All actions have consequences

"We've been playing for a while, don't you think. What a send-off party this turned out to be."(Luis)

"Even so, even if it's just having someone to play games with, I'm grateful."(Mary)

A brief moment of silence.

"*Clears throat* Anyways, I can't believe you'll be leaving us tomorrow Mary-chan!"(Tara)

"Wel, it's only for two months, I'll be back and we'll be able to see each other before you know it," Mary says with a smile

"... I guess so."(Tara)

"Yeah, I guess I'm glad that I accepted your friendship-confession back then," I say laughing and Tara joins.

Mary starts pouting and looks at me, "Sorry," I say with a smile.

"You don't look sorry," Mary, still pouting.

"It is kind of strange though." (Tara)

" Her friendship... request?"(Luis)

"N-no, this, happening. Who would've thought that this would happen after that."

"Yeah, I know what you mean." (Mary)

"It's almost as if, we are free to make our own choice but aren't free to choose the consequences." (Tara)

"..."

"Looks like one of the wise men decided to show up today." (Luis)

"I know right."(Mary)

"Shut up you both!"

Like that we teased Tara and continued the afternoon playing games and joking around.

I hear the alarm sound. Shit looks like it's morning, I remember what happened yesterday. I can still see the corpses, I can still hear the gunshots. I...I killed someone.I... I can't do anything about that anymore, I should just worry about what's in front of me. I put on my white bracelet.

Looks like this promise has brought me to... NO! I shouldn't worry about that, I will just keep my promise...no matter what. I go to put on my black bracelet... I forgot about Mary, I wonder how she's doing. It's been a while since she gave us this "proof of friendship."

If I remember correctly she said that she would leave for two months. That means she'll be coming back. The same week I am supposed to leave! Oh great, I might not even get to say goodbye. I stare at my black bracelet and sigh. Well, I mean, she may arrive at the beginning of the week. Just this one time I'll be optimistic.

Now for my run...I feel a bit of mental strain, just this one time I will sleep an extra hour. I'll put on an alarm for one hour from now and get to work. And like that, I took a nap until the alarm sounded again.

I headed towards work and arrived as usual, for now, I'll keep myself busy to not think about unnecessary things. I went into the employee area until I realized something, Karen isn't here. She's usually here before I'm here and Is hard to miss due to her "customer service." I don't see her, does that mean she's ditching or that she's sick? Sick, yeah probably sick.

Before we headed out to attend to shop our boss stopped us.

"Attention everyone, I have an announcement to make."(Boss)

" *whisper* What do you think this about whisper*"

"*whisper* Maybe about what happened last night *whisper* "

"*whisper* Do you think it's related to Karen *whisper* "

We all turn to face him.

"I'm sure you are all aware of the shooting that happened last night." Everybody remains silent.

Does that mean yesterday things were revealed this quickly? News go around fast these days.

"I was informed that during yesterday's scuffle Karen was hit by a stray bullet. The bullet hit her leg and all she will no longer be working with us. But as you know, two people died from the stray bullets so I would like to dedicate a brief moment of silence."

Everybody remained silent. I...killed innocent bystanders too. It wasn't only the guys from Bloody crips, It was also people that lived around there. And Karen got hit by a stray bullet. Is it my fault? I feel some tears on my eyes. It... It's my fault. The old man warned me to go in with a plan in mind. I should've listened to him! Instead, I got caught up on the fact that I had a limited amount of time to keep my promise.

"Alright everyone, head back to work."

I can't stay here, I feel suffocated.

"Um, boss."(Luis)

"What is it?"

"I... I don't feel well, could I please leave?"

He looks at me and stares into my eyes.

"I understand, you may leave."

"Thank you."

I leave as quickly as possible. I didn't know where I was going, I just ran out of there. I ran and ran until finally, I ended up near central park. I run into the park until I don't see anyone and get in front of a tree.

"I SHOULD"VE LISTENED TO THE OLD MAN!" I hit a tree as hard as I can with my fist making some blood form on my fist. "I SHOULD"VE PLANNED THINGS OUT!" I punch the tree again with my other hand. " I should've been considerate of my surroundings!" I punch the tree again making a slight hold on the tree. "It wasn't enough!" I punch again making a bigger dent on the side of the tree. "It... it wasn't enough this time either," I say as I sink down. "It wasn't enough," I say more weakly.

I lay down, what am I doing? I look at my firsts covered in blood and then stare down at my own bracelets. I grab the white bracelet. If only this bracelet, I start to pull as if to break it, but right before I did so, something stopped me, I couldn't do it.

Tara was the most important person I had in my life after my parents died. I can't break my promise to someone I held so dearly, I feel that if I do, something inside me will break and I will no longer the same.

I cracked the white bracelet a bit, I'll put a little glue on it later so that it doesn't break easily. I examine it a bit more... Honestly, what exactly am I doing? I shouldn't waver, not after all of this. I will see this through to the end and I will keep my promise to Tara no matter what. It doesn't matter what I have to do to do so.

Looks like I have to bring up my training further if I want to be able to deal with things better. I should learn to act a bit more diligently. I look at my surroundings, there's no one here, I guess now is as good of a time as any to start training more.

I train as harshly as I could for the remaining of the day. When I ran out of mana I proceeded to do physical training while using small amounts of fatigue relieving magic. My recovery speed for complete magic depletes is around two hours usually, but with this way of training it took about 3 and a half hours before I was completely full.

The sun is on the horizon. It's almost time to go to that old man's place. I'll jog back to my apartment for now and put my things on me. I get home and put on my mask, finally, I look at the gun that is hidden on my cabinet. I hesitate for a moment and stare at it, I sigh and take it. It's already time for me to patrol. I head out in my usual outfit and do my patrolling.

As I hear gossip around the street it looks like everybody already knows what happened. Well, mostly, some things have been exaggerated. But essentially they know that Lucas was captured and that a bounty hunter and Dark menace, meaning me, are responsible for it.

I arrive at the place of my destination to see Jeorge waiting for me standing.

"Old man."

"Brat... For now, let's chance locations and take it from there."

"Alright."

He starts walking and I follow him. We are silent the whole way while I follow him. After we arrive at some alleyways he stops and turns around.

"So... about last night... you said you killed... for the first-"

"Old man please stop. I know what you may want to say or maybe I don't. I don't know, but we are just strangers that met each other yesterday. I don't care anymore, let's get on with this information."

"... You look more collected than yesterday."

"I remembered my reason for doing this."

"So you are saying that you remember your reason you can kill just like that?!"

"I mean, yes, but I-"

I didn't see it coming, the old man punched me in the face.

"The hell is wrong with you brat!?!? We are talking about lives here!"

I get back up. Do you think I haven't thought about that!?

"Well, what am I supposed to!? I know that lives aren't something to play around with!" I go forward and try to hit him, he dodges and hits me with my own momentum in the stomach.

"Listen, I won't say it is intolerable to take someone's life cause I would just be a hypocrite, but this was the first time you killed someone, don't be so composed! Think about the significance of what you've done! You even dragged civilians, innocent people, into this! I don't care what's driving you, but remember that people that die don't come back you shit!"

I stay in the ground for a moment and remain silent. This old man is right, I claim it to be in the name of a promise, but it's still murder. I guess I should reevaluate my thinking a bit more. I stay in the ground and remain silent while thinking about the old man's words. I will keep this in mind

"It looks like you are right old man, I may have been taking this too lightly. I will consider this as I move forward."

"Got that right you cheeky brat... Now that that's over, would you like to know more about Crimson Night."

"Gladly."