yoon's palace

[strawsandals]

I thought I told you to leave me alone.

Comments

[beathollow]

Oh- um. Okay. I can do that...

... And... I'm sorry. I know this is a lot to ask. But- please use my given name. I have a lot of hard feelings about my family name right now.

[destage]

Oh--!

[That...gets a bit of a pause. It seems like a bit of a leap, especially since she doesn't know the girl nearly as well as some of the others...but...]

...If you're sure it wouldn't be uncomfortable, I'll do that, Mafuyu-san. I'm really sorry. I didn't realize that it would...

[beathollow]

I am. And don't be. You couldn't have known. ... I...

( quietly- which is impressive since she's already quiet. it's a gamble. )

Did you read that anon post the other day?

[destage]

[...

Sayaka's look goes a little blank for a second, but--she shakes her head, managing something of a soft, yet apologetic smile.

She promised that she wouldn't run, and that means from this, too.]

I was...actually the one who wrote it, if I can be honest with you.

[Her words are soft, and there's a brief bit of worry there.]

Did you...?

[respond, she wants to say, but the word dies in her throat.]

[beathollow]

...

( she simply points at herself. )

Apple.

[destage]

[...Oh.

Oh.]

...I'm...so...

[Sayaka's eyes go wide. She looks around the room briefly, and, her voice soft as a whisper--]

Do you want to talk later?

[beathollow]

... Yes. But- you can... understand why, right?

[destage]

It's only brought you pain; I absolutely can understand.

[And for what it's worth, she does mean that.]

...After everything that happened, you deserve to be able to discard it. I hope you can, one day.

[beathollow]

Mm... ... Thank you. For everything.

( she will now take to tending to the pot. )

[destage]

Of course, Mafuyu-san. Let's do our best together.

[And Sayaka will go right back to kindling the fire.]