"Exactly. Sacrifices are supposed to hurt, aren't they? So of course you miss her."
He's a human with a normal heart, after all. Building up all of that pain because he can't ignore the pain of others... did he need someone like Kuon this badly?
"But that pain won't stop you - that's admirable. For as long as we're here, as long as you'll have me as a friend, I'll be your support. Just like I was planning to be for EMMA... I'll do what I can to see this miracle through."
"I did, though," he admits- shaking his head at Kuon's insistence. He doubted himself so so much and well, he made mistakes. He can admit that but he can also admit that things can only look up from here. For himself. For Rumi. For the Yoshizawas. For Morning.
And now Kuon too.
It would be so easy...to die by the hands of the those who suffered by some other Maruki’s hands. It has already happened. Twice.
It really couldn't get worse than that. His death didn't matter.
"I did nearly give up. I lost my perspective so it makes me wonder if what I am feeling right now is..."
He leans in a little as he tries to adjust himself, his nose bumping against her- even through his clumsiness as he finds himself laughing.
"Heh...oh god-! Haha!" He chuckles at their positioning. "...you must be so uncomfortable right now. Can you even feel your shoulders?" He asks, worriedly- pulling away to give her body the movement she needs.
"Oh, I'm not bothered at all, I hardly sit normally in the first place," she laughed, but figured she would at least adjust to slide closer, sitting hip-to-hip with him before leaning against his shoulder.
"How does your chest feel after getting all that crying out? Seems like you were a shaken soda bottle just waiting to burst!"
"True. I swear I saw you sitting upside down on my couch a few days earlier," he grins teasingly at the fond memory.
Once again, hip-to-hip, he adjusts his glasses before just removing it from his face- wiping away the smudges on his lens with his shirt as he feels her head against his shoulder.
He smiles softly, blush showing on his face again.
"Oh no, don't remind me..." His throat is so parched from all the crying and sobbing it would almost be embarassing if Kuon wasn't here. "What I would kill for some actual soda right now. I am exhausted. "
He says that but there is a sealed can he had bought caught between them.
He placed his glasses back on his nose, satisfied with the much clearer vision.
"But...I'm relieved," he says quietly like he was unsure how much peace would he lose against the relentless nature of this place.
"Good thing you had a doll to curl up with," she hummed in amusement, sitting up for just a moment to reach for that soda he'd brought and pass it to him before tucking herself against him again. It was a bit of a muggy night, but for some reason, the warmth of him didn't bother her at all.
Dolls can be pretty.
People make dolls to be the companions that they lack. The companions that are always there for them.
Happily, Kuon started humming again, her feet swinging just a little bit. She was feeling... good. Certain, for once, a certainty that only comes from really understanding oneself for the first time. Resolute.
She can't be a loving girlfriend. She can't be a fun coworker, or a charming daughter, or anything like that. But she can be someone's doll, their support, there to comfort them and help them succeed.
Just like she was ready to do for EMMA. She'll do it for Takuto Maruki.
2/2
"-I lost everything... so there's nothing more for me to lose anymore. No matter what this place says. I will keep trying. For Rumi."
"I have to be the one to do this."
(no subject)
He's a human with a normal heart, after all. Building up all of that pain because he can't ignore the pain of others... did he need someone like Kuon this badly?
"But that pain won't stop you - that's admirable. For as long as we're here, as long as you'll have me as a friend, I'll be your support. Just like I was planning to be for EMMA... I'll do what I can to see this miracle through."
1/2 TW: suicidal thoughts
And now Kuon too.
It would be so easy...to die by the hands of the those who suffered by some other Maruki’s hands. It has already happened. Twice.
It really couldn't get worse than that. His death didn't matter.
"I did nearly give up. I lost my perspective so it makes me wonder if what I am feeling right now is..."
"Hope..?"
(no subject)
"Heh...oh god-! Haha!" He chuckles at their positioning. "...you must be so uncomfortable right now. Can you even feel your shoulders?" He asks, worriedly- pulling away to give her body the movement she needs.
(no subject)
"How does your chest feel after getting all that crying out? Seems like you were a shaken soda bottle just waiting to burst!"
(no subject)
Once again, hip-to-hip, he adjusts his glasses before just removing it from his face- wiping away the smudges on his lens with his shirt as he feels her head against his shoulder.
He smiles softly, blush showing on his face again.
"Oh no, don't remind me..." His throat is so parched from all the crying and sobbing it would almost be embarassing if Kuon wasn't here. "What I would kill for some actual soda right now. I am exhausted. "
He says that but there is a sealed can he had bought caught between them.
He placed his glasses back on his nose, satisfied with the much clearer vision.
"But...I'm relieved," he says quietly like he was unsure how much peace would he lose against the relentless nature of this place.
(no subject)
Dolls can be pretty.
People make dolls to be the companions that they lack. The companions that are always there for them.
Happily, Kuon started humming again, her feet swinging just a little bit. She was feeling... good. Certain, for once, a certainty that only comes from really understanding oneself for the first time. Resolute.
She can't be a loving girlfriend. She can't be a fun coworker, or a charming daughter, or anything like that. But she can be someone's doll, their support, there to comfort them and help them succeed.
Just like she was ready to do for EMMA. She'll do it for Takuto Maruki.