It is still me. If you expected a sudden perspective change, then too bad for you. I still was waiting for him to come, imagining possible lines I would use to make a great entrance. I suppose, since this place is so far from the city, it would take some time for him to cross this distance on his trusty bicycle.

It is the part of the whole show that always remains unnoticed by an ordinary viewer, waiting for the brave hero to arrive, while looking evil and menacing, an impression that was partly reached by a bored and pissed-off guy next to me.

Is this the time to tell the reason behind the things I did? I wonder. If you are waiting for some kind of an overreaching plot, then you will be disappointed greatly: I only have a selfish and petty desire I wanted to fulfill in this lifetime. I remember that I had the same desire twelve years ago.

"I want to protect this plain smile"

I wanted for this person, the only real person besides me, the person capable of changing his ways, to be happy. I didn't want him to become great or strong. I didn't want him to save the world. I didn't want him to attract the attention of an inhumanly beautiful girl.

I merely wanted for him to achieve an ordinary happiness – marry a plain, but kind girl and start a plain, but trusty family to care about him, when his hair finally turn gray. I wanted this whole world to change the rules for the sake of one person. It was probably the most selfish desire of all.

I also knew that the world won't allow this. I knew he would suffer much, struggle much, and be in pain so much. I didn't want for such wicked things to happen, not to him. I tried to reach a solution and found one.

I knew that simply making him obvious of the other side of this artificial world won't be enough. In the end, he would make the choice to abandon his life or happiness since that was the way he lived: he grumbled about this, but he never refused to offer a hand.

And so, simply hiding things from him wasn't a possibility. I decided to break his heart, to scare him off, to show him the most terrible and disgusting creature with a shallow heart and selfish mind. I want to show him the me that allowed an innocent person to kill another innocent person.

I want to show him a person that hated someone simply for the thing they could possibly do in the future. I want to show him a person that trampled over someone's pure and noble intentions and used them as a toy. I want to show him a person that made a righteous person act against their word or swallow their own pride.

In the end, I wasn't sure what part of me was real, the one from now or the one from twelve years ago. And so, when I heard the sound of his footsteps somewhere in the distance, I steeled my heart, stood up and brushed off my criminally short skirt.

I faced his honest and painfully relieved eyes. I couldn't stand this look of hope and elation on his face. I started with the line I practiced just a minute ago.

"It's…"

And yet, I couldn't. I wanted to, but my mouth refused to say anything. I had to say something, otherwise, all that happened before would be worthless. I had to say those words to this dumb, unattractive, miserable, sarcastic, stupid, plain boy.

It's really amusing how hard you tried to find me. It was so easy to make you waggle your tail, wasn't it? Now, with your help, I was able to execute my plan perfectly. I suppose, a congratulation is in order, dumb lamp.

"I… I am…"

I hate this part of you, this stupid and gullible part of you that believed that a person that would willingly become your friend ever existed. I want to puke because of your naivety. It really makes me sick – all this loyalty and sense of friendship. It's such a joke, really.

"… You are…"

You are my toy. I can make you dance in my tune. Because we are friends. In this world, friendship is another convenient tool. In my world, people like you end up two ways – miserable or dead. And I'm pretty sure you aren't cut to be the former.

"… Ise… You are such a fool"

I tried to wipe away this moisture on my cheeks, but it refused to stop. I didn't know why, but I simply couldn't. I wiped and wiped, but… I don't really understand why, but it was so hard.

"I had enough of this poor drama"

I heard an arrogant voice close to me and suddenly felt someone's arms grab my body. I was confused, but Issei – he was enraged. I saw an emerald on his gauntlet shine in the night.

"Oh? So you are this generation's Red Dragon Emperor. I believe, this is your treasure, then. I guess, I will take it for myself instead"

[Boost!]

[Divide!]

"What is this? That was weak, weaker than an earthworm. Is this what my greatest adversary is like?! I'm disappointed, honestly. I'm ashamed that the rival I longer for all those years is in such a poor state"

"You bastard! Give her back! Give Nozomi back! I'll kill you! I'll kill you, if you don't give her back!"

"I won't. And we both know that you won't as well. In this world, weakling like you have no place to argue, when the strong ones are talking. If you want this treasure so much, come and take her back with your own hands. I would glad to oblige, Red Dragon Emperor"

I helplessly saw how my friend was thrown into the air. I saw his broken body grovel on the ground, still trying to stand up and fight.
"… Ise... That's enough… Stop… Please, stop!"

I heard his final words, while still being carried far away in another person's arms. I heard him repeating again and again, sense of anguish and helplessness perfectly reflected deep within his honest eyes. I saw how droplets of water started to appear on his face.

It's truly is a horrible night for the rain.

"Nozomi… Nozomi… Nozomi… Dammit… Dammit!"

It wasn't what I wanted. It wasn't what I planned. In the end, the one who was the weakest link in this plan was me all along. I think, a human's heart is a very fragile thing after all.

"Hey, before we go, don't you have someone else to say goodbye to. You know, things like family or home"

It was an act of kindness on his part, but…

"I… no longer have a place like this"

It would have been easier to make another plan, but with my current responsibilities, I had to sacrifice something. I wanted to show my resolve. I wanted to make that so I would never be able to go back again.

I destroyed the temptation within my heart. I also… I never wanted them to get involved. In the future, I needed anonymity to operate freely. I didn't… I didn't want to hesitate anymore.

And, I wanted for them to be happy. I wanted them to have an ordinary happiness, too.

"Hey, are crying?"

"It is quite a problem. I'm quite good at lying, you see. I'm so good that I can fool anyone, even myself. I can lie to myself as much as I want, but… Even a liar like me can't fool her own heart. It's quite pathetic, isn't it?"

"No, it is not. It's sad."

"Why are you crying, dear?" said a concerned husband, Odagiri Hideo.

"I don't know, but I feel so sad for some reason. And the tears… they won't stop" replied a sad wife, Odagiri Yukari.

"It's okay. I understand. Come here," told her an ordinary office worker, embracing his sweetheart in a warm hug.

"Oh, I feel like I forgot something important. Something that I shouldn't forget, no matter what. And I even don't know what. It's this tearing me apart," lamented an ordinary housewife, crying and crying, soaking his shirt wet.

"Hush, dear…" he answered, glad that his most treasured person wouldn't be able to see his face.

"But…" she wanted to say something, but stopped, chocking on a sob.

"I feel the same. I do," he almost whispered, but then decided to pat her stomach lovingly instead.

"I'm sure this child will be born healthy. I'm sure we will give this child as much love as we would have given their sister. I'm sure that Nozomi will be a really happy child"

And that night, for a reason unknown, the family of three wanted to cry.