Heart Seed Ruin Log

[goatsongs]

[You suddenly find yourself in the entrance to a library. Well, it should be an entrance - if you turn around, there isn’t a door behind you, but there’s a desk that says ‘RETURNS’ and a desk that says ‘HELP’, both with containers full of pens on them. There’s also rows and rows of bookcases all stuffed full of books.

Naturally, both the returns desk and the help desk are staffed: the returns desk by a bright-looking young boy, and the help desk by a serious-looking man.

Beyond the shelves of books, there’s a steel door to the left, as well as a wooden door to the right.]

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[goatsongs]

[She's sincere. Chuuya knows that as well as he knows that water is wet and alcohol isn't a good coping mechanism - Yuuki means every word she's saying to him.

He stares at her with wide eyes, before looking aside. That kind of sincerity is hard for him to face, still. Maybe it always will be hard for him.

But...

It takes him a moment, but he pulls out from one of his pockets a silver key, and places it in her outstretched hand.]

It locks from the outside.

[Someone had to reach for him, but more than that, he had to be willing to be reached for.]

[sunflowering]

[Teary-eyed a watery smile touches her lips when he gently places the key within her palm. He doesn't belong in a cage, forever locked up by the emotions that have devastated him through the years. She wastes no time unlocking the cage, fingers working fast until she hears a click.

Immediately she swings the bars open, and before he can move or say anything, her arms wrap around him. She's sorry that he had to suffer. That he's done so alone, bottling all those emotions up. Embrace tight, she holds him tight. He doesn't have to struggle alone any more.]

[goatsongs]

[He startles in Yuuki's embrace - she can feel him jolt, before he wraps his arms around her and buries his face into her shoulder.

This doesn't fix everything. Nothing ever will, but... Maybe not dealing with it alone really will help. Maybe - maybe things will be a little less painful, from now on.

She'll feel the warmth of tears hitting her shoulder, just before their surroundings fade away, leaving her outside the City's library next to a Chuuya who's stirring from his sleep.]

[sunflowering]

[She glances around her in surprise, the scenery abruptly fading, when at last it appears they are outside the library once more. Blinking, she looks to her side and locates him, slowly stirring from his sleep. Kneeling beside him, she immediately checks him over.]

Nakahara-san! Nakahara-san, are you all right?

[goatsongs]

Five more minutes...

[Chuuya groans and turns over. Grumpy as usual, but not in bad health.

All is well, all is normal.]

[sunflowering]

[ . . .

That's a line only a teenager is allowed to use. Reaching out she pokes him in the cheek.]

Nakahara-san, the library is on fire.

[goatsongs]

[Okay, that jerks him awake, more the words than the poking.]

What the hell is going on-

[Uh, they're in front of the library and he doesn't smell smoke.]

[sunflowering]

Aha...

[She laughs, smiling, wiping a couple lingering tears from her eyes.]

Somehow I knew that would wake you up.

[goatsongs]

You're cruel. Can't I get any beauty sleep?

[...he remembers what happened in there, at least the parts his true heart was privy to, but he's not going to bring them up himself.]

[sunflowering]

[Her smile softens and she leans over to gently draw him to her once more. Just this last time, Chuuya.]

I was worried about you. If you're going to sleep, lets get you inside, okay?

[goatsongs]

[He can't help but grumble, but... he doesn't push her away.]

...I guess that's reasonable.

[sunflowering]

Do you want me to carry you? Can you walk?

[It's an honest question...!!!]

[goatsongs]

I just took a long nap, of course I can walk.

[And being carried by her would be embarrassing...!]

[sunflowering]

[Yeah but he was just imprisoned in his own heart.]

Okay...

[Let her worry a little though. Which is why when she stands up she turns around and crouches.]

But if you're still tired you can hop on my back.

[goatsongs]

I can walk just fine, stop it.

[He manages to get to his feet without falling over or anything.]