Dream 04 → 'The Love Which Suffers'

[insorrow]

Warnings: Spoilers of a not exactly critical nature for the fifth episode of a ten-year-old anime series. Head canon. Nowhere near as angsty as the title might imply.
Dream Effects: A mixture of happiness, regret and love.

Comments

[hypnoun]

[Well she usually ignores dreams, but this is too cheesy to ignore.]

...S-She must have meant a lot to you.

[insorrow]

[Hm. That's weird. Ken's pretty sure he doesn't know this girl, but doesn't she seem familiar somehow?]

My ex. Pretty much, yeah.

[hypnoun]

I-I see... Do you miss her?

[insorrow]

Yeah, I guess so. Sometimes. Couldn't be helped, though...

[He sighs, looking away for a moment. Adds, quietly and almost as an afterthought:] She's probably way happier where she is.

[hypnoun]

[She nods a bit at first, smiling sympathetically, and then pauses.] ...I-I'm sorry. I'm probably b-bothering you by asking you about this.

[insorrow]

Nah, it's fine. It's out there already, nothing I can do about that. Can't blame you for bein' curious.

[He'll be returning that smile about now.]

[hypnoun]

A-Are... Are you sure? If I-I'm reminding you of anything b-bad, I could just stop.

[insorrow]

No, it's fine, really! It's not like the whole thing was bad or anything like that, it just kinda... ended, you know? But maybe it woulda done anyway.

[hypnoun]

Alright... I-If you're that sure.

[Pauses. Well, now was a good time to get his name.] U-Um... I'm sorry, b-but... Have we met before?

[insorrow]

It's okay. Ain't like I can go back and un-have that dream or anything...

[He hesitates a little at the question though, frowning in thought.]

... it's weird but you know I'm not sure? I don't think we spoke or anything but I'm pretty sure I remember you from somewhere.

[hypnoun]

I g-guess you're right.... [Nods, just once.]

...T-That's weird. I don't think we've t-talked before, but... [She tilts her head at that a little, as if confused, playing up her innocent act.] W-What's your name?

[insorrow]

Yeah, I'm sure I know you from somewhere, but I just can't seemta--

[He breaks off. Smiles helplessly, shrugging. Oh well. He can't remember and nor can she: that's all there is to say, right?]

It's Ken. My name's Ken. You?

[hypnoun]

[Oh well, at least she got his name. She's just going to have to return that smile for now.]

I'm R-Rei... It's very nice to meet you, Ken-san!

[insorrow]

Rei?

[Does that sound familiar? Well... no. No, not really. Oh Well indeed.]

Okay then, Rei. Heh, nice to meet you too. You been here long?

[hypnoun]

I've been here f-for about six months, I think? I don't think i-it's very long compared to others who've been here for m-more than a year, though...

[insorrow]

Really? Since February? You must have got here about the same time I did, then. I met a guy the other day says he's been here for two years, though. Two years, that's nuts. He didn't seem too upset though.