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[aureately]

~


Hello hello~

You've reached the inbox of your One True Love and Shining White Knight, Kida Masaomi! Don't hate me for not being able to answer your call--hate my friends who kept me from answering instead! Ahhhh~ such is the price of popularity~! And the newest class idol can't play favourites, you know~! So leave me a message telling me all about your undying love for me, and I'll call you right back as soon as it's convenient for me to do so!

Ja ne! ♥

Comments

[worldwithoutcolor]

[He doesn't quite start as he usually might at the surprise, but glances over without hardly budging from his position.]

Ah... no one. I was just leaving a message.

I, um... I didn't wake you up, did I?

[The flat tone of before gives way to apology, and more than a little concern.]

[fencerflash]

Not really...

[Technically, yes; she was about to wake up anyways, though. She sits up and glances at him, before she glances at the rune.]

Leaving a message? For-- oh.

[...for Kida. Who else would it be?]

[worldwithoutcolor]

[It's clear she's guessed what this is about, and guessed right. Mikado straightens up, sitting back in his chair and staring down at the rune.]

...The messages never get through [so he thinks] but...

[He shrugs lightly.]

It... It just feels... better. Than doing nothing. Although I said some awful things before.

[He glances over at Asuna, briefly.]

I guess it's... silly. Or crazy.

[Or both.]

[fencerflash]

It's not.

[She gets out of bed, wearing her fairly rumpled clothes -- she fell asleep in them -- and loops her arms around his shoulders from behind, leaning her chin down on his shoulder.]

If it helps, or if it might help, it's worth it. Besides...

[She looks down at the rune.]

I think he would understand.

[worldwithoutcolor]

[He reaches up to gently grip her wrist at that, still balancing the rune in his other hand. Mikado does, at least, smile at the reassurance, even if it looks as tired as the rest of him and only lasts a few seconds.]

...Yeah. He'd probably say I'm not calling enough, huh.

[The look fades, but it's replaced by one more thoughtful now, rather than completely sad or totally apathetic.]

I'm just not sure what to say now. I feel like... I've said everything I need to, but...

[...but he still can't quite let go.]

[fencerflash]

[She smiles at the joke, but it's a sad sort of smile. At this point, she thinks it likely that Kida is dead. Elevn days is a long time -- it is, strictly speaking, past the point that he should have ran out of water. She can hope for a miracle, but that hope is dwindling.]

[Asuna shakes her head at him.]

Whatever you need or want to say. [There's still time to say goodbye. It doesn't have to happen now.] There isn't a schedule or guide to saying the right thing, Mikado-kun.

[worldwithoutcolor]

[Mikado says nothing for a moment. Ironically, he's had more hope lately than he did in the beginning -- it's not much, of course, but maybe because the shock wore off for the most part, it was easier to hope. Somehow.

He's not sure why it turned out that way, but now, with the two-week mark drawing near... it doesn't really matter. He said yesterday that he would hope, and he is, but that doesn't mean he has a whole lot of faith in doing so.]

Mm.

[He leans his head against hers, lightly, as he considers.]

...I think... there's one thing I should say. Something I should've said back at the beginning.

[He hesitates, but then his voice gains a little strength.]

I'll be okay.

[He frowns, glancing down.]

Not... today, and maybe not tomorrow, but... I won't let my memories be a bad thing, if it comes to that. And--

[He looks up again, staring at the rune as intently as though he's actually making eye contact with someone on the other end of it.]

--you don't have to worry. Even if... I don't get you back... I have others. I'll be fine. So... wherever you are, don't worry about me.

[After a moment, he looks over at Asuna, and his gaze softens.]

We'll... make every day count. Won't we?

[fencerflash]

[She keeps quiet, while he talks, because it's to the rune instead of her. Even if Kida never sees this, she knows it's important to not interrupt; to let Mikado talk and say what he's thinking, while the moment is here. Asuna looks sideways at him, and then back at the rune in turn when he speaks to her.]

[There's a small nod there, when he asks her; Asuna looks at the rune, but she squeezes Mikado's hand while she talks.]

We will. Don't worry, okay, Kida-kun?

[He said to call her that, once, but she never took him up on that offer. She feels guilty that she waited to now, but it passes after a moment. What's done is done.]

[worldwithoutcolor]

[He's glad that Asuna adds something in, even it momentarily traps his voice in his throat and makes it hard to stay (more or less) neutral. Mikado manages, however, after a pause.]

...And... I need to say this anyway, but I think he'd want to know. [He looks over at Asuna, and it's a different kind of pain in his gaze now.]

You've... really helped me through this, Asuna-chan. And I'm grateful. But... you've lost people, too, and I haven't been supportive enough. So...

[He threads his fingers through hers.]

...I'm sorry. And... it won't happen again.

[He won't be so closed off and unresponsive. Then again, short of losing her, too, there's no one else here whose loss would have such a crippling impact on him.]

[fencerflash]

[Asuna looks back at him, surprised for a moment -- not at the sentiment, which she thought would come sooner or later, but rather that it came sooner -- before she smiles. She squeezes his hand back, then leans into his back. Her free arm hugs him, tightly.]

It's okay. It's...

[As tempting as it feels to say that more, it feels like the wrong thing. She might downplay it, or make it like it hadn't hurt. So instead, she squeezes his hand back.]

[Apology accepted.]

It's okay.

[worldwithoutcolor]

[Mikado manages a smile, and while it's still small, still sad, it's more genuine than the last one, and he doesn't have as much trouble making it.

He notices the clock behind Asuna and looks a little more attentive.]

Mm... are you going back to bed?

[Or getting up at dawn like a crazy dedicated person?]

[fencerflash]

Oh. Well...

[She shakes her head, before she looks back at him.]

I don't think so. I'm awake enough.

[worldwithoutcolor]

[He returns that with a small nod.]

Okay. I think... I'll try to sleep a couple more hours. I've been up for a while.

[Try "most of the night." But no need to worry her more.]

--Unless, ah... you want help with anything. Or... company. Or something.

[...he's tired what are complete sentences right now.]

[fencerflash]

Oh-- [Oh, jeez, he's barely slept. It clicks into place; Asuna nods at him, then she smiles and shakes her head.]

No, you get some rest. I think I might go practice with my sword.

[Tried and true way to clear her head.]

[worldwithoutcolor]

Right. Um... don't overdo it.

[He manages a smile then, too, giving her hand one last easy squeeze before remembering the rune. He watches it for a moment, as if debating saying more...

...but he's said, and probably shown, enough today. So with a small nod -- of acknowledgement, reassurance, and farewell -- he ends the message.]