Game Over

STAGE THIRTY-FOUR >> Game Over

This is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this story are all products of the author's imagination used in fictitious manner. Any resemblance to an actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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Since their parents wouldn't be home until evening, and Yuki's friends also agreed to stay, Maki decided to head back home to take a rest and freshen herself up. Having that much-needed conversation with her brother, Maki feels elated if not better. The affirmation she needed was something that only her brother was able to provide.

She spent her whole life thinking that she was partly to blame for Yuki's change. That it might be her fault that he put his faith too much in the people around him, thinking that kindness will be rewarded with the same action. Yuki was always positive back then, optimistic, and cheerful in spite of the hardship. He was unprepared to realize that the real world she built around him, though may not be fake, can be superficial.

After that talk, Maki admired her brother even more. He had grown to be the man she always wanted him to be; strong, capable, and solid. Yet, deep inside, he was still the same Yuki in the past; kind, generous, and most importantly forgiving.

The wind came up in gusts but it was the warmth of spring that makes the walk to her apartment pleasant. Just then, before she could step in front of the gate, a familiar figure was standing, seemingly waiting for her.

Seeing her pause midway, Takehiko's back that was leaning on the wall next to the gate straightened up. Their eyes met in the distance, melting away even the time itself.

Takehiko was the first one to open his mouth, "Do you have a moment?"

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Fantasizing a happy ever after with someone could be a difficult feat, but she did imagine a just ending. Amusing as it may sound, she used to make Yuki believe that there was such a thing. That there was nothing wrong in indulging oneself in the existence of happily ever after. However, she failed to let him know that real life does not have any endings...

Silence immersed them as they were seated inside her apartment, in the living room, looking at nothing in particular-or looking at somewhere else but themselves.

"How is he?" Takehiko knew that asking about Yuki was not the first move that he has in mind, but how to open a conversation with someone who was probably not expecting his presence at this moment?

Still, he was grateful when she responded, "He's fine, thank you. He will be discharged in a few days, just waiting for the doctor to clear him."

"I see..."

Casting him a glance, Maki saw how he lowered his shoulders and put down his head in a defeated state. "Why are you here?"

"Do you recall when we first met? It wasn't your boss who introduced us, you know that. You met me by the entrance and you don't have a pen when you're supposed to sign an attendance sheet."

Maki couldn't help but giggle softly as she remembered this. "You let me borrow your pen."

"And you didn't return it."

Their eyes met finally met and Takehiko beams at her as he proceeded, "I know you look a lot like your brother, but it isn't what attracted me to you. It's the fact that you wouldn't stop trying even when your boss isn't even interested in talking to me. Your last name is familiar, but I never made the connection until we started going out. You asked me before if all of it was real. It was. And still is. I fell in love with you not because you remind me of your brother, but because you remind me of the person I wanted to be. I wished to be. Your relationship with your brother, and your desire to protect him."