Mowatte Mabase
Chapter 5: Connection
-Stalker-
.:. The Vespa. Naota had only acquired it less than 24 hours ago, and already it had turned into a friend, his traveling partner that bore in his pain. It endured his struggles, it gave him a means to get wherever his conscience lead him next, and as almost a symbol of its brotherhood, it was stained with Naota's own blood. But… this was what had caused the blood to be spilled, and the tears to fall.
.:.Ignoring the irony and mounting his Vespa the thought struck him… What of Superior Raharu? Not that I care…It's not my problem. Putting it in the back of his mind :clunk: Naota started it up to that familiar sound :vroom vrooooom: and headed on his way.
.:.Mamimi. She needs me… But she's been gone since… Naota drove the empty roads on this cloudy day in search of her. Everywhere he could think to look… Nothing. Where is she! Naota thought angrily. At the edge of Mabase, on a bridge overlooking the river stood a soda machine. Approaching it, Naota fished some change out of his pocket and slowly put it in. :click click: He pushed the button automatically, a reflex without even looking. Nothing happened. Pushing the button again, the SOLD OUT button blinked. Glancing at the soda he had been attempting to purchase, "I don't like… the sour stuff…" Naota said quietly, with tears in his eyes. Dammit! Jumping back on the waiting Vespa he sped off to get away from his mistakes, his problems… himself.
.:. Naota stood at the edge of the river. Mamimi's place. My place. Ours. Swinging the bat at nothing in particular Naota gritted under his breath, Useless. Effing useless. Just then he noticed a cigarette butt on the ground, covered with Mamimi's lipstick with the word 'Chief' written on the side. Chief. Mamimi called him chief. She really was gone, she didn't need him, Haruko didn't need him, nobody cared if he lived or died. These thoughts kept running through his head as he smashed the bat into the cement walling.
Note: 'I don't like the sour stuff' and 'Chief' are references to the anime.