streakofsunlight | Hope and Silent Wisdom

[There's something surreal about feeling alien in one's own home. It's a sensation he hasn't quite gotten over; being constantly on the move made it hard to settle back into the apartment block his family had gotten, and he found himself more used to having a preemptively packed duffel bag than he did a fully lined room. Even now, he struggles to feel like he can actually rest--while he was no stranger to his family by any stretch of the word (they did welcome him back from his trip fairly warmly, after all) he found himself drifting to thoughts of when they would have to go again and he'd have to set off to another place.

Being reassured that they weren't going anywhere for a while, for once, at least brought him a little relief, but it wasn't enough to fully quash the question. It's a bridge he'll cross when he gets there, he supposed.

As he finally settled in again to revise some of his summer homework--he'd jumped right at the chance to enter higher education when he could; being a scholastic sort was a boon in that respect--the ringing of his phone alerted him. One quick moment to check the caller ID, and--

...Ah. There's a name that always gets him to crack a smile.

He wasted no time in answering it.]

Hello?

Edited 2017-08-24 12:36 (UTC)

[Souji can probably hear the bustle of activity in the background, and even the slightly muffled sound of other people's voices; even if Yukiko had tried to sneak away by herself, there was no way she wouldn't have been caught.]

Souji-kun! I wanted to let you know I'm on my way out the door to catch the train.

Is that all you're taking? Here, let me carry that for you.

You didn't forget anything, did you?

[He swore he could recognize them from somewhere, too--ah, wait, wasn't that Yukiko's staff talking? Huh. There's something he wasn't sure he was expecting... But why does it sound like they're sending her out on a long vacation?]

Great. I'll be waiting. [...] Though it sounds a bit busy over there... Is something up?

Edited 2017-08-25 02:34 (UTC)

Tell us everything once you get back.

Now, now, growing girls need their privacy.....

Oh--no, nothing important! They just worry..... I've never been to Tokyo before, that's all.

[Yukiko laughs sheepishly. Almost as soon as the door closes, though, Souji can hear it open again.]

Don't forget the treats to share with Seta-san!

Ah, thank you.....

[...huh. Now where'd that awkward laugh come from? No, wait, that's just him. He comes off as a little sheepish, even...]

I did say I'd show you around, didn't I? [It was tempting to think they weren't all that confident in him, but their overall tone painted another side to this story. One that leaned towards the notion that they just liked to tease.

But that couldn't have been it... Could it?]

Edited (Oops, blasted icon...) 2017-08-25 03:29 (UTC)

You did. I'll be in good hands.

[There's a knowing chuckle in the background from the staff member who had taken it upon themselves to escort her to the train station--probably from the goofy, rather unlady-like grin she can't quite help, thinking about getting to explore a big city alone together with Souji. Not so long ago, she had dreamed of losing herself in a place like Tokyo, until nobody from Inaba could ever find her again..... Then again, not so long ago, she had also been exploring the TV World with Souji, too. If there was anyone in the world she could trust to keep her safe and happy, well.....]

I'll see you soon, okay?

[Not that she could see it, but there was a blink he couldn't help when he heard that piece of background noise... were all of Yukiko's friends at the inn pushing something? And if so, what?

...eh, it hopefully isn't anything harmful. He'll probably just find out the next time he can stop by Inaba.

He made a noise of affirmation; it'd been a long time, but in the end, he was still a city boy at heart--albeit one that also got used to the countryside. It wasn't as if he'd forget what landmarks were where or what shops did what. Regardless, he wouldn't think any more of what he'd do when she arrived than just being what he's supposed to be to someone he loves, really. it didn't take long-winded speeches between these two to get their points across to each other; sometimes, just the acknowledgement of little things was more than enough. At least, it was to him--he didn't want to impose the unrealistic expectation that she'd know exactly what he was thinking, but some things just seemed to click really quickly when they had the chance to be together.

It was probably their bond talking... and if not that, maybe how similar their minds were, in some ways. Picking one single large factor was hard.]

Mm. See you when you get here, Yukiko. [He'd wait for her to get anything else out of the way, or at least get in a goodbye of her own, before hanging up himself. Of course, being what he was, he wasn't going to just wait for her to find his home; checking for a moment how long it'd be before her train arrived, he proceeded to get what he could squared away before setting off towards the station, be it some little thing he missed in his homework or the shopping he was to do.

This tiny sliver of his vacation was going to be fun.]

[The ride to Tokyo was absolutely interminable. She had brought a study guide to read on the way there, but in the end, she never even pulled it out; she was too busy buzzing with nerves, staring out the window and occasionally snapping pictures of the scenery with her cell phone. There's a little nervousness, yes, over going farther from Inaba than she ever has before--but mostly she's just brimming with anticipation.

Yukiko was one of the first wave off the train, a small duffel bag slung over her shoulder as she looked around the crowded platform in wonder. Her amazement was short-lived, though--it wasn't long before a far more inviting sight caught her eye. Mother might scold if she saw her behaving so unladylike, and the staff would probably laugh..... but Yukiko couldn't help but run to Souji to throw her arms around him.

He'd only been in Inaba for a year, when you got right down to it--not a very long time at all. So why was it that holding him like this in a strange city felt so much more right than being alone where she belonged?]

[It wasn't hard to spy his mop of gray hair even amidst a crowd. No, not even hard, it seemed to paint something of a bullseye on his head for those who really knew him. By all appearances, though, an unimpressive person to the world around him, if 'rather handsome but aloof' had to be taken out of the list of things to describe him, probably shouldn't warrant such a reaction...

Then again, there are people who would likely fight to oppose that idea. But that was neither here nor there.

The approving hum of Scathach echoed in the back of his mind to try and alert him to the inn owner's presence--but it wasn't really until she ran right up to him to embrace him that it really sank in. His eyes wide for a moment, he found himself still for just as long, surprised by Yukiko's gesture. Of course, once that passed, he reciprocated and ran a hand through black locks held down by a red hairband. He couldn't help but wonder, after what he's experienced--was home really where your family was? Or was it with the people that you made lasting connections with? He was more than willing to bet on the latter, even if he wasn't fond of the idea of gambling in the first place. Experience has taught him so many things--and brought him many things that he'll likely have to put up with for a long time...

But he could settle on thoughts of bringing meaning to everything he's run into across that short year later. She was here--Yukiko was here--and that, above all else, was what truly mattered.

I missed you.]

Welcome to Tokyo, Yukiko. How was the trip over?

Edited 2017-09-30 09:33 (UTC)

Hope and Silent Wisdom

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Oh, shit, I ended up missing this in the bustle of class. Sorry! XD;