Prologue

(Christ alive, it's so cold out today.)

(It's so cloudy. I know the forecast said it wouldn't rain or snow, but still..)

(I've wandered a long way, I think. I just picked a direction after work and started walking.)

(..I don't want to go home right now.)

(Nothing is waiting for me there. Being out here in the cold is better than in that stuffy, empty apartment.)

(Not many people are out today, huh?)

(Well, it's a weekday after all.)

(Only some families are out, the children being the ones leading their parents around.)

(The merry-go-round tempts most children that pass by. More than the nearby park. It isn't too expensive to ride either, so parents are usually fine with paying for a round or two for their kids.)

(It's easy to tune out the sound of children playing and people walking. The soft music from the merry-go-round muffles itself when I zone out.)

(I'm not looking at anything in particular, but the bright lights of the merry-go-round are nice to look at.)

...Sigh.

(I can feel my lungs expand with each deep breath I take, and I can feel the way my hands twitch every now and then.)

(The sensation of my eyelids sliding over my eyeballs is so weird. I like to blink slowly just to feel it.)

(My fist clenches and unclenches. I can feel every bone, muscle, ligament moving in tandem to curl my fingers into my palm.)

(I feel so.. disconnected. But so aware.)

...Weird.

(Huffing, I stand back up from the bench.)

(It's time to pick a direction and start walking.)

(..I don't even know where I want to go, though.)

...?

(Is that.. oh..)

... ♪

(Marquis, a friend of mine. He's just walking down the street. When did he pass by me?)

(Maybe I could follow after him..)

Adler, is that you? Hi!

(My attention shifts to the young man running in my direction.)

(It's Emile, my neighbor.)

(..He's a bit annoying.)

(Which way should I go? If I follow Marquis, Emile will probably leave me alone.)

(They don't get along well. Whenever I try to ask, both of them give me a vague answer.)

(Emile is entertaining, though. Even if he's weird and annoying sometimes.)

(Or I could just go back the way I came and go home.)

...