GRADUATION: A PRELUDE

[idolpro]

[ Morning in Tokyo F, now that you've returned from your short jaunt on another program, feels utterly unremarkable. It's a little cool for summer, clouds slowly drifting across the expanse of the slowly brightening sky.

Though, a shadow falls over her shoulder, cast from someone taller that is standing not too far behind her. The shadow of someone in a fairly distinctive suit. ]

Comments

[sleeplessknight]

[well, that isn't ominous or anything. she turns around immediately, a bit startled by the sudden company]

—?!

[deut32_35]

Aren't you jumpy.

[ Asmodeus is behind her, dark eyes glittering in amusement behind his glasses. ]

One would think you'd seen something unpleasant.

[sleeplessknight]

[inhales sharply instead of jumping this time, but she's very much still on edge]

Who...?

[deut32_35]

A man with an offer for you.

[ and then, with a careless roll of his shoulders: ]

Or Asmodeus, if you need a name.

1/2

[sleeplessknight]

[sleeplessknight]

[this is probably a terrible idea but the word escapes her lips before she can think better]

No.

[deut32_35]

Yes, actually. I had no plans on changing it.

[ But he spreads his hands, in a glib motion of surrender ]

I had thought as much.

[ He steps past her— and is gone ]

[rosestained]

[ from a little distance away, a woman laughs from where she sits perched on a sidewalk fence, idly kicking her burn-scarred feet ]

Oh dear, you didn't give him a chance at all.

[sleeplessknight]

[she's still trying to process the fact that Asmodeus just left like that when the second woman catches her attention.

what.]

W-What is going on here?!

[rosestained]

The Lord has smiled upon your strength. Your time to depart has come, Sleeping Knight.

[sleeplessknight]

E-Excuse me?

[rosestained]

Congratulations on graduating~~~~

[sleeplessknight]

B-But I haven't?!

[rosestained]

Should I have said, "congratulations on graduating soon," instead?

[sleeplessknight]

I... what?

[math lady face]

[rosestained]

I have come as God's messenger to bring you your good tidings.

[sleeplessknight]

... Is this for real?

[rosestained]

[ hops off the fence, walking over to her to close the distance between them ]

Yes. Soon, through the gates of Heaven, you may return home on your own two feet.

[sleeplessknight]

[p-please hold, I don't know how I'm supposed to feel about this????]

Ah...

[rosestained]

And rejecting the lure of Hell wasn't hard for you at all!

[sleeplessknight]

What... was he going to offer me?

[rosestained]

A wish. Do you want me to call him back, after all?

[sleeplessknight]

—No! Please don't!

[rosestained]

Ufufufu~ Good resolve.

Where will you go from here?

[sleeplessknight]

Where...?

[rosestained]

When you leave this place, where would you like to protect? Where would you like to call home?

[sleeplessknight]

I get to choose?

[help this is too much]

[rosestained]

Wherever you like.

[sleeplessknight]

[yeah, okay, officially leaking as of now]

I don't... This was already borrowed time? W-Where am I supposed to...?

[rosestained]

[ holds out her hands in offering, palms up ]

Take your time, sweet child. You have a full life ahead of you yet.

[sleeplessknight]

[does she? does she really? wouldn't it be better to just stay here with everyone else? is this even a legit offer?

then again... is there anything here they can trust? shouldn't she be happy she already got this much?

there is one thing, though...]




. . . I.

I don't want to leave Eugeo behind.

[rosestained]

Oh, you aren't! I asked him earlier, and he said to me, "Wherever she's going is good for me too."

[sleeplessknight]

—He's coming too?!

[rosestained]

That's right ♥

[sleeplessknight]

[well, that pretty much settles it.

takes a deep breath, a small prayer in her heart that this doesn't backfire for them]

Then... I want to go wherever Kirito and Asuna are!

[rosestained]

Of course.

When you've finished saying your goodbyes, the Lord will bring you home to them.

[sleeplessknight]

[she can't help but be Incredibly Excited about this]

Thank you so much!!

[rosestained]

Fufu~ You're very welcome.

There's just one last thing. Take my hands.

[sleeplessknight]

...


[steps closer to reach for her hands]

[rosestained]

[ congratulations on your memories returning also ]

[sleeplessknight]

[this continues to be Too Much]

... Ah.


T-Thank you! Again!

[rosestained]

I'm happy to hear it. But in truth, you needn't thank me.

This is all because of the strength of your faith. Hold onto it tightly, sweet knight.

[sleeplessknight]

[aaaaaa]

Mm! [nods] I will.

[rosestained]

Good.

[ gives Yuuki's hands a last, warm squeeze, before letting go ]

I'll see you again soon.