1st place - i_m_d's Mirror
Standing there, wearing shiny shoes and a sharp black suit, admiring myself in the polished glass of
the hall in front of the boss' office, the thought suddenly struck me: Would he be standing here
making a fool of himself like me?I sat down on one of the vanilla leather sofas, stretching my legs
and back. How many people have sat here and went to meet the boss who didn't come out alive?
There you go again. Relax. Pull yourself together. Hearing so many stories about the boss' quirks
and legends about his temper sure didn't help, but apart from that, this place was like an oasis in the
city desert. A secret garden for those who knew there was another world pulsating underneath the
surface.
I took in my surroundings, rested my eyes on the exotic lapis statues, inhaled the sweet scent of
freesia in the vases and tried to find my peace of mind, even if only momentarily.
I failed. This was going to be the first time I'd meet the boss, and to be honest, I felt miserable. Of
course I'd rather die than admit it, but I was plain scared. I couldn't get rid of the feeling, that my
future will be decided here and now, and if I make a mistake, there is no black stone that could
save me. With this, my thoughts wandered back to him again. I could nearly see how he would be
sitting here, relaxed and calm, confident and proud. Just like the first time I saw him in the
schoolyard. Seven years ago, already?
Staring at the crescent moon - knowing it's not the best I can do in this situation - I got absorbed in
my memories.
All the girls wished he'd go out with them, but most of them were too shy to ever talk to him, and
when they talked about him it was rarely louder than a nervous whisper. All the guys wished they'd
possess half his charisma but were too proud to admit it. At the time I didn't know any of this - I
was new and completely clueless, so I walked on to him and said hi. I wanted to ask something I
couldn't remember ever since, because at the moment he looked at me my mind went totally blank.
His eyes were blue and his gaze unnerving. I grinned not knowing what else to do, and I heard the
whole schoolyard go entirely quiet. I instinctively knew that if I looked around, I'd see the older
guys looking at us expecting a hell lot of trouble and the younger ones frozen because running
would make too much noise and noise would displease him.
So I prepared myself for a fight, I was expecting some as a newbie anyway. I started thinking about
how to keep my cool while being beaten in front of the whole school - a very wrong way of
thinking when preparing for a fight, by the way - when he said
“Hi.”
That was the second time all my thoughts went missing. His voice was deep and surprisingly had a
hint of interest to it I wouldn't even had thought of, considering I was contemplating where he
would hit me first. So I looked at him like a complete idiot. He smiled at me, like a patient god at a
dear follower, and I admitted
“I forgot.”
He laughed and his laugh was like sweet music - his whole being was like a perfect piece of music
- and this time I could actually see guys standing behind him in the distance staring with their eyes
and mouth wide open.
I felt accomplished - although I didn't really know what I have accomplished right there, I could
sense it was something special. We talked. The others stood in awe. Conversation flew naturally and
before I knew it I missed my next class and had a senpai.
In the next four years, we spent a lot of our time together. I grew up beside him bathing in his aura
like a flower in the fresh spring rain. He opened up to me, telling me stories that made me laugh so
hard it hurt. We drove around on mountain roads at night and I enjoyed being myself.
Our farewell was sudden. On the 4th July he sent me a message. There was a storm outside...one
would think it's only in the movies that bad news come with bad weather.
I had to leave. I don't want to get you into trouble. I can't tell you where I am, please don't try to
find me. I will contact you as soon as it's safe. I mean it, so it's not goodbye. Delete this message.
wa:su:re:na:i:ka:ra
I knew he did that for a reason, but from then on, it was all downhill for me. I justified everything I
did with his absence and felt terrible doing it. On the sixth day after his message I mingled with the
wrong crowd to suppress the worry eating at my heart. On the seventh night I drank so much I
fainted, but the longing for those times didn't disappear. The world I sank into uncontrolled was
violent and ruthless, with solitary men fighting towards a misty outcome. A world so not in tune
with me and still the perfect refuge from thoughts that kept me awake at night. And I was good at it
- that's why I'm here, waiting for the boss to call for me. This is considered a great career. Not that I
care or have a choice for that matter.
I never gave up hope to meet him again and never let myself think he was hurt. It would have
betrayed everything we believed in.
A guy came and put a tea cup on the table in front of me. He was gone before I could entirely snap
out of my daze. The tea was hot and pure, just the way I liked it, so it felt good. At around the third
gulp I started panicking again: They actually know how I like my tea. What else do they know
about me? I took deep breaths and tried to calm myself. There was no going back anyway.
When the door opened I nearly jumped. A guy came out, pale like a ghost, stiff like a board. He
nodded that I should go in. And I was relaxed, I'd dare to say happy, even if it sounds totally absurd.
I had no reason to be, except I'd finally get over this, but it was something else.
I stood up and leisurely walked to the door being very satisfied with myself all the while. This
lasted until I opened the door and stepped in. I froze, my chest felt as if being squeezed by a giant
anaconda and my heart beat in my ears. He stood in front of his desk, leaned back, legs crossed,
hands in his pockets. His eyes quickly examined me from head to toe as if to see if I'm alright, then
looked at the door I left open.
I breathed in so deeply it could be heard while closing the door, and his fragrance flew me back to
those times, that life I lost. By the time I turned around he was smiling. That smile could have
fooled anyone but me: sure it was a kind smile, one you reserve for loved ones, but it was dripping
with the bitter feeling of guilt.
“I'm sorry.” he said and I knew what he meant. “I guess I failed as your senpai.”
Well, this sure wasn't the kind of life one would wish for his friend, but honestly - seeing him again,
I couldn't care less about anything else.
“How are you?” he asked when I still haven't said a word.
“Shocked.” By that time I was madly grinning.
How did he end up here? What happened on that day and since? I found myself wanting answers
more than ever before.
He laughed and it felt as if nothing had happened, none of the bad things. The traces they left didn't
hurt so much anymore and the world seemed to snap into place. He hugged me and I managed not
to cry, so I was quite proud of myself.
“I'll tell you everything.” I heard him say and ignored a tear running down my cheek.
the hall in front of the boss' office, the thought suddenly struck me: Would he be standing here
making a fool of himself like me?I sat down on one of the vanilla leather sofas, stretching my legs
and back. How many people have sat here and went to meet the boss who didn't come out alive?
There you go again. Relax. Pull yourself together. Hearing so many stories about the boss' quirks
and legends about his temper sure didn't help, but apart from that, this place was like an oasis in the
city desert. A secret garden for those who knew there was another world pulsating underneath the
surface.
I took in my surroundings, rested my eyes on the exotic lapis statues, inhaled the sweet scent of
freesia in the vases and tried to find my peace of mind, even if only momentarily.
I failed. This was going to be the first time I'd meet the boss, and to be honest, I felt miserable. Of
course I'd rather die than admit it, but I was plain scared. I couldn't get rid of the feeling, that my
future will be decided here and now, and if I make a mistake, there is no black stone that could
save me. With this, my thoughts wandered back to him again. I could nearly see how he would be
sitting here, relaxed and calm, confident and proud. Just like the first time I saw him in the
schoolyard. Seven years ago, already?
Staring at the crescent moon - knowing it's not the best I can do in this situation - I got absorbed in
my memories.
All the girls wished he'd go out with them, but most of them were too shy to ever talk to him, and
when they talked about him it was rarely louder than a nervous whisper. All the guys wished they'd
possess half his charisma but were too proud to admit it. At the time I didn't know any of this - I
was new and completely clueless, so I walked on to him and said hi. I wanted to ask something I
couldn't remember ever since, because at the moment he looked at me my mind went totally blank.
His eyes were blue and his gaze unnerving. I grinned not knowing what else to do, and I heard the
whole schoolyard go entirely quiet. I instinctively knew that if I looked around, I'd see the older
guys looking at us expecting a hell lot of trouble and the younger ones frozen because running
would make too much noise and noise would displease him.
So I prepared myself for a fight, I was expecting some as a newbie anyway. I started thinking about
how to keep my cool while being beaten in front of the whole school - a very wrong way of
thinking when preparing for a fight, by the way - when he said
“Hi.”
That was the second time all my thoughts went missing. His voice was deep and surprisingly had a
hint of interest to it I wouldn't even had thought of, considering I was contemplating where he
would hit me first. So I looked at him like a complete idiot. He smiled at me, like a patient god at a
dear follower, and I admitted
“I forgot.”
He laughed and his laugh was like sweet music - his whole being was like a perfect piece of music
- and this time I could actually see guys standing behind him in the distance staring with their eyes
and mouth wide open.
I felt accomplished - although I didn't really know what I have accomplished right there, I could
sense it was something special. We talked. The others stood in awe. Conversation flew naturally and
before I knew it I missed my next class and had a senpai.
In the next four years, we spent a lot of our time together. I grew up beside him bathing in his aura
like a flower in the fresh spring rain. He opened up to me, telling me stories that made me laugh so
hard it hurt. We drove around on mountain roads at night and I enjoyed being myself.
Our farewell was sudden. On the 4th July he sent me a message. There was a storm outside...one
would think it's only in the movies that bad news come with bad weather.
I had to leave. I don't want to get you into trouble. I can't tell you where I am, please don't try to
find me. I will contact you as soon as it's safe. I mean it, so it's not goodbye. Delete this message.
wa:su:re:na:i:ka:ra
I knew he did that for a reason, but from then on, it was all downhill for me. I justified everything I
did with his absence and felt terrible doing it. On the sixth day after his message I mingled with the
wrong crowd to suppress the worry eating at my heart. On the seventh night I drank so much I
fainted, but the longing for those times didn't disappear. The world I sank into uncontrolled was
violent and ruthless, with solitary men fighting towards a misty outcome. A world so not in tune
with me and still the perfect refuge from thoughts that kept me awake at night. And I was good at it
- that's why I'm here, waiting for the boss to call for me. This is considered a great career. Not that I
care or have a choice for that matter.
I never gave up hope to meet him again and never let myself think he was hurt. It would have
betrayed everything we believed in.
A guy came and put a tea cup on the table in front of me. He was gone before I could entirely snap
out of my daze. The tea was hot and pure, just the way I liked it, so it felt good. At around the third
gulp I started panicking again: They actually know how I like my tea. What else do they know
about me? I took deep breaths and tried to calm myself. There was no going back anyway.
When the door opened I nearly jumped. A guy came out, pale like a ghost, stiff like a board. He
nodded that I should go in. And I was relaxed, I'd dare to say happy, even if it sounds totally absurd.
I had no reason to be, except I'd finally get over this, but it was something else.
I stood up and leisurely walked to the door being very satisfied with myself all the while. This
lasted until I opened the door and stepped in. I froze, my chest felt as if being squeezed by a giant
anaconda and my heart beat in my ears. He stood in front of his desk, leaned back, legs crossed,
hands in his pockets. His eyes quickly examined me from head to toe as if to see if I'm alright, then
looked at the door I left open.
I breathed in so deeply it could be heard while closing the door, and his fragrance flew me back to
those times, that life I lost. By the time I turned around he was smiling. That smile could have
fooled anyone but me: sure it was a kind smile, one you reserve for loved ones, but it was dripping
with the bitter feeling of guilt.
“I'm sorry.” he said and I knew what he meant. “I guess I failed as your senpai.”
Well, this sure wasn't the kind of life one would wish for his friend, but honestly - seeing him again,
I couldn't care less about anything else.
“How are you?” he asked when I still haven't said a word.
“Shocked.” By that time I was madly grinning.
How did he end up here? What happened on that day and since? I found myself wanting answers
more than ever before.
He laughed and it felt as if nothing had happened, none of the bad things. The traces they left didn't
hurt so much anymore and the world seemed to snap into place. He hugged me and I managed not
to cry, so I was quite proud of myself.
“I'll tell you everything.” I heard him say and ignored a tear running down my cheek.