"Hey, it's me."
"..."
"Um… I'm sorry about… like, everything."
"..."
"Sorry it took me so long to prepare myself to face you. My life has been so hectic that only now…" She stops herself. "Nevermind. You probably don't want to hear it."
"..."
"I never really got to know you. Though to be honest, I wouldn't really care."
"..."
"Two assholes like you and me would never get along."
"..."
"On that level, I feel that we're at least somewhat similar."
"..."
"I talked to your mom and dad and they said that you always acted out when you were younger. Always got into trouble. Always solved problems with your fists. Always the one to throw the first punch. You were always such a headache for them."
"..."
"And your little sister… Jeez, you really did a number on her when you were kids. I mean, pushing her down the stairs because she broke your violin. Jesus, and I thought I had anger issues."
"..."
"You were a real bastard when you were alive, weren't you?" Shosuko sits next to Shiki Aragawa's grave. She was buried right under the shade of an oak tree, such that neither sun nor moon would ever shine upon her again. She finishes a can of beer, crushes it, and places it back into a plastic bag. "Though I guess that's probably why you got involved with the Umi Alliance, huh? To find somewhere else to unload stress."
"..."
"Your family misses you, you know? Even before you died, you were always so distant. And whatever time you did spend with them you spent it fighting over things that seem trivial in hindsight."
"..."
"I hope you get to see them again one day."
"..."
"And I'm sorry, Shiki… for everything." Shosuko takes out another can of beer, opens it, and pours one out for Shiki. "I have to go."
She stands up and dusts her suit off before walking away, a plastic bag full of empty cans by her side.
"I hope you can find the peace in death that you were denied in life."
"Right here, please." The taxi comes to a halt next to the cemetery entrance. Shosuko steps out of the front seat.
"Should I make it snappy?"
"Let me live that down, will you?" Shosuko smiles as she shuts the car door behind her. Somehow, she can sense that the taxi driver is smiling as well.
She walks through the endless rows of headstones. She's already memorized what his family told her. Walk to the very far edge of the cemetery and take a right. The grave that basks in the sun amidst the cedar trees is Yuuji's. Shosuko suddenly stops as she notices a figure standing over his headstone.
"Sergeant–... no." Shosuko salutes her former commanding officer before calling her by her proper name. "Usami."
「Usami Noya」- Former ICMG Sergeant
"Shosuko…" Usami wipes her tears from her face and does her best to compose herself. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to pay my respects to…" She swallows her saliva. "To a good friend of mine."
Usami is silent as Shosuko sits down next to her.
"I didn't know you were friends with Yuuji." Usami does her best to keep herself from sniffling. "You were so distant from each other in school."
"We only really got to know each other after I transferred schools." Shosuko takes out a pack of tissues and hands them to Usami. "Funny how that works out, huh?"
"...Yeah." Usami blows her nose on the tissues. "How did you two meet?"
Shosuko lets her head loll backwards as she stares at the sky. All that was less than a month ago but it all feels so distant now. "He was being extorted by the yakuza for my benefit. As soon as I found out, I had them stop."
"Thank you… for looking out for Yuuji when I couldn't."
"No… if only I never met Yuuji, he would still be alive today. It's my fault he became entangled in this whole mess."
"You couldn't have known" Usami places her hand on Shosuko's shoulder. "What matters is that your intentions were pure." Even though her words are kind, her grip tells Shosuko that there's an ungodly fury bubbling just beneath the surface. "Yes… that's what matters. Your intentions." Usami nods, trying to convince herself.
"He told me something… before he died, I mean."
"Yeah?"
"He said that he wanted me to protect you… but I feel as though you're pretty capable of protecting yourself."
"That's so like him… Always my knight in shining armor. Even though I was always the one protecting him." Usami shakes her head. "He was such a pain in the ass."
Shosuko rests her chin on her hand. "I rather liked that about him."
"It's only cute the first couple times." Usami shakes her head. "If you had known that, I'm sure you wouldn't have fallen for him."
"–!" Shosuko's back stiffens. "How did you–?"
"Everyone in class knew, y'know?" Usami slaps the back of Yuuji's headstone. "Well, except for him anyway."
"Was it really that obvious?"
"Yes."
"Ahhh great. I'm going to remember that until the day I die now." Shosuko purses her lips slightly. "But y'know, he only had eyes for you. All the way up till the end."
"Well now I feel stupid." Usami heaves a gigantic sigh. "That asshole. If he was just more honest a little bit sooner. I might have taken him up on that offer."
"Too bad things worked out the way they did, huh?"
"It really is too bad." Shosuko stares at the sky, trying to hide the tears welling up in her eyes. "You would have made for a cute couple."
"Yeah…" Usami smiles wryly. "I guess we would have."
But fate was unkind.
Shosuko walks into her hotel room before unceremoniously throwing herself onto the bed. She reaches over to her bedside table, grabs a beer can, and downs it all in one go. Thoughts plague her throughout the night. Thoughts about old enemies and new friends. How long has it been since she retired from the ICMG? Two months? Give or take? It feels like it's been years.
The morning comes without her getting a wink of sleep. Sleepy morning rays meander in through the window. So much has happened. There's been so much fighting. But somehow, she feels that that was the easy part. Getting to know Oka and Daisuko before having them be ripped away from her, that was the hard part. Something tugs at her heartstrings, begging her to go back, pretend like nothing happened, and just be one big happy family again. She could share tea with Kiara, go to Karaoke with Oka, race around in Daisuko's cars, free as a bird with a nest to call its own. But something even stronger drums out a grim undertone with her heartbeat. The sins they've committed, that she can forgive. But the fact that not one of them shows even a hint of remorse, that she does not forgive. She sighs, throws the last beer can away before calling out.
"How long have you been standing there?" Shosuko takes a big whiff, the stench of magic filling her nostrils.
"It took me a while to work up the courage."
"What? You scared of your own sister?"
"Just worried." The Batter pushes open the door and leans on the doorframe. "We need to talk."