CANDLECALLS

[everfixedmark]

it's not like i forgot this or anything

Comments

[fishpanties]

[. . . !]

I hadn't thought of it like that!

[everfixedmark]

I think we do... I mean, I sort of think of "childhood" all in one block, and then like, "the time after I was kicked out" is all one smaller block, and then once I meet up with Nezumi again suddenly everything's small and individual moments.

[fishpanties]

[thhhinking about it]

It makes sense. ... Mm. If my memories had blocks, it was divided up by Kid.

[everfixedmark]

Oh?

[fishpanties]

Growing up before he disappeared for the first time, growing up after he was gone, and then when he came back again.

[everfixedmark]

...that's exactly like me.

[fishpanties]

It . . . is pretty similar, isn't it?

Though back then, I wouldn't have minded if he'd stayed gone.

[everfixedmark]

Well, that part's different.

[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?