retrograde wist

6

"Taicho, what are you doing in my apartment?"

"Maa, maa, can't a guy visit their favourite underling every once and awhile?"

"You broke into my apartment."

"Did I?"

Yumeko stared at him in what could only be described as deadpanned incredulity. It was an odd expression.

"Respectfully, Taicho—"

"Of course."

"—-what the fuck."

Hatake-senpai tilted his head.

"Here." He thrusted object at her.

She blinked, eyes focusing on said object, which happened to be a red camellia blossom.

"Happy Existence Day!"

She paused, mind rapidly churning to try and determine whether there was some sort of hidden meaning in his words. She couldn't find anything that made sense. What did he mean? She didn't understand. Was she not looking deeply enough underneath the underneath?

She defaulted.

"What?"

"Well, I did the math. Your birthday is in nine months and I checked hospital records which means today—or tomorrow—-marks the anniversary of your conception. You can thank me later for sending your parents a gift basket. Happy E—-"

"Oh my god, Hatake-senpai."

"Uh, was I wrong? Maybe I was wrong. Tomorrow, then. I'll come back tomorrow. Ah, it could be a date. It's a date, then?"

"Did you actually calculate the date that my parents had—-you—-you pervert, Taicho."

He had a mission.

(Give Yumeko a flower.

Go and do an activity together.

As friends, of course—or as a Taicho to his underling. This was normal. He would totally give Tenzo a flower and go out too. And do activities, just the two of them. Yes, this was very normal. Not weird, or romantic, or whatever at all. Right. Right?)

He blew it very, very, badly.

"Wait—-wait—-I lied—-let me explaaa——!"

There was a scream and a loud shattering sound.

Outside, Might Gai shook his head with a deep sigh.

"How tragic," he lamented, "my eternal rival has no game."

::

Her vision was blurred by tears.

She missed home.

She missed—-

It wasn't fair.

Why did she have to die?

She had a life.

She loved her life.

Yumeko had friends.

Yumeko was happy.

Why did Yumeko have to die?

(No one would remember her. No one would care. They'd live on without her in a village without her. No one would remember. They would move on. Would he remember? Surely, Taicho wouldn't have forget her? Had he moved on?)

This pain—-this loss—-this emptiness—felt unbearable. It was despair. It was hell. She was in hell. This was hell. Being forever separated from her loved ones was hell.