I can get back up however many times it takes [OPEN]

[determinationtofist]

⭐ Who: Hibiki Tachibana & You!
⭐ When: Throughout October
⭐ Where: Out and about in Yumemigaoka or the Dreamsphere
⭐ What: A lot of post-disturbance aftermath, trying to wind back down after that, etc etc. Please plot with me for things or how your character intends to approach Hibiki afterwards if that's something they'll do.

Comments

[determinationtofist]

I... think so, but... I'm also not sure.

[ She looks down at Illya's gift... a microphone. It's sweet, she really appreciates it...

She doesn't mind sharing this with Illya, she thinks. ]

I think I can sing, but... at the same time I'm a little nervous. Like... I'm not sure what'll come out if I sing from my heart right now.

[ Still... as scary as that might be, it's... not a bad thing. She knows that now. She just needs the courage to face it. So she lifts her hand up to reassuringly pat Illya on the head. It's not exactly the happiest of thoughts, but... ]

Thank you, Illya-chan. I still have stuff I need to figure out, but... I'm okay. And I mean it this time. I really mean it.

[reluctants]

[ Illya is definitely accepting the headpat. And it is a relief to hear it, really. She is never really sure how anyone is doing after having one of those Disturbances happen to them. It must have been so scary for Hibiki.. So it's a good thing that she came out of it for the better, it seems.

Though it's the very last line that seems to make the girl's expression shift to a tiny pout instead.

It doesn't seem angry, maybe more just.. a liiittle bit upset. In that youthful kid sort of way.. ]

I thought you meant it last time too.. [ Not at the festival, but at least at the waterpark. At least Hibiki went out of her way to try and have fun there. Illya really was hoping it meant she was getting better.. ]

[determinationtofist]

Illya-chan...

[ Hibiki frowns... but she gets where Illya is coming from. She smiles again, ruffling Illya's hair a little. ]

I... maybe I didn't, but Illya-chan... even if I didn't, back at the water park you... you made me really happy. I just... wasn't ready to face my problems yet.

[ Then, having thoroughly given Illya plenty of headpatting... she then pulls Illya into a big hug, holding Illya right to her chest. ]

Illya-chan... you helped a lot. It was thanks to everyone's support that I was able to leave.

[reluctants]

[ It'd be one thing if Hibiki had just said all of that.

But it's the hug. It's the dang hug that does it. It's like it breaks some sort of dam within the young girl, and even though it's not like Illya immediately bursts into outright tears in the other's arms, she sniffles like the onset of something like that. ]

I--

[ She starts, then stops, like something within her isn't too sure if she should be saying that out loud. But with that burst in the dam, the words flow out anyway. ]

That's wrong, Hibiki-san. I didn't do enough for you at all..

[determinationtofist]

You did plenty, Illya-chan…

[ She holds Illya tight, so that if she does start to cry, she can do it right into Hibiki’s chest. Heck, Hibiki can feel her own eyes watering now… ]

It… it was knowing that you were out here, that there were people out here who cared for me… you made sure I knew that, even if I was hurting too much to accept it.

[ She gently caresses the top of Illya’s head… ]

Ehe… I know I’m a real stubborn onee-chan, but… I’m really happy that you stuck with me anyways.

[reluctants]

Then.. What can I do, next time?

[ Sure, Hibiki is better now. And Illya thinks better of the older girl than to imagine the other might fall back into feeling so terrible again so soon, but.. you never know, right?

Especially when she thought Hibiki seemed invincible before too, before something brought her down that low. It's proof that this can happen, even when Illya feels like it won't. ]

How can I help you if this happens again..? We-- We can't let it get this far. Not again. [ She can't let Hibiki get hurt again, she can't let another scary Disturbance happen.. ]

[determinationtofist]

I… don’t know. When things get that bad, it… it feels like nobody will ever understand. I… didn’t want anyone to see me for how weak I really was on the inside, so I pushed it all down until I just… couldn’t anymore.

[ She reaches down to take Illya’s hand in her own and squeeze it tight. Not too tight, but tight enough. ]

But I think that… when things get really bad, it’s important to just keep reaching out. It might seem like it doesn’t mean much at the time, but I promise you…

[ She smiles, bright and with watery eyes. ]

It means so much more than you realize…

[reluctants]

[ Illya is definitely allowing the older girl to hold her hand like that. It doesn't even seem like she's making any attempt to pull it away. As long as Hibiki is holding it, she'll keep it there in the other's hand, allowing that light squeeze.

Her gaze is still aimed up at Hibiki's face, almost like she's studying it. Like she's trying to tell how the other feels about the words she's speaking, maybe. ]

You're sure just that much would be enough..?

[ It doesn't sound like it'd be enough, logically speaking. Mostly because it wasn't enough last time around.

But on the other hand, Illya doesn't want to full on question Hibiki either.. It's hard.

She wonders if Ai would know. ]

[determinationtofist]

Mm, I'm sure.

[ And unlike last time... she really does look like she means it. Genuinely. ]

Listen up, Illya-chan... sometimes when you reach out your hand, the person you're reaching out to won't reach back. Maybe because they're hurting... but you just have to keep reaching out anyway. We can't stop bad things from happening, all we can do is our best.

[ Oh if only there were a way to prevent this kind of thing from happening... but it has a way of finding ways no matter what. ]

And hey! Don't worry! I made a promise to myself... a promise to not push down my real feelings anymore. I don't wanna break that promise, y'know?