[X] Thanks. I think, I'll need it.
[X] Remind yourself that two weeks ago you didn't even know these girls, and now they are your friends, they are here for you.
-[X] If you managed to reach for them and befriend them, you surely can reach for your sister.
[X] Check your Soul Gems.
[X] Say goodbye to Ariane.
[X] Have a talk with Auntcle.
-[X] Hugs, describe your day, ask how was his day.
--[X] Mention how Eve's father did not need to be broken out of the curse, unlike his children.
-[X] Ask if Kimiko knows about our visit, should we call her and warn her.
"Y-yeah…" you force yourself to stutter out as you wipe your eyes clean. A faint smile splits your mouth and you turn your head to look at your friends face to face. "Thank you. I'll need all of it."
It's quite strange when you stop to think about. Just two weeks ago you didn't know either one of these girls sitting next to you. And now they're your precious friends. For such an eventful time of your life, it hasn't taken very long. In that time you find yourself sitting with new friends, who are there for you when all seems hopeless and heavy.
What's reaching out to your sister compared to this? She'll no doubt be happy to see you as well after all this time! You just need to hold on and keep going until you get to her.
"Don't mention it. That's what friends are for, right!" Ariane exclaims.
"Mmm… By the way, uh...?" you begin, and shake your head. You shuffle around a bit to find and bring out your Soul Gem. You've probably accrued a lot of grief from this, and it never hurts to be careful.
Tamiko grief: 325/2000
You suppose it could be a lot worse, though you'll probably need to cleanse soon. "How's your situation?" you ask your friends, just in case.
"You're the one who's been crying your eyes out here," Mariko says with a sigh. "It was barely a blip when we left Evelyn's house."
"I'm all good too," Ariane finished off. "But what about you? It's not just the Soul Gem, you know."
"I'm good, at least now," you say. "And again, I can't thank you enough for being there for me."
"And I can't tell you not to mention it enough," Ariane says and slowly untangles herself from the group hug. "But I think it's better to get going now. It's late, and you're going to go to bed soon, right?"
"Yeah… We'll be seeing each then?" you ask, and receive an affirmative nod from Ariane. The girl in question offers you some final reassurances, before bidding the rest of you farewell for the night and leaving for the aide that's waiting her down below on the street level.
You're left there with Mariko and your auntcle for company. And as it stands, there's something you needed to talk about.
You sigh and walk to the kitchen the moment the door is closed behind Ariane. Your aunt is already waiting there, and you can see the last few twists in the air vanish as she drops the illusion for the night. Mariko on her part walks to the side, checking the oven with deliberate slowness.
You simply march straight to your aunt, and throw your arms around her. "It has been a long day today," you whisper.
"Well, you certainly look the part. Here I had thought to give you lot a day-off, but life had other plans it seems," the woman muses gently, ruffling your hair while she returns the brief hug. "Just take a seat, you two. I've prepared some baguettes and hot chocolate for tonight."
Her gaze travels to the surprised-looking Mariko, who shuffles awkwardly under the gaze, but relents without a word. The two switch places, as your aunt takes out the breads from the oven, while Mariko awkwardly seats herself next to you. You can't help the watering of your mouth once the aroma of your aunt's cooking hits your nose from the opened oven.
The woman lays them pieces of bread on the table and pours a steaming mug of hot chocolate she has prepared for everyone, before finally sitting down herself.
You take the initiative to continue while that happens, as well as to explain everything that happened. "I mean, we did go to Evelyn's after school, and had a really good time! Everyone's so nice there," you say. "But because I, uh… I talked with Evelyn's family members. I had to explain what has been going on with me to Ariane and Mariko."
"...Nothing new to add to that from here," Mariko follows after with a shake of her head, preempting questioning of her.
"Well, that's one thing out of the way. But take it easy, alright?" your aunt notes, before reminding you. "And remember to cleanse!"
"I will, don't worry," you promise. "But anyways, something strange also happened over at Evelyn's. When I spoke to Evelyn's dad, he didn't need to be broken out of the curse. It was like he was already exempted. How could that happen?"
Your aunt certainly appears to find that peculiar, and even Mariko seems to find some measure of curiosity about the topic, despite trying to be as unflappable as humanly possible.
"Gilles, right?" your aunt asks, and you nod back at her. "I honestly have no idea how that could be. I can't claim to be an expert on how the effects of that work, however… But have you ever met him before?"
"I don't think so, no?" you answer with voice clouded in uncertainty. "He seemed like the type that's difficult to forget too."
"Hmm, I think I'll try asking him about that in work tomorrow," your aunt promises with a frown, and turns to regard Mariko. "And how are you holding up after everything?"
"I'm alive, thank you," Mariko pans. "There already seems to be a lot going on here even without me, what with the trip to Tokyo and magical curses."
"It's part of life, don't you dare let it make you think yourself as a third wheel," your aunt warns her sternly, without hesitation, which draws a guilty flinch and a mumbled sorry from Mariko.
"Speaking of Tokyo, though…" you blurt out before you've fully thought it through. "D-does… Does Kimiko know we're coming?"
"Yes, she does," your aunt says, following up with what you think is a deliberate diversion to take your attention. "I actually meant to talk about the trip with you today. While we're of course going there to see family, there's also something else, something important we're going to do there!"
You're too curious now to call her out on it anymore. "Like what?"
"Oh, you see, Tokyo is a very good place for shopping," your aunt begins coyly, before turning more serious again. "And you can't sleep on a futon forever, Mariko… And frankly, both of you need some good, fitting clothing as well."
It's actually quite impressive how quickly Mariko's expression manages to shift from being stunned to pure fear, and then to wrenching guilt, before finally settling on a strange mix of all of them buried under passionate objection she's about to throw out. There's probably some glimmer of thankfulness and relief there as well, but it's well-buried under everything else she's feeling.
You, on the other hand, are still trying to wrap your head around the idea of actually being able to go shopping again with other people.
What do you do?
[] Write-in.
===
Well, Mariko's still going to be the stick in the mud about people putting effort into her.
.
