Chapter 3 – Nero POV
I seem to be apologizing a lot.
Well, I've put it off for long enough and I'm kinda tired of feeling this guilty.
I lean through the doorway, glancing at the TV. Mizu is watching… some sort of magical girl show, going by the young girl in a frilly dress pointing a wand at a slime monster. Which gets turned into a puddle a moment later by a beam of pink light. Don't recognize the series, but we're both in an alternate world and magical girl shows are a dime a dozen, so it's not like that's too surprising.
"Hey, Mizu, do you mind if I borrow Reinforce for a moment? I need to talk with her about something."
"Yeah, sure, go ahead." Mizu waves a bandaged hand vaguely behind her, not even bothering to turn around, and I see Reinforce sitting on the corner of the couch next to her. "Don't think I need her for anything, after all."
Well, I suppose it's good that she seems okay? Eh, it's Mizu. "That okay with you Reinforce?" Would probably be a bad move to ignore the sentient Device's opinion. Especially considering my… misstep yesterday.
"I have no objection to the discussion. While we are in the midst of episode six of 'Magical Girl Aki', internet sources easily allow me to review the moments I missed."
I nod and pick up the surprisingly light book that constitutes Reinforce's physical form. "I'll have her back soon Mizu, this shouldn't take long."
Slipping back out of the room and back to my bedroom, I ping Bardiche mentally to take a step back. The absence of the constant information from the HUD is rather stark now that it's gone, and the lack of awareness is almost putting me on edge. I'll need to keep an eye on dependance to that.
"Right then." Looking down at the Book as I place it on the side table, I'm suddenly feeling really awkward about this. I was always crap at apologies I actually meant.
I carefully sink down to the floor, to try and bring us into a semblance of eye-level.
"I just wanted to say I am sorry for bringing up your friends yesterday. It was manipulative, and probably too far." Ducking my head a little, I wait for her response.
"
It hurt. Reinforce's first words are slow, cautious, and heavy with emotion. "
I miss them, you know that, and it hurt that you used their absence as a means of convincing me. It hurt, but neither can I claim that you didn't have a good reason for doing so, and seeing how Mizu is behaving a single day later is proof enough you were right. She's still withdrawn, mostly ignoring the world, but focusing on fictional ones is still better than wallowing in self-regret."
"
So for that, I thank you. But please don't do such a thing again."
"I promise I won't. It was the only way I could think of, but it was still cruel of me to do so, no matter the results." I really can be a bastard. Well, bitch now, but point stands.
I keep my eyes focused on the floor, waiting for her words. The silence stretches, growing tense, before she speaks once more.
"
I'll hold you to that." A shadow appears on the ground as some kind of magic occurs on the table. I look up as two feet drop into my vision, before catching a rap on the head.
I blink, rubbing my head, before taking in
Reinforce's human form. "That was fair." She has red eyes too. Also, gorgeous. Silver hair about as long as mine is and taller than I am now. Probably shorter than my old body, but it's difficult to tell since she's standing and I'm kneeling. Did I mention she's gorgeous?
Rubbing my head one last time, mostly for show, I offer a hand up to her. "All I can offer is that I'll try my best to keep Mizu as safe as I can." It's the best I have to offer her.
She smirks and pulls me to my feet. I barely come up to her chest. "
That's my job, but you'll work as a substitute Knight. Barely." Ouch.
Reinforce stretches, moving around me, and wanders out the door back towards Mizu.
Moments later I hear a squawk of surprise and thump as Mizu falls off the couch.
