[Private Level 2 to basically everyone Tachibana knows well]

[triggerhappytraitor]

Sayoko--

This world's Sayoko is here. Alive.

[[There might be a bit of a note of panic in his mental voice]]

She saw me. Recognized me...!

....and she's a Pillar.



[[Anyone who comes looking will find him in the garage, sitting on the couch with his head in his hands, Garren hovering worriedly at his side.]]

Comments

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Garren nods, hopping down to toddle off to one of the side rooms, the one Kenzaki had made as Tachibana just blinks in confusion, looking almost lost]] I-- what?

[[He has no idea what Shiro's on about, but he does as instructed anyway]]

[triggerhappytraitor]

There's a long moment as Tachibana looks like he's about to answer, but the words don't form. He lets out a deep, almost frustrated sigh, shoulders slumping as he slouches.

"...I can't ignore Kenzaki. Even if it's his overlay... I said I'd always take care of him. That hasn't changed."

[ninjayeehaw]

"An' what about Sayoko?" His voice is light, but his stare is piercing.

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[There's an almost pained wince before he shakes his head]]

...I teleported away before she could say anything.

[[And he feels like an ass for it]]

[triggerhappytraitor]

He knows the answer he should give. What he should do to not make things worse.

..but he can't say it.

Instead, he just looks down at his hands unhappily.

[ninjayeehaw]

Kinji sighs, and looks away again. "Y'all've gone an' hurt her, then. 's'what I reckon."

[vrepit_no]

Come here.

[As soon as Tachibana's close enough, Shiro pulls him in against his chest in a hug.]

I'm not going anywhere, and I'm not going to melt if you cry. You've had a bad shock. So take a breath and let me hold you and take care of you for five minutes.

Sayoko's a strong lady. She'll want to see you again. But it's okay not to be ready for that just yet. Relax for a little bit. It won't hurt anything to take a breather.

[triggerhappytraitor]

"...probably..."

The admittance is small, pained and deeply regretful.

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Tachibana's eyes widen and he all but freezes at the sudden, unexpected closeness.

But it's not more than a moment before the tension starts to melt out of his frame at the warmth and the promise of safety that comes with the arms around him. Slowly, his shoulders sag, head leaning against Shiro's chest as something inside him releases.

Just a few minutes. Just a few minutes would be fine to let his guard down... right?]]

[chalicejoker]

She took it hard.

[Hajime's speaking kind of quietly now.]

As far as I recall, you took it hard as well.

[There's a pause.]

Grief comes in a lot of different forms.

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[He's still a moment before nodding. That it did hit her so hard... it hurts. For all his wishing that she had been the one to live instead of him... He hadn't at all thought it would be like this.]]

...and I just made it worse, showing up like a ghost and then vanishing.

[chalicejoker]

And that's why I can go find her again, give you some time to get it together, and then I can bring her back here.

Or my place, if you want more neutral ground.

[summerorange]

[A small, brief sigh beneath her breath...but more out of sympathy than frustration. She reaches out to gently put a comforting hand on his shoulder.]

Tachibana-san...I don't think she's that upset with you for doing so. Maybe worried and confused, but not...well, angry.

[And then she pauses as she remembers another thing:]

You said before that she's a...Pillar?

[triggerhappytraitor]

The hell would I even say to her?

It's not like she's like you, she wouldn't have the same memories at all. I'd just mess up her memories of her version of me...

[chalicejoker]

You vanished like a ghost.

You could...I don't know, explain that you're a parallel universe version of the guy she knew.

[There's a long pause.]

Didn't it help you, knowing there were worlds where she'd lived?

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[a nod]]

...someone who's lost hope.

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[there's a long moment of quiet before he nods]]

[chalicejoker]

And that might help her too.

[Hajime pushes the pot of oden at Tachibana.]

Settle down, eat something, and while you do that, Ryo and I will go find her again.

[Why is he feeling like his mother right now?]

[triggerhappytraitor]

Wait--

[[Tachibana reaches out, stopping just short of grabbing Hajime's hand]]

What if she recognizes you as well?

[chalicejoker]

I've got experience with "hello, I'm not quite the person you knew, I'm from another timeline or universe."

You don't. I can be more diplomatic.

[This actually sets Ryo off into a giggle fit. Hajime! Diplomatic? That's funny.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[A small puff of amusement escapes Tachibana as well.]]

You can, when there's an actual need?

[ninjayeehaw]

"Y'all considered goin' back an' apologisin'? Explainin' t'her that y'all ain't her proper man."

[triggerhappytraitor]

It's barely been 10 minutes, Kinji, he hasn't considered much of anything.

He ran a hand through his hair, looking lost and frustrated. "Is there a way to do that, that won't just make things worse...?"

[ninjayeehaw]

"Ain't sure how y'all can get anythin' much worse outta leggin' it from someone who y'all know thinks you look like her dead boyfriend." He sits back up, and gives Tachibana a sympathetic look. "Maybe try the truth. Tell her sorry, first 'f all, an' even if y'all ain't the one she remembers, maybe y'all can help her somehow."

[triggerhappytraitor]

His hands move to his face, half hiding his grimace. That was exactly what he had done...

He lets out a slow breath, leaning back against the couch again. "I need to find out what happened...."