The sounds of shuffling feet, rolling bags, and monotone voices on the intercom created a lazy cadence — so very different than the excitement her days usually led her through. Maybe it was because of that, or maybe it was because she saw no city lights sparkling against the starless night outside the window just yards away from her seat, but she felt quieted.
Just a couple years ago, Koto couldn't have imagined the life she was living now — being recognized by humans as well as demons, a famous face and voice. It was stressful sometimes, as high-maintenance life was bound to be.
How had she gotten here? It seemed like just yesterday, all she was doing was riding the thrill that watching fights gave her, admiring her first battles, refereeing her first match. Now she was an icon, and it wasn't just because of the battles. She was good at her job, she knew that — few people paid as much attention to the beauty of fights as she did. But maybe that was the problem.
She wanted to believe she was simply doing a nice girl a favor when she helped Juri get promoted from a simple cocktail waitress to referee girl alongside herself, but she knew deep down that wasn't the whole truth. Maybe it was the fact that she hadn't seen her family since she had left the Makai — maybe it was the fact that she had never been more alone in her life, and as much as she tried to keep her head up, she was tired of having nowhere to look but inward or far, far away.
She certainly wasn't alone physically anymore, and she never had to be if she didn't really want to. She had plenty of money, and she could practically get whatever she wanted. Anything material. Well, it all seemed material. But she could be happy with that. She had what she needed. She had finally made it somewhere.
So why did she feel so lost?
"Koto. Koto!"
She jumped a little, uttering a quick "Oh" before snatching up her bags and following Juri and Ruka to the boarding area.