[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]

"She's never been, in worlds I don't have an overlay in... Garren's world was the only one she had existed like that, and even there..." he trailed off, leaning back against the couch.

[ninjayeehaw]

When Tachibana leans back, Kinji leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees and looking back at his friend.

"Somethin's different here, then." If it wasn't already incredibly obvious. "But she's a Pillar, y'all said. Ain't that the role without any hope? That don't seem like her."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"It isn't, no..." Tachibana agreed, voice soft. "And Kenzaki's overlay is angry at the world, hurting and alone..."

He pressed his lips together a moment. "...The reason I don't have an overlay in this world... is that the me of this world doesn't exist in it, any longer...."

[ninjayeehaw]

Oh.

He actually sits up again in surprise and turns bodily to looks at Tachibana for a moment.

"Explains why the pair a' them're outta sorts," he agrees, slowly leaning forward again. "That's a hell 'f a thing fer 'em t'be dealin' with..."

[triggerhappytraitor]

Tachibana nodded unhappily. "Sayoko recognized me... and I think Kentrolite did as well..."

[ninjayeehaw]

He knots his fingers together loosely in his lap, looking up at the ceiling. "So y'ain't gonna go seein' 'em again?"

[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]

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."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"...probably..."

The admittance is small, pained and deeply regretful.

[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...."

[ninjayeehaw]

"Yeah, well. I don't reckon Kenzaki's gonna go helpin' y'all with that," he comments dryly. He'd only met the overlay briefly, but it had been memorable. "Which means y'all only got one option there."

[triggerhappytraitor]

Another long moment of quiet. "Kenzaki's overlay..." he trailed off a moment before giving a deep sigh. "He might explain. Likely will start yelling at me about things I should know," he added with a small, wry, if tired smile.

[ninjayeehaw]

"Don't sound any different from what y'all've told me 'bout the pair a' y'all back in yer world, then." He raises an eyebrow back at Tachibana. "Worst case scenario with him, he goes stormin' off an' y'all go back t'Sayoko anyhow."

[triggerhappytraitor]

"His overlays... are very much still him, in most ways," Tachibana nodded, leaning his head against the back of the couch to look up at the ceiling. There's still a very tight knot of emotion in his chest that he's trying to figure out how to undo, and for once, the restlessness that came with it isn't driving him back out into ill thought action.