Back to Zero
by SMYGO4EVA
Isuke never ceased to amaze Haruki. They were roommates, sure. However, there was still so much to uncover behind the glamorous and fashion-conscious exterior. She always gave off the scent of crisp perfume, along with nail polish with the color of hot pink and all that jazz. Haruki herself painted her nails a nice color. Even it was just for a little while, the nail polish was something that was always up front, out in the open; it just popped. On the other hand, Isuke really wanted everyone around her to see that she loved the finer things in life. From what she saw, Haruki could tell that Isuke only wanted the best, not what would remind her of her past.
Still, Haruki had her buried past. She still had those to care for at home, after all. That was why she was in this game. She did appreciate what Myojo Academy had in its splendor, prestigious as it was, but she didn't revel in it or disregard schoolwork like Isuke did. That was one of the things that set Haruki and Isuke apart, along with some taste in nail polish, how killing almost came easily for them, and who they really were after.
At least she knew that Isuke did have a vulnerable heart underneath the seemingly shallow exterior. At least, underneath the hourglass figure, Haruki could see someone who was hurt. At least Haruki could see someone who never wanted to go back to who she was before. Haruki understood that all too well. She and Isuke were alike in that sense.
Isuke wasn't as shallow as Haruki had initially thought; she was caged, just as she was, and they had their own paths to take. Their hearts were broken from the start, they were back to zero and they still had far to go.