That night, Yuzuru Aki planned to conduct her patrol. It wasn't a daily occurrence, but from time to time, she made it her duty to roam at night, searching for any trouble that might happen.
It's kind of a mechanism of hers to fully determine their peace and safety. After all, knowing what they had experienced, isn't it only natural to do so?
But for this night, just for this specific hour, her friend begs to differ.
"You can just stay and conduct your patrols by next week," Cassandra suggests just as the little autumn continues to ready herself. Her icy blue eyes followed Aki's every action, observing how she wore her digital watch. "Besides, aren't those officers doing an investigation around this place? I'm not saying this to jinx you, but what if they saw you while you're conducting your patrol?"
Chuckling, Yuzuru Aki tried to divert her friend's worries by expressing her amusement. "Well, this is rare. You're worried."
"I'm your friend, dumbass." Cassandra snorts but immediately lowered her eyes, showing an expression of distress. "I think it's only right that I worry about you, no matter how strong and witty you are as a person."
"…"
Speechless, the little autumn automatically walked towards her friend and placed a hand over Cassandra's forehead.
"You aren't sick."
Pouting, Cassandra replied. "Of course, I'm not! Take this more seriously, Yuzu!"
"Ahaha," And just like that, the hand that was hovering on top of Cassandra's forehead then shifted as Aki places it on top of her friend's head. Realizing that she was being patted, Cassandra's crumpled face immediately relaxed, prompting the little autumn to grin and whisper her next words. "And for the record, I am taking it seriously. Just trust me like always, okay?"
"But…" Her blonde friend opened her mouth to retort, but the words immediately died down after their eyes made contact.
Narrowing her eyes, the little autumn eventually pulled away, knowing full well that her current decision contrasts with her friend's wants.
But she has to do this.
For their sake.
"Make sure you lock the door." Aki reminds her friend who was currently standing still, looking deep in thought. But even so, Cassandra watches as the little autumn puts on her shoes with a gaze she knows too well. "And don't look at me like that. I'll be fine."
Sighing in exasperation, Cassandra Lou finally laid out her concerns. "Says the lady who got attacked a few nights ago. I know I said that we have to help him, even if he tried to hurt you, but you can't expect me not to worry. What if he attacks you again? What if you encounter those police officers? Can't you take me along with you? If not, just to stay on the safe side, you can just do your patrols by next week."
While shaking her head, the little autumn answered. "I've been postponing it ever since you told me about your condition of allowing me to conduct patrols as long as you can tag along. But, as I always say, I can't take you along with me. It's not safe. Besides, someone has to guard our home, don't you think?"
The little autumn then proceeded to tie the laces of her other shoe just as she continued to speak, "I have to do this, Cassandra. Conducting night patrols ensures our safety-"
"You mean my safety!" Cassandra cried out, surprising the little autumn. With her icy blue eyes glistening from how moist it became, and her fists tightly clenched, it was at that moment that Yuzuru Aki finally realized just how serious this situation has become.
'Oh no.' The little autumn thought to herself just as she stops tying her shoelaces to stand and confront her quivering friend. "Cassandra I'm-"
"You're always like this!" Unexpectedly, Cassandra steps forward and grabbed the hem of Aki's shirt. Tears began to flow from her cheeks as she opened her mouth to continue what she was trying to say. "You know… ever since we got out of that hellhole, you began to do things by yourself. Yeah, you open up to us about it, but must you… must you always…"
"…"
Not knowing how and what to respond with, Aki could only place her hand on top of Cassandra's quivering one and somberly replied. "I'm sorry."
"…"
Once again, Aki apologized just as she takes a step forward to finally close their distance and to place an arm around her friend's shoulder. Noticing how wet her shoulder immediately became, Aki's grip tightened as she tilts her head and laid it beside Cassandra's hair. "I'm sorry for being too reckless, Cassandra. And I'm so sorry that I made you cry."
"You idiot." Resting her nose on Aki's warm neck, Cassandra then laid both of her arms around the little autumn's back. Such a gesture should have made her friend uncomfortable, the little autumn thought, but thankfully, her friend probably haven't realized what she had done. "I'm worried about you, okay? I just… I don't want anything to happen to you, is all."
It took a few seconds before the little autumn could formulate a response, overwhelmed by this sudden barrage of emotions. Cassandra doesn't usually show her emotions like this. So, when she does try and express it, for Yuzuru Aki, it already means everything.
So, while wearing a pleased smile, the little autumn said, "Thank you for worrying about me."
"Hmm," Cassandra hummed before pulling away. With her teary-eyed face, messed up hair, and a forced grin, in the little autumn's eyes, she still looked as majestic as ever. "We're friends. It's what we do. I'm sure Zen would do the same thing."
"Yeah," While squeezing her friend's hand, Aki beamed. "And that won't ever change, for us three. I promise."
'And promises aren't meant to be broken.' The little autumn thought to herself just as she steps out from the comfort of their home, all the while giving her friend one last wave. 'It's made so we can keep it, right?'
With a gentle breeze passing her lone figure, Aki then continued to make her way toward her starting point. While doing so, she couldn't help but smile freely, content with how things currently stand.
But little did she know… how fragile promises can be.
***
Conducting a patrol during the dead of the night is an activity that the little autumn has come up with ever since they successfully acquired a place they can call 'home'. It's her way of assuring herself that no harm can befall their place as long she was around.
And looking back, Cassandra was right. Conducting a patrol when a criminal is on a rampage is not a wise decision to make.
"But someone has to do it." Yuzuru Aki whispered to herself just as she passes through 33rd Street. '37 more streets to go. How tedious.'
Zen once called it being too protective, but for the little autumn, it is an activity that needs to be done. Not for her sake, but for the sake of keeping her friends' peace and tranquility.
She must have gotten this protective trait of hers ever since she experienced countless scenarios of witnessing her fellow 'Numbered' be tortured and abused.
When she was still a little kid, Yuzuru Aki once witnessed how a man got electrocuted to death while he was sitting on some kind of chair that has wires all over it. A few days later, she also witnessed how a woman screamed in agony, verbally expressing her desire for death. It was later that the little autumn realized that the scientists must have injected her with a chemical that would force her to lash out like that.
Yes, scientists.
Krama, after all, is a terrorist organization that wanted to dethrone the former king, which they have successfully done with the use of their infamous weapon that terrified the surrounding continents all over the globe.
During her teenage years, Aki learned that it was called 'Phobos', a generic term to call the chemicals used to formulate its function to fully control a human being.
'No wonder this continent almost got destroyed.' Aki thought to herself just as she found herself taking a detour from 39th Street. It seemed like there was an ongoing road construction on that path, an event that must have occurred a few days ago.
So, Aki eventually found herself on 40th Street, a few kilometers away from their home.
'But in the end, someone managed to cure a person who got infected with Phobos.' The little autumn continued her monologue just as she surveyed her current surroundings. 'If my memory serves me right, that must have been the time when Krama was about to fall.'
And the time when the 'Numbered' was planning for their escape.
Personally, for the little autumn, she considered it their most successful revolt against Krama. Because even without attaining any help from the outside world, they had managed to escape from that organization's clutches.
The downside, however, is the side effects that the Numbered experienced ever since they somehow succeeded in achieving freedom.
Trauma, PTSD, consistent nightmares, and a whole fucking bathtub filled with hallucinations. A prime example of it is the man they just encountered a few days ago.
That's why the little autumn already considers herself to be extremely lucky to have Cassandra and Zen by her side. As long as they're together, it seemed like anything is within their reach.
"Huh?" The sight of a black cat passing her by almost surprised the little autumn. She was currently at 44th Street, just a few roads away from their cafe.
Silence.
It's been a while since she felt as if the world around her didn't make any sound. There was no breeze, no cricket sounds, or even a random sound coming from a random house.
It was too silent. Too silent for the little autumn's tastes.
So, she continued her patrol and finally reached 45th Street.
The first thing she noticed was a moving light, prompting her to crouch and observe. Secondly was the man holding a flashlight who wore that dreaded uniform that they all have come to abhor. And third was his hair, that very same style, and color they'd just witnessed earlier during lunch service.
The little autumn made sure not to make any sound. But for some unknown reason, he just suddenly turned around and yelled.
"Who's there?!" Asks Officer Ain just as he makes his way toward the little autumn. "Show yourself before I take my gun out!"
Clicking her tongue, Yuzuru Aki had no choice but to lift both her arms and hide whatever animosity was leaking out her gaze.
'If Cassandra was here, she would have laughed her ass off already.'
When he finally reached her spot, Yuzuru Aki wore her professional smile and said, "What a coincidence! Hello, Officer Ain. Isn't the moon lovely this evening?"
*****