Chapter 68: Sig & Wacht: Sleepless Reunion by warelander

Sig hummed to himself, looking through a large selection of decorative plush keychains. They had everything from anime characters, to flowers, to animals, and other kinds of objects and he knew there was only one that he could want.

A grin formed on his face as he finally found what he was looking for. A small, red plush ladybug keychain, his last one broke by its string, but this one should last him for quite some time, he was sure of that.

Sig went over to pay for his ladybug and swiftly left the store, now finding himself in the crowded halls of Primp City's shopping mall.

The day was still young and the mall was a vast place. Sig wasn't usually there alone so he struggled a bit trying to figure out what he could do, but he could just look around and see where it took him.

With his hands in his pockets and no rush in the least, he began walking, passing by people upon people who were all themselves in the middle of their shopping sprees. Some were similarly chill, some busy, some driven almost mad by being unable to make their small children stop crying.

Yep, an ordinary scene at the mall.

Soon, he came across the local video game store. Sure, that was always a good one to check for the sake of it. With not much new going on he checked the used games section.

After some time of searching, he finally found something of note. A rhythm game with this idol, what was her name? Ketsune Niko? Something like that.

''That will do.'' He thought to himself. He was looking for something he could play with Lagnus and Marvett anyway.

With his new purchase paid for, he went outside again, continuing to look for something to do. But without a friend around to yank him to a store they wanted to go to, that was surprisingly challenging, but even just looking around was an easy way to kill some time.

Clothing stores, bookstores, anything one could think of passed him by, as he continued his track to casually make his way through the building.

Sig paused for a bit as he came across the mall fountain. Slowly he approached it, taking time to just watch the water flow a bit, it was nice and peaceful.

Even more than that, it was a surprisingly memory filled place. Him, Lagnus and Marvett would often just sit there and chat if they were at the mall and had nothing better to do.

Thinking of it, it made him wish even more they were here with him, just to hang out like that, but not today. After gazing a little more, Sig decided it was time to move on and finally moved away from it.

After some time walking he came to a halt, he was in front of a cafe now. A quick drink didn't sound like a bad idea, he figured. He began scouting the outside seats for a good one to pick for himself.

Being a fairly crowded day, the place was decently filled, but finding a seat wasn't gonna be hard to do, it was just a question of where. Sig wasn't picky, but he'd prefer to get a seat away from couples who would make him feel awkward accidentally listening in on them or judgemental old people with little love for the youth and everything time-related.

While looking around, Sig couldn't help but notice a young, blonde guy, probably not much older than Sig. The boy sat there, looking somewhat tense, both hands on a cup, looking as if he could doze off any moment, yet for one reason or another, couldn't or didn't want to.

Yep, Sig knew who that was.

He wordlessly went over to approach him, the boy not noticing the whole time, looking visibly out of it.

''Hey, Wacht.'' Sig greeted him matter-of-factly, jolting the boy up a little.

He began looking around a bit, seemingly back to reality, finally noticing who had been talking to him.

''Ah, hey Sig. Been a while.'' He greeted the boy back with a tired wave, his eyes looking as if about to shut any moment.

Wacht

Friendly Neighborhood Insomniac

''Haven't seen you since you graduated…you alright?'' Sig sat down opposite of Wacht on the table he sat at, ready to do some catching up.

''Eh, same as usual.'' Wacht adjusted himself, trying to look a little less slouched, becoming much more self-aware about his posture.

''University is a bit rough. Not that much free time because of all the studying…'' Just thinking about that made him feel as if his head was gonna explode and it probably wasn't just the lack of sleep.

''I'll manage though.'' He added, trying to not sound down in the dumps.

Sig nodded, he knew that would await him sooner or later too and that thought was just a bit cringe-inducing, but it wasn't anything he couldn't see coming.

At that moment a waitress came over to the table and Sig ordered himself a sweet tea. A brief silence settled in on the table from the sudden interruption. Wacht began to take a sip from his cup and quickly backed off from it.

''...Cold.'' Was all he said, making both boys chuckle a little. Seemed he dozed off a bit too much.

They went silent again, Sig got his order, but the ice was definitely a little broken by now.

''So….how's school been?'' Wacht tapped his fingers on his cup a little.

Sig shrugged.

''Pretty normal. Stuff happens, but we get through it.'' He said, not going too into details for a more broad description, that was basically how it was anyway.

''I see.'' Wacht went quiet for a bit, something clearly on his mind.

Was it weird to ask? Maybe even uncalled for? He didn't know, but that thought was nagging on him and it's been like that ever since he graduated.

He felt that internal tug of war inside him. Was it a good idea or not? He didn't know, but he did know he probably wasn't going to get this chance again for a long time, so may as well grasp it.

''Uhm.'' He began to stammer a little, not sure how to ask it, being visibly nervous.

Sig looked at him inquisitively, noticing his sudden anxiety. Of course, doing so only signaled to Wacht even more that he should just say it.

He took a brief breath, trying to collect himself, getting ready for the one big thing on his mind.

''H-How's Hilda?'' He finally got it out, feeling relieved and nervous at once.

Sig meanwhile seemed remarkably calm about it.

''She's doing good. Sometimes the curse gives her trouble, but we help her.'' He explained matter of factly:

''That's good…'' Wacht seemed visibly relieved to hear that, but still not entirely at ease.

Still, then he looked over at Sig and to see him, that somehow felt like a second chance of sorts.

''You two always were close. Take care of her, okay?'' Wacht decided to just speak what was on his mind, not overthinking it.

Sig nodded, but also tilted his head a little, seemingly catching on to what was going on.

''She's not mad at you.''

Wacht jumped a bit at the sudden declaration, pausing to think a little.

''I guess so. It just still feels…shitty, y'know? Breaking up because of the curse…'' He winced a bit just thinking about it, still anything but happy about himself.

''She knew you couldn't take it with your condition. It's fine.'' Sig insisted, trying to reach out to the older boy.

Wacht kept pausing, taking in what Sig said. He had no reason to lie about it and that was comforting. Still…

''Talk to her, it'll be fine.'' Sig urged him, trying to nudge him into it.

Wacht looked over to him, trying to figure out what to say, but nothing came to him. There was only the same thing again.

He had no reason to lie.

It may have been a while, but he did know Sig for two years and as much as he seems to have matured, he was still recognizably the same boy he had seen back in school.

Perhaps it was time he'd stop running away. As nervous as the thought of meeting her again made him.

''Give me a bit and I will.'' He said, still feeling like he needed a little time.

''Sure thing,'' Sig took a sip from his drink, going back into being relaxed himself.

It was then that Wacht's phone began to ring, signaling he got a text message. He looked it over for a bit and then swiftly got up.

''Sorry, but I gotta be somewhere real quick.'' He said, just now realizing how long he'd been there.

Before leaving, he gave Sig a pat on the shoulder, looking over him with a peaceful expression.

''I'm glad Hilda has you.'' He told Sig, before taking his leave, Sig looked behind to see him go his way.

And then there he was alone now, still thinking a bit of what they were talking about. Sig took out his phone and began looking at a photo of himself and Hilda. The two had their heads nudged together and Hilda put an arm around his shoulder.

His mind was with what Wacht told him, to be there for her. Could he really be someone to be counted on for that?

Sig wasn't sure if he saw himself that way, but he knew he wanted to be there for her, no matter what.

Just like she had always been there for him….