Within

Let the night shift... begin!

|...|

"Miles, do you know how to climb a ladder?"

"Who do you think I am?"

"Let us get climbing then."

"L-Let me go first, Reyna."

"How gentleman like..."

That sarcasm! I'm going first for you're sake, you know! You're wearing a skirt, so if you go first, I'll be seeing things I shouldn't!

This she-gorilla doesn't know how to be a female...

|...|

"Miles, aren't you nervous?"

That came out of the blue... I guess it's a police operation, after all. It'd be best to calm her down. I don't want a nervous wreck as my ally.

"I'm not... honestly, I'm excited!"

"Eh? T-That's a weird reaction."

"You never asked what I was excited for, Reyna."

"W-Well, what are you excited for?"

"For all of this to end."

"..."

"I know you're nervous, but think about who you're doing it for. It helps you calm down."

"W-Who do you think about whenever you're nervous?"

That's... a difficult question. The answer is Ria... but considering how Reyna feels about me, I shouldn't break her heart... not now, at least.

Well then! I'll reply with the most "Miles-like" answer I can think of, and that is!

"I think about myself."

"..."

"That's a bit selfish, Miles-"

"If I die, what will happen to the people I left? If I die, how will I spend my promised time with them? And if I die... how am I going to repay my debt? It sounds self-centered, but being selfish isn't as bad as you think."

"..."

"You still nervous, Reyna?"

"Thank you, Miles!"

Woah... who knew she could smile? Anyways, we're at the roof now, so we should be... getting a good look at... Midway...

Hahaha... This place is appalling, but it's still as splendid as the paintings in the Louvre Museum.

The pitch-black sky with sprinkles of white. The cetacean blue ocean beyond the harbor, stretching the entire horizon. And the dim fluorescence by the crescent moon, gleaming on the uncountable number of passing vehicles.

How remarkable is this beauty? If only the inhabitants of this world were even half as alluring as the place they live in. But unfortunately... such heaven doesn't exist.

"It's stunning... right, Miles?"

"Well... It's neat."

"Is that all you have to say?! My homeland is remarkable, you know!"

"I just... don't have anything to say."

"I know what you're thinking."

What does she mean by that?! Does she know that I know?! Oh, God! The timing can't get any wor-

"You think Midway is a place full of scumbags, right?"

Ahh! That's a relief! So that's what she meant!

"I'll be blunt, so yes."

"I think the same too."

It's your homeland, after all. You must've lived a rough life, a victim of society, and yet you're standing strong next to me. You really are amazing, Reyna.

"But there's plenty of things to love about in this place."

Hmm? Well, I can't think of any!

"Despite all the sins Midway has, I've met a lot of incredible people!"

I can say the same, Reyna. I've met Ria, Ms. Alice, Francis, Uncle Jerry, Mr. Wissen, Hermes, and you.

"The world may be horrendous, Miles, but you don't need the world to be happy. All you need is that somebody... that means the world to you... someone like m-"

"*Ring!"

"S-Sorry, Reyna! But Sir Konstantin is calling! Were you about to say something?"

"It's... nothing. Anyways! Answer the phone!"

"S-Sure!"

|...|

"Hello? Uhh... Miles? It's Konstantin speaking. Can you please do your thing?"

"Y-Yeah, we're at the roof now."

"Well then! Call back when you've activated it!"

"Yes, sir!"

"..."

What was Reyna about to say? Ah, fuck me! Was she about to confess? If so, that was the most heartfelt and smoothest confession I've ever witnessed.

I've said it before! I just can't see her that way! I can't reciprocate her feelings, so the least I can do is acknowledge it!

But now's not the time! When all is said and done, before Ria wakes up, I'll have a long and intimate talk with her.

"Reyna, are you ready?"

"Just waiting for you to start!

Alright! I know I've met my daily limit, but Nori! Please be there!

|...|

"Good... evening... master."

"Slow talk again?"

"Well... you've used up... your... daily limit!"

"I'm... still recharging... so I can... only show... it for... sixty seconds!"

"Thank you, Nori!"

""I'll let you see... the future... you have to avoid!"

|...|

What shall we see today?

It appears that I'm currently within enemy territory. I'm on the ground standing next to the wall. And Sir Konstantin... and his crew... are caught in a net?!

"Sergeant Berko! This is Captain Konstantin speaking! Lieutenant Vasquez got caught in a trap! It appears that Miles' map is accurate but missed a trap on the wall!"

"Yes, sir! What do you need of me, sir?"

"Get over here ASAP! Get us the hell out! Sergeant Chevron pinpointed the enemy, and they're comi-"

"*Bang!"

They're dead... Hahahaha! What the fuck?! My map missed... a trap?! That means... I killed them... Hahaha!

I told you! No more deaths, please! Why do you keep following me?! Get the fuck away from me!

Everywhere I go! People die! Why me?! What have I done?! Why do people keep disappearing! Stop dying! Please!

|...|

"Master! S-Stay strong! You can prevent it..."

"Nori... I have... a question."

"Ask away, Master!"

"Why is it that every time I use you, people die?"

"W-Well, I c-can't answer tha-"

"These 'short clips' in my head are... my future self's memory, right?"

"Y-Yeah, mast-"

"So, in reality, they actually die, right?"

"Y-Yeah, but-"

"Hahaha! How I pity my future self! Haha-"

"Master! Your laugh just now... you're going insane! You sound like a psychopath!"

"..."

"Nori... help me, please! I'm losing my mind!"

"Master... Your future self isn't you. Just bear in mind, master, you can prevent this."

"I know that! But why me?! Why do I get to witness people drop like flies?!"

"Master, it's not your fault... It's mine. It appears that every time you use me, you lose a piece of your sanity."

"Nori?"

"I'm a failure as an enhancement! I'm not only able to assist my owner, but also a burden to him! I've determined, master! For your own sake! It will be a farewell..."

"Nori?! W-Why are you talking like that?! As you master! I forbid yo-"

"Bye-bye! Master!"

|...|

"Nori!"

"M-Miles! You're awake!"

"Where's Nori?!"

"Who's Nori?! Miles, calm down!"

"Where is she?!"

"Miles, what happened?!"

"Why?! Why?! Why?! Why?!"

"Miles! Stop hitting your head on the ground! What's gotten into you?!"

"Nori is.. gone!"

"..."

"It's alright, Miles. I'm here..."

"W-Why are you hugging me?!"

"You need it... Let your tears fall, Miles. Let me feel your pain."

"Nori is... gone..."

|...|

Pathetic! Miles, you're pitiful! You're an absolute disgrace, Miles!

How could you do that to Nori?! If only you hadn't cried! Fuck me!

"*Ring!"

"Hello? It's Konstantin speaking... uhh, it's been ten minutes since I've contacted you. We have thirty minutes left till the shift starts, so, Miles, tell us what you saw."

You've put on quite the shit show, Miles! Get your head back in the game! I'll get Nori back! Fucking Satan himself won't stop me! But before that, I'll get this night shift finished!

"Sir Konstantin! Whatever you do, don't get down from the wall! My map missed a line of traps along the barricade. In the future, you and Lieutenant Vasquez get caught and..."

"And what..."

"And die."

"I'm certainly not up to that, anything else?

"That was the only thing I saw, so I apologize for my incompetence!"

"That was helpful, Miles. Well, you've fulfilled your part. Just stand by the rooftop and watch us watch!"

"Yes, sir!"

|...|

"Miles..."

"Yes?"

"Not to sound nosy, but... what happened to you earlier."

I was going insane. It feels like there's another person inside my body, a psychopathic one. It appeared in short cameos now and then, but it isn't split personality.

Honestly, I don't know which was one of us is talking right now. It could be my psychopathic version or the normal one. But one thing is for sure, this "insane Miles" is what caused Nori to leave, so if I want her back, I need to get rid of him!

Insane Miles acts similar to me. In fact, our actions, goals, and desires are a total copy, but... our motivations are different.

I want Hitoshi's head to make Midway a better place for Ria and not for revenge. Meanwhile, the other Miles wants Hitoshi dead to repay him for putting Ria in a comma.

"Miles, you're spacing out!"

"S-Sorry... what did you ask again?"

"I asked you what happened ten minutes ago!"

"Ahh... well."

"You don't have to answer it."

Reyna has been aiding me ever since we've met, and she does have feelings for me, so I guess I can trust her.

I have to warn her about Mr. Pyschopath within me. We're the exact same, but I don't trust myself.

"I'll answer, but you have to lis-"

"Oi! Ya's brats! What are you doin' on our' turf?!"

Who the fuck interrupted me? There isn't supposed to be anyone here unless...

"Who the hell are you?"

"Looks like someone needs em' manners. We the Kuroi gang! Does it ring any bells?!"

Oh fuck.