Eight full years. That's how long its been since the Phantom Thieves split up and headed their own ways. Ryuji was dragged along with Ann's modeling business, Yusuke left Japan all-together to pursue art, Haru is still in Tokyo but only for major business meetings. That just leaves Futaba, who's just leaving school finally, and Makoto, who's been an officer for five years... and horrifically obsessed with seeing Ren again. Every year on the third of February, she takes the day to sit at the train station, mindlessly waiting for that stupid smile, the stupid shine in his glasses, and the loudest cat that ever spoke.

During this time, the Thieves still talked... except for Ren. And every time Makoto tried to rationalize it. 'Maybe he went down in an airplane, fried getting suntanned, fell in a cement mixer full of quicksand? What if he met a shark underwater, fell and no one caught him, I returned everything I ever bought him?! I think he was caught in a mudslide, eaten by a lion, got run over by a crappy purple Scion?!? Maybe he dried up in the desert, drowned in a hot tub, danced to death at an east side nightclub?!?!?'

Every time, her friend comforted her, but the real content of the message rang true through them all. 'Help me! Help me! I'm no good at goodbyes!' They couldn't stop her though. and simply did their level best.

Today was the eight anniversary of his leaving. Once more, she took the day off and walked to the train station early. She found the bench, one where she'd be obvious, and sat down. She wore her black and white dress, the one he knew her in. Trains came and went, the flood of people passing by. Middle aged vacationers, high school transfers, people coming back from vacation, and workers transferred to newer ventures. A few talked to her, but she passed them off or gave them the simple directions they needed.

Today was different though, as you stepped off the train. She didn't notice you at all, but you noticed her, and you planned on making the wait worth every second.