Northstar Vale The woodpecker sighs

After her talk with Collision, the woman was lost. Though she accepted what had to be done, it didn't make the thought any easier to cope with. Someone had to die, and hopefully, it was the right individual who would and peace would finally follow. it was a bitter pill to swallow, and even if Takeshi had brought with him nothing but pain, there were days where it almost seemed like they would have been a family. 

It was those good days that made it all the more difficult. 

If only they could have seen eye to eye, had found some middle ground where everyone could have been happy instead of fighting one another at every step along the way. 

A figure stood at the entrance of the den, blotting out the little light that came trickling in and stole her attention away from the plaguing thoughts. Eyes strained to make out who it was, the paleness of the coat at first put her into a fury, thinking that only one with such a coat would dare to come by now - only to be calmed as it slowly faded into a more clear view. Hiromi had come to make her own visit now. 

And her heart ached.

Not only was Yuudai gone from Reiko's life, no longer the lover or even the friend she accepted as their fates, but Hiromi as well. Reiko couldn't even help the mourning woman, since well, she mourned all the same.