Well that hurts.
Matsuri’s phone buzzes. Rolf’s number for the third time.
“Too busy to plan our next move?” Yoshitoki asks in exasperation.
“As a matter of fact, yes.” Matsuri storms out of the room and marches into his office. He leaves the rest of the investigators to judge him like they already do. Because he’s not Yoshitoki.
He answers, heart quickening. “Rolf?”
Rolf has never called him before. Matsuri warned him he could die if his grandfather found out.
Something feels very wrong.
“Is this Washuu Matsuri?” asks a male voice in a thick German accent.
“You’re not Rolf.”
“I am his father.”
Nausea rises in Matsuri’s stomach. No. His parents found out –
“Rolf is dead. Ghoul attack.” The older man’s voice cracks.
There’s a shuffle, and a woman comes on. Rolf’s mom, Matsuri presumes. “You’re the man who meant a lot to him. We promised him we’d tell you.”
“How?” I left him. I abandoned him, and he still wasn’t safe. Matsuri’s world spins.
His knees wobble, and he sinks to the wooden floor. Rolf, who loved him, who made him feel human, whom he loved with all his heart, enough to leave alone.
Matsuri can’t process the story of Rolf dying defending a kid from a ghoul. A monster, just like him.
Did you die realizing I am a monster?
Or did you die wishing they were a good ghoul like me?
Matsuri knows the latter is more likely, and he cries harder.
Yoshitoki raps on his door shortly after Matsuri has ended the call. Matsuri refuses to answer.
Yoshitoki enters anyhow. His face is pinched, and he’s ready to criticize his son again –
And he stops. Matsuri’s face is streaked with tears.
Yoshitoki closes the door behind them and sits across from Matsuri. The Bureau Chief on the floor.
“Talk to me.”
Matsuri cries harder, and his father for once doesn’t tell him to stop. He just holds Matsuri’s hands and lets him sob.
Mercy and Magic 