𝐴𝐹𝑇𝐸𝑅 𝑇𝐻𝐸 𝑆𝑇𝑂𝑅𝑀 [post game AU]

•Visit day•

General POV:

—in front of the girl who once was called ultimate painter, was...the one who once was the ultimate guitarist, Kanade Otonokoji, it was finally her exit day from a mental facility, truly changed? Perhaps, one thing for sure is she now haves other things in her mind. Normal things.—

"GET IN HERE~!"—walking quick with a smile Kanade saw Iroha waiting for her in the streets, it felt nice to see her again, nobody went to visit her so frequently besides her, she went every week, told her about her day, played, shared experiences, kept her updated about things going on outside.
Anything to keep Kanade entertained, call Iroha a masoquist or stupid, but she never skipped a visit despite at first being hard to even sat her in peace, sometimes this visits didn't happened because Kanade didn't wanted to go out, rather because she didn't trusted or liked Iroha, but after realising that...this was the only person who cared about her enough to check weekly if she was still alive and happy for now, and perhaps forever. Whatever she saw on Kanade, whatever chance of her to get redeemed surely was showing signs and this day was day 0, for a new start—

—as they walked to Iroha's home, Kanade took a moment to see this girl better, did she always looked like that? Weirdly chopped hair with bits of light pieces then and there, messy despite how much you brush it, dark brown jacket, the little bowtie that connected her hair was now an ankle bracelet, and since when she used make up? Perhaps Kanade was so used to have one picture of her, she forgot people could change depending on the factors around them, but...she didn't seemed to hate it, at all—.

"I like your clothes... although I remember you having more of a...'childish' looks, did you changed aesthetics or what?"

"I thought it was time for me to grow up, I liked my clothes but well...it doesn't spark any seriousness for me"

"True...pfft, you looked like a scout girl, the ones who sell muffins and make friendship bracelets~"

"Yeah...b-but, you like how I look now, right?"

"I like you in general...even with a fucking potato sack I would say you look good"—Wherever  that came from, it was sincere, perhaps the first time in years, perhaps, the first time she ever felt something sincere—. "I...sorry...hum- fuck I don't know where that came from...heh"

"Heh..hahaha! Ok comedy star if I am soooo stylish maybe next time, I'll wear a potato sack"—perhaps the fun of that moment was really distracting Iroha, but while the two of them were walking she made a move and dropped her cigarette box out of her pocket, which she didn't realize. Not until she came back home, but that day...felt nice, nostalgic even, she slept a full night and didn't even needed to smoke anything at any point—.

—It was the kind of days she thought would never see again, the days that started and ended happy, even after finishing that reunion Iroha was still smiling, Syobai didn't wanted to ask why it wasn't his business, but he was happy, that she was happy. Although regardless of that Syobai was determined to do something, that he knew was a bad idea, but it was already done—.

...

—Days passed and that momentarily happiness was already gone, Iroha and Kanade were still talking of course, but, they never coordinated a date or another reunion, so she just has to keep living. It was 10 PM, the night was beginning and Iroha had run out of money to pay her drinks for a party that was happening in her favourite bar, so...she had to do what she didn't like, beg, she stand on the street and looked at the random cars that passed, asking for some cash—.

"Hey...have any cash? Just a bit don't give me your monthly payment"

" *Sigh* here have ¥5000...I...I"

"Iroha?"

"......"—it could not be, not him, not him from anyone that could've been! Why him? She didn't wanted to see anyone! Specially these guys! She took the money and started running, not looking back, not even thinking where, she wanted to escape, this could not be happening—.

"IROHA!! W-WAIT! WAIT COME BACK!!!—the car started going, he tried to catch her but she had already sneaked into a small street, it all happened so fast, but he was sure it was her, he could recognise her even on the most crowded space, but he couldn't get out of the car at time, that place wasn't safe to leave a car helpless in the streets, but...she was already gone from his view. So it was true...she was here—.

"(FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK!!! GOD FUCKING DAMNIT!!! FUCK!!! WHY DID HE HAD TO BE HERE? WHY HERE? THIS CITY IS HUGE HOW COULD HE BE HERE!?) No no no...no...no no please no no...no!"—she stopped running and stand next to a wall, trying to catch her breath and process, what just happened, so many questions, so many doubts, so much anger, fear, this was a nice time, she was doing well, living in oblivion, in denial, ignorance, nobody knew how or where she was and she wanted to keep it that way, so why now. Why?!—."Why did he found me...fuck...fuck fuck fuck FUCKING DAAAMNIIIIT!!! AAAAAAHHHH!!!"

—the guy parked on a safe place, took his phone and called Syobai, the person who contacted him—.

"Hello? I-it's me, Nikei. You were right! S-she was begging for money!!!........well whatever job you got her isn't doing enough! She wouldn't be like that!............sure sure and I believe you. She looks miserable! I...I can't...I can't believe this....how could you let this happen? Aren't you his.... I don't know brother, dad, father figure roommate. How could you let her get that rotten? Because I know, this is your fault...yeah, fly away bitch, throw the rock and hide the hand, that's what you do best after all right?.... Fucking asshole."—after that rushed and angry call, he tried to calm himself, his emotions can't win his mind, then, called another person—.

"Hajime?...hi...hi it's me Yom, listen I know you're working but I..."

"I found her"

END OF CHAPTER ONE