She rested her cheek

On the palm of her hand

Blonde hair cascading down

As she looked out

Dusk settles

Dots of light appearing

It was such a serene atmosphere

But her eyes

Showed otherwise.

"Hachiman."

"Yes?"

"Are you free on Thursday?"

"I guess."

"I want to meet up. Be there for me, yeah?"

"Huh. Alright."

With a little smile

And her emerald eyes

Once more

Filled with joy

They parted

For the evening.

On the other hand

The cynic

Inwardly grimaced.

He knew what was about to transpire.

Slowly but surely

He was backed into a corner

No escape

Nor diversion

This was the end of the road

And the start of a new one.

One which he walked alone

And perhaps another

Where he walked alongside her.

Even in the darkest hours

No sleep for him tonight.

Can a man in death row

Get a good night's sleep?

They say

Nearing the end

One starts to cherish

The smallest things

And as cynical as he is

The little things

He had come to love.

A day goes by

Wrapped in a delicate veil

Ticking time bombs

Twenty or so more hours

Before zero.

Chalk on the board

An incomprehensible hieroglyph

When the mind is busy

All the other senses

Fail.

Everyone else faded away

As he was left

To himself

Just him and the self

His most loyal companions.

"Hachi, is something wrong?"

Her green eyes caught him

For a moment he was locked

Stunned and unable to react.

"Nothing..."

"Liar. I can see it in your eyes."

He smiled

Proud to have been the one

Transform a once unattentive girl

Into a keen observer.

He taught her well.

The last lesson

Yet to be learned.

"Oi, Hikio. You still there?"

"Yeah. Listen, I have to-"

Enough with the lies.

Once

He could have fooled her

But now

Simple excuses

Will not fly over her head

Truth.

"I need some time. Is that alright?"

Her face contorted into a frown

Confusion

Perhaps anxiety?

Indeed

She feared those words

Always the prelude

To a grim episode.

A certain blonde prince

When those words left his lips

She was simply agitated

But when the same words

Now from a cynic

Her heart sank

And the fire

Nearly gone out.

"H-Hachi. Whatever the matter is, you can count on me."

"I know."

He wanted to pull her closer

Into an embrace

But it would be selfish

To think that it would be

Interpreted as acceptance

When in truth

A refusal.

Fear was written on her face

A troubled look

Tears underway.

"Now, now. I just have some problems to work out by myself."

"Do you not trust me to help?"

Her brows scrunched in irritation.

"I do. More than anyone else. But some things are best kept away from others."

"That's like saying "I'll leave because I want to be better for you"."

"Well... yeah. It's kind of like that."

"Bullshit!"

She seized his shoulders and angrily shook him.

"Hachio! That logic is so outdated! You don't leave each other to be better! You help each other get better! Together!"

"Ho- alright! Let go woman. You are going to give me a concussion, geez."

She moved in

Wrapping her arms around him

A slight frown

Still apparent

Her cheeks red.

"I am not leaving on you."

"Promise?"

"Err... I don't make promises I can't kee- Ouchie!"

"Hachiman."

She stared at him

With sad eyes

Her lips pouted

A clever tactic

On par

With a certain devil woman.

"Oh, fine. Now release me."

Once again

She put on a bright smile

Quite contagious

Even the pessimist

Gave a smirk.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Ha-chi-man."

She softly spoke his name

As if enticing him

To follow her trail

Indeed

Dangerous are women

Who learn and evolve

From each blunder

Encounter

They get better.

Each step

Brought forth

A feeling unfelt

In a long time

The day he had saved

Or perhaps cursed

The fire queen

Sensation

Of traipsing the abyss.

This time

Not to pull a soul out

But to jump in

Perhaps to clarify

Achieve closure

Sear the loose ends of the tie

And inadvertedly

Break it.

He had a choice.

Both ended

In a mirage of freedom

A certain sage

Taught him

Choose which

To what he will be

A slave to.

Everyone suffers. The choice is to which.

The final lesson.

May we get what we need

And never what we deserve.

A paradox.

Rejection is acceptance.