Make Up or Break Up
Hearing such a bold statement, large watery eyes reopened, apprehensive for any unexpected surprise that might be sprung, any turnaround which might follow as had been the case the last time.
But nothing of the sort - instead, the very same encouragement that had been iterated the last time heād done something drastic at the cost of their happiness. The very same which he had affirmed to Kai and had turned onto him when he was guilty of making the same decisions.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā That they were there to share the burden of the greatĀ weight on his shoulders. They were coming back, one by one, and banding together in Hive City as opposed to Hitsue, the same rules applied. And Naoki himself had opted not to be any different than had been the norm back home.
What had happened between them months earlier had been a terrible misunderstanding stemming from one of the Scientistsā trials.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Heād still to learn to allow others to help him, in the same way he was so eager to the same for everyone else. His troubles, his fears and problems - they neednāt be kept secret and eat away at him from the inside out.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Though conquering such a bad habit, he knew, was going to take time. Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā But knowing Naokiās honest feelings would be a great help in getting back on the right track of righting himself. There were things he still couldnāt bring himself to talk about, but perhaps smaller problems might be resolved in the mean time, and he could piece himself together again one day.
An arm around him pressed him more firmly against Naokiās frame, flooding his eyes with tears that trickled down and rested his brow against the olderās shoulder. Not the audible cries that would be standard for most, but the silence that was for him, sharp inhales and trembles in Naokiās embrace.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āI donāt want us to get separated again. Iām sorry⦠                   Itās all been so distant, I feel lost and canāt find the way or who to go toā.
Finally, after all that time, Naoki had gotten to speak his piece. A weight he knew that had settled there for the long haul had been lifted, and he somehow felt...free.Ā
Heād let the his words sink in, only to realize that Aichi was crying into his shoulder. Those sharp intakes of breath, Aichi really did have a lot of pent up emotions, didnāt he? Naoki wouldnāt move, letting Aichi remain where he was, getting whatever was ragginā him out of his system.
Ā Ā Ā āYa finally told me, Aichi.ā
Ā Ā Ā āItās hard, admittin' what ya said, but...ya did yer best. And now ya gotta do yer very best. Yer not gonna separate from us, even if yer scared thatāll happen.ā
Ā Ā Ā āYa always kept those words bottled up, didnāt ya? If everythinā for ya seems to be down anā out, do ya honestly think ya canāt overcome it? Or rather...do ya think we canāt overcome it? Like it or not, yer stuck with us, and together weāll get over any obstacle.ā
His words were a little gruff, but gentle and kind. That may have been Naokiās true nature all along, but only a few had ever seen that. Most would look at him as some kind of suspicious character at first glance, but...he always meant the best.Ā
And he was never one to abandon someone on his own free will.Ā
Ā Ā Ā āYa got us. Weāre always willing to listen to ya, but if weāre not enough, yanno Gaillard counts for us too, right? I know Iāve hurt ya before because of this city...that aināt gonna happen again. Not ever.ā
There was conviction in his voice--he truly believed in what heād said. His next words, however, were warm. He was...glad to have his friend back. He hadnāt been rejected as someone never to be trusted again. And heād fight to protect that, no matter what.Ā
Ā Ā Ā āNo matter how difficult things get, weāll get through them, together. Relying on us isnāt using us, so let us help carry yer burden. Letās find yer future, Aichi. No matter how dark it looks now, weāll make sure yer future is a bright one.ā
Ā Ā Ā āImagine it--let us be yer vanguard. With us by yer side, ya wonāt lose.ā















