at least make it interesting.

I CAN’T BEAR TO LOSE THIS VIEW.

                        For a moment, all he could do was stare at her, not entirely sure where her change of tone- her change of tune- was coming from. They’d been having a somewhat nice talk despite the gravity of the situation, hadn’t they? Honestly, Neku had been relieved that he could find some common ground with someone in the middle of all of this. Was he really so out of practice talking to people that he could fuck up so badly without even realising it? Evidently so.

It took him a few extra seconds to process, but when her words finally sunk in, they hit him hard. They were a well deserved slap to the face. He thought he was being selfless by putting the others before him, but…

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-” He cut himself off. He did mean it. He wasn’t sure if he deserved to go back. He wasn’t sure if he could. “I just-” A heavy sigh. He should be happy that this might finally all be over soon, shouldn’t he? So why wasn’t he? Why did he feel more nervous about returning to the RG than excited? “I don’t know if I even can go back.” Would Joshua even let him at this point? Where the hell was he, anyway? Shouldn’t he be helping right about now?

“I’m not even sure if I’m technically still a Player anymore.” He still had a Player Pin from years prior, but it was different from the new ones the others had. Neku was surely dead, but he hadn’t exactly entered the UG through normal means, either- not since returning from Shinjuku, at least.

she folds her arms and glares at him, though the scowl on her face is slowly dissipating. despite the needles she just jabbed at him, it’s evident her outburst was borne more out of concern and... jealousy, perhaps...? than any real malice. the look in her gray eyes fades, and she raises an eyebrow.

“so make some noise until they let you back in, yeah? there’s a bunch of people here who’d go to bat for you. you’d be screwing them over if you just laid down and gave up.” pep talks aren’t shoka’s strong suit. even so, she’s trying. she doesn’t want that sparkle in rindo and fret’s eyes to fade when they realize their idol is a loser just like them. “maybe you’re not actually some legendary hero or whatever those dorks are on about, but you can still have some pride.”

salt :

ah little kraken, bold are you. restless sailor, dauntless fighter, lower your sword, let me see your shield. ah, of course, they are but the same object. oh wave-tossed ruffian, lend me some of your mettle would you? you have been struck by the sharpest of spears yet you still stand here proudly. but off your guard, elsewhere of the battlefield, you will find your spirit can parch others. your words are but weapons crafted from your soul. little lion, sheathe your claws, or the ones you love the most will suffer. you do not have to be strong all the time love, there's nothing wrong with being soft. vulnerability is not weakness, and if it were, what's wrong with that? strength is not always your greatest tool, your heart is good. put down excalibur, and use your words. you'll find they will carry you much farther. not everything in life is a battle.