LOVING MACHINE ‣ d. osamu

ACT III › O10.

   HE WON'T DIE, RIGHT? she thought nervously, finally reaching the destination that was deemed to be where the mimic leader and oda were battling. earlier, ango had been revealed to be a traitor to the port mafia. no matter now. loud sounds were coming from the inside. gunshots and words. the door from the front was locked.

   should i? she thought nervously, gazing at the window. striding up to it, [name] was about to drive her fist through the glass before realizing that it was open. twiddling with the switches, the window slid open with a satisfying whir before she climbed through. there was a single chandelier in the room, emitting dark golden light. it was an unusually gorgeous place for such a bloody battle. large rectangular windows on the sides were adjusted according to the setting sun. it could be deemed a sorrowful place to pass.

   the gunshots brought her back to her surroundings. she gazed around the large hall cautiously. then she saw them.

   oda and the mimic leader were chatting away coldly, guns pointed at each other's heads. they both continued to dodge the other's attacks skillfully as if they knew what was coming next.

   i see, she realized. he and the mimic leader have similar abilities? though, i didn't think it was possible to have the same ability as someone else unless you were to steal it or something.

i can't save odasaku.

   she was practically deemed useless. [name] knew the bare minimum of fighting, but what was that compared to a gun? noticing oda's, his model was surprisingly old. a bullet nearly grazed her cheek, and she decided to stay hidden. i can patch him up, if he gets too injured.

   but then that means i barely did anything, she realized in cold sweat. if she charges into battle, she'll die.

   "[name], it's alright," oda's voice echoed from across the hall, noticing her presence. "this is what's right for me and you. if you jump in..."

her face fell in horror at his next words.

   "...you'll have to face my gun. i'm so sorry, sœurette, i can't do anything about it. i can't be a writer anymore. i don't have the qualifications to be one. i've lost most of what i can protect, and i can't lose you, dazai, or ango too."

   "really, odasaku, right when we've only been reunited for three years or so?" she chuckled weakly. "god, i hate you..." no she didn't. she loved her brother with her heart and soul.

   the setting sun wasn't helping the atmosphere, not one bit. she was about to lose oda. when dazai finds out, he'll surely have me executed, she thought warily. but he was my special person too. i can't do anything about this...

   the mimic leader had let oda continue his monologue to the girl, to her surprise. "i love you too, girl. i'm proud of you. you've done your best... just continue, alright?" said the ginger.

┕━☽【❖】☾━┙

   "would you look at that, [name]! it's a butterfly, completely resting," said oda, brushing his fingers softly against it. startled, the creature flapped its wings quickly and escaped the two.

"aww, oda, you scared it away," [name] replied, disappointed. "what color was it?"

"red and [hair color], i think."

   "huh. that's like our hair colors," said the young girl, staring up at the gaps of sunlight emitting from the tall trees. that's weird. isn't it nighttime? suddenly, she let out a yawn.