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The sound of the bathroom door closing echoed quietly in the room as Reika wrapped her hair in a towel. She then walked to the fridge for a drink before plopping down onto the pillow on the floor, her makeshift couch in the small studio apartment. She popped open the can and switched on the TV, wondering if there were any interesting shows playing at 9 PM. Eventually, she settled on a late-night talk show.

Her mind wandered back to the adventures of the afternoon with her friends, from a simple arcade visit and challenging middle schoolers in Street Fighter to chasing a purse thief on behalf of an innocent old lady. A smile made its way onto her lips as she let out a small laugh of disbelief, replaying the events in her mind.

Can’t believe we did all that, she thought, taking a sip of her drink. It feels like a scene straight out of an action-packed novel.

As she reflected, her gaze drifted to the black gem on the table. She picked it up, in awe at its beauty, while still being captivated by the memory of the lady who had gifted it to her.

“That lady was packed with money, huh?” she mused, wondering about the gem’s value. Its shape might not be large, but surely it held some worth.

“I’m sure you three will grow up to be fine people who follow their judgement.”

The words of the old lady echoed in her thoughts. It struck her as unusual; most people wished for others to do what was right. After all, not all judgements are fair or just. She thought about it for a second longer before sighing, shaking her head, as if not believing the kind of thoughts that were crossing her mind.

She placed the gem and her drink back on the table and leaned against the side of her bed, closing her eyes for a moment of rest. Reika hadn’t shared her suspicions with Hime or Sayaka; she didn’t think it mattered. Yet, the thought clung to her, bothering her throughout her journey home. 

I’m just overthinking it. There’s no way the old lady meant anything else anyway.

Reika laughed to herself in disbelief before straightening up to finish her drink. By the time she set the empty can aside, the light of the TV shone throughout her small studio apartment, casting playful shadows on the walls. “I should really call it a night,” she thought, feeling the weight of the day settle over her like a comforting blanket. But just as she was about to reach for the remote, the voice from the TV caught her attention.

“Don’t you think following your own judgement reflects the kind of person you are?”

Reika froze, her hand hovering over the remote. She was intrigued, to say the least, making her lean closer to the TV while momentarily forgetting the exhaustion that was creeping up to her. It felt almost like a coincidence — as if the universe was implying something to her.

The late-night talk show featured guests exploring the thoughts that often emerge in the quiet late night hours. Tonight’s topic delved into the intricacies of following one’s heart versus one’s mind, examining how our choices reveal the essence of who we are. The guest delved into how choices based on individual judgement not only shape their paths but also reflect their true selves.

Reika felt a stirring in her chest as the words echoed her earlier thoughts.

“Don’t you think it’s insane? How heroes would sacrifice their loved ones to save the world, but villains would sacrifice the world for their loved ones?

When you think about it, who exactly is the hero and who exactly is the villain?

Both of their judgments are right and wrong from different perspectives. The hero’s judgement would be morally right for the majority, but the villain’s judgement would be emotionally justified for the minority.

I fully believe that following your own judgement according to your wants is important, but of course, the other side of the story is the unethical and morally wrong decisions you may make.”

Reika's heart raced as the guest’s words echoed in her mind, stirring a whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. She leaned back yet again, her mind racing with the implications. 

What did it mean to follow your own judgement? Are the choices we make really as clear-cut as we thought?

She couldn't help but replay the old lady’s words in her head. ‘Was there a deeper meaning behind them after all?’ she thought to herself. As the guest continued to speak, Reika felt an unsettling mixture of clarity and confusion. The lines between right and wrong seemed to be blurred, and she wondered if the path she was on was truly hers or merely a reflection of someone else's expectations.

Who am I kidding? It’s obviously the latter.

After twenty-four years of living to make her family proud, she realised how rarely she thought about what was best for herself. Only in her later years had she started focusing more on her own decisions, but growing up with the mindset of pleasing others made it difficult to prioritise her needs or wants

Thinking back on it, chasing the thief earlier stemmed from her own judgement — not to please others. She had done it to keep her friend safe. It might not have been the right reason at that moment, but it wasn’t wrong, either.

She laughed softly before shutting off the TV, placing her palm on her face. Her mind felt like it was going to break from overthinking. The day had been filled with chaos, and even as she tucked herself into bed, her thoughts were still racing.

“Isn’t this all because I started overthinking the old lady's words?” Reika mumbled to herself, staring into the distance as she got comfortable on the bed. “Follow your judgement, my ass. If I could do it, I probably would.”

With a sigh, she turned over, finally deciding to close her eyes and take the good night's rest she deserved. Just before her consciousness faded, a thought crossed her mind,

Maybe if I were in a new universe, I could start anew. Then, maybe then… 

I could finally follow my own judgement.