"Good afternoon, Yuka Ko. It's been a while."
"Maaaannnn, it really is. Thanks for coming, Obi. You're alone, though?"
"Our schedules just doesn't line up being in different schools and all. I heard Ai-san visited with Ane Ringo though."
"Yeah. Ringo visits quite a lot since she… Wait, have you heard about her recently?"
"I heard that she was bedridden and in critical condition until recently."
"She's still on a leave of absence so I see her here a lot."
"So you're still completely working from home?"
"Rei's feeling so much better now but just to be safe I'd like it if she has company when she comes home. Well, it's nice that the school term has ended so she can take all the time to rest.
You want something to drink?"
"Cocoa, maybe?"
"Cold it is, then. I got you."
Summer has begun and greeted Orio cruelly with the sudden change in weather. Mornings are a dice roll whether there will be a drop in temperature or not. The solar noon's sun sears the skin slowly. The afternoons become unbearable with the extreme humidity, and the nights make one reconsider if they sleep standing with nothing cold to the touch.
Even so, Obi Soramoto faced against the afternoon heat made his way to the Nijisaki household.
It has been two years at least since the first time he met with the eldest child of the house. Obi could still vividly remember the awe and confusion he felt upon laying his eyes on the enigma of Kuroko for the first time back then. Now, he sometimes couldn't even believe that he befriended him to the point that Kuroko had just graciously accepted the nickname "Ko" as his name with the honorific could be a mouthful.
Ever since watching one of Kuroko's plays, Obi found himself in such a peculiar position where he became engrossed with the work of the writer than the actors seen in the stage. Obi is a person that loves to see the behind-the-scenes of works he sees as enjoyable, which is why he feels the amazement of feeling the soul of the writer through the actor.
His admiration to Kuroko could be seen as something that is of a fan. But between them, their connection is simply driven by their mutual creativity.
Outside of work, they are simply friends that would see each other playing an online RPG game they both love, and finding similarities in a hobby—being cultivating flowers and photographing them. One way or another, it provides them a little bit of income by posting them as stock images.
On the other hand, Obi could not believe that the person he looks up to would somehow become his colleague. Due to him showing great interest in Kuroko's work as a playwright and generally as a scriptwriter, Kuroko took notice of his artistic ability and offered him work in storyboarding.
"Help me visualize the things that I write," is what Kuroko had encouraged Obi, which gave him a huge morale boost.
…
As Obi finally began feeling comfortable on the air-conditioned living room and finishing his drink, he shifted his gaze towards Kuroko.
"Can I… meet Reina, Yuka?"
"Isn't that what you came here for anyway?"
"Well, yeah, but from what I've heard, she really had it rough. I don't think I know what to say to her."
"Come on… relax. Like I said, she's doing way better now. It's unfortunate that she suddenly began having episodes a few months ago, but it's not something to worry about now. If anything, she'll appreciate the company."
Swallowing down the worries he had, he followed Kuroko from behind towards upstairs and to the door of Reina's room.
It was supposed to be a surprise visit from her friends back in high school, but with the aforementioned conflicting schedules, only Obi can make it. Regardless, Kuroko gave the door a few knocks.
"Rei?"
"Yes?" muffled, the younger sister's voice was heard from the other side.
"Obi's here for a visit. Can you let her in?"
"H-Huh?! Wait a sec…! I'll tidy up a bit!"
"Is this really fine…? We could just talk downstairs if she wants."
"Well, I said she's fine, but she's still a little anxious when people hear about her conversations with others.
Anyway, I'll just be downstairs at work, so I'll be leaving you two. Go and try to have fun while you're at it!"
"H-How am I supposed to do that…? In the first place… am I even that close with her?"
The door slowly opened with a little creak. Initially, the girl peeked from a small opening, but then showing herself ascertaining that Obi was really there.
"Long time no see," Obi greeted with a meek smile.
"L-Likewise. You can come in."
"…"
He was taken aback.
Upon accepting the invitation to Reina's room, he immediately got the impression of a tug of war between an office and a maiden's bedroom. There was an unseen balance felt between a side of the room having a whiteboard mounted on the wall with magnets holding documents on it, a work desk in which caught Obi's eyes as he saw a picture from afar of what looks like Reina and Ai with a person of similar white hair, just like her brother.
On the other hand, he was pulled back to reality that this is still a girl's room with plushies situated all over the place, a small powder table, a bookshelf arrayed with volumes of manga, a television showing a paused music video, and a side of the wall painted in light pink where the bed is on.
However, he could notice what could perhaps be clumsiness in the room, figuratively and literally.
The bedroom's floor is made of polished hardwood, but there was a noticeable spot from under the desk towards the center of the room just before the carpet where the wood is worn down, with places where it also appears to have been carved. Crouching to sit on a cushion, Obi could not help but imagine that Reina had probably let the wheels of her chair lead her to her bed to rest, as the desk is opposite it, and fell down in the process.
He chuckled silently, but he felt bad for thinking about it, nonetheless.
"Ah, that's right. I got you some cake," from beside him, Obi pulled out a box with two slices from a paper bag.
"Huh…? You really didn't have to, but thanks."
"Well, I wasn't really sure, but I figured this might cheer you up even if just by a bit.
Also, I was supposed to visit with Hoshino and the others from the club, but they couldn't make it."
Accepting the box with another "thank you" without thinking about where to put it for the time being, Reina swiped aside the things from her desk and hurriedly unfolded a small table.
"Were… you busy?"
"Ah, well… not really, but I haven't been able to tidy my things up for a while now. I just left them to pile up there…" the girl then scratched her cheek with a hint of an embarrassed smile on her face.
However, the room was only met with silence.
The air has gotten very awkward, to put it frankly. With the two of them being not exactly very social, they reached a stalemate with nothing in mind to really talk about. But with Obi recalling why exactly he came to visit, he finally broke the silence.
"I just heard from Yuka Ko that you're feeling so much better mentally… I know we haven't really been meeting with the others recently especially when it seems you really needed it the most, but it's nice to actually see that you're really doing okay."
"Thank you… I really appreciate you coming here. It was really tough… but my problems had passed. It's just a matter of healing… I guess?"
"I-If it's not rude of me… can you tell me what happened?"
Only she nodded silently and stood up get the box of cake anew.
"Let's it eat together first."
"O-Oh… sure."
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"Give me a sec! I'll just grab some forks!"
A bout of unexpected—is what was pondered in Obi's mind. He is not one to suddenly just look through another person's belongings, especially not in the room of the opposite sex. But even he was surprised with how curious he became with just a glance of the picture he saw from Reina's desk.
Against his own credo, he still stood from his seat to take another quick but clearer look on the photo, and immediately returned with more questions than answers.
"That was… Ane Ringo, right…?"
"Sorry for the wait. So you also gave my brother some."
"He likes his buttercream a lot. I don't know your preference, but I hope I picked one that you'd like."
"Ohhh, blueberries!"
"Do you like them?"
"It's more like I haven't eaten much of them to form an opinion. Thanks again for the cake."
"You're welcome."
Let it be known, Obi thought, that Reina has now taken a liking to blueberries at that moment.
But thereafter, silence once again visited the room once Reina came back from putting the dishes downstairs. Rather than a sad one, she gave Obi a somewhat sentimental look with a subtle smile. From there, the tone of her voice changed.
"I guess… you could call them dreams. Yeah, that's one way to put it.
For several months, I kept having dreams almost everyday… it's like I was feeling someone's emotions. Regrets, sadness, anger, hopelessness… But if anything, what it felt like to me was close to losing a friend… never to see them again.
Even if I wake up, I still hold on to those emotions as if they were mine now. I found myself just crying out of the blue because I couldn't take the pain away of my mind… It hurt so much that I was barely hanging on…"
She used the words "like" or "as if", but in truth, it was the only way she could describe it to someone that is not knowledgeable of her circumstances. Those emotions that belonged to someone else that she felt now also completely belongs to her.
"I really don't want to jump into conclusions… but is this something related to Ane Ringo? I-I'm sorry… I couldn't help but look at the photo at your desk."
"You guessed it right," promptly, she took the picture and sat back down, holding it to her chest dearly.
"As you probably know already, Ringo-nee recently fell extremely ill. I started having those dreams upon finding out about it. I was… devastated when I learned that she was in front of death's doorstep. I loved Ringo-nee so much that it felt like I could feel what she was going through from those dreams. It turns out… I'm much more connected to her than I thought.
But now…"
Wiping her moistened eyes and suddenly beaming a smile, Reina placed down the picture and showed it to Obi up close.
He could see that the woman that somehow resembled Reina's brother who he looked up to because of the bright white hair was indeed Ringo Akanami—a senior she often sees in their time back in Blue Ink, and a well-known alumnus from the school's Art Club.
From the picture, Obi could see that she was slimmer in comparison to the last time he saw her. Her eyes are still minutely sunken, and her cheek bones were lightly pronounced on her face. But regardless of those and the pure white hair, all Obi could see was a genuine look of happiness as seen from the ear to ear smile she was wearing with Reina and Ai.
However, now that he is seeing it up close, Reina was also smiling in a way that he had never seen before.
"That was how she looks like a few weeks ago, but she's looking so much healthier now. If you're wondering, her hair whitened while she was ill, but we still don't know if it was the cause of it.
Yuka also used to have them black, but he's quite a weird one so he never decided to dye it or anything?"
"Wow, that's the first time I'm hearing about that…"
"It's not that he was critically sick, but he used to have a weak constitution just until a few years ago.
But how do you think Ringo-nee looks like?"
"Well… it's looks really unusual since you don't see it everyday but… it's cool when you see it."
"Riiiight?! If only it doesn't attract so much attention, she can totally wear the look! Just imagine the combination of clothes she could have with it… if only people won't make her feel anxious when she walks alone…! She looks really pret-
Wha-?!"
Amidst the sudden rant that Reina let out and Obi simply just watching her, the latter unconsciously reached out his hand towards Reina but snapped out of it when his finger lightly touched his head, and startled both of them.
"Ah, s-sorry! I didn't mean to do that…!"
"D-Do what…?"
The words that Obi wanted to say outright was caught in his throat with the sudden reluctance. He looked away with his now bashful gaze as he pulled his hand back.
"Sorry, I suddenly wanted to pat your head."
"…"
He was only met with an unsurprised look when Reina titled her head as if a question mark has popped out over her head. But after thinking about it herself, she suddenly lowered her head as though she was bowing… yet it only left both of them in silence and confusion.
"Um, Obi-san, I'm saying it's okay."
"Seriously?"
"Mhm."
Suddenly, Obi found himself in a pinch. Regardless of the maiden's affirmation, he was conflicted whether he really should or not. Still he could not deny to himself the fact that he really had the urge to pat Reina's head as a means comfort her no matter if it will actually help.
Nevertheless, he once again slowly reached his hand out to Reina's welcome. As Obi's palm met with her head, the small strokes let him feel the silkiness of her hair.
"Hmm…"
Reina closed her eyes, as her head slowly nodded and rested to the table. Obi knew that she was not asleep, and so he continued to pamper her. Away from the uptight feeling since he entered the room, he now found his back slouched and his other elbow leaning on the table, feeling no tiredness while patting the maiden's head.
They have from that point reached mutual comfort.
…
"Hey, Obi…?"
"Y-Yeah?"
"Can you please resume the MV?"
"Uh, sure."
On his knees, he moved from the cushion to take the remote. The video then abruptly resumed within the chorus, but even so, Obi could hear three voices harmonizing with each other. It was as though their voices was high, middle, and low for a triad of female voices.
Realizing what the song is, it gave him chills.
"Asu no Yozora Shoukaihan…"
"Hmm? So you know the song."
"Well, I do listen to vocaloid songs, but this is the first time I'm hearing this cover…"
"I thought you knew Startend."
"Startend? What's that?"
"I thought for sure you watch vtubers…"
"I see clips, but not really. This cover is really, really good, though. Their vocals are great."
"Maybe even if you don't watch them, I can recommend you orisongs and covers. They do a lot of vocaloid covers so you might like them."
"I might as well give it a try."
"Oh, I'll spam you with links so be ready.
By the way, do you know the lyrics of the song? Oh, it's looping, yay."
"I haven't looked it up yet. I'll need the English translation since I can't understand Japanese."
"Hahaha, same with me."
Listening and absorbing the looping song in full and quietly observing Reina, still resting her head on the table in front of her, Obi's hand without second thought returned on petting her.
"Ehehehe…"
It was bliss.
The song continued to loop, and loop, and loop. But the two of them never got tired of it. Reina began to whisper the lyrics of the song, which prompted Obi to hum to her rhythm. They lost track of time, in which Obi was the first one to realize.
"This is nice and all…
But when should I stop petting her…?"
~ ~ ~
Sundown.
"Thanks for having me, Yuka Ko."
"No, no. Thanks for being with Rei today. As her brother, it means a lot to me that she's having fun again. Come over again some time."
"I will try to."
Obi Soramoto concluded his visit with a pleasant mood.
It was already 6 in the evening, but the sky is still bright even if the light is starting to descend. The temperature has dropped even if a little, and Obi felt the lightness of his steps while walking home.
And as he found himself whistling the song that has been stuck in his head by now, a thought surfaced, or rather, resurfaced.
"Perhaps… I can finally give it some consideration again."
▪ ▪ ▪
After not being in one for a while, Reina has found herself in another lucid dream the night of her friend's visit.
She was standing in a small hallway from a plane floating within a space she had seen before, but now more uniform and ordered. However, the place where she was standing at is incomplete. Only the floor is whole and the walls are in a state of being fragmented.
But in the middle of the partiality of everything in the space, there was a door completely constructed and half open. Reina had discerned that she could move, and so she entered the room leading from that door.
She felt a sense of familiarity, thus she walked around the long desks of the room. Just like the door, she had seen another part of the space that was complete and whole. A part of a wall had a large framed illustration done purely with graphite.
The presence of the illustration has made things clear for her. Even with the severely fragmented appearance of the plane, she finally ascertained where she is now.
"This is the Art Room when it was in the old building…"
The room was roughly constructed from a memory. Gradually, the realm began to have an environment and sense of time, and it was made as if the time is in the afternoon where the sunlight has started turning dimmer and warmer in color.
I prepared a little something in the event that you come here again.
Instinctively, Reina turned back towards the door where a white silhouette is standing on the other side of the wall. It revealed itself to be a vague figure that she had seen before.
"It's so different from the first time I was here, Ringo-nee."
With those words, the white glow from the figure suddenly broke away revealing the Rin in an appearance of having white hair that extends to her back and donned with a loose white dress. Barefoot, she silently approached the only person that could enter this realm of hers.
But because of the appearance of Rin, Reina's cheeks flushed red on the already orange-lit room.
"Aaaaahhh! Oh my goodness, Ringo-nee you look so prettyyyyy…!!!"
Ahaha… do I really?
"You do…!!!
But if Yuka Gin sees this, he will for sure freak out not in a good way. Well, not like he will see this, but still!"
What do you mean…?
"Look at you… White hair and white dress in this kind of mysterious place… It looks like you are…"
Ahh… I get you now. Sorry.
Anyway, nice to finally have you back here! I got some tips from Gin, but this is all I could make. It's incomplete because it takes a lot of brain power…
"This… you mean like the cognitive realm Yuka mentioned?"
Yup, that's it. That's it.
I'm guessing it's just by chance that you got here, but it's a good idea that you're here now since I have something to talk about anyway.
"If it's here, then it must be important."
Very. What Gin and I theorized is that we should stay here together from time to time so that we wouldn't have a repeat of what happened with you when I was bedridden.
Are you following?
"Y-Yes…"
The reason why I kept leaking my feelings and memories was because I kept drifting away mentally—meaning that I was in a really weak state and couldn't contain my thoughts. We could probably have better control of our connection if we get used to being here.
Gin and your brother showed us how great this link could be, as it saved him and us from something worse that could happen in the worst-case scenario. But in our case, it could just be something that gives us painful things if we just let it as is.
For that, I am very sorry for causing you that much suffering, Reina.
"We're in this together now so don't worry about it. Besides, we've already talked about it, and seeing you doing well also uplifts me."
Aww, you're so cute, Reina… Let me give you a hug…
Besides the vague lack of warmth, even in a metaphysical space, the two of them could still feel each other's touch.
"I'm so glad you're still with us, Ringo-nee."
Now I'll give you headpats.
"Ehehehe…"
Oh, you like this one better, huh? I guess your brother really spoils you a lot~
"Hehe. It's not just that, but Obi also-"
Abruptly, Reina swallowed back the subsequent words she wanted to say.
Hmmmmmm, Reina~?
"N-Nothing…"
Oh well! It's fine as long as you're doing great. Just be careful not to casually bring out a memory, alright~?
"Please stop teasing me, Ringo-nee…!"
Hahahaha…! Okay, okay, I'll stop.
I said that we should meet here together frequently, but I don't want to disturb your rest.
Next time you come here, I'll try to improve the place!
Then… I know that we're already asleep, but sleep well, Ringo-nee. I hope we see you in CCI soon.
Sure. Ahhh, it's nice that I have a junior waiting for me~
Alright, catch you later!
"I love you, Ringo-nee!"
Waahh…! That came right out of left field, you sneaky fluff ball…!!