I stood still, so very still. My dad hadn't ever really been the same since Mom died, but he was never a violent man. I must have been wrong.

"Ayano... I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean to-" Dad grabbed his wrist, holding his clenched fist tightly.

I gently placed my fingertips on my cheek. It hurt. "It's o-okay." He didn't say anything, he just stared down at me. I wanted him to say something kind, something that assured me he wouldn't do it again, but he just stood there. He wasn't even looking at me anymore, his glare passed right through me, and somehow, he began to look almost like he was happy.

After what seemed like an eternity, he spoke in a low, resentful tone. "Go to bed." I looked up at him, confused. Why wasn't he telling be it would be okay? What was this? "D-dad?"

"Go to bed. I have to... work." He turned around, and walked out, leaving me alone, and afraid. I stood there, my cheek stinging, and the tears burning through my eyes.

"Ayano? Heeeello?" Tsubomi tapped my head with her finger.

"Oh, Sorry, Hi!" She shook her head, and looked to the side. "you're really so silly..." I smiled at her. "Ahah... sorry..." She smirked. I stared at her fluttering jade hair, it somehow reminded me a butterfly I saw once with My Mom and Dad, long ago.

"Your Hair is really... nice today." She waved her hand in a circular motion. "It's not as good as your hair! It's so soft and fluffy." I laughed. "It's not fluffy..." She trailed off as someone walked past her. Her dark eyes never left the person, until he was out of sight.

"Tsubomi?" She didn't answer. "Are you okay?" She turned her eyes to me, and smiled weakly. "Yes, sorry." I answered right away,forgetting to even blink. "That's not true, that person bothers you," I tightened my crimson scarf. "Or something is worrying you." She raised her eyebrows. "I wonder... how many other people... are like me." I rubbed her shoulder. "You mean, that have eyes like you?" She nodded. "I said before that my parents studied this... but I don't know how many more there are."

"Hmm" was the reply. "It's fine, I'll protect you forever, after all, we are best friends," I said, patting her head. She beamed up at me. "Ayano... Thank you."

When I went home that day, it was empty.

I went to my room and did my homework, but then I was bored. I walked around before I got to my father's room. The door was open. I went inside to see if he was there, just in case, but -as I suspected - he wasn't. I was about to turn and leave, but some papers caught my eye. I walked to the desk and read them.

No... It was research about certain eye powers, ones like Tsubomi's. I had seen most of it before, but this had new information, It said that my 'wonderful' father was going to kill Takane and Haruka. And a small side note... It said that he started that fire.

I fell down on the floor and cried harder that I ever had. I cried more, and stronger than I had even when I found that Mom died. I couldn't understand this. "Why... are you doing this...?" I knew no-one would hear, but the words seemed like they would comfort me, and when they didn't, I felt horrible, I felt like my heart was torn away from me, and stabbed, again and again and again, right in front of me.

It was pointless, that's all it was, but for what? I couldn't understand. But to do this, so many innocent people would have to die, Including Tsubomi. Poor, sweet, fragile Tsubomi. Takane and Haruka too. My mom... how many others were there? How many was he going to kill? I couldn't take it anymore.

Running to the bathroom and throwing up the contents of my stomach, I missed the right target and the yellowish-brown bile spilled all over the floor. The mess splattered everywhere, my mouth dripping with the thick saliva. I couldn't even do such a disgusting thing properly.

I smiled at Haruka, and he returned it. "Ayano, hey!" He grinned, Takane standing very loyal by his side. "Hi!" Shintaro gave a quick half smile before putting his hands back in his pockets. "Good morning!" I chirped, sitting down next to them.

We talked for a while, but I couldn't focus on anything, thankfully, none of them noticed anything was wrong, or at least, that is what I thought. Later, after school, Takane caught up with me when I was walking home.

"Hey, Ayano! Wait up!" She said, running towards me. "Ta-Takane? What's wrong? Is everything okay?" She caught her breath and pointed at me. "That's what I was going to ask you. You didn't seem... yourself today, are you alright?" I looked at her eyes, they were genuine, she was concerned for me.

"Yes, I'm fine. Thanks for asking." I smiled. 'Are you really fine?' a voice inside my head asked. 'Because you don't feel fine when you're alone, so how are you fine now?' I tried to shake it off, but it wouldn't go away.

'You should tell her the truth. tell her about his research, about how he punches you, whenever he feels like it.' I was close to tears, but I couldn't cry in front of Takane. "Are you sure?" I wasn't. "Yes, I am, but you won't be." The words fell out of my mouth, and I knew I wouldn't be able to get them back. I really was a fool.

"What?"

I froze. My small hand held the red fabric around my neck tightly.

'What am I supposed to say? No, how am I supposed to say it? how can I tell her? How can I tell Takane the truth? That's right. Takane. All she has to worry about is going to school, day after day, being with Haruka. Her problems, all of them... they are a luxury! No, that's a horrible thing to say, You should be ashamed of yourself!'

My thoughts jumbled together all at once, and then were gone, only nonsense words spilling out my mouth. "Aha, th-that's nothing important really. I mean it's not like you would be able to do anything anyway,"

No, that was wrong. Try again.

"No, wait! It's...it's not...?" I couldn't do it. I couldn't do it anymore. It had gotten too difficult. I was tired from it all.

"Ayano?"

I couldn't... even hold back my tears. Soft, silent tears fell down my cheeks.

"Ayano!?"

I told her, I told her everything. Everything at all. What he was going to do to them, what that meant. I told her I didn't know how to stop it, what he was doing and what he was going to. I told her everything, I started to shake. "...And I can't save you..."

"Are you okay now?" Takane asked, about a hour after I spilled that secret.

"Y-yes, sorry..." I replied, clenching my hands tightly. "What can I do?" I wondered, looking up at the sky...

"We should kill him," Takane mumbled, barely audible. My eyes widened. "NO! No... we can't kill anyone... that's wrong-"

"So is he! He has no right to do that to you! He has no right to... kill people! And he was the one that killed your-" "Yes I know! But I can't do that..." Takane sighed, shaking her head. "We have to do something... He's a murderer. We can report him for child abuse and when they finds out what he's gonna do, they'll call him crazy!"

I thought about it, but I knew that would be a last resort. "Maybe. Anyway, we have till the 15th... We'll do something about it, I won't let you die."

I lay in bed that night. I didn't make sense. If Dad was doing this to get her back, my mother, then why did he start the fire? I told Takane that he was doing it to get Mom back, but It didn't make sense... He killed her, now he wants her back?

Days passed. Me and Takane got nowhere. On the 15, I was on the school roof, with him.

"You can't do this!" I shouted. "Let them go, don't kill them!" He grinned, knowing it was useless. "Shut up!" He laughed. "Where's your plan then? Asking me nicely isn't going to work!" I smiled slightly.

"I thought you would say that..." I walked towards the end of the building. "If I have those eyes, I'm sure I could stop you."

"Ayano! NO!" Takane ran to me, stopping when she saw me smile. "Takane... It'll work. I promise, I can't let you die." She shook her head, shouting something, but It was too let for her to save me.

I fell, my hands above my head, It felt scary, but suddenly, I stopped. Was I dead? No.

Takane was holding me hand, not allowing me to fall. "You know, there needs to be two people!" Dad sneered. "If Ayano falls, nothing will happen, but If you both do, Something might!"

Takane turned to me, And smiled at me, her eyes filled with tears, she was going to jump to. She opened her mouth to speak, and only emitted a quiet, shaky:

"Sorry."

"Ayano..." Kido cried as she found out the new that her friend died. "I'm sorry... I should have asked..."

She walked by the people in the city, avoiding them, invisible.

"Ayano..."

Ahh, I'm unhappy with this chapter... I tried really hard, but I just couldn't get it to feel right... but whatever, I hope you enjoyed reading!