[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

[vrepit_no]

Easy, Tachibana, easy... Where are you right now? We'll figure this out.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Home.

The garage.

[[The normal level of focus he has when talking on network is just simply not there. He's far more rattled than he'd like to be letting on.]]

[vrepit_no]

Stay there, okay? I'll be right there. Leave the door open for me?

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[There's no reply because he just nodded. Which doesn't really come across the network to well.

But his door is open, Garren fretting back and forth from it to the couch.]]

[vrepit_no]

[It doesn't take him long to get there, and he pauses just long enough to scoop Garren up and set him on his shoulder before coming to sit next to Tachibana.]

Hey. You're not alone, all right? We'll work through this together. Have you had anything to eat or drink yet?

[chalicejoker]

Are you still there with her?

[triggerhappytraitor]

... no.

...I teleported away.

[[and he sounds insanely guilty about that]]

[chalicejoker]

[He's already locking up the restaurant.]

Where are you now?

[triggerhappytraitor]

The garage.

[chalicejoker]

[Hajime doesn't answer that, pretty much because about fifteen seconds later, he and Ryo teleport in with a covered pot of oden.]

[summerorange]

Sayoko-san...!? Is she still with you?

[She's not sure if she should ask if this version of her is a fellow Rider...yet...but just the fact that he's talking on the Network alone is alarming enough]

[triggerhappytraitor]

No.

...I panicked and ran away.

[summerorange]

...Tachibana-san...

[She understands why he would panic. It's the 'running away' part that has some exasperation mixed into her concerned tone.]

Where are you now? And is your partner with you?

[triggerhappytraitor]

At the garage.

He was on my shoulders when I teleported.

[summerorange]

Good. We'll be there soon. Just...try and take deep breaths.

[She's already moving as she 'speaks' on the Network, her (normally tiny) partner fluttering alongside her.]

[photonicfighter]

She's here? Is she alright?

[No, no, that's not the thing to ask.]

Are you alright? Where are you?

[He is probably not alright. She needs to find him.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

... Pillars are people who've lost hope.

[[so to answer the first two questions... no. Not really.]]

[photonicfighter]

Oh.

[There's a brief silence as all of this processes. She has lost hope. She recognized Tachibana. This world must have had a Tachibana. So where was...]

Tachibana, where are you?

[It's gently insistent.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

Home.

The garage.

[ninjayeehaw]

Goddamn...

[That's a hell of a thing for Tachibana to have right now.]

Y'alright, Tachi?

[triggerhappytraitor]

... no.

[[That he's being honest about it speaks volumes in and of itself.]]

[ninjayeehaw]

[Well. Shit.]

Garage?

[Because Kinji knows Tachibana that well, at least.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

Yeah.

[awondrousplace]

[There is only the smallest of moments before a soft knock comes on Tachibana's door.]

It is only me, Tachibana. I have brought some tea for you.

[As usual, Helena will refuse to take no for an answer.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[He looks up, blinking a few times before giving a small nod]]

...thank you.

[[and he looks about as shell shocked and rattled as he sounded on the network.]]