𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 (𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐥). | 𝙎. 𝙂𝙤𝙟𝙤

7. premature death

Head bowed down, I sit on the long benches outside of the showers. The strands of dark, wet hair frame my vision like a tunnel, drops of water falling onto the tiles one by one. I gaze upon fresh cuts on my hands from the broken sink, letting out a long exhale.

I need to get it together.

My eyes shut, crestfallen, as I press knuckles hard against my temple where I could feel another burgeoning migraine growing. Sitting here for what felt like hours, I keep wondering if the weights inside of me would one day be enough to drag me through the floor.

"Oh, senpai, you're here! I didn't see you in so long!"

Immersed too deeply in thought, I barely notice a distinct puppy-like voice calling out to me.

My head raises, eyes blinking slowly in surprise, only to see a familiar boy from the first year with a bowl cut and infectious smile.

"Haibara..." I mumble, looking up at him. He offers a close-eyed smile, giving me a small wave, and previous gloominess surrounding me abruptly clears up like sky after the rain.

"I heard you had another successful mission yesterday, good job!" He beams, and my surprised expression is replaced by a small smile, the conscious effort on my part.

"Thanks," I reply, following the line of Haibara's gaze as it falls down to my bloodied hands.

The smile on his face drops.

"Senpai, what happened to your hands?" He asks.

Looking down upon them again, I feel a spasm of unease in my stomach.

"It's from a mission yesterday. Don't worry about it," I say dismissively, quickly thinking of a way to change the topic as I hide my hands inside of my pockets. "You want a drink from the vending machine? It's on me."

"Really?!" his face immediately lights up again. He plops down next to me. Good thing that he's so gullible, I think to myself as Haibara lets out a nervous chuckle, sheepishly rubbing the nape of his neck. "Ehh, I mean... you don't really have too..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"One cola, please!"

I chuckle out loud, feeling my spirits rise for the first time in what seems like forever. "Now that's better."

We sit together at the benches for a while. The window is open, letting the sun beams warm my back as Haibara excitedly talks about his previous mission after which Yaga gave Nanami and him praise for a job well done. I take a sip of my cold coffee, smiling and nodding along as I let him talk the whole time, his excited doe eyes beaming with innocent childlike glee I found so familiar.

"So my mission tomorrow is pretty far out!" He says, taking another sip of his Cola impatiently, almost choking on the fuzzy drink. "We will leave Tokyo for the first time and I'm so pumped to show off!"

"Oh, is that so?" I ask, lips curling up in a gentle smile. "You should definitely bring some souvenirs when you come back so we can celebrate."

"A great idea!" he beams. "Sweet or salty? What do you like more, senpai?"

I place a finger on my mouth, gaze moving up towards the wooden ceiling. A few seconds pass before I speak. "Hmm... Satoru prefers sweet things, so bring something sweet. He will want some for sure."

"Got it!" He says. "I'll find the best sweets in Okazaki for you then!"

I couldn't help but chuckle.

He's a ray of sunshine.