>If there's any word that would perfectly capture the essence of Amelia Watson, it was "Tired."
>So damn tired...
>Not wanting to stay cooped up in her detective agency all day, she heads out and walks... somewhere. Anywhere but the office.
>Everything is so weird in Shibuya. The stores are a blur of kanji, symbols that dance just out of reach of her understanding.
>"Watson, this one reads 'fish!' Wanna eat? My treat."
>She enters a McDonald's. At least she could order a Big Mac or whatever.
>Taking a seat by the window overlooking the street, she feels a few eyes follow after her. She's the only gaijin there, so that must be it.
>What was she doing in Japan? This life? It's all messed up now, like the burger in her mouth.
>Gura liked burgers...
>Ame closes her eyes, shakes her head to make the memory go away. It hurts too much.
>But when she opens them, she feels a presence just behind her shoulder.
>It's Hoshimachi Suisei. She's wearing an orange jacket with white sleeves, a long blue skirt, and a ten-karat smile.
>"Hello Watson-san!"
>"Hiya Watson!"
>"Oh, uh... Suisei. San. Hi-uh there."
>"Are you alone?" Her English has a slight accent, but it's somehow just as good as A-Chan's. Maybe even better.
>That's bad. Ame feels the collar of her neck get a few degrees warmer. She doesn't want to admit the truth.
>"I'm... waiting for someone. Yeah."
>"Really? That's great! I'm waiting for someone too," Suisei says, her eyes glinting with a confidence that feels almost piercing. "Is it okay if we wait together?"
>Ame's fingers tighten around her burger. She slumps slightly, the weight of her evaporating alone time pressing down on her shoulders.
>"I, uh... sure. Yeah, sure. I don't mind," the Detective says. "Not at all."
>"Sugoi! Ah, eto... eh, I mean, sankyu!"
>Without hesitation, Suisei plops herself onto the seat right next to Ame, who continues to eat her burger.
>For the detective, this was quickly becoming awkward. Like being forced into sitting with a coworker you barely know... which is what is exactly happening.
>Maybe if Ame pretends to answer her phone, that would give her the chance to bail...
>"Neh! Watson-san. Who are you waiting for?"
>Crap. "Ah-- Wha? Who am I waiting for?"
>"Uh-huh!"
>Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. "Gura. I'm-uh, waiting for Gura."
>"Gura... Oh!" Suisei claps her hand. "Same-Chan!"
>"Yeah, her," Ame says. "Her..."
>"Hey Watson! You wanna hang out?"
>That's right. Her. The Girl of the Deep.
>Ame wants to leave. Remembering Her is the last thing she needs.
>She could just tell Suisei, "I gotta go." That's it. The detective only has to open her mouth.
>But just as she's about to, someone climbs up the stairs. A guy.
>Ame watches as Suisei turns her head, makes a smile.
>It's someone she knows, perhaps the one she'd been waiting for.
>But her smile vanishes.
>He has a woman on his arm.
>Suddenly, Suisei turns toward the window. She tents her hands, and head bows down.
>It's like she's making herself smaller, so they don't notice her as they pass her by.
>Pieces fall into place within Ame's mind.
>She knew the look on this girl's face. Almost too well, in fact.
>Heartbreak.
