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"3, 2, 1... Go Team Running Men!"
Their voices rose in unison with fists lifted high and bright in determination despite of what tomorrow brings. They smiled anyway. This was no longer any normal game or competition. Tomorrow would be worse, facing whatever Charming gold has for them is no joke and they knew it and they were determined to win, to stop all this wrong doings at once
One by one, they took their leave from the lobby, said their goodnights to each other as they slipped into their respective rooms. To either rest, prepare or worry silenty
But Gai didn’t follow
Even when the dorm’s automated lights dimmed for curfew, he stayed in the corridor, standing by the large pane of glass that had been opened by the dorm's night cycle system. Outside, the vast night sky stretched before him.as the floating Tree City glowed in lights that illuminated the corridor
His reflection stared back at him in the glass. Cold. He hated how tired it looked
They had forgiven him. Welcomed him back as part of the team, as a friend. Their faces held no anger, no blame, not even disgust but only understanding and acceptance. Maybe a trace of pain is still there, but it wasn’t aimed at him anymore
So why did it still bother?
Why did his own skin feel like it didn’t fit?
Gai stared blankly at the glass, thoughts spiraling from the games, Charming Gold, his brothers, his betrayal, the memory of his body moving against his will. Miyo’s face twisted in pain when he—
“Hey”
Her voice cut through the silence, it was low but enough to make him flinch out in surprise
He turned his head slightly and saw her, his certain feline companion. She was a few steps away, arms loosely crossed
“Oh— hey. Miyo” Gai forced his usual bright smiles, rubbing the back of his head like he’d been caught in the middle of something. Though attempts of pretending are useless against her
Miyo studied him for a beat “It’s late” she said, as she walk closer “You should be asleep by now”
"I could say the same to you" Gai says, easily. She then stopped right beside him, joining him to the window. The glow reflected softly along the edges of her hair. For a moment, neither spoke
“So” Gai started “what really brings you here? Couldn't sleep either?” There was a fraction of hesitance before Miyo responded “No reason” she said “I just had a feeling...”
He blinked, surprised “About... me?”
"You’ve been acting off since earlier. I noticed” She said instead
His smile faded slowly and reluctantly “Ha, Guess I wasn’t hiding it as well as I thought" He let out a short humorless laugh before sighing deeply, tired. "Nothing truly gets away from you eh?”
Silence fell. Miyo look at him. To the person she saw wasn't the bright and loud mong, but someone whose tired, carrying an unseen weight that anyone would miss if they they look enough. Yet miyo is a perceptive one. And is also someone who had witness and seen of him
“...You’re still blaming yourself aren't you”
It wasn’t really a question. Gai didn't respond. He didn’t deny it either. His eyes just drifted back to the glass, expression hard
"Gai... It wasn’t your fault”
“But it was—” he said, rather quickly than intended. His fists curled “Even before the brainwashing, I made the choice to follow him. I let it happen. And I hurt everyone. I hurt you”
Miyo's expression had dulled to something soft. She thought back. To all the shared memories, him laughing and joking with friends, the times he stood beside to protect, how he stands with her. And how he chose them
“Gai, you also made the choice to stop" She said "You still helped us and save us. Even when it cost you”
Gai remained still. He stared through the glass, as if searching for a way to argue, but found none. The guilt still tugged at him like a weight he couldn’t put down
Miyo then let out a soft breath “..Do you remember when I was in your mind?”
He turns to her, nodding reluctantly “It went hazy. But I think I still remembered enough”
The memory was tangled, but he remembered how everything was red and dark. He was trapped in those thick, suffocating vines of darkness. It dragged him under, caged him, twisted everything inside him until he couldn’t tell what was real anymore
Except her voice
Her voice cut through the void. It woke him. It brought him back
Gai fought. He fought and fought and the moment he felt her hand, her warmth, something in the darkness cracked, flooding light in where there had been none. He remembered holding on like it was his lifeline. And when he was finally pulled free, she hadn’t let go, clinging to him tightly, as if afraid that if she did, he’d would dissapear
“It was the only thing that felt real at that time” he admitted, a soft smile formed in his lips as he recall that special moment
“You brought yourself back, Gai” she said “I just gave you something to hold onto”
He shook his head “You still saved me”
“And I’ll do it again if I have to”
“You shouldn’t have to”
“I don’t care” Her voice was steady, she look at him, like really look through him “You’re part of the team. We still believed in you”
Then, softer “I still believe in you. ”
"Miyo..." He breath out, speechless
"So, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’ve already done more than anyone could ask” She adds. Maybe for anyone It wasn’t much, just a few words but to him? it mattered to him a lot. Those words reached him in a way nothing else had, loosening the grip of the heavy feeling he’d been holding onto. Just then, he felt like he could breath
“...I keep hoping that things will go back to way they were before” he murmured “That after this. After all of this, we can finally settle to the way it were. Go back to fun and challenging games. Have some dinners together or maybe some of Pala's tea. Just something normal”
“I want that too” she said, her voice low. Like she didn’t want to promise too much “But even if it doesn’t go that way… you don’t disappear on me again. Got it?”
“I won’t”
“You better not”
“I mean it.”
Her eyes searched his for a long moment before she reached out, fingers brushing to the edges of his wristband and curling into the fabric
It grounded him. Told him, without words, that he didn’t have to carry this alone
For a second, it felt like being back in the darkness. Her hand finding his, pulling him into the light. That same unspoken I’ve got you lingered in the space between them
“I know I’ve said this before” he murmured “but… thanks. For not giving up on me”
She didn’t let go right away. And when she finally did the warmth stayed with him. He turned back to the glass, the night no longer feel as cold as he thought. If anything, he founds it more comforting
He supposed everything will be fine
It wasn’t supposed to be the last time
But it was
No one can know what the future holds no matter how much you didn't want it to come
Miyo knew well that look on Gai
It was the same look of a boy drowning and sinking under guilt long before the water could even reach him
"Gai..."
His gaze dropped to the floor, refusing to look at her
Even if things don't go the way it is...
Miyo felt a sudden shift of the cuff besides her. He still didn't meet her eyes as he moved forward. He displayed a mocking attitude towards the police
"It was me, I planned it all along. These idiots just got dragged on the ride"
...You don't disappear on me again. Got it?
Liar. Every word. Miyo knew it was a facade. Taking all the blame. Pulling another stupid desperate act to stake his self just to save them "Gai enough—!"
I won't
"I'm sorry" he whispered enough just for her to hear. His grin faltered slightly when he took a short glance at her
It was a bittersweet look
The one that could say farewell
You better not
And just before Miyo could reach him. Before she could stop him. He vanished away in a smoke, the lone cuff swayed empty
He was now at the top of debris, sunlight illuminated his silhouette along with his siblings at the back
Her hand that attempted to reach him, raised in the air uselessly to the now far stretched space between them. How unreachable
And when he finally fully look at her, she saw that fleetingly small hesitation, like he wanted to say something but couldn't
I'm sorry and this is goodbye
And he was gone
I meant it.