[10:38 p.m.] (We are at a road junction where a train would pass by.)

I remember in my Literature class that as the world got smaller, the distances you had to create to leave someone got bigger. First, a large enough river and a boatman could separate a scorned and grieving wife from their wanderlusting husband. Then, steamers and ports, with the lover wistfully waving her wipers to a man searching for opportunities in the new world. After, it became planes and airports, with many telenovels ending in a kiss just before the person had to board their plane.

Indeed, when it came to stories, the larger the distance, the higher the stakes.

Yet, perhaps, when it came to real-life, faraway distances might be a blessing. The farther and further away someone was, the more time you had to forget about them.

To forget their red-amber eyes, their peach-mane that shone with the last kisses of spring… the words of friendship exchanged between you… those fond memories tainted with betrayal. Yuigahama stood next to me. Her eyes still shone with the light I used to welcome. Now, I realize…

You didn't need darkness to hide something sinister.

Ah, the darkening of my thoughts might have alerted her. She was always perceptive of the changes in the mood of others. It was almost uncanny how she could practically read your mind. In any other case, she would've made a great caretaker.

[10:42 p.m] (We are walking by the tracks.)

"What's wrong, Yukinon?" Her nickname of me hadn't betrayed the seriousness of her tone. Most of the time. She was still under the impression that everything was alright between us.

That I wasn't plotting her demise, right then and there.

I kept a brittle smile… "Nothing you should be concerned of."

Her brows scrunched up in thought. She was connecting the dots, looking for any recent events that would sour my mood. Or, at least, she pretended. She knew exactly why my mood was sour.

"Is it because of Hikki?" The slight tremble in her voice might have given the impression that she was seriously considering my emotions. However, I long lost affection for that man. HE was nothing more to me than a whisper in the gales.

No, Yuigahama-san, this time, this wasn't about HIM.

"No, I was just thinking of other people I despise." We crossed under a streetlight, and for a brief moment, I saw my smile reflected in her eyes. A brittle, vengeful smile. She must've noticed, because she immediately put distance between us.

"Scary. Yukinon is always scary," her joke did not lighten the mood. Rather, it felt more like a statement of a fact. Indeed, I was scary. "But, you know that I'm always there for you, right?"

"In more ways than one, and more than you're needed," I snarked.

Yuigahama-san took a few seconds trying to process what I said… and gave up. She frowned and looked at the silver river that hung above us. "I was kind of worried, though."

"Why so?"

[10:45] (The train is going to pass us.)

"Well, when you called me, you sounded really pissed." Yuigahama smiled, but her eyes wandered. "You said you wanted to go for a walk and vent. I rushed here, you know, so you better think about it!"

Well, I know for a fact that you were loyal to your friends, and I did consider that you would rush here. In fact, I was willing to bet my inheritance that you would rush here with 100% certainty. But not out of loyalty. No.

You'd rush here out of guilt.

"I did consider it, yes." I turned to her. "Thank you."

[10:48] (The train arrives, just in time.)

I gave her my sincerest smile. Her eyes widened, and she tried to smile back. But I could never have seen what it might've looked like.

[10:49] (Her brain is splattered on the front of the train.)

I headed back home. I took her phone and threw it at the fireplace as I sat down, contemplating. They're going to be suspicious of me, yes, but in this world, those with power always got their way.

At least…

I turned to the jar of toy-eyes on my shelf. In it, a rather curious set of gray eyes almost too fishy to be human.

That's what HE taught me.

For the second time today, I smiled sincerely. I leaned back, and muttered the words,

"Thank you, Hikigaya-kun. For saving me."

[6:24 a.m.] (News of the murder pops out in every television. Yukinoshita watches, and smiles sincerely, the third time. No one spots her smiling when Yuigahama's obituary is read.)


Author's note:

A friend of mine told me that I didn't have too many dark and depressing stories. Lately, however, inspiration struck me wherever I went, so I sought to remedy that. Here's my attempt at channeling that inspiration into words.

I hope it wasn't too bad. If it was, please forgive me. It's been a while since I last wrote, and I am a bit rusty at the moment. If not, I sincerely hope you enjoyed. My mind's a maze, and I am amazed at everything that I could find just beyond the paths I've treaded before. To all that treaded my mind's map with me, I sincerely offer you my thanks.

I am a college student now. And yes, I do major in Literature. It's been a great journey so far, and I hope that good things would happen ever more. Simply put, words cannot express how much happier I am these past few months, and I hope that I continue still being happy. And, as a result, I wrote this in hopes of making you happy as well.

Signing out, Xynovitch.