IC inbox

[secrowtary]

Comments

[mapsio]

Truthfully I'm not sure if I have the energy to walk out of here.
I didn't want to worry anyone...

[secrowtary]

I asked you to report back if something happened. Don't you dare worry about us, just worry about yourself.

[ He's trying to reassure her in his own weird way. ]

Akira will carry you out, I'm sure.

[mapsio]

The experimenting has been going on for a few days now.
I didn't know how to tell you. I'm sorry.

[secrowtary]

[ If the situation was different, he'd probably just yell at her for apologizing. There's nothing to be sorry for—if anything, he should be the one who's sorry. And he is. Even if he's not saying it. ]

I never told you that you need to report consistently.

[ Hibiki takes a deep breath. Why does he have to be like this!! This is not how you support your friends, probably. ]

Haru-san, what's your favorite dish?

[ Can he ever make her think about other things... ]

[mapsio]

I don’t know if I can even think about food right now. I’m sorry. Ask again when I’m out of this place?

[She is....so sorry.]

[secrowtary]

[ Nice try, Hibiki. ]

That's fair. I should've known this.
But I don't want you to fall asleep, Haru-san.

[mapsio]

[Finally, her voice comes through. Surely Hibiki is prepared for how rough she sounds right?]

Why can’t I sleep? I’m so tired, Hibiki-kun.

keywords

[secrowtary]

[ Of course he isn't. Her voice is so different. ]

Haru-san...

[ He'd like to point out that using her voice might not be a good idea if the monitors are around, but he cannot bring himself to. It must be easier for her that way, but...

All in all, maybe it's not that bad. Especially if she'll mention his name a few more times. Maybe they'll come for him and he'll be able to infiltrate the place from the inside. ]

Don't sleep, please. Not yet. Talk to me.

[mapsio]

[She is certain that the monitors aren’t tracking her telepathy conversations. She’s so certain that she is safe from them this way.]

They probably won’t let me sleep. Let’s talk about something that will distract me from this? Anything that isn’t food.

[secrowtary]

You've never told me why do you like tiger lilies so much, Haru-san.

[ Are flowers a good enough subject, he ponders. ]

[mapsio]

It symbolizes confidence and pride, and they have such a brightness that makes you smile just seeing them. I love them because they brighten any room you place them in.

[secrowtary]

Ah, now I understand.

[ They're just like her. The brightness that makes you smile. ]

But you must have a second favorite, right? Which flower is it?

[mapsio]

Stargazers are pretty. I think I could call them my second favorite. Why?

[secrowtary]

[ He's planning to obtain as many of those as possible. Even if it won't ever be enough to compensate for what she's going through. ]

Why did you take up gardening in the first place, Haru-san?

[ Hopefully it'll distract her from what's happening around her for a little while longer. ]

[mapsio]

It started as something at school. I took care of some planters on the rooftop and then I just ended up taking up gardening as a hobby. It was a good distraction from everything.

[secrowtary]

Were you doing this alone? Or did someone help you?

[ At least he knows better than asking what everything was. ]

[mapsio]

Alone.

[secrowtary]

[ It turns out that maybe he doesn't know anything. ]

I'd love to learn a thing or two about gardening from you, Haru-san. I can make clay pots for your plants in exchange.

[ This whole conversation feels so unreal. Haru asked him to talk to her, but still. ]

[mapsio]

Do you make pottery, Hibiki-kun?

[secrowtary]

I do. It's nothing special, but I enjoy doing it.

[ He takes a breath. This. This isn't happening. Why are they talking about all these mundane things in such circumstances... ]

Haru-san...do you think you could help me find my favorite flower?

[mapsio]

Of course I will. When they free us... I can help you find your favorite flower. Maybe you will even find two?

[secrowtary]

I hope so.

[ He goes silent for a while after saying that. ]

Is there anything you'd like to do together in the future, Haru-san?

[ Maybe it'll help her think about something happy at least for a short while. ]

[mapsio]

Get to know you even better, if that is possible. That is what I wish for.

[secrowtary]

I'll do everything I can to make it come true. I promise you that.

[mapsio]

You will really let me?