Night Walk

As I sat under the night sky, I could see no stars in sight. Since it was a cloudy night, the moon was being covered up. Preventing it from shining down upon anything. The only light that was clearly visible, was coming from the store behind me. As it illuminated what little it could, I was the only figure being highlighted in the process. Beyond what the light touched; pure darkness was encompassing the area. I had only been waiting for a few minutes, but I couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease beginning to set in. Perhaps it was due to my fear of darkness. I still hadn’t gotten completely over it, so it still bothered me to this day. Because of that, it’s always been hard to not let my imagination run a bit wild.

Before anything further could happen though, Haruka opened the door to the store. This had broken the atmosphere that was starting to settle in around me.

Getting up, I replied to her.

“Just the person I was waiting for.”

Noticing me, she stops. She had collected the things she needed and had a bag in each hand.

“What are you still doing here? I thought you had left.”

“I guess you could call it a whim?”

“A whim?”

“What? Did you think I was here to stalk you again?”

I jokingly said, as I smiled broadly.

She gave light laughter, turning her head a bit away from my direction.

“Don’t worry, I won’t make that mistake again.”

While I hadn’t given it much thought earlier, this situation was a bit strange. No one would normally just wait for a girl at night, with no reason.

“I guess I should apologize though. Calling it a whim is a bit incorrect. After everything that’s happened, I’ve been curious about a few things. I know this isn’t exactly the best time, but I hope we can talk for a bit if you don’t mind.”

Since the day we met, things weren’t exactly normal. So, I guess going about things abnormally is fine in this type of relationship. I may have originally stayed on a whim, but I truly was curious about her. There were questions that had been on my mind for a while now after all.

“I suppose since Mr. Stalker is apologizing, I can forgive you this time.”

We both start laughing after her remark. Not hesitating to joke about the previous misunderstanding she had of me.

“Then, shall we Haruka?”

I bow slightly and motioned her in the direction in front of us.

I’m not exactly sure what caused me to go about this in a joking manner now, but it was starting to reminded me of how I would joke around with Tamura sometimes. This was indeed a shift in the mood compared to earlier. The seriousness I was feeling had vanished too. Perhaps this is how she acts around Shizuku normally? I can’t say it is for certain, but this was a nice side to see of her.

As she proceeded to walk, I grabbed my bags and followed suit.

“I’ll follow you. This way I can at least walk you part of the way home, instead of the other way around. It only seems right, since I am the one intruding upon your time.”

“If that’s fine with you, that works for me. Plus, that also means I’ll have someone to hang out with for a while.”

As we walked, I contemplated on what to ask. In the first place, what did I hope to accomplish from hearing her answers? What was it exactly that made me wait for her? I suppose the only thing I can do is start with the most basic question of all.

“Haruka…. When I think about it, it just doesn’t make sense to me. What was it that made you assume I was a stalker? There had to be a reason, right? I mean, it’s not something you just randomly say to someone. Tell me, what was that reason?”

She hesitated. Letting silence fill the air for a bit.

“How could I not? When I confronted you, I was certain you were stalking me. Right from the start, you were there. Originally, I didn’t think anything of it. However, when I had seen you the fourth and fifth time…well it’s hard not to think we were being followed. That’s when I started to actively search for you. When I did, I noticed you were always there. Maybe I should say, what reason was there not to believe you weren’t?”

Haruka stopped walking and turned to face me.

“Yuuki, what were you doing that day? Why were you always in my view? Even if I did mistake you for a stalker, it’s not unreasonable to assume something was odd right? You were even alone. To be in that many places alone…what was your reason? Could you tell me? What was it that caused me to misunderstand in such a huge way?”

Just as she had paused earlier, I now paused to answer her question.

While the answer to that question was simple, it wasn’t something I wanted to discuss openly with just anyone. Grand secret or not, I still can’t help but let my emotions get the better of me. To put it simply, I’m weak. That’s why it’s always something I avoid talking about if possible. Anything dealing with them causes me to remember after all. Still, to think I wouldn’t notice someone being in all the same locations as I was. I must have really been out of it that day.

“Sigh~.”

Letting out a deep sigh, I steeled myself.

“To be honest, I don’t like talking about it.”

I take a few steps in the direction we were heading and stop.

“Do you know what it feels like to lose someone? I do.”

I turn my head and give Haruka a weak smile. Turning back around, I then begin walking slowly.

As I do, Haruka soon followed me.

“On that day, I was gathering gifts. It’s something I do when I visit them…my family that is.”

I couldn’t help but recall the times I had spent with them. The most mundane of things even. Saying good morning to each other or good night, eating together and even arguing.

“Yuuki? Are you okay?”

“Sorry, I was lost in thought.”

Without noticing, I had started to let my emotions overwhelm me again. I wiped away the tears that had come out and continued where I left off.

“I don’t only get gifts; I visit places that we had previous been to together as well. I recall all the things we did there and even the things we planned to do in the future. I do that because… they are no longer here. They passed away some time ago. That’s the reason I went to so many places that day. That was the reason I was alone that day. Because on that particular day, the day they had died, I would rather be alone.”

While there were days that Tamura would visit them with me, that day was not one. I had specifically asked him to let me be alone that day. Knowing exactly what day it was, of course he tried to come. However, I didn’t allow it. Just as he knew how I’d feel, I knew how he would feel seeing me during the visit. I couldn’t allow him to see me like that, with no way for him to help. It was just as much for his sake as it was mine.

“I’m so sorry Yuuki. If I had known….”

“It’s okay, there’s no way you could have known.”

Haruka’s expression saddened, realizing the thing she had done on such a day.

“Anyway, that answers your question I assume? Ha ha….”

Giving an awkward laugh after my question, hoping to change the mood and subject.

“Yes, you did indeed answer it.”

Thinking of the next question, it had to be the only other thing that left a huge impression on me.

“I’m very curious to know. What were you doing that same day?”

I shifted into a more serious tone when asking this question.

“Later that day, you were doing something that wasn’t exactly normal either. I was even in awe at the scene I had saw. This time you tell me Haruka, what exactly was happening that day? Why were you in the park with so many people? Actually, why were you even fighting? In fact, how did you defeat so many?”

I still remember the moment I saw her fighting very vividly. I couldn’t control my feelings and felt overwhelmed by them. To think, the girl who wrongly accused me that day would make an impact like that on me. It wasn’t something I had even considered. She had displayed a sight I had never seen before. All while being severely outnumbered. That’s why, even if I don’t understand these feelings right now. I want to know what I can.

“That’s right, you don’t know do you? I’m actually pretty used to people knowing about it by now. You see, I used to go around challenging others a lot. As time went on, I was the one being challenged and the number of people increased. As you yourself witnessed, it eventually grew into such a size before I realized it. They all come for different reasons. Some to defeat me for fame, others to get revenge for someone in their group. That specific day was to get revenge. They brought so many in hopes of defeating me. Even if I don’t want to, I’m pretty much forced to fight them. When they come at me like that, I have no real say in the matter.”

Haruka gave a somewhat saddened smile.

“Anyway, that’s what I was doing that day.”

“It seems you have it rough as well, in a different way.”

I’m sure there is more to the story than she is willing to reveal. As for why she is hiding it though. I can’t exactly be sure, but it’s not like I can blame her. I too left out certain parts as well. For now, what’s important is that we both said enough to answer the others question. That’s the most important thing. As for those missing parts, I’m sure we’ll both tell each other one day. If we ever get close enough to do so that is.