[ Even a natural born scaredy-cat coward like Haruaki can't falter when he has Sano's strength so close at hand. He steels himself as best he can for them to head out, locking up behind him and relying on Sano to navigate in the correct direction. ]
[ Well, Sano doesn't need to tell him twice. Haruaki wraps both arms around one of Sano's, clinging so close that they have to do an awkward shuffle-walk together. ]
If I see a sailor uniform beckoning me from the darkness, you're seriously going to have to hold me back...
[It's not a far walk back to the apartment; Sano can't help but take it slow. He was never particularly afraid of the dark before this. Something about the way the shadows laugh makes him want to call Ebisu. It's...an unsettling sensation.
[Sano talks just to soothe himself.]
You have to be more careful, Seimei-kun.
NOT!!! SAD LIL MII-KUN!!!! WANTS HIS BWOTHER!!!! STOPPPP
[ That emptiness in his mind is disturbed, a stone thrown into a pond. ]
I know I do, but...
[ But nothing. The rest of his students would likely lecture him about the same thing. How backwards, huh? He should be the one telling them to be careful...
Up ahead, far beyond their little circle of light, deep in the darkness, Haruaki thinks he sees a flash of red. ]
[Sano thinks he can hear Haruaki's mind trailing off. He jostles him a little as they walk, somehow afraid to take his eyes off the path and look at his teacher. They both see something, so far off in the distance it's hard to make out. Sano's steps quicken.]
[ His fingers wind tighter around Sano's arm, voice trembling. Two shapes, both with their own reddish hues here and there. They're getting closer... ]
When I ran into Kurahashi-kun, I thought he was a hallucination too. But he was real...
[Would they both hallucinate the same thing? What are the chances of that? Hijita and Beniko call Seimei-sensei and Sano-kun's name like they've been saved, then start running in their direction.
[Sano pries his arm free from Haruaki's grip to extend his hand.]
[ This isn't good, this isn't good... Haruaki doesn't know whether to trust his gut or to push through his fear of the darkness, the shadows. Either way, Sano's course is set; it's not surprising that he throws all reason out the window for his beloved friends.
And Haruaki should too, for his beloved students, but... ]
[ As so often happens with Haruaki, all at once, a harebrained plan coalesces in his mind. ]
Hijita-kun! Zashiki-san! Forgive meeeeeeee!!!
[ He unwinds himself from around Sano to dart in front of him instead, hands thrown out before him, glowing blue for a moment before that familiar gigantic pentagram forms.
Best case scenario, they are Hijita and Beniko, and they get zapped of their energy for a little nap while Sano and Haruaki drag them to safety.
[Sano's voice rips out of his throat. It's equally Haruaki's bold move as it is him running out into the dark on his own. Sano chases after him with his lantern light, but the moment he reaches Haruaki, Hijita and Beniko have both disappeared.
[The world around them goes quiet. One could hear a pin drop.
[Instead, Haruaki will hear Sano, a strangled sound, clogging up his throat, making him gasp.]
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Clings on tighter, actually. ]
Waaah! Scary! What did you see!?
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I don't wanna talk about it.
[He's pushing Haruaki's face.]
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Okaaaaay...
[ And then, looking up at Sano like a hopeful puppy, fingers pressing together– ]
Now that you're here, Sano-kun... do you want to say hi to the uniforms too...?
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Will you get off the ground? Don't be such a creep.
[No, he does not want to say hi to the uniforms too.]
Say goodbye to them, and let's get out of here.
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Fine, fine. Haruaki stands up, turns to his beloved museum: ]
Byebye, sailor uniforms! Be good, tell me if any shadows try to break in overnight, okay?
[ ???????????
Anyway, now they can finally turn to leave–
But Haruaki freezes before opening the door back outside, shivering as he looks out into the pitch black. ]
S... scawy...
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Don't worry.
[Santo holds up the massive lantern, a protective orange bubble.]
We'll get back just fine.
[. . .]
Seimei... If you see anyone who's not supposed to be here...don't get too excited. It's probably not real.
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[ Even a natural born scaredy-cat coward like Haruaki can't falter when he has Sano's strength so close at hand. He steels himself as best he can for them to head out, locking up behind him and relying on Sano to navigate in the correct direction. ]
One time, I thought I saw Ame...
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Yeah. I thought I saw Mame too.
[But it wasn't real. They step out of Seifuku Heaven and into the dark. The only light they have is what the lantern gives them.]
Just stay close to me.
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If I see a sailor uniform beckoning me from the darkness, you're seriously going to have to hold me back...
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Think about something else-- No! Don't think about anything!
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[ He literally follows Shinto. ]
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[It's like Sano can read his empty mind.
[It's not a far walk back to the apartment; Sano can't help but take it slow. He was never particularly afraid of the dark before this. Something about the way the shadows laugh makes him want to call Ebisu. It's...an unsettling sensation.
[Sano talks just to soothe himself.]
You have to be more careful, Seimei-kun.
NOT!!! SAD LIL MII-KUN!!!! WANTS HIS BWOTHER!!!! STOPPPP
[ That emptiness in his mind is disturbed, a stone thrown into a pond. ]
I know I do, but...
[ But nothing. The rest of his students would likely lecture him about the same thing. How backwards, huh? He should be the one telling them to be careful...
Up ahead, far beyond their little circle of light, deep in the darkness, Haruaki thinks he sees a flash of red. ]
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[Sano thinks he can hear Haruaki's mind trailing off. He jostles him a little as they walk, somehow afraid to take his eyes off the path and look at his teacher. They both see something, so far off in the distance it's hard to make out. Sano's steps quicken.]
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[ His fingers wind tighter around Sano's arm, voice trembling. Two shapes, both with their own reddish hues here and there. They're getting closer... ]
When I ran into Kurahashi-kun, I thought he was a hallucination too. But he was real...
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[He recognizes them. Even through this dark, he recognizes them. He can't tell if they look afraid. He can't hear them.
[He wishes Haruaki hadn't opened his mouth. He's right. They have no way of knowing.]
Haruaki-kun...
Do you see them?
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[ That trembling has turned into violent shaking. Haruaki's voice lilts higher, louder, warbling through the darkness. ]
Hijita-kun? Zashiki-saaaan...???
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[Sano pries his arm free from Haruaki's grip to extend his hand.]
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[ You let go of Haruaki? You let go of him like the garbage that he is? Oh! Jail for Sano-kun!!!
Which is to say Haruaki wraps himself around Sano's waist instead, like a sweatshirt tied there by an insecure teenager. ]
Sano-kun!!!! I'm really scared, even if it is them!!!!! There's too many of you here now, it's dangerous!!!!!
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W-we'll all be okay!
1/2
And Haruaki should too, for his beloved students, but... ]
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Hijita-kun! Zashiki-san! Forgive meeeeeeee!!!
[ He unwinds himself from around Sano to dart in front of him instead, hands thrown out before him, glowing blue for a moment before that familiar gigantic pentagram forms.
Best case scenario, they are Hijita and Beniko, and they get zapped of their energy for a little nap while Sano and Haruaki drag them to safety.
Worst case scenario...
Well, they'll find out. ]
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[Sano's voice rips out of his throat. It's equally Haruaki's bold move as it is him running out into the dark on his own. Sano chases after him with his lantern light, but the moment he reaches Haruaki, Hijita and Beniko have both disappeared.
[The world around them goes quiet. One could hear a pin drop.
[Instead, Haruaki will hear Sano, a strangled sound, clogging up his throat, making him gasp.]
Dammit.
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All too often, this world isn't fair, but sometimes it's downright cruel...
His hand wraps back around Sano's arm, gently tugging him along. ]
Sano-kun... come on. I don't want to see who else they'll try to trick us with.
we can wrap here if u wanna or keep going :3b
[He's been at his breaking point...
[He hooks his arm with Haruaki's again and thrusts the lantern out in front of them. For the rest of the walk, his feet move quickly. He's silent.]