If only to ease their pain

[She continued to hum, the notes entering her thoughts and leaving her throat on a whim. The song was a little clumsy, not as refined as many of her other songs. But it had made Miku smile. That was the important part.]

Ah- my wings? They’re really not that bad…

please.

…alright.

( she shuffled over, instantly starting on the feathers. )

…how have you been?

Ah…sorry….

i know you don't think they'll find you or that you'll leave. but you need to tend to your normal needs.

…right.

Oh, you don’t need to apologize for that. I understand if you want to take some time for yourself.

i'm supposed to tend to you...

Besides, it’s really my own fault for being so hard to take care of. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.

…it would have happened sooner or later.

Maybe. I suppose that just means I definitely can’t let them find out.

she's already starting to remember, though...

I’ll fix it.

how.

I’ll find a way to keep her distracted.

…I know you’re not a fan of…all of this. If I could, I’d let you go back to your own sekai. I’m sorry.

…it’s important that they’re happy.

your happiness is just as important.

I’m happy knowing they’re alright. And knowing my dad’s…there really isn’t a reason I shouldn’t be happy for any of them.

…it’s real enough. I get to see him happy. He’s alive, much more alive than he was when I was around.

... kanade...

…it’s better this way.

. . . fine...

…sorry. I didn’t mean to make things tense.

( miku glanced up from kanade's wings, before looking back and humming along. )

[She smiled as she heard Miku join in.]

Ah- my wings? They’re really not that bad…

please.

…alright.

( she shuffled over, instantly starting on the feathers. )

…how have you been?

Ah…sorry….

i know you don't think they'll find you or that you'll leave. but you need to tend to your normal needs.

…right.

Oh, you don’t need to apologize for that. I understand if you want to take some time for yourself.

i'm supposed to tend to you...

Besides, it’s really my own fault for being so hard to take care of. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.

…it would have happened sooner or later.

Maybe. I suppose that just means I definitely can’t let them find out.

she's already starting to remember, though...

I’ll fix it.

how.

I’ll find a way to keep her distracted.

…I know you’re not a fan of…all of this. If I could, I’d let you go back to your own sekai. I’m sorry.

…it’s important that they’re happy.

your happiness is just as important.

I’m happy knowing they’re alright. And knowing my dad’s…there really isn’t a reason I shouldn’t be happy for any of them.

…it’s real enough. I get to see him happy. He’s alive, much more alive than he was when I was around.

... kanade...

…it’s better this way.

. . . fine...

…sorry. I didn’t mean to make things tense.

Ah- my wings? They’re really not that bad…

please.

…alright.

( she shuffled over, instantly starting on the feathers. )

…how have you been?

Ah…sorry….

i know you don't think they'll find you or that you'll leave. but you need to tend to your normal needs.

…right.

Oh, you don’t need to apologize for that. I understand if you want to take some time for yourself.

i'm supposed to tend to you...

Besides, it’s really my own fault for being so hard to take care of. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.

…it would have happened sooner or later.

Maybe. I suppose that just means I definitely can’t let them find out.

she's already starting to remember, though...

I’ll fix it.

how.

I’ll find a way to keep her distracted.

…I know you’re not a fan of…all of this. If I could, I’d let you go back to your own sekai. I’m sorry.

…it’s important that they’re happy.

your happiness is just as important.

I’m happy knowing they’re alright. And knowing my dad’s…there really isn’t a reason I shouldn’t be happy for any of them.

…it’s real enough. I get to see him happy. He’s alive, much more alive than he was when I was around.

... kanade...

…it’s better this way.

. . . fine...

…sorry. I didn’t mean to make things tense.

Ah- my wings? They’re really not that bad…

please.

…alright.

( she shuffled over, instantly starting on the feathers. )

…how have you been?

Ah…sorry….

i know you don't think they'll find you or that you'll leave. but you need to tend to your normal needs.

…right.

Oh, you don’t need to apologize for that. I understand if you want to take some time for yourself.

i'm supposed to tend to you...

Besides, it’s really my own fault for being so hard to take care of. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.

…it would have happened sooner or later.

Maybe. I suppose that just means I definitely can’t let them find out.

she's already starting to remember, though...

I’ll fix it.

how.

I’ll find a way to keep her distracted.

…I know you’re not a fan of…all of this. If I could, I’d let you go back to your own sekai. I’m sorry.

…it’s important that they’re happy.

your happiness is just as important.

I’m happy knowing they’re alright. And knowing my dad’s…there really isn’t a reason I shouldn’t be happy for any of them.

…it’s real enough. I get to see him happy. He’s alive, much more alive than he was when I was around.

... kanade...

…it’s better this way.

Ah- my wings? They’re really not that bad…

please.

…alright.

( she shuffled over, instantly starting on the feathers. )

…how have you been?

Ah…sorry….

i know you don't think they'll find you or that you'll leave. but you need to tend to your normal needs.

…right.

Oh, you don’t need to apologize for that. I understand if you want to take some time for yourself.

i'm supposed to tend to you...

Besides, it’s really my own fault for being so hard to take care of. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.

…it would have happened sooner or later.

Maybe. I suppose that just means I definitely can’t let them find out.

she's already starting to remember, though...

I’ll fix it.

how.

I’ll find a way to keep her distracted.

…I know you’re not a fan of…all of this. If I could, I’d let you go back to your own sekai. I’m sorry.

…it’s important that they’re happy.

your happiness is just as important.

I’m happy knowing they’re alright. And knowing my dad’s…there really isn’t a reason I shouldn’t be happy for any of them.

…it’s real enough. I get to see him happy. He’s alive, much more alive than he was when I was around.

Ah- my wings? They’re really not that bad…

please.

…alright.

( she shuffled over, instantly starting on the feathers. )

…how have you been?

Ah…sorry….

i know you don't think they'll find you or that you'll leave. but you need to tend to your normal needs.

…right.

Oh, you don’t need to apologize for that. I understand if you want to take some time for yourself.

i'm supposed to tend to you...

Besides, it’s really my own fault for being so hard to take care of. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.

…it would have happened sooner or later.

Maybe. I suppose that just means I definitely can’t let them find out.

she's already starting to remember, though...

I’ll fix it.

how.

I’ll find a way to keep her distracted.

…I know you’re not a fan of…all of this. If I could, I’d let you go back to your own sekai. I’m sorry.

…it’s important that they’re happy.

your happiness is just as important.

I’m happy knowing they’re alright. And knowing my dad’s…there really isn’t a reason I shouldn’t be happy for any of them.

Ah- my wings? They’re really not that bad…

please.

…alright.

( she shuffled over, instantly starting on the feathers. )

…how have you been?

Ah…sorry….

i know you don't think they'll find you or that you'll leave. but you need to tend to your normal needs.

…right.

Oh, you don’t need to apologize for that. I understand if you want to take some time for yourself.

i'm supposed to tend to you...

Besides, it’s really my own fault for being so hard to take care of. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.

…it would have happened sooner or later.

Maybe. I suppose that just means I definitely can’t let them find out.

she's already starting to remember, though...

I’ll fix it.

how.

I’ll find a way to keep her distracted.

…I know you’re not a fan of…all of this. If I could, I’d let you go back to your own sekai. I’m sorry.

…it’s important that they’re happy.

Ah- my wings? They’re really not that bad…

please.

…alright.

( she shuffled over, instantly starting on the feathers. )

…how have you been?

Ah…sorry….

i know you don't think they'll find you or that you'll leave. but you need to tend to your normal needs.

…right.

Oh, you don’t need to apologize for that. I understand if you want to take some time for yourself.

i'm supposed to tend to you...

Besides, it’s really my own fault for being so hard to take care of. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.

…it would have happened sooner or later.

Maybe. I suppose that just means I definitely can’t let them find out.

she's already starting to remember, though...

I’ll fix it.

how.

I’ll find a way to keep her distracted.

…I know you’re not a fan of…all of this. If I could, I’d let you go back to your own sekai. I’m sorry.

Ah- my wings? They’re really not that bad…

please.

…alright.

( she shuffled over, instantly starting on the feathers. )

…how have you been?

Ah…sorry….

i know you don't think they'll find you or that you'll leave. but you need to tend to your normal needs.

…right.

Oh, you don’t need to apologize for that. I understand if you want to take some time for yourself.

i'm supposed to tend to you...

Besides, it’s really my own fault for being so hard to take care of. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.

…it would have happened sooner or later.

Maybe. I suppose that just means I definitely can’t let them find out.

she's already starting to remember, though...

I’ll fix it.

how.

I’ll find a way to keep her distracted.

Ah- my wings? They’re really not that bad…

please.

…alright.

( she shuffled over, instantly starting on the feathers. )

…how have you been?

Ah…sorry….

i know you don't think they'll find you or that you'll leave. but you need to tend to your normal needs.

…right.

Oh, you don’t need to apologize for that. I understand if you want to take some time for yourself.

i'm supposed to tend to you...

Besides, it’s really my own fault for being so hard to take care of. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused you.

…it would have happened sooner or later.

Maybe. I suppose that just means I definitely can’t let them find out.

she's already starting to remember, though...

I’ll fix it.