Otoriphobia

10: Kishibe, Korekiyo and the Gallows.

"..."

Yuuna lay awake on the floor, wrapped in blankets next to Tomoko, who was fast asleep.

The group had made quick work of forming a sleeping quarter out of the little shop, and had done a good job of making it comfortable for everyone.

Hiroto was on the night watch, sitting beside Yuuna and staring out the window of the store.

"...Hey, Yuuna?"

"...Hm?"

Yuuna groggily rubbed his eyes and looked up at Hiroto.

"..."

"What was... life like for you and your family before this whole mess? You ever, like... try to remember the good things to keep your spirits up? Any stories to tell?"

"..."

Yuuna looked out the window for a while, trying to form an answer in his head.

"Well... yeah. I like to think about the times when... we were an ordinary, average, everyday family..."

He sighed bitterly.

"...But I guess that's not the fate the Otori family was chosen to have. After... we lost Mamiko, everything went off the edge. Not just for me... for Korekiyo, Mom, and Dad too. And... I guess it's a nice feeling... when I recall the times before then... the times when everything was just sunshine and rainbows."

"..."

"Gotta fake it until you make it, I guess."

Hiroto looked at Yuuna with a glimmer of admiration in his eyes.

"...Though, I gotta say... I've never met someone like you before. I've never seen somebody this brave. Though, I guess I was a criminal for most of my life, so..."

Hiroto let out a dry chuckle and turned back to face the window.

"...You know... that actually... makes me wonder. What.. what's your dream, Yuuna? What do you want to accomplish once we break out of this hellhole?"

"..."

Yuuna gently pulled off his blankets, crawling over and taking a seat next to Hiroto as he stared out the shop's window.

"...I want... to see my girlfriend again. Her name's Shoko Kamiyama... and she's the person I hold dearest. She's the person who helped me stay alive during... that period."

Yuuna looked down.

"If... it weren't for her, I might have... you know. Gone off the edge... committed suicide. Or something along those lines. But I didn't, because she was there for me. I owe my everything to her... so I'm going to make sure I see her again, no matter what it takes."

"..."

Hiroto smiled.

"You guys must have a tight relationship, then... that's pretty rare. Most people these days are just used to the constant cycle of breaking up and then hooking up with another rando they don't have any real feelings for... but not you. You have something special."

"...I guess so."

Yuuna raised his eyes to Hiroto.

"...And... what about you? What's your dream, Hiroto?"

"Me-?"