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.