We Will Meet Again

But, these days, Akito is wondering if Setsura wants to go back now. This is not his selfish side talking. Though he wants to be with her forever and intends for her to say yes to his proposal, he still had his morals. If Setsura wants to go back to her time, Akito knew he wouldn't be able to stop her.

..

Central Archive

One of the many things he disliked about being a police officer is investigating. Most people would say becoming a police member is simple - but those people only see the good sides. They failed to look at other factors. While they require a level of investigation for police work, they aren't detectives; detectives are the ones who mainly obtain the information.

Still, Akito doesn't make it easy for himself. He isn't satisfied until he has fully seen everything. Still, his gaze landed on the study area. After the meeting with his team earlier, Akito figured it would be best to investigate. So, he came here. However, there is far too much to read here for a single person. Akito loved to read, so usually reading a lot would not trouble him.

But, reading case files and stories are completely different. He rubbed his forehead and sighed. This is troublesome, who would have thought that yesterday's job ended up having, so many complications involved. Then again, he got hurt. That is evidence alone that the case is difficult.

"I found you," a familiar female voice snapped him out of his daze. Akito could not make a mistake when it came to that voice. Sure enough, when he looked up he saw Setsura. She did not reply to what he said earlier, so it surprised Akito seeing her. Setsura took a seat beside him. A deep sigh passed her lips, "You rushed off just like that. You have the nerve to do so, now it seems."

His sweat fell when he heard her tone; she seemed a bit relaxed.

"I guess I can take a break now."

The word-break did not cross his mind in the last few hours since he came here. But, once Akito saw her. He changed his mind.

Setsura smiled, "That's good. Because I also brought this, "she said, holding up a bag of what looked like pastries. The fresh smell instantly hit his nose, and he sighs and stands up. He grabbed the coffee.

"I'll take you up on that offer."

...

In the end, they remained near his earlier workspace. But pulled out the spare table and sat down on the couch area. It wasn't the first time he had gone here to the public affairs government building. Yet Akito had to admit this was the first time he had gone to the archives area. Having private areas like this really was convenient; he had done his research in peace with no one else knowing.

Setsura removed her hat and placed it on the side, the girls straight and wavy - yet curly locks fell. That color hair really is unusual; he always wondered if it was dyed. But then again, his companions have strange hair colors. He supposed that, in a sense, it was their symbol.

"Did you find anything out yet?"

The black-haired boy shook his head, "It's not as simple as I thought it would be."

"The more we find out, the more danger we will end up in."

The more that they'll...find out, huh? The black-haired boy well knew that this whole situation was risky in more ways than one. After all, even if he has sorted things out with the others. There are things that can still go wrong and break this momentum they all have. He knew that factor all too well to the point that it really left him with a sickly feeling. Akito ran his hands through his hair, "What do you think of this situation?"

Setsura picked up one of the files he left open on the side and flicked through it, "Are you searching for the culprit who attacked you?"

"Yeah," Akito nodded. "All the other attackers confessed that there is a ringleader. But, they also mentioned an elder."

"Elder?"

"Yes, there are two main leaders behind the recent case."

"Considering the timing, it probably relates to the incident we witnessed…" Setsura trailed off. "Before we talk about that, about earlier. Do not think I'm angry at you. I merely had to collect my thoughts. For some reason, I could not get mad. Besides, it's not like you are the only one who has things to feel guilty about. I am in the same position as you."

Akito immediately understood why. Setsura keeps thinking about her fiance these days. That's why even if she wants to get mad at him, she can't. It seems like if he isn't careful, it will happen all over again. He needs to adjust to her pace, learn that it is okay for her to care about others.

That's right, because back then. Back then, Akito couldn't accept it. The attitude she had towards other people; to him, it didn't make sense. It didn't make any sense to him why she would treat them that way. She called it honesty, and yet he called it 'cruel.'

Saying things so bluntly to the point others disliked her - he always wondered why she would do something like that. 'If you want to play, make-believe in friendship. Please do it elsewhere.' When she said that to the other girls, he had overheard and didn't waste any time getting mad at her. Though at first he had tried to settle it in a calm manner. But that just made Sumire's remarks grow harsher.

It ended with him yelling at her and embarrassing her. Yet that gaze on the girl's expression never faded.

'I thought that at least you'd be able to see it.

It seems as though I was wrong, huh?

I would have liked to say it to you.'

Back then, those words she said briefly, he wished he had paid more attention to them. But the him at that time was too angry and caught up in his emotions to respond to that. In fact, he was thinking 'what on earth is she saying now? She should just apologize."

How wrong had he been?

After all, two days later, those girls weren't friends with each other anymore. In fact one of them became a victim of severe bullying and the ringleader was that other girl. His wife had been right and... that's probably why the victim girl got angry. Because she had pointed out this flaw, she pointed out that somebody deceived her. Said what she had been desperately wanting to hide out loud.

His thoughts broke off when he felt someone lightly pat his hair. Only to find Setsura that who sat opposite him now stood beside him.

"There there. It must have been quite difficult, wasn't it? Keeping it all to yourself - worrying about it anxiously by yourself. Worrying constantly to the point you got no sleep and didn't know what to do anymore. Wanting to say those words and yet always being prevented from doing so. You've gone through a lot. Although what happened between you two ended up this way, I don't believe that either of you was wrong at all. In a sense, it was something that was supposed to occur. But even if that's so, I wish the burden on you wasn't this harsh," Setsura's soft and gentle voice filled his ears, as he struggled to keep the tears inside his eyes.

"It's alright, you know, for you to cry. Though there's that stereotypical viewpoint of guys not being allowed to cry because it makes them look weak. I don't think that's the case at all. I think it makes you look quite cool."

At that comment, he really couldn't help it and turn to the lilac hair girl. "Sorry, lend me your chest for a bit."

"That's alright. Cry as much as you want. Your human too."

His eyes widened, geez....he has to hear that comment now of all times. Fate really does love to mess with him in so many ways.

'There's no need for you to apologize to me. Although I'll admit, you were completely out of line the other day. I can't expect people to have the same deduction and knowledge as I do. For that reason I should be the one apologizing. After all, I'm quite cruel, telling the truth. Almost like I'm pulling out and exposing all those things that should not be said. So you had every right to be mad at me. But I do wonder, I do wonder why they bother hiding it.

Wouldn't it be simpler if they just say what they're thinking? Instead of remaining in this illusion. I'm saying this mainly to you. Those girls aside, I believe that you genuinely reacted then because you felt it too. That I was correct. Even if we have a different mindset, in the end, you're human too, so us drawing to the same conclusion isn't unusual.'

Akito does not know who said. But he remembers somebody telling him that men can choose his own fate – whether to ignore the circ.u.mstances or be consumed by them.

In his case, he chose the latter, and this is where it brought him – a demotion. Fate has a way of delivering a joke, a cruel one if you ask him, and he never knew that its trick is on him.

Really, there's nothing about this that's fair.