A certain blonde prince

Plagued his mind

Haunting him

Like a shadow

If the cynic

Stare closer at a mirror

He began to see

The monster

Masked

Reflection

Mirage

Illusion.

Do not forget.

When fighting monsters

Do not become one.

All this time

Aimless chase

For genuine

Something worthwhile

Real.

Fail to see

He had become

The creature he hated

A creature

Of stagnancy

Mirrors and clones

A monotone painting

Ever so constant

Unchanging.

By pressing for a mere friendship

He was hindering

Natural progression

Refusing to allow

The flower

To bloom.

If he does not allow

The rose to bloom

It will die.

"Hikigaya-san. Are you alright?"

A warm hand on his shoulder

Pulled him out of a void

Bring him back

To his senses.

"Y-yeah."

"Yumiko-chan is a nice girl."

He swallowed

Guts twisted

His skin crawled

At the ominous words.

"That is why you must be compassionate with her."

"But how? I-I can't..."

His eyelids shut tight

A tear squeezed out

He was on breaking point

But not from grief or panic

Instead

Stricken with fear.

An idiotic saying

The sky is falling down.

Now, he may have an idea.

The sensation

Of hell about to break loose

Chaos bound to explode

Sky falling down.

"Such is youth. Puppy love. Sugarcoated words translating to drunk desires and wanton delights."

With a gloved hand

The sage took off

Her iconic red hat

Allowing thin gray locks

As if an elder angel

Swaying to the wind.

"Romanticism. A poetry of love, lust and sex. And like a poem, ending with a period."

Either this woman

Poking at him

Goading him to fall into the abyss

Or guiding him

Through a treacherous path.

"Hikigaya-san. As you said, all things come to an end. It could end differently. Yumi-chan is a foolish girl, that I must admit. Friendships last longer than romantic relationships. Unless you intend to marry her, it will inevitably fall apart."

"I can't tell if that is consolation or provocation."

She giggled

But not in mockery.

"I know you love her too. Perhaps it is still not apparent that you need her as well, but in the end you must decide."

"To forfeit this friendship we have built so far?"

"Do you now understand why I cannot simply abandon my works?"

Once again, the cynic was in check.

"You worked hard, made sacrifices. Now, you must choose whether to keep what you have or go all in. Either way, you will lose some, gain some."

"This is not a game."

"Of course not. That is what makes it so exhilarating."

He inwardly grimaced

Perhaps this woman

Another sadist

Spectator

Of a bloody gladiator fight.

"Don't get me wrong. It is certainly no fun, especially for you. To think, a cynic such as you. Caught in the same trap the people you gawked at fell victim to. Ironic, is it not?"

"Very. I am not having a good time."

"You said it yourself. We always have a choice."

"What should I choose?"

From a nonchalant visage

Morphed

Into one of disgust

Jade green eyes

Bore holes behind his head.

"How pathetic. Hikigaya-san. Asking for advice is one thing. Asking for a course of action is another. One step lower from your poor standing."

She shook her head

Definitely mocking him

A condescending smirk on her lips

While he was stunned

Struck square

The words hit home

Sharp woman.

"F-fine. Sorry. That was my blunder."

"Do not be sorry. Be better."

Once again

A sweet smile

Yet he cannot tell

Difference.

From a razor sharp critic

To a motherly figure

Peculiar woman.

"There is no right or wrong choice on this one. However..."

He listened intently

A student

To a sensei

Albeit machiavellian

Promising wisdom.

"Whichever choice it is, be sure not to regret it."

"Do not regret..."

He lurked on the words

Like a hunter on a bog

Once again

In a swamp of lies

Fog of presumptions

Perhaps now

Truth was on sight.

Take the shot.

"Although I wouldn't mind having a great-grandson."

"What do you mean by that?"

It was a menacing tone

Filled with suspicious backdrops.

"It means exactly as it is."

She stood up

So did he

Part ways

Wave away

Silver hair and red coat

Memorable contrasts

Of a certain sage.

"Have a good evening, child."