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"You still haven't apologized for lighting my mailbox on fire, Ms. Detective."
She radiated against the snowfall. Yui-onēsama had her fingers curled over the other, close to her face, hiding underneath her scarf. The snowflakes encompassed her entirety as the two of them stood next to the train stop.
She could watch this scene a thousand times more and she’d never get tired of it. She wished she could bring herself to get closer. She wished the day was over already. And move on to the next.
"I had to do what was necessary, Samidare-san."
She makes a face. “The longer you refuse to say it the more I'll start to think you're just a crazy girl!"
Maybe there was some truth to that, Kyoko thought. At this point lighting the match was a part of her muscle memory. And to a Yui that’s never known her–will never know her–she supposes there’s absurdity in her actions.
"I'm just a detective,” She watches the snowflakes melt into her hair. “And that mailbox was linked to criminal activity,”
"Liar! As a detective myself I'd have definitely been aware of that already. Not to mention it being my own mailbox.” she said, and pointed a finger at her. “You’re so easy to read, you know! Just admit to being a crazy girl who takes other girls on dates after burning down their mailboxes.” She crosses her arms, “it's pretty simple.”
Her heart twists. "We weren't on a date."
"Oh sure, then why take me out of town? Not to mention this letter you gave me." She pulls out an envelope from her coat pocket. Nothing of the fancy sort. Kyoko could give Yui any kind of letter and she’d still take it.
"Is this not your love letter?"
"It doesn't have to be."
"So it is one!"
She sighs. "You're putting words into my mouth."
She looks down on her watch. Five minutes.
They’ve been standing in the snow for 15 minutes, and Yui still hasn't left. A bit hardheaded compared to the rest, Kyoko notes.
“It's getting late Samidare-san, I believe it's about time we part ways.”
Suddenly, as soon as the words left her mouth she was met with an embrace. It was as loving as all the other ones she received. The other's hands bleed with an affection that threatened to make Kyoko lose sight of her original goal.
Yet, It has never felt like her Yui’s embrace though. Rather than her head nestled on top of her shoulder, it's Yui that puts her head on Kyoko’s shoulder instead. It felt wrong.
"So that means I don't have to give you a goodbye kiss before you go?"
Breathe.
It’s always the same hesitation, with their lips hovering over the other as the clock passed the three minute mark. That makes her think maybe she can indulge this time. To remember what it was like the first time she’s played this game. When the end was closer to the beginning; when the end didn’t seem to lap over the other end. Intertwining; unwinding.
A smile flashes in her memory.
She pulled away.
"Id have to decline, Samidare-san."
Yui laughed softly, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Has any of the other girls ever told you you're terrible at this?”
“You’d be the first.” She lied.
“Hah, well, at least promise me it’ll stay that way when I see you next time.” She fidgets absentmindedly with the letter, “I bet our second date will be even better.”
Hopefully there is no next time.
The train arrives, and she begins to step forward. And yet-
“I could help you! I really could.” Yui shouts from behind; the words falling in sync with the ones she’s memorized. “Finding missing people is my specialty!”
“Shinsen isn’t missing. He’s running from me. This is beyond your scope.”
“And it’s entirely within your scope?”
“…I know him better than most.”
“Do you…have to find him?” Yui questioned, with an odd inflection she couldn’t quite place. It makes her hesitate.
Yet she's heard those words so many times. Met with ones she finds herself saying back.
“I…don’t think I have a choice in the matter.”
“But what if you did?” She hears the letter fall to the floor and ah—she must have read it already. Footsteps quickly crunch the snow behind her, and it makes her realize she’s past the 0 minute mark. The train starts to turn its gears.
—-Out of time
—Out of time
She turned around.
“I would choose you, a thousand times over.”
Yui scoffed, and pressed her lips harshly against hers. Soft, just like the first time.
“Then stay.”
Stay.
Stay.
Stay.
And the train left.
Somewhere, a knowing smile gets lost in the welds of time.
Another time, then.