The moonlight dances across a lake outside of a small house on the outskirts of Viridian City. A lone male stands near the water, his eyes gazing into the depths of the liquid. His hands rest in the pockets of a lab coat. A small logo reading 'Viridian Forest Research Team' sits on the breast pocket of the garment. Long green hair spills forth from his head and the glasses that rest on his nose shine eerily in the pale light. A sigh escapes from him and he narrows his eyes a touch.
"There you are," says a soft, feminine voice from behind him. Turning, the man, Kazuhiko, smiles softly.
"Ah, good evening, Hatoko," he says gently, "I didn't expect to see you tonight. What brings you to my humble abode at this hour? All of the sane people are asleep by now."
"I guess you can call me insane then," replies the woman now standing before him. Her stunningly purple eyes blink at Kazuhiko and she smiles warmly. Light green, shoulder length hair frames her beautiful features and she slips her hands into the pockets of a lab coat that matches Kazuhiko's stitch by stitch. While he wears a light blue shirt and khaki pants under it, though, she wears a dark blue shirt and black skirt that cuts off around mid-thigh.
"Wouldn't be the first time," says Kazuhiko while beckoning her closer. He turns back to the water then and waits. After a moment of what seems like hesitation, Hatoko joins Kazuhiko by the lake.
"You still haven't answered my question, you know," presses Kazuhiko. Hatoko is quiet at first, but she soon gives him a reply.
"I know. I guess… I need to talk to you, Kazu-san," she says with her eyes now glued to the dark water. Kazuhiko tilts his head a touch. He hasn't seen her look so serious in quite sometime. Something about the look unsettles him, though, and he nearly shivers.
"Well, alright," he says, "Go right on ahead. I'm listening."
"You make it sound like… It's so easy, Kazu-san," she says very calmly.
"Well, I can't say that I know what it is you're going to tell me, Hatoko-chan," says Kazuhiko with a touch of affection in his voice, "But you know I'll be here for you, whatever it is you're going to tell me."
Hatoko laughs softly. "Really now?" she murmers, "I somehow doubt it, Kazu-san, but then… I can't blame you, can I? No… Wait. Please. Don't look at me the way that I know you will – so confused… So curious… I can't bear it tonight." Hatoko's eyes almost seem to water as she closes them. She then takes a sharp breath of air to try and calm herself.
"…Hatoko-chan, what's going on? Talk to me. Please," says Kazuhiko with a mixture of seriousness and concern. Hatoko hesitates and finally turns away from Kazuhiko. She folds her arms across her chest.
"Kazu-san… You know that I care about you… Right? We've talked about so much. Speculated on so many things for our future. You… Also know that you're not the only one I care about. I don't know how we've all co-existed without any jealous fits of rage, but…" Hatoko speaks, but then hesitates again. It's almost as if she's too afraid to go on.
Kazuhiko reaches out his hand to touch her shoulder. Her reaction is not unlike being touched by scalding hot water.
"Please, Kazu-san, please.. Don't… Don't touch me, please. You won't want to when you know. You… Oh, Kazuhiko. He… I… A few weeks back – I can't remember exactly how long ago, but… David stayed with me one night because I was lonely. You were busy with one of the expeditions in the forest and… Well… We… We…" Hatoko talks, but has to choke back a sob in the process, "…We had sex, Kazuhiko… I… I didn't know what to think after that, but… Now I've been tested and… And I'm pregnant, Kazuhiko..." When she trails off, she waits. After nearly a minute of silence, she shivers.
Kazuhiko just stands there. Completely flabbergasted, he finds himself unable to speak. Deep down inside of him, though, he knows he can't really be angry. They're not a couple. He loves her… But he's not entirely certain how she feels about him. Now, he fears, he may never know – unless he acts now.
"I… I see," Kazuhiko says, "Well, I mean, we can work through this… I—"
"No, Kazuhiko, no! Don't you see?" says Hatoko sharply while whirling around to face him, "We just can't work through this… I'm going to marry him, Kazuhiko. He… He's the father of my child and.. I can't have the baby fatherless.. I have no right to take it from him already. I… I'm sorry, Kazuhiko. I'm sorry."
Her voice dissolving into uncontrollable sobs, Hatoko runs past Kazuhiko and into the darkness illuminated by the moon…
