[ let zenitsu find love ]

[coastal]

Comments

[coastal]

[she tilts her head]

Really? Where? Were you with anyone?

I would've thought that you would want to stay inside...

[swordflash]

[she said that the bees won't attack, but he's going to give her a wide berth while he looks off to the side at the floor.]

At the theater with Mr. Tomioka and Dimitri. Before that, we were waiting for Yu here.

[coastal]

[ . . . ]

And - he didn't arrive?

[oh, she knows how familiar that sounds.]

[swordflash]

[he continues to look down at the floor, unblinking.]

No.

[and to think that, last week, yu was one of just two people to stay in the cabin when everyone else left to find the wondering tsurumaru.]

That's when we got locked out.

[coastal]

[ . . . right. lili is just going to close her eyes at that, tired as she sighs.]

... It must've been difficult.

To wait for someone who didn't arrive.

[swordflash]

[the—ugh, very annoying—buzzing of bees fills the silence between lili and zenitsu's replies. finally, he lifts his head to look in her direction.]

Yu knew what was going to happen, so he must've had a reason.

[coastal]

[sorry about the bees!]

... but if he knew where the rest of you were, why wouldn't he ask for help...?

[swordflash]

[the longer he looks, the more his eyes narrow.]

We'll find out tomorrow. Probably.

[coastal]

[ . . . ]

Probably.

Did the three of you wake up with any strange effects?

[swordflash]

Yeah.

[at that moment, he squints especially hard in spite of his vacant tone.]

My eyes are really dry as a result.

[coastal]

[ . . . . ]

I suppose there are worse things.

[like bees?]

Just deal with it until tomorrow.

[swordflash]

[like bees. right.

for the first time since their encounter, he blinks. it's fleeting and doesn't help his eyes much, though he pauses for a moment.

in the end, he nods dumbly.]

You, too.

[coastal]

[ . . . . hmmm she's not good with situations like this but]

... I feel like I should at least ask...

Are you alright? You know it's not your fault, right?

[swordflash]

[the arch of his eyebrows suggests that he was anticipating another kind of question—so much so that he's rendered dumbstruck.]

Huh?

[coastal]

[stop! she's awkward!]

That's not an answer.... It's not a weird question!

[swordflash]

You mean, about Yu?

[coastal]

What else would I be talking about...

[yea about yu]

[swordflash]

[oh. of course.]

Are you worried?

[coastal]

[sldkfjljf]

I'm - no!! [yes] I just have to make sure you're not blaming yourself or anything stupid like that!!

[swordflash]

[it's too late for her. he's convinced and that's so very sweet of her.

gently, he answers:]

I'm not.

[coastal]

[ . . . she seems to accept that then, nodding.]

... good.

I just - wanted to be sure of that.

[swordflash]

[he watches her, and for once his eyes aren't narrowed.]

Thanks, Lili.

[coastal]

[sdflkjsf she's - just flustering worse, at that, huffing]

Th-There's nothing to thank me for...!

[swordflash]

[when she's like this, he can forget that the bees are there. (no, he can't, but he can pretend).

his expression takes a somber turn at his next thought.]

How's Flayn?

[coastal]

[ . . . right. she just sighs at that, seeming to settle a little.]

... she seemed okay when I saw her last night. Recovering. I haven't seen her yet today but...

She's stronger than people give her credit for.