Inspired by several novels set in Victorian times I wanted to write a kind of Dickensian/Wilkie Collins type thriller set in the Meiji era for the characters of Scum's Wish. I tried to remain faithful to the spirit of the characters, but due to their background in this story, there will be deviations. Warning: there is an attempted rape, a suicide and four characters die.

Mugi Awaya is faced with multiple choices, but he can only see one answer. Will he end up choosing with his gut, despite what his brain tells him?

After the end of their school year, Mugi and Hanabi seem to have moved on and cope with the new events really well since the holidays and time helped soothe some burns of unrequited love and goodbyes. A new year is about to begin, but can the two lone students face the new complications coming along with new events, characters and eventually their own subconscious desires bud

Sanae, despite realizing her selfish desires and the manipulation she has used against Hanabi in order to satisfy them, still finds herself wanting to have Hanabi in the end.

"You can have everything but my feelings," Mugi stated firmly, echoing their promise from months earlier. Swallowing against the lump forming in her throat, Hanabi gave a short nod. "I tried so hard," Hanabi replied, voice shaking.

We are a tragedy with a happy ending, where reality force-feeds us the antidote. — Mugi x Hanabi, drabble (ish)

Hanabi heads to Mugi's apartment to escape the rain.

Everything was real now, when before it was just a thinly veiled source of comfort. Even when her emotions were running high before, there was always somewhere to pin them, other than on Mugi. Now it was just the two of them, raw and honest. The lies were gone. The secrets and cheating were gone. It was only her and Mugi, and the intimate closeness made her nervous.

Love can be brutal and bitter and smash people's hearts. But, it can also mend them.

Hanabi and Mugi go on a date for Christmas.

Some things never changed. Hanabi still couldn't take what she dished out.

Sanae had learned patience over the years. It was especially useful when her girlfriend was an hour late.

Perhaps time really healed all wounds. Sanae was a little stronger, Mugi wiser, and Hanabi more confident.

— ¿Por qué me has hecho esto? — Me preguntas. "Porque quiero y por que puedo." Te respondo yo en mi mente. Pero a pesar de que esa sea mi verdadera y egoísta respuesta, todo lo que te daré será una inclinación de cabeza, una falsa sonrisa y unas palabras vacías que calentarán tu roto corazón. —Lo siento. — Te digo en un falso tono de arrepentimiento. No, no lo hago.