Chapter 07: Untreated Anxiety
Natsuki did not have enough time to think things through. Why was her mother always like this? It infuriated Natsuki to no end. The more this irritation spun around her mind, the more it got twisted into something worse. No matter how hard she tried, it just wasn't enough to satisfy her, was it? Her mother had finally giving her slight freedom! Shouldn't she be content? Apparently not.
The gears in her skull whirled so frantically that she had forgotten that Shizuru was wheeling her back towards the office. Realising this a moment later, her nerves lept higher as they approached the President's doors.
"Shizuru." Directing a hand to halt the Meister, she said: "What…" 'Ugh, what? What's what?' "...I don't even know how to talk to her anymore. What am I supposed to say without pissing her off." 'Or myself, that is.'
Arching a brow at cuss, Shizuru leaned into the wheelchair slightly. "I do wonder myself." She wasn't going to complain about the rough language—Garderobe was far too stuffy for its own good sometimes. Shizuru couldn't even remember the last time she had openly cursed. Womanly virtues: how boresome. "Surely your mother will see reason if the two of you work together on this?"
"The most simplistic things are always the most complicated." Natsuki grumbled. Her legs were wrecked; a straightforward situation but impossible to overcome.
"We must all conquer our worst nightmares. We do so in stages all at our own pace." Glancing down to the woman, Shizuru mused. She wondered whether this would help her or brush off like water. Oh, well. It couldn't hurt to try. "You may think that you are not working towards anything—that you are worthless—but you are far more than that, Natsuki. Success improves reputation, not personal growth. It is our failures that improve us if we choose to learn from them."
"...You sound like my grandmother." Natsuki muttered after a moment. She said nothing for a long moment, sensing a tension begin to swamp them. "She-err—I didn't mean that as a bad thing." Turning her head to look up to the Meister, she smiled weakly. "She died when I was young. You remind me of her."
Witnessing no trace of negativity from the woman, Shizuru's lips slowly rose. "For a moment there I thought you were calling me old." She teased. "Now… let us go? I will support you if you need assistance."
"I wasn't-!" It's just a tease. 'Calm down, you idiot.' "-We should talk after this. I want to get to know you better." Turning away from the Meister, Natsuki looked ahead to the Presidential Office's double doors. Let's just get this done with before her ridiculous brain decided to do something worse or embarrassing.
"Hm. I would like that." Shizuru smiled, even though the gesture went unnoticed. Perhaps in the future she should look into Natsuki's anxiety?
Definitely.