Mio
She could see it from the end of the street.
Shibuya Parco was doing that shimmer thing. The mirage you see on asphalt in August. Buildings warping at the edges.
It was still December.
Bureau police had the tape up already. Civilians shuffled past without looking too hard. A few office workers took photos on their phones. The shimmer was worse near the entrance—reality sweating through the glass.
Shizuka took a corner too fast and crashed into a parked Honda.
"Oops."
Mori didn't react. Neither did the cops.
Shizuka pulled into a spot and killed the engine. The frost on the windshield was already thickening from the inside.
"Go on without me."
Mori opened her door. "You're not coming?"
"Overflow. C-grade." Shizuka reclined her seat and closed her eyes. "Wake me if it pops."
"Huh? You're just lazy?"
She waved her off. Mori was already at the shimmer.
Mio's breath finally stopped fogging as she caught up. The front of the car was dented in.
This was normal for them.
