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A lie is defined as a noun which is used to reference a situation that involves deception or is to be founded by a mistaken impression. For some, these are ways to avoid feeling pain by just modifying what they think is reality. For others these are not important, nothing really is important, no one…
No… one…?
The cafeteria of the prison was emptier, it was melancholic how things changed since day 1, the place used to be filled with people, and now they are down to two, sometimes three. Mikoto joined them sometimes, but mainly there were only two, eating lunch together like everyone used to back then.
Things have changed and people did too, sadly it's not like neither of them let that affect them, right?
There were things bugging both of them, neither had the guts to talk about it. Yuno’s hair is shorter, he doesn't know the circumstances behind such a decision, neither was curious enough to inquire about them, was it selfish? maybe.
The meal that the rabbit prepared for today was spaghetti, somehow it was delicious, red sauce and some mozzarella, the taste of the food was… a very big contrast. Probably these meals were one of the few moments of true happiness they could get.
Yuno could also notice how Kazui simply stopped taking care of himself, funnily enough, the contrast between his well kept, slid-back hair from before and his now messy and somewhat savage appearance made her giggle when she got the chance to think about it.
Somehow, having each other's company was comforting, even if they only had about 30 minutes to spend time together, neither of them remember enjoying the presence of the other person before, but in hard times like these, they simply knew this was everything they had left. Ironic, isn’t it?
Two self-proclaimed liars having to coexist… Lies that were forgiven, even if neither agreed with their verdicts, they had to live with it. Did their lies just catch up to them?
“How 's everything going Mukuhara-san? Is Kotoko okay?” She had to break the silence that’s been haunting the room for a long time. She didn't care about what the answer was, the silence was depressing enough to pressure her to say something. She knew Kazui wouldn't mind either.
“Yuzuriha-chan is really not a burden… I’ve grown to know her” He said as he tangled the noodles with the fork, ready to take another bite of the meal. “You already know there's no point in trying to lie to me, right?” Yuno answered, unbothered, not even moving her head, her eyes only focused on her food, she was used to this guys’ lies, but she didn’t care at all. It’s not like his lies are able to kill someone, right?
“Ah… You catched me there…” Kazui stopped briefly placing the cutlery on the plate. Even if Kotoko was cooperative, they didn't get to know each other, a white lie, which in reality was not a threat, something innocent, he just told her that because he didn't want her to worry, it was a shame, he had to lie so he could keep the little harmony there was left in this place, the worst part is that it didn't even work, he failed, as always.
“I'm sorry…” His voice trembling, fucked around and found out, again. HIs expression was shaky and his eyes quite watery, not wanting for Yuno to see the pathetic state he was in. Was this his last straw?
As soon as he could he stood up. “Excuse me…” He covered his face with his hands who were also shaky, and finally rushed to the bathroom. Yuno was confused, but she didn't say a word, she just let him be, knowing that it was probably going to be the best for him. But she stopped eating, waiting for Kazui’s return. In the end, they did not have anyone else to keep themselves company, she didn't want to finish her meal and leave Kazui alone. Was it unethical? or did she just feel some type of pity for him? Who knows what the true intentions of a liar are.
Roughly ten minutes passed by, he returned and sat again on the large table that was supposed to be big enough to fit all of the ten prisoners there used to be. Now
“Hey, Mukuhara-san.” She now raised her face, looking directly at the man, his eyes somewhat red, maybe because he was crying, she didn't know, neither she wanted to go into unnecessary details, “If what I said overstepped any boundaries, let me just say that I'm sorry, okay?” She started to pick up her fork and started to grab another bite of the spaghetti in her plate before continuing “I thought I was pointing the obvious, since you never had a problem with it before, i thought there wouldn't be one now either” She looked at her plate and drove the fork with her meal to her mouth, and she started to chew on it, waiting for Kazui’s answer.
“Don't worry about it Kashiki-chan… You are not at fault here. It’s just…” He sighed out of tiredness, “I-… Nothing… Don't mind my stupidity Kashiki-chan, you out of everyone dont deserve to hear what's been bothering me” He, for once thought about what he was going to say, trying to avoid talking about his issues even if his choice of words was not the correct one.
Thankfully, Yuno knew what he was trying to say, and she let him be, she knew there was no point in forcing him to talk, nor that was something Yuno was looking out for. “It's okay Kazui-san” She tried changing the way he referred to him, just so he could feel quite comfortable, knowing him, he wouldn't mind the new formalities. Kazui was grateful, he was tired of being seen as someone with the sufficient maturity and responsibility to be trusted with such formalities.
“I just think… With how things have changed… I think it's time for us to also take a step in the right direction,” She started to twirl some of the hair she could reach, she was nervous, not used to talk about things seriously, not with anyone and she also wasn't expecting this guy as the one to be one of the first to talk about things so seriously. “Sometimes, you just gotta… huh… change, right?” she stopped for a moment to look back at him, “Sometimes you may need to go out of your way so you could assure yourself that you are changing, for your sake” She kept playing with her hair, it was deliberate, as she was trying to send a message, trying to hint that one of the reasons behind her haircut was to finally change.
“Of course you don't have to do that,” she started to pick again some of the few noodles there were left with her fork “Since determination is the main factor you need to take into account… I- just… I know you also have time to change Kazui,” She picked up the fork, the plate already empty. “From now on let's try to get along, okay? We lost people along the way, we are somewhat similar aren’t we?,” She stopped for a moment to lower the fork that was in front of her mouth so she could address him directly.
“So for now on, let's put an end to lying… not for other people’s sake, but for ours.” She said it, almost unbothered, as if she was practicing this small talk in her free time, but it won't matter, these words were actually sincere, and able to reach the heart of someone. Can they?
At least Kazui tried, “Thanks Kashiki-chan…” he looked down to his plate, which in comparison to Yuno’s is full. “pfft,” Kazui laughed,due to the absurdity of the situation. “I actually look pathetic, aren’t I?” smiling, knowing what the answer was going to be “You do, Kazui-san.” She laughed, and she waited for him to finish his plate.