Applause plunged the auditorium into a frenzy of glory as the graduates of the Ousou Academy received their diplomas, and walked in a line to take their place in the center of the stage, forming a perfect row. For a long minute they stood aside, letting themselves be intoxicated by the meaning of that ceremony and the soft lights of the hall.

In spite of everything, she would always have an unconditional affection for that academy. She had spent an important part of her life within its walls, meeting people who came to bring her many things, and she could never simply forget it. There was no way she would allow herself to do so. Although she would not see most of them again, the moments she had spent, the conversations she had held and especially, the things she had managed to learn, would remain forever in her memory.

Yashiro was one of the first to be greeted with a warm hug by the others, and when the adults started to leave the auditorium, she got a nod from her literature teacher. It was the first time she saw her smiling, and she responded to the gesture in the same way. Among so many faces overflowing with joy, there was one who despite being silent and immobile, managed to stop her heart.

Yashiro would always recognize it no matter how far away she was, and she moved away from her classmates to address the figure, which was waiting with hands together in front of it. She stood completely upright watching her from a distance, as if disconnected from the surrounding environment. Yashiro managed to pass among the crowd of relatives and students with a slight abruptness, taking with her a couple of confused glances. When she was some steps away, she stopped, standing up while holding her breath.

"Congratulations, Yashiro."

Rikako's voice sounded so confident that for a moment her sound surrounded her, silencing all others around her. The difference in height did not seem to matter to them, they just analyzed each other as if years had passed since they had last seen each other, or as if time had swept both of them away, taking with it what they once were.

"You are here," Yashiro stated, narrowing her eyes with a brief blink.

The younger one on the other hand, pursed her lips in a graceful smile. Rikako had always been a person who took care of her tone of voice and her every move, yet Yashiro perceived her differently that time. She seemed to be watching from another place, a higher one, as if she were a mere spectator.

"Did you doubt me?"

Silence broke between the two of them, despite the constant noise in the auditorium. Yashiro climbed one more step, contemplating the way that the fun dissipated little by little, from the corners of those thin lips.

"Where have you been?" Yashiro decided to question.

"I was going to ask you the same thing…"

Yashiro raised her face a few millimeters and released a breath, as she arched an eyebrow. For a few seconds she lost her gaze at a point higher than both, and when she turned to her again, she relaxed her shoulders and body, feeling that the strength was beginning to abandon her.

"The cage is open now," Yashiro asserted observing every attentive feature of her face. "The jump is difficult, the flight… eternal."

"You will find the way," Rikako answered in a firm and enigmatic tone. "Just as you showed me."

Yashiro gulped and looked down for a moment. Her eyes released a splendor that managed to go unnoticed, as soon as a doubtful and innocent smile came halfway across her lips. When she raised her face again to stare at her, the amethyst in her gaze made her blink a couple of times, and she had to squint as if in those moments, what she saw burned her eyelids.

Her entire body was numb, reluctant to continue living, yet it was after some seconds that she managed to take control, and she slowly climbed the remaining steps until she was a few centimeters in front of her. Rikako looked down, melting into the silvery glow that had completely disappeared. And then, without permission, Yashiro came even closer, breaking that intimate barrier, and wrapped her arms around her.

Rikako felt a slight chill on her back, both of panic and of pleasure, and her eyes opened wide. The contact was gentle at first, but then Yashiro sank her face into her shoulder, inhaling deeply the fragrance of that warmth as if trying to retain it in her memory. Rikako took a few seconds to let herself go, relaxing her whole body, and gave the gesture back with the same intensity, allowing herself to be lulled to sleep by the sound of her breath.

"That felt like goodbye," the youngest mumbled when they parted.

Yashiro did not respond at once, she just watched her like a little girl about to fall asleep, as if she had not really been able to hear her words.

"I want to see you up there," Yashiro declared, in a solemn and unreachable whisper.

Rikako narrowed her eyes as she looked at her, noticing that she was just as imposing making it clear that she was serious. She was willing to put one foot back in the academy, only to see her graduate. She was about to object to her, but in the end, she gave her one last nod, and then Yashiro walked past her without saying a single word or even glancing at her, in such a slow manner that she seemed to force herself to take distance from her presence. Rikako tilted her head in her direction, but was fixed on the floor when she lost sight of her. Gently, she focused on the auditorium again.

Yashiro was once again caught up in the laughter and praise. It took about fifteen minutes for her to bid farewell to her classmates, who began to leave with their families, and she decided to observe the courtyard of the academy one last time, from one of the balconies of the dining hall. For a long time, she rested her hands on the railing, losing her sight on the dark and mesmerizing night sky. Slightly leaning forward, the moonlight reflected on her in a mysterious and supernatural way.

"Beautiful view, isn't it?" she heard a quiet voice behind her.

Makishima was leaning sideways on one of the pillars, contemplating her with an indecipherable smile. Although he was a teacher of other courses, he had attended that ceremony by his own choice. Yashiro felt her chest swell for a few seconds, unable to turn around. She was not expecting such company, and the echo of his voice left her strangely self-conscious.

"It's hard to let go."

Makishima looked down for a few moments until he finally asked, with a naturalness that made her close her eyes, "Did you say goodbye?"

"Not exactly," Yashiro confessed, taking a deep breath.

"You didn't tell her the truth."

Yashiro lost her sight in the courtyard again, in the artificial fountain.

"What happens to her now?"

Makishima watched her when she finally dared to turn around, loosening her entire body as she connected to that amber. If it were not for his sharp ears, he probably would not have heard her.

"I wouldn't worry about that," he assured with a smirk.

Yashiro made a grimace of irony with her lips, and arched an eyebrow as she shook her head, trying to smile even though seconds later, she inevitably failed.

"That smile is that of a fox in the henhouse."

Makishima extended the gesture with delicacy like a shy dawn, yet he could not contain a long, slow chuckle, surprised by her intuition for the umpteenth time. Time again seemed a distant spectator to them, and they were unaware of its passing as they studied each other.

"I thought you needed Sasayama to obtain information from the Public Safety Bureau," she argued, breaking the silence. "You never mentioned you would turn him over to Touma…"

"You didn't need to know. You had the enforcer on your hands, but you decided to let him go. Now, there are no more witnesses who can corroborate Ouryou Rikako's involvement."

Yashiro closed her eyes for a few seconds, and breathed out heavily. When she opened them again, the cold they conveyed was almost palpable, yet it did not affect him at all, he seemed to be covered by a thick shell.

"Where is Touma?"

Makishima's sudden silence made her cross her arms, as she leaned back on the railing somewhat impatiently.

"He was captured by members of the Public Safety Bureau, but nothing is known about him."

Yashiro felt her breathing become heavy, the atmosphere grew cooler and more suffocating. She could not help but close her eyes for several seconds, instinctively raising her head. The night air seeped into her bones, and she had to make an enormous effort to incorporate herself into reality. The young man in front of her remained impassive, with the same smirk that in those moments, lacked all sense for Yashiro.

For the first time since she had met him, she turned her back on him to grasp the railing with her hands. Although she could comprehend his every intention, lately she watched him and felt a void in her whole body. The more she knew him, the more impenetrable he became to her. That indifference in his eyes disturbed her to such an extent that she could not understand, she realized then that he cared little and nothing about the state of Touma, that teacher with whom he had held so many conversations. He had used him from the very beginning without him being aware, and though he was surprised that he had been caught, he could quickly forget him because to him, he was only a tool whose edge could be replaced.

"Touma may be dead or missing. People like him do not have an assured place in this world. That is, because they are a burden to the Sibyl System, they are the mistake that contradicts its foundation," Yashiro sentenced in a gloomy tone, more for herself. "I will find Touma."

Makishima slowly widened his eyes and moved away from the pillar to come near her, until he was right beside her placing both hands on the railing. Their eyes were lost in the sky, as if they were both seeking inspiration in the starless gloom.

"Let's open Pandora's Box, Yashiro. Let's see what is behind the Sibyl System."