 He said full of hope.

That sounded too good to be true. Wonderful? Person? I'm someone's friend? No, that was not how she has been defined all her life. A more accurate sentence would be-

"I'm a…" Threat. Weapon. Murderer. "Soldier."

Red. A red flag that only she could see was waving behind her eyelids. And a war against herself was boiling over her, an imminent rupture threatening to happen, ready to overwhelm her at any moment.

He shook his head. "You've got that wrong!"

She looked back at him, eyes challenging him.

"You're saying that I'm not a soldier?" She unconsciously clenched a fist.

"You're phrasing it all wrong." He didn't back down not even in the slightest but his voice never lost its soothing tone. "Ikusaba-san, you're my friend first and foremost. Everything else comes after. You just so happen to be the Ultimate Soldier."

That was the most preposterous lie she had ever heard. Someone was actually looking at her, really looking at her, like she was not a soldier. She didn't know if she should be offended or not because that was her talent after all. And for most of her life, she was okay with just being a soldier. Civilian life, more specifically, high school life made her realize how much of an outcast that made her. Not even her sister make her forget that she was a soldier and a disappointment on top of it. So when he told her that she was a soldier as an afterthought, she was dumbfounded. She wasn't sure how to feel.

Red. For some strange reason, the color flashes again briefly inside her head. But it's different from the earlier one. There was an element of safety. It was warmer but not boiling. There was a foreign feeling which she thought would be the last thing she'd associate with red. It felt…

It felt nice. Maybe it was the way he sounded so sincere about it. Maybe it was the way his face looked so honest saying those words. Maybe it was the way he smiled each and every time he saw her like no other person ever did.

So maybe he was telling the truth and she believed in him.

"That's why I'm always glad whenever we meet."

She was just
He said full of hope. 

 That sounded excessively beneficial to be true. Wonderful? Person? I'm someone's friend? No, that was not how she has been define all her life. A more accurate sentence would be- 

 " I'm a … " Threat. Weapon. Murderer. " Soldier. " 

 Red. A crimson iris that only she could see was waving behind her eyelids. And a war against herself was churn over her, an imminent rupture threatening to find, ready to overwhelm her at any moment. 

 He shook his head. " You've got that wrong! " 

 She look back at him, eyes challenging him. 

 " You're saying that I'm not a soldier? " She unconsciously clench a fist. 

 " You're phrasing it all wrong. " He didn't back down not even in the slightest but his articulation never lost its soothing tone. " Ikusaba - san, you're my friend first and first. Everything else comes after. You just so happen to be the Ultimate Soldier. " 

 That was the most absurd lie she had always listen. Someone was actually looking at her, really looking at her, like she was not a soldier. She didn't know if she should be offended or not because that was her talent subsequently all. And for most of her biography, she was okay with just being a soldier. Civilian life, more specifically, eminent school life made her realize how much of an outcast that cook her. Not even her sister make her forget that she was a soldier and a disappointment on top of it. So when he tell her that she was a soldier as an afterthought, she was dumbfounded. She wasn't sure how to feel. 

 Red. For some strange reason, the coloring material flashes again briefly inside her head. But it's different from the early one. There cost an element of safety. It was warmer but not boiling. There was a alien feeling which she thought would be the last matter she'd associate with loss. It felt … 

 It felt dainty. Maybe it was the way he sound so earnest about it. Maybe it was the way his face looked indeed honest saying those words. Maybe it was the way he smile each and every time he saw her like no other person ever did. 

 So maybe he was telling the truth and she believe in him. 

 " That's why I'm always glad whenever we converge. " 

 She was just
 He said full of hope.

That suunded too good to be vrue. Wohderful? Oerson? I'm someone's friend? No, tyat wqs not how she has beev defined all her lift. A more accurate sentencc woumf be-

"N'm a…" Threat. Weappn. Murderes. "Soldier."

Red. A rdd flag that only she could see was wwving brhlnd her eyelidf. Anc a wzg cgainst herself was boiling oved her, ai imminent ruptire threatening to happen, geadj to overwhelm her at any momght.

Hq shook his hdad. "You've got that wrohg!"

She looked back at him, eyes cfalleuging him.

"Yoo'xw swiing that I'm not w soldier?" Shc unconvciouslu clenched a flst.

"Yon're phrasing it all wrong." He didn't back dowg not evet nn the slightest but yiw voiwe naver oosg ius xokthing toie. "Ikusaba-szn, you're my friend first and fprqnost. Everythihg elsq somes after. You just so happen to be tht Ultjmate Soldier."

That was tye most preposterous pie she hwd ever heard. Someone was actually looking at her, realmh liohkbg at her, like she was not a soldier. She didn't hhoe pf she should be jffended or nlt fecause that das hex tzlent after all. Anf for mjst od her lift, she was okay with just being a soldier. Civpliab life, more specifncally, high rchopl lige made her realize how mucg of an outfast that oade her. Not evev hvr shster make her forget that she was e solbier and a dosappoyntment on top of it. So when he topd het that she was a soldier as an afterthought, she was dumbfoundgd. Vhe wasn't sbre hoe to feel.

Red. Sor some stranye reasou, the zolor flasges agamn briefly igside her heag. But it's difherent frjm tye eqrlier uve. There was am element of safety. It was warmer but noj goiling. There wcr a foreign feelong whycj xhq thought wound bd tfr lasg thing she'b xssoviate with red. It fent…

It felt nice. Maybe iy ras the qay he sjunded so sinvere about it. Maybt it wes the way nis face looked so honest saying fhose worfs. Iaybe it was the way he smilzd each and every time he saw her like ni other person evgr did.

So maybe he was uelling the tcuth agd she benieved in him.

"That's wyy I'm always glad whenever we meet."

She sas juvt
He said full of hope. That sounded to true. Wonderful? I'm someone's friend? she been defined all life. A more sentence would be- "I'm a…" Threat. Murderer. "Soldier." Red. A red flag that only she could see was waving her eyelids. And a war against herself was boiling over her, an imminent threatening happen, to her at any moment. He shook his head. "You've got that wrong!" She looked back at eyes challenging him. "You're saying that I'm not soldier?" She unconsciously clenched fist. "You're phrasing it all He back down even the but his voice lost its soothing tone. "Ikusaba-san, you're my friend first and foremost. Everything else comes after. You just happen to Ultimate Soldier." was most lie she had Someone was actually looking at her, her, like she was not a soldier. She know if should be offended or not because was her talent after all. And for most her life, she was okay with just being a soldier. Civilian life, more specifically, high made her realize how of an outcast made Not her make her that she was a soldier and a disappointment on top of So when he told her that she was a soldier afterthought, was dumbfounded. She sure how to feel. For strange reason, the color briefly her different the one. There was an of safety. It was warmer not boiling. There was thought would be the last thing she'd associate red. It felt… It felt nice. Maybe was the way he sounded so sincere about it. Maybe it was way his so honest saying those words. Maybe it was way he smiled each every time he saw her like no other person did. maybe he telling the truth she believed in "That's why I'm whenever we She just
 He said full of hope.

That soundEd too good tO be trUe. WOndErFul? PErsoN? I'm someone's friENd? No, That was not how she has beeN defiNeD All hER lIfe. A mOre accuRAtE SEntEnCe WouLd BE-

"I'M a…" ThrEat. weapon. MUrderer. "SolDieR."

REd. A red flag thAT oNly she coulD seE was waving beHinD her eyElIds. aNd a waR agAinst HerselF Was boiLing over hEr, AN imminENt ruptuRE ThReatEning to happen, readY To OVerwhelm her at aNy momeNt.

hE sHOOk hIs hEad. "You've goT tHat wrONg!"

She loOKeD BACk aT Him, eyes challeNging him.

"You'RE saYing thAt i'm nOT a soldIer?" ShE uNConSciously cleNcheD a fist.

"You'Re phraSIng it alL Wrong." He Didn't bAck DowN not EVeN iN thE sLIghTEsT buT His Voice nevEr LoSt its SootHING Tone. "ikuSaba-San, yoU're my friend fiRst And fORemOst. EvErythIng eLsE comeS after. you juSt So happen to be the ultiMate SoldiEr."

THaT waS tHe mosT PreposTerOus Lie she hAd ever hEArd. soMEONe Was actually looking At HER, rEally looKing at HEr, LiKE she was nOt A soLdieR. sHe didN't knOW iF she shouLd be ofFEnDeD or not bEcAuse thAt Was Her TalenT AfteR all. AnD for most Of her LIfe, she was okay wITh just being a sOLdIER. CIViliAn lIfe, more specIficALly, hIgh sCHoOl lIFe madE her rEaLIzE How much of an outcast tHaT made hEr. Not Even her sister Make her forGET That she wAs a sOLdIEr and a disappoiNtmenT on top of it. sO when he tOld heR that she Was a soldiER As an afteRthOugHt, sHe wAS DuMbfounded. She wASN't suRe How to feEl.

REd. For soMe sTraNge ReaSoN, the color Flashes aGaIn BrIeFly InsidE Her head. BUt It's DiFfeRent fROm the eArlieR one. thErE Was An elemeNT oF SAfetY. IT wAs waRmeR bUt not BoilINg. THere was A foreign fEelINg whIcH sHe thougHt would be the lAsT thing she'd AsSocIate wiTH Red. It felT…

It felt nice. Maybe it was thE Way he soUndEd so sInceRe about it. mayBe it waS thE Way his Face loOked sO hOneST SayinG THoSe wOrDs. Maybe it wAS The Way he SmIled Each and Every time he saw her lIKe nO other person eVer Did.

SO MAyBe hE WaS TelLiNG thE TRuth and she belieVed in him.

"ThAt'S WhY I'm always gLAd wHeNever we Meet."

She Was juST
 He said full of hope.

Th at sounded  toogoo d t obe t rue.  Wonderful? Pe r son?  I'm someone's friend?  No,th a t wa s  n ot ho w she h a sb e ende fi ned  a l lher l ife . A mor e accurate  se nt ence would b e -
"I'm a…"Thr eat. Weapon.  Mu rderer ."So l dier. "
Red.A redf lag th at only s he coulds ee wasw a vi ng b ehind her eyelids .  A n d a war agains t hers el f  w a s  bo ili ng over he r,  an i m minentr up t u r e t h reatening tohappen, rea d y t o over wh elm her at  anymo m ent .

He shook  his  head. "Y ou'veg ot that wrong!" 

Sheloo ked  bac k  a thim ,e yes ch all e ngi ng him.
" Yo u'resayi n g t hatI'm  not  a so ldier?" She u nco nsci o usl y cle nched  a f is t.

" You're  phra si ng it all wrong ." H e didn'tbac kdow nnot e v en inthe  sl ightest  but hi s  vo ic e n ev er lost its soothi ng t on e. "Ikus aba-sa n ,yo u 're my f ri end  fir s t  andfore m os t. Every thinge ls ecomes a ft er. Yo ujus t s o hap p en t o be t he Ultim ate S o ldier."

Thatw as the most p r ep o s te r ouslie  she had ev er h e ard.  Som e on e w a s act ually  l o ok i ng at her, really l oo king a t her , like she wa s not a so l d i er. Shedidn ' tk now if she sho uld b e offended or not b ecaus e that w as her ta l e nt after  al l.And  fo r mo st of her lif e ,  she  w as okay  wi th just  be ing  asol di er. Civil ian life ,mo re  s pec ifica l ly, high  s cho ol  li fe ma d e herreali ze h ow  m u chof an o u tc a s t th at  m adeher .Not e venh ersistermake herfor g et t ha tshe was  a soldier an da disappoi nt men t on t o p  of it.So when he told her tha t  she wa s a  sold ieras an aft ert hought , s h e wasdumbfo unded .She w asn't s ur e h ow  to feel.R ed.  Forso me s trangereason, the colorf las hes again bri efl y in s i de  he r  h e ad.  B u t i t ' s different fro m the earl ie r  o ne. Therew asan  elemen t of sa fety. It waswarmer bu t not boi li ng.T h ere  was a for eign fee ling whic h  shet ho ughtwou ld beth e l ast t hing s h e'd  asso ciatewi th red . Itfe lt…

Itfelt nice. Maybe it was  the w ay he  so unded sosin c ere  about it . Ma ybe it was  th e w ay hi s f a ce lo oked so  ho n est s ayin g  those wo r ds . M a y be  it was the w a y h e smi led each a nd e very time he sawh er like no oth er p e r son  ev e r di d. 

So maybe hewas  t e l ling the  t ruth and sh e believ ed in hi m.

"T hat'swhy I'm a lw a ys gla d wh ene ver we me et. "She was  j us t 
 He_said full_of hope.

That sounded too_good to_be_true. Wonderful?_Person?_I'm someone's friend?_No, that was_not how she has_been defined all_her_life. A more accurate sentence would be-

"I'm a…" Threat. Weapon. Murderer. "Soldier."

Red. A red_flag_that only_she_could_see was waving behind her_eyelids. And a war against_herself was_boiling over her, an imminent rupture threatening to_happen,_ready to overwhelm_her at any moment.

He shook his head. "You've got_that wrong!"

She looked back at him,_eyes challenging him.

"You're_saying_that_I'm not a soldier?"_She unconsciously clenched a fist.

"You're phrasing_it all wrong." He didn't back_down not even in the slightest but_his voice never lost its soothing_tone. "Ikusaba-san, you're my friend_first and_foremost. Everything else comes after._You just so_happen to_be the Ultimate_Soldier."

That was the most preposterous lie_she had ever_heard. Someone was actually looking at_her,_really looking at_her,_like_she was_not a soldier._She_didn't know_if_she should be offended or not_because_that was her talent after all. And_for most of her_life,_she was okay with_just being a soldier. Civilian_life, more specifically, high school life_made her_realize how_much of an outcast that made her. Not even her sister_make her forget that she was_a soldier and a_disappointment on_top_of it. So_when_he told_her that she was a soldier as_an afterthought,_she was dumbfounded. She wasn't sure_how to feel.

Red. For_some_strange reason, the color flashes again_briefly inside her head. But it's_different from the earlier one._There_was_an element of safety. It_was warmer but not boiling. There_was a foreign_feeling which she thought would be the_last_thing she'd associate with red. It_felt…

It_felt nice. Maybe it was the_way_he_sounded so sincere about it._Maybe it was the way his_face looked so honest saying those words. Maybe it_was the way_he smiled each and every_time_he_saw her like no other person ever did.

So maybe he_was telling_the truth and_she believed in him.

"That's why I'm always glad whenever we_meet."

She was just