Paper Airplanes
“……”
Damn.
Staring up at the sky, if I could just spew out all the emotions piled up inside, would that make my chest feel lighter? My mouth itches to let loose a string of curses right now.
Ah, fuck… this is driving me insane. What the hell happened in this city for the bridges to be in that state?
I grab hold of my fraying sanity before it snaps. I rest my forehead lightly against the handlebars. While Hope rummages through her backpack for the map, I swallow my anger inwardly, forcing myself to cool down. Cursing isn't good for her education, and if she sees me rattled, it'll just make her anxious. No matter the hardship, I have to stay calm and collected, like it's no big deal. I'm her big sister, after all.
Ha, even after the gender swap, calling myself "" still feels awkward.
So how the hell do we deal with this?
Just like when we entered, I push the Kettenkraft hard toward the next major bridge leading to Eden. So far, we've encountered three, but all of them were smashed to pieces, severed clean through. Is this damn city saying we can come in whenever we want, but getting out is another story? It doesn't look like natural decay from age. The marks scream deliberate destruction from the outside—like some catastrophe hit.
Or… no, if that were the case, the surrounding buildings wouldn't be intact. Maybe the people who lived here cut the bridges on purpose. To keep something from escaping, or to block outsiders from entering… who knows. Honestly, what went down here doesn't matter to us right now. What we need is a path to Eden.
I worry the other bridges are in the same shape. Even if it means a long detour, I hope at least one solid one remains.
Or blow up a building with explosives and use the rubble as a bridge?
The idea flashes, and I glance back. Nah, won't work. Way too short. The buildings are tall enough you'd have to crane your neck, but they'd fall short of spanning across. Can't go under the bridges either. Looks like our only way out is finding an intact one.
“, found the map.”
I unfold the map Hope pulls out and check it. I've marked the collapsed bridges with X's. Scanning for the quickest route to Eden. Not this one. Not that one either… Ah, yeah, let's try this path. I hope it's intact.
“Haa… If only this thing had wings. We'd skip all this hassle and worry, cruising easy.”
“Like an airplane?”
“Yeah, like an airplane.”
Humanity's envied the skies since ancient times, right? Myths about it and all. Ground-bound humans braved the danger, challenged the heavens. Stepping over countless failures, they achieved proud feats of technology—puncturing the sky to set foot in distant space. But that brilliant civilization and history plummeted to ruin, now buried deep in the wreckage of this silent city. So deep, it might never wake again.
“Are airplanes really able to go anywhere?”
“Yeah, they say people in the old days flew them to far-off places. Way faster and freer than this ride of ours.”
“Heh… Can't even imagine it.”
“And they made friends with animals that lived in the sky.”
“So jealous~ I wanna be friends with animals too.”
A little white lie, and Hope dives into her whimsical fantasy. Seeing her like that brings a smile to my face unbidden. Finding a working light aircraft would make our journey so much smoother. But without knowing how to fly one, it's just a pipe dream.
I loosen my stiff body and start the engine.
I might not know planes, but this baby? I'm confident.
Navigating by the map. Unease creeps in the closer we get to our destination. No choice but to press on. I ignore it, keep the wheel steady without swerving or stopping, pushing forward silently. After a long drive, we finally reach it.
“This one's intact—thank goodness.”
Relief washes over me at the sight of the solid bridge. Smaller than the majors, but plenty sturdy for crossing. We could leave the city right now. But who knows what's ahead, so we decide to scout the area one last time before going.
I'd memorized the route while driving, stopping at a building that might hold supplies.
The drone's light flicks on, and as always, the chat explodes into chatter.
“One spoiler: we're leaving this city. Found a good bridge while you were sleeping. Just checking for anything useful before we bounce.”
“Sorry to pour cold water, but don't get your hopes up. Everywhere's pretty much the same.”
Before searching the building, I double-check our gear. Helmets straight, pistol secured, and I fix Hope's crooked one.
“You think I wear it for fun? Hurts my head if I don't, so I deal.”
Danger strikes from blind spots no matter how careful. Especially overhead—hard to watch. Imagine debris dropping without it… Just thinking sends a chill down my spine. Safety first, always.
As if. What do they think this is? Their whining leaves me speechless. They don't even believe it's the future, yet they yap so casually—I wanna smack 'em.
I get wanting to see a pretty girl in different outfits. But we're not exactly swimming in leisure for fashion. Maybe later if we get the chance.
We enter the building and start searching. Sweep the first floor, then up to the second. Second floor done, third. Starting from the bottom, we comb every inch up to the 16th—but no food. Coffee cans empty, boxes full of dust. All I got is body aches from climbing stairs. Total bust.
“, come here!”
In the room Hope calls from, a large frame hangs. She can't peel her eyes off it. Faded with age, but the airplane image is still clear.
“You guys ever seen this picture?”
“…Huh.”
I shrug at the barrage. If they really don't know, it means this painting's from their era? No, post theirs.
“, is that an airplane?”
“Yeah.”
“…Not what I imagined.”
“There are all kinds.”
Hope stares wide-eyed with childlike curiosity. Weird shape. I tap her helmet, and she looks up puzzled.
“Believe it or not, if I wanted, I could build an airplane.”
“What?!”
She startles, eyes huge. Chat freaks too.
Both Hope and chat buzz with excitement. To deliver, I grab scrap paper from the floor. Fold it neat, over and over.
“Ta-da! Paper airplane complete.”
“Ooo!”
Her eyes sparkle in awe. Chat? Not so much.
I toss it lightly; it slices through the air, gliding gracefully to the door.
“Amazing. So amazing, !”
Her joy spreads a grin across my face. Fine, since we're at it, let's change venues.
“Hope, let's hit the roof.”
“Roof?”
“It'll fly way farther up there.”
Luckily few floors left; we reach the roof quick. Sunlight beams down welcomingly. Body aches, but the open view feels good.
Taller buildings dot around, but from here the vast city sprawls into view. Sunlight draping the silent streets and structures tugs at the heartstrings.
“Here, watch.”
My paper plane soars freely, far smoother than inside. Hope watches, mouth agape. Then—
“Me too, me too! Lemme try!”
I teach her to fold. Hers done, she launches it strong. A gust carries it farther than mine, powering ahead.
“Ooooh!!!”
She lets out a long whoop. May our journey sail as smoothly, despite the trials ahead.
*
The paper plane glides between slumbering buildings, evoking a poignant melancholy. A sharp twinge in the chest, yet somehow beautiful. Viewers, glued to chat, fold and fly their own. Stream blows up with it.
“Hey, quit launching all those paper planes!”
Apparently sparking another social issue amid the frenzy.