theafflicted | 02.50 - week two, saturday

W2 SATURDAY

Like last Saturday, everyone will get an announcement on their tablets; this time, the announcement is preceded with a bell of some sort before Lorelei appears on the screen again.

"Good morning, everyone. This is an announcement to let you know that today's lesson will take place starting at 8:15 tonight. Again, today's lesson will be starting at 8:15. Please meet at the lower campus exit near the lecture by 8:00pm; Florence will be waiting for you there.

If you have a bag for some snacks and, perhaps, an item you can use for self-defense in the case of an emergency, please arrive with those things on you. We will provide you with an overview of what to expect when you arrive at 8pm.

Thank you."

The alert ends.

You have the day to prepare, ask each other what the hell is happening -- Florence and Lorelei do not seem to be available, strangely enough. There's a lot to take in with the information you have now. But before you know it... night falls.

FULL NAV

(CODE)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Is everything alright? You seem a bit out of it.

[ And by "a bit" he means "very". ]

Is that... important?

( but shizuku eventually just... shrugs. it's something, at least. )

It doesn't really matter if I am or not. One of them caught me. And everything went away.

It does matter. You're a sweet girl that should be checking in on everyone right now.

[ He doesn't know what to say to everything going away... it's unsettling. ]

... That sounds tiresome. Even if I comfort them now, they'll just get hurt in a little bit. What's the point?

[ Ah... he hates hearing that from someone like her. ]

Because if you comfort someone, even just a little, you can lighten the burden of the pain they will feel in the future.

... If they didn't have anything in them too, wouldn't that be better? Something hollow for a heart... nothing matters. But nothing hurts, either.

However... you don't feel anything happy either. Don't you think it's worth feeling to feel nice things like happiness?

Perhaps that would be worth it. But it doesn't matter anymore. It's already gone.

Well, it needs to come back.

[ Hm. He needs to think of something she likes— ]

How else will you be able to enjoy the cookies I make in the future?

Why does it need to? Nothing is scary anymore.

( ... cookies... do they matter? ... no, no, she likes cookies. not even that hollowness can take that, apparently. )

... I.. would want a cookie, I think...

Homemade cookies are the best, aren't they? You can feel the very care that someone put into them as they were baking them.

[ ... ]

You like that aspect about homemade food, right?

I... do...

( except she's not supposed to care anymore. )

I knew you would. It's one of my favorite things about it too.

... Fai? Everything feels awful.

( hollow, still. but she's more aware of how wrong it is. )

It does, but...

[ He reaches out to take her hand, gently. ]

It will get better.

... I don't want to feel like this.

( it hurts, hollowness. but his hand is warm... )

And I don't want you to feel like this.

[ He gently squeezes her hand. ]

Think of what makes you happy.

... Music... makes me happiest. ... I want to sing with Madara. And Riku...

( as she speaks, some of that soft gentleness returns to her voice. it's a quiet release of her. ... but the ghoul will be back, eventually. )

[ Ah... he's relieved to hear that gentleness in her voice again. Fai smiles softly. ]

I'd love to hear you sing one day, if you'd let me.

( she cracks a grin and that's something!!! we love progress! )

Did the pep rally not count?

I'd like a whole concert!

( that makes shizuku laugh, and it feels so right. )

Is that right? Well! I'll have to see what I can do.

[ That is much, much better. ]

I look forward to it. I'll even help you plan!

It has to be something the others can join. Can we do that? I don't like singing alone for more than one or two solos.

Of course we can! I know some of us have even gotten instruments, so maybe those people can perform too!

(no subject)

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