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[dereban]

[ Again, marked as read.

Sorry, Yuuto. ]

[spacialeyes]

[It's hard to keep his thoughts from spiraling. Between realizing/suspecting that he burdens Ryoko and all of the strain of the meeting, Yuuto has trouble finding light in his brain. Everything is dark and miserable-

But he doesn't want to feel that way. He knows that Inaba can be the same; The more that she needs something, the quieter she is about it. So after informing his housemates that he's stepping out, Yuuto texts Inaba again:]

I'm coming by to drop off the meal then!

Meet you at the door! I can wait!

[And he teleports to her house. Maybe she does really need to be alone. But he's not making the same assumptions and abandoning her again.]

[dereban]

[ Ah...

He's coming? Shouldn't he be...

...

Inaba's dark thoughts creep up and she eventually types in response: ]

You shouldn't have come.

[spacialeyes]

[Well, he's already here! Yuuto does step back from the door, giving Inaba and her house some space.]

Can you tell me why?

[dereban]

If I do, you'll hate me.

Which... honestly, you should. I'd be fine with that.

[spacialeyes]

Himeko

Okay. Try me then.

Let me prove to you that I won't hate you.

[dereban]

During the meeting, I had an argument with Tau.

She probably hates me now.

[spacialeyes]

Oh. Yeah, I saw that.

I agree with you.

[dereban]

Eh? Really...?

[spacialeyes]

Really.

I understand why Oneechan got upset, but that doesn't mean I disagree with you. Satou-san did her best with the resources that she had, but if we work together and expand those resources, then we can come up with an even better solution.

I'm sorry. I should have spoken up at the meeting, but my the time I realized it was going south, you two had already split up.

[dereban]

It's not that I don't understand, either...

She was working with what she had, even if that wound up not necessarily giving the best hand. If things were maybe different, then perhaps all the stuff with the Facility and the Cursed Children wouldn't have happened.

But I know that's not something can be changed in this world.

Even though I managed to hold my ground then, I was really panicking.

Having the idea of "you're an awful person, you're going to be just like the Facility" thrown in my face...

Maybe I shouldn't have said anything to begin with.

[spacialeyes]

Mm. You got hurt too.

I don't think that you were wrong to share your thoughts. We both know how much fear and anger can cloud someone's ability to hear what the other is telling them.

So while I won't ask you to forgive Tau for hurting you, I hope you'll trust me when I say that she doesn't hate you.

[...]

Can I come in? I'm worried about you.

[dereban]

I hope you're right.

[ That isn't the same as her trusting him, however. ]

Just teleport in. I'm giving you permission this time.

[spacialeyes]

Alright. One moment.

[Yuuto checks that no one is around to see, then teleports into the house. He taps his boots on the entryway floor, causing them to vanish in puffs of starry sparkles.]

Himeko! Pardon the intrusion! May I leave the entry?

[dereban]

Yeah, you can!

[ She's yelling from the other room, although her voice is still a bit watery and shaky from everything. ]

[spacialeyes]

[With permission granted, Yuuto follows her voice into the other room. He pauses when he sees her, trying to judge whether she wants him close or just there, before walking over.]

We don't have to talk anymore, if you don't want to. But can I sit with you?

[dereban]

[ She nods. Her bed's a mess; it's clear that she's been crying. She'll have to change these sheets for tonight, too... ]

[spacialeyes]

[Oh Inaba. It breaks his heart to see that. Yuuto knows how much those tears hurt to cry, too.

He sits down, turning to face her.]

I can hold you too, if you think it'll help. Or... just sit here. [Yuuto reaches out to brush her hair out of her face as he tests what her touch boundaries are right now.]

[dereban]

... Please.

[ Her voice trembles. At the very least, her eyes are its normal hue, but each syllable she speaks comes off as a tremble.

It hurts. ]

[spacialeyes]

... Mm.

[After brushing her hair, Yuuto shifts closer so that he can pull her into his arms. As much as he hates the circumstances that led to this, it is nice to be able to hold her. He tries to help her get comfortable, with one arm around her waist and the other hand slowly carding through her hair.]

I'm here. Okay?

[dereban]

Mmm. I-I'm sorry...

[ She's already apologizing and wanting to cry, but she's already cried all the tears that she possibly could have for the night. ]

[spacialeyes]

[He responds with a gentle squeeze,] Mm. Apology accepted.

I love you, Himeko.

[dereban]

I love you, Yuuto. I love you, so... don't... leave me alone.

[spacialeyes]

I won't. It's a promise.

[Yuuto shifts to adjust his grip, trying to sort out if Inaba will lean into him. He wants to support her in every way.]

There... Does this feel okay?

[dereban]

[ She does, in fact, lean into him.

A promise, though, huh... Inaba finds herself frowning out of instinct, if only because she definitely doesn't have a good track record with that sort of thing. ]

Mmm. Yeah. I really am sorry, though-- I'm being a burden again.

[ She curls herself up a bit, knees close to her chest. ]