Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kizuna Chieda is skipping rocks in the pond. It strikes Date as odd. Apparently she visits this park a fair bit, but...

Date walks up next to her and starts looking around for a nice flat rock.

"Um...is that you, Date?" she asks. "I almost didn't recognize you without..."

"I don't always like wearing that thing. Gives me terrible acne."

It's true, of course. But it's not the only reason. Easier to wear this face when he wants to fly under the radar.

"Oh. Okay," she responds. The next rock she throws gets three skips before sinking. Date finally finds one worth at least trying to skip. It just sinks instead.

"So, what brings you here?"

"...I met my soulmate," she answers. "And...I don’t know what to think about all of it. I need some time to think."

"That's fine," he says. "So, what are they like?"

"He’s...I dunno," she answers, moving around some of the stones with her feet. Probably trying to look for another. "That's the problem. We don't know each other well enough. And he’s four years older than me...it's not that much, but it feels like a chasm."

"I'm not with my soulmate," he says.

"Huh?" she asks.

"...Iris's mother is my soulmate," he says. "Or, well, was, I guess. She was meant for a different version of me. The me that's not me now."

"Ms. Sagan?!" Her jaw drops. "But...Iris said...she said her mom's boyfriend was back."

"We didn't stay together." Date sits down to continue the search for the next flattest rock. Kizuna sits down too, propping her chin up on one hand as she looks out towards the horizon.

"Oh," she says. "Is this the part where I say I'm sorry?"

He snorts. "I'm the one who broke up with her, so...there's no need for all of that."

"I...see," she says. "I don't know. I thought it would be perfect. I know it’s not that simple, but the more I tried to convince myself I didn't want one, the more I knew it was everything I wanted."

"For a while, I thought my soulmate was myself," he says. 

"How did that happen?" she asks.

"Long story." He waves his hand. "Lot of it's confidential. But it was nice to think I just had to be me. Now I know I can still just be me, without being beholden to someone else. And if I want to make that choice again, or maybe even choose someone else, I've got options. Don't forget that. Those Marks might be a guide, but they shouldn't take away your choice."

Kizuna picks at the end of her scarf. "I put off making the choice. In six years, I'll really have to face it again."

"What is it with six years?" Date asks, more so to himself than to her.

"It's a nice number," Kizuna answers. "Highly composite."

"Is that really it?" he asks. "What does that even mean?"

"It means it has more factors than the numbers below it," she answers. "Six is also a perfect number. And that one just means that if you add up its divisors, you get it again. One plus two plus three is six. It's the smallest number that's true for."

"Huh. Did you really pick it because of all that?" he asks. "I wouldn't have thought you were into math."

She shrugs. "Iris, Mame, and I might all be dancers, but we have other stuff we're into. Mame is really into economics. I prefer the theoretical side of math, though."

And he already knows about Iris. He should probably claim responsibility for that one. But it still feels like someone else's ghost, even if it's better now that he's had some time to adjust.

Having Aiba back has helped, too. She makes him feel like himself. Except, well...for all the issues they've been having recently between them.

"But no," Kizuna continues. "Six years will make me 24. That's a more reasonable age to get married, in my opinion."

Date shrugs. "Did you know that human brains supposedly aren't fully developed until 25?"

"It would...really suck to not be considered an adult until then," Kizuna answers. "People already think I can't make my own decisions enough as it is."

Date should probably re-evaluate how he's been treating Mizuki.

"I didn't meet Hitomi until I was in my 30s," he says.

That was another thing about this bodyswap thing. Saito had been twelve years younger, and damn if Date wasn't feeling it now.

"Why'd you...how did you stop being soulmates?" she asks.

He turns over the question. "I used to go by another name. That was the version of me she's soulmates with. But Date's not the name written on her, and by choosing to keep being Date..."

Kizuna frowns. "So she has your deadname?"

"I...guess you could say that, yeah," he says. It's not really...dead. He wouldn't call it that. It just isn't his identity anymore. Doesn't that term mean something else, anyways?

"It's nice that she's been so supportive of you." She plays with the rocks at her feet again. "Did you, um..."

"She wasn't pressuring me to be anyone but myself," he answers. "And if that guy plans to treat you right, then he shouldn't do that either."

"All my life, I've been hoping he'd be some kind of fairytale prince," she says. "But those aren't real, are they?"

"I was never really a believer," he admits. "But hey -- if you want to, give it a shot. You being soulmates doesn't mean it'll automatically work, but it also doesn't mean it's not worth trying. Sometimes shit just happens."

"My father doesn't like him much," Kizuna admits.

"Fuck his opinion," Date says. "Come on. You're eighteen. What kinda jurisdiction does he have over who you're dating?"

"...are you still gonna think that when Mizuki starts talking about dating?"

Date winces. The idea of Iris dating anyone feels weird, let alone Mizuki.

"That's what I thought," she answers. "Thanks, Date. I don't know what I'll end up doing, but...six years is a really long time. I'll be able to figure out if I think it's worth a shot then."

Kizuna walks away from the pond's edge. Mr. Date had been a little helpful, at least. He was trying to encourage her to think about what she wanted, rather than assuming what she wanted for her. And that's nice. It at least felt like he was really treating her concerns about all this as valid. And...she needs that.

Everyone needs validation, right? Everyone wants to feel like they're doing the right thing. And Date made it sound like the right decision was to wait, to see if she still wanted to give Lien the time of day six years in the future.

But everyone else there had treated it like a foregone conclusion. Like six years from now she'd dig up the time capsule and suddenly she'd change her mind and actually have feelings for him.

Date hadn't. Date wasn't with the person whose name was written on his skin, and he didn't feel pressured to be the name written on hers. He was...

Little Big Sis had always said he was lame, and Kizuna had been inclined to agree up until that conversation. He had actually been pretty...astute. And understanding. 

It's nice to know that fate doesn't always work out. Shouldn't it be the opposite? Shouldn't it be reassuring to have fate on her side, pushing her, making the decisions for her?

Maybe to someone else it'd be nice. In the park, it felt like fate was choking her, forcing the words out of her throat to hear him out. 

She's heard horror stories about soulmates whose relationship didn't work out. She hadn't met anyone who had met their soulmate, wasn't with them, and was happy.

And Date seems happy just as he is.

It's not everything. It doesn't have to be everything.

Chapter Text

Lien visits her in the hospital, before her father can blacklist him. It's sweet, how he'd gone to such lengths to rescue her, but she wonders -- would he have fallen for her at all if they weren't soulmates?

"I'm sorry," he says, eyes tearing up.

Kizuna can't even feel anything at the sight of him. The numbness in her legs has seemingly spread to her entire body. She says the thing that is proper, and thankfully, it's also true.

"It's not your fault," she says. She knows, at least, that it isn't Lien's fault she lost the usage of her legs. There are other people to blame for that.

"Kizzy, I..."

"Get out," she says. She can't take any more right now. She can't talk about what happened right now. She grips the edge of the bedsheet. "Leave me alone."

"If you need to talk, Kizzy, I'll always be there for you," he says before leaving.

Lien knows Kizzy's not feeling the best. He knows visiting her had been a risk. But he had to see her -- had to tell her sorry for not doing more. Sorry for not being there for her. Sorry for not reacting sooner. Sorry that he couldn't have died for her instead.

He bumps into someone on the way out of the hospital. He sort of thinks he's seen her before somewhere, but can't place what her name could be.

"Do you know where Kizuna Chieda's room is?" she asks.

"Just down the hall," he answers. "I don't think she really wants visitors, though. She told me to leave her alone."

"You know her?" the stranger asks.

"I'm..." He pauses. "A friend of Date's. I was there when it happened."

For some reason, he doesn't mention the fact that they’re soulmates. It feels tactless, and full of implications to a stranger that he wishes were correct but aren't right now.

"Oh," she says. "I'm Hitomi Sagan. Iris's mother?"

Oh.

"Lien Twining," he tells her in return. "It's nice to meet you."

"We should probably stop blocking the hallway." She offers him a smile. "Want to get something from the hospital cafeteria?"

For some reason, he finds himself agreeing.

Hitomi has barely heard anything about the incident since it happened -- only the bare bones. Kizuna's kidnapping, the explosion, Mizuki losing her eye, and Date...

And Date's disappearance.

Kuruto Ryuki had been tight-lipped in the aftermath, and she hadn't wanted to ask Mizuki, who herself had gone through a lot up to this point. Meeting Lien in the hallway on her way to visit Kizuna had been a lucky break -- the first one in a while.

"I just visited Mizuki," she says. "She didn't say anyone else had come by."

"I was thinking about dropping by her room after," Lien responds, gripping the cardboard coffee cup tightly. "I wanted to see Kizzy first."

"You’re a friend of hers, too?" she asks, based on the usage of Iris's nickname for Kizuna.

"Uh..." He sips his coffee. "We met a couple days before it happened. I'm her soulmate."

What?

"Just how old are you?" she asks.

Because...Hitomi knows Manaka wasn't soulmates with him, but that wasn't the reason their relationship didn't work.

"Twenty-two?" he answers. 

She breathes a mental sigh of relief. If it had been someone her age or older, soulmates or not, she would be the first to keep him the hell away from Kizuna.

"And we're holding off on stuff anyways," he continues, sounding nervous. "I was prepared to jump right in, but she wasn't as into it. So we agreed to wait. We buried a little, uh, time capsule, I think they called it...to see if things are gonna change. I'm willing to wait six years for my Kizzy, if I have to." He reaches for a spot on his upper arm (probably where his Mark is). "I'll prove just how much I meant it when I told her I want us to last forever. Not just 'cause we're soulmates. She...I think she could really push me to be better."

Hitomi pushes around her salad with her fork. It had been the most palatable of the selection, but that doesn't mean it was terribly appealing.

"Do you think Date is dead?" she asks.

"I dunno," he answers. "I mean, they looked around for the body, right? And they never found it."

"It might," she answers. "It could also mean..."

Total destruction. His body torn apart so much that it couldn't be identified. 

"I don't think that happened," he says. He says it with confidence, at least. "Date’s missing, not dead. He'll come back."

But will he still be Date afterwards?

How many times can he go through being broken and returning again?

"Do you know what kintsugi is, Lien?" she asks.

He rubs the back of his neck. "Rings a bell, but I couldn't tell you what it means."

"What do you do when you break something ceramic?" she asks.

He shrugs. "I wouldn't know. All my stuff's plastic or metal."

Hitomi sighs. "It depends on the pieces it was broken into, yes?"

"I guess," he says. "If it was totally broken up, I'd probably just sweep it up and toss it. If it split in half I might try to glue it back together or something."

"But it'd have a weakness where it was broken," she says. "If you dropped it again, it would probably break along the same lines. Yes?"

"Makes sense to me," he answers. "Once you've worked out a weakness, it's gonna be easier to find the next time."

"Kintsugi is a specific method of repairing broken ceramics," she explains. "It fills the cracks in with gold so that they’re embraced and enjoyed, rather than hidden like gluing the pieces together would make it. It's a way of making art from destruction."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"How much do you know about Date's past?" Hitomi asks.

Lien shrugs. "Guy comes across like an open book, but he doesn't talk much about himself."

"He'd probably say that's what happened to him," she says, listlessly continuing to toss her salad with her fork. The dressing really doesn't need further incorporation. "The first time he broke, he came back different. If he's broken again now...what will he become when he's repaired?"

And how many breaks will it take until he's more repair than ceramic?

"Are you his..."

"Unreciprocated," she answers. Which conveys a different meaning than how Lien will likely take it -- that she has his but he doesn't have hers, when it's the other way around. "We weren't anything before this latest incident."

"I'm sorry," he says. "About the incident, and that..."

"It could've been," she says. "It might have, even, under different circumstances."

If Falco had told her about the hit placed on her, could they have figured something out, something that didn't involve body-swapping and getting shot? Would they have made it in the end, her and him and Iris as one happy family?

"I do still want that sometimes," she says. "But I can live without it." She looks up. "What happens if after you wait, she says no?"

He seems stricken, as though the possibility hadn't even occurred to him. 

"I suggest figuring that out," she says. "Because you must be able to live without them."

"Isn't your soulmate supposed to be your other half?"

She might have once thought that when she was a teenager, but she's not nearly that much of an idealist anymore.

"Is that a good thing?" she asks in response.

"That's the way it is, yeah?"

"It doesn't have to be. And even if it did...just because something is how things are doesn't mean that's how it should be."

"Maybe you're right when it comes to you. But...I gotta be part of something, y'know?" He takes a drink of his coffee, and sets down it back down on the table. The hollow noise it makes when it lands indicates that it's empty.

"It's not easy," she agrees, cautiously. "When I was growing up, I had a couple best friends."

Both of them are dead now.

"We told each other everything. It was about...like you said. Being part of something. And then one of us died, and the rest of us fell apart. We were still together, but it wasn't the same without her. And around that time I had to take care of Iris, and we drifted apart at a time when I still had to take care of a newborn baby on my own. I had to shape up and figure out who I was without them." She taps her fingers on the table. "And I managed. So by the time I first met...Date, I had a strong sense of who I was when I was on my own. You're young. So is she. It would be easy for either of you to lose yourselves, considering you haven't figured it out yet."

"I don't mind losing myself if it's with her," he answers. "I never really knew what I wanted. Even before I knew she was my soulmate, I knew she was special. I was kinda just...getting by before. She makes me want to do more. Want to be someone worthy of her." He offers her a sheepish smile. "Is that really so bad?"

"She can be a part of you," she agrees. "But you won't be happy if you mold yourself into anyone but you."

"I think I got it now," Lien says. He gets up. "I'll let you know if I hear anything about Date. It was nice talkin' to you."

"Thank you," she answers, still not entirely sure if he's taken her advice to heart.

Date's soulmate, huh? Not the kinda woman he'd think would have been made for Date, but he doesn't really get one-sided soulmates. Aren't soulmates supposed to fit together just right? Like...his mama used to tell him it was like a puzzle. Only one real solution to yours. 

How do you solve someone's puzzle without anyone solving yours? It just doesn't make any damn sense.

He's just lucky he doesn't need to worry about all that. He's got Kizzy and Kizzy has him; everything's gonna work out just fine. Even if he has to wait for it.

"What happens if she says no?" Why should he even have to consider that?

Chapter Text

Kizuna feels numb, in more ways than one. She’s felt it ever since she woke up in the hospital bed unable to feel her own legs. She couldn't even muster panic about it, and she thinks that's worse.

Father constantly fusses over her as much as he can afford to; she doesn't have the heart to tell him that she doesn't really need all of that.

Lien doesn't visit again after she practically pushes him out of the room. She's not sure whether she should be grateful that he's actually respecting her boundaries or disappointed that he hasn't come back again.

Amame and Iris have come by a few times, and so has Ms. Sagan. Mame and Iris have brought her well-wishes from their classmates, and Ms. Sagan has brought her tips from physical therapy, on how to live without feeling limbs. Their conditions aren't the same, but it’s kinda helpful to know the world goes on.

Then there's the visit from a woman in a mask in the middle of the night. Kizuna thinks she might have been there on the day of the explosion too.

"Are you okay?" the woman asks.

Her voice sounds sorta familiar, now that they’re not in a high-pressure situation.

"I’ll call the nurses," Kizuna threatens. Her finger hovers over the call button, but she doesn't press it.

"Don't take this personally," the woman says. "You aren't the only one I'm here for."

"...Mizuki?" Kizuna asks, trying to figure out who else would be here that this woman would care about enough to break into the hospital for.

"You don't need to know that," she answers, the processor making her voice sound harsh. "Answer the question."

"I’m...okay," Kizuna answers, gathering her courage. "No thanks to you waking me up in the middle of the night."

That seems to give the woman pause. "I'm sorry. I won't bother you anymore."

She hears the woman mutter to herself about how she probably shouldn't have come to the hospital in the first place. Kizuna closes her eyes and tries to fall back asleep, allowing the woman the grace she needs to escape without saying goodbye.

And that pretty much marks everyone. Gen comes in once, clearly at Amame's behest based on the fact that it's during peak Sunfish Pocket hours and he’s carrying with him a card from one of her teachers at Sekiba.

A police officer comes in to take a statement, too, when they think she’s recovered enough to give reliable testimony about her kidnapping. She tells them that she never saw the man underneath the mask claiming to be Tearer, and she knows the case will go cold.

She can't bring herself to care about whether that guy faces justice or not at this point. Putting him in jail won't fix the fact that she’s paralyzed.

Paralyzed, paralyzed, paralyzed. Nobody ever wants to say that to her face. They all just talk about its effects on her, and somehow it's worse to hear that she's never going to walk again than it is to hear that she's paralyzed. It should be harder to hear that than it is to hear the physical effects it's having on her, but...it just all really sucks.

She's never going to dance again. She wonders if that makes Father happy. She knows he had expressed some support, but if he really cared about her desire to join Iris in the world of being an idol...he's one of the richest men in Japan. She's sure he could have found her some talent agency that met his standards, but he never did. Booking her that recording studio so she could record a two-minute ditty she wrote with her friends was a birthday present for her eighteenth, and she thinks she understands now. A little indulgence of her dreams, so she can come back down to earth and do...whatever he wants her to do.

Find her soulmate. Get married to him. Become a housewife or something. Father doesn't know he had chased off her actual soulmate -- the Marks show up during puberty, and hers sits in a place she can only see with her shirt off looking in the mirror. He thought Lien was exaggerating.

The spread for when people meet their soulmates is all over the place. Kizuna looked up the statistics on her phone the day before she got kidnapped. She's on the younger side of the curve, but there are people who meet their soulmates before they even develop Marks for each other. Kizuna wonders what it would be like -- if it would feel suffocating to be stuck with that person forever, or if it'd be a sense of relief to those pairs of childhood friends already in love.

God. The rest of her life.

That's the one thing both the situations she's in have in common: they're permanent, not going anywhere ever. There's no cure that will fix her, and there's nothing that will erase the Mark on her skin. It was nice to hear about Date rejecting his soulmate, but...well...

Maybe the fact that they were the ones affected most by the explosion means something. Maybe whatever higher power out there that connects the strings or whatever is punishing them for trying to push back against it.

I've got to break the chains of fate on my own. Yeah, right.

In the end, they're all just putty in the hands of fate.

"Quartz? What the hell are you doing here?"

How long has it been since Lien last saw her? Gotta be a...a while. She must be pretty close to finishing high school, isn't she? They all knew she was a kid when she fell in with them. She kinda looks the part, right now. Though that probably comes down to the way her hair's styled.

...and she has both eyes. That's new. She'd always worn a patch before.

"I could say the same to you," she answers, snappy as ever. "Wait. Hold on. I had something else to say to you. What the hell are you doing with Kizuna?"

"Um." Words are not his strong suit. "Nothing? Right now."

She sighs, clearly not happy with his answer.

"Hold on, how do you even know Kizzy? Do you go to the same school or something?" It's the only way things make sense -- he knows Kizzy hangs out with a blue-haired chick, but he's also pretty sure said blue-haired chick had pink streaks, and as far as he remembers Quartz was never the type to give a damn about looks. Or have the patience for hair dye.

"Yeah, we're both Sekiba students," Quartz answers, shrugging. "We look out for each other there. It was big gossip when she met her soulmate. Managed to track down the bastard, just to find it was you." She smiles at him. "So. I'm cool with you, but I don't like you more than Kizuna. If you fuck up more than you already have..." She draws a line across her throat, and makes a noise that sounds like she's being strangled. He gets the message.

He sticks his hands up. "This might be my first time on this end of things, but I get it. Wasn't me that hurt her."

But maybe, if she'd let him in, she wouldn't be hurting as bad.

Her face darkens. At least she’s not mad at him, because holy shit would that be terrifying otherwise. "Yeah. I know. That bastard Tearer's gonna get what's coming to him."

Lien nods. He couldn't agree more. He's gonna make damn sure it happens, for Kizzy and for Date.

"I can't be there for Kizuna," Quartz says, sounding sad about it. "It's better if we don't see each other again. So you’re just gonna have to be there for her extra hard, 'kay?"

"Hard to do that when she doesn't want me there," he mutters, mostly to himself.

"Aren't you supposed to be good at forcing your way into things?" she demands.

"Can't force a girl's heart open," he says, trying to smile at her and probably failing.

"Then don't try to get under her skirt," Quartz says. "Be her friend."

"It's not-- I'm not tryin' to take, uh, advantage of her," he says, well aware of the way the pitch of his voice is quickly rising. He clears his throat. "I can try to be her friend. But that only works if she wants that. It's a two-way street."

"Well, looks like you're learning from your fuck-ups," Quartz deadpans.

"Hey, Quartz," he says, 'cause at this point he might as well ask and he's pretty sure he won't see her again for a while, "what do you think 'bout soulmates?"

She makes a face. "It's complicated. Shit I can't explain. From when I was a little kid."

...but that's before people develop their Marks.

"Look, I don't wanna talk about it, okay?" she snaps. "I said what I had to say to you. I'd say see you around, but...I don't know."

She walks off without letting him get in a single word.

Chapter Text

Being Kizzy's friend is better than being nothing at all, so he takes Quartz's advice. But it's hard to know what exactly to do, even when she gets out of the hospital. Iris and Amame seem to do it without even trying, and he’s...just stuck on the outside.

Hey, there's an idea. He could chat with one of them. Gen's tight with Amame, isn't he? Maybe he should drop by Brahman.

Amame looks up from her homework. There's a guy sitting in front of her -- hold on, that's...Kizuna's soulmate? Ugh. Just because they were fated to be together the guy thought they had to be something.

Amame tugs her sleeve down. If she never has to look at the words again, it'll be too soon.

"What are you doing here?" she asks, trying to make the question sound a little less aggressive.

"I, uh..." He pauses. "You’re...Amame, right?"

"Yeah," she says, still wary. "I never caught your name."

"Lien. It's nice to meet you," he says. Is it just her, or does he sound nervous too?

What the hell does he have to be nervous about?

"What are you here for?" she asks.

"I need some help," he admits. "I've been worried about Kizzy, but..."

"If she doesn't want to see you, you should leave her alone," Amame says, turning back to her homework. 

"I don't think she should be alone," he says. "Have you guys had any luck?"

Amame shrugs, continuing to scribble at her work. "We're from dance club. We probably remind her that she won't..."

"Oh." He frowns. "I thought you guys were like...besties." The word sounds really weird coming from him. When Iris says it, it doesn't sound as weird.

"Iris says that. She gets excited easily." Amame snorts. "But I like that about her."

If he can be chill about that...

"You seem a lot more..." He trails off, seeming like he doesn't know what to say next. Weird. He's a weirdo, and the creep who stalked Kizuna, and Amame has half a mind to ask Gen to throw him out on his ass, but she's pretty sure they're friends too, and she can be cruel but she's not cruel enough to make him choose. "Down to earth? Compared to Iris and Kizzy."

She snorts. "I work in food service. Kizuna's rich enough where she won't have to work a day in her life if she doesn't want to and Iris streams video games for a living."

"Hey, can't social media get pretty nasty?" he asks.

She rolls her eyes. "Come on. Iris has agents for that. And Ota, I guess." Does he even know who Ota is? She looks up at him. He seems a little confused, but...

"I thought Gen was the only person working here," he says. Huh. Not about Ota.

"Oh, no, I work somewhere else. Sunfish Pocket? The owner died a few months ago in a car accident?"

"Uh...yeah, that rings a bell. Isn't that a maid place?"

She heaves out a sigh. "Unfortunately."

"I left my last job 'cause it sucked," he says. "I mean, sure, it wasn't as shitty of a place as you're at. But...they're never as clean as they say they are, y'know?"

Something about the word "clean" pokes something in Amame's brain.

"They're a clean gang, Mame." Iris rolls her eyes. "You don't need to worry about me! I'll be fine."

"I'm sorry, are you trying to compare my working at a maid cafe to the fucking yakuza?"

"I-- how the hell did you figure that out?"

"Reminded me of something Iris said," she answers. It’s a good thing people tend to underestimate teenage girls; she won't have too much longer to take advantage of that propensity. Then again, she’s pretty sure Mr. Okiura only hired her because he thought she looked younger than the age she said she was, and clients love the jailbait look while knowing anything they do is perfectly legal. "Apparently the Kumakuras are big Tesa fans."

"Huh?" he asks.

"Tesa? A-set?" She scoffs.

"I followed Kizzy between locations once," he says. "I don't know everything there is to know about you guys!"

"That's Iris's handle," Amame explains, with all the weariness of someone much older. He nods, as though he's actually going to store that information in his brain somewhere.

Huh. Maybe there’s something salvageable in there. Maybe he's actually serious about the whole six-year courtship thing. Kizuna definitely wasn't, based on what she told them.

Amame thinks maybe she can shape him up. It's not like there's anyone else in either Kizuna or his lives that are actually up to the task -- Mr. Chieda, for a successful business man, is not very good at interpersonal affairs that don't involve business. And she doesn't think he has the patience to play the long game when it comes to Kizuna's welfare, which is fair enough.

But Amame's an expert at playing the long game, even when she doesn't want to. By the time Mizuki found out she'd been lying about her age when she was first hired, she was already eighteen, and there was no need to lie anymore. She could pick up as many hours as she wanted.

"I really do need your help," he says, picking back up the conversation. "How do I become Kizzy's friend?"

Maybe he is ready to play the long game with her. Not that he'll ever know, if all goes well. A six-year courtship means there's a time limit on this one, longer than any other con she's pulled so far.

Well. There's one she hopes will last much longer. But it hasn't been very long since she started lying about it, so she has no idea how long the deception will last. The rest of her life, if she’s lucky.

She takes out her cell phone, unlocks it, and slides over the new contact page to him.

"This Saturday, we begin," she says.

He takes it with all the gravity in the world, and punches in what she assumes is his name and phone number one keystroke at a time, typing like a goddamn grandma instead of a young adult.

When he finally passes the phone back to her, she nods with satisfaction, and immediately sends him a text with a mermaid emoji. Might as well stay on-brand, right?

A loud ding sounds from one of his pockets. He pulls out his cell phone (that case looks pretty sturdy) and nods, responding to the text with a lion emoji.

"I'll see you then," he says. "Where will we meet?"

"Outside Kizuna's house," she says. "I'll text you the address. We'll meet there at ten?"

"I don't think I'll be allowed in," he says, wary.

"Oh, don't worry," she says, hoping her smile is just the right balance between sincere and shark-like. "Let me do all the sweet talk."

Is that Mame talking to the intercom doorbell? Kizuna rolls over to the bell. Father isn't home, and she doesn't have anyone looking after her right now.

"Come on in," she says. She feels exhausted and not really in the mood for entertaining guests...but she kind of feels like she has to at this point.

She transfers from her wheelchair to her chair lift. It's not perfect, but at least it being installed means she can mostly get around the house by herself. Her electric chair stays downstairs, and she has a manual one upstairs.

She'll never be used to it, but this is the rest of her life. It’s still a little dizzying to think about. Sometimes she thinks she'd rather die than keep going like this, and that really terrifies her. Because she's not like that. She's not that girl. She has to be the same Kizuna as always. She has to show cheer and strength and whatever. The time for moping ended when she got out of the hospital. That's what's expected of her, right? To just...bounce back? Be an inspiration?

She brushes back her bangs from her face, transfers from one chair to another, and rolls for the front door. Amame's there, just on the other side, and standing behind her...of all people...is Lien.

"Why..." She trails off. Amame? Of all people? Befriending Lien? She can't tell which of them initiated it, which is...probably worse. "What are you two doing here?"

She doesn't mean to sound defensive. Lien still flinches like he's been burned.

"We're hanging out," Amame says. "I brought my Flip." She holds up the device in question. "We can hook it up to your TV. All three of us can play, I've got the extra controller in my bag. Then we're going out for lunch. And then we'll be out of your hair."

Kizuna prepares to step aside and let them in, only to realize in order to she has to roll her chair back. She does so, and the unlikely pair enter. Where did they even meet anyways? How do Amame and Lien know each other? The mystery's enough to keep going. She can ask over lunch, which means she'll have to tolerate their company until then.

Amame and Lien are already puzzling out cables for the large TV in the den.

"I'm gonna be honest, I don't know what half of these do," she hears Mame say.

"Don't ask me." Lien puts up his hands. "I'm kinda hopeless with tech stuff."

"I think it's the HDMI cable?" Kizuna offers as she rolls towards them, bringing her chair to as clean a stop as she can manage. "The...big one? Not the electric one, the flat one. It only has one, uh, output I guess."

Amame just passes her the pile wordlessly. Kizuna extracts the cable she thinks they need, detangling it from the others with as much care as she can, cautious of the other wires.

"Why did you bring all these?"

"I wasn't sure which one we needed," Amame admits. "This is actually Shoma's, I'm just borrowing it. And it's not like he told me much about how to actually use it, considering..."

"Mame! You didn't..."

She shrugs. "I paid for it. Well..." She frowns. "Dad helped. But I got most of it from tips. But technically, that gives me borrowing rights. I'll be giving it back when I get home -- I don't play that many video games off of my phone. Iris has been trying to get me into-- you know the one."

"The gacha rhythm game with the vocaloids?" Kizuna asks, because Iris had been trying to do the same before...the explosion. "I do."

"I started it, but I don't get why she's so invested." Mame looks between the two of them as though she’s said something she shouldn't have. "Don't tell her I said that." She winks, and Kizuna and Lien nod.

Amame's definitely planning something. What, Kizuna can't say for sure. Beyond the obvious.

As they start, she realizes: Lien...really sucks at video games.

Amame trounces them both, but Lien loses by a lot more. Kizuna didn't even know it was possible to suck that much.

"Wow," Amame says, looking at the results screen. "Even the computer managed to beat you."

"Let’s go for another round," Lien says, narrowing his eyes at the screen. "Now that I know how to play, I think I got this in the bag."

"If you say so," Amame says, though she doesn't sound very confident about it. Kizuna's not super sure either.

He comes in ahead of the computer, at least.

Lunch is fine, too. Kizuna asks them if they can get takeaway instead, and when Lien leaves to go grab it, she finally gets the chance to talk to Amame.

"Are you planning something?" she asks.

"He wants to be your friend," Amame answers. "He asked me for advice. I think he meant it."

"Oh." Kizuna frowns. "I'm not sure now's a good time."

"We're worried about you," Amame points out. "You've barely been talking to us."

"I'm fine," Kizuna responds. "I'll be fine. I don't need my friends bothering me all the time to be okay. After lunch, you need to leave."

"...okay," Amame says.

And Amame does take Lien with her and go. Kizuna's not sure whether she feels worse with them or without them.

Chapter Text

When Iris leaves the studio, she spots Ota talking to someone she vaguely recognizes but doesn't know the name of. Ota seems to know him, though, so he's probably fine. The question is why they're here at Lemniscate. Obviously, she knows why Ota's here. The other guy, though...

"Hey!" Iris says.

"Hey, Tesa!" Ota waves, bright as ever.

"Hi. Iris, right?" the guy asks. Her real name, so...what.

"Yep," she says. "Ota, you know this guy, right?"

"Oh, he's been a regular since the diner reopened," Ota answers. "This is Lien."

"You know Kizzy, right?" Iris asks, because the name does ring a bell...

"Yeah." Lien scratches the back of his neck. "We're soulmates."

Ohhhhhhh. That's where Iris has heard of him. "It's nice to meet you!" she tells him. 

"It's nice to meet you too," he says. Iris remembers something Mame texted her -- about playing along with being friends with him? Iris definitely won't be playing, in any case, but she doesn't remember all of it, and she can't check her phone right now anyways.

"Oh yeah," Ota says. "I remember now. Man, that feels like it happened forever ago...so much happened since then."

"I thought you just saw her the other day." Iris frowns. "You don't need to ask me how she's doing. Besides, I don't see her as much as Mom does."

"...your mother?" Lien asks.

"I...think she’s helping Kizzy with her PT?" she answers. "'Cause she's got some experience handling the doctors and stuff. And Kizzy trusts her." She doesn't want to tell someone she doesn't know very well about just how personal that experience is.

Lien nods.

"Um...so what are you doing here?" Iris asks, after a moment of awkward silence. 

"I wanted to talk to you," Lien says. "In private."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Ota says. "I'm not letting Tesa go off with some guy! Even if I do know him!"

"Ota..."

"Do you really think I'd betray Kizzy like that?" Lien asks.

"Uh..." Ota looks around. "No?"

"Then you can trust him, right?" Iris says, batting her eyes. Ota's never been able to resist that.

"I don't like it, but..." He looks between the two of them. "Okay."

And he leaves, just like that.

"So, uh, is there a deal there?" Lien asks.

"He's a big fan. He's been defending me since my debut," she says. "I don't think he actually wants to date me. Or that he'd be happy doing that. I don't know I'd be, either, but that's for another reason." As a public figure, she’s got a reputation to uphold.

"You...seem to be doing okay," he says. "Despite Date..."

Oh.

"I think he's still alive," she says. "He came back to me once! I think he'll do it again."

The smile he responds with doesn't quite reach his eyes. "Your mom told me something like that a while ago."

Mom's not quite as optimistic. But Iris didn't beat brain cancer by being a pessimist!

Wait.

"When did you talk to Mom?"

"Not long after...the explosion," he says. "Bumped into her at the hospital. I was there, so she asked me about Date."

"Oh, right," she says. "We should probably head somewhere else to talk, I try to keep my personal life separate from...this." She gestures around.

"My bike's parked around the corner," he offers. "I grabbed a second helmet just in case."

Oh, Mom is going to kill them.

Then again, Mom doesn't need to know, does she?

"Smart," she says. "I've always wanted to ride on a bike!"

He drives them to Yoyagi Park. Iris seems to be having the time of her life behind him. She's a lot less...serious than either Kizuna or Amame, at least on the surface.

"So!" She claps her hands. "What’s up?"

"I...want to be Kizzy's friend," he says. "I want to be able to be there for her. She needs someone. She needs her friends right now. And I need to be one of them. It doesn't matter as much now -- what she needs isn't a soulmate, what she needs is a friend."

Anything else can come later. She had said when they first met that she was willing to be just his friend, and it was the "just" part that stung most. He can be patient. What she needs right now is some loyal friends by her side, and it'd be nice to be one of them.

Iris nods. "I see. I guess the way we met is kinda out of the question now...I don't think Kizzy really wants to be taken dancing right now. But she needs to have fun!"

"Right," he says. Dance club. Hadn't Amame mentioned something like that too? "Does she...what else does she do for fun?"

"Um..." Iris spends a little bit thinking. "She really likes fairytales. You probably knew that already, though. I think she'd appreciate having someone to tell stories to. She and I used to rapid-fire random story bits at each other -- she'd tell me about King Arthur or something and I'd talk to her about Anubis."

"That makes sense, yeah," he says. He knows about Cinderella -- he still doesn't really get why she's connected with a rags-to-riches tale when she's already rich, but he's not going to deny it's romantic. "I don't know how that really helps me, though...I don't know what I can do for her."

"Being there is the most important part," Iris says. "Proximity is the key to friendship. Show her you care. I heard somewhere that to really become friends with them you have to hang out a lot. Do something you think you'll have fun with, but, uh, not too romantic, I guess?"

It's strange to be soulmates and not lovers. But that's less important than Kizuna herself. Her happiness is more important than their relationship.

"What do you think about soulmates?" he asks, just because he doesn't think he'll be able to get anything else from her.

"Um, I haven't met mine yet," she says. "I used to be really into them, but then..." She shrugs. "I changed my mind. I'll just take life as it comes. I fall in love with the people I want. And right now...they might not be my soulmate, but that doesn't change that I love them. Even though I haven't really said anything yet..." She sighs. "I don't know. Dating isn't going to be easy for me. Especially once I make it big. Whether the person I'm with is my soulmate or not."

"Shouldn't it be easier to be with your soulmate?" he asks.

"Easier than with anyone else, sure, but..." She trails off. "We're not close enough for me to explain that to you."

He shrugs. "Okay. That's fine. Want me to drive you home? I think we're good for today."

"Sure," she answers. "I'll give you directions."

Chapter Text

Kizuna never speaks with her in the car. She rarely speaks at all, except to the physical therapist.

"Are you her mother?" Dr. Nakamura asks her after the appointment is concluded. Kizuna is waiting outside the room.

"No, just a family friend," she answers. "She asked me to be there with her for moral support. I have some experience in these matters, since the nerves in my right arm are no longer functional."

"How long?"

"Just over six years," she answers. "I've lived with it for some time, and I believe I'm the only physically disabled person in Kizuna's life at the moment, so I'm in a good position to help her."

"That's rather admirable of you," he says, adjusting his glasses. "I ask because I have concerns about Kizuna's mental health. I'm not precisely qualified to make that assessment myself, but..."

"I'll talk to her father," she says, but she doubts Riichi will be easily persuaded. 

"That's all I can ask," he responds.

Kizuna doesn't really understand the point of all this. It isn't as though she’s ever going to walk again. Why treat it as though she’s capable of healing?

At least Ms. Sagan is nice about it. She doesn't walk on eggshells around Kizuna, not like everyone else does. Even Amame and Iris still sometimes look at her like they're pitying her, and she doesn't like it. She doesn't like what she's become, but she doesn't like being noticed and pitied for it. It's probably because of her arm. Kizuna doesn't know the story -- just that it happened.

"Thank you," she says when they arrive back at her house. Ms. Sagan inputs the gate code, and they roll into the driveway. The gate swings shut behind them.

"Of course. It's a pleasure," she answers. "Dr. Nakamura spoke with me after your appointment. He's worried about you. If you need someone to talk to...I'm here for you."

What can she even say? She'll never have her life back. Things are never going to be the same.

"I'm fine," she says.

"Do you want to hear how I lost the nerves in my arm?" Ms. Sagan asks.

"Huh?"

"I was shot trying to protect someone I loved." She looks up into the rearview mirror. Kizuna looks down. "I...don't exactly regret it. I'd still take a bullet for him. But for a long time I did miss the use of my arm. My lack of regrets didn't change that. And I'm certain it can't be any easier for you, considering it wasn't your fault at all."

"What do you want from me?" Kizuna lifts her legs up to curl into a ball -- she can't even do that normally; they’re just dead weight now.

"I want you to be happy, Kizuna."

She doesn't know how to be happy anymore. Not beyond brief fleeting moments.

"It won’t be easy, and it's foolish to pretend that it will be," Ms. Sagan continues. "Things like this change people. It's okay if you aren't the same. We all just want you to be happy."

"What does that even mean?" Kizuna asks.

"I can't tell you what happiness means. You have to find that out for yourself."

It's exhausting. The thought of spending the rest of her life like this sucks, but the thought of trying to change it is worse.

"Can I leave?" She'll need help to get out of the car. She lets go of herself and prepares to get out of the car. Her big chair doesn't fit in Ms. Sagan's vehicle, but that's what her smaller foldable one is for.

"Certainly." Ms. Sagan opens up her door and then opens up the trunk. Kizuna opens her door. "I don't want you to feel trapped here."

Not wanting something to happen doesn't mean it won't.

Yoyagi Park is quiet. Kizuna wheels her chair to the boardwalk by the fountain. It's her place, at least. This hasn't been taken from her. The sound of the water still soothes her-- who's humming?

Iris is skipping across the boards casually. Kizuna can't tell if it's on purpose or not.

"Oh! Hey, Kizzy." Iris stops short of where she has her chair parked. It takes up most of the path, so...

"Did you come here on purpose?" she asks.

"I thought I could probably find you here, 'cause you're here all the time."

"I thought your mom might've sent you," Kizuna mutters.

"Mom? Did something happen?"

"She tried to talk to me after my last appointment." Kizuna looks out at the water. "Everyone's worried about me, but nobody actually ever listens to me when I talk about why things suck."

"What'd she say?" Iris sits down on the ground next to her.

"She said that you guys all just wanted me to be happy," Kizuna answers. "But I don't know what that means."

"I heard once that happiness tends to be closer than you think." Iris props her chin up on one hand. "And that it's in the pursuit of happiness in the first place that we find it."

"Where'd you get that one from?"

"So you haven't seen all my streams, then," Iris teases.

Oh. It's a quote from a game or something? Huh.

"I'm not certain I agree, though," Kizuna says. "You can be looking for happiness and still be unhappy. If you're looking for it, then that means you aren't happy yet..."

Iris shrugs. "Maybe if you're looking for it, you could have found it without realizing. I think that's what it means. You just can't give up looking."

"Easy for you to say," Kizuna mutters.

"It's true, though! There was a time where I might have considered giving up -- do you remember last January? It turns out that I actually had brain cancer."

"What?" Brain cancer? That was why she collapsed?

"I'm fine with talking about it now, since it got fixed," Iris explains. "They thought it was terminal. And if I gave up, it might have been true. That's why I really wrote Invincible Rainbow Arrow. 'Cause for months I thought I was gonna die. But I couldn't stop hoping. And now I'm cancer-free!"

"That's good," Kizuna answers. She’s still reeling from the fact that Iris had brain cancer and didn't tell any of them about it.

And there still isn't a cure for Kizuna, anything that's going to fix her. What's the point of living like this when she's lost everything worth living for?

"I think you'll find it," Iris says.

"What’s the point, though?" she finally asks. "What do I have to be hopeful for? Nothing is going to change. It's always going to be like this for me. You could hold out hope for a cure, but there isn't anything there for me."

"I can't answer that for you," Iris says. "You don't have to fake being happy just because everyone says you should be, but we want you to really be happy. No matter what that takes. It's probably not super helpful to hear that, though. I think there's a point to life no matter what. You just have to find your own point." She rises to her feet. "I'll catch you around, 'kay?"

Kizuna gazes out at the water as Iris walks off.

Chapter Text

Shoma sits down on the couch. Some part of Mizuki still thinks it's Date's. He grips the strap of his bag.

"Thanks for letting me crash here. You're sure, uh, Date's partner is fine with this?"

"Yeah, for now," she answers.

"I am still going to be here to supervise, after all," Aiba tells her. "I still find this entirely inadvisable."

"What are we gonna do?" He looks down. "Mom's an asshole, Mame's still trying her best not to lose anything else, and you're the only person I know that really has my back."

She looks down.

Shoma lost Komeji. She lost Date. 

She has Aiba. Shoma...

"Did something happen with Mame?"

"She just isn't around that much," he answers. "Between work and school and everything...she's still trying to settle Dad's debts." There’s an edge of anger in there. She understands. In exchange for Aiba staying with her, she'll have to work for ABIS as soon as she's old enough. Settling debts. If one Date is gone, another should be a good replacement, right?

"Well." She gestures around. "Here it is. You're okay with the couch, right? Date and I were shopping for a better one, but we didn't find it before..."

"It's fine," Shoma answers. His bag makes a thumping sound as it hits the ground. "See?"

Mizuki takes a deep breath. "Yeah. I see." She turns to rummage through the CDs for anything good. They're mostly Lemniscate idol CDs she's gotten for free and Date's dad-rock. She doesn't think she can take being reminded of him, so she grabs one of the Lemniscate releases randomly and pops it into the stereo system.

"You have a good sound system," Shoma says.

"Yeah," Mizuki says, looking at the speaker. "Date, uh...he valued that a lot. Not much of a TV guy."

"What'd you watch, then?" His headphones are down.

"Dad paid for my Netflix," she answers, "and now that I have his money, I keep the subscription going. He...pretty much gave me whatever I asked for."

Terse text messages are all she has left of him. She brushes over her phone in her pocket. For better or for worse, some part of her is never going to stop being an Okiura.

"Oh," he says.

Three parents in the grave. "Maybe I'm just cursed," she tells Aiba.

"I don't believe you are," Aiba answers. "What brought on this line of thinking?"

"It's only been a few months," she answers. "And all of them are dead."

"Mizuki...even if curses did exist, it would not be your fault." Aiba sighs in her head. "I wish I could hear your thoughts again. I am not used to it being so silent."

Oh. Was that what it was like with Date? Having that connection broken could explain why they got so much snippier with each other. 

"You’re doing okay, right?" she asks.

"I am adequate," Aiba answers. "My systems are operating at peak efficiency. I have had more than ample time to adjust to the new system."

Really? Because it doesn't seem like it. But she knows better than to let Aiba hear that thought. Maybe she should be grateful Aiba isn't telepathic anymore.

"What do you think we should do about this?" Because Aiba's right. This isn't a permanent solution. Ms. Doi is probably going to get angry, and-- did he even tell Amame where he went?

"I would suggest contacting some trusted adults this week. Perhaps Gen would be willing to help. We know he is close to Amame, and would likely have no issue helping Shoma."

Mizuki sighs, out loud now.

"Mizuki?" Shoma asks.

"They know you're here, right?" she asks. "They're not going to think you ran off?"

"I texted Mame," he answers dismissively. "And obviously, I didn't mention that Date's partner was finding somewhere else to stay while I was here."

"Right." And Mizuki won't mention that somewhere else is her left eye socket, and that said partner will still be supervising them. Normal people aren't supposed to know that Aiba exists. She takes out her phone. "Feel free to do whatever, but do not under ANY circumstances touch my clione. Wi-Fi password is written down on a sticky note behind the monitor of Date's computer. I have a meeting to head to. I'll get dinner on the way back."

She needs to get out. It doesn't really matter where. But she doesn't actually have a meeting.

It's official: Lien is having the worst month of his life. He groans at the Rent Overdue notice. He doesn’t have enough saved up, he can't ask for more, and he doesn’t have enough time to figure out what the hell comes next.

Being homeless is the worst.

But that's when Mizuki calls.

"What’s up?"

"So you know how Komeji was divorced, right?"

Lien removes the phone from by his ear to stare at it in disbelief.

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"His kid can't stay with his mom. There's a reason he was living with Komeji. He's been crashing with me for the last few days, but the person who's been watching me has said she can't let him stay forever."

"Now's not a great time." He thinks about his overdue rent again. He can't take another person in his place right now. "I can't afford to be taking care of someone else, too."

"Why not?" Mizuki asks. She sounds curious rather than snappy, like she genuinely wants to hear about what's stopping him, so he answers honestly.

"Rent's overdue," he admits. "I'll be kicked out if I don't pay up soon. Can't afford another mouth to feed."

Mizuki hums. "I think I might have a solution for you? I'll text you when I get some of the details figured out."

If that happens, she'll be a miracle worker. But he doesn't get to say that before she hangs up with a click.

When she's an adult, she'll be scary good at running her business.

Shoma looks down at the bag of takeout Mizuki's carried in.

"Having a guest for dinner," she says before he can ask. "But we should probably talk first. I came up with a plan, but it might not be the...greatest plan."

"What is it?"

"If an adult is at home with you, then you'll be able to be at home, right? I know someone who's having rent troubles. Maybe you both could stay at your old house? That way he doesn't have to worry as much about paying the rent, you don't have to worry about your stupid mom, and someone will still be living in your old house."

"I mean...Mom and Amame would have to be okay with it," Shoma says, "but if you really think it'll work, I...trust you."

It sounds like a pipe dream.

And then a buzz comes from near the door. Mizuki walks over to it. "Lien?" She hits a button. "Come on up."

"Okay, Lien, this is Shoma. Shoma, this is Lien." Mizuki gestures between the two, and then promptly starts sorting out the food.

Wait, Shoma? Like Amame's-younger-brother-Shoma? 

Shoma waves at him, dead-faced.

"Let me explain everything," Mizuki says, clasping her hands together. "Shoma has been living with his mom and older sister since Komeji died. That was his dad. Except the thing is: his mom sucks and didn't allow him to keep much of his stuff. It's all still at the house. Lien lost his job and has been trying to find work freelance, but hasn't gotten enough customers to pay the rent so far. I was thinking that, Lien, if you were willing to look after Shoma, you could both live in that house?"

...well, if he's going to keep trying to keep in Amame's good books, helping take care of her little brother is definitely going to put some major points in his favor. Plus, helping raise someone will help if he ever has kids of his own.

Jeez, when did he start thinking about that? He's never really thought about the responsibility before. Him and Gen always used to make fun of Date not calling a spade a spade when it came to him and Mizuki, but...well, even with Kizuna maybe in the picture, it hasn't crossed his mind. Maybe that's just because a lot's happened since then, though.

Shoma shrugs. "If that's possible, I'm cool with it."

"You’re a lifesaver, Mizuki," Lien says.

She rolls her eyes (eyes, because...is that Date's old prosthetic?). "I just needed to find a way out of this situation. It's not like Shoma can stay here forever."

Did he run from home or something? That explains the urgency. Mizuki had said Shoma was staying with her on the phone, but...

"And, uh, she’s fine with that?"

"Date's partner has been keeping an eye on us," Mizuki answers. "At least, as far as Shoma's mom is concerned. Which is good enough for us. And Date's partner helped me come up with this plan."

"When did you have time for that?" Shoma asks.

Mizuki winks, but doesn't say anything. 

"Sounds like a solid plan to me," Lien says. He's not sure how long it can last, but it'll have to at least last long enough for him to find a place for himself. "As long as you're okay with it, Shoma."

He shrugs. "Yeah. Whatever. It's cool."

Lien doesn't think he's felt this happy in...a long time. It doesn't beat meeting Kizzy, but...it's good.

Chapter Text

Kizuna's upcoming graduation just reminds her that she doesn't have any more plans for the future, that her university admission for performing arts is worthless now.

She's never really been like Iris. Iris had a mission when she became A-set. Kizuna never had any noble purpose or anything. She just likes to dance. Or at least she had. Before it was taken from her.

What is she going to do now? She's always going to be like this. There's not a future for her that involves the thing she loves most. The question is what's second-best, and she's never given anything else a second thought.

She feels stuck. Stuck in this useless body of hers, stuck in dreams that will never be real, stuck with herself.

"What would you be doing if you weren't a streamer?" Kizuna asks.

Iris shrugs. "I was thirteen when I decided. Before that I always wanted to dance. Maybe I would have followed in my mom's footsteps and taught it. Maybe I would have become a game developer. Maybe I would have decided to work at a non-profit."

"What kind?" Kizuna asks. She tries to picture it. She can't. She only met Iris after she became Tesa, after all.

Iris shrugs again. "Maybe a children's hospital. Maybe something for the animals. I don't know. I didn't think about it too much. Why?"

"Well...you know what it was like when I got in." Her face falls. "I won't be able to do any of that anymore. And I know what Dad thinks of people who don't try to make anything of themselves. I have to do something. And it hasn't been long enough for me to figure out what."

Serves her right for putting all her eggs in one basket.

"I think you'll figure it out," Iris says. "I believe in you!"

"Thanks."

Kizuna appreciates it, but it’s hard to have faith when there's so little worth having faith for.

Among the crowd of students, Kizuna feels incredibly out of place in her large wheelchair. She does, however, eventually get her diploma, and when the ceremony is done, she wheels out of the gym in as orderly of a fashion as they can collectively manage.

And that's when the celebrations begin. Kizuna grabs her phone -- she's received a text from Amame, saying that they’re all going to celebrate at Matsushita Diner.

Kizuna spots a flash of blue hair in the crowd. Is that...?

She tries to wheel after her. The girl turns back, probably at the sound of the wheelchair motor. And that's when Kizuna loses her in the crowd.

It's been so long since she saw Big Sis. She misses her. At least she seems to be doing well without Kizuna.

...even if that just makes her feel sore. Could she really have been forgotten? Left behind, as though that time mattered more to Kizuna than it did to her?

She shakes her head. No point in contemplating it further. She finds her father, at last.

"Father, Iris invited me to a graduation party," Kizuna says. "Her mother will also be there. It's being held at a restaurant owned by one of her friends. Would you like to come along?"

"Ah..." He looks down at his wristwatch. "I'm afraid I can't, sweetheart." He deposits a kiss atop her head. "But I'll take you out to dinner tonight, just the two of us. We'll make it a real celebration."

"Okay," she says. "Ms. Sagan will drop me off at home, so don't worry."

"Have fun. Don't come back too late." He pats her on the shoulder a couple times, then leaves.

Getting everyone piled into Ms. Sagan's car would be an ordeal of its own, if it weren't for the fact that Amame can and does drive. Kizuna's wheelchair won't fit, though, so she'll be with Iris and her mother.

Iris sits in the backseat with her instead. It feels oddly touching.

"I invited Lien. Is that okay?" Iris asks quietly. "He's been close with Amame and Shoma recently. I thought it'd be polite."

"That's fine," Kizuna answers, looking down at her feet.

"Hey," Iris says, maintaining the gentle tone. "Chin up! Right now we're celebrating, not moping."

"Yeah. Yeah, you're right." She's going to try to make the best of it.

They arrive at the party before Amame's car, but it takes a few minutes to get Kizuna into her chair, so by the time she's out of the car, the other three have arrived.

They enter the restaurant all together, Amame holding the door for all of them.

Ota and Lien are already there -- Ota behind the lunch counter, Lien sitting at one of the tables.

"Hey, Ota," Iris calls, "mind if we push a couple tables together?"

"Uh...go ahead."

Lien gets up and helps Iris and Mizuki push together a couple tables. Not that Mizuki especially really needs it -- Mizuki could probably pick up both her and her chair right now as-is. But now the low tables can fit everyone around them. Kizuna wheels herself to the place by the aisle, and maneuvers herself out of her chair to kneel on the floor like everyone else. It's arduous, but...huh, maybe the physical therapy is helping her. Mizuki claims the spot next to Iris, and Lien has a brief quiet conversation with Amame before sitting next to her. Shoma sits next to him, which is a bit of a surprise.

She looks over at Lien. This is where they first met. Strange how these things work out.

"Congratulations, you guys," he says to them. "Glad to be done?"

"Oh, you have no idea," Amame says. "So glad I won't have to juggle homework with regular work."

"Man, I remember those days," Lien says. "I wasn't exactly working above the table or anything in high school. Made my grades rough for a while. Bet the kid I was working with had it worse, though."

"You’re not off the hook for lying, by the way," Mizuki chides. "I get why you did it, but I really believed that."

"What?" Ms. Sagan asks.

"I told Mr. Okiura when he hired me that I was older than I was because I needed more hours," Amame says. "I'm not sure he believed me, but I am grateful he accepted it anyways. That helped me through a lot of tight places. But I'm also glad I don't have to pretend anymore."

"It wasn't a bad place to work," Iris muses. "I miss him."

Mizuki frowns.

"It's probably not a great time to discuss that stuff," Kizuna interjects, trying to bring the atmosphere up. "I mean, we're supposed to be partying, right?"

"That's right!" Ota calls from the kitchen. Kizuna can hear that something is sizzling in the pan. She wonders what he's making -- she is rather hungry.

"You have learned wisely," Iris intones to her. "You can now pass our knowledge forth...and spread the party spirit! Yeah!"

"You know, I think you undermined the whole teacher thing at the end there," Mizuki says. "With the cheering and all."

"It's a party, she can cheer if she wants," Shoma says, the first thing he's said since they walked in.

Ota walks in with a large platter of fried rice. "Order up!" The plate looks big enough for everyone, and is accompanied by a few large serving spoons so they can all dig up their own portions. Ota takes the seat next to Ms. Sagan, seeming visibly uncomfortable, but he leans over anyways to speak to Iris. "Congrats, Tesa! And you too, Kizuna and Mame."

"Thanks!" Iris responds brightly.

Amame's expression visibly darkens. "Thank you, Ota."

"Thanks," Kizuna faintly says. Everyone digs in to the food. She was hungry earlier, but she can hardly muster an appetite now.

Amame turns towards her. "You’re okay, right?"

"It...reminds me that I don't really have a future anymore," she admits. "I thought I was ready for anything, but...I hate being like this. I hate feeling like I can't do anything while the world turns around me. But the only thing I can think of that would help is a miracle. It's not going to happen. And without school, I can't even distract myself from it."

"I can help you search for jobs, if you'd like," Amame says. "Another time, maybe. Or another university program?"

"I...thanks, Mame," Kizuna says. She puts another spoonful in her mouth, chews, and swallows. "I'll probably accept your offer, but...I'll text you when I know for sure what I want."

"We've got your back," Lien says. "Trust me, I have plenty of tips for job applications."

She's a little skeptical of that, but...she's grateful for the support. It almost makes her believe that she actually has a future. Better than nothing. She smiles at him, and he smiles back.

Ota and Iris seem to be getting into a debate with Mizuki and Shoma about some RPG Kizuna thinks rings a bell but isn't entirely familiar with, but it sounds like Ota is just being Iris's cheerleader rather than supplying anything useful in the argument. She smiles to herself, too. This feels normal, at least, and she tries to bask in the warmth around her.

In the end, when everyone's finished dessert too, it's Mizuki that helps Kizuna back into her chair. The Sagans are waiting for her outside, and Shoma and Amame are paused near the door. Ota has already gone to the back, which leaves just the three of them.

Actually, two now.

"Hey, remember when we first met?" Lien asks.

"I couldn't forget," she answers softly.

"I fucked up," he says. She straightens up. What? "I shouldn't have done any of that shit. I just...I didn't want to lose my chance. It sounds kinda messed up now. I still think we fit together, but...I'm sorry. I was talking to your friends, and that gave me a wake-up call on just how badly I screwed up with you. I got so caught up in me that I forgot to really look at you." He makes eye contact with her. "But I'm looking now. If you don't want to see me again, I'll leave. But I want to try being your friend."

"Sure," she says. "Um. Apology accepted. Have a good evening." She wheels out the door to join the Sagans -- and Mizuki, apparently.

So much has been on her mind lately. It feels foreign that just a few weeks ago she was talking about soulmates with Date. But she does feel better now about that aspect of her future, at least -- even if everything else has been turned upside down and inside out.

Chapter Text

It shouldn't be weird to invite Kizuna out for his birthday, right? It's not like it'll be just him and her. That would definitely be awkward, if not outright weird. But other people are gonna be there. It's definitely already weird that he's throwing a party in someone else's house, but it is the house he lives in. Amame's already agreed to come. Gen is going to be there. He invited Quartz, but she's apparently busy with her job. Whatever that is. She hadn't answered when he asked.

Not weird. He texts her an invite. It's supposed to be pretty casual anyways. No big deal. He definitely doesn't spend the next hour checking his phone every five minutes until she texts him back. Ugh. He's been trying to stop hanging onto her every word. If she doesn't come to the party, it's not a big deal either. At least that's what he's trying to tell himself. And it's not like they haven't talked at all since he apologized to her. He sends her memes sometimes, and she's been trying to get him to play this rhythm game that her and Iris like by sending him screenshots. He's downloaded it, but he hasn't tried it yet or anything. He's been picking up more clients over the last few months -- he's slowly growing and developing his business. He even had to figure out how to make business cards. Shoma and Mizuki were both sitting behind him the entire time criticizing his attempts at graphic design. At least Shoma actually knew how to use the app Lien had been trying to figure out. Maybe he'll be able to start making more and saving up enough to find his own place -- though not before he's made sure Shoma's gonna be okay.

But when she does text him back, it's to answer that she would like to come. Phew. Another guest on his list. Hopefully she'll actually be able to hitch a ride or something.

On the day of the actual party, Mizuki is the first one to come in. He's seen it a few times before already, but he's still not used to her fake eye being the same color as Date's. It looks a little weird on her.

"Happy birthday," she says. She doesn't seem particularly enthusiastic as she passes him a small box.

"Thanks," he answers, clapping her on the shoulder. "I got snacks and stuff set out on the kotatsu."

"Cool," she answers, and immediately makes a beeline for it.

He hears knocking on the door as he sets down Mizuki's present.

"Hey, man!" Lien says. Gen ducks in through the door, just barely too tall for it. "How've you been?"

"Pretty good," he answers. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks," he answers. He grabs the present bag from Gen's hands.

"Don't set those with the other presents," Gen says. "Probably best to share them with everyone."

Lien peeks inside the bag. Inside is a box full of onigiri. "What kind?" he asks.

"Umeboshi," Gen answers.

Mmm. That does sound pretty good. "Thank you," he says. "I'm sure they'll love it."

Just Kizuna and Amame left. The two of them must be coming together. But when he hears another knock on his door, he's greeted by Amame, Kizuna, and Iris.

"Happy birthday!" Iris says first. "Sorry for showing up uninvited. I got you something?" She holds up a rectangular box, wrapped up in paper with little cartoon rainbows on it. "Mame told me, and I asked her if I could come as her plus-one. She said you probably wouldn't mind having me around too much."

Amame blushes. "I apologize for not informing you. Here. Happy birthday." She passes him a smaller box than Iris.

"Hey, Kizzy," he says. She wheels herself over the threshold after Amame and Iris. "Been doing okay?"

"As good as it ever is," she answers. "I haven't left my house for anything other than physical therapy since graduation. Thank you for inviting me."

"Of course," he answers. "We're friends, right? It's what we're supposed to do."

"Right," she says. "Where should I put this?" The present she's brought is pretty flat. He hadn't even noticed it on her lap.

"Everyone's at the kotatsu, I think," he says. "I can grab that for you."

"Thanks," she says. They pause for a moment, neither moving. "I can hear all of them talking. Who else is here?"

"Shoma, obviously," he answers. "I also invited Gen and Mizuki. Tried getting Ryuki to come...but he was Date's friend more than mine, really. And he said he wasn't feeling well." He almost tells her about Quartz, but then he remembers -- there was some reason she said that he was going to have to keep an eye on Kizuna even more. He doesn't know what exactly is going on there if they're only just classmates, but he isn't curious enough to ask. "I have some food and stuff in there, plus Gen brought some onigiri. Tell them I'll be right behind you if they ask, yeah?"

"I can do that," she answers softly, wheeling past him in the hallway. Lien walks over to the kitchen to set the present down.

"What took you so long?" Mizuki asks when he finally walks in. It looks like most of them are kneeling by the kotatsu, except Kizuna, whose chair is rolled up by one of the corners between Iris and a side where no one's sitting. "You’re supposed to be celebrating! Come on!"

He sits down next to Kizuna at the kotatsu, and offers her one of Gen's onigiri. She takes it with a smile.

"Sorry about earlier," Kizuna says, after the party has mostly wound down. "I just...didn't want everyone else here to talk about what I got you."

"As long as you can still get back to your place, I'm fine with it," he says. Shoma's even gone back up to his room now. "Mame's downstairs, right?"

"Yes." Kizuna looks down at her lap. "Amame is going to drop off Iris at the train station first, and then drop me off at my house."

He opens up her present. It's...a CD?

"The full version of my song's on here. And so's some of the other stuff Iris and I messed around with while we were recording 'Half to Whole'," she explains. "Thank you for inviting me, again."

"Your birthday's coming up next month, right?" he asks.

"That's right," she answers. "I don't have any plans for it. Father and I are probably going out for dinner. I suppose we'll see if any opportunities come up in the meantime."

"Text me," he says. "I'll see if I can make it."

It's getting easier, he thinks as she leaves. A lot easier to just be friends. It feels a little weird, but it feels...a little better in some ways, too. He puts the CD in, and listens to the whole thing.

Chapter Text

"Father?" Kizuna rolls into the doorway of the study. No doubt he's already heard her open the door -- subtlety is difficult nowadays, if not outright impossible, with the sound of her chair. "Could I speak with you?"

He looks up. "Come in, Kizuna."

She rolls further in, shutting the door gently behind her. "You do recall that my birthday is in approximately two weeks, yes?"

Father wouldn't have forgotten, but it's been hard lately. Ever since the explosion, he's been either smothering or overly distant, with very little in between.

"Of course," he answers smoothly. "How could I forget my darling's birthday?"

"I wish to invite some friends along to dinner that night."

"Which friends of yours?" he asks, looking back down at his computer. "How many?"

"Just three," she answers. She debates how to weigh this in her head. "You know Amame and Iris, of course."

"Are you going to invite young Mizuki, then?" he asks.

"...no," she answers. "My soulmate and I have become friends recently. I do not anticipate any romantic involvement between us, let alone marriage. He invited me to his birthday party last month. I merely wish to return the favor, as it stands."

He lets out a huff. "I suppose it would only be polite, in that case."

"He apologized for last February's conduct a few months ago," she says. "I wouldn't consider us close by any means, but I would consider him my friend at this juncture. Well and truly, not just for the sake of placating him."

"That man could be dangerous."

"I'm aware. But when I was captured by Tearer...he dropped everything to help me. He's also attempting to start his own business. He is...less horrible than my initial impression of him."

"Are you trying to shape him up?"

"I can't change him into a different person," she says, "but...our fates are entwined. I can't change that, either. As much as I want to, even now. If I could have any other person as my soulmate...I would. However, I think...if our fates are to be entwined, I'd rather it be on my own terms."

"A noble goal, to be certain. But not one I'm sure is possible. If you give leeches like him even a small amount, he'll suck up more than you intend."

"My point still stands that it would only be proper etiquette to return the favor," she argues. "I don't wish to be seen as unkind or ungrateful."

"If it would make you happy," he says, "I'll permit it."

Lien cleans up surprisingly well. He's engaged in an animated conversation with Amame as they walk in. Kizuna discreetly looks at her phone. Right on time.

"Hello, Mr. Chieda," Amame says. "Iris is running a bit late because she had to change before coming here."

"Hm," he says.

"Happy birthday, Kizuna," Lien says. He hands her a small bag. She tries not to think about the time capsule under the earth.

Amame gives her a quick hug. "Here." She grabs a small wrapped box from her purse. Kizuna drops it into the bag with Lien's present. "Happy birthday."

She smiles. Her friends flank her as the waiter leads them to their reserved table. It's simpler for her to place her chair up at the head of the table. Lien sits next to Amame, which means Iris will end up next to Father when she arrives. And just as she thinks it -- Iris rushes in.

"Sorry I was late," Iris says. "The photographer was a lot pickier this time." She wrinkles her nose. "But hey, we're one step closer to getting my next single out!"

"How is your mother doing, Iris?" Father asks.

"Oh, she's doing pretty good," Iris answers. "Happy birthday, Kizzy! Here, I got you something." She passes her an envelope. Kizuna deposits it into the gift bag. She's beginning to think that was the most convenient gift of the night.

Dinner goes surprisingly well, all things considered. Lien doesn't stumble too much around Father, Iris takes up a lot of the light talking about her future releases, and how even though Mr. Okiura isn't her manager she's still taking his advice.

("Didn't Mr. Okiura try to kidnap you or something?"

"Oh, that wasn't really Renju," Iris says. "It's...really just a shame that he's gone now. I mean, Mizuki was definitely happier with Date, but...I still miss him, too."

"I see you've dedicated yourself to this, then," Father says. "I wish you the best of luck.")

She pauses in the parking lot to talk to Amame. "Did you and Lien..."

"I didn't do anything. Just asked if he'd be coming. He told me that one of his friends told him about what forks to use? He called her Quartz. Odd nickname, if you ask me."

"Quartz, huh...?"

Amame shrugs. "I don't know. Have a good night, Kizuna. And happy birthday."

"Thank you, Mame." Kizuna smiles. She...thinks she did have a happy birthday, all things considered.

On the ride home, Father turns to her. "I'm glad your friends seem to be making efforts to move up in life. There is no aspiration greater than progress."

No aspiration greater than progress. She wants to move forward. But how much can she really progress when she's stuck like this? Maybe she is making progress, but her friends are already outpacing her. She knows Father could never outright hate her, but...it's only a matter of time before a switch flips and she becomes the very thing he hates.

Looking at her presents in her room...Iris has booked them a spa day, which is pretty nice except Kizuna isn't exactly sure how she's going to go about actually getting pampered like she used to. Amame got her a music box snowglobe with a park bench. It's sweet. Kizuna sets it on her shelf.

She almost fears for the worst uncovering Lien's gift. Like she'll see it and all the progress they've made will fall away.

But it's smaller than she expects. A necklace with a shooting star charm on it, along with a note that says "Wishing you all the best."

When she looks at her reflection after putting it on...

She wishes she could see in herself something whole again.

Chapter Text

Kizuna's career plans all fell apart with her injury. She’s never going to dance again.

But she can't sit around being useless for the rest of her life, either. Father has been exceptionally accommodating towards her recovery thus far, but she knows that grace won't last forever. If there is one thing she knows Father will not tolerate, it is those who are burdens upon society. She will not be dead weight to him.

Her academics have always been stellar -- they couldn't be anything else -- but she doesn't know what she wants. She doesn't have Iris's drive or Amame's dedication. She didn't have a reason to dance beyond her own enjoyment. It feels silly now.

She can't even be a proper princess now. What princess has a wheelchair?

There aren't any princes out there for girls like her. Especially when one considers the soulmate whose romance she rejected.

She does not regret that. Lien is no prince. 

But whether in terms of her career or her personal life...she doesn't have anything now.

"Ms. Sagan." Kizuna looks down at where her hands are rested in her lap. "How did you decide what you wished to do?"

"It helps that my injury didn't impede my ability to do my job. And that I was much older than you are now." She looks up at her through the rearview mirror. "I'd made the choice much earlier, but Iris really cemented that I wanted to be an educator."

"I...was considering it as an option recently," Kizuna admits. "I have always enjoyed working with the children at AIOEN. Becoming an elementary school teacher would be an option where I could continue to work with children."

"I see." Ms. Sagan hums. "I think you'd do well with it, if that's what you choose."

"Thank you, Ms. Sagan."

She still hasn't spoken to Father about her inability to figure out her next steps.

He's been too forgiving to her. She knows it's only a matter of time before she's treated as though she’s just as worthless as those other people who refuse to do anything for society.

And she dreads the moment it occurs to him that she's become a burden.

It takes a few weeks, but she manages to get accepted to a university outside Tokyo to study business. It's a safe option. Safer than education. One that will prepare her to inherit Father's business.

She’s not happy with it. But it's something. Anything. Something that keeps her from being useless.

It means she has to tell the others, though. Including Father, who hasn't been privy to her struggles.

She puts it off.

Groupchat: Girl Squad! (^_^)／□☆□＼(^_^)

KIZUNA: I am moving to Kyoto in September.

AMAME: you got in? congratulations!

IRIS: Yippee!! ｡ﾟ(ﾟ＾∀＾ﾟ)ﾟ｡

KIZUNA: Thank you. I am currently in the process of searching for an apartment capable of accommodating my disability, but if Mizuki is online, I would appreciate her help in the process of moving.

MIZUKI: congrats kizzy

MIZUKI: ofc ill help

MIZUKI: whatever u need

KIZUNA: I appreciate it. ❤️

IRIS: We'll come too! If we can ofc

KIZUNA: Thanks, but no thanks. I'd prefer to keep the amount of people to a minimum so I can bring more of my belongings.

IRIS: Oh! You know what we gotta do now right ( -_・)?

KIZUNA: What is it?

IRIS: We gotta throw you a going-away party (*^▽^)/★*☆♪

MIZUKI: im down

MIZUKI: @ sunpoke?

AMAME: that's fine with me :)

MIZUKI: k since it isnt til sept ill pencil in time in aug

IRIS: Sounds good ＼(^_^)／

That marks most of her friends. She thinks she should talk to Lien personally; their friendship is still something raw, something fragile. Something she finds herself not wanting to break, despite everything.

It's not hard, in the end. Staying in this park long enough, she'll eventually cross paths with him. She watches the fountains.

He doesn't say anything at first. He just stands near her, watching the water as well.

"I wanted to tell you something," she says, breaking the silence. "I'm moving in a few months."

"Wanted to get away, huh?" he asks.

"There were only so many universities willing to accept such a sudden change in my path," she responds. "I must leave. It wasn't truly a matter of desire."

But it is true that there is a part of her that wants to leave. All her friends and family pity her, and some days the city feels as though it's choking her.

"Okay," he says. "I'm not going to chase you. I've got a pretty good thing going on here."

A six-year promise. She'll be back before then, she knows.

"I'd hope not." She looks over at him. He has a warm smile on his face; he'd been trying to make a joke.

"I hope you'll be happy out there," he says, sounding more genuine now.

"I hope so too," she responds. "The girls wanted to throw me a going-away party. Can I count on you being there?"

"I'll come," he answers. He looks down, then over at her. "Text me the details?"

"I will," she answers.

They part ways there, leaving in opposite directions.

She leaves the acceptance letter on Father's desk instead of speaking to him first. It is her intention. She doubts Father will stop her, but...

She doesn't know why she's so worried. It shows she's been doing something, at least. It shows that she isn't useless.

Father knocks on her door that evening, gently. Not mad, then.

"I assume you left this on my desk to inform me of your intentions." He sets the acceptance letter down gently on Kizuna's desk. "I'm proud of you. It's only been four months, and you came up with an alternative plan of study and executed it."

Kizuna lets out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"Thank you," she says. "I'm currently in the process of searching for housing. I will...inform you when I have decided on the best accommodations."

He nods. "Understood. If you need help...beyond funding your education...you can always talk to me."

"Okay," she answers. But the things she really needs help with...they're not things she can talk to Father about. They're hardly things she can talk to anyone about.

Plans are moving forward. She's gotten her act together.

She still feels like she's stagnated.

But she hopes leaving will change that. Disturb the rhythm enough where she feels like she's moving.

Chapter Text

Lien feels a little out of place at Kizuna's farewell party.

For one -- he's the only guy. The others invited were Iris, Amame, and Mizuki (the host). It's a low-key affair, but still.

He's also not super familiar with Sunfish Pocket. He knows Amame works here, and Mizuki owns the place (technically, it's in a trust until she's of age, but everyone treats her like the boss), and he just learned that Iris used to work here apparently, and obviously Kizuna knows the place.

On top of that, he's only known Kizuna for like, six months. February seems like a lifetime ago at this point, but it's not really that long in the grand scheme of things.

It's strange how these people have managed to change his life so much in just six months. But it still makes him feel out of place in their longer friendships.

"I wasn't sure you'd be invited," Amame remarks.

"Kizzy talked to me face-to-face," he says. "I dunno. I think some distance from this place will be good for her."

"Yeah." Amame looks over at where Mizuki and Iris are trying to get a karaoke machine set up. "I'm surprised you managed to figure that out."

"The way I see it, I'm probably one of the things she needs distance from," he admits. He would really like it if it wasn't this way, but he met her at the beginning of one of the worst weeks of her life.

"She doesn't hate you."

"I know that." If she hated him, he wouldn't be here. They are friends, he knows. They've gotten that far. "But I probably remind her of that day sometimes."

Amame smacks the back of his head with the heel of her palm.

"Ow! What gives?"

"You know who else was there? Mizuki." She gestures at the host of the party.

"Mizuki lost her eye," Lien points out. "And she's known Kizzy for ages. Besides, I know I didn't make a great first impression. I'm trying to fix that, but I don't think it's going to work itself out. Not without something else happening, and this--" He gestures at the room. "--is something else."

"I guess I see your point," Amame replies. "Still, you'll have to be careful if you do want to maintain your friendship with her."

"Hey!" Mizuki calls. "We got the karaoke machine working!"

Lien heads over to the screen, Amame at his side. It looks like Iris is browsing the song selection right now.

"Oh, they have my song!" she says.

"Yeah," Mizuki responds. "Daddy...made the song selection. Everything Lemniscate has put out is here. And other stuff, too."

"It’d be boring to do my song," Iris declares, scrolling onwards. "Oooo, this one sounds good!"

It's an easy listening boy band type of deal. Iris sings it fairly well, even though Lien's pretty sure it's mostly out of the range where her voice is best.

"My mom loves this song," Iris says afterwards.

"So does Date's boss," Mizuki says. "She's got a poster of this band in her office, really wants me to pull some strings for her."

"Oh yeah, I think I've seen that before," Iris says. "Anyways, who's next?"

"I'll go," Lien says, surprising himself. There's not a lot of songs he recognizes here...oh. Here's one.

"Oh my god, really?" Iris says as the intro. "I didn't know you were a fan of this stuff!"

Lien smiles and starts singing the opening to his favorite cartoon. He's probably the worst singer of the group, but he's still having a good time. But it's a short song, so it ends pretty quickly.

He looks at the girls. Kizuna catches his eye -- and she has a soft smile on her face. He can't help but return it.

"Amame, would you like to go next?" Kizuna offers.

"Sure," Amame answers, blushing a bit. What does she have to be flustered over?

Lien sits back down to watch. And then it becomes clear why Amame had been a little nervous.

This is Iris's song. He's heard it before, maybe once or twice. But even if he didn't know it, he would still be able to tell by the look on Iris's face.

Iris squeals and springs to her feet when Amame finishes, hugging her suddenly enough where Amame nearly drops the microphone.

"Whoa!" Mizuki says. "Be careful!"

"Sorry!" Amame hurriedly sets down the microphone. Iris lets go of her.

"That was really good!" she says.

"Thank you," Amame responds.

Mizuki taps the microphone a couple times. "Okay, I'm going to go next," she says.

Mizuki sings her heart out on some song Lien doesn't know, probably sung by a female vocalist. Sounds more modern than what he normally listens to. She's not bad, and it's nice to know he isn't actually the worst of the group. Not that he'd tell her that.

"Alright!" Iris cheers.

"Kizzy, you're up," Mizuki says.

"Alright." Kizuna takes the microphone and rolls over to the song selection.

She's selected a song from Sleeping Beauty.

"I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream..."

Lien has seen the movie. Her English is a bit stilted, but not bad, and...she sounds nice. It was her voice that drew him in first, even before he saw her dance, even before he heard her name.

But this isn't a fairytale. He isn't some Prince Charming that can break the spell making Kizuna sad. There isn't even really a spell in the first place.

He might be her soulmate, but that doesn't mean he can save her.

Kizuna lets the song fade out with a mournful look.

"Hey, anyone wanna do a duet?" Iris offers. She looks around the group.

"I'd like that," Kizuna answers after a moment.

The party goes on. Lien sings a couple more songs, including getting pulled into a duet with Iris. But soon enough, it comes to an end with Mizuki clapping her hands.

"Okay, we have another party coming in soon," Mizuki says. "I have to do some cleanup before they arrive. Good luck, Kizzy!"

Kizuna smiles. "Thank you, Mizuki."

"Do you want my help?" Amame asks.

"Are you asking for more overtime pay?" Mizuki responds.

Lien lets the conversation fade as he leaves the room with Kizuna and Iris.

"It was fun! I'll miss you," Iris tells Kizuna. "Be sure to text, okay?"

Kizuna nods. "Of course. I will miss you as well."

And Iris leaves, making it just the two of them.

"I won't forget our promise," Kizuna says. "I'll be back before then, and I will have made up my mind."

"I don't give a damn about the promise, Kizzy," he blurts. But it's true. The time capsule doesn't matter. "I figure...you need this. You said it yourself. And if you like it out there enough where you wanna stay, then that's what matters."

"You'd be willing to let me go?" she asks.

"I don't have you. That's what I've learned over the last six months. We're bound to each other, but that doesn't mean I own you."

"Lien..."

"Good luck," he says. "Don't be a stranger."

"I will come back to Tokyo," she says. "I need a break. That is all."

It's nice to hear that. He hates that it is.

"So this is not goodbye forever," she continues. "It's see you later. And I will."

She rolls off, leaving him behind.

Chapter Text

Mizuki sets down the last box with a thumping sound.

"Thank you, Mizuki," Kizuna says.

"Yes, we appreciate your assistance," Father says. Kizuna has no doubt he's thinking about her right now. Mizuki resembles her so much it hurts sometimes. And she hasn't seen her in so long...

"Of course!" Mizuki answers, oblivious to the ghost in the room. "Okay, let's get unpacking."

Groupchat: Kizzy's EPIC Going-Away Party!! (* ﾟ∀ﾟ)

MIZUKI: finished unloading all the stuff!

IRIS: How's the place??

MIZUKI: super nice. Kizzy's gonna be set for however long she's here

AMAME: that's good to hear.

LIEN: Yeah

LIEN: And how is she

MIZUKI: Kizzy's fine! her dad and i handled all the boxes pretty much

MIZUKI: well i handled most of them

MIZUKI: there's a reason she asked me lolol

IRIS: (≧▽≦)

AMAME: 😂

LIEN: XD

Mizuki and Father exit together, once they've been suitably reassured that she will be alright with the levels of unpacking done so far and capable of handling the rest. It's a lot more silent now that they’re gone. Kizuna finally checks her phone -- oh, Mizuki texted the group chat to inform them of how the move-in had been progressing.

Kizuna fires off a text of her own to them, as a means of checking in, and sighs. She's alone now. This is what she wished for, was it not? The chance to be truly alone, disconnected from life in Tokyo. The chance to think for herself, to act for herself, to learn how to dream for herself again.

It's time for her to begin a new life. One...step...at a time.

Kizuna wakes up the next day bright and early. Classes haven't started yet, but she needs the chance to explore campus and figure out how to navigate it before she's forced to with a large crowd around her. Her wheelchair can only go so fast. Still, it's strange to wander around the campus while it's so empty. It isn't entirely deserted, though, and she can feel the stares of some as she continues mapping out the path she needs to take.

By the time she gets back to her apartment, she's exhausted. More than anything, she wishes her sister was here. She was always ready to protect Kizuna from the world.

She hasn't thought this much about her in some time. Perhaps it’s because Mizuki, the last time Kizuna had seen her, started wearing her hair in a braid.

She reaches for her phone. Oh.

LIEN: Hey just wanted to check on you

LIEN: I know I might not have the right to be so worried but Im asking as your friend

Kizuna sighs. At least he's coming to her about it, as well.

KIZUNA: Everything is fine. I took a look around my campus today. Classes will not be a problem as well.

His reply is almost instantaneous. Had he been waiting for her?

LIEN: Thats good

She looks at the other text she received. It's...from Ms. Sagan.

UNKNOWN: Hello :) This is Hitomi Sagan. Feel free to save my number, if you'd like. Iris told me you were moving out! Let me know if you ever need to talk :)

Kizuna takes a deep breath, and calls the phone number.

One...two...

Ms. Sagan picks up before the third ring. "Hello, Kizuna! How are you?"

"Do you believe...I made the right choice when I left?"

"That's not up to me," she answers. "You need time to determine that, Kizuna. You won't have the answers right away. Give it time."

"I know." Kizuna sighs. "It...I feel lonely already."

"It's natural," she answers. "You made a large change in your life that took you away from everyone you used to know, and you haven't had the opportunity to find new connections yet."

She knows that, too. And yet it is still soothing to hear those words from someone else.

"Did you..."

"I've lived in Tokyo all my life," she explains. "I inherited my house from my parents when they passed on, and after Iris...I couldn't have moved if I wanted to."

"Oh. I see."

"I wouldn't worry too much yet. You've only begun this chapter of your life. It's natural to feel as though you're not prepared for it yet. Things are going to change."

Change is what she was looking for. But... "Do you think there is such a thing as too much change?"

"That depends on what you make of those changes."

Kizuna grips her cell phone tightly. "Alright, then. I'll try my best."

"If you ever need to talk to me, you're welcome to call."

"Thank you, Ms. Sagan." She smiles. "I would-- I appreciate your help."

"Of course. Have a good night, Kizuna."

"The same to you."

The call ends. Kizuna takes a deep breath.

Tomorrow will be a new day, and on Monday her classes will begin. It's a new day. A whole new period of her life.

Oh. She got another text from Lien.

LIEN: Have a good night :)

KIZUNA: The same to you.

The distance will help them, as well -- at the very least, she hopes it will. Help them both forget about the ties that bind them. Their friendship will grow more easily if they can leave the past behind.

The next morning, Kizuna eases herself out of bed into her chair. She's ready to face today. She's not alone. She doesn't have to be alone.

She doesn't have much to do today, but she wants to try to get to know the area around the complex a little. If she's going to be staying here for a while, this block of city will become familiar to her.

She brushes her teeth and her hair, and locks her apartment with the key. As she takes the elevator down, someone else enters. He doesn't say a word to her, but she can still feel the stare directed at her wheelchair.

There is no changing its presence. She will merely have to grow used to it.

One part of the journey at a time.