Subtle hints

A drop in temperature

Like still water

It was going nowhere.

Every move she made

Like an arrow against iron

Bounced off

Deflected with a smile.

An invisible barrier

Between them

The lack of trust

Honesty

Sincerity

And she looked

It was as if

A frozen image

Painting

Still life.

Look

But not

Touch.

This is the bottom of the jar.

No more sweets

Nor any love

Only a dry and cold

Husk of a man.

She would have to find out herself.

"Hayato. What's with you not showing up yesterday?"

"Sorry. I was just tired."

"Oh really? Because last I checked, you were not even at home."

The smile on his face

Like a crystal mirror

Shattered.

"Why do you even know- nevermind."

"If you don't want to give me a bit of your time, just say so."

"I need time. Alone."

It was a shock

The prince

Raising his voice

A first occurence

And the mask hung

By a string.

"H-Hayato..."

"I'm sorry. It's just that... alot of things happened recently."

"You can tell me."

Once more

A mask of smiles

Covered his true

Visage.

"It's okay, Miura-san. Thank you for your concern."

"How are things between you and Hikio?"

"I don't want to talk about him."

Try as he did

It was impossible

To hide scorn

Upon the mention

Of a certain cynic.

Perhaps

This is the hammer

To break through

The glass

Of illusions.

"Why do you always seem like you hate him? Is he that bad of a person?"

"Miura, please stop."

"Everytime I mention his name, you change the topic. What is it?"

"Stop it."

"Is it because you feel he's better than you?"

"Yumiko Miura! Shut up about Hikigaya-kun!"

She was shocked

Before her

A furious man

Lo and behold

The mask is off

Shattered.

"You want to know so bad? The reason I did not show up yesterday? Why I couldn't go with you that Saturday night?"

He took a deep breath.

"He didn't tell you, did he? Yes. I was there at the reception. And he came with Haruno and messed it all up."

"W-what are you saying..."

"Looks like your friend only showed you half the picture."

She was fishing for truth

And reeled in

More than she could handle.

"That idiot came in and pretended to be mister-rich-guy and fooled everyone. Which led to me getting berated and shamed by my own father, because your dear Hikio was 'the son he never had'!"

He frowned

Blue eyes

A dangerous gaze

Far sinister

Dark

A contrast

To his façade of brightness.

"And you want to know what's more?"

She did not know if she wanted to hear it.

"Haruno kissed him. Yes, your beloved friend even kissed back. I saw it."

"L-lies! He would never-"

"Oh, is that right? Admiration is the first step to disappointment. Everybody lies. Don't think Hikigaya is all holier-than-thou."

She felt tears starting to form

On the corner of her eyes

And the same feeling

Of cold emptiness

Returns.

"But it's not like you care, right? I'm not stupid. I know you love him. All this time, it was never about me. It was about him."

"Because you too never loved me!"

She was not backing out.

Not anymore.

Fiery green

Met

Icy blue

It was fire against ice

The confrontation

Of two aristocrats

In the social hierarchy.

"I'm not stupid either. You don't think I noticed? That mask of yours was too obvious. Look at you. Out and exposed, taking the bait. All it took was the mention of one name to send you into a rage. How pathetic."

He was furious.

Indeed.

Fooled for the second time

Once by a cynic

And now by a fire queen.

"Yumiko. Wait."

Slowly

Step away

Turn around

Walk away.

"Wait! I am sorry!"

What can sorry do?

Farther

Into the cold dusk

Carry away

A truth

Bitter

Sweet.

Like the proud flower she is

Tears cannot be seen

She will not allow it.

Yet it flowed once more.

He on the other hand

In a way

Succeeded

A planter

Seeds of doubt

Now a corrosive

Slow-induced poison

Payback

For the chaos

A cunning cynic

And a sly devil

Brought.

An eye for an eye.

But it will only blind them all.

Truth is the greatest medicine

And the worst poison

He had done nothing wrong

But honesty

It is a double-edged sword.

Worst still, he inflated it.

Revenge is sweet.

A dessert at the end.

Best served cold.