6th: The Revulsion of Haruhi Suzumiya

[godbent]

Comments

[voice | filtered 100%] /matches your mini-novel

[book_of_chaos]

[Leon fixes the filter out of habit, even before he really thinks about how Haruhi's message comes across. He's been preoccupied, definitely, with the draft and the idea of going out there lost in that massive list of residents. Every time a draft rolled around, the list seemed to get bigger, and they... They were more likely to get lost in the fray. Or that was his fear.

He had noticed, distantly, that Haruhi hadn't been in the best of moods following the experiment. Few of them were. He still didn't know what to feel about Yuzu, and he hadn't gotten up the nerve to talk to her. But Haruhi was Haruhi, and for every emotional outburst Haruki had ever gone through, it felt like things would just be exponentially worse for her. Because she'd already been dealt a cruddy blow ending up with people who didn't remember things as she did. Because she wanted to tell him something, and she was holding herself back--and he didn't know why.

He holds the page as he sits on the couch, tapping to hear her voice post again. Hearing the pause. He holds his head in one hand, not knowing what to say.

...

The journal records a period of silence before he realizes it's recording. He tries to sound confident. Like he isn't conflicted at all.]

It'll just be a few days. Things'll be okay.

[voice | filtered 100%] this is a tragic series

[godbent]

[The silence, oh the silence. Haruhi sees the reply come in, sees the little picture of Leon and sees what she thinks is a contemplate face, or an upset one... it's hard to tell from a little picture. But she stares at it - willing, hoping he'll understand. Wanting him to tell her to shut up and stop. Wishing that he could somehow fix things, like he did when Usagi died. But that's not fair, of course it's not fair. He was just there, the last one. He wasn't the first, he wasn't the most important, probably, he was just the last.

And then, some parts of her - more of her than she expected, based on yesterday - wish the opposite. Because if he and the others don't stop her, who can? She can erase this world. Get rid of everything. And so what if it's not perfect? So what if the Malnosso ruin it yet again or if she isn't potent enough to save everyone- anything, anything is better than this.

She swallows when his voice finally comes through. Licking her lips, she presses for a reply]

Yeah, of course.

[voice | filtered 100%]

[book_of_chaos]

[He can feel his face twisting at the short reply. He feels numb, depressed, angry, and upset all at the same time. He's thinking too much. Reading into things she isn't saying. Reading into the things she is saying--to other people. He knows it's stupid, and he knows it's not her fault.

It was his, for just ... thinking too much.

His voice is a little rough as he exhales and manages to speak.]

You'd tell me if something was wrong, right?

[voice | filtered 100%]

[godbent]

I... [...] would.

[...]

Something is- ...nothing's right, right now.

[She's surprised she could even say that]

[voice | filtered 100%]

[book_of_chaos]

[He laughs shortly, even though it's completely inappropriate. It's a nervous response, edged with relief.

He didn't want her to shut him out.]

Tell me about it... You canceled meetings.

[It's an attempt at a joke, even if they both knew this wasn't unprecedented.]

We can talk. Whenever you want to. Need to.

[voice | filtered 100%]

[godbent]

[She sighs. And then in a voice more mechanical than curios - she's testing his sincerity more than anything - ]

Who were you with?

[voice | filtered 100%]

[book_of_chaos]

[There's that silence again. More uncomfortable, more awkward. But this had to do with why she was feeling like crap, right?

So he stutters out the answer.]

...Y- Yuzu.

[voice | filtered 100%]

[godbent]

Knowing you, you probably didn't even kiss, did you?

[voice | filtered 100%]

[book_of_chaos]

[How can you say that so bluntly, Haruhi?]

Ah- that is- ...Isn't that normal? [They'd "only realized" they liked each other that much.]

[voice | filtered 100%]

[godbent]

...I don't know, maybe it is.

[But that's said quietly. Doubtfully. Flatly]

[voice | filtered 100%]

[book_of_chaos]

[He scratches an ear thoughtfully. For the moment, he's too caught up in what's being said.]

Does it matter?

[voice | filtered 100%]

[godbent]

Of course it does! How doesn't it?! How couldn't it?!

[voice | filtered 100%]

[book_of_chaos]

It's... It's a kiss. You can kiss anyone if you work up the nerve. [Unless they smacked you first.] I'd guess it has more to do with how you felt about it.

[...How would he feel if he'd kissed Yuzu last week?]

[voice | filtered 100%]

[godbent]

Well... a kiss can be important to someone, you know.

[PLEASE NOTE: contrary to anything she's ever said before. Or Haruki, for that matter]

[voice | filtered 100%]

[book_of_chaos]

Sure. That's what I mean, how you feel about it. [But. Uh. What does this have to do with anything?] Did you kiss someone? [Did she get kissed?]

[voice | filtered 100%]

[godbent]

[...What point even is there in denying it]

Two people.