VOLUME 1 THE RED EYE KNOWS prologue

That day, the thick layers of clouds that had been there since morning blocked out the sun.

Nevertheless, the delivery room was enveloped with a coiling heat.

Youll be fine.

The nurse, Iida Youko, repeated those words to the pregnant woman like they were a spell.

Her forehead was covered in sweat and her pale blue veins stuck out from her skin. She was clenching her teeth as she contorted her body.

She was desperately withstanding a bone-jarring pain.

Youko wanted to relieve her pain, even if it was only by a little. While rubbing the pregnant womans back, they performed the Lamaze breathing technique together.

'Haa, haa, haa.

It had already been some time since she had come to the delivery room. It was a considerably difficult birth.

The pregnant womans eyes were already vacant.

Wasnt it better in some situations to switch to obstetric analgesia?

Youko looked at the doctor, Kinoshita Eiichi.

'The heads out. Just a bit more, said Kinoshita, quelling Youkos thought.

'Now, just a bit more do your best.

Youko spoke while patting the pregnant womans shoulders. Though her face was slack from the pain, she nodded.

'Dont push. Relax.

'Please relax.

Youko repeated Kinoshitas words.

The pregnant woman was breathing painfully with tears in her eyes.

'OK! The babys out!

Just as Kinoshita said that, the cry of a healthy baby echoed through the delivery room.

'Aah!

The pregnant womans breathing still sounded painful, but she let out a cry of relief and joy.

'Congratulations. From today on, youre a mother.

Youko smiled at the woman and wiped the swept off her forehead.

The woman might not have heard, since she didnt reply and just regulated her rough breathing with a relaxed expression on her face.

It had been a difficult birth, but this was a relief. Just when Youko thought that, Kinoshita spoke up.

'Bring a penlight.

Though Kinoshitas tone was definitely not wild, there was a tinge of impatience and nervousness.

Youko immediately handed the penlight on the operation table to Kinoshita.

'Ha

The moment she saw the babys face, Youko unconsciously swallowed her breath.

She couldnt believe what she saw in front of her.

'Dont react. The mothers here, muttered Kinoshita.

At those words, Youko regained her calm.

However, that moment of panic reached the mother.

'My baby, she gasped.

Her expression was exuding anxiety.

'Please wait a bit longer.

'How is my baby?

Youko approached the mother and spoke while patting her body.

However, she couldnt stop her anxiety.

'Where? Where is my baby?

The mother gripped Youkos arms with her fingernails.

'Its fine. Everythings fine.

Youko tried to calm down the mother while bearing with the pain, but there was no effect.

Youko could feel the mothers growing anxiety through her skin.

'My baby. Is my baby safe?

The mother looked like a demon.

Youko ended up looking away without thinking under that pressure. She shouldnt have done that.

'My baby! shrieked the mother, thrusting Youko away.

'Hes fine. Hes a healthy baby.

The one who replied was Kinoshita.

Kinoshita took off his mask and slowly walked towards the mother with the baby in his arms.

The mothers franticness disappeared and her expression changed into a gentle smile for her child, whom she had just seen for the first time.

Youko immediately walked towards Kinoshita and whispered in his ear.

'Is this really OK?

'It cant be hidden forever.

Kinoshitas expression stiffened.

It was just as he said. It couldnt be hidden forever. She would find out eventually. It was just a matter of when.

'Go ahead.

Kinoshita brought the baby to the mothers chest.

'Ah, my baby.

The mother took her baby and hugged him tightly, looking blissful as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Then

With a smile, she peered at her childs face.

The mothers expression went cold in an instant.

'Noooo!

That bitter cry echoed through the delivery room.

Youko bit her lip and put her hands together in front of her chest, struggling with pessimism as she thought about the new-born babys future.

The baby had been born with his left eye open.

That eye glowed red like a blazing flame