[It's odd, how it feels like they've circled all the way back around to the beginning. The look on Jessica's face is agonizingly familiar—Sayo remembers that stuttering, stupefied, flushed expression from when Jessica teased her over the network, slamming all the fantasies from when she was too young to comprehend all the obstacles before them to the forefront of Sayo's mind, just by typing "I'll make you my wife~." Jessica is wearing that same fluster on her sleeve, and-
oh god sayo is barely dressed that's why this is happening]
Oh! [she squeaks.] A- Ah, sorrysorrysorry, I wasn't expecting, um, any visitors, let me just- [Hastily pulling on her gi, Sayo looks away from Jessica in mutual embarrassment. Some things never change, even as (relatively) confident that Sayo's become.]
It's, er. Okay to look now.
[And to talk, apparently. She listens closely, nodding along, and closes her eyes when Jessica says her piece. The silence hangs for what feels like an eternity before Sayo breaks it.]
...I want to say "you don't mean that." But that's just what I think you'd tell me, isn't it? You... you really... [Tears gather at the corners of her eyes. There's no point in asking, "Are you sure?" Jessica wouldn't be here if she wasn't.]
S- sorry. [Sayo can't stop herself from crying any longer.] I'm trying to play it cool, but, um, I can't. I thought that was going to be it, that was going to be the last I saw of my second real crush and my best friend for ten years, and I was just going to deal with it and move one like I was supposed to, and then you come walking in, and I was going to have to make it through our last goodbye without crying my eyes out, and, and-
[A hiccupping laugh.]
It's almost funny, isn't it? That it was only after I finally made my choice that you and Battler came back for me. Like the universe is trying to teach me some kind of lesson, haha...
I... If you want to come in, then... I'd like to hold hands with you again. Literally and, um, metaphorically. But not like old times. I want to make something better than that, so the memories of all those past "mes" won't hurt as much anymore.
no subject
oh god sayo is barely dressed that's why this is happening]
Oh! [she squeaks.] A- Ah, sorrysorrysorry, I wasn't expecting, um, any visitors, let me just- [Hastily pulling on her gi, Sayo looks away from Jessica in mutual embarrassment. Some things never change, even as (relatively) confident that Sayo's become.]
It's, er. Okay to look now.
[And to talk, apparently. She listens closely, nodding along, and closes her eyes when Jessica says her piece. The silence hangs for what feels like an eternity before Sayo breaks it.]
...I want to say "you don't mean that." But that's just what I think you'd tell me, isn't it? You... you really... [Tears gather at the corners of her eyes. There's no point in asking, "Are you sure?" Jessica wouldn't be here if she wasn't.]
S- sorry. [Sayo can't stop herself from crying any longer.] I'm trying to play it cool, but, um, I can't. I thought that was going to be it, that was going to be the last I saw of my second real crush and my best friend for ten years, and I was just going to deal with it and move one like I was supposed to, and then you come walking in, and I was going to have to make it through our last goodbye without crying my eyes out, and, and-
[A hiccupping laugh.]
It's almost funny, isn't it? That it was only after I finally made my choice that you and Battler came back for me. Like the universe is trying to teach me some kind of lesson, haha...
I... If you want to come in, then... I'd like to hold hands with you again. Literally and, um, metaphorically. But not like old times. I want to make something better than that, so the memories of all those past "mes" won't hurt as much anymore.
I want to make something new.