Cracking Facade

[majestic_keiki]

1

[After they get back to base following the mission to the Kijin world, Kei did some basic cleaning up afterwards before going to the hangar to take a seat next to the immobile Grungust while waiting for Izuru to get out. She did think to bring a book to pass the time, but she's barely looking at the pages or much of anything, really.]


2

[For most of the day Kei kept up appearing normal, if rather unproductive while waiting for Izuru to come out, but not anymore. She's in one of the less used kitchens working on what looks like a half-finished sandwich that she stopped making. For once there are no attempts to be cool, no awkward attempts at maintaining composure, just a vulnerable kid finally breaking down into tears while nobody is watching.]

Comments

[star_of_sad]

[Setsuko waits patiently for Kei, all the while considering if she should just leave. But doing so right now would be the worst course of action.]

Hello.

I'm sorry.

[Not the best of efforts at consoling, but she at least stands a little closer now.]

[majestic_keiki]

[There's a long silence as Kei tries to compose herself some more, without any real success. In the end she just quietly moves over to make the whole thing less awkward than talking at a distance. She still doesn't say anything, she moves as if she's about to start, but ends, just getting one word out for now.]

...Thanks.

[star_of_sad]

Kei...

[Setsuko takes a deep breath. This is not easy for her to admit. Too many painful memories.]

What happened to Seta hurts. I knew her, a lot of people did. And they must be hurting too.

There is no need to pretend that it didn't hurt you.

[majestic_keiki]

[With that, all the fake composure Kei had been trying to build just melts away. She isn't crying, but she still seems a lot smaller. When she speaks, her voice is similarly small.]

...I'd just resolved to pull the trigger.

[star_of_sad]

You were trying to do what's right. What... had to be done.

[Setsuko draws in closer. She is not too comfortable with acts of physical affection, but she tries to put a hand on Kei's shoulder.]

[majestic_keiki]

I know. But that can only do so much.

[star_of_sad]

That's true.

[A hesitant nod.]

That's true, and... it feels like it's not enough. Just like all those other times...

Kei. I am bad at this, I know, but I think... things are going to be alright. Not now, not tomorrow. But eventually, they will. We'll live through it to better times.

And until that time...

Let's try to hang on, together.

[majestic_keiki]

[Even through the sadness, Kei manages a real smile as she nods.]

Right...It's just really hard today.

[Even with the last comment, she still visibly relaxes.]

...Thanks.