obfuscate | 008 // Video | up in the end is where we'll meet

[It was a usual Monday morning. Or at least, that was what Minami expected when she went to wake up her brother nice and early. However, when she found the door oddly unlocked after her futile attempts at knocking...

Empty. The room was devoid of any person, save for the stunned redhead. Maybe he went out without her knowing? It happened sometimes... She tried her best to keep positive, even though she felt like something was wrong with this situation. Hastily, almost desperately, she rummaged through her pockets for her Dreamberry. Contact list... Contact list...

....

Gone. His name, which had always been right under hers on the list, was gone. Soon, the emptiness of the room migrated to her very heart as the realization began to sink in.

Trying her best to keep her hands from shaking, she made a video call. Her expression is unreadable, which could alert most that what she was going say was not her usual silliness:]

For those of you who know Minato Arisato, he's... gone.

[Saying those words made her gut wrench. To her, it was almost as if he died a third time. Despite that, she forces a smile, though her voice becomes shakier the more she spoke.]

Ahaha... I guess this means I have no one to keep me in check, huh? Leaving a few things behind too... That's just asking for me to loot it all... How silly of hi... hi...

[Her quivering smile finally broke as she couldn't hold back anymore. Minami sank to the floor on her knees, dropping the Dreamberry as she cried uncontrollably.]

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[Minami sniffles.]

Thanks, Rise...

[She pauses, before she asks:]

Um... I don't know any other people I could talk to about this, and I don't want to bother Sanada-senpai, so... Is it all right if we could talk in person?

[She shakes her head. Of course it was all right with her to talk about something like this.]

Sure, I don't mind. Just give me a minute and I'll be right down, okay?

[At hearing the agreement, Minami couldn't help but smile. Though it was weak, it was genuine.]

Thank you so much... That really means a lot to me. I'll be waiting.

[Rise smiles back before ending the feed. She dresses out of her sleepwear and into something much more decent. It takes a while for her to get the dogs not to follow her down but when she finally does, she makes her way down the stairs and into Minato's room. She enters, immediately taking a seat beside Minami.]

Hey... [Her voice is quiet but she is able to place a sincere smile on her face as she looks to her friend.]

Hi...

[Minami's greeting was less energetic and over-the-top than usu. She had been staring at and fiddling with a pair of very familiar silver headphones in her hands.]

Rise, you've been here longer than I have, and you've learned to accept that people always have the potential to leave... I did too. Or at least, I thought I did. It's probably because I haven't seen my twin brother for such a long time...

[Her gaze moves up to the ceiling, her expression unreadable.]

... ever since he died with my parents in an accident ten years ago.

[Rise bit her lip as she listened to whatever Minami had to say. She honestly did not know what to expect Minami to say but if she could lend an ear, at least she would be doing something to help.

Her eyes settled on the headphones on the other girl's lap for a moment and she was more than certain that they had been Minato's. She didn't know anyone else who had anything similar to those. Even those had to be a painful reminder of her friend departing from the dream world.

But as soon as Minami mentioned something odd-- "ever since he died"-- She knew that people could come to Somarium even after their death but if Minato had been Minami's twin.

Rise leaned forward, pushing her weight against her knees as she turned to Minami, a puzzled expression on her face.]

Wait, what? But Minato-kun's fine! If you're twins and he's as old as he is-- He can't be dead. That doesn't make sense!

[Rise's confusion was expected. Minami continued on]

Let's say there's a world... exactly like the world you come from, but one single change from a certain point makes things happen differently. So, after what happened ten years ago... everything that happened to me, happened to Minato.

[She shrugs with a sigh.]

I guess that's why I'm so upset that he's gone...

[She's had something explained to her like this before... Not exactly with regards to the same thing but she was able to grasp the gist of it.]

Kinda like what Yuuwa-kun said when he was here too. Geez, does this place really have to make everything so complicated...

[He trails off for a while before moving her and to hold Minami's. She gave her a little squeeze for reassurance.]

I guess I can kinda understand. Maybe he'll be back someday?

[Minami blinked in surprise as Rise took hold of her hand. However, that eventually fades into a soft smile as she squeezes back.]

Yeah, I guess so. I should think positive about it. It isn't like me to be so negative.

[She laughs self deprecatingly.]

Haha, this is so weird... I'm usually the one listening to people's problems. I guess talking about myself once in a while is better than just bottling it up all the time... Thanks, Rise.

Ah, right. Could you promise me something?

Yeah, that's the spirit. I'm sure Minato-kun wouldn't want you to be upset just because he's gone.

[She laughs a little, covering her mouth with her other hand.]

Anytime, Minami-chan. Senpai was the same way. He was always the one listening. I guess I learned a thing or two from him, huh?

Hmm? [A slight tilt of the head.] What is it?

[Minami grins as she makes her request:]

Don't tell Akihiko-senpai or Shinjiro-senpai about the truth between me and Minato... They're already confused as is.

Okay, sure. [A pause.] You've never told them about this?

[She could understand the confusion but what takes her by surprise is that Minami was telling her this when she was obviously closer to the two.]

No, Minato and I agreed not to. It'll only make things more complicated.

[Plus, it didn't seem like it was all that important to talk about, until now.]

Oh... I think I gave Akihiko-senpai a hint once, but then again... Even if he's a great guy, he can be a little... dense when it comes to certain things. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about.

It kinda does. But I guess anything is possible for this place sometimes. At least it got you two to see each other again. That should at least count for something.

[She rolls her eyes a little at the mention of how dense Akihiko could be at times.]

Yeah, I totally know where you're coming from. Sometimes you just have to tell him outright for him to get where you're coming from.

008 // Video | up in the end is where we'll meet

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