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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

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Chapter 26: Picking the Pieces

Breaking bad news to someone is never easy. Breaking bad news to someone which could evolve in a nuclear reaction was quite tedious compared to anything I had to deal with before.

Especially when it comes to break ups. I had experience in doing the opposite, in helping people confess their feelings. I had this one case where this friend of mine wanted to ask out a girl I was friends with. I was the 'straight but not trying to get in your pants' kind of friend, so I had a bit of a 'foothold' when discussing this sort of situation. In the end they should still be out and enjoying a pretty life together as a couple. Right now, that wasn't the case for Naerie and Shin.

And with Shin literally jumping ship the moment he found his relationship in a bad spot, I also found myself dealing with the notion that I had to be the one to tell her. Why? Well, let me ask you a question: what would be worse for you, if you were told a break up call was coming or if the break up came up out of nowhere after you started to get hopeful of mending the mess up?

Giving Naerie time to grow more hopeful for that would be cruel on my part and also worse any sort of reaction she may have about the news. Breaking it down to her would get the least issues and... I would be the only one caught in the crossfire. Hopefully. Once we got to the parlor and brought our ice cream cups, I offered to sit in the park- well away from potential victims from any outburst from her.

We sat down on a bench, the girl behaving a bit odder than before. I was aware she was trying her hardest to not just look into my brain by focusing elsewhere, but she was giving some bedroom eyes to her ice cream and it was a bit comical at best. I would have chuckled a bit at this if not for the fact I couldn't muster any genuine amusement out of this whole situation.

I looked forward, my cup sitting untouched on my lap and... I hummed.

"I spoke with Shin."

I didn't need to look to perceive Naerie's quiet glance aimed at me.

"You... did?"

I did."

...

"And?"

"And he was a bit busy when I talked to him," I added, trying to not go too deep in detail. "He said that he was letting the heat go down before coming to talk with you."

"...But?"

This was getting a bit awkward- like, really awkward. Stupid awkward too. I could tell Naerie was picking up this was no good news and was already bracing for it. Me holding back all of that through details was also doing more harm than good but... I couldn't stop now.

"I asked him if he was willing to talk with you about what you two fought about in an effort to reconcile and he-"

"Said no."

My mouth shut at this. And I felt it, a tiny probe on my mind.

"He wants to break up with me," She 'guessed' numbly. "And he wants to do it because... he doesn't want to try to fix things up."

...

"John, I need you to tell me this," Naerie stressed. "I... I deserve to know."

I hesitated a tiny more even though she was right. She was rightfully asking for the bitter pill, knowing that it was coming and... she wanted me to be honest about it. It was no longer about telling the truth or not, it was being the one finally pushing the blade in or letting it poke at her skin a bit more. Another loud sigh and then... I spoke.

"Yes."

There was no further questioning from her. Naerie's gaze was once more at her ice cream as she slowly and somberly ate it. I remained quiet too, thoughtful and unsure on how to go beyond this bit. I didn't need to do much as the Bear Prime just leaned on the side and rested her cheek on my shoulder. I blinked, nuzzling with my own cheek to her head and she pretty much did the same.

Tears were coming, but the process was slow, willingly restrained as she knew that it could blow up on our faces. Then, the dams opened and the crying started. It was a muted weeping, the cups forgotten entirely as Naerie's face shifted and pressed onto my shoulder- then onto my neck.

Her arms wrapped around my waist, and mine were soon hugging her head, allowing her to hide the tears from anyone passing by. The sobbing grew a bit louder, but nothing bad happened. We stood like this for what felt like hours, but, eventually, a very tired Naerie decided that she had enough for now and... I decided to take a bit of a risk. I offered to let her stay at my flat.

She accepted without resistance, and the girl was probably too much of a mess but still smart enough to know how letting herself go home alone with this mindset would just open up a few unpleasant but possible scenarios. I had to carry her most of the time, with the Bear Prime apologizing over and over again.

Hikari was a bit surprised when I came back home with Naerie, but said nothing as I allowed the redhead to take a rest on the couch. The younger Prime was also another element I wasn't sure how to deal with. Especially when it was a matter related to two individuals she knew and cared for. Let's just say that she wasn't that pleased with the situation and decided to just retreat in her room to think for the time being.

I also wrote a message to Hope telling her that Naerie was going to stay at my flat for the day and that I would explain more at dinner. The Gazelle Prime was, rightfully so, perplexed by this but seemed to pick up that there was a good reason for this abrupt development. And lastly, I had to make one last call to the one individual that would help me the most in this situation.

"Hello? John, it's been a while!"

"Lady Ambar, I am sorry for calling with little to no notice."

"Oh, it's alright. Is everything alright, young man?"

"Not really and... I don't want to cause a riot by saying this, but I am currently housing Naerie at my flat. She is currently sleeping on the couch since... things may have gotten a bit too rough on her relationship with Shin."

...

"Is Naerie fine? Did she cause any-"

"She is fine and she didn't allow her powers to go out of control but... she needs family here for a while."

"I see. I suppose you would also prefer to explain more in person rather than by phone."

"Yes."

"I shall be there for... dinner?" She hummed quizzically, indirectly asking if she could be there for dinner.

"I am the one asking for you to come to my house, Lady Ambar. The invitation is more than warranted."

The High Prime giggled at that. "Fair, fair- now, I will be off to finish these last papers and I will be there for my baby girl. See you soon John~."

The crisis was mostly averted. I mean, I managed to avoid the worst with Naerie but... Now I am unemployed. It didn't exactly impact my current finances, but that meant I would be back to job-hunting once again and, hopefully, find a place that offered a good enough contract to keep up with the expenses.

And as I was scrambling to think of a possible solution to this matter, I failed to notice Naerie's quiet glancing as she saw me shift around to get things ready for lunch and then dinner. The girl's mind picked up my thoughts and dilemmas, and her own cogs started to spin fast to try and assist me in these trying days.

After all, in her mind, Naerie felt like she had to thank me somehow. One way or... another~.

AN

A bit short but... that's that. I have no real excuse beyond I felt it was a fitting word-count for the chapter

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c