Post-Once Upon PSL Post

[gemuinemanagement]

[Welcome to Azakawa.

It's a small village tucked away in the mountains. There's really nothing particularly notable about it, except maybe for the more spiritually sensitive who will hear the hate and resentment coming from the spirits of the forest if they get near. (But Suga will tell you not to get near.)

The museum is usually near-empty save for Suga and C-ta, and sometimes Pericles if he's visiting. Suga will foist glowstone charms off on anyone who visits - he has enough to spare and he's happy to finally be able to do something to protect his friends. You can read about the history of the village and the Kotori Obake.

Every now and then you'll overhear something unpleasant - like a village official telling Suga to give up on his superstitious nonsense and let the museum be torn down already, it's not his problem that Suga is too creepy to get another job. Suga seems entirely used to this kind of treatment.

It's not a big deal. He has friends here now, and he's happy. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks of him.]

Comments

[mearry]

…

[ well.

yuuta’s not going to start this conversation, especially now that he looks only moderately shaken up by things. he’ll step away from suga, with the intention of quite literally walking away if he is allowed to. ]

[gemuinemanagement]

Yuuta.

[He absolutely is not allowed to.]

What did I tell you to absolutely never do under any circumstances?

[mearry]

—!!

[ he jolts in surprise, gritting his teeth. ]

You don’t have to treat me like I’m a child, Koutarou. You know that took longer than usual.

[gemuinemanagement]

I know it did.

But why did you think you going into the forest wasn't going to make things worse?

[mearry]

I…

[ he pales at that.

he didn’t think. that’s why.

but the realization only riles yuuta further, feeling the anger boiling in his chest. ]

And what am I supposed to do, Koutarou? Sit here and wait!?

[gemuinemanagement]

Distract yourself somehow. Visit Pericles or Nageki or Riku. Do whatever you need to that won't lead to me finding your corpse.

[mearry]

[ again, another great point made. of course suga would not want him to risk his life. but— ]

And what if I find yours, huh!? What if I find out that you died for a village that will never even so much as thank you!? I can’t—I can’t bring you to life again, Koutarou!

[gemuinemanagement]

Most spirits can't even touch me, Yuuta. I have a weapon specifically designed for taking them out. I am the most qualified person to go there on a rescue mission. The worst that will happen is that I'm too late to save a child - or to save you.

How do you think I felt, hearing that they had found you? Hearing what they planned to do to you?

[mearry]

…

[ well that… takes the wind out of his sails completely. he looks shocked, like he absolutely did not expect to be told that.

… ]

I see. [ his voice is quiet. a small part of him wonders what they said. the rest would rather not find out. ] I’m sorry.

[gemuinemanagement]

[That face drains most of the anger from Suga. He approaches Yuuta, hesitating for a moment before clinging to him in a tight hug.]

I can't lose you. If you died trying to help me... I would never forgive myself. Never.

[mearry]

[ the hug is nice. it helps ground him a little more, and yuuta holds him back tightly, his hands trembling slightly. ]

It’s… it’s not your fault… [ he shakes his head. ] It’s okay. I’m fine.

[gemuinemanagement]

...You don't have to be fine. If you're scared, or hurt, that's okay. You can tell me.

[mearry]

[ … ]

Isn’t it a little dumb to be afraid of something I can’t even see?

[gemuinemanagement]

No? It's pretty sensible if that thing can still hurt you.

[Which it definitely could have - the shattered pendant is proof that it almost did.]

[mearry]

[ it’s sensible, isn’t it? and yet yuuta feels like an idiot for feeling afraid of them. but it’s not just them, but also about the memories the incident uncovered; both of the place they had come from and of the demise game.

are a-ya, b-ko, and d-ne among those resentful spirits? would they curse him for what he did?

he shudders, taking in a shaky breath. ]

I just… I feel sick.

[gemuinemanagement]

[Gently, Suga rubs his shoulders. He doesn't know exactly what Yuuta's thinking, but...]

Lie down with me for a while.

[mearry]

[ he nods, reluctantly pulling himself away from suga.

he will hold his hand instead, letting himself be led. ]

[gemuinemanagement]

[Suga squeezes his hand, as much to reassure himself as to reassure Yuuta. He's here, he's safe.

He leads him to their bedroom and tugs him onto the bed, clinging to him once again.]

[mearry]

[ …

yuuta clings back, almost as if afraid that suga will be gone if he lets go. ]

Do you… do you think they hate me? For not dying with them?

[ his friends, he means. the ones he left behind. ]

[gemuinemanagement]

They don't.

[There's conviction in his voice.]

They're your friends. They wouldn't begrudge you surviving by a miracle.

[mearry]

...

[ well, at least one of them is sure of that. ]

I thought that...maybe we could have rescued them. Like...like if time had paused or something like that. But when we found out that time had passed I...had no choice but to accept it. They're probably dead by now.

[gemuinemanagement]

It was a good thought. I would've let them come here too.

[But that's not how things happened.]

[mearry]

Haha…that would’ve been something for sure. I’d say they’re not the type of people you should befriend, but… maybe you would have. You’ve made worse friends, I think.

[ alexei. no he’s not counting himself. ]

[gemuinemanagement]

[What did Alexei ever do to you.]

They're your friends, so I'd have liked to get to know them, at least.

[mearry]

[ make raven kill.

yuuta smiles wryly. ]

Well I didn’t know them much, aside from A-ya. And he is—was—a bit difficult for most to like, I guess.