THE TIME HAS COME!

I didn't go to school for the next few days. As for the reason, I had a personal errand to run by. Plus, I had to meet an old friend.

TOKYO PRISON!

Inmate #3281.

"Yo, Tsukiyami!"

I was seated at the visitors' booth, with the phone in my hand. He sat down and picked up the phone on the other end, the prisoners' booth.

"Why are you here? I asked you to not show up anymore!"

"How are you?"

"Stop avoiding the question, and answer me!"

"Relax! I wanted to ask you something. That's the only reason why I'm here."

"There's nothing useful that you can get from me. Just pester away."

"Actually, you're the only one who can give me insight on this topic."

"And why is that?"

"It so happens that it falls under your area of expertise."

"I don't like the feeling of this."

"Neither do I."

"Then why are you here?"

"Desperate times."

"Why are you pushing yourself to such extent, for as far I'm aware, I'm your last resort, ain't that right?"

"Well, not exactly. I do have my mother."

"We both know that ain't happening."

"That's true."

"Why me? And how serious is this job?"

" Life-changing, to say the least."

He clenched his fist tightly.

"I don't like the sound of this."

"That makes two of us."

"Isn't there anything else you can do?"

"Honestly, I could totally avoid this, by cutting ties with the source of the problem, though in this case, I am the source."

"Then, what's holding you back? You never took advice from anyone unless you're forced into a corner, or before you master something. This is unlike you."

"There's a girl..."

He softened the grip of his fist after hearing those words and looked at me in surprise. I know that this was unlike me, but things had changed. Ever since, that snowy night. Even I lost someone close to me that day, just like he did.

"I have known her for a while now. She may look moody but..."

This was the first time I was speaking about a girl with someone, and not just in a joking way, or in the hypothesis of what-ifs. It did feel strange to me. For the first time in over 3 years, I was actually concerned about someone.

"She's kind, sweet and caring, but doesn't show it to all. Sometimes she just makes a fuss about stuff, and genuinely reverts back to her default crybaby state, if things are not in her favor and out of her control."

"..."

"But...it's strange. However annoying I feel, I still enjoy her company. And let me be clear, it's not like I have harbored any feelings for her whatsoever. On that note, I'm not even sure about it anymore."

"..."

"And over time, I've come to protect what I have right now. But lately, the ground beneath us is starting to fade away. Everything's crumbling down. And I know, it's only a matter of time, before. That's why, before that happens, I want to..."

"End it all?"

"Yes!"

"You know, you're asking for the impossible?!"

"I already know that."

"Then you already have a plan set? I'm assuming so since it's you."

"You know that I plan out spontaneously, gathering whatever I have at hand, unlike a proper plan, taking in all the variables."

"So, what's the plan?"

"Before that, I want you to hear out the details I have with me."

"Sadly, we don't have time for it."

We both stared at the guard, who was watching over us, as he started to tap his watch. Cheapstake! He could let me talk a bit more. It's not like I'm trying to break him out of prison. Though that's for another time, should such a time arrive?

"Time is something I'm running short on, in the long run. But I do have ample amount of time before the curtain riser."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll catch you tomorrow. See you later."

I waved my hand and headed for the exit.

"Nao, wait..."

I could hear the scream, which sounded like a whisper, such was the dampening power of the reinforced glass placed in between the room. I didn't heed his call and went ahead. I visited him for the next 3 days, at different intervals of time, keeping the allocated time in mind, I explained to him the situation I was in without giving away any serious details, should there be a time where my plan backfired, neither of us would land in trouble.

It was similar to Schrodinger's cat. You place the cat in the box with some poisonous gas in the box and leave it for a while. Now you're not sure about the cat's condition, whether it's dead or alive unless you look into it. That's the basic dumbed-down version of it. I'm not a physicist.

Similarly, in this case, the information I shared was equivalent to that. It was legit, but when compelled to share it, it would amount to nothing. Why take such a drastic measure? I hate sharing information that's about me or related to me, with any other human. Makes me feel weak and exposed. I don't have time to prepare for what happens later. And that's why I will prevent anything from taking a form or shape. I finally finished with a detailed briefing, without giving away much, and he never asked for more.

But it's like I'm using the excuse, "This is about a friend of mine, not me". That's pathetic and only works sometimes.

"So, what are you going to do?"

Now that he was fully aware of the basic details, he was able to understand the position I was in.

"I wanted some information."

"Yeah, ask me."

"How bad is Hisotaki Juvenile Detention Center?"

"Huh?!"

He got up in astonishment after hearing that word. He tried to keep his cool, and slowly placed his hand on the glass.

"What...What are you planning to do? What are your intentions? And why are you getting involved in such a mess?!"

Judging from his reaction looks like the reputation it held was pretty dangerous.

"Well, don't worry. I won't end up in prison, it's too early for that."

"Stop it, are you insane? Risking your life, just for a girl?"

"Isn't it ironic, coming from you of all people? After what happened? Maybe you think that it was the only choice you had left, and don't want anyone else walking down that path, but it's just what you think."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not the only one, who's repenting every day, who carries guilt every day, who can never forgive himself every day."

"..."

"Until the next time, see you later!"

It was 11 PM. My family was out for a friendly gathering. I had turned down the offer to join them. Because only at this time...in these silent nights...is when they rise. The breed of humans who lurk in the shadows during the day, and rise up at night.

Plus, as much as Japan is a country with a low crime rate, it had a flaw for the kind like me. Kids below 18, wouldn't be charged for the most serious of crimes. And that's why it was time for me to...

STEP INTO THE WORLD OF CRIME!