[ Ai blocks the knife with her Sandglass and the weapons collide with a horrible squeal of glass on glass. She locks her legs, forcing herself not to buckle, even as her arms tremble and threaten to give way under Hanako's strength. Even now, despite herself and despite everything else, she can't help but think how proud she is of how far he's come.
And that's all the more reason that she can't leave him here. ]
I know. I know, Amane-kun. I know you still want to fix it. But you didn't do anything wrong in the first place!
[ At last, her voice breaks and with it, her composure does as well. This close practically nose to nose in the borrowed radiance of her spotlight, they have no choice but to look each other in the eye as her tears at last stream down her face. ]
You can't fix it like this. No one can. Hurting yourself and hating yourself - it's easier, isn't it? Because then it feels like someone's being punished. But it doesn't work like that and it never will. All that happens is you hurt everyone else around you as well!
[ She shoves him back, hard enough to give Ai the room she needs to return the blow but she doesn't. Instead...
Ai's Sandglass dissipates into crystal and light. Their shared spotlight at last winks away into nothing and leaves the two of them illuminated only by the sallow light of the moon.
In that sickly light, Ai refuses to break away from his gaze. In front of him, she stands defenseless. ]
Is that something you really think you can do? Because if you want me to go back, you'll have to. I'm not leaving you here any other way.
no subject
[ Ai blocks the knife with her Sandglass and the weapons collide with a horrible squeal of glass on glass. She locks her legs, forcing herself not to buckle, even as her arms tremble and threaten to give way under Hanako's strength. Even now, despite herself and despite everything else, she can't help but think how proud she is of how far he's come.
And that's all the more reason that she can't leave him here. ]
I know. I know, Amane-kun. I know you still want to fix it. But you didn't do anything wrong in the first place!
[ At last, her voice breaks and with it, her composure does as well. This close practically nose to nose in the borrowed radiance of her spotlight, they have no choice but to look each other in the eye as her tears at last stream down her face. ]
You can't fix it like this. No one can. Hurting yourself and hating yourself - it's easier, isn't it? Because then it feels like someone's being punished. But it doesn't work like that and it never will. All that happens is you hurt everyone else around you as well!
[ She shoves him back, hard enough to give Ai the room she needs to return the blow but she doesn't. Instead...
Ai's Sandglass dissipates into crystal and light. Their shared spotlight at last winks away into nothing and leaves the two of them illuminated only by the sallow light of the moon.
In that sickly light, Ai refuses to break away from his gaze. In front of him, she stands defenseless. ]
Is that something you really think you can do? Because if you want me to go back, you'll have to. I'm not leaving you here any other way.