AN: this chapter, now with more Ren Akira.
Flies were buzzing around my head... the ticking of the clock is the only sound I hear, echoing like hammers against steel in a large, empty room. Shivering even with the heat being what it was, I can't look up from my lap, curled tight and hugging a pillow to my face. It's mid-afternoon, after school by now. There's a calendar hanging close by, day after day after day is marked as 'the day I return to school' only to be crossed out, then written on the next.
We stopped doing that three days ago...
Outside there's someone yelling, and I instinctively freeze. Eyes wide, they turn to the door.
"Well, if it isn't the damn snitch. Don't let me catch you skulking around here at night again, or you'll be the one the cops show up to collect!" I never did like that grouchy, old neighbor...
Knock, knock...
"hey... Shiho? It's me... are you home?"
It really shouldn't have come as a surprise, that he'd come by to see me. All the same, it did and I couldn't answer at first. It wasn't because I'd connected the dots... I wouldn't do that for years to come, when it was far too late.
"I just wanted to know if you were okay."
I curled even tighter into a ball, hugging the pillow to my face.
"...okay."
On my feet and running to the door, it was open in a flash. My eyes barely saw the way he looked at me, eyes wide and worrying. He almost looked like he might have been happy... but he saw the tears on my face.
"Shiho..." his voice barely a breath, fragile and small.
My body moves on its own, arms around his chest as I start sobbing into his shoulder. He looks into my home, sees the tissues, the dishes left lying around... the curtains blocking off all the light. Dust lies on every surface, a smell of trash and old meals lingers in the air. I hear the sound of him locking the brakes on his wheelchair, then feel his arms around me.
His voice is the most soothing thing I've heard in weeks. "I'm so happy you're not hurt." It makes my heart twist up in my chest. "Sorry I didn't come by sooner... I'm sorry you've been left living like this..." Then it makes my sobbing louder.
Fingers grip tight at the fabric of my shirt, I feel his face against my shoulder. Something warm wets my shoulder and I hear him sniffle.
"Wh-" I squawk, sniffling myself. "why are you crying too?"
He just holds me tighter, sniffling again. "...Do I really have to say it?"
I hadn't connected the dots...
...
...
...
.
Akira stood there, waiting, with his hand outstretched to her for some time. She made no motions, no sign of accepting the gesture; symbolic or otherwise. Something in Akira's shoulders seemed to sink, his countenance doing much the same.
"I see..." he said, lowering his hand slowly, "it is ultimately up to you, Suzui."
Still shaking, still breathing a little heavier and quicker than normal, she gulped. Another step back, away from him was taken, heart hammering in her chest. She wasn't sure her ribs could withstand the assault of the beating pump, working overtime thanks to her adrenaline.
Ryuji rubbed the back of his head. "So... you're not interested in helpin us, huh?" He frowned, clearly disappointed. "That's completely unexpected."
Finding her voice, jaw still trembling, she stammered through what he wanted to say. "I-I don't want to resort to violence like this!"
Ryuji blanched, eyes fluttering as his brain did a backflip. "What!? After seein all that, you don't think he has it coming!?"
Faltering, but refusing to back down, Shiho stepped forward, both hands clenched in front of her heart. "I'm not saying he doesn't deserve to be punished!" Her breath shuttered, legs refusing not to shake beneath her. "But... I'm not comfortable being like him to make that happen!"
The blond grit his teeth. "Oh you've gotta be-!"
Akira thrust his arm between them. "No, it's fine." Finally breathing easy, Shiho felt some of the tension leave her body. "She has every right to make that choice. This isn't something most people would want to resort to right away, Ryuji."
Fuming, crossing his arms and growling, the delinquent put his mask back on. "yeah, well..." she sensed reasons behind his readiness to resort to violence, strong reasons. However, that wasn't her main concern. "After the beating that... thing Kamoshida turns into here gave you, I ain't sure the two of us are gonna be enough to beat him."
With a frown, Akira sighed. "Then... will you help us another way, Suzui?"
...
Pondering what Akira had said had left her... drained. What he and Ryuji had suggested put a weight on her, making her drag her footsteps as they'd left the distorted version of the school and returned to the real world. There she lay in bed, eyes staring at her phone, forearm draped across her forehead. Phone held in her other hand, she stared at the boys's contact info, their conversation carrying on without her.
It was mostly just Ryuji, Akira didn't seem like the most talkative guy; unless he had to be.
Apparently their plan, as it was, was to go around asking the injured students if they'd come forward. Asking the victims to testify against their abuser... nine times out of ten it didn't happen. Stepping forward and speaking out against Kamoshida? At the very least, you'd be off the team if not subjected to further, especially rigorous 'coaching'. Of course, they'd asked for her help too... not that Ryuji seemed to think she'd pull through.
A hand clenched, knees pressing more tightly together. What did those two think they were going to accomplish? In all likelihood, they'd just get themselves into trouble. Considering their statuses as 'the delinquent' and 'the criminal' Shiho didn't have to guess what that would spell for them.
Should she... really have just let them go through with it?
Sighing, tucking her phone away, Shiho pushes her palms against her eyes. It was by pure random chance that she got mixed up in this, leaving the school at the exact wrong moment. Of course, she had the option of just walking past them, going on her merry way but... curiosity had gotten the better of her. Then it got the better of her again, once she's calmed down enough to think straight.
Seeing Ryuji shoot himself like that... she thought she might've been going insane. From the rumors -and Ann's lack of surprise to them- she gathered Ryuji was impulsive, rash, but not to that extreme degree! Maybe it was just the heightened emotions, seeing what Kamoshida was like when all the cars were in his hands. When he was the one in control.
If Akira had approached, had offered her the gun first, she suspected that maybe she would have done the same. Not that such things were ever all that far from her mind, depression being the venomous thing that it is. Getting out of bed was occasionally the most difficult part of the day. To go from being so warm, safe and comfortable and out into the cold, uncaring world... she almost thought staying here forever might be worth it.
Deciding she could at least indulge her love of her little nest for tonight, she closed her eyes to sleep.
Wednesday, April 13th, 2016
News on the train ride to school to school that day took a turn for the surreal. It was only a blurb and a photograph, but it was enough to get the gears of her mind spinning. A picture of a boy her age, wearing a tan suit with shaggy, light-brown hair and reddish brown eyes showed his face covered in wounds. Bruises, cuts, skin swollen at the corner of his right eye. Apparently, late last night, someone had payed a visit to his home and had made an attempt on his life.
'High-School detective Goro Akechi attacked! Barely survives a murderer's wrath!'
When questioned about why, the youthful detective smirked. "I've been investigating something I can't disclose as of yet, this is just proof I've hit close to the mark. Soon, when the case is done, I'll tell you everything."
"Does this have anything to do with the recent accidents? The incidents involving 'psychotic breakdowns'?"
Under the reporter's questioning, Akechi seemed to squirm. "You mean the all the public transportation disasters..." his smile vanished, something grim on his face, light and fiery determination flickering behind his eyes. "I'm certain law enforcement will pull through. The accidents that have claimed the lives of so many innocents cannot be allowed to go unpunished like this, and they will not."
It wasn't a confirmation, but it wasn't a denial either. In fact, if Shiho was reading his eyes right, it was more of a challenge to the one responsible. 'Come get me', his eyes seemed to say.
...Was that what had happened? Had the perpetrator behind those crimes already tried to kill him once?
Such musings only served to make the beginning of the day drift along, uneventfully. Quietly, she slid into her gym clothes, making sure her hair was tied back into a pony tail. It was time for the volley ball rally...
When it began, Shiho was put on the sidelines, watching with a tense clenching in her belly. Queasiness that was met with Kamoshida all but spearing the ball into Mishima's shoulder. The same one he always aimed for... As she flinched, the whistle was blown and another teacher high-fived Kamoshida, laughing as he did. "Nice! You've still got it coach!"
They were actually celebrating hurting a student... "Thanks." Kamoshida grinned, clenching a determined fist. "Let's go for one more!"
Just as quickly as the break had started, it ended and the game began anew. Shiho's entire body was tense now, the players resuming their positions. Too busy watching, waiting for something to happen to hear what Ryuji and Akira were saying to each other. As one student passed the ball back over the net, Mishima seemed to grow discouraged.
The already dying embers of his frail resolve seemed to extinguish completely, eyes at the floor. He was backing away, probably preparing to turn and leave. Something Kamoshida's predatory eyes homed in on, and his smile flickered with something sinister.
No.
As the ball was sent back over the net, Kamoshida launched into the air like a rocket. Shiho had to bite back a scream. As he jumped, his hand moved in a blur and hit the ball with a thunderous clap. For a moment, she saw the other him: the distortion. A beast with blood red skin, claws like dagger blades, a towering behemoth with jet-black horns holding a halo of flame between them. Muscles bulged, a long, prehensile tail swishing mischievously behind him along with a pair of bat-like wings.
If her western mythology was on point, the other Kamoshida was... an extremely powerful incubus.
So caught up in the wavering, blending of worlds, she almost failed to see when the ball crashed into Mishima's face. He was limp, like a boned fish, before he even hit the floor.
Cheering evaporated, murmurs of worry spreading through the crowd instead. Her eyes drifted back to her coach's face, seeing him glaring with extreme displeasure at the now unconscious boy. Just another moment, letting the real him show, he scowled at the boy's perceived weakness. Then, stepping under the net, his face went soft and he almost sounded concerned.
"Sorry!" Kamoshida ran to his ward's side, a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, are you alright!?" Obviously Mishima wasn't able to reply, the coach's feigned worry making Shiho sick. "Someone," he said, turning to the crowd, "take him to the nurse's office!"
As Kamoshida pulled the inert Mishima up by his arm, Shiho heard the poor boy grunt in pain.
Stop hurting him!
She'd tensed, almost jumping up to run to his aid when a boy -far closer than she- bent down and scooped him up. This time, she heard it when Ryuji growled under his breath. "He'll pay soon enough..." Then threw the ball back into the court.
Then, like nothing happened, Kamoshida turned and smiled. "Alright, let's resume the match!" and ran back onto the court.
...I'm gonna throw up.
Standing up, Shiho walked to the locker room and changed back into her uniform with shaking limbs. Stuffing her gym clothes into her locker, clawing back into her uniform her stomach refused to stop twisting about. Back in the gym, the others were carrying on, already forgetting about Mishima. Rather than head back to her seat, Shiho decided to head to her classroom.
She sat down, falling into her seat like a stone, and pulled her textbook from her bag... everything she read and listened to that day wouldn't stick around long enough to be digested by her brain.
...
Classes had only ended maybe fifteen minutes ago. The school courtyard still had a few of the volley ball team meandering about, mostly just making small talk. Perhaps that was more shocking than anything she'd seen in the distorted world, if only because they all seemed so unaware of it all. Now that it was so prevalent in her own mind, seeing the others ignorant or acting so to what she'd seen? It made her feel uneasy, cold and alone.
At present, she was sitting in the courtyard, by the vending machines, on a bench. Staring at her phone, she saw that Ryuji and Akira had been busy trying to gather up dirt on Kamoshida. Just like they'd planned, they asked every injured member of the team to stand up and speak. Just like she'd predicted, no one would.
Pointless... everyone already knew. How could they not, when the evidence was so brazenly on display? Injured students, their wills just as battered, made up the entire roster of the team. Acts of physical punishment enacted in front of the entire school, other teachers praising him for his brutality.
Rru: why is no one comin forward!?
Shiho hesitated, then -slowly- began to type.
Shi: because they think it benefits everyone more not to.
She felt sick all over again, barbed wire tangling up inside her. Ryuji seemed to feel similarly.
Ryu: Don't give me that crap! How could they possibly think that!?
Ren: ...she has a point.
Ryu: WHAT!?
Shi: because of Kamoshida, the school gets national attention, money for our team being so prestigious. Then... there's all the sports scholarships.
Ryu: You've gotta be kidding me!
Ren: Think about it.
Shi: If there wasn't some benefit to this being the way things were, then why would it even be happening when everything's so obvious?
Ryu: ...god dammit...
Lowering her phone, Shiho planted her face in her hands. Powerless... that was the only name for this feeling. It was enough to make her want to cry, but her body just wouldn't let her.
So tired...
A palm on her shoulder had her jumping, face jerking up to see Ann, smiling warmly. "Hey there, why so jumpy?"
Relaxing, even smiling a little, Shiho replied. "Oh... it's nothing."
It's always nothing.
Nodding, smile fading a bit, Ann went to sit beside her. "I thought you were crying for a second there, before I came over." Shiho went to stare at the ground, her own smile disappearing now. "Glad you weren't but... that posture had me worried. You must be really stressed out..."
At times, Ann's stubbornness wasn't a blessing. Exhaling some of her aforementioned stress, Shiho considered her next words carefully. "I-I haven't been sleeping well lately..." Her hands were in her lap, leaning forward, hunched and staring at the floor. "Whenever I close my eyes, I keep thinking about too many things..."
Kamoshida and his barbarous treatment of the volleyball team, memories of her father. Memories of her old friend, his wheelchair hanging off the side of the bridge...
Ann's voice, gentle as it was, landed on top of it all like a piece of sledge. "Shiho..."
Her concern, worrying over her when Kamoshida... it was too much, and Shiho had to change the subject. "Nationals are coming up soon, so I keep thinking..." she reached up tucking a section of her hair behind one ear. "Should someone like me really be on the starting lineup...?"
It was almost impressive how quickly Ann's demeanor changed, smiling and cheerful, trying to make her feel better. "Don't worry. Just be confident in yourself!" She held up one arm, mocking at flexing and patted the muscle beneath her sleeve. "Your skills have been recognized, it's all because you work harder than anyone else!"
Obvious though it was, Ann's attempt to cheer her up, it still worked. It just... didn't reach as far as anyone would have liked, and Shiho could only sit in silence. She wanted to feel better, to make sure her friend's effort didn't go to waste, but... if she could change her mood by wanting to badly enough, she wouldn't need antidepressants.
"Yeah... volley ball's all I have, after all..." The closest she'd ever get to flying. To living that dream...
Or was that even true any more?
Ann, unaware of what she was pondering, breached another topic. "More importantly than that, is your leg okay? It looked really swollen."
She just wished the blond hadn't brought that up...
Shaking her head, Shiho quietly replied. "No, it's nothing." I̷̦̬̺̦̳̺͓͗̿͆́̅̌̊̑̓͂̓̀͜͝͝t̶̥̹̼̝̻̞͛̏'̷̧̧͎͎͈͉͚͔̭̥̮̄̑͒̑͛̐͛̄̍͂͝s̷̢̢̩̮̬̦̺̜͉͕͙̾̎̇́͒́̽͐̈́͌͊̀͆̕̕͠͝ ̷̨̼̩̽̊̈́a̴̧̨͇͙̪̫̱̽̄̽̌̅l̶̖̙̼͕̬̫̼̦̺̘͆͂̈̓͐͂̚͜͜ͅw̴̡̙͈͙̘̹̣̝̯͉̗̤̫̜̬͆͐́͂̓̑͜ä̸̙͇̺͔̲́̔͑͘͘y̸̛̭̰̜͍̤̣̗̤̺̥͚̒̈́̄͊̓̑̀̎͛̔͂̎̉̉ṡ̶̬͔͑̐͑͜ ̷̢̢̗̠̺̭̩̰̹͈͇̙̝͋̄̽̔̏̔͊͂͘͠͝ņ̸̤͖͓̺̹͍̲͕̈́̂̀̒̽̄̿̏̀͊̾̓͜ǫ̶͇̟̗̪͔͓̤̥̭̦̪̼͍͔͑̎̄͜ͅt̵͖̗̙͇̿͂̾̀̾̾̈̂̐̂̿̀̔̽̃͝ḩ̸̼̯͓̤̖̫͍͍͉͕͚͙̦̳͊́̓̆̇̍͜͜i̷̹̤̤͖͍͚̟̳̤̮̜̫͚̕n̵̛̼͈̣͚͍͕͚̻̼̦͔͗͋̿͛̃́ͅg̴̜̯͍̿͂́͘͜.̴̨̧͉̭̱̯̭̣̹̂͆͑̚͝͝.̵̢̛̩̗̞̩̩̃̍̉̆̎̈́̐̂̎̈́.̸̢̛̮̲̘̤̬̉͐̽̿̆͘͠ͅ. "It's normal... Especially since a meet's coming up."
Ann... didn't seem to know how to respond to that.
Mercifully, not that it had been intended as such, someone came to interrupt their conversation. "Sorry to interrupt, Suzui." It was Mishima, looking very guilty and timid. "Um... Mr. Kamoshida told me to get you."
Her heart skipped, hitting hard against her ribs as her eyes bulged. "Huh?" She felt a cold sweat coming on. "Wh-what does he want?" Did- did he know? Had he somehow found out about-? No, no that was impossible. No one had seen them while they were there, in the distorted world.
...Had they?
Mishima cast his gaze away, unable to look her in the eyes any longer. "He didn't say..."
But of course he knew. There was only so much he could have wanted from her... she knew full well. "Ann, I..."
She didn't know what to say at first, pausing with pensively afraid. Then she said, "It'll be fine! I bet it's just a meetup about the starting lineup or something."
Nothing in her voice, shaky and uncertain, was very convincing. Yet, Shiho tried to be convinced anyways. "...yeah." Funny, the things someone will do to feel safer, even if it means lying to themselves. An effort that didn't last long enough to mask the fear, twisting her up inside, as she stood. "Well, I better go..."
Ann just smiled, brightly. "Yup! Good luck!" As she walked away, leaving Ann behind, she almost thought she heard her friend speak again. "Hang in there, Shiho..."
All the well wishes in the world couldn't possibly help. A bit like serving like cake during some town or city leveling disaster, it was sweet but little else. Shiho couldn't hold Ann's hesitance to offer much else against her. Focusing on these thoughts, not she thought they would, didn't make the march to Kamoshida's office feel anything less like a walk to the gallows.
Or to a beheading, the electric chair, whatever form of execution was worse.
As much as she wanted to just turn tail and run, she didn't and just reached up and knocked on the door. It swung open, Kamoshida looming over her with his arm above his head, elbow resting at the side of the doorframe. "Hello, Miss Suzui."
She gulped. "H-hello..."
That look on his face, that... sultry, powerful look had her ready to bolt. "I've been worried about that leg of yours..." his arm swayed back to his side, that sickening smile plastered there all the while. "I want to see if it's alright."
Her eyes bulged, immediately recoiling from him. "Ah, n-no! It's fine! I-"
His smile took on a darker, malicious edge. "Relax, just follow me." He nodded to Mishima. "Come on you, two. To the gym."
The two students exchanged worried glances, then a nod. As they followed along, Mishima kept a hand in his pocket, fingers clasping his phone. If anything took a turn for the worse, the police would be called.
"Here we are." Kamoshida said, offhandedly as he kicked a volley ball into the air and then caught it. "Now," he turned over his shoulder and grinned, "lets put that leg to the test."
The real him flickered with the distortion, the incubus leering deviously at her. In place of a volley ball, he was holding a javeline, his intent clear as day. When she looked toward Mishima, he didn't seem any worse for wear. He hadn't seen...
I can only see it because I went to the castle, can't I?
Kamoshida tossed her ball, slamming it into her belly, but she caught it. "Come on." He goaded, grinning all the while. "Show me what you're still capable of."
Gulping, shaking, she served the ball and prepared for the worst. Unfortunately... all the preparation in the world couldn't possibly have been enough. Her first serve, Kamoshida jumped into the air, his arm swinging in a blur and then-
...
...
...
.
It was dark outside that night, as we just strolled along, waiting for the sunrise. It had rained the previous night, making the streetlights reflect off the ground in a way that almost pretty. Surrounded by white light, from the lamps and stars above.
"So... you want to be a hero someday?" He smiled, his wheelchair rolling along beside me. "A hero who can fly."
Even at his playful tone, I managed a shy, little smile. "Yeah, but I'm not sure what that's really going to be yet." I kicked a loose stone, watching it splash along the street.
With a shrug, he turned a thoughtful eye to the stars. "Hmm... not many things at all that would let you do that. Maybe an emergency services helicopter pilot?"
My turn to shrug. "Maybe... I'll write that down when I get home." He smiled again and we kept walking along in silence, for a little while. "What do you wanna be?"
He hummed, ponderously, a hand on his chin. "Well... I'm not sure. something involving puzzle or problem solving. I love a good challenge." he patted his stomach. "So long as it pays the bills enough to go to the diner every night."
I laughed, almost unable to stop. "You sure love that place..."
He shrugged, still smiling bright. "Tease all you like, I'll feel no shame whatsoever."
Giggling, my laughing fit eking out some further mirth, I sighed, hands to my pockets. "...Middle school starts soon."
"Then we'll have to get serious about our answers." Sounding sage that time.
I shake my head. "Weird that they expect us to figure out so early."
He shrugged again. "Just our culture. High expectations, unhealthy amounts of sexism and discipline to the extreme."
Now, I was chuckling nervously. "Yeah... encouraging."
Sheepishly, he smiled. "Sorry... I forget your sense of humor isn't like mine."
Now I'm shrugging again, spinning on my heels and kicking up water in a spiral of shimmering light. "It's okay. Others will probably be worse."
We wander along for a little longer, gazing ahead and taking in the beautiful light around us. Comfortable silence, free of the messy house and breathing free and clear. A smile perches on my lips, as I breathe deeply. Now and then, I look to see his face and feel a fluttering in my chest.
I remember wanting to reach out, to hold his hand and... well, I'm sure the rest is obvious. Only I didn't have the guts to make that move, so I lowered my unconsciously raised hand and let out a little breath.
Then, he points to a hill. "Up there." He says. "That's the best spot to watch the sunrise."
Looking to the horizon, I think I see the light just starting to peek up. "We should hurry then, I'm not sure I'll push you up there in time to see it."
...
...
...
...
.
Blinding pain, her eye doesn't want to open. Kamoshida's voice echoes throughout the gymnasium, she feels someone looming close by rather than sees them.
"M-Mishima?" She winces at the light, the sound of her own voice.
"It's me." He says, softly. "Are you okay?"
Nodding, she forces her eyes open, and seeing little more than light at first. "I'm breathing..."
A dark chuckle gives away their coach's position, pacing lazily back and forth as he talks into his phone. "Oh? So you wont come over then?" Kamoshida snickers. "Such a shame... I had such high hopes, but without some persuasion I'm afraid I just don't see why I should let her keep her spot on the starting lineup."
...What?
The feeling clawing at her heart, as she spun slowly around to look at Kamoshida, had no name. Anger, fear, disbelief, disgust, revulsion, contempt. All of them at once, to such an extreme it set her on fire.
"Good night, Takamaki." He hung up, stretching lazily. "You two are still here." He smiled sweetly, shooing them toward the door. "You can go. Thanks for indulging me... Suzui."
Gulping back her tangled mess of emotions, she nodded. "...Sure."
Laughing to himself, Kamoshida stepped out of the room, leaving them collect themselves. Mishima offered her a hand up. "Can you stand?"
A hand she did not accept, choosing instead to stand on her own. "yeah..." her voice was small, barely perceptible, she was wobbly and slow to find her center of balance. "I'm fine."
Unable to look her in the eyes, he just nodded. "...be safe going home." he wanted to say that he was sorry for dragging her into this, but didn't have the nerve. Words would only be useless now, wouldn't they?
All the same, she forgave him as much as she could bear to. "You too." Then she walked away.
She didn't want to be crowded into the trains, didn't want to be touched, so she walked all the way. She spent the majority of the trip trying to get a hold of Ann, but she didn't answer. Not until she was almost home, and she had to scramble for her phone when it started ringing.
"Shiho?"
Exhaling in immediate relief, Shiho couldn't help but smile. "Hey, uh..." she suddenly felt a little awkward. "is everything okay?"
"Yeah!" Ann's voice chirped, "why wouldn't it be?"
She gulped, having to force herself to say what she said next. "I... heard the last part of your conversation with Kamoshida..." there's a long pause. "I was in the room with him when he called you..."
"That manipulative-" Ann clears her throat, "Shiho... that's not your problem, okay? It's nothing you did."
Lies...
"I'll handle it on my own, Shiho. So don't worry about me, okay?"
Her fingers grip into her palm, fingernails digging in deep. "I- ...okay."
Ann makes a happy noise. "See you at school?"
"See you there..." When they hang up, it's like all the life just bleeds from her body.
Not my fault... if I hadn't joined the stupid team, he wouldn't have anything to manipulate you with in the first place.
Once she got home, her mother was already asleep so she went straight to the shower. By the time she got out, she was too tired to eat and just collapsed into bed wearing her robe.
That's when her phone went off, and she groaned as she fished through her things to check it. Just a text, sent from one of her friends.
Ren: Are you alright?
Shi: Yes.
She wanted him to just leave it at that, but of course he didn't.
Ren: your friend Takamaki is very worried about you.
It took every fiber of her self control not to cry.
Shi: Even with everything Kamoshida's putting her through?
Ren: So you know...
Shi: yeah...
Ren: I'm sorry.
Shi: No, it's not your fault.
Ren: It's not yours either.
Bitterly, she laughed.
Shi: not gonna try to guilt me into 'freeing' whatever it is inside me with this?
Ren: You have more than enough people trying to manipulate you.
Tears fell from her eyes and she had to choke back a sob.
Shi: thank you, Akira.
Ren: Don't thank me. I couldn't convince one person to step forward, I've done nothing.
Shi: you've tried. That's more than most.
Ren: and it's not enough.
Shi: is it ever?
Ren: ...No. I suppose not.
She sniffled, wiping off her face and curling up in her blankets.
Shi: Sorry, I didn't mean to sound harsh.
Ren: You didn't at all.
Shi: ...are you okay?
Ren: Me?
Shi: yeah. We considered some heavy things, in that... place. It can't be easy, having to think about that.
Ren: I'm used to it.
Shi: So, you've done this kind of thing before?
Ren: Several times, but it's late. You should sleep.
Shi: What about you?
Ren: Plotting something with... a friend.
Shi: Is he like you?
Ren: Morgana is... unique.
Shi: What's the plan so far?
Ren: No one's willing to talk. So we'll get evidence. Video, audio, whatever we can.
Shi: yeah, it'd be hard not to listen to us with something like that in our hands. Someone would have to do something then, right?
Ren: Exactly. Now... get some sleep, okay?
Shi: You too, Akira.
Finally setting her phone aside, making a mental note to call Ann in the morning, she closed her eyes. Dreamless as her sleep would be, it was a much needed respite from the harshness of the world.
All the same... she forgot to take her medicine.
Tossing his phone aside, Ren dragged a tired hand down his face. Fingers stretched the skin under his eyes, making the bags beneath look exceedingly purple. It was hard to read her tone through the text, but he hazarded a guess that she wasn't doing as well as she'd said. Quietly, propped against his wall and sitting on his bed he pondered the day behind him.
On his way home, he'd run into Takamaki. From what she'd said, Kamoshida was trying to use Suzui's place on the lineup to coerce her into... letting him have her.
Far to gentle a phrase...
Ren's fingers clenched into fists and he grit his teeth. Not the kind of thing he expected to be up late thinking about, when he'd first started high-school. So this was the kind of nightmare women lived in fear of, if not worse?
Yet here I am... hesitating to kill him.
"Hey," Ren looked up seeing his cat perched on his chair, "earth to Ren, what're your thoughts?" For such a little cat, his personality practically filled the room.
He sighed, "Sorry, Morgana... I spaced out."
The cat rolled his eyes. "Ugh... I was asking if you could spare the cash to maybe put a camera and Microphone on me, since you're still determined to go this route."
"Murder is the last resort, not option one."
Morgana curled up into a ball, closing his eyes. "Doesn't answer my question."
Ren's turn to roll his eyes. "Sure. We'll grab one tomorrow."
Then there was a knock at his door, shortly before someone peered into his room. Rubbing at the eyes behind her glasses, she groaned. "Why are you two being so loud?"
Ren smirked. "Because Morgana is always loud."
Shaking her head and sighing, the redhead went to trudge away. "Just don't let him wake up Sojiro... he needs his sleep."
"Sorry, sis."
His 'sister' stuck out her tongue, blowing a raspberry at him. The two of them stared at each other blankly, then both started laughing. "Love ya, bro."
"Love you too, Futaba. Goodnight." She closed his door almost noiselessly, padding down the hall in her slippers and falling back into her own bed.
Morgana opened one eye, quirking an 'eyebrow' at the now closed door. "Do you think she understands what I say too?"
Reaching up and switching off the light, Ren shrugged as he tucked himself in. "You could ask her."
Jumping to the floor, Morgana was soon curled up on his chest. "I did."
"And?"
Morgana groaned. "...She ignored me."
Ren chuckled. "Well, no surprise there."
"Hmph!" Morgana went to leave, to sleep on the chair again, but Ren reached up and started stroking his spine. The purring was accompanied by the particularly amusing sound one makes when their brain is forcibly reset. "That's cheating..." The cat groaned.
"Yup."
All the same, he kept right on scratching the cat and the cat kept purring. Eventually, he settled back down, curled up on the human's chest. Closing his eyes, he whispered to him. "Goodnight, Ren..."
"Night, Morgana..."
Although he looked peaceful, the dark haired human had resolved to find a way to put that bastard Kamoshida in his place. Even as he trailed off into slumber, his mind was busy working up ways to make the man pay for his crimes. Maybe Ryuji was having an effect on him... not impossible, he supposed.
In any case, he only hoped Kamoshida could be stopped before all of this went too horribly far.
Thursday, April 14th, 2016
Bed... warmth... pain in her head. Everything was so heavy...
One of the worst days of her life in recent years had only just gone by, yesterday. Now she had to go back to place it happened, likely to experience worse than even that all over again. How many more days like this were ahead of her? For Ann? The other girls? For Mishima? When they graduated, scholarships in hand or not, how bad would next years students have it?
...
I have to get up...
She didn't want to get up.
I have to go to school...
She wanted to leave and never look back.
Volley ball practice...
...
I think this is hell. No matter what I do, I can't make everyone happy...
Unwittingly, she'd placed herself into the worst possible place she could. As things were right now, she was leverage against Ann. A tool for Kamoshida to use to make her friend do as he pleased. As long as he had Shiho's dream, to dangle in front of her on a string, he could hurt her, threaten her. If it turned out that he couldn't get what he wanted from one of them, he could always just try with the other. Or whichever girl he targeted next...
Video evidence...
Her hand clenched, right along with her teeth. Drawing in a deep breath, she considered all of her options. Ultimately, there weren't very many to choose from.
No. I can't do nothing. I got myself and Ann into this. Her being in this scenario... it's my fault. It's my fault I'm involved, she shouldn't have to even consider yielding to him for my sake. It's my fault...
Moving her arm felt like pushing a mountain, her blankets might as well have been an entire island. Limbs moving like they'd been only freshly been thawed after a thousand years of being stuck in ice. Her clothes were iron, strength nothing, but she pulled her uniform over her body. Her feet carried her out the door on auto-pilot.
Her purse was over her shoulder, phone tucked inside. Eventually, on an empty and growling stomach, she reaches the school. Not bothering to go to practice, she slumps into her seat and waits for class to start. Ms. Kawakami arrives ahead of everyone else, noticing her in her corner. It's plain to see how miserable she is, and she has to say something.
Kawakami's hands are on the side of her desk, and she kneels in front of her. "Suzui... what's wrong?"
"It's nothing..."
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I̷̦̬̺̦̳̺͓͗̿͆́̅̌̊̑̓͂̓̀͜͝͝t̶̥̹̼̝̻̞͛̏'̷̧̧͎͎͈͉͚͔̭̥̮̄̑͒̑͛̐͛̄̍͂͝s̷̢̢̩̮̬̦̺̜͉͕͙̾̎̇́͒́̽͐̈́͌͊̀͆̕̕͠͝ ̷̨̼̩̽̊̈́a̴̧̨͇͙̪̫̱̽̄̽̌̅l̶̖̙̼͕̬̫̼̦̺̘͆͂̈̓͐͂̚͜͜ͅw̴̡̙͈͙̘̹̣̝̯͉̗̤̫̜̬͆͐́͂̓̑͜ä̸̙͇̺͔̲́̔͑͘͘y̸̛̭̰̜͍̤̣̗̤̺̥͚̒̈́̄͊̓̑̀̎͛̔͂̎̉̉ṡ̶̬͔͑̐͑͜ ̷̢̢̗̠̺̭̩̰̹͈͇̙̝͋̄̽̔̏̔͊͂͘͠͝ņ̸̤͖͓̺̹͍̲͕̈́̂̀̒̽̄̿̏̀͊̾̓͜ǫ̶͇̟̗̪͔͓̤̥̭̦̪̼͍͔͑̎̄͜ͅt̵͖̗̙͇̿͂̾̀̾̾̈̂̐̂̿̀̔̽̃͝ḩ̸̼̯͓̤̖̫͍͍͉͕͚͙̦̳͊́̓̆̇̍͜͜i̷̹̤̤͖͍͚̟̳̤̮̜̫͚̕n̵̛̼͈̣͚͍͕͚̻̼̦͔͗͋̿͛̃́ͅg̴̜̯͍̿͂́͘͜.̴̨̧͉̭̱̯̭̣̹̂͆͑̚͝͝.̵̢̛̩̗̞̩̩̃̍̉̆̎̈́̐̂̎̈́.̸̢̛̮̲̘̤̬̉͐̽̿̆͘͠ͅ.
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The teacher doesn't buy this for one second, her worried eyes searching Shiho's bruised face. "Does it have something to do with those bruises?"
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Y̶̨̨̥͎̭̼̝͌̍͊̆̀͜ǫ̴̣͉͚͔̲̣͗̀͐̐̆̈́̿͂̕ũ̴̘̲̘̟̋ͅ ̷̫̩͍͍̣̰̤̬͚̉́̏̒͐͝k̸̫͉͍̞̭̩̱̳̃̆̂̈́̚͝n̶̯͓̠̳̹͇͓̪̼̜̬̽̈́̈́̉͋̈̑͊̉̉ó̶̧͚̘̺͓͂͑̎̓͆̋̾͠w̸̩͎̺̚ ̶̲͍̣͇͔̦̠̝̬̔̆̇̀̉͑s̵̡͕̬̖̗̲̗̼̼͔̑̄͆̈́̍͂̓͠͝ḩ̶̛̮̘͕̹̥̜̼̱̇̂͂͆̽̊̃͘͘͠ȅ̷͔̩͙͍̹̼̩͙̠͛͆̀̄͜ͅ ̸̨̡̺̟͖̝̹͎̠̯̂̑̍̃̉͊͋̀́̾͝ć̸̲a̷̼̩̟̗̫̬̹͖̖̟͂̅͆̆͗̓͜n̵̫̩͆̽͌̍͝ń̸̢̲͉̖̦̳͕͔́̆̐̾̃͗̋̑̚͜ǫ̶̠̞̥͈̙̱̭͇͒̈̈ͅt̶̢͈̪̗̱̦̘͊͆́͂ ̶̛̮̪̞̯̪̜̗̥͓̗̣̆̊͗́̌͝͠ḣ̷̥̹̮̥̠̬̝̰̺̗̉͑́̓͋̋͆̈̏̈è̶̢̡̠̱̬͔̣͔͔͌̑̇̓̚l̷̢̡̜̬̝̱̺͚̯͖͕͂̈́̽̚͝p̸̛̠̤͙̞̠̪̃̅̈́̉̂̇̓͆͝ ̶͔͕̠̭͕̰̙̪̺̣̀̄̈́̅̈́̽̓͘ý̸͍̝̟͇̭̯̼̣͍̼o̶̼̦͓̲̦̖̤͓͎̒͊u̸͖̮̓̓̎̈́͌.̵̫͕͖̻́͗̉̈́.̴͍͍̙͊͊̒̀̈́̾̀.̵͇̫̱̝̾͊͊̎̍͘
.
"It's really nothing..." She looks away, just wanting this conversation to be over. Mercifully, perhaps, her teacher complies and leaves her be.
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B̸̨̜̙̮͌͊͋͐̄̓͆͘͠ų̴̨̢̡̛͔͙̻̭͓̠̹̮̲̯̫͖̫͉͕̗̯̜͍̘͔̻̰̠̣̝̭̖̮̘͕͓̣̫͎̭͗͗̈̑͆̒̉̌͗̀͋̿̃͌̓͐͐̓̔͘͜͜͠͝ͅͅt̷̛͔̯̥͙͔͍͓̦̦̺̐̆͠͠ ̵̹̟̦̀̔͂̋͋̓̈́̓͛̑͌͌̈́̏͌́̀̃̆̔́̿̑̔̇͊́̉͛̈̑̑̑̈̄̏͛̎̎̕̕̕͝͠͝͠y̶̨̢̨̧̧̛̟͍̳̙͉͙̩̮̘͖͓̜̳͖̹̟̜̣̖̪̞̯̮͙̪͕̲̌͆̌̿̎̇͗͛̌́̇̎̀̓̌͒̽́̑́̂͗͑̾̌͆̑̔͗͗͆͊̍̆̿̇̆̀̿̍́̕͝͝ͅǫ̵̧̧͖͉͎̹̖͚̙̙̝̥͕͓͖̮͉͓͎̳̫̝̝̪̹̫̩̞͔̝̪̭̺̪͙͎̬̜͍͇̜̜͙͔̱̥̹̋̆̿̇͌͋̌͋͑͐̉̈́̂̎̏̓̌́̓̀̓͐̿͗̅̀̎̽̏͋́̐͗͗̈́́̌̍́͆̄̚̕͜͠͝͝͠͝͝u̵̩̜̝̲̲̩͗̍̈́̓́̂̅̊̄̈́̍̑̓̆͗̄̂̕͜͝͝ ̵̧̡̭͚̯̤̮͓̮̹̣̙͓̠͖̗̻̻̔̈̈́̀͒̂͒͊̎͗͋͛̐̐̈͗̒͒̄̎̊̈́͋̓̕̕͝͝͠͝͝k̷̢̛̮͓̫͕̰̝͎̫̬̳̝͎͍̣͍̪̙̳͇̣͇̖̭̮͕̂̒̃̀̂̏̈́̉͗̓͋̍̐̅́͛́̃͑͐͛́̊̃̊̌̒̚͘̕̕͘̚̚͜͜͠ņ̴̧̨̛̩͈̗͓̲̖̫̗͚̳̣̺̲͓̗̭͕̭͉̙͛̇̃͆̓̇̏̃͆̔̇̔̿̂̃̓͒͑̉̉̓̄̿̂̆̕̚͝ͅȏ̷͇͔̗̈̓́͒͂͋̑̈́̽̅̀̋̚w̵̧̢̨̢̨̧̧̛̼̻̘̲̝̤͎̳̞̼̤̖̭̘̯͖̱̗̤̜̫͍̞̻̩̪̹̙̯̹̫̺̯͇̳̰͇̙̘̩̜̠̄̌̔͗̾̀͛͒̂̑̓͒̓̒͛̏͊̿̍͐̌̈͗̈́̓̽̀̿̆̓̕͜͝͠ͅͅ ̵̧̡̧̧͖̦͔̟̦͓̟̲͔̯̲͈͇̿̔̍̅͒̊́̃̂͑͂̈́̾̄̈́̒͆́͐̅̈̎̊̂̌̏̔̔̽̌̇̀̋̄͆͘̚̕̚͘͠͝͠I̵͖͉͋̃̅́̍̎̊̃̓̕͠ ̵̢̨̨̨̡̢̧̞̘̩̩̦͕̗̤͉̦̠͕̻͉̦̣̰̣̭̪͉̠̩̹̫̩̰̩͇̞͉̯͇̟̳̯̜̣̯͍̻̤͌͌̂͛̌͌͛̾̎͂͌̌̏̈͊̓̓͂̓̀̊̈́͘͝c̵̢̩͕̜̰̩̞̦͔͍͂̐͛̇͑͊͗̃͗̑̀̆̏̽͑͊̄͑͗̕͝a̶̡̢̛͙͚̬͚̩̜̘̝͙̘͈̰̖̦͔̦̝͉͓̭̼̬̺̰͊̋͂̎̓̎̔͂̐̈́͗͗̋̈́̔͌͛͌̅̈̑̓̋̅̑̊̀͌̉̏̄̅̓͌͆̂́̑̍̕̕͘͠͠ͅn̷̡̢̙̝͙̲͙̜̹͚̰͖̞͇̲̤͍̞͖̱͉̫̟͉̺̦̦̙̩͕̟̤̳̰̂̃͗͆̐̀̿̎̊̽̋̇̓͂͋͌́̈́̒̀̈́̌̆͋̀͋̂̏̐̈́̓̊̀͐̕͘̕͜͜͝͝͝͠.̵͕̬̣̼̲͓̦̣̥̻̖̹͍͖̜̞̦̹̫͇̙̪́́̾͆͛͜͝͝ͅ.̶̧̢̨̨̛̛̤̟͓̼̝͓͇̪̳͉̙͎͓͔͔̠͔̟̪͍̟̪̦̰̻͎̭̫̼̼̗̗̬̰̖̘̭̱͈͇̦̹̹̆͗̊̒̄̒̐͌̓̑́̀͒̐̉̈́̓̇͂̀̎̽̎͐̀̀͑̈́̎̐̍̐͊̓̕͘̕͜͜͜͠͠͠͠.̸̢̧̧̲͍̻̳̥̲̲̞̹̮̻̠̣̰̣̝̳̣̥̻̗͙͚͍̳̳̪̻̙̙̪̭̫̱͇̗̇̍͒̂͐̃̌̏̈́̃̎̇̀́͑͌͐̂̇̅͜͜͜͝͠
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l̷̨̢̪̱̭̳̦̱̟̦̟̲̰͉̪̭̬̞͚̽̀̑̌̈̄͊̂̓́̑̏͐̾̌̇̕̚͘͜͠ͅȩ̸̧̛̘͎̪̪̲͎͍͎̹̻͎̰̟͉͎̯͐͛͐̈̊͛̆͆̅̇̈̈́͛͒̑́̓͘̚͜͝͠ͅt̵̖̟̣̠̼̺̆̿̀̋͊̿͜ ̵̬͓̿̎̐́͝m̴̢̡̢̨̦͕͍̲͈̳̙̹̤̭̮̂͑̋̕͜͝e̶̫̼̱̣͈̼̪̗̥̻̘̼̠̍͌̋ ̶̢̧̡̮̖̠̝̤͔͓̭͈̱͚͔͓̗̀̍͛̍̈́͐̆̅̅̈́̄̉̄͌̽̅͘ͅį̶̡̟̜͇̭̝̩̼̮̎͛̐́̑̉̿̍̽͗͝͝n̸͉̮̒.̵̪̙͎͎̹̮̯̦̤̽́̒͗͑̑́͗̒͒͋͆̂̅̔͌̃̽.̶̡̠̗͙͖͈̮̗̱̙̫͑̄̐͆̆̎̊͜͝͠.̵̢̹̟͚̑̒͐̑̈̀̓̉͗͊̎͋͛̒̚̚̚
I̸̧̬͈͉͐́̓͊̑͒̂͗̀̆̈́͗ ̵̡̨̪̮͎̫̠̼̮̝̩̜͇͒͂̀̐̈́̈́͋̔̔̅̀͊̌̔̏̆̂͠͝ç̷͓͎̜̞̫̱̼͔̫̦̝̼̰͕̂͌̑͗̂̐̍̔͆̑͋̕a̵̡̛͔̬̠̰̍̒͗̀̀͌̔̆͛̈̾̿͑̈́͒̑͘̚͘͠͝ń̸̢̛̮͕̣͖̝̀͌̀̇̿͗͑͗̄͛̃̄͝͠͝ ̴̛̜̬̟̀̆́͋̕͝h̷̨̧̨̩̥͕̞̠̬̬̖̪̞̭̳͉̭̣̲̟̼̿̈̔̎͆̉͜͝ͅe̷͕̲̞̤͑͛̔̆͆̓̀̀̾̅͂̅̽͌̉̄̌͐̽̚̕̚͝ļ̴̼̲̻̩̱͆́̆̍̀́̕͝͝p̴̧̛̛̠͓͈̩͕̭̖̭͇̪̪͔̪̭̰̮̳͙̤̰͖͂̄̿͂͊̐́̔͂̀̊͌͛͊̕͜ ̷̛̛̟̙̙́̂̄͂̉̾̆̕͠y̴͈͔̦̥̥̠͚̳̰͓̞͇̟̹͉̞̰̰̳̟͂ö̷̧̨̨͕̼̘̟̙̣͔̳̺͎̪̼̙̻́̆͑̐̌̐̎̽̿͂̄̆́̓͛̀͗̒͆̇͆͝ú̷̡̬͙͉̟͙̞͖̞̬̯̰̟̻̙̠̤͙̰͙͇̩̰̐̆̂̓͊̑̃̌͆͒́͂̊̒͐̌̕͝͝͝.̷̛͚͔̪̺̦̳̲̦̜̣̰̮͙̲̤̬̣̜̙̫̟͗̏̓̅̓̌̅.̵̨̻̲̬͉͉͚̗̽͐́̎̆̐̎͆̚̚̚͝.̵͓̳̯̹̗̦̝͓͇̰͂̓͆̂̏̈́̽͊̎͗̔̍̀͊̾̈́̈̿̚̕ͅ
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Who... are you?
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T̷͎͕͖͓͖̩̙̝̏̈́̏͠h̷̟̟̰́̂̓̅̃͋ȩ̷̰͓̤͎̖͓̯̻͙͒͛̋̐̐̒̇̑̎̚͘͜͠ ̶̻͎̗̝̄̔̂̓̉̅͑̉̃̏͋̐͘͝ơ̷̈́̈́̒̋̔̐̈́̈́̄͜ņ̶̥̟̪̦̘̗̻̈́̒͌͌̆̏̿̀̉͝͠͝ȇ̸̢̺͎̺̟̟̠̊͜͜ ̶͈̲̻̽͝w̸̲̲̤̝̟͖̹̟̞̙͖͈̳̱͑̐̀͋̄͒͂͊͆́͘h̵̡̘̝̠̣͔͙͚͖̘̲̓́̋͋̑͑͛o̸̢̦̽͆̚ ̶͈̖̩̻̤̀̄͋̽̍̔̿̽̉̈̚͝ẃ̷̧͇̤̘͈̰͍̯̖̫̲̬͂̐͆͐͑͒̽͋̚̕͘͠ͅi̵̢̡̝̞͎͑̒̆̎̒͊̕͜ļ̷̨̢̯̙̜̹͓̩̮̜̳̏͋̔͗̆̐̈́̾̀̅́͑̓̈́͜ḻ̶̡̣͓̼̖̖̘͆̏̏͂͐̓̀̿̕͜ ̶̻͎͎̖̼̦̎̀̚g̷͙̗̫̪̩͇̯͙̬͐͒͑̋̅̄͌͠ͅị̷̙̭̩̳̀̈́̀̓̚͝͝v̷̗̉̌̈̑͗̆̐̆̈́̑́͂̊͘e̴̛͈̝͉͉̯͍̤͖͓͓̱̦̎̆̔̆̔̕͝ ̶̨̱̤̗̞͇͓̑y̵̨̨̟̻͔̗̱̳͍͚͖͑̑̏͒̇̒̈́͂̚͜ȍ̷͓̺̠̞̈̊̍̽̿͂͠ư̶̙͔̤̳̣͔͙̻̭͇̦͋̿̅̂͌̃̈́͝͠͠ ̴̨̡̺̫̩͔̠̓̀͛̏̽̈́́͊͜͜͠͝y̷̢̲̬͖̮͚̥̌̈́͆̑̈̈́̇̊͘͜ŏ̸̡̡̯̻̙̺͙͍̥͉̘͕̯̒̌̂́͂̏̓̾̑̎͒͊͌͜u̴̢̦̜̔̓̆͑̎͆͊̿̈́̄̅͂̕͝ŗ̵̢͖̞̯̦̭̙̱̰̖̻̅̽̀́́̓̓̆̑̈́͐͠͝ ̶̥̫͌̌̿̊̏̐̾̑̑͛w̴̧̛̫̪͙̟̘̥͗̈̿͛͗̚ȉ̴̧̛͍̜̞̦͚̜̬͕̀̉͆̽̈́̎̓̕͝͠n̸̡̨̰̦̮̿̇̌̄̅̆̕̕ͅͅģ̵͚̥̯͎̩̳̝͔̱̙͔͙́̔̉̔͛̌̿̾̽̃͠s̷̢̨͕͙̼̝̯̭̟̟͖͙̠̐̈̍̊̊͒͘,̸̫̃͌́ ̸̻̹̥̪̟̠̞̅̿̅̆̀̊̍͝͠S̵̛̖̈̈́͌̋̉͂̈̒̉̌̇͠ḥ̶̪͎̣̣͖̙͉͓͖͔̥͍̈́͂̐̉̀̾̉̊́̚̕i̸̫͓̼̖̜͈̫̦͛̈́̑͋̊̇͑̎͘̕h̶̛̤̤͚͗̂͌̉̽̈̈́̄̔o̷̼̺̳̹̤̻͒͆̿͆̎̈́̿̈́̆͋͂̏͠.̷̨̳̹̞͚͕̪̳̤̆̎̄̒͒́̎͒̕̕.̷̘͖̰̓̐̕̚.̵̡̟̳̟̩̜̞͓̰̱̾̎̍̏͑͒̄̈́̑͘͜
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I... I can't understand you... what are you saying?
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Y̶̧̨̢̛̛͚̼͍̰̩̣̼̲̗̗͍̞͆̓̌̀̉̓̀̀͌́́͋̀̽̒͠͝ó̷̢̢͚̟̱͙̲̖͙͎͕̦͕͙̭̄͆̔́̐̇͂͘͝ų̶̢̮̜͔̖̥͕͔̫̻̤̜͙̘͐̆́̍̅̏̔̉̐̉̔̋̄̑̂̀́̈́̕ ̴̧̩̬͇͍̳͐̏̊̏͌̂͋̆͋̍̎͋͜͝w̵̢̡̧̡͍͇̬̣̞͚͓̞̠͍̠̞͎̎̈ȋ̴̡̢̧̞̻̣̩̱̰̟̲͓͖͍̝͖͕̹̿̀̆̇̾̇̑̕͘l̴̢͈̱̙͉̼͕̮̬̜̹̜̜̬̖͓͆̂͑͑̅̾̂̈́̋̌̕͝ͅͅl̴͓̈́̃͂̇͛̿̏.̸̡͈̩̮͈̖̱̘͚͍̻͎̯̝̟͛͋͗́͘͠.̵͚̳͕̺̝̘͚̜͌̋̓͛́͌̄̔̆̇̇̆͒͌̏͘͜ͅ.̵̨̢̢̣̣͕̱͈̠͖̣̦̝̯̗͕͍̭͗́̈́̇̓̀̊̈́́͑̂͝ͅ ̵͉̥̞̺̅͗̅͑͐̾͋̏̌͛͆̂̿̾̇͐̕̕S̶͇͎͉͔͔̜̖͔̗̮͍̦͎̠̞̽̍̐͋̑̓̆͆͝O̷͕̪̦͉̩͖̩̟̥͚̜̥̼̰͒̃͑̋͝͝O̶̧̺̫͉͓͆̓̆͋͝N̸̞̩̳̞̹͚̜̓̏̔͑͠.̸̠͚̾̽̔̊͊͑̉̃̈̿̚͘͘͠ͅ.̵̢̙͔̰̜̩̦͈̞̼̤̜̞̩̦̦͚̈͆͆͌͒̾̿̒̕̕̚͠͝.̵̧̱͓̥̟̗̗͎̜͚̰͈̭̲̼͎̎̓̇͝
.
...
Before she can even realize it, lunch has come and gone. Their last class rolls on by, then the bell rings.
For a long time now... I've dreamed of being a hero who can fly.
She gets up on auto-pilot, walking to the courtyard to the vending machines. Some coins are inserted into one, she grabs a pair of smoothies and drinks them slowly. Savoring their cool, fruity flavors.
An impossible dream, the closest thing to it is being on the volley ball team. Jumping, winning, falling... but it isn't at all what I wanted, not for the price I've payed.
Not for the price Ann is paying too.
She's sitting on the bench for the longest time, just waiting. Practice is well and truly under way, but she doesn't bother getting up to go. It's not worth it, it was never worth it...
I'm sorry, Ann... I'm sorry I dragged you into this...
Speaking of the girl in question, she appears. When Shiho turns from the vending machines, Ann offers a hug which she readily accepts. Their arms fold around each other, Shiho's fingers cling to Ann's jacket and she feels... something, anything for the first time today. "I've been looking for you..."Ann murmurs, her tone quietly happy.
Shiho almost smiles. "I'm glad."
I was hoping to get to see you...
The two of them move to the bench, and Ann looks more than a little worried about the new injuries on her friend's face. For a time, they sit in silence, Shiho just breathing deeply.
Of course, Ann is the first to break it. "You've been really quiet all day, Ms. Kawakami was worried."
"I know..." She quickly changes the subject. "Did you have a good day at least?"
Ann puts on a brave face, smiling for her. "Hey, you don't have to worry about me, Shiho."
"..."
They sit in awkward silence, not quite sure what to say until Ann thinks of the obvious. "Hey, shouldn't you be heading to volley ball?"
Another sentiment that leaves her without any meaningful words to speak. "uh huh..."
"That bruise above your eye..." Shiho looks away, hiding her face, not wanting to talk about it. "Is that from practice too?"
It was better than telling her the truth. "Y-yeah..." If she had her way, Ann would never know just how far Kamoshida was really going with all of this.
Of course, Ann worries about her anyways. "Are you sure you're not pushing yourself too hard?" It's the last thing she wants. Being the reason Ann is even in this mess, she wants as little pity or sympathy as is possible to get.
Especially from her. "I'm okay... volley ball's the only thing I can do right..."
...why did I say that?
Is that even true? Is that... really how I feel?
It was true. At this stage, her skills in the game were about the only thing she couldn't say were at fault here. Her reasoning, stubborn refusal to give it all up, all else was to blame, wasn't it? Her proficiency with the game was her only saving grace, the only excuse, only positive to come out of it.
Before Ann can answer her, ringing comes from her pocket. Someone was calling her phone. "Shouldn't you take that?"
Somewhat defensively, Ann replies. "It's probably just my part time job... I think."
Obviously, no. She had a very good guess as to who it was, what they wanted. The continued ringing put a nauseous twist in her stomach, which Shiho gulped back down.
No.
Finding her nerve, Shiho spoke, however quietly. "I... should get going."
"Shiho... are you sure you're okay?"
All the while, Ann's phone continues to ring. It only serves to strengthen Shiho's resolve. "Uh-huh..." She stands up, forces her legs to start moving forward and ignores the panicking voice screaming in the back of her mind.
For Ann... I'm doing this to get her out of this situation... I owe it to Ann...
She'd never know it -not for certain- but after she left Ann answered her phone. "...yes?" So tired, so stressed over this whole ordeal...
"So..." It's Kamoshida, his tone not even attempting to hide his wanton lust. "Any further thoughts toward my request?"
Her fist clenches so hard every knuckle pops. "Today won't work... I'm... not feeling so good..." Not anymore she wasn't. "Sorry..." a sentiment more for Shiho than anyone else. "Bye." Then she hangs up and walks away.
...
Shiho hadn't made it very far, stopping just inside the school, the doors to the courtyard. She has her phone out, getting it ready and reading Akira and Ryuji's earlier conversation. She'd been so wrapped up inside her own head that she hadn't even heard the notifications. Just more planning, brainstorming, trying to think of some way to pin Kamoshida's crimes to him.
Of course, they'd come up with almost nothing. Nothing that could be acted on until tomorrow. Just giving Kamoshida more time to do as he pleased, to hurt more people...
That isn't something I can allow.
Stuffing her phone back into her purse, making sure it was perfectly in place, she gulps and tries to brace herself. She looks up in time to see Akira, standing there and looking at her. "...What?"
The quiet worry says it all, he cant quite bring himself to speak either.
Then she realizes she's standing exactly in front of both doors. "Oh... I'm in the way, aren't I? Sorry..."
He shakes his head, adjusting the bag on his shoulder. "You're hurt..."
She looks away, hand gripping at her other elbow. "...ah...well..."
He reaches into his pocket, taking something out of it. "Here."
Handing her the object, she's slow to accept it. "What is it?"
"It's just a salve, for bruises. Meant to give it to you earlier..."
Her grip on tightens slightly. "Oh... thank you."
He just shrugs, looking like he feels totally useless. "Don't thank me until this is over..." he goes to move passed her, to venture outside.
The expression he's wearing is dark, something weighing him down. "Hey, Akira?" He stops, looking at her over his shoulder. "Don't let the rumors get to you, okay?" He blinks turning around more to actually look her in the eyes. "You're not like that... if you were... you wouldn't be hesitating right now." She smiles, he just... stares, not quite believing this is real. "If they were true, you'd just go into the distortion and end this permanently."
"Suzui..."
"You only just showed up, and here you are trying to save everyone." Then, she smiles like she means it and -not that she'd know- it made him feel nice, for one of the few times he has since arriving here."So don't listen to them, because they're just plain wrong." She turns to leave, gripping tightly at the stap of her purse. "Thanks for talking to me last night... it really helped a lot."
Her footsteps trail away, down the hall, toward Kamoshida's office. Before he walks through the door, Akira whispered to her back. "Anytime..."
Every step somehow took longer to end than the last, yet still she persisted.
I can do this...
Her hands clenched, a cold sweat breaking out over her.
I have to do this...
Raising a shaky hand, she knocks on the door to Kamoshida's office. Her heart is hammering, breath shallow and shaking and hearing his voice makes her chest hurt. "You're sure tonight won't work, Takamaki?" Her hand stops before it can hit the door, her heartbeat so loud she fears he can hear it even through the door.
"heh..." she can tell he's grinning. "We'll see." Then he hands up.
...Move.
Her arm trembles, refusing to budge.
Knock. On. The. Door!
It's slow, painfully slow, slower than a glacier when it bothers to move but she begins to-
The door opens and Kamoshida almost walks right through her. He blinks, surprise overriding everything else at first and all either of them can do is blink. Shiho gulps, barely able to speak, her entire body refusing to hold still. "Ah- I- uh..."
Kamoshida just gives that horrid, sultry smile. "Came by to see me?" When his fingers touch her jaw, her skin tries to crawl off her body. "I'm flattered... just what I need after my rotten day..."
Nonononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononononono!
Actively recoiling, Shiho only barely, barely succeeds in strangling back a yelp of disgust. "I-I came by to prove my leg is fine!" she flinching, her shoulders bunched up to her jawline and body completely rigid. "Y-you can test me! I'll win this time!"
His hand twitches, violently, stopping himself from strangling her. He flashes a look that bares his teeth, for a moment he flickers to the distorted version of himself and she barely stops herself from screaming. Malice in his eyes, rage pushing saliva from his fanged maw as the fire of his demonic halo flares like the sun. His muscles bulge, veins in his neck throbbing visibly.
Then it's the real him, and he's just... smiling pleasantly. She's not sure which is worse, but she refuses to run now. "Very well..." he says with forced temperance, taking her wrist. The force of his grip makes her yelp, and he laughs. "Sorry, sorry... bad day, like I said. Forgive me, Suzui..."
Her stomach twists up, legs barely adjusting the harsh pace as he yanks her toward the gym. She almost falls over so many times, worrying for her aching knee all the way and he shoves the doors to the gym open, then throws her through them. As he strolls on by, cackling under his breath, she only just manages to keep herself from falling over.
When he speaks again, her knees are still quaking. "Put your bag down, we've gotta prove your mettle." That look in her eyes makes her feel like an ant.
She wants to run, to scream, to hide behind someone, anyone else. Yet she doesn't. She gulps down her fear, walks to one corner of the room and carefully sets her bag down. Eyeing it for a moment, even with the fear making her icy cold and scrambling her mind, she sees it's perfectly set up. Nothing will be missed.
"Well?" Kamoshida almost growls. "I'm waiting..."
Drawing in a deep breath, forcing her nerves to level, she slowly turns around. She's afraid, but refuses to give him the satisfaction of seeing it. "Let's go."
Springing forward, Shiho moves in a blur, and sends the ball flying over the net. Kamoshida almost can't catch it, and she lets the thrill of that override all else. Another blur of movement, ignoring the pain in her leg and she sends it back. Of course, he catches it in time but she's ready. Leaping into the air, that feeling -that wonderful feeling- of flight takes over and her arms move of their own accord. Everything slows down, her arm moves as if guided by a computer and she spikes it at him.
The ball flies so fast he has to dodge out of the way, and she scores a point on him.
Yes!
The ball bounces, then bounces again, and again. Kamoshida can only stare, motionless as it moves away from him. His arena... the battleground where he was the reigning champion... and this little girl just bested him?
Shiho lands, triumphant and grinning and Kamoshida doesn't turn round to face her. He just... walks, right over to the ball. Calmly, he stoops and picks it up. Turning it over a few times in his hands, he considers it. Really considers it, for a very long time.
...I shouldn't just be standing here.
Her heart starts hammering again.
I should run, flee, leave while I still can.
He slowly turns around, his eyes boring straight through her.
but I can't... if I leave now... then this was all for nothing...
He grins. "Very good, Suzui..." Casually strolling back over to her. "Very good indeed..."
No more victims.
An arm pulls back, the ball in hand, and then it's slamming against her skull.
The world flickers, moving entirely too slowly, pain envelopes her entire awareness. She doesn't even feel it when her body hits the ground, barely hears it when Kamoshida strides over to her and picks up the ball again. An arm rears back once again, and this time... his target is her wounded leg. Like glass, shattering from some unseen location, everything is pushed passed the point it can function.
Her mind, her nervous system, her resolve, her heart, her leg... the pain becomes a focused point, as if at the point of a needle in her limb and her entire body seizes. At first she can't even breathe. Then, as everything falls back into focus and the pain becomes too much to avoid tears, her voice comes back.
But Kamoshida covers her mouth, shoving the back of her skull against the floor. "Shhhhhhh..." she coos, mockingly. "Wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong idea now, would we?" Her heart is in agony, beating so fast and hard she fears it'll go over the edge and simply stop. "Just a little injury, nothing to write home about... you'll be fine, and I won't ever touch you, or your useless little friend again."
No conscious thoughts are possible, just agony from her limb, her face and the back of her head. A feeling of disease from his touch, making her want to puke.
"I'd be surprised if you could even run right on that leg now." He laughs, overcome with amusement and satisfaction. "So much for that dream of ever being a real volley ball player, huh little girl?" When she finally runs out of breath, unable to really move at all, he lets her go. "Welcome to the real world." Standing up, he just left her there.
Someone else's problem, a mess to be cleaned up.
The door to the gym closes behind him like nothing ever happened, and Shiho forces herself to move. "AHH!" Tears swirl in her vision, she's clenching her teeth so hard they ache.
Yet still she forces herself to stand. It is with agonizing pain, with every single step, that she makes it over to her purse. Dropping onto a nearby chair, she bites her lip and hauls it over to herself. When it swings, bumping against her wounded knee, it takes every ounce of willpower she has not to black out. Her quivering hand grabs her phone, turning the screen to her face.
It was still recording.
Got you. I got you!
With a press of her finger, the recording stopped. With another, she copied the file. Then she moved it to an editor program and trimmed out everything that wasn't needed. Tears ran down her face, from pain of every kind. "Yeah... welcome to the real world... Kamoshida." With a forced, pained grin, she copied the edited file and sent it to Akira and Ryuji.
Shi: I got our proof. Please tell me it's all we'll need...
She pushes a trembling hand into her purse, fishing for any kind of painkiller she can find. Of course... there was nothing there... Just moments later, the boys reply. Gulping back her nerves, she forces herself to look at the conversation.
Ryu: He's a fucking dead man...
Ren: Oh my god...
Ryu: I'M GONNA KILL THAT BASTARD!
Ren: Suzui, please tell me you're alright.
Shi: is it enough to send him to jail?
Ren: are you safe?
Shi: Akira, please. Tell me.
Ryu: Shiho...
Ren: ...yeah. I'll make sure this isn't ignored.
Shi: thank you...
It's autopilot that shuts off her phone, dropping it into her purse. Autopilot that makes her get up, limping for the door. It's all that's running inside her mind, all that has her moving at all. The nurse's voice barely reaches her, even as he's asking her what happened. She doesn't say anything even when guilt nearly breaks him down in tears, doesn't tell him what happened. All she knows is that she's done.
Her leg was done.
It would never have the same strength, flexibility and she might be limping for the rest of her life. Even if she wasn't kicked off the team, she wouldn't be able to play. No more volley ball, no more sports scholarship.
No more flying...
Something about her mother is said, she shakes her head and tells him not to bother. Shiho just stands up and... limps away. Her only consolation was that Ann would be safe. Everyone would be safe, Kamoshida was going to be punished.
It's just as well...
Even as she smiled, turning her face to the skies above as she stands in the courtyard, tears started streaming down her face.
It wasn't really flying anyways... after all...
Only ringing. Ren just keeps calling her, but it's only ringing and ringing.
"We're sorry, but the number you are calling cannot-"
His thumb slams on the button, hanging up and then he's calling Ryuji. "Tell me we're gonna hurt this bastard after all."
"Is she answering you?"
Ryuji blanched. "What? No, she's probably had it! You saw what happened to her!"
"Yeah, I did..." A memory from just an hour ago is flashing before his eyes.
For the rest of his life, even if he came down with alzheimers, dementia, he'd remember that smile. The look she gave him, the way she ignored the worry for her. Treating herself as disposable, preparing to throw herself to the wolves. It was only a hunch, a cold fear in his gut, but every instinct he had told him to listen to it. Better to look like the idiot drama-boy than be wrong about this.
"That's exactly why we need to make sure she's okay, Ryuji... you know her friend, right?"
He hummed, almost groaned really. "Pah, you mean Takamaki? Ain't she-"
"She's Suzui's friend," Ren interrupted, "she'd know if this was foolish, right?"
Ryuji hesitated. "You're really worried, huh?"
"Yes..."
Another moment's hesitation. "I'll let her know yer callin her. We'll find her."
He was able to breathe just a little more freely. "Thank you."
"Don't. I owe ya, remember? It's what friends are for."
Ryuji hung up, leaving Ren to stew and worry by himself. At this exact moment, they had no idea if she was away from Kamoshida. If he wasn't still right there, able to hurt her. Maybe he'd thought better of leaving her there, suspected she was doing exactly what she did and had gone back to stop her. To make sure never, ever did what she'd planned to do and never could.
Tell me I'm wrong... just tell me I'm wrong...
His phone rang and Ren answered it immediately. Takamaki's voice, her tone was exceedingly worried too. "What. Happened!?"
Ren gulped."Have you tried calling her?"
"Yes! She's not answering me either! What the hell happened!?"
He forced himself to keep calm. "Takamaki... please tell me you know where she might be."
"I don't know!" She shrieks, making him wince. "I asked everyone I could think to, no one knows where she is! She wasn't at practice, no one saw her leave school, none of the teachers have any ideas; I don't know!"
Hysterics... not something he knew how to contend with. "Okay, just... breathe. We're going to find her. Did you try her parents?"
"Sh-she just has her mom. I'll call now, let you know soon."
He smiles. "She's going to be fine, Takamaki."
For a moment, she pauses, not saying a word. Then, when she does speak, her tone is threatening and vengeful. "She'd better be." Then she hangs up.
What a woman... I hate to be her enemy...
Left alone with his thoughts, he quietly tries not to panic. Maybe there was somewhere he could search, maybe the faculty offices had a list of addresses he could scour. If Kamoshida was stupid or arrogant enough to bring her to his home, something he'd already tried with Takamaki, then there was a chance-
Wait...
...'No one saw her leave school'...
Could it... could it be that simple?
...He started running. Slim leads were better than nothing, and he needed to know she was okay. When he threw himself into this mess, he hadn't meant, hadn't wanted to drag anyone else into it. No one who couldn't fend for themselves, no one who hadn't awakened to their inner selves, their persona. Now, at this very moment, exactly that was possibly happening. Someone who needed to be protected was in harms way, because he just had to rush in and 'try to save everyone'.
Lungs burning, water running in his mouth, he careens down the road back to the school. All the lights are out by now. No one still inside, the doors all locked. Plunging a hand into his pocket, he takes out his phone and activates the app. Seconds later, he's in the distorted school and he turns it off.
One way to bypass the locks...
Cupping his hands to his face, he calls out for her and gets no reply. So he tries again. "Suzui!" Nothing. No reply.
I want to be wrong... I want to be wrong...
Something clatters, his ears perking up and he spins around. Where had that come from? Something had to have made that noise! It happens again, some loose pebbles falling and hitting the outside of a windowsill.
...What?
Stepping forward, his eyes scan about. He sees an exit to the courtyard close by. Stepping forward, he opens the door and looks up only for his eyes to go wide and heart to sink.
No. No no no no!
She's right there, on the fucking roof, standing right at the edge. From that lifeless, emotionless expression and her dead eyes, he knows eactly what she's thinking. Knows exactly what's about to happen, and he's four floors below. Even at his fastest, he'd never get there in time, so he tries to scream. "SUZU-"
Eyes closed, arms spread, she... falls. Doesn't jump, doesn't push herself out just a little farther, she lets gravity take over and starts falling head first for the ground. Ren's hand moves in a blur, his thumb hitting the button for the navigation app and he screams in desperation. His arm moves in a blur, sending his phone on a collision course with her falling body. It was all he could do... it had to work, it just had to!
All the same, he's running, sprinting right at her. Legs moving faster, harder than any point in his life he's throwing himself toward her. Foot upon the back of a bench, he dives up, arms outstretched for her as the distortion takes over. The sky changes, the school vanishes and the castle takes its place.
He never had a chance... she falls, right in front of him, and he feels his heart drop.
All he can do us scream her name as she hits the ground with a snap.
...
...
...Am I dead?
Her entire body feels so cold... doesn't feel like anything anymore. Everything is so distant, so blank and black and cold. It didn't matter... she'd fulfilled her purpose, wasn't needed any longer. The world would go on just fine, like nothing ever changed.
Foolish girl...
What!?
She panics, feeling fear as the cold encroaches on her mind.
I- who are you?
I am you, the you you buried deep within.
...I...
You know my name...
But-
As I am thou, and thou art I...
Wait... yes, that-... I remember you.
As well you should.
I read about you... it was in a very old book.
Faust, Shiho.
I always thought you were like mom... now you're like me.
Trapped in hells of our own making, doomed to serve masters who would see us condemned. Tools for their whims.
...That's not what I want to be.
No?
No. No, I'm done being used like that!
But you're dying...what do you plan to do?
I wont give up!
Yes...
I'll- I'll fight! I'll do whatever it takes! Oh, god... I don't want to die! What have I done?!
You wanted to escape the pain. To escape this feeling of being caged, being helpless. So much so you'd even embrace oblivion.
...yeah...
Shiho.
Little Shiho...
Are you ready... to become your true self?
...Yes.
Are you ready to shed your old skin, and blossom into someone new?
I am.
There will be no going back.
There already isn't...
Heh... exactly.
What do I do?
Seize control of my power, and break the chains that bind thine heart...
Say my name... and thine will, shall become mine own.
...
...
...
...
.
Ren was on his knees, staring at her body and hoping, begging for something for to happen. Nothing. Nothing happened. She just lay there, limp and cold. His face scrunched up, he fell forward and his palms hit the ground.
"Suzui..." his fists clenched, tears dropping from his eyes. "Forgive me... I shouldn't have let you get involved... I should have protected you..." He collapsed, practically sobbing. "I failed you... forgive me..."
A flicker of light made him wince, but he ignored it. Pain in his eyes didn't matter.
Oh god, what was he going to do? Takamaki was going to be devastated... her poor mother... He was the only one present. The only one who knew where her body was. When he called the police, they'd look up his record and viola, he'd be a murderer for failing to save her life.
All the more reason to make sure Kamoshida pays for everything. To make sure the evidence she gathered for them wouldn't go to waste.
Reaching up he, pushed his hands under his mask and wiped off his face. It was a shaky climb back to his knees, but he-
His eyes bulged open. "Wha-...!?" That light... it was emanating from her body.
Golden white and pouring up into the sky, enveloping her in an almost heavenly glow.
"I am thou... thou art I..."
Then he heard her voice, and with his dropped jaw, he smiled. "Suzui!"
"Mephistopheles... I am Shiho Suzui... and the time has come!" The light exploded, wind almost pushing Ren onto his back as her transformation completed. "For you to give me my wings!"
Like gunshots, bursting from her shoulder blades were a pair of white, glistening wings. Wide, powerful and strong, the wind shoved him so hard he had to brace himself with his hands to avoid falling over.
Then, somewhat bashfully, she turned around rubbing behind her head. "H-hey... Akira."
"Hey..." he grinned, wiping off more of his face. "You really scared me."
That beaming smile made her giggle, then blush. "S-sorry... it'll never happen again."
"Better not," he said, standing up, "after what you said earlier... I wanna be your friend, if you'll let me?"
After all he'd done, trying to save her life, trying to protect her and the rest of the team... how could she say no? "Me too." She smiled, stepping forward and he hugged her, holding her tight and smiling at the way her arms wings wrapped around him. "...sorry to keep you waiting, Akira."
Falling down
Rolling the credits as I hit the ground beneath
Twisted 'round
Spinning a lantern with a future changing without me
We meet at the end
Closing the curtain on a daydream fading to nothing
All I could do
Was watch and blur through... empty holes out of view
Again those years run on by
It sings in the sky, fighting the sun setting tonight
"Let's go home, so we don't
Lose our way, choosing the wrong road"
Way too scared to grab and hold in my hand
Instead I chose to hold it back
Let me hug him, let me pray
My lantern spins away
Calm in the night but blaze in red or flames
Writing a love I couldn't say
See it pass me by, decay inside
Rot out the truth alive
And denying all you see, they write this story
"See you again" and all the same
I really didn't want to say
All of the tears I couldn't dry
All of my words, were lies were lies
Remaining friends, just you and me
I really didn't want to be
Although you're never to hear my thoughts
"Sorry and hey...I loved you a lot"
With the birth of Mephistopheles, the Aeon Persona,
I have obtained the winds of blessing that
shall lead to freedom and new power...