Pitch black
Midnight sky
Faint constellations
Silence interrupted
December wind
Sifting through
Dark streets.
No sleep tonight.
The mind
Will think
Exhaust itself
To sleep.
Contemplation
Simultaneously
Footsteps
A skill he learned
Walking
Autopilot.
Mental clock
Struck twelve
Coming home
At this hour
Inevitable death
At the hands of his mother.
Knocking on the door
Reveal
An incensed woman.
"Hachiman!"
Iron grip on his shoulder
Furious eyes
Glaring at him.
"Where have you been!"
"I-I can explain- ow, ow!"
Cut off
Seized by the ear
Wince in pain
As he was dragged inside.
She gazed at her son
As he profusely rubbed
Sore spots
When her mind registered
Sinister
Red stains
Prompting
Taking off her glasses
Shocked.
"What happened to you?"
"What do you mean?"
"You have blood on your shirt!"
Seizing his arms
Groping
For an assumed wound.
"Mom, I'm okay-"
"But whoever caused this certainly isn't!"
He froze at the remark.
Sharp black eyes
The mother wolf
Bore holes
Into the back of his head.
"Explanation. Now."
"I-it's a long story... a friend of mine got into an acciden-"
His lips locked immediately.
What would he say?
It would be a lie
To a certain degree
It was no accident.
Was it?
Now is not the time
To act all holier-than-thou
On lying.
"Clean yourself up. It's already late."
A relief.
He had no alibi
To cover up with
Best he can do
Be discreet.
The woman looked back at him.
"Hachiman. I cannot stress how important it is to be careful. This friend of yours? I will not pressure you any more. But remember."
She took a deep breath.
"This is not just about you. What do you think will your family; us, react if you are at risk?"
The words struck him
On point.
He could not
But look down
Ashamed.
"Consideration, Hachiman. Be considerate!"
"I-I'm sorry. Mother."
Shaking her head
A slight frown.
"Do not be sorry. Be better."
She embraced her son.
With that
Enough said
A resolution
With a simple action.
"Hachiman. Your father and I love you and Ko-chan. If you got yourself in trouble..."
A cheerful smile
Sharp contrast
Dangerous tone.
"I'll kill you myself."
"B-but mom... That is extremely... counter-productive."
"Wash yourself up and go to sleep. Or tomorrow will be your funeral."
"H-hai!"
Swiftly
Scamper away
Relieved
He would live
Another day.
Passing by
Take a peek
See
His beloved sister
Asleep
Bring a smile
To his lips.
Indeed.
Be considerate.
Little did he know
These words
Soon
A nightmare
Haunting him
Coming days
Of hell
High water.
Trigger
Unpleasant
Flashbacks
When a certain
Sweet airhead
Shed tears
Because of
Him.
She never wanted to see
Such a thing
Ever again.
His methods
Effective
Concise
Logical
Calculated
Profound.
Profoundly rotten.
A wave of numbness
Cold sweat
Vision was darker
Dread
Due.
His clothes
Suffocating
Like a snake
He shed it.
From a pocket
He fished out
The same photo
Stained portrait
Grim reminder
But no.
In another
Picking out
Razor sharp
Hazard.
One that had threatened
Take away
A loved one.
A deadly souvenir.
Literally.
Dispose of it.
Warm water
Soothing
Yet
It could never cleanse
Internal filth.
Running his hands
On his skin
Traces
Dried crimson
Rinse away
But not the memory.
His body was refreshed.
But the mind
Still
Fouled.
Perhaps
It always was.
Rub a cynic
And you will find
Spite
All over his body.
Laying on the bed
Deliberating
Like a machine
Processing
Calculating.
Perhaps
That was his flaw.
A man
Is not
A machine.
Human emotions.
An incalculable factor.
In hand
Looking at a picture
It was sullied
Yet
Still good.
Carefully
Touching with a finger
Staring
The portrait
Depicts two
Him
And her.
Blonde silken hair
A warm smile
Lively
Emerald green
Her eyes
Contrast
To him.
It was a reminder.
To be considerate.
To be compassionate.
Because
To care for someone
You must care
For yourself.
To love someone
You must first
Love
Yourself.
A picture
Is worth
A thousand words
But when he saw
Her.
Miura Yumiko.
Only
Three
Words.
