Tsukiko dragged Fumiko through the town. She didn't speak a word, only pulling her along. Fumi felt like her arm was going to come off. Tsuki squeezed Fumi's hand so tight their fingers turned white.

Everything seemed to be moving quickly and slowly at the same time. The journey felt short, but they both felt each and every drop that landed on them. They noticed every little off thing on the way home.

The afternoon had become dusk. The sky above them was a murky grey black. The rain was pounding down on them with such force that it almost hurt. The flowing water picked up all of the oil and litter off of the streets, carrying it down the empty streets.

The wind chilled the two girls to the bone, pushing against them. Their clothes were almost completely soaked. The world around them would flash white, and a loud rumbling rolled around them.

They approached the old Himura household, falling down onto the front step. It wasn't a graceful motion, as she practically collapsed onto the cold concrete. Tsuki hid her face in her arms, not able to look her friend in the eye.

Fumiko had stopped crying, but Tsukiko was still visibly startled and scared. She tried her best to choke back tears, but it didn't work.

She felt nothing but shame. Fumi stood over her, watching closely as she curled up and let herself cry.

"Are you okay, Tsuki?" Fumiko stepped closer.

"I…" Tsuki tried to speak, but failed, returning to her sobs.

"Hey, calm down." Fumi spoke softly.

"I'm sorry."

"It's alright, Tsuki."

"It's not alright!" Tsuki raised her voice, still hiding her face. "I almost killed him."

"You didn't kill him, Tsuki. That's all that matters." Fumi sat down next to Tsukiko.

"I… It was like my brain turned off. I just got so angry, and--"

"He'll be okay! Seriously!"

"It's not okay!" Tsukiko shouted. "I hurt you. I made you cry. I made you scared."

"I'm not hurt. It's just a bruise. Bruises heal. C'mon, don't cry." Fumi insisted.

"I don't know what to do."

Fumi sighed. "I don't know what to do either."

Tsuki coughed. "I didn't mean it…"

"I know you didn't." Fumiko stood up, pulling Tsukiko up with her. "Let's go inside."

Fumi pulled Tsukiko inside, into the warmth. She shut the door behind them. It was as if the two of them had been transported into another world. Fumi led Tsukiko over to one of the chairs in the kitchen.

"I'm sorry." Tsuki said out of habit.

"Stop apologizing so much, alright? You're making this worse." Fumi shook her head.

"I feel like a fuck up right now…"

This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.

"You're not a fuck up. You made one mistake, Tsuki. Just one."

Tsuki made her hand into a fist. "A really big mistake."

"It's still just one. I stopped you. Just don't make me have to stop you again." Fumi sat down in a chair and put her hand on Tsukiko's leg.

"I'm supposed to be better than this." Tsuki looked away.

"Why?"

"Cuz I have to protect you." Tsuki blushed.

"I'm not that weak, am I?" Fumi chuckled.

"It's not like that."

"Listen, Tsuki…." Fumi put her face close to Tsukiko's. "We'll find the guy eventually, alright? You can't just throw yourself into things alone. I'm here too, y'know? You can rely on me. I wanna get him just as bad as you do."

Tsuki smiled a bit. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Fumi."

"I love you, Tsukiko."

"Yeah, I-I love you too." Tsuki still felt strange saying it out loud.

Fumi sighed. "They might be criminals, but they have families. They have husbands and wives. Think about that, the next time you start getting angry."

"...yeah." Tsuki didn't know how to respond.

"Think of it this way. I'd rather have you in jail, than dead." Fumi frowned.

Tsukiko shuddered. "Well, when you put it that way…"

"This isn't an eye for an eye. Don't think you have to get revenge for me or something. I just want him in jail, alright?"

"I get it." Tsuki lowered her head.

Fumi leaned in close. "You don't have to do this, y'know."

"What?"

"I… I've got all sorts of things I still wanna do with you. I want a future together. Maybe we could get married."

Tsuki turned red. "C'mon…"

"If this gets too risky, I won't feel bad if you give up. This is just--"

"I'm not giving up, Fumi. I don't wanna be scared anymore." Tsuki insisted.

Fumiko smiled, laying her head on Tsuki's shoulder. "There's my knight in shining armor."

"Jeez." Tsuki sighed. "I thought you were gonna rip me a new one."

"Sometimes, I like to imagine myself like a princess in a tower. You'd call me Fumiko-hime." Fumiko spoke in a singsong voice.

"You really can't help yourself, can you?" Tsuki complained.

--

They spent a few minutes chatting and flirting, like usual. Though their clothes were still sopping wet, they didn't really mind. They were too focused on each other to care. That was, of course, until Haruka burst in through the door.

"Heyyyy, what's up guys?" She stumbled in.

"Oh god." Tsuki groaned.

Haruka approached them both. "I heard what happened."

"What're you doing here?" Fumi asked.

"The Chief sent me to tell you guys something."

"The Chief?" Tsuki turned to her sister. "How do you know the Chief?"

"I'll tell you another time." Haruka laughed.

"So, what did he say?" Fumi stood up.

"He's not mad at you, Tsuki. He just wanted to tell you…"

"Tell me what?"

Haruka took a deep breath. "He wanted me to tell you that he still has high hopes for you. He just doesn't want you to cross that line. He says it changes you forever if you do."

Tsuki closed her eyes. "Yeah, I know."

Haruka ran her fingers through Tsukiko's wet hair. "Take a bath, alright? You'll get sick wearing those wet clothes."

Tsuki muttered. "Thanks, Haruka."

"Take care of yourself, alright? You've been crying, haven't you?"

Tsukiko looked away.

Haruka kneeled down. "Hey, look at me."

Tsukiko hesitantly looked back.

Haruka spoke again. "C'mon. This ain't the end of your life. Take a break, if you have to. Life's tough sometimes."

"I'm not taking a break." Tsuki straightened up.

"...are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. I'm gonna find him. Eventually."

Haruka had a strange look on her face. "Know your limits, Tsuki."

"What do you mean?" Fumiko cut in.

Haruka stood up, looking down at her sister. "I don't think she's prepared for what's ahead."

Fumi shook her head. "I think she is."

"We'll see."