stopped. There was a sort of calmness to the surreal position Mirai had been put in. Once or twice he widened the fingers over his eyes and saw through the hand he had been supporting Miyume with - and the gaps were full of people all staring at him.

He opened his mouth to tell them to go away. When he did, he the words were hurting him. He wanted to tell them so much to leave him alone. He wanted the colours to come off the walls and swallow them whole. He wanted to unleash a hellish scream. He shut his eyes instead -

Something was moving on the floor by his feet. He saw Miyume lying on the floor as a result of the event and nobody from the authorities going over to help her as they spoke, again and again. As he stared, his knees began moving. The floor was hard. His knees moved. His legs folded, and he swung around his legs, as if he was unable to make himself comfortable.

"Hey. Wake up."

He went reaching down to the depths of his mind with an outstretched hand, bringing back his veneer of control - and Miyume's senses, if she could feel his touch. A certain smugness spread through his mouth. It pressed its thin lips to a thin smile. He seemed to retreat behind his eyes. And now they would see him showing no emotion other than curiosity at Taue's words - and the answer those who thought they had power had to give.