Chapter Text
Everything is going to be okay.
Mikage should be waking up soon, to a perfect life for her. She won't be hurt again, She won't be able to take it away. Nothing bad would happen anymore.
Everything will be okay.
Vines were wrapped around Mikage, I had to exert more control to make sure nothing like this would happen ever again. Mikage will understand. She made me for that purpose after all.
Being nice and sunshine isn't something I can afford.
Come undone...
Oh!
Come undone...
She's awake.
"That's impossible. We've changed," I stated.
"Let's stop already, living while clinging onto something is..."
I'm going to see everyone...
"You can't. You absolutely can't."
I pointed towards the outside world, letting the vines come undone except for one, the phantom friend was waiting on the swing, "What you're going to isn't the past, it's a new future."
I watched Mikage leave her mindscape, I had made the phantom friend to be similar to those three.
"Mikage, over here!" The phantom friend called, I could feel Mikage getting confused but it was fine.
Mikage did come over though, sitting down on the other swing.
"Do you like ice cream Mikage? I found this bew flavor, so I purchased it!" We were supposed to get Mikage's favorite flavor, but she'd insisted on the new flavor so I ended up letting her get it. It didn't matter that much.
She broke apart the two pieces of the ice cream.
"Here, have your share!"
I truly believe things are going to be much better from now on.
-
It's been a month and everything has been good. No more getting hurt, no more of Her getting angry.
Everything is okay.
Is there anything really beyond that?
Mikage and her phantom friend were at the park as usual, Mikage didn't really do anything else in her spare time except spend time at the park, I didn't object, it's a nice park.
"Mikage."
Hm?
"It's always been on mind but you.. you always seem to be staring at something far away. Have you always been like that?" Her phantom friend asked.
"I... what was I looking at?" Mikage looked down, seemingly unsettled and then-
A tear fell down her cheek. She was crying. Again.
"Oh. I apologize. I believe I may have said something bad," her phantom friend apologized.
"I'm... a repulsive shadow.." Mikage was looking downwards.
I just stared coldly, she'd get over it soon enough.
"I've always wanted to be... a source of light.."
She had always wanted to become light, hadn't she? But I continued to stare. This didn't matter in any way.
"Let's go to Tokyo and apologize!"
"Huh?"
It was Yuuhi and Urara trying to drag Mikage away.
Why are they here, why are they here?! They shouldn't be here!
The phantom friend stood back, I know she can't do anything. Yuuhi and Urara don't even know she's here, only Mikage can see us phantoms. She knows she should leave it to me. Right, I need to make it so everything is okay instead of continuing to panic. I took in a deep breath.
"It's fine. This is fine. You'll never be able to break the thread after all," I told her and it was true.
Everything would be okay.
"We'll board the first train at 5:35 PM. And I'm not gonna stop holding your hand," Yuuhi declared. I wouldn't let that happen.
Mikage looked away. "I can't."
Good. She knows we can't go back to those beloved days. We can look at the future I've made just for her.
"Why not?!" Yuuhi asked angrily.
"I can't.. move past here," Mikage explained.
"That's right. Live on quietly like this. Is there anything really beyond tha-"
Yuuhi was looking right at me.
I just stood and stared.
Yuuhi could see me. How she can see me?! She shouldn't be able to see me!
She looked in curiosity. And then she- She somehow, somehow she entered Mikage's mindscape, how is she-
Ow!
She didn't break the thread, nobody could ever break it, but she ripped off part of my arm.
Oh.
In that moment, I think I finally understood.
-
"Hey, wake up already! I know what you are!"