No news! Well, maybe SOME news: I cannot promise that I will torture my poor proof reader over the holidays, so this may be the last publish before a bit of a winter break. IF SO: Happy Holidays, whichever you may have. I'll drink a toast to you all on the 21st. ^^
Also, this chapter directly plugs into The Shortest Distance from A to B; Chapter 13, Interlude 3. If you cannot remember what happened, head on over and read there first, it might help.
September 25th 2011
Naoto shot up from her bed with a scream. The nightmare had her heart pounding, her cheeks wet with tears, her pillow and bed feeling clammy with moisture.
Rough sobs grabbed her and she let herself fall back, exhausted and helpless.
Echoes of her dreams tentatively reached for her awake consciousness. They presented these images yet again to her… The clone, the shadow, had insisted they all undergo alterations. The teens had rushed in and were at once shackled and confined. Weak and helpless she watched as those who had rushed in to save her were experimented on and-
stopitstopityouaresafe
The thought had sprung out of nowhere. No, not quite out of nowhere. What she had thought was ringing in her ears had come together to almost form words. Also… Since when had she started to think of herself in second person?
lookaroundthisishome
She clenched her eyes shut for a moment taking a deep breath. No shadow, no neon lights, no noxious fumes… and opened her eyes to her darkened room. Her bed. Her home.
And to a soft knock on her bedroom door. "Naoto-kun? Are you alright?"
Yukiko-senpai. Of course. She was not alone. The older girl had chosen to remain behind, watching over her.
"Yu-kiko… senpai?" She sounded awful. Her voice was raspy and she now perceived nearly painfully chapped lips as she tried to speak.
"I have made us some tea. Would you like to join me, or should I bring you some tea to your bed?"
With the first relief of the presence of another human being vanishing, Naoto felt exasperation rise once more. Amagi-san had not yet left. Had she been here all night? What time was it now? And where had she stayed in that time? Had she watched her sleep?
With the immediate panic of the dream being pushed aside, the detective also started to feel her poor physical condition report back in. The headache was crushing, just about every muscle in her body complained about dull aches and she felt unable to even sit up a second time.
"Naoto?" The other teen's voice was quieter now, or it seemed to be.
Going in a vicious circle, the weakness of her body summoned the recent images of her nightmare back. The experiments. Drills, scalpels, agonized moans and screams. And it was her face, beset with golden eyes, gleefully executing-
"Yuk-Yuki-..." Focus was fleeting. An inexplicable panic tried to close her throat; tried to choke her here and now. Naoto felt a shiver grab her, hard enough to shake her alongside with the bed she was trapped in. "Y-Yuk... senpai!" That last word was an agonized, high-pitched plea. She had up until now only used the term in an almost mocking fashion. How could mere teenagers be her better? But right now, she needed to grasp at the authority of a person who claimed she knew what was happening.
The door flew open and Yukiko Amagi rushed in, her face a mixture of fear and worry.
The younger girl tried to move, wanting to sit up, but the shivers would not let her even lift an arm. She'd have settled for any type of control right then, but nothing came. All she could do was gaze up with panicked, tear-filled eyes at her senpai, whom she hardly knew, bearing down on her.
Her bed dipped as she sat beside her, her hands trying to gently hold her arms, her shoulders, moving back and forth over her writhing body. "Shhh, it's okay, Naoto, we all went through this..." Yukiko pressed her lips together, trailing off, then tried to give the shivering girl an encouraging smile. "Nearly all of us, anyhow. Oh dear. Shhh... shhh..." Slowly the older girl slid her arms under and around Naoto's body and pulled her up; pulled her in to a tight embrace.
Naoto Shirogane, Junior Detective, the Detective Prince of the proud line of Shirogane, felt a strong, comforting hug envelop her. Her shivers only grew worse at the physical touch, distressed at the combined feelings of comfort and constraint.
"Y-Yuk-..sen-"
"I know. I am here. I am not going anywhere." The strong, calm presence of the girl felt like an anchor in the chaos that tried to sweep her up. She had experienced Yukiko Amagi in such a capable and contrasting light this night.
And then there was a sound she thought she was incapable of making. Naoto mewled out loud. The sound was the compressed wail of a frightened child and had nothing to do with either a young woman, or a young man. Loud, choking sobs burst from her; the shakes trying to shift her out of the arms which held her. Desperate hands clutched at the red cardigan in front of her, and all she wanted, all she could think of, was trying to shrink in on herself and be held forever.
"It-It… tried to hurt…! A-And...!" Between sobs and shakes, Naoto could not even string two sentences together. Worse, she could not even make herself believe she cared. Her pride was discarded and pure, raw fear held on to her just as tightly as the older girl.
She could not hear the sigh, but felt it in the chest of the girl holding her, felt it in the breath brushing over her cheek. Close to her ear, she heard her senpai murmur to her. "There we are... yes... yes, Naoto-kun... Let go. Let it go, Naoto-kun. It will be okay. The nightmares will fade. You will be alright, I promise..."
Naoto's arms jerked away. Then returned; clamped around Amagi's waist like vices. "It-It t-tried to hu-hurt you! I-I could not-! T-Tried to stop it... buh-but-! "
Her senpai shifted closer to her, holding her shaking frame tightly. One arm had remained free, and she used it to stroke short, wild tufts of cobalt hair. "It did not hurt us. You did not hurt us. Everyone's alright... shhh... everyone is all right..."
...everyoneisalright…
Naoto sobbed and shivered, holding on to her older girl as if for dear life. For how long, she had no recollection. She only realized it was a while once she noticed how tired her arms felt when she finally released her death-grip slowly.
Yukiko also let go, leaning back a bit, stroking Naoto's hair carefully from her face and behind her ears. In turn, the younger girl saw the red streaks down her senpai's face; noticed the reddened eyes. She, too, had been crying. Crying with me. Struggling to fill her lungs with enough air, she finally managed to thank her, punctuated by hiccups.
"Like I said, we have been through the same. I feel bad for Yosuke-kun and Chie-chan. They had no help. And both won't tell me if they had nightmares..."
Naoto's deep sobs had stirred her stomach up yet again. She felt the unease of nausea rise up.
Amagi stopped herself, looked at Naoto, tilted her head, and got up from the bed, making room. "Go."
Naoto bolted past her to the bathroom once more, her empty stomach heaving painfully. She still did not understand what was happening to her. Was she poisoned? Should she perhaps find professional help after all?
A cup was pushed into her field of vision. "Water will help, trust me."
Well, at least that took care of the dry heaving.
When she had returned to her bed with the help of Yukiko-senpai, Naoto realized a few more things about her situation. She was not wearing her binder. She was in pyjamas, but wearing boxer-briefs. At some point she had changed her attire - or had been changed. She silently send a prayer to the heavens above that it had been the former.
Her senpai vanished briefly and reappeared at her side with a new cup in hand. "Here, have some tea. You need to drink. I thinned it down a bit, we don't want to upset your stomach already again."
She hovered over Naoto, one hand near her as if she expected her to drop the cup. Which she almost did, after draining it fully.
"Another?"
She shook her head.
"Okay. Sleep some more. Chie is covering for us at school, so I can stay a while longer."
"...hnpai?"
"Yes, Naoto-kun?"
But Naoto had not managed to keep awake long enough to continue her thought or put the questions on her mind into words before she drifted off again.
Light fell through the open door to her bedroom when Naoto woke up again.
A mild headache lingered behind her eyes; the dull throb reminding her she was likely dehydrated.
The detective gingerly sat up, crossing her legs. Naoto leaned forward, rubbing at dry eyes with a small sigh.
She heard soft footsteps come to a halt by the door frame. "How are you feeling?"
Amagi-senpai. She was still here then.
"Worn. But much better. I thank you for your concern for me. It really was not necessary."
She heard the older girl sigh and enter the room. She placed something on her bedside table and handed her a moist, warm cloth.
The young detective took it gingerly, but giving her a confused look.
"You...," Amagi folded her hands in front of herself and lowered her eyes; not meeting her kōhai's gaze. "You must have had more nightmares. You cried a fair bit." As Naoto spluttered, trying to formulate some form of protest, Amagi turned and left them room. "The moist heat will help a bit with the … you know, how your eyes feel right now."
Naoto clenched a fist around the washcloth, stopping the moment she noticed she was wringing it out into her comforter by doing so. No one should ever see her like this. No one had seen her cry in … in years. Possibly? Had Tatsumi-san seen me cry that night? If he had, he would not tell anyone. He wouldn't. He simply was not the type to … well, not the type to seek out communication for one. Would Amagi-san tell anyone?
Stop being childish! At least you can accept the provided help and show some manners, Shirogane.
"Thank you..." she muttered and unfolded the cloth, gently rubbing her eyes and cheeks. Amagi-san was correct; the dryness eased at once and she felt a mild relief from the itchiness the high amount of saline had caused. After enjoying the ease which the vanishing irritation brought she turned to pick up the cup. Warm, not hot, tea. She sipped carefully and found it very watery. Possibly not a bad thing, though. She felt queasy as she drank, adding caffeine to irritate her stomach was possibly an unhealthy notion.
Naoto got up, bringing the cup and cloth with her. Amagi sat on the couch, her feet pulled up and tucked under; a slim volume of Arthur Conan Doyle in her hands. As Naoto walked over to join her, she looked up in surprise. "Naoto-kun? Did you need anything?"
"Yes. I needed to get up. My back... I-I am starting to feel sore, just lying down." She lowered her gaze and shifted uncomfortably. Just how long has she been sleeping?
Amagi nodded and patted the couch beside her, getting up. "Well, have a seat here at least. Let me bring some more tea. You must be so thirsty."
The younger girl nodded and quietly replied, "Yes, I do seem quite dehydrated. Actually, that would also explain the continuous headache I've been trying to content with. I may actually be in need of some acetylsalicylic acid."
From the kitchen she heard Amagi raise her voice to reply. "Sorry, you need some what?"
"The brand name commonly known is Aspirin. It is a blood thinner and should help with a dehydration-induced headache the best." Naoto looked down at the couch. She wasn't entirely sure if she wanted to sit down with her senpai. In truth, as she had pondered previously, she hardly knew these teens. And yet, this was her home. She should be able to make herself comfortable in her own four walls.
"Ah, okay, where do you keep it? Do you have a medicine cabinet in the bathroom?"
"No, well, yes, I do, but I do not keep medicinal material there. You'll find a package in the second cupboard on your left in the kitchen."
Amagi turned to look over her shoulder at her through the kitchen door. "You keep it in here? A morning ritual of yours?"
Naoto pressed her lips into a narrow line. "It is not a common breakfast item in my home if you are implying that."
She sat down on one of the far ends and pulled a throw over her legs. By the sunlight shining in from outside it was well past noon, the rays reaching inside slowly turning golden.
Why was Amagi still here? She had remained, not just through the night, but apparently most of the day and appeared to have been awake in between as well.
Naoto frowned at the low table in front of her. She wanted to be alone. She needed to figure things out. She needed to start gathering evidence, prepare interviews, and ask these teens questions. She needed to learn more about what happened to her and she needed to stop yawning.
Amagi-san returned, kneeling in a fluent motion beside the couch as she offered Naoto a tray to pick up her cup. Naoto hid another yawn behind a fist and picked up the offered tea and the tablet beside it.
"You look a little better. Do you think you can stomach any food yet?"
With a hard swallow she fought the lurch which her stomach gave her at the mention of food. "No, I think I will be quite pleased with just tea for now."
Amagi settled on her knees, placing the tray under the small coffee table and picked up her own cup. She sipped her own tea in silence and, unlike most of the other teens, she seemed perfectly happy to just remain there, kneeling, focussed on her tea. No questions asked, no conversation pushed forward. There was no uncomfortable edge to the silence, and she did not seem to feel the need to fill it.
Inside the mind of the Detective Prince, no such tranquillity showed itself.
She felt immensely torn between trying to find a means of expelling her senpai from her home; putting her to the question about everything she could tell her of what happened, her condition and what they knew... and asking her to sit closer. The tiny, vulnerable voice inside of her whispered reminders of the embrace earlier today and how much she had needed it, while the mature and logical side of her gruffly accepted that while it had been pleasant, such physical contact was no longer needed.
She was fine. She did not need a nursemaid.
That thought still echoed in her head while Amagi carefully pulled the empty cup from her limp hand and pulled the throw blanket over her as she was drifting off to sleep once more.
She was curled up on one side, leaning over the edge of the couches' armrest when she awoke. Orange-red light filtered into her living room from the living room window, while white-yellow light shone in from the kitchen.
Just as she noticed, she heard a voice from within. A female? "Ooo-ho-ho man, I'm starved. I forgot to eat lunch, I was so worried!" She heard hands clapped together, a polite prayer uttered and then quiet for a little while.
"Thank you for bringing us food, Chie-chan. I admit, I had forgotten to eat myself." Some rustling. Then, after a moment, "Oh, no, what is all this? I cannot possibly eat that much food, Chie!"
The voice of Satonaka picked up again. "I talked Aika-chan into letting me buy mega beef bowls! I still wanna try to find the secret of beating it, and I wouldn't be surprised if Naoto-chan would eat a whole one after being trapped for two- "
A hushing sound. "Don't! She doesn't yet know. "
"What? You mean that she-" Another urgent hiss. "Why? You've not told her?"
"I was… well, it was a busy night. There was no time to bring it up."
Naoto shifted, turning her head to try and see more. Her head no longer hurt, but it felt stuffed with cotton. Every thought felt ponderous and slow. Moving was a chore as well. Each and every muscle either hurt as if under unseen strain or quivered as if trying to even make her sit upright was a herculean effort.
"Ohmp? Wha? Wha'ppmd?"
"Ngh. Chie-chan, please, swallow your food…"
An audible gulp. Then, "Oh, sorry, Yuki. I meant why, what happened?"
There was no reply for a short while, a soft clap, a murmur, then, "Naoto-kun seems to-"
"Shouldn't we say Naoto-chan now?"
Naoto winced.
"I am not sure. She seems to prefer a slightly more formal address and I am used to Naoto-kun anyway. She has not asked me to change that, so for now, I'm not." A brief pause. "As I was saying, Naoto-kun suffers from rather bad nightmares. Sometimes she doesn't even wake up when I walk over to her and try to nudge her awake, but she usually settled down after, so I hope I can at least stop her dreams."
"Oh man, that's no good. Did she say anything?"
There was tense silence for a little while. Naoto toyed with the idea of getting up, but she had a feeling that would cut any further conversation quite short. A conversation the Detective Prince was rather interested in. She shifted a little, keeping her eyes closed.
Amagi spoke up again. "Not really. She woke up once, early this morning. She actually woke me with a scream. When I checked on her, she was… It… Hm. I don't know how to say it."
Lamentable? Paltry? Wretched? Pathetic? Naoto started to bitterly provide one option after the next in her mind.
"It was pretty heart-breaking. She … No. She didn't say much. Let's leave it at that."
The following silence was filled by the sounds of two girls standing in her kitchen, silently eating.
The junior detective felt an immeasurable amount of gratitude for Amagi-senpai. She could have said what she saw. Could have given all the details. And she chose not to, chose to simply keep her counsel on the matter, for the most part.
She decided to officially awaken.
As she sat up and moved the throw aside, she saw Satonaka-senpai lean backwards, peering around the corner of the door frame. "Oh, hey Naoto-kun! Slept okay?"
"If by that you mean if I am rested, I feel like more sleep will not actually bring the desired effect."
Her senpais' eyes went glassy a moment, then she shrugged and held up a package of take-out food. "Hungry? I brought dinner!"
"That is very considerate of you, Satonaka-senpai, but-"
"Oh come, call me Chie! No need to be all formal with me." The smile she gave Naoto was easy, free, and careless in the sense that there was no care connected to it.
Naoto felt her own lips twitch in sympathy, but she contented with shaking her head. "I fear I am not yet able to consume much food. But the thought is indeed appreciated."
"Aw, I'm sorry. Man, I didn't think it would be this bad, even after seeing you last night."
Naoto got up slowly, forcing her muscles to cease trembling and carry her into the kitchen. Again her upbringing and echoes of Yakushiji-san reminded her of her manners. "You should eat in the living room, senpai."
Amagi-san spoke up after the girls exchanged glances. "We didn't want to bother you, so we-"
"Please. I insist. You… are my guests after all. Correct?"
"Sure!" Satonaka gathered up her food and walked past Naoto into the living room without a moments hesitation.
"There is more tea, too, if you'd like, Naoto-kun," Amagi said, as she walked to sit by the low table in the living room.
The younger girl nodded dumbly, looking around her small kitchen.
She picked up the third take-out box and opened it. A generous portion of gyūdon, extra sauce and an egg. It was certainly acceptable, but she only felt slight queasiness at the sight of the food. Putting it into the fridge for later, she decided instead to simply pick up a cup of tea and return to the living room.
The other two girls sat closely together, chatting quietly. She took a seat on the couch to hear Amagi say, "…so if you could stay here tonight, I am sure we can find someone to take the days after that."
Naoto stopped, turning to face them. Enough.
"While I do certainly appreciate your concern, and, Amagi-san, am gratified that you would take time to look after me, I would need to point out that you have your own homes to return to."
"Sure. So?" Satonaka punctuated that question with another mouth full of food.
"I mean to say, with gratitude, that you need not concern yourselves any longer. I am, as you can see for yourselves, able to-"
"Oh, Naoto-kun." Satonaka grinned at her. "It's kinda annoying how you try to talk us out of being your friends. But also real cute!"
'Friends?'
friends
The word carried no immediate meaning to her. Were they being friends by hanging out with her? She wasn't sure that would be what friendship should be. Giving up on the comfort of home, giving up on the comforts of your own bed. And what for?
There must be another reason for them being here, but whichever it was, she felt unsure if she could glean it. She still felt bone-tired and it rapidly felt like simply remaining upright was a gamble.
"I see," she said while not actually understanding. A white lie to let her continue this fight later.
Naoto slipped onto the couch and slowly pulled the throw back over her legs. Her eyes wandered to her senpai as they chatted and slowly unfocussed.
While the friends shared their meal, she dozed off again.
She struggled out of a fitful dream when someone shook her by the shoulder. Spluttering incoherently, she opened her eyes to the slightly concerned face of Satonaka.
"Hey… Naoto-kun? Come on, you cannot be comfortable like that."
She struggled up, or, well attempted to. She must have slipped off the arm rest and curled up. Just how much more embarrassing can this day become before it is finally over?
"Chie's right, Naoto-kun. Why don't you go back to your bed? I know you're tired. I was tired and I was… I was not as long in the TV world as you were."
The pause was noticeable, she had meant to say something else. But try as she might, her thoughts would not fully align. She noticed dimly that she had not gotten the answer that Amagi first meant to give, but even trying to form the question to prompt her once more would not form in her mind.
What was even more distressing, other things would not align, either. She struggled to push herself into a seated position, but her body fought back. Tiredness and exhaustion collapsed back over her, her eyes slowly slid shut.
"Come, Naoto-kun, you heard her. You'll get all stiff and achy if you keep falling asleep on the couch."
Naoto slowly opened her eyes and stared at the hand in front of her without comprehension. Someone was with her. That meant someone was in her apartment. Unacceptable. She needed no assistance. "Please leave."
"Yeah, no, we talked it over, and you're not getting your way this time. Besides, Yu would kill me. Well, possibly just yell at me. Kanji would kill me." Satonaka. That was Satonaka-san. "So, please, up and into your own bed. I heard you got a real fancy one, all western style!"
Something tried to pluck at her thoughts. Kanji? "Why should Tatsumi-san… " Her thought derailed, tiredness being the only truth in her world at this time. Her eyes fluttered shut on their own.
She heard a giggle and knew it to be Amagi. Satonaka was the one who once more replied. "Yeah, you'll figure it out, Detective Prince. Maybe even before he does."
"You are mocking me." Her speech slurred. She knew it. She also knew she could not change it. "As for… your demands. I-I'd be happy- -comply." She pinched her eyes shut tightly and snuggled deeper into the blanket. "Can't."
"Mhm, what was that, Naoto-kun?"
"I… find myself… immobile."
She expected a sigh. Or a grunt. Or some more yelling. Something.
She did not expect being scooped up, blanket and all. "Whoa, Naoto-kun, you weigh nothing!" Satonaka must have picked her up. She giggled, holding her.
Indignation tried to spark. But when she spoke, it was quiet. "Put me down."
"Yeah, she's not given me any trouble, either." Amagi again. "Aside from her climbing out of bed each time I put her in."
Anger tried to push past indignation. "Please… don't like… picking up…"
"But you need your bed. Which is right down this hallway."
Anger and indignation fell short as exhaustion got in first. Pressing out a small feeble sob of frustration and impotent anger, Naoto tried to punch Satonaka, who held her safe and close and made moving impossible. As much as she hated being manhandled like this, a deeper part of her relaxed at the touch and let her fall asleep before she was even tucked in.
Naoto knelt on the floor… no, on the ground. She was outside. She knelt, curled up on the sidewalk at the intersection of the shopping district. She tried to not be seen, and making herself a smaller target seemed logical at first.
The miscalculation was obvious the moment she realized she attracted unwanted attention in this pose. A hand came to rest on her shoulder and she heard the concerned voices of Amagi and Satonaka. While she knew it was them, and also was certain their voices were concerned, she could not make out their faces or voices.
Not that it mattered much. They needed to leave. She needed to work, she needed to function on her own, as she always had. They were in her way. They were putting up barriers she could not overcome on her own. "Go away. Just… just go! Everyone goes sooner or later, just do it now!"
They backed off, but didn't go away.
stopit
She scrambled to her feet, backing away from the intruding stares. The feeling left by the hand on her shoulder reverberated with comfort and agitation. She whirled around, turned again and quick-marched herself away, immediately at the shore of the Samegawa River. She had to reach the bus stop, but somehow got lost and now was here. Right now, that was the way out. The bus stop, then home, then shut the door on them.
Another miscalculation. Kujikawa, Hanamura and that slim blonde boy, Teddie, were lined up by the bank. They gave her the same concerned looks, somehow, without having clear faces, and approached her. She tried to run faster, but her legs felt weak. She couldn't run any further. She needed to run, but she could not. "Go. Just go. Why won't you leave?" She turned around sharply, her white-lined blue coat whipping with the motion. She grabbed her collar, forcing it to stay up, willing it to be the barrier she had put between herself and the world years ago.
She had to keep moving. She needed to shake them off. Willing her legs to work, she struggled back up and stumbled into the shipping bay right behind Junes; knowing they would try to still follow. Somehow they were not tired, and they were catching up, even though they simply walked slowly.
stoprunning
Yu Narukami blocked her way. Stoic, tall, calm. The very image of the alpha male of the group; of their school even. He looked concerned and slightly disappointed. She stopped, falling to her knees before him. She craned her head, trying to look up at him.
"Naoto. Why are you running from us?"
"You'll leave. I cannot depend on you being there for the long game."
"We came for you. Why would we leave now?"
"I am just a sideshow attraction to you and your ilk. You… you'll only…" She trailed off, lifting her hands to hide her grief-stricken face. Long, oversized white sleeves came along with her raised arm. She choked back a sob, feeling tears slowly soak into the cloth.
"Let us help you."
"No."
"Let me closer to you."
"N-No… no, you'll only hurt me."
"We fought for you. Naoto!"
Her hands snapped down and she glared up. The teens had surrounded her. Their faces no longer showed concern. They glared.
Narukami posed before her, a hand reaching for her. Not the hand to help a friend to her feet. The hand a master gives a fallen servant. "Come, Naoto!"
"NO!" She jumped to her feet and slapped him. Hard. Right across the face. He just stared.
She whirled and faced Hanamura. Another slap.
Kujikawa. Slap.
Satonaka and Amagi. Two more slaps.
"JUST LEAVE!"
Narukami watched her, looked at the tea cup in his hands, and nodded. "The Detective Prince has spoken. He wishes to be left alone."
They turned and left, dissolving as they went, and Naoto knew at once they would never return.
nononononono
"I… I am…" She sank back to her knees. I am sorry. I do not know how to deal with this. I do not know what to do. I only know being alone.
Hard, loud sobs then tore from her throat. She wasn't sure where she was, it was dark, but somehow light was out. A fireplace. Of course. She was at the estate. The huge, looming, mostly-cold Shirogane estate. And no one would be here besides her. She would be trapped here, alone, forever.
She crouched and pulled the huge white lab coat over herself, seeking to shelter from the world, forever, if needed. She could do it on her own.
Possibly.
Hopefully.
…maybe.
The crying grew more frantic. She buried her face in her hands once more, soaking the sleeves with her grief.
And then another pair of hands took her wrists and pulled them forward gently, revealing her hurt to the watchers. She ducked her head down, not wanting to look at the intruder.
"Tch. You're too damn reckless. Keep telling people t'leave an' they will, see?" A moment of silence followed. It was a new voice, but a deeply familiar one at the same time. One she has heard frequently. "Damnit, Naoto. Please stop crying. Here. Lemme help ya." A voice that sounded different now. Direct. Confident. Overbearingly warm. Comforting.
Hands tried to push her huge sleeves back and her hands desperately groped, clutching at the hands freeing hers. She held on tightly, sobbing hard. And then flinched away.
"Y-You'll leave, t-too." She could barely speak. Barely breathe. When she lifted her head finally, she saw Kanji Tatsumi kneeling beside her, holding her by her wrists. "Everyone will l-leave me."
"So far, I've always come after ya. No matter how hard you push me." Strong arms scooped her up and held her close. "It's okay, Naoto. 'm here, girl."
"Oh man… Shh… It's okay, Naoto. I'm here. I'm right here, girl."
The young detective awoke with a start. She was tied up and someone tried to suffocate her. She struggled frantically, but the ropes holding her down were too tight!
nocheckagain
Naoto tried to shove her panic aside. She needed a clearer picture to know how to react to this attack. But it turned out it wasn't one.
I'm in my bed. Wrapped in blankets. Someone is holding me.
And I am crying bitterly. Wonderful.
Through her hard sobs, she instinctively attempted to reach for the person holding her, but immediately flinched back as the remnant of a memory showed her the dream image of Tatsumi-san trying to scoop her in his arms, thought the image faded while she was trying to remember it. Must not get complacent! She struggled hard to push away whomever was trying to help her.
"Cut it out, Naoto-kun. You're not feeling well, and the way you held my hand just a moment ago shows it."
Satonaka. She was being held closely in the lap of Chie Satonaka, crying. When would this trial end for her?
"Y-You need to l-leave!"
"Why, Naoto-kun?"
"Eh-Everyone does… Mustn't get kuh-comfortable!" That sob shook her hard enough that Satonaka adjusted her grip.
"Man, Yukiko wasn't kidding," the girl mumbled. Then continued normally, "Naoto-kun, what happened? Was it a nightmare? You were quiet and then, bam!"
"I kuh-cannot-" The girl shuddered once more.
"Remember?"
A hard nod. She only felt being held closely for a while. And then the grip shifted and the hold turned into a rocking motion.
"It was only a dream." The older girl spoke to her softly, carefully. "Whatever it was, it was a dream. I know it frightened you. My own dreams did, too, after… that. But you're not facing this alone."
"Buh-but I-"
"You. Are. Not. Alone."
Naoto gave in. The rocking was too soothing, the voice speaking to her too gentle. And maybe, just maybe, she could allow herself to not be alone. At least for a little while. Just until she felt better.
"Lemme help you."
Naoto heard that phrase and something rang with recognition for a brief moment. Then faltered and slipped away again.
"Let us help you."
The slow rocking continued, even after Naoto had drifted off to sleep again.