2022-11-30: "That World is Waiting for You"
- Log: That World is Waiting for You
- Cast: Ennil El, Yuta Hibiki
- Where: Aya/Yuta's Apartment, Tsutsujidai
- OOC - IC Date: 0096-11-30
- Summary: Yuta is feeling pretty lost. Ennil decides to share some cake and a little advice from a friend.
<Pose Tracker> Ennil El has posed.
It's another warm day in Tsutsujidai. Ennil's back in that slim pink tanktop she'd favored the last time she'd been here, because her mind is back on this place. Though this time, there's a little golden chain around her neck, and a pendant close to her heart.
In some ways the heat is oppressive -- like everything here, it's worn around the hand of Akane Shinjo, and that association is hard. 'I'm counting on you!' But she can bear it. Because Akane's also left more kindness here then she knows.
Stepping up to the entrance of Aya comes with a lot more confidence today than the last time she'd stumbled to this door. She's come as a friend.
"Heeeyyy~ Looks like I couldn't stay away!"
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
Junk Shop Aya is somewhat more subdued today. Max stands behind the counter washing dishes, wearing a pink apron that matches Ennil's tanktop in a rather cute way! Calibur sits on a bar stool, knitting away. Ennil's appearance gets a momentary pause from both men, but they exchange a glance and seem to relax. Ennil is accepted.
"T--the kids." Calibur begins, laying down his knitting. "Rikka is with her friend. Y--Yuta has not left his apartment in." A look back to Max.
"He did emerge for the meeting last night. But beyond that... We practically have to drag him bodily to get him to leave his home." Max's voice is heavy with concern, though he does not look away, very focused on his task. "Though it is a pleasure to see you, Miss El. Do you wish any food from the cafe? Calibur has gotten quite good at preparing coffee."
The samurai makes an uncertain "hmm" sound. "I--I do my best. It seems to be popular here."
<Pose Tracker> Ennil El has posed.
Ennil arches an eyebrow. That night, there'd been some melancholy to Yuta, sure, but.
"And you guys are here?" She doesn't mean it as a reproach. These two, especially -- they'd kept such a careful eye on her that night that she knows they would never leave Yuta to harm. It's just concern. Are they lost for what to do?
"Let me get a cup, then. It's a long trip." She smiles, trying to lend Calibur a bit of warmth. He's especially reserved. "And -- if you can box some cake," she nods at Max, "Two. It looks like this won't be my only stop. It is good to see you guys too, though. How've things been holding up? It's... quiet here, it seems."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
"Indeed. Our job is to protect Gridman, and Yuta is a young man worthy of privacy." Max intones, though Calibur looks away at the question. There must've been some private debate on the matter.
"I--I made him a scarf." Calibur offers. The lanky samurai stands, clattering around behind the counter as he makes two cups of coffee. One is prepared with vanilla and cinnamon, and Calibur raises his eyes to Ennil. The silent question is clear -- would she also like any extras?
Once Calibur finishes, he hands both cups to Ennil, and Max slides two slices of cake into a box. Max's gaze feels warmer now, though most of his face is obscured with a mask. "Thank you, Miss El. Yuta could use the company of his friends now more than ever. Please give him a listening ear, should he require it."
"T--thanks." Calibur mumbles, returning to his seat and picking up his knitting. Red yarn is tied together at frankly alarming speeds. "T--Tsutsujidai is quiet. No native kaiju have been detected. I--I." Calibur looks up into Ennil's eyes, his gaze intense. "I feel we have not seen the end of this."
Max does not immediately return to his dishes, bowing his head slightly. "We will not see the end of it for quite some time, I believe. What of yourself, Miss El? Are you safe?"
<Pose Tracker> Ennil El has posed.
She takes the cups from Calibur smoothly, nodding. "I can tell you guys work hard. And, hey. Not everyone's the pushy type." Ennil grins at Max's question, tilting her head. "You can see better than anyone. Can't fool me, big guy." Certainly, the way Aya's light clings to her isn't the normal play of shadow you'd expect. "I've still got a lot to make up for, and it's not going to get any easier from here. But the stuff you've gotta do -- you just do, am I right? And... there are people waiting for me on the other side."
She's very careful arranging the box and cups just so, taking a sip from the cup Calibur prepared for her and smiling.
"I think... that Tsutsujidai exists at all, means the same for her. She still can't just give up and run away. So as long as you guys stick by him, Yuta won't either." She lifts that little pendant. "That's a promise all of us made, isn't it?"
She'll have to make sure Yuta knows that, too. "Thanks... for trusting me with this. I won't do him any harm. But you guys already figured that out."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
Max gives Ennil another warm glance. "We are very new to a realm such as this. I suppose everyone is." He does seem pleased by the praise, though. "Yes. Just as you have companions awaiting you, so do we. And so does Yuta. All any of us can do is move forward."
"D--Do you need help carrying any of that?" Calibur asks. "Y--yes. Akane Shinjo... Y--Yuta inherited much of her heart, so our enemy says. N--none of us will abandon any of them."
At Ennil's promise not to do Yuta any harm, both men nod seriously. It's clear her condition is on their minds, but Ennil has been given their trust. And for all the space they say they're giving Yuta, Calibur still has his swords on his back. Should anything go wrong, the young man would be safe within moments.
Yuta's apartment is close by, thankfully, should Ennil accept guidance from Calibur, or simply an address. It's not a shabby place by any means, but definitely on the inexpensive side... Up the stairs and a few doors in reads a plaque that proclaims "Hibiki". And if she rings the doorbell...
"Vit, I told you I'm fine, I don't need that much fresh air." Comes an irritated voice, as the door is opened. Blue eyes blink widely upon seeing Ennil, and Yuta's expression quickly turns into a smile. "Ennil? It's good to see you! Ah, I look like a mess... Please come in!"
It seems like the young man hasn't gotten out of his pajamas yet. Soft pants covered in cute cat faces combined with a light tank top make up his outfit, with red hair sticking in every direction. Yuta closes the door after Ennil, then hurridly runs ahead of her into the main room, moving some blankets and pillows to clear the way.
The most notable item on the way inside is a picture frame. Two adults stand on either side of a younger Yuta, though their faces are obscured by the camera's flash.
<Pose Tracker> Ennil El has posed.
"Sure. I'd hate to drop anything after you guys put in the work."
Though she's quiet on the walk, matching the dark samurai's easy silence, she can't help but bounce and hum a little. Is that... Universal Bunny?
"Alright~ I'll take it from here."
And when Yuta opens the door, she can't help but lean in a little, holding up the box of cakes. "Aw, don't worry about it! But the boys at Aya gave me an extra cake," And she winks here, to let Yuta in on the joke, "and I thought I oughta share. It sounds like Rikka's got something going on, but you're free, right?"
She follows Yuta at an easy pace, finding a clean spot to set down the treats from the junk shop. "You taking care of the place yourself? ...Guess you must be." The look on her face is warm, though she can't hide a little bit of concern. Yuta's got parents, after all - she didn't miss that little photo.
"I'm impressed. As rough as things were, I don't think I was ever really alone -- growing up, at least."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
Calibur walks by Ennil's side, carrying the slices of cake quietly. "T--thank you, Ennil." He murmurs, handing her the cake. In a blur of motion, the man has vanished back to Aya.
"Ah!" Yuta laughs, rallying a bit. He fusses with his hair quickly, all the same. There are dark circles under his eyes, has he been sleeping in the living room? "Thank you so much, Ennil. That's so thoughtful! Cake for dinner is perfect. Just don't tell Max, okay?"
Yuta quickly retrieves two plates and utensils, a small frown on his face as Ennil brings up his family. "Y--yeah, uh... Do you happen to know the deal about Tsutsujidai? With Akane, and... us all, here." Yuta takes a slice of cake and the coffee from Ennil, smiling softly as he smells the vanilla-and-cinnamon. "He always remembers..."
"Thanks, Ennil. It's been pretty tough, trying to figure out how to take care of a place like this with my amnesia. I'm doing my best, thanks to the internet!" Yuta takes a bite of cake with a happy noise. "Nobody makes food like Rikka's mom, I swear... And, um -- I'm glad you weren't alone back then. Are you now..?" Yuta winces. "Sorry, that's pretty insensitive to ask."
<Pose Tracker> Ennil El has posed.
"I... got the jist of it. The..." She mulls over the words a bit. "Ruin Disciples, I guess. They gave me the rundown. And Akane admitted it, when we met. Seems crazy, but I guess there are folks who can do things like that..." She sinks a fork into her own cake, giving a little appreciative smile as she digs in. "Haha, I don't think those guys miss a beat. Especially when it comes to you." She takes a little sip of her coffee as Yuta finds his way through his words.
"Amnesia on top of everything? Geez. I'd be really worried if I didn't know you had friends in the neighborhood." There are certainly things Ennil would like to forget, but having to start over completely... Even she's not sure that'd be a mercy. And for Yuta, it seems like it's put more on his shoulders, not less.
"Ah, don't worry about it. ...I guess I thought I was, for a while. Got myself in trouble over it." Some more of the coffee. Calibur did have a knack for this, actually. "I've got a little shop I was living out of. Back of a bar, just never bothered to open the place back up. Changed my mind recently. It's been nice to just hear people out, and I can always close the place up when I need a break." She smiles. "Because folks wouldn't let me just hide away forever."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
Ennil admits she's a Ruin Disciple. Yuta can't help but widen his eyes, but he keeps his gaze down on the cake as she goes on. A moment passes as he wonders if this is really safe. He's only met Ennil once before now, and they connected, but... The young man looks up, eyes soft, searching for any hint of betrayal on Ennil's part.
"Yeah. Because of that... There's a letter from my parents, saying they're on a trip. But I'm starting to --" Yuta cuts himself off, biting his lip. "...have some doubts." He manages, after a few moments. "Wow, that's the first time I've been able to say that out loud! S--sorry..."
Swiping a hand at his eyes, Yuta nods, shrugging with an embarrassed laugh. "Yeah! Rikka found me unconcious outside of her house and... that's the first thing I remember!" His smile is enduring, but it's pretty wobbly... "I'm really thankful for her and her mom, and the Neon Genesis Junior High Students. Without them, I think I'd probably be laying in the street somewhere."
As she goes on, Yuta turns his full attention to his guest, listening intently. "A shop of your own, no wonder you loved Aya so much. It sounds just like your place. I'm really glad you've got friends like that. I guess I do too." Yuta smiles to Ennil. "Between you and the others, there's no way I'll rot away in here."
<Pose Tracker> Ennil El has posed.
The shock in Yuta's eyes -- for just one moment, it's like Ennil is under the barrel of a gun. There's a sharp gasp, her blue eyes widening, her hand tensing on her fork, and then...
She stops, takes a breath, and forces it back down. "You think... That's something Akane did for you? Or... to you?"
It's hard to separate the two when it comes to Akane. Though she has a feeling she knows which one Akane herself would pick, if pressed. But Yuta keeps going on.
"That's a scary thought... guess I've been in some situations like that." She sighs. "Funny, I guess both of us ended up in Aya the day we really needed it, huh?"
She brightens as Yuta does, doing her best to match his tone. "Yeah. I've... not always done right by them. And I got properly chewed out about it yesterday." She actually chuckles at that, even if her tone's a little low again. "But they're... well, they remind me of you and your friends, I guess. How you keep going. Which is why I decided I had to make sure you were, too."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
"S--sorry, I mean -- the others told me, but I didn't really believe them all the way, I guess, and --" Yuta raises a hand, trying to reassure Ennil. "I trust you. And they do too, or they never would've let you in Aya, not to mention here! It was just -- a little surprising, you know?"
For all his bluster, Ennil's momentary struggle with the fork goes totally unseen. Yuta relaxes as the conversation moves on, thinking for a moment. "I'm not really sure. I guess I've been thinking about it like... If you made a world of your own, would you really think about every single person's parents, and stuff like that? If she just wanted friends at school, why bother making them families?" Yuta's voice wavers a bit. "She never intended on any of us, um, 'waking up'. So..."
He trails off. What else is there really to say? It's uncomfortable no matter how Yuta faces it. Is he angry with Akane over this? Is he sad his parents might not exist? Can you miss someone you never actually knew?
Yuta swallows heavily. The cake is devoured quickly, the young man trying to ground himself with the familiar taste. "Y--yeah. Aya's a lot of things for a lot of people, but I think it's a sanctuary most of all. Ooh, sorry you got chewed out... But I think that's a good sign that someone actually cares about you. If they were just a casual friend, I don't think they'd mind, I guess." Another drink of coffee. "But the fact that they'd go to the effort to express their feelings with you? That makes me think they're a true friend. It seems kind backwards!"
"I -- deserve some of that, myself." Yuta moves his dishes to the side, wrapping both hands around the warm drink. "I messed up so badly, Ennil, and I don't know what to do. I hurt everyone. Sorry, I don't -- you don't need this."
<Pose Tracker> Ennil El has posed.
Ennil lifts her coffee, slowly, taking her time with the drink. The poor kid tears through his cake -- the anxiety is obvious.
"Yeah, I guess that could be it. But I also wonder..." Ennil tilts her head for a moment, staring into Yuta's blue eyes. "It'd be pretty awkward if nobody here had families at all, right? Even if she didn't expect anyone to notice... I just don't think she's that sloppy. And... the stuff Rikka's mom makes really is special compared to everything else here, isn't it?" She's quiet for a moment, rolling the words around over her tongue. "Akane told me she hasn't eaten... since she stopped needing to, I guess." Her teeth catch on her bottom lip as she lets out a slow breath. "She had to remember what it was like. ...It makes me wonder, that's all. What else is just something she remembers from somewhere else?"
Seeing Yuta so down on himself, she sets down the cup with a soft thump. "Don't apologize to me. If there's something you gotta say -- it's not gonna do you any good in there." A finger softly pressed into his chest. "Maybe I'm not who's gotta hear it, but I think you need to practice saying it. You'll start sounding like Calibur if you never pipe up."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
Yuta's voice gets quiet as he goes on. "I've never seen Rikka's father, or her brother. Or Utsumi's parents. I don't think Akane would mean to do anything like this. But she's not infallible." He meets Ennil's gaze in return, distress clear as he takes in her words. "Akane... She gave me food on my very first day of school, and she hasn't even been feeding herself?"
"I have a friend who knew Akane before all this." Yuta murmurs, turning the cup around in his hands. "Things were hard for her. He even thought, um. That she'd died. I think it got pretty bad. So maybe, she wouldn't see families as things people need. I mean, as far as I know, nobody's ever come looking for her from the outside world, before the kaiju and things."
Woah! Ennil pokes Yuta in the chest, and he blinks up at her, eyes huge. "Ennil?" Yuta resists the urge to apologize again, putting his own cup down. "If you're sure, I... Maybe it would help."
"I guess... Akane made a kaiju that brainwashed people?" Yuta says, hesitantly, like he still can't quite believe it. "Everyone else was able to walk around like normal, and they said things like they were tired of fighting and wanted some peace. So I believed them! They're -- they were my friends. I told them I'd fight to keep them safe, and I did." Yuta squeezes his eyes shut. "I fought a guy as myself, I punched him and kicked him for nothing. He kinda... kicked my ass, but, he was right. Akane was brainwashing people. They didn't want to be here. I didn't realize until it happened to me, too."
Yuta brings his hands up, covering his eyes with his fists. "I should've known. I should've known they wouldn't abandon their fights or the people they love! I was so stupid! Everyone left, and I don't blame them. Alouette said she doesn't blame me, but I kinda wish she did. I hurt her. I hurt everybody, and I wasn't even awake to make things right."
<Pose Tracker> Ennil El has posed.
She's quiet as Yuta lets it all spill out. A kaiju that brainwashes people... that convinces them to stop fighting, that there's no reason to keep struggling. "Well. That explains some things..." She doesn't elaborate.
"You fought for them when they couldn't bear it themselves. That's nothing to be ashamed of." Her voice is genuine and warm. "Even if you didn't know why -- they needed that. It would've been worse without you."
But the torment in him. He'd hurt others fighting for something that wasn't what he wanted it to be. And Akane... She'd turned it on him, too. Ennil's expression sours, thinking about that a bit. But she'd done the same thing -- wanted to believe in Tsutsujidai, and lashed out at people she thought were a threat to it. Been willing to hurt people over it.
"So what now, Yuta? Punish yourself? Punish Akane? Do you... hate Tsutsujidai, now?" That hand slides from his chest, down to his wrist. Squeezing softly on the band around it.
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
"I know that's a lot. Sorry. Please don't think the worse of Akane for it... I really, really think she was trying to be kind." Yuta pauses. "But all the same, what she did was wrong, and they have every right to be angry with her. It's so hard to know what's right!"
Yuta startles, gasping as Yuta touches his band. His eyes are wide and frightened... Does she know? Is she going to hurt him, or reveal his secret? Akane must know by now, but--!
Holding very still, a few moments pass. Slowly, Yuta brings his eyes up from his wrisband to Ennil's eyes, taking a breath. "I don't know. I'll never hate Tsutsujidai. I... don't know how I feel about Akane. She gave me a really beautiful dream. I was happy, and I didn't have to fight. I had a normal life for a while. But everyone else doesn't feel that way."
Tears gather in Yuta's blue eyes, but he blinks them away. "I don't think I have the right to punish anyone. I wasn't the one hurt. But what if they come for her? Do I have the right to stop them? No matter what I think about doing, it feels like the wrong choice."
<Pose Tracker> Ennil El has posed.
"Dummy."
She grins. A little joke to herself.
"If you weren't hurt, you wouldn't be looking at me that way. Just because Akane wanted to be kind... Doesn't mean she can't make mistakes. I don't believe you did a single thing you're so upset about out of anything but kindness."
Her hand loosens, comes away from his wrist.
"You're not always going to know the right way. But you know the future you want, don't you? The one where even someone like Akane gets to be saved. It won't come to you if you spend all day hiding behind these four walls."
She smiles, genuinely, and sets both hands on the table, taking a deep breath.
"Yuta! I love Tsutsujidai! I love Aya! And that's because of everyone in it -- including you, and Akane! So if you can't take another step forward yourself -- you don't have to! Because you're not doing it alone, are you?"
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
Yuta blinks in surprise as Ennil calls him "dummy", momentarily surprised out of his spiraling. "I -- you really think that..?" It's genuine surprise, as though Yuta had been preparing for Ennil to abandon him at his words. Her hand comes away from his wrist, and he breathes easily again.
"Yes. The future I want... Everyone together, enjoying a summer day. Maybe eating in the park." Yuta smiles as he imagines it. "We'll all be happy. Nobody will have to fight anymore."
Ennil declares her love for Tsutsujidai, and Yuta's eyes light up. He grins, laughing in delight. "Y--yeah! I love it too, my city, and everyone in it!" A bright smile stays on the young man's face, a genuine one, now. "Yeah! I have Rikka and Utsumi, and -- everyone in Aya, and Gridman! And all our friends, including you, Ennil. If you want to join us, after all this mess."
Yuta's heart pounds in his chest. He still feels nervous, but that knot of grief and fear in his chest has loosened so much he feels like he can let it go.
<Pose Tracker> Ennil El has posed.
"Then you can't stop here. That world is waiting for you, if you keep going." She beams back at Yuta. "You wanna know something, Yuta? Akane told me there were junk shops in town, but no matter where I went, the only one I found was... the one where you guys were waiting for me. Don't you think she knew that would happen?"
Something leaps in her heart, when he suggests she could stay here too -- though it sticks in her throat. "I... do think I'd like that." Her head tilts down. "But, well... you know why that won't be easy, now, don't you? There's a different future... I can't give up on either. Even if I like yours better, sometimes."
Still, she can't stop smiling. "So if you really think I should be there, in that cute future of yours... You're gonna have to be real strong, Yuta. Because I'm pretty tough."
<Pose Tracker> Yuta Hibiki has posed.
"The world?" Yuta laughs a little, shaking his head. "I can barely keep up with one city! The world may have to wait just a bit..." His eyes soften at the thought of Akane sending Ennil to them. "If that's true, then she still believes in us. I keep wondering if she hates me, becuase I fight with Gridman, I guess. Maybe she meant to just send you to Rikka, but, I'll take it."
"I still send her texts every day. She never replies, but it's something! Letting her know I care, and I haven't given up on her. Maybe making her laugh? I'm still not good at memes, but I try to find nice ones to send." Ennil looks down as she talks about Tsutsujidai. Ooh, maybe it was too soon to suggest her coming to the city after the brainwashing incident... "O--of course, only if you want to! Please don't feel pressured! You have every right to do what you want!"
Yuta reaches out now, putting a hand on Ennil's shoulder. "Fight for your future, Ennil. You're tough, right? You just told me. You can do this. Whatever the right future is for you... I hope you'll figure it out along the wait. There'll always be cake waiting if you want to talk it over."
Deep in his heart, Yuta knows the goal of the Ruin Apostles. He remembers the Shuffle Alliance's warning, and he knows what Ennil's talking about. But he can't bring himself to see her as a threat. Even this close to her, Ennil only feels like his friend. And Yuta always believes in his friends.
"I'll fight as hard as I can, every day." Yuta smiles, bringing his arm back. He extends his hand again, pinkie finger raised. "I know you should be there. I'll do whatever I can to bring the future I believe in to life. Pinkie promise that you'll do the same?"
<Pose Tracker> Ennil El has posed.
"Haha. I'm glad. Actually... I never let her know! Maybe I should send her some texts, too." She catches that edge of nervousness and shakes her head as he stumbles. "It's not that! I just want... to keep Tsutsujidai safe, before I promise to come back!"
But... now he's reaching out to her. This guy... doesn't he... understand what she's going to do?
She leans in, wrapping her arms around Yuta's middle. "You dummy. You're gonna get me all choked up. I hope you know what you're getting yourself into!" She has to take a couple breaths before she can let up, meeting those cheerful blue eyes with her own and nodding.
"Alright. Even if we're not headed in the same direction right now... that doesn't mean either of us is alone. That's what Tsutsujidai means to me..." She brings her hand up, joining Yuta's offered promise. "So yeah. I promise. I'll keep going... until I can see that future of yours, Yuta!"