idolpro | Izanagi's Ideal World

Even though there was talk of getting people winter coats in the past day or so?

[ he's not gripping Izanagi as tightly, but he still. is.

he hates this. he'd take someone stabbing him again over this. ]

... This world has nobody in it, Izanagi. It's quiet, but it's empty.

What, you mean like six months ago?

Are you sure you didn't just have a bad dream?

I've never had a bad dream that starts with me trying to buy off punishments, getting run through with dull needles and bled out, or having my arm torn off, and... ending up in your guest room, just fine.

That makes perfect sense for my world. [ squeeze. ]

It doesn't make sense for one like this.

...Kitsu, you really need to stop beating yourself up over stuff.

[He'll pull himself out of the hug and flick Kitsu's forehead if he can.]

[ blinks?? really Izanagi, really. ]

I'm... not following.

You already went through hell. You shouldn't be inventing more ways to torture yourself.

I didn't invent this world, and yet this feels like the worst torture of all.

[ he looks aside. ]

An empty world where I have to navigate alone again? A house I don't want, that doesn't make any sense to me..?

A world where I have to say this at all, when you looked so happy to see me...

...

Do you really hate this place that much more than hell itself?

It's fucking with someone I care about.

So, it's really no different in the end, right?

[ he can't even manage a bitter laugh here. ]

I want you to be happy in a world full of people, and not just... nobody, nothingness. Nothingness, and me.

-Why do you make it sound like you're a bad quality?

You're missing the rest of what I said...

Because even when you're talking about unrelated things, you find a way to put yourself down in the middle of it.

Why?

Listen.

Even if I thought I was the most amazing person who lived a charmed life, I'd still say that a world with nobody else but me isn't right.

Which still isn't the case, but... I'll accept it, I guess.

Then... show me where the others are?

You want me to call another taxi and leave already?

No, I just... want to know where everyone else is. Where are our friends? Where is everyone...?

Lupine, Venti, Persephone, Alexander, and Lahabrea were all around... you seriously didn't see any of them?

They're probably back in the neighborhood.

[Okitsu's phone begins to beep.]

... No. I didn't see any of them. I'm telling you, it was just me and all these... events that kept sending me back to that room.

[ zero encounters! except with faceless store clerk and blank taxi driver/townsperson.

he reaches for his phone though. what could this be about, more games? ]

[Upon looking at the phone, it becomes clear that it’s finished loading. However, the screen has a few other differences, too.]

Password: CHRYS

Open file?

YES/NO

[But even if they don’t make a selection, once they’ve had a chance to read the words on the screen, “yes” flashes and the screen changes once more. It seems to be an album file titled “Missing Element: Chrysanthemum” with various photos of Izanagi and another idol from LiliS. The contents are all mundane little snapshots of life - shopping at a department store, or even the black market, photos of cooking together, or relaxing side by side. And while Chrys’ expression tends to be more subdued, Izanagi’s clearly happy in every single one.]

[ ... ah. Kitsu closes his eyes, takes a deep breath. okay. okay.

he spends a while just looking through the pictures, looking at the happiness that should be on Izanagi's face, but... isn't. Kitsu smiles too, but it's somber, distant. he's certain he can feel the sting of tears at his eyes, though they don't fall. ]

Even if all of those people were here, there's still someone else that's missing, isn't there?

...

What are you talking about...?

... It's Chrysanthemum, isn't it? Where... is Chrysanthemum?

[He spends a long moment looking at Okitsu before giving a short, harsh bark of laughter.]

...Ahhh, so that's it, huh?

It's... all right here. I didn't go snooping or anything.

[ he passes his phone over, the album still opened. he hasn't been able to do much with his phone thus far. ]

... You look really happy with him.

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