Sunset. One street or another, they all blur together in the end. Faceless, anonymous citizens who, by all accounts, did not exist half a year or so ago. The Oracle Libretto wanders. Her hood is over her eyes. People stopped looking at her a while ago. She blends in with the crowd, despite her appearance. Then again, a hood is still less conspicuous than an eyepatch. 

Freeze.

She should be the Oracle. Why isn’t she? Because she can’t see? Isn’t the irony of a blind Oracle better than a fuming, unhinged Libretto? She stands at a crossroad. Literally and figuratively. It was around here that she faced this exact choice before. She chose poorly then. She chooses poorly now.

Freeze. 

The sun has set completely. When did that happen? It’s only been a few minutes, right? She stormed out of Kiwako’s house just five or ten minutes ago. So why is the sun already completely set? Why can’t she face it? What she’s done? What she’s going to do? Her actions, even if justified, caused harm. Ironic that an Oracle couldn’t see that. Her actions now, even if logical, will cause more harm. That’s the point, isn’t it?

Freeze. 

It’s colder now. She still can’t trace the time she’s lost at any given time without some device or another. Something she never had a need for until now. Just how lazy had she become, that she used her omniscience to tell the time? How much time was she losing out here? How many times did she dissociate? Where was she, even? She couldn’t tell where in Kamihama she was anymore. Not that it mattered. She would find her way back home. Kiwako’s wish ensured that, if nothing else, she had a compass.

Freeze.

Focus. …Easier this time. Only a minute or so. The wind hasn’t changed. Her position hasn’t changed. Control it. Breathe. …She has to face it someday. What she’s done. What she’s going to do. Yui is going to suffer some more because of this. Her eye socket twinges with the thought, as if warning her against the idea.

Freeze.

She knows. She knows she’s made Yui suffer already. She knows her actions as the Oracle were flawed. She knows that she acted in panic, and many people suffered and died as a result. But she can’t bring herself to regret it. She knows why she did it. Why she chose the path she did. The people she saved. Yui can’t appreciate it, not yet. Maybe she never will. She knows as well, that Yui will only grow more dangerous, the more she lets these emotions fester.

Freeze. Not in time, this time. Not a dissociation. But raw fear. The other road illuminates. Her actions caused this. Her actions will cause more of this. But she can’t run. She can’t hide. Kiwako placed her on this path with just a few words. The Libretto has to see it through. Even if it hurts.

…Yui has already begun to spiral. She can’t help herself. She’s trying, don’t get me wrong. She’s trying to fight against herself, but her other half, her grief is too strong. She’s trying. She’s always trying. And I? I’m wallowing. I make excuses. I panic, I freeze, I fall into the mask I wore of my brother’s visage. I repeat history, despite my vow to fight it. And there is nothing I can do. If I return, she will kill me. Even if I deserve it, I can’t face that fate. But if I stay here, if I do nothing, she will stagnate and descend even further. 

Freeze. Only a moment.

Do you approve, then? Deep down in the depths of your subconscious soul? One more dance? Do we play our parts one more time? …Listen to me. Why do I talk like this, even in my head? Am I really so much like he was? When Kiwako took me to meet Micaela, it was a choice. To cast off my brother’s shadow, to be a better person, a better support for all of Mitakihara. I knew of the Balancers’ plans even back then. I wanted… I wanted so desperately to not fall into the Maestro’s personality. But I couldn’t let go, either. Just as you can’t—

Freeze.

—let Mei go now. But I failed. And you’re hurting as a result. …You hurt me as a result. I still don’t know where I am, or where I am going. But I do know this.

Freeze. Sunrise. She stands in front of Kiwako’s front door.

…We still have a score to settle. I can wear this face until one of these immovable objects bends.

I don’t know what I should be doing. But I know what I’m going to do.