Aster: I don’t think you’re quite grasping the gravity of the situation here, Ume. Based on the evidence we have, Sirius Blossite was wrongfully arrested. The judge is going to have our whole departments head on a platter if we let this go to trial.

Ume: Isn’t there any other way? It seems so wrong to just let him walk…

Aster: We’re cutting Sirius a deal.

Ume: You’re what? With everything that he’s done?

Aster: The problem is Ume, aside from what happened the day he was arrested, we don’t have anything on him. Even then it’s a stretch. Altair refused to press any charges against him… or to even testify as a witness. She saying it was self defense on his part…and since both of you fired your weapons… You can see where this is going, right?

Ume: We had Valerian’s confession. He admitted to hiring Sirius to dispose of people.

Aster: A confession that the only record we have of is your testimony after the fact. There’s no video, no report, no signed paperwork. For all we know it didn’t happen.

Ume: Shittake…

Aster: Sorry I’m late. The storm outside is pretty bad and the subway was delayed–

Ume: Aster? What are you doing here?

Aster: I’m the prosecutor assigned to this case. I thought you knew that?

Ume: Uh, no. They didn’t tell me anything.

Aster: I would ask if it was going to be a problem… but since it looks like this case isn’t going to trial this is likely to be our only meeting.

Ume: What are you talking about?

Aster: Oh no. They haven’t told you this either, have they?

Ume: Haven’t told me what?

Altair: Of course you wouldn’t. You’ve always been idealistic. Even when we were children. Everything has always had to be a certain way.

Ume: You say that as if it’s a bad thing.

Altair: I just… don’t see the world that way. At least not anymore. I like that I’ve changed. I don’t want to be the person I used to be before. She was… weak and selfish. I’d like to think that I’m a better person than that now.

Ume: I love the person you used to be. 

Altair: Why would expect things to be the same?

Ume: Don’t you want it to be?

Altair: Hardly. I’m not the same person I was when we dated last time. Everything I want out of life is different. Sometimes I feel like that person I used to be is someone else entirely.

Ume: That’s a depressing sentiment.

Altair: Are you saying that after all this time you haven’t changed?