April 4, 2015
It was a cold winter. Snow had blanketed every corner of the city, breathing life into its otherwise lifeless state. Tohito and Aiko sat by the fireplace, engrossed in their card game. Haru stared at his cards for a moment.
Haru: [Hey, Tohito...]
Tohito lifted his head from the cards, his bright, curious blue eyes locking onto Haru.
Tohito: [What's up?]
Haru spoke with a slight tremble.
Haru: [Will we be friends forever?]
Tohito gave a gentle smile and placed a hand on Haru's shoulder. His touch was warm.
Tohito: [Of course. As long as I'm alive, we'll be friends.]
- - - - - -
Whenever... I think about the nonsense I used to say... it feels so meaningless now. Like... I was such an idiot back then. When I think about it now... emotions seem so foolish. Every time I look in the mirror... those bright blue eyes from the past... they've been replaced by darkness. I think... it's time. Time to leave this place... to find Tohito. I need to distance myself from the things that make Tohito, Tohito. After all... the real tragedy isn't losing something. The real tragedy is losing something... and not being able to understand it or cry for it.
- - - - - -
Tohito walked slowly through the city, wanting to explore every corner one last time. After all, he might never return.
Christmas was near, and a soft layer of snow covered the city. The sound of children playing in the snow filled the air. Aiko gently took Tohito's hand and said with a soft smile,
Aiko: [Well, well, what's a naughty boy like you doing here?]
Tohito closed his eyes gently.
Tohito: [You know, Aiko... the worst thing isn't that you can't love something anymore. The worst thing is remembering how you used to love something and not knowing what to do about it.]
Aiko raised an eyebrow.
Aiko: [That has nothing to do with my question.]
Tohito flashed a playful smile.
Tohito: [I think I'm gonna go somewhere for a while.]
Aiko responded with surprise.
Aiko: [Where?]
Tohito thought for a moment.
Tohito: [I'll tell you when I get back.]
Aiko's hand started to grow cold, and she replied in a darker tone.
Aiko: [Are you hiding something from me?]
Tohito slowly opened his eyes.
Tohito: [Maybe...]
Aiko's hands slipped away from Tohito.
Aiko: [Why... how... can you be so heartless?]
Tears began to stream down Aiko's face.
Tohito looked at her tears with emptiness.
Tohito: [I don't understand what you mean.]
Aiko softly pounded her fist against Tohito's chest, sobbing.
Aiko: [You jerk... you're just throwing everything away like that?]
Tohito gently pulled Aiko into an embrace.
Tohito: [But I promise, when I come back... I'll understand.]
Aiko's sobs grew louder.
Aiko: [Will you... come back soon?]
Tohito gently stroked Aiko's hair.
Tohito: [I'll try my best.]
Aiko leaned into Tohito's touch.
Aiko: [Okay... let's go home and pack your things.]
Tohito took a deep breath.
Tohito: [I'm not taking anything with me.]
- - - - - -
A question keeps nagging at me... What happens if you strip away someone's humanity and emotions, but they still remember what it means to be human? Would they remain that seemingly superior, civilized person? Or would they descend into madness? Well, I guess... we'll find out.
- - - - - -
Tohito walked slowly down the street. It had been about twenty minutes since he'd met Aiko, but for some reason, he had no desire to see Haru.
Tohito entered a quiet alley. The alley was filled with trash and rats gnawing at the garbage in the bins. The stench of waste permeated the air, and the faint squeaks of the rats were barely audible.
Tohito slowly extended his hand forward and said in a dry tone,
Tohito: [Hey, Pink Hair, I can sense you're here. Come out.]
A radiant beam of light appeared in front of Tohito, and in an instant, everything fell silent.
The pink-haired girl placed her hands on Tohito's shoulders from behind, her red eyes glinting in the darkness. She spoke with a mischievous tone.
Girl: [Hey, look who finally paid us a visit!]
Tohito slowly turned his head toward her and said in a hollow tone,
Tohito: [Whatever... I think I'm ready for that trip you were talking about.]
The girl playfully stepped back from Tohito.
Girl: [Oh, oh! Our little monster's gotten brave... but I told you, you'd have to—]
Tohito cut her off.
Tohito: [Defeat the strongest person in this world. But... no one's stronger than Tohito.]
The mischief faded from the girl's face.
Girl: [Ugh, you're no fun at all... but you're right. Even that person the Dawn Conclave was trying to free is nothing compared to you. But...]
The girl narrowed her eyes.
Girl: [Your friends are way weaker than you. Are you sure you can just leave them here? They might d—]
Tohito replied in a neutral tone.
Tohito: [Then they'll have to get stronger. For now, I need to bring back Tohito Owa...]
The girl playfully tapped Tohito's back.
Girl: [That's the spirit! So, you asking me out?]
The girl stuck out her tongue playfully.
Tohito replied emotionlessly.
Tohito: [Absolutely not.]
The girl snapped her fingers, and a portal began to tear through space.
Girl: [Such a buzzkill... Anyway, I'll introduce myself on the way. For now... let's go explore the multiverse!]