[ To that comment about him always using that statement of blind optimism, Tatara laughs and shrugs sheepishly. ]
Sorry!
[ He’s not. He will, however, pull his hand from Izumo’s shoulder before it lingers too long, and is more forcibly removed. ]
Aah, we’ve barely just begun...! But King said he has news for me.
[ He didn’t expect Mikoto to take this task so personally or handle it so quickly; but, here they are. Then again, perhaps Tatara never should have doubted -- after all, the Red King takes care of his own... even if, in this instance, “his own” feels rather pitiful for being found out in the first place. But Mikoto had known something was wrong right from the start, pressing on and on about Tatara seeming sad until he finally confessed.
Although, even now, he doesn’t know the details. He gave a name, said Johan was ‘a dear friend’, and that was enough.
It’s not a lie. Not technically. At the time, perhaps, he’d indulged himself in some foolish, self-serving denial, saying that Johan was just a friend; that those flutters and sparks and butterflies were all made up things. But in the wake of losing that, he knows without a doubt they were real. He’d gotten attached for maybe the first time in his life, and so naturally this loss doesn't pull away cleanly, but takes pieces of Tatara with it, reshaping him indelibly.
He's forever changed, as a result. No one ever forgets their first love, after all. And, like they always say, hindsight is indeed 20/20. Maybe if he’d invited Johan to stay with him that night -- however forward that might have been -- he’d still be alive today, and they’d be a happy couple. Who can say? It’s all conjecture anymore. That, and survivor’s guilt. ]
That makes two of us. [ Hey, honesty deserves honesty in return. ]
If there’s anything I can do, Kusanagi-san, you know I will -- even if it means picking up extra hours so you can relax.
[ He can’t promise he’ll be on-time, but he’ll show up. ]
no subject
Sorry!
[ He’s not. He will, however, pull his hand from Izumo’s shoulder before it lingers too long, and is more forcibly removed. ]
Aah, we’ve barely just begun...! But King said he has news for me.
[ He didn’t expect Mikoto to take this task so personally or handle it so quickly; but, here they are. Then again, perhaps Tatara never should have doubted -- after all, the Red King takes care of his own... even if, in this instance, “his own” feels rather pitiful for being found out in the first place. But Mikoto had known something was wrong right from the start, pressing on and on about Tatara seeming sad until he finally confessed.
Although, even now, he doesn’t know the details. He gave a name, said Johan was ‘a dear friend’, and that was enough.
It’s not a lie. Not technically. At the time, perhaps, he’d indulged himself in some foolish, self-serving denial, saying that Johan was just a friend; that those flutters and sparks and butterflies were all made up things. But in the wake of losing that, he knows without a doubt they were real. He’d gotten attached for maybe the first time in his life, and so naturally this loss doesn't pull away cleanly, but takes pieces of Tatara with it, reshaping him indelibly.
He's forever changed, as a result. No one ever forgets their first love, after all. And, like they always say, hindsight is indeed 20/20. Maybe if he’d invited Johan to stay with him that night -- however forward that might have been -- he’d still be alive today, and they’d be a happy couple. Who can say? It’s all conjecture anymore. That, and survivor’s guilt. ]
That makes two of us. [ Hey, honesty deserves honesty in return. ]
If there’s anything I can do, Kusanagi-san, you know I will -- even if it means picking up extra hours so you can relax.
[ He can’t promise he’ll be on-time, but he’ll show up. ]