yoon's palace

[strawsandals]

I thought I told you to leave me alone.

Comments

[idealies]

[ Oh, good. She's relieved. ]

I can keep going. I'm A-OK. Idols are tougher than we look.

[ Ai flashes him a smile, letting go of him (reluctantly) to get to her feet and pump her fist in the air. She doesn't want to let the things that frighten or unsettle her show. She probably worried him enough, falling asleep like that. ]

[emptyself]

Man, you really are. I'll be honest, I kind of feel like I want to jump and run.

[ even though his breathing and heartbeat are calm, that's just the results of years of training. in reality soujuurou is just as frightened as the next person. minds are full of things that aren't normal or possible in the real world, and that unknown has him uneasy.

he'll help her get down, arms falling to his sides. ]

But I'm more concerned about Yoon right now. So until we save him from himself, I can't let myself do that.

[idealies]

...Really? I can't tell at all. You're as steady as a rock.

[ Soujuurou? Scared? She would never have guessed. She had held onto him because he appeared a calm and steadying presence. Her smile softens, becoming less forced and more genuine. It makes her feel better knowing she isn't the only one. ]

Then you were even braver to come to my rescue. [ And braver than her to admit his fears. Sorry, Soujuurou, she will keep her little lie, if only so she can become the kind of presence he can rely on. ] I've got your back, don't worry. We'll save him together.

[emptyself]

If I only ran away every time I'm scared, I probably would have died ages ago.

[ an important part of the wild is to know when to run and when to stand your ground and fight. soujuurou has done both plenty of times, but that doesn't mean that the fear isn't always there like an old friend. ]

But thank you. [ whether it's genuine or not is not a thought that even crosses soujuurou's mind. he has no reason not to trust ai's words, so he takes them at face value. she wants to help him, and he'll gladly accept it. ] I think it helps to know that there's someone watching my back.