19 | text

[spiria]

this might sound silly but could i have a hug?

[ She's not really directing this at anybody in particular. She just found out parts of her family are no longer here and she's ... not handling it too well. She'll take a hug from anyone willing to give one. ]

Comments

[ text ]

[oursomalink]

You don't need to ask for a hug from me, you know...

But what happened?

[ text ]

[spiria]

i know

on my way back to the apartment now

... mitsuhide is gone

so are motochika and gracia

[ text ]

[oursomalink]

...

all of them!?

i'm sorry, i didn't know...

[ text ]

[spiria]

i just found out

went to visit mitsuhide and motochika and saw they weren't there

checked the listing

theyve gone home

[ text ]

[oursomalink]

i'm sorry...

i think i only talked to everyone a few times, but i'm sorry to hear of it...

at least they're safe and sound back home, though?

[ text ]

[spiria]

[ She's ... actually not so sure that everyone's safe and sound. But she doesn't want to make Shing worry any more than he probably already is about her. ]

i guess

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[oursomalink]

Kohaku...

[ A frown. She... was really taking this hard right now, wasn't she... ? ]

I know that they'd be worried if you kept on like this, I think... they'd want you to try and stay positive.

... though that's definitely easier said than done, too...

[ text ]

[spiria]

yeah i know

doesnt help much unfortunately

[ text ]

[oursomalink]

ill be there soon, okay?

i wanna do what i can to help you feel better...

[ text ]

[spiria]

ok

[ text ---> action ]

[oursomalink]

[ It's not too much longer after the last text that he arrives home...

He's not even going to say anything, just. Pull her into a very tight hug and rub her back to comfort her. ]

[ action ]

[spiria]

[ She's gladly accepting that hug. She's not crying yet, but she will be. Especially if Shing keeps comforting her like that ... She holds him tightly, burying her face into his shoulder. ]

[ action ]

[oursomalink]

It's okay, Kohaku... let it out, okay?

[ He's here... don't hold back, okay? He wants to help you feel better, if even for a little while... ]

[ action ]

[spiria]

[ Her grasp on him becomes tighter and her shoulders begin to shake as she finally lets out a sob. And then another one. Soon, she's crying into his shoulder. Whoops. ]

[ action ]

[oursomalink]

[ And he'll just stand there, hugging her tightly and rubbing her back comfortingly. She needs this, so he's there to comfort her as he pats her on the back of the head too... ]

[ action ]

[spiria]

[ It takes a while, but she finally lets as much as she can at the moment out. It's probably going to take another little while for her to really let it go, but this helps. She remains clinging to him, resting her head on his shoulder. She doesn't want to let go just yet. ]

I know that it would have happened eventually ... everyone leaves here eventually, right? But so many have left just all at once, it seems ...

[ action ]

[oursomalink]

They do, yeah. And... I know that they wouldn't want you to be sad. Because that means they were able to escape, right?

Plus... I think that they don't really leave. Ever. Because the bonds we made with our friends here still exist.

[ He smiles sadly. ]

Still, it... is hard when they do leave, though. Even knowing all of that doesn't really ease the pain of their departure...