It took Ryuko four days to pull herself out of bed after Senketsu died.
And that was only to use the bathroom
She could feel the stares of the Makanshoku family as she trudged out from the bedroom. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Mako open her mouth like she was going to say something, but she decided against it.
The trip to the bathroom was short and she immediately went back to her bed when she was done.
She saw Mako peek into the room with the same worried expression she always wore around Ryuko nowadays.
"Ryuko-chan..." She mumbled.
Ryuko didn't answer.
"Y'know I bet we'd had tons of fun if you got out of bed!" Mako's optimism felt hollow, like she was putting on an act.
Again, no answer.
"We could go for a walk, or go out to eat. We could do anything you want!"
Ryuko turned away from her in response.
She heard Mako's footsteps approach the bed.
"Senketsu wouldn't like this Ryuko-chan! He would want you to get up and have fun and live! So come on!"
Something in Ryuko snapped.
She flung the blankets off her body and towered over Mako, gripping her arms tightly.
"Don't act like you know what he'd want!" She hissed out.
The two stared at each other. Neither made any attempt to move.
Those were the first words Ryuko said in four days.
And they made her sick to her stomach.
And the pained expression on Mako's face only made it worse.
What was she doing? Is this what she wanted to be?
She released Mako's arms and let out a shaky breath.
"Ryuko-chan..?"
Ryuko sat down roughly, putting a hand over her face.
"I'm sorry..." She muttered.
Mako sat down in front of her.
"It's okay Ryuko-chan." She started, but Ryuko shook her head.
"I'm sorry...I'm sorry..."
Ryuko was sure if she apologizing to Mako anymore.
"Ryuko-chan..."
Ryuko glanced up.
Mako held her arms open.
A hug.
Hesitantly, Ryuko leaned forward into Mako, and she wrapped her arms around Ryuko.
"It really is okay Ryuko-chan."
That's when the tears came. She thought she had run out of those a while ago.
It wasn't okay. She wasn't okay.
Mako patted Ryuko's head in an attempt to comfort the sobbing girl.
"Talk to me, Mako." She choked out. It wasn't okay. But maybe she could forget that for a little while.
Mako hummed. "We should go on a date Ryuko-chan. We should dress up cute and go shopping and eat food and have fun."
A ghost of a smile found its way to Ryuko's face. She had forgotten about that.
"But you should take a bath first. You're kinda smelly."
Mako talked for a while. Things about the family. Things about school. What color underwear she was wearing today, or something funny that Guts did earlier. And it helped Ryuko calm down.
Mako stood up and held her hands out, which Ryuko took. Mako pulled her to her feet.
"You're probably hungry. You should come and eat all the croquettes you want! We've had extra since we've had one less person at dinner!" Mako grinned at her, pulling Ryuko towards the door. "You should come back to dinner Ryuko-chan! We miss you!"
Ryuko gave a small smile.
"Sure." Her voice still sounded foreign to her own ears.
Mako's grin only got bigger, and she pulled Ryuko into another hug. Ryuko returned this one.
"Everyone's gonna be so happy! We really missed you Ryuko-chan!"
Ryuko's smile grew as Mako pulled her out of the room, shutting the door behind them.
She wasn't okay, and she probably never would be.
But she could atleast keep moving. Because that's what he'd want.
one day ill write long stories
that day aint today
god im so bad at writing long stories
lmao this is considered long for me
uh
review? sure
you can do that