[color=7bcdc8]“I’m really sorry about this.”[/color] Mari says for probably the eighth time that day. 

“Oh my gosh, how many times do I have to tell you? It’s [i]fine[/i]. It’s only like, two stops out of my way. Besides, it’s not like we didn’t get to hang out like we usually do.” 

Mari smiles a bit at the voice directly to her right, belonging to her best friend, Himiko. Of course this wouldn’t bother her, but still… No matter how necessary it was, having to ask to be walked home like a granny was really embarrassing. Normally, she feels no qualms asking her for favors, like extra change for the vending machine, talking to the teacher for her, stupid things like that. But when it came to the thing-that-must-not-be-mentioned, Mari couldn’t help but feel a little self conscious, to put it mildly.

Honestly, it’s already been five years. She should know how to navigate the trains by herself by now, especially since she’s been using them since she was a little kid. But ever since she lost her sight, she’s been relying on having her family drive her around everywhere. And seeing as a certain older sister of hers bailed out last minute, she had to turn to other sources. 

But Himiko was great about it, agreeing almost before Mari could get the question out. The only condition was that she had to go to karaoke with her… Which turned into getting parfaits… Which turned into going to the bookstore. Needless to say, the final stretch home started a lot later than expected. 

Mari sat nestled in the backmost seat of the compartment, probably the one for special needs passengers, Himiko probably leaning on the metal railing like she usually does, chatting away about some guy she bumped into at the comics section. She rested her cane on her lap and closed her eyes, letting her friend’s voice and the clatter against the tracks lull her into a drowsy calm. Today was… Nice. It’s been a while since she got to go out like this with friends. She’d have to do that more often. It actually felt good to be normal for a change. Maybe if she could memorize how to get from the station to her house… Bringing that up with her parents was going to be a struggle, though. 

Suddenly she’s jerked from her train of thought, almost literally, as she feels something grab at her and yank her forward. She screams as she feels herself hurtling forward and slamming into a cold, hard surface. And then, nothing.

She’s not sure how long she’s been out, or sure of anything really, except for the ringing in her ears, and the sharp pain shooting up her leg. Her breath begins to quicken as she attempts to push herself into a sitting position.

[color=00a99d]“H-hello?”[/color]

 Nothing. She swallows, tapping her hand against the ground experimentally. Metal. Okay, so she’s still on the train. Probably. So that lurching just now was… A collision? 

Another jolt of panic shoots through her as she tries to fumble for something, anything to grab onto. Her hands meet a smooth, narrow surface. Oh good, a pole. She grimaces as she attempts to push herself upwards. Another flash of pain thwarts that attempt as she lets out a short yell and crumples. 

[color=00a99d]“H-Himiko-chan?”[/color] She gulps, trying to steady her voice as she calls out again. [color=00a99d]“Himiko-chan! Hey… Are you okay? If you can hear me, answer me!”[/color] Her grip tightens against the metal surface. Why wasn’t anybody answering her? Shouldn’t there be someone else awake, or alive or… Any sound at all? 

She hunches over, drawing into herself more. She hated this. If only she could see what was going on.

[color=00a99d]“Somebody…”[/color]