Chapter Text
Ishigami: Bah, humbug.
Narrator: It was so over. This year's Christmas would have no thrills. There would be no surprises. There would be no mistakes. A mediocre Christmas was in the schedule. Yuu Ishigami was finally reaping the consequences of a bunch of misplays. An uneventful Christmas for sure. For better or worse.
Ishigami (Monologue): It can’t be that bad, although today was a good opportunity, it’s not like it will be the last opportunity ever. Plus there’s a benefit to peace and rest. These last few months have involved a lot of work and I am constantly exhausted. So a peaceful christmas night is not so bad. I might as well get the chance to get a complete night’s sleep for once.
Narrator: The second Ishigami started to feel good about his situation, he realized, those moments where you let your guard down are the moments were life comes at you fast. An instant after he had that thought, he started to regret it. After all, the author of this fic had big plans for tonight...
Ishigami (M): Yeah right, as if the night wasn't already done for. There's no point to worry about that, I should get some sleep.
*Chain noises*
Ishigami (M): What is that!?
Narrator: The atmosphere turned colder and a mist began obscuring the view. Beneath the fog, Ishigami started to parse a familiar, yet unexpected face.
Maki Shijo: Hey Ishigami (Drags some chains)
Ishigami: Tsu... Tsundere-Senpai!? What are you doing here!? Shouldn’t you be in France with your S.O? And you look a lot like a ghost.
Maki: Yes.... You are right regarding one thing. I shouldn’t be here. I’m in Paris right now and blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blahblah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah
Ishigami (M): There she goes again, she used to suffer so much when her heart was broken, but now we are the ones that have to suffer through her yabber about how happy she is now. I can’t help but just filter out and stop listening to her when she talks about her partner. There are times I am not even sure I remember who she’s dating, that’s the power of my ability to compartmentalize things. This memory belongs to the vault...
Maki: Are you even paying attention?
So I was meditating for a bit and it turns out that my spirit guide talks to your spirit guide all the time. And they asked me a favor. So I am astral-projecting to send you a message.
Ishigami: Spirit Guides? Astral projection? Meditation!?
Maki: Yeah, when I was looking for enlightenment I’ve learned a lot, perhaps too much, but that’s besides the point.
Back when we were associates we used to suffer together in our shared plight that was love. As such we’ve committed many crimes. Being dishonest. Outright lying. Hiding our true feelings. I feel that maybe we mutually-bad influences to each other. In giving support to each other, we made our lives easier, when in fact we needed more pressure to change...
I’ve paid for my crimes. These chains represent all the suffering I've gone through. And all that time wasted was time I could have used in better ways... Perhaps this is a lesson you need now.
Ishigami: I don’t like where this is going...
Maki: You are going to be visited by 3 Ghosts.
Ishigami: Hell no. No way.
I refuse to be a part of this!
I don’t want any of this.
Maki: I’m afraid you don’t really have a say in this. This is happening. So get readyyyyyyyyyy....
Ishigami: What sort of hackery is this? What kind of miserable being would even be interested in watching this kind of nonsense unfold!?
(Things go back to normal)
Ishigami (M): Oh, I guess that was just a dream. Man... I really, really hope that was just a dream. I am going to grab a glass of water and see if I can actually have some real rest rather than such bullshit.