As I approached the shop, I saw the same man, sweeping the same stoop. He didn't seem to be doing much work, as always. He tipped his hat to me again as I walked in.

The sound of jazz hit me again. It wasn't like a wall of sound; it was more like a cloud. Like the air in the shop was filled with light music. It made the mood in the building somewhat lively.

The place was a bit crowded, but I happened to get there after everyone had already sat down. I walked straight up to the counter. This time, there was no reason to get coffee. It didn't help before, and it wouldn't help now. I just got a bagel. I chose a seat in a corner of the room, and started to eat.

Most of the guests were sitting in pairs, as the tables only had two chairs each. I inadvertently watched as they made conversation with each other. It all seemed… so easy for them. Like they could talk about anything. Their very thoughts escaped them as easily as the carbon dioxide that left their lungs did.

As I saw a couple get intimate, I turned away. I could tell that my face flushed red. After a few seconds, I changed my mind. I'd never get anywhere unless I learned how to express myself. And the best way to learn that, was to learn by example.

So I pretended I was watching the band, but in reality, I was watching the couple. The more mushy stuff they said, the more I smiled. It felt good, until I realized that I wasn't them. That I was Kyoko Kirigiri, and my life was not that easy. Being an Ultimate meant that you not only had talent, but you had responsibility. And Ultimates were held to higher standards than others, obviously. Higher standards that I was not achieving...

Once I finished my bagel, I left the shop. At this point, I was still unsure of what to do next. So I continued to wander around, observing people along the way. What was so different between us? I couldn't really put my finger on it…

But my real question was, why? Why me? I needed somewhere to think. Somewhere quiet. And I wasn't going back to my room, either… Sitting in there was far from helpful...

So I spent an hour or two trekking out and around the city to find some grassy area that seemed somewhat peaceful. I decided on a relatively barren hill, and I sat down quietly. It was very plain, yes, but I could see the entire city from where I was sitting. But I couldn't stay here for too long, though. The sun was setting behind the city, so I only had about an hour.

The sun setting wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Hues of red, orange, and violet streaked the sky, and for once in my life, I wish I had a camera. Then again, I wasn't the Ultimate Photographer. I couldn't even perform as the Ultimate Detective...

As I stared into the sunset, I contemplated the events of the past couple days. I ended up back on the same question. Why? Why did I have to fall in love with Izuru? Why did he have to enable me? Why was it so difficult to make a decision? My life would be so much easier if this hadn't happened… Eventually, the tension built up so much that I couldn't hold it to myself anymore.

"Why?" I spoke aloud.

I let out a huge sigh. As a detective, I always looked for the 'why'. The motive behind a criminal's actions. There was always one, because if there wasn't, there would be no reason for them to break the law.

But this was different. There wasn't a reason for what happened here. There was no rational way to explain this, other than human nature.

"You used to sit here and think a lot back when we were in Hope's Peak... But, of course, you wouldn't remember that."

My eyes widened slightly, but I didn't turn my head. Of course he'd show up here. What was he here for this time?

"Sometimes you don't need a reason to do what you want. Wanting is the reason enough. Why do you think I followed Junko Enoshima all this time?"

Well, he had a point.

"Because you wanted to..."

As a matter of fact, I didn't know why he followed her. Why he decided that Despair was more appealing than Hope. Before I could ask him, Izuru responded quickly.

"Exactly. Whoever thinks rational explanations are necessary doesn't see the whole picture."

I turned to where the voice came from. Izuru Kamukura was sitting right next to me, staring straight at the sun like I was. He was wearing typical clothes, nothing special. But for some reason, he seemed to shine. His pale face had more color than it ever had. His dark hair gleamed in the sun, and his red eyes almost sparkled. In sharp contrast to me, who was a disheveled mess and didn't know what she was doing. Which reminds me… why did he want me?

"Why me?"

"Because it was meant to be. We are polar opposites, Kyoko. Destroying and protecting, Despair and Hope, black and white. And you know what they say about opposites…"

"Opposites attract…" I said, completing the thought.

"I'm a paragon of Despair, and Hope is empty to me. And, the contrary applies to you. Yet we're more similar than I make us out to be. We may be on opposite sides, but in terms of character, it's like staring into a mirror... To meet someone who understands..."

"If that's… how you feel..." Well, he could probably tell I liked him. But, I wanted to see what he would say. He turned to face me, at this point.

"Kyoko, I know you've been feeling it, too. Even if you didn't tell me yesterday."

Well, there was no denying it now. Maybe I should say it… Nothing else really mattered, anyways. Yet… the thought of saying something like that made me feel insanely nervous. My stomach and head both felt light.

I really wanted to say it, too. But… the words just wouldn't come out of my mouth. Was it the perceived consequences that were stopping me? Maybe it wasn't that… Maybe it was it just nerves? Or was it something else entirely?

"I… I…"

This wasn't that hard… but why was I hesitating? All I had to do was say it: 'I love you'. Three simple words. Yet, for some reason, they seemed unpronounceable… Well, to be honest, I haven't spoke them in a long, long time, so maybe I did forget how they sounded...

So I just sat there, looking at his face, him looking at mine. His face was only a couple inches away from mine. Seeing Izuru's face this close for the first time made my heart ache, even more so than before. It lasted only a couple seconds until his face shot forward, and he kissed me.

I wasn't surprised at all. But, I was glad that he took the first step, because it seemed I was waiting my whole life for this moment. Waiting my whole life for something that I wasn't ready to go out and get on my own.

I closed my eyes, to focus my senses, in a way. It was also to suppress the feeling of being watched by the random passersby. I wouldn't let them bother me now; for once in my life, I was actually experiencing love.

His lips were warm. The kiss felt like it lasted forever, because I was savoring the moment. This moment that I might never get again. Just Izuru and I, sitting in the sunset, not having a care in the world. I barely felt the cold afternoon wind on my neck as it tossed my hair back and forth.

After a while, Izuru started moving his lips away from mine. I instinctively moved mine closer to maintain contact, but once I realized what was happening, I stopped. Surely I couldn't be too forward…

He stared at me for a couple seconds after, grinning perhaps for a different reason this time. Then, he turned and laid on his back. Closing his eyes and putting his arms on his chest, he spoke.

"I knew it."

The sun was quickly setting, with only another couple minutes of daylight left. And Izuru just laid there, with his eyes closed, relaxing in the open… Wait!

It's the perfect opportunity! I turned to my side and felt the handcuffs that were there. I might never get a better chance. He was completely vulnerable…

I grabbed the handcuffs and slowly moved them towards him. He didn't even flinch…

But, something about this didn't seem… right…

My hands froze when they were about an inch away from his. But I was reluctant to finish the job.

Izuru finally showed me love, and repaying him with betrayal wouldn't feel right. Yes, he had to be captured. But, I couldn't. I… I just... couldn't. I loved him too much.

I silently put the handcuffs away. After thinking for a bit, I decided to lay down in the sun as well, right next to Izuru. I closed my eyes and relaxed, pondering some things.

What was next for us? The future was shrouded in mist, as Izuru was very unpredictable, not to mention my current attachment to the Future Foundation. I'd have to make a choice, essentially, between the two. At this point, and based on my recent actions, that choice was obvious. But was that correct? He's a criminal and a murderer, and I'd turn against the Foundation to be with him? That didn't make much-

'Whoever thinks rational explanations are necessary doesn't see the whole picture'

I remembered what Izuru said just a couple minutes ago. He's right: there's one thing the Foundation doesn't see, or understand. The fact that I love Izuru Kamukura. But would I really just change my way of life? Hm… That kiss sure was nice...

I laid there for about ten minutes, until the sun was obscured from vision and the colder temperature made me uncomfortable. Opening my eyes, I turned to my side to look at Izuru one last time before I left.

He wasn't there.

Of course. Showing up at the most unexpected times, and leaving at them, too… Oh, well. I was sure I'd see him again, so I wasn't too disappointed. I had to get home. And I had a decision to make, no matter how obvious it seemed.

Which reminded me, I needed to call someone back.

And so, tightening my coat, I started walking back to my house. Eventually, I made it back, thankful again to be in the warmth and light. I was pretty hungry; I haven't eaten since lunch. I took two steps into my kitchen when I remembered what I discovered this morning. I basically had no food.

Oh, well. I wasn't in the mood to leave my house. Looks like I'd have to do it…

I picked up the phone and called the number for the local pizza place.

"Pizzakuma. What do you want?"

"Small cheese pizza. Hold the Despair."

You had to say that. Otherwise, they'd intentionally mess up your order. Like not melting the cheese enough, or using undercooked meats. Hina learned that the hard way...

"You sure? You'll be charged extra for that."

Even if they charged me an exorbitant amount, the fact of the matter was that I didn't care.

"Yes. I'm sure. My address is-"

"Whoa, whoa. We wiretapped this call, so we know your address. Have the money ready in a half hour."

Oh, yeah. They can do that…

I waited for a bit, thinking about Izuru some more. If I did capture him, would I ever get another chance? At love, I mean. I was afraid a gaping hole would open up inside me the moment I realized that Izuru was gone. I might never be able to recover. I couldn't tell what would happen, honestly. As shown by this mission, I was completely horrible at predicting the future. Because love is unpredictable.

In about a half hour, the doorbell rang, interrupting my thoughts. I opened the door, and there stood a robot Monokuma.

Just like the one I saw in Hope's Peak.

I jumped a bit, but then I realized what it was here for.

It was holding my pizza. It extended its arm out to me, with a pizza box shaped like Monokuma's head.

"Heeeere you go!"

I cautiously took the pizza box from the robot, and went to close the door.

"Hey! What's the deal? That pizza's gonna be 15 bucks!"

Oh. Right. The money. 15 was a little much, especially for a pizza this size. But, as I've said, I didn't care.

I gave the robot the money and closed the door. I then brought the pizza box to my table, and opened it.

They must have dyed their sauce black, because the pizza was speckled with darker tomato sauce above white cheese. The box had two holes for sauces, which seemed to be ranch and barbeque.

How fitting. Like everything else in this world nowadays...

I took a bite of the pizza, and, after realizing it was safe to eat, started eating the rest. I continued to think about Izuru and what the future held. Yes, I did feel that what was between us was real, but…