⠀⠀—𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘱 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩...
⠀
⠀⠀<- ...able to smile like this, in the first place. ]
⠀If so...
⠀⠀[ Hachi shifts, moving just a little bit closer... ]
⠀...then I want to stay by your side for as long as I can.
⠀⠀[ ...and their expression seems to soften further still. ]
⠀
⠀⠀<- ...able to smile like this, in the first place. ]
⠀If so...
⠀⠀[ Hachi shifts, moving just a little bit closer... ]
⠀...then I want to stay by your side for as long as I can.
⠀⠀[ ...and their expression seems to soften further still. ]
⠀
⠀⠀[ There's a warm feeling in their cheeks, they find, as Three moves his hand, and both of their own with it, to his cheek, rubbing his face against it in a display of affection. Hachi's soft smile remains, and it's all because of him...
⠀⠀⠀...he's the reason they're still around, still... ->
⠀
⠀⠀[ There's a warm feeling in their cheeks, they find, as Three moves his hand, and both of their own with it, to his cheek, rubbing his face against it in a display of affection. Hachi's soft smile remains, and it's all because of him...
⠀⠀⠀...he's the reason they're still around, still... ->
⠀
⠀And I yours. It has been so many years, and yet I still cannot thank you enough...
⠀⠀[ They draw quite close... before taking one of his hands and holding it in both of theirs. Their soft, sweet expression won't be fading anytime soon... ]
⠀...I am beyond grateful to know you, Three.
⠀
⠀And I yours. It has been so many years, and yet I still cannot thank you enough...
⠀⠀[ They draw quite close... before taking one of his hands and holding it in both of theirs. Their soft, sweet expression won't be fading anytime soon... ]
⠀...I am beyond grateful to know you, Three.
⠀
⠀...coming from the one who helped save me, helped give me my freedom, all those years ago.
⠀You're as special as one can be...
⠀...to me, at least. ^^
⠀
⠀...coming from the one who helped save me, helped give me my freedom, all those years ago.
⠀You're as special as one can be...
⠀...to me, at least. ^^
⠀
⠀It is.
⠀⠀[ Their soft, honest smile persists. ]
⠀I really have missed you, Three...
⠀
⠀It is.
⠀⠀[ Their soft, honest smile persists. ]
⠀I really have missed you, Three...
⠀
⠀As are you... there are few as skilled as you.
⠀⠀[ It is indeed high praise—but they have praise of their own. ]
⠀
⠀As are you... there are few as skilled as you.
⠀⠀[ It is indeed high praise—but they have praise of their own. ]
⠀
⠀⠀[ Their response is immediate, punctuated with a firm, brief nod. ]
⠀Yes.
⠀That would be nice...
⠀
⠀⠀[ Their response is immediate, punctuated with a firm, brief nod. ]
⠀Yes.
⠀That would be nice...
⠀
⠀⠀[ They're more like the moon, if anything. They're like this because of Three's presence... his light reflects back off of them. ]
⠀I feel that. The frequency of my battles has been... irregular, for some time.
⠀I'm glad that you're well, though, Three...
⠀
⠀⠀[ They're more like the moon, if anything. They're like this because of Three's presence... his light reflects back off of them. ]
⠀I feel that. The frequency of my battles has been... irregular, for some time.
⠀I'm glad that you're well, though, Three...
⠀
⠀Not very much. I've just been getting by.
⠀⠀[ Hachi stands in place, their smile still warm and soft and positively beaming. ]
⠀How about you? How have you been?
⠀
⠀Not very much. I've just been getting by.
⠀⠀[ Hachi stands in place, their smile still warm and soft and positively beaming. ]
⠀How about you? How have you been?
⠀
⠀⠀[ When next they speak, they're less enthusiastic. Instead, they're just... soft. Happy that he's here. ]
⠀...I missed you.
⠀
⠀⠀[ When next they speak, they're less enthusiastic. Instead, they're just... soft. Happy that he's here. ]
⠀...I missed you.
⠀
⠀Yes!
⠀⠀[ They're smiling quite warmly. ]
⠀
⠀Yes!
⠀⠀[ They're smiling quite warmly. ]
⠀