CANDLECALLS

[everfixedmark]

it's not like i forgot this or anything

Comments

[fishpanties]

Mmm, very.

. . . They're life-changing, aren't they? Both of them.

[everfixedmark]

They're forces of change.

[fishpanties]

[Hfff. Smiles, fondly and just a little wistfully. ]

Say, Shion . . .

Do you know what you're going to do when you go back home?

[everfixedmark]

Civil planning, mostly.

[fishpanties]

. . . Will you be okay with that?

[everfixedmark]

Well, it's not the worst thing I've had to do.

[fishpanties]

[m-makes a face]

I mean, will you be happy? I know that sometimes necessity comes first, but . . .

[everfixedmark]

To be honest, I'm trying not to dwell on that too much. It's something I have to do, and I have to just do my best with it. I... unexpectedly, Nezumi will be there. So it won't be as bad as it was in my memories so far. It won't continue so awfully.

[clocksandroses]

I'm glad for that much. That he'll be there with you.

[everfixedmark]

Me too. I wasn't doing very well with it when he wasn't there.

[clocksandroses]

Things have changed a lot between you guys while you've been here, huh?

. . . I guess it's a little presumptuous of me to say so.

[everfixedmark]

Well... not on my side.

[clocksandroses]

Not at all?

[everfixedmark]

I don't think so. I'm sure he'd make some wisecrack about not being able to soul-search without a soul.

[clocksandroses]

That's . . . Huh?

[MOUSE DON'T SAY THINGS LIKE THAT]

[everfixedmark]

[You hear a muffled "No lies detected" in the background]

Something like that.

[clocksandroses]

Why would he say something like that?

[everfixedmark]

Because he enjoys putting me down?

[clocksandroses]

[opens mouth]

[closes mouth]

. . . So it's a little like when Kaito called me ugly and fat?

[everfixedmark]

[OFFENDED] Kaito called you that?!

[clocksandroses]

You're more offended by that than Mouse calling you soulless?

[everfixedmark]

Of course!

[clocksandroses]

Why?

[everfixedmark]

He can only guess at the state of my soul, but anyone can look at you and see you're slender and pretty!

[clocksandroses]

I'd have thought that Mouse's insult was worse . . .

As for Kaito . . . He's. Well. He could be a little thoughtless back then.