[His eyes lock on her arm. Yes. She knows. For a moment he doesn't say anything. Then he gently takes her other hand in his and looks directly into her eyes.] Did I ever tell you about the Two Millias here?
Ah, and my friend Silver. Another version of him arrived and was here for a while.
[ She shakes her head. But as always, she expects that he's leading up to something. So she remains quiet in order to listen, and let his words wash over her. Her grip doesn't loosen. ]
Millia and the other Millia are essentially the same person. But, because of their experiences being different...they're not the same. Think of it like two different roads.
One version of you walks down this path, and the other walks down the one you didn't take. At your core you possess the same qualities. But who you met, who bonded with you, and how you shaped yourself is different.
It doesn't make either less important. They're just different and how others respond to them is different because of that. [He gently draws her hands close to him and dips his head, brushing his lips over her knuckles.] Chiaki, not matter who she was.
You're you. [He looks up into her eyes and purposefully speaks in his native language. Making sure to use the strongest form of love he can, to say...] And I love you for who you are.
[ She listens quietly during his story, a thousand contradictions flowing through her mind. But his words slowly move her. Especially when he gets to the end. ]
Oh, Nagito... [ She leans forward and kisses his forehead, slipping into their language as he does, just for a moment. ] I love you too.
[ She'd cried out a lot of her worries earlier in the week. Ironically, since she had done that, she was having a hard time putting them back together in her mind. One piece at a time -- and she strokes his hand as she does, another piece of anchoring, and closes her eyes softly to remember. ]
I can still see her. Of all of them, I think she's the happiest. I- she must have done really well. Sonia said she brought you all together.
[ Her eyes open slowly to look back at the real him. They are two people to whom that memory does not belong. ] Mm... it's something for me to look up to.
[ Again she finds herself grasping for words. Some of the ideas flow back to him before they're vocalized, though. ]
I'm... glad you're telling me. I know that it's been bothering you, and Hinata-kun too-- especially him... but it's hard for me to know how to help.
I didn't know exactly how to bring it up. Especially when it isn't exactly my...right to do so. [The chains fade as he sighs and urges her close. He sets the bento boxes aside and slides his fingers into her hair. It's like silk and he marvels at being allowed this one touch all over again.]
I was part of the class but, mm. [He shakes his head slowly. Nanami makes him feel like he belongs somewhere. As he leans down, touching his forehead to hers, his fingers return to grasping hers.
His chest feels warm.] I wouldn't be so quick to consider her something to look up to. Just different.
Don't live in anyone's shadow. Ahhaha, take it from...someone who had the whole of the school as above him. It doesn't lead to good places. ...and anything you want to say, to vent or just talk about when it comes to this.
[Komaeda draws back enough to let go of her hands and peer into her eyes as he covers one of her hands in both of his.] I'm here.
[ She nestles close to him, with faint relief as the chains disappear and he's himself again. Seeing him in chains always worries her a little. Even if it's still him.
By contrast, his touch is softer than anything she's ever felt, and she shivers a little with happiness as he touches her. ]
Ah... but a little inspiration is good sometimes, isn't it? As long as you believe in yourself, too... you all inspired me on the island, and now here... you've accomplished so much, before I could even get here.
[ She squeezes his hands, taking them in both of hers. And she really wants to be close to him, so she shuffles closer, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. ]
Mm... I could be a literal shadow. But I don't think that's really what's going on, is it? I guess it's kind of hard to say.
But... I do want things. I want to know more about her, too. I think that's important, to know who she is.
[To his credit, Komaeda's expression doesn't change. He casts a glance at the stars over their heads. Hinata hadn't said not to tell her he knew if she came to him with this knowledge. ...but he could soften the blow and maybe make whatever conversation about it to happen...a little better.]
I think that's reasonable to assume. ...This hasn't been easy on him. Hajime...has been really worried about what this means and what it would do to you. [Hinata had been protecting her even as he agonized over what the memories might mean. That has to account for something.]
Would Hinata-kun keep something like that without a good reason? [ She shakes her head. ] I know him, Nagito, I think. A little more every day... and when I don't, I believe in him.
This is so much... I haven't been affected, but all of you have been remembering things, and him in particular... it must be painful.
[ A little sigh as she leans back into him. ] If anything, I'm relieved. I want to take this journey with both of you.
[He lets go of her hands to wrap one arm around her and put his other hand behind him. It's gone a lot better than he feared. But that always seems to be the case.]
And so you shall. You need to talk to him of course but, I believe it will all be alright. After all, I believe in both of you and the bonds between us.
That's...the torch that keeps the hope inside me so brillant and strong. Ahaha, well it births other feelings but you know what I mean! [With the bento boxes out of the way he sags, and leans back with a glint in his eye.]
Ah, it's so heart warming I could melt. [He slips further back, seemingly boneless while tightening his arm around her. No escape.]
[ She wouldn't ever want to. She snuggles deeper into him, deep enough to breathe in his scent and hear his beating heart. ] Sometimes I think you might. [ She can tease, just a little. ]
I think I'm learning about different kinds of love. There's love that makes me happy, and love that makes me afraid. All from two people. [ She looks up at him. ]
What's there to be sorry about? [He slides the rest of the way, sprawling on the hardwood porch. Love that makes you afraid? Komaeda sobers. His brows come together as he rubs her back in slow soothing circles.]
All emotions have nuances. [His voice is soft, like it always is when his mind is far away. No one has ever loved him as much as Nanami and Hinata. He fears for them everyday. Even if he would rip apart mountains just to get to them.]
There's also...love that makes you feel brave. I made Hajime a promise. I'll make a similiar one to you. [He shifts, propping himself up on one elbow as he peers into her eyes.]
You will never be alone. I'll be here, no matter what happens. And even if I'm not physically around you. [His free hand settles just over her heart.] I'll be with you here, Chiaki.
In your hopes, in love, in everything you can imagine! Because I love you and I'll do everything I can to keep you safe. It's not home without both of you.
[ It's a touching promise, and a slightly familiar one. She promised to be in the hearts of Hajime and all of his friends, when they left the New World Program, or so she's learned.
She takes his hand again -- she can never seem to lose her contact with him for long. ] I think so too. So... I want to make a promise to you, too. But something a little different.
[ A lean forward to touch his forehead, a gentle kiss to his soft lips, a pull back just enough to look into his eyes, let him know she's serious. ] For as long as we are physically together, in the same world, I'm going to live with you to the best of my abilities. I want to share everything, I want to give you more than just my memory. I want to give you me.
Chiaki...I'll give my everything to you. [His whispers against her lips just before he kisses her. It feels like his heart is dancing in his chest. If he can protect her and Hajime, protect all of his friends and this world.
This is what fuels the blaze of hope in his chest. He'd gladly let them mess him up and use him up. Her or Hajime could even tie him up and he wouldn't mind it. He draws back from her lips to nuzzle her cheek with his.]
It's terrifying in a way, just how happy you make me. Ha, but I like it! No. I love how you make me feel!
Ha... me too...! [ His giddy laughter is almost infectious. She nuzzles him back, kissing his cheek gently. What state are the two of them in... it feels beyond the love and happiness they were feeling moments ago. Like it transcends that somehow.
But she catches his hand and tries to regulate her breathing as she looks at him, even as her heart flutters. They're so close to losing themselves, and she can feel it. ] Hey, let's... explore all these strange feelings together, all right? Don't leave me behind...
[ But as long as he doesn't... she'd go through all of it and more with him. She'd jump off a cliff from sheer happiness, just to see if she could fly. ]
Of course we'll explore this together. That's part of a relationship! We share how we feel, [He sighs, purely content as he lays with her on the porch. Crickets crisp in the grass as a cool breeze stirs the trees in the yard beyond their happy little space.
Komaeda tangles his fingers in her hair as he murmurs softly.]
Whatever happens, as we as individuals grow...I'll walk this road together with you both.
[ She nods and burrows into him, content. Their conversations always seem to end up this way -- the two of them cuddled close for comfort, quietly slipping into happy silence. She's just so glad to be there with him, with some of that gratitude flowing into his mind -- just so he knows. ]
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Ah, and my friend Silver. Another version of him arrived and was here for a while.
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One version of you walks down this path, and the other walks down the one you didn't take. At your core you possess the same qualities. But who you met, who bonded with you, and how you shaped yourself is different.
It doesn't make either less important. They're just different and how others respond to them is different because of that. [He gently draws her hands close to him and dips his head, brushing his lips over her knuckles.] Chiaki, not matter who she was.
You're you. [He looks up into her eyes and purposefully speaks in his native language. Making sure to use the strongest form of love he can, to say...] And I love you for who you are.
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Oh, Nagito... [ She leans forward and kisses his forehead, slipping into their language as he does, just for a moment. ] I love you too.
[ She'd cried out a lot of her worries earlier in the week. Ironically, since she had done that, she was having a hard time putting them back together in her mind. One piece at a time -- and she strokes his hand as she does, another piece of anchoring, and closes her eyes softly to remember. ]
I can still see her. Of all of them, I think she's the happiest. I- she must have done really well. Sonia said she brought you all together.
[ Her eyes open slowly to look back at the real him. They are two people to whom that memory does not belong. ] Mm... it's something for me to look up to.
[ Again she finds herself grasping for words. Some of the ideas flow back to him before they're vocalized, though. ]
I'm... glad you're telling me. I know that it's been bothering you, and Hinata-kun too-- especially him... but it's hard for me to know how to help.
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I was part of the class but, mm. [He shakes his head slowly. Nanami makes him feel like he belongs somewhere. As he leans down, touching his forehead to hers, his fingers return to grasping hers.
His chest feels warm.] I wouldn't be so quick to consider her something to look up to. Just different.
Don't live in anyone's shadow. Ahhaha, take it from...someone who had the whole of the school as above him. It doesn't lead to good places. ...and anything you want to say, to vent or just talk about when it comes to this.
[Komaeda draws back enough to let go of her hands and peer into her eyes as he covers one of her hands in both of his.] I'm here.
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By contrast, his touch is softer than anything she's ever felt, and she shivers a little with happiness as he touches her. ]
Ah... but a little inspiration is good sometimes, isn't it? As long as you believe in yourself, too... you all inspired me on the island, and now here... you've accomplished so much, before I could even get here.
[ She squeezes his hands, taking them in both of hers. And she really wants to be close to him, so she shuffles closer, pressing her forehead against his shoulder. ]
Mm... I could be a literal shadow. But I don't think that's really what's going on, is it? I guess it's kind of hard to say.
But... I do want things. I want to know more about her, too. I think that's important, to know who she is.
[ Another quiet moment, then: ] Hinata probably knew her, didn't he?
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I think that's reasonable to assume. ...This hasn't been easy on him. Hajime...has been really worried about what this means and what it would do to you. [Hinata had been protecting her even as he agonized over what the memories might mean. That has to account for something.]
Ah, but I know you already know that.
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This is so much... I haven't been affected, but all of you have been remembering things, and him in particular... it must be painful.
[ A little sigh as she leans back into him. ] If anything, I'm relieved. I want to take this journey with both of you.
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And so you shall. You need to talk to him of course but, I believe it will all be alright. After all, I believe in both of you and the bonds between us.
That's...the torch that keeps the hope inside me so brillant and strong. Ahaha, well it births other feelings but you know what I mean! [With the bento boxes out of the way he sags, and leans back with a glint in his eye.]
Ah, it's so heart warming I could melt. [He slips further back, seemingly boneless while tightening his arm around her. No escape.]
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I think I'm learning about different kinds of love. There's love that makes me happy, and love that makes me afraid. All from two people. [ She looks up at him. ]
I worry about you two so, I'm sorry!
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All emotions have nuances. [His voice is soft, like it always is when his mind is far away. No one has ever loved him as much as Nanami and Hinata. He fears for them everyday. Even if he would rip apart mountains just to get to them.]
There's also...love that makes you feel brave. I made Hajime a promise. I'll make a similiar one to you. [He shifts, propping himself up on one elbow as he peers into her eyes.]
You will never be alone. I'll be here, no matter what happens. And even if I'm not physically around you. [His free hand settles just over her heart.] I'll be with you here, Chiaki.
In your hopes, in love, in everything you can imagine! Because I love you and I'll do everything I can to keep you safe. It's not home without both of you.
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She takes his hand again -- she can never seem to lose her contact with him for long. ] I think so too. So... I want to make a promise to you, too. But something a little different.
[ A lean forward to touch his forehead, a gentle kiss to his soft lips, a pull back just enough to look into his eyes, let him know she's serious. ] For as long as we are physically together, in the same world, I'm going to live with you to the best of my abilities. I want to share everything, I want to give you more than just my memory. I want to give you me.
If... that's okay.
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This is what fuels the blaze of hope in his chest. He'd gladly let them mess him up and use him up. Her or Hajime could even tie him up and he wouldn't mind it. He draws back from her lips to nuzzle her cheek with his.]
It's terrifying in a way, just how happy you make me. Ha, but I like it! No. I love how you make me feel!
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But she catches his hand and tries to regulate her breathing as she looks at him, even as her heart flutters. They're so close to losing themselves, and she can feel it. ] Hey, let's... explore all these strange feelings together, all right? Don't leave me behind...
[ But as long as he doesn't... she'd go through all of it and more with him. She'd jump off a cliff from sheer happiness, just to see if she could fly. ]
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Komaeda tangles his fingers in her hair as he murmurs softly.]
Whatever happens, as we as individuals grow...I'll walk this road together with you both.
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