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Perhaps girls shouldn’t laugh at wildfires.
The blaze set in quickly at the neighboring observatory;–in the city, news outlets from the radio and television said the cause was from a flicked match 100-or-so meters away from some campsite. One of the embers must have been carried by the wind, they said. The culprit responsible for the fire was buried in the snow–or rather, 4 men to be exact.
All misshapen in slacks and ties. Ruffled hair and bad legs—the lot of them.
Some way or another, they all passed out and failed to keep the fire in check. Honest mistakes, an honest crime. Seemed to have been under the same occupation with no ties with the other. A strange case for today’s news; and just as quickly as the news spread, all the reporters and SMS forums ceased discussion. For what was there to discuss?
Hah! Clearly they didn’t bother checking the observatory itself.
For such a large place with equally large buildings–the Sirius Observatory, that is–each one showed significant signs of damage at each point of their respective star corners. Within, it had become clear that the unusual burn patterns–concentrated in numerous parts of the walls and floor–were evident of arson.
There was nothing inflammable…in that letter though. Ah, that letter—!
Hastily she fished it out of her pocket. The cold doing no favors in sticking her hands to the crumpled commission letter in her pocket.
A small letter it was, found under a pile of love letters she can never seem to get rid of. Black, with a thin shine of gloss; each letter looped in a matted gold. The words, as she reread them, continued to say the same thing.
There was nothing inflammable in the things listed.
Can ‘fainting drugs’ be considered inflammable? Ah, unlikely. Yui can’t think of an instance where that would be possible. Possible for an Ultimate Pharmacist, maybe.
But that’s not the point!
It's clear that the crime she was invited to, the Black Challenge, seems to have been prevented. But why? She couldn’t even find a trace of what could have been left behind. Much less a pair of bloody gardening shears.
Frustrated, she goes back outside—about as much outside as you could with a burned down building and—
Ehh, the taxi driver left.
So she’s stuck.
…
Great!
She should have known better than to get a better look, but curiosity got the best of her! She couldn’t help it! It's not everyday a low ranking detective such as herself gets to investigate strange phenomena. Hijacked by arsonists or not.
The snow wasn’t even that bad. Thanks to the fire that was raging through the area before hand. But now everything is quite leveled, most of the trees were burned down, and the ground was only somewhat starting to be covered back up with snow. She could probably run back home before it started to get really bad.
She could run in 5 inches of snow.
…
Or was it 8?
…
If only it was a matter of someone getting kidnapped—not that she would want that to happen—finding the clues needed to lead her to the next would be—
“Oh.”
The stranger, whom she has suddenly now become aware of, let out a hitch behind her. Quickly she swivels.
“I…” the stranger stops speaking. Undoubtedly the one responsible for the fire, so her embarrassment is to be expected. “Uhm.”
Hah! Criminals, so typical of them to come back to the scene of the crime!
However, it is quite unusual. She couldn’t have been much older than Yui; her clothes seemed awfully worn out–a high school uniform she doesn’t really recognize. Her hair was long and silver in an abnormal hue; her face was framed with long strands with thick bangs to match. Her eyes were piercing, and cold. Such an odd person.
Pretty, even.
Agh!
Is this the real culprit? She’s been messing with her gloves for a minute now. People who commit crimes are often unreasonable, she finds. The girl in front of her couldn’t have been more nervous. Well, that would be very reasonable. Given the current situation.
“I’m assuming you are the one responsible for the Observatory’s fire?” she asks. The other flinched.
(Uncharacteristically; a word that catches itself in the back of her throat.)
An act of surprise from the mysterious princess before her. She must be shocked to find how easily someone such as herself, a rank 8 detective, could see through the web of lies made by the press!
“...Yes.”
“Oh good! Well, that's not good at all, actually. That’ll just make things easier for when I turn you in to the police station.”
“Of course.” The stranger is abnormally lax about her predicament. Her eyes relaxing—losing its cut. Because… oh right.
“Aha, well you’re pretty lucky that it won’t be for a while now,” she swallows dryly, “for when I turn you in to the authorities, that is.”
The stranger huffs, and she feels the same. Being telepathically scolded by a criminal was not on her bingo card this year.
But!
It’s not her fault the taxi driver left! She would give him an earful if she could recall his name. And what he looked like. And—
She takes a moment to think, to get her bearings. The stranger remained unimpressed. Not that she needed to be!
Gosh, just the mere presence of her was making her skin go electric. And with that look in her eye that she can’t really understand. The cold definitely wasn’t helping. Sure, Yui had her jacket with her, but it wasn’t enough for the—
“HEY! And just where exactly do you think you’re going?”
The stranger stands with one foot buried in the snow. “Away, obviously.”
Ugh!
“In this weather? Are you crazy?” She scoffed. Getting close to the other with each syllable. “It’s pretty clear we won’t be leaving this place for a while.”
A glare.
She doesn’t know whether she likes it or not.
“…You’d freeze to death if you stayed.”
“And the forest is better?”
She huffed. “I’ll figure something out.”
And she walked off. Slowly at first. The heavy stomp of her heel snapping Yui into action. Because if there’s one thing she was good at it was—
—CLINK
“What the-“ the stranger fiddled with the cuff around her wrist “-when did you?”
“Seems like someone underestimated me!” Yui said with a wink.
And— ah.
Her face. It was flustered; in a pink blush that spread to the tips of her ears. Color against pale skin that rivaled the snow around. She didn’t think the other was capable of pulling off a color other than the deep purples she covered herself in.
‘There’s no mistaking it. This person—the culprit behind the wildfire—the observatory’s fire—‘
No! She can’t speak it into existence!
She runs a hand through her hair. The sound of her own handcuff dangling as she did so did not escape her ears. Neither the girl in front of her.
Who grit her teeth, furrowed her eyebrows with a scornful look she didn’t think the other was capable of.
“You chained us together?” A foreign emotion escaped her lips. It sent her heart pounding. “I know that you’re not that bright but this—“
“Huh? You say that as if we met somewhere before.” She tilted her head.
It’s a question directed at her, but she doesn’t think the other is listening. Her eyes jitter from her hand to hers. The sound of gloves folding into itself as she clenched her hand into a fist—as if that would do anything. Breathing somewhat labored.
If Yui had to assume, she was probably panicking. As culprits should! Nothing to feel bad about. Nothing at all. Nope. No way. Criminals don’t need her sympathy.
…
She really wished she stopped looking at her like that, it was almost reminiscent of her—
Suddenly, the other trips over her own foot, and Yui falls down with her.
—THUD
She honestly didn’t know what to expect. Her head landing in a pile of pillows? The exact opposite, actually.
Her ear slammed into the stranger’s chest; her rib-cage pronounced enough to make her glasses askew on her face. The combination of zippers and an awkward tie didn’t make it any better.
It just hurt. A lot.
A hiss escapes her lips. “Ow..”
The other laid flat on the floor. Hands splayed like a starfish. Her face, as Yui got up, soured into itself. “…”
At least she’s breathing normally again.
…
She moved to lay down next to her on the floor. The cold floor, with its tiles. Bringing up memories she doesn’t really want to think about right now.
…
This was a lot less congested than a bathroom stall. The stars were quite pretty.
“I’m not really good at this am I?” Yui mumbled.
"Where's that coming from?”
Sigh.
“You wouldn’t get it.” She bit her lip. “Doesn’t involve someone like you anyway.”
“Try me.”
“Well, for your information. I’ll have you know your actions caused me to miss out on a good opportunity-”
“Doubtful.”
“-Like I said. You wouldn’t get it at all,” she huffed. “You're just some angsty teenager who just permanently damaged the environment. Have you considered all the wildlife you just killed?”
“…Secondary succession. Things will come back eventually.”
“Oh, using big words with me huh?” She looked at her. The other staring back does not shock her. The pout does.
“It’s really not a big word…”
Yui rolled her eyes. “So you say.”
The stranger does not comment further, and she can’t find herself to continue.
She can’t remember the last time she’s talked to someone like this. Probably not after her sister died. Or when she registered in the Detective Library.
(And it’s strange. The feeling that wallows inside her heart. A gear misaligned. What is it? What is it?)
“You’re different.” Is whispered by the other, and she’d be damned if she misheard her.
“So we do know each other from somewhere-“
A gloved hand finds a home over her mouth. And oh dear—-
Her eyes narrowed, and it warms her face more than she’s willing to admit. Up close, her lips couldn’t have been anymore perfect. A cupid shape. One that she wouldn’t mind feeling up close—
“We don’t.”
Her hand is covering her mouth, but she could still speak underneath. “Surely we must have—“
“What’s my name, then?”
“—Your name?”
And she’s looking at her with a different face; not with a face of snow, but something harsh—like a mountain during the spring season, with all of its rocks and boulders sharpened with distinct shadows and ends.
And the rocks, the boulders—the lines that could cut through the mist—-
Kyoko’s eyes twitch.
“And how would I know that?”
And the stranger lets out a breath that she didn’t think she would be holding. And why would she? Yui’s never known her to be—
Wait—does she? Ah, her head hurts.
That is her name, right? The one that starts with a ‘K’?
“Forget it then.”
“I’ll forget it if you kiss me.”
Her eyes widened. And Yui finds herself a bit cold from the distance made between them. “Y-You don’t mean that.”
She laughed. “Try me!”
“You’re crazy.”
She sighed loudly. “I don’t see what else we could do out in the middle of nowhere. But I can name a couple of girls off the top of my head that would pay money to be in your position.”
Kyoko bit her lip—and wasn’t that such a lovely name to say? “Is that right..?”
“It’s only going to get colder.”
“Tch.” And it’s cute, how she seemed to be fighting with herself. No different than her past admirers. Eyes fluttering, and playing with her hands—the gloves. Did she always have those? She doesn’t think so. But why would she have them then?
Not a question she could ask. It doesn't feel right.
“One.”
“Hm?”
“One kiss, and that’s it.”
“Sure.”
“…”
“…?”
They seemed to be at a standstill now. With their backs to the floor, and the ceiling endless.
“Do you—?”
“I got it.” Kyoko turns over to her side, and Yui follows. “Okay.”
“Okay?” She gives her a look over. “You don’t seem okay.”
“I am. I promise.”
“Okay then.” She brushed a loose strand over her ear. Uncharacteristic of her to care about an arsonist, probably; but it only served to deepen Kyoko’s resolve–with a hardened expression.
If that even is her name.
Well, she hopes it is. Just like she hoped the surname she was thinking of was also true.
Kyoko. And Kirigiri. Kirigiri Kyoko.
“You’re stalling.”
“I am not.”
“…I’m starting to think you’ve never kissed a girl before.”
“W-Well.”
Yui couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “Really?”
“I guess so.”
What’s that supposed to mean? Ugh, how confusing.
“Well it’s pretty simple.” She moves herself closer. And it’s warm, like a heavy weighted blanket. Maybe they're both freezing. And perhaps she doesn’t care. All she is focusing on is her hand cusping Kyoko’s face. “You have to make her feel wanted.”
And her eyes glance down to her lips. Pulsing in anticipation. “Is that right?”
In a budded red; a rose. It reminded her of a gift from the store around the corner of her dormitory.
“And you have to look at her.” They are much closer now, her eyes. “Like she means the world to you.”
“You are my everything, Onēsama.”
Onēsama. Onēsama. She’s heard that somewhere, and it feels right.
“Then why hesitate?”
“I don’t know,” and their lips brush—and its electric.
And—maybe the feeling is reminiscent of fireworks; the sparks nicking the skin with flicks of heat that prick every bone of her body. As it spreads to her legs, torso, hands, and vision.
And that’s okay. More than okay.
As Kyoko’s hands seemed to claw at her body. Feeling the threads and buttons that make up her uniform, the seams of her shorts, the pattern of her tights. A commitment to memory. A memory she seemed to have forgotten to make somewhere else.
It’s distant, her lips then.
“I’m sorry.”
Sorry?
What’s there to be sorry for?
A commitment to memory? A memory she seemed to have forgotten. But this isn’t a memory. She’s not a—
-
Log 01#
Intercepted Samidare at the Observatory. A bit hotheaded; a slight deviation from Onēsama.
No. 02 - burn the mailbox.
00:21:30