ㅤ
ㅤㅤ“ Don't be. ”
ㅤㅤKotone whispered against him, shaking with tears that were finally shed... grief that had finally been acknowledged.
ㅤㅤ“ You've been missing them too after all, haven't you? ”
“… I… I wish i was.”
You held her without question. Despite her unfair wants from you, you still loved her. She was all you had after all, you couldn't ever let anything diminish that love you held.
“I'm sorry i couldn’t be…”
ㅤ
ㅤㅤ“ You know who I am... you know I'm right. ”
ㅤㅤThe room begun closing in from every wall all at once.
ㅤㅤ“ You hate living as much as you hate those that give you a reason to. ”
ㅤㅤEverything begun to melt.
ㅤㅤ“ So... wake up and live... liar. ”
ㅤㅤ“ Wrong? Those voices were doing what they were supposed to. ”
ㅤㅤAnother step, the reflection now stood at the edge of the mirror.
ㅤㅤ“ You drew strength from those bonds because it was your purpose. The great seal was your purpose... and you left it behind. ”
ㅤ
" n-no... "
a step back. she's hesitant.
" those feelings... they were real, i just know it! "
if there was anything she hated being it was... useless. hearing this from her mirror made her realize in one of the worst ways.
" i could hear everyone calling for me back there! "
ㅤ
ㅤㅤ“ ... ”
ㅤㅤKotone rushed forward, and her arms wrapped around him in a blur, face buried against her brother's neck.
ㅤㅤ“ I wanted you to be enough to replace them. I was being stupid. ”
ㅤㅤHer voice shattered, fingers bunching the fabric of his shirt at his back.
ㅤ
ㅤㅤShe can't. She knows she can't.
ㅤㅤ“ Come here. ”
ㅤㅤPride was dead and buried, because her voice wasn't asking. It shook because Kotone Shiomi was pleading.
ㅤㅤ“ I just- I wanted to- ”
ㅤㅤCome on. Explain yourself...
ㅤ
You stop on dime, not that you went far. Those first 3 steps were dragged out as long as humanly possible.
“Yeah?”
You don't even hesitate to turn around and converse again.
⠀⠀
⠀⠀Kotone stayed silent for his first two steps. She was going to let him go.
⠀⠀“ ... ”
⠀⠀She should let him go. It'd be stupid if she didn't. She could handle it without his older brother.
⠀⠀“ ... ”
⠀She could—
⠀⠀“ Makoto. ”
⠀⠀She choked out a cry.
⠀
“… Okay then. I'll… take a walk, call if you need me.”
Maybe it was best if you forgot about her for a moment. You don't need a second miserable situation to wallow in after all.
⠀⠀
⠀⠀Kotone took a step back, closing her eyes. She was being unfair. She knew she was being unfair.
⠀⠀“ I'll just forget about it. No point. ”
She insisted, giving him the cold shoulder as she turned around.
⠀⠀“ Not like they're here to care. ”
⠀
“…”
You walk a little closer now, some of your fears subsiding.
“There's nothing i… could do to help a little? You know i'm always going to be there for you…”