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"You were graced with five years of freedom before I was released. And I find out that this is what you've been doing with your time? Playing noodle penchant for one of Ingram's descendants? This is an entire new low for you."
"I've humored you for the past six months because I pitied you. After all, it was your actions who got innocent people killed in Kanto. People like Tai's son."
"Rio…"
"'Nothing will right the wrongs we made. Nothing. The only way to move forward is to abandon the notion that things will ever be the same as they were in the past. Even when things are painstakingly... Agonizingly... put back together with time.' THAT is what YOU told ME."
"Rio-"
"I thought I was released later so that you'd make sure I didn't fall into that line of thought. Yet, here you are, dragging me into your delusion of making things right by peddling sub-par food to a PROXY!"
Rio's mind goes blank. She opens her mouth to fill the silence with something.
... Anything.
Her silence is met with a choked sob from Ray.
She wrenches her eyes away from him. She jumps down from the stand's countertop. With a practiced motion, she slips the delivery crate on her back and darts away into the street.
Rio turns and runs with her tail between her legs. She disappears into the crowd.
Ray reaches out to her, but drops his hand helplessly onto the counter. He wipes his tears quickly, and when he clears his vision, he's met with concerned looks of some startled bystanders. In the act of acknowledging their presence, the people realized they were eavesdropping on something that was not their business. They continued to walk down the street.
For the first time, Ray found himself thankful for the uncaring nature of a city.
He flicks off the lantern and places a "closed" sign on the counter. He drops the empty satchel onto the floor in an unceremonious heap and slumps to the ground--back against the cabinet, elbows propped on his knees. He stares at his hands that were still wet from his tears.
|| The first day has come to an end. Rio and Ayumi have left the stand. ||
|| The second night is upon us. ||