Rosemary, that's for remembrance
The train sways beneath his feet, but Akihiko doesn't pay much attention to it. The scenery outside isn't very interesting either; just the same streets that he's passed these last ten years. He doesn't pay much attention to the announcement of the station name. He knows it well enough, down to the weather-beaten sign that they still haven't gotten around to changing.
The cemetery is quiet, like it always is. There's a few people in the same area that he comes to, a little white haired man and woman, standing together in front of a grave. Akihiko runs a hand through his hair, wondering if he's as old as this place makes him feel.
He sits in front of the familiar grave, putting the flowers he bought at the station into the small vase that stands next to it. He sits in silence until the couple leave. He isn't embarrassed, but what he has to say is just between him and his sister.
"Hey. It's been a while," he finally says. "Don't really know where to start. A couple of juniors have joined the team, so we're able to do more. Don't worry. They're not half-bad, and I'm getting stronger too. Shinji comes by every so often too. Says he's doing alright."
His voice trails off and dies, the forced cheerfulness and energy that he was keeping up draining out of him. He's heard people rambling on before, talking about this and that and everything, which has never been his style. Why mention the Nexus, when mostly it's just a pain? Why talk about school, which would just be boring to hear about? Why bring up all the confusing things that are happening with Mitsuru - what would he even say about that?
Really though, he's come here to say one thing and one thing only. He swallows, bowing his head and staring at his hands. "I'm sorry about forgetting."
Akihiko stays past dark, not saying anything more. The silence follows him onto the mostly-empty train, and on the walk back to the dorm from the station. His feet automatically go into his patrolling gait as he carefully avoids the other people who are still outside. They'll be coffins soon, even if he's the only one around here who knows that. It doesn't encourage him to linger.
There's about forty minutes left until the Dark Hour when he opens the dorm's front door, squinting into the sudden bright light. He steps inside and closes the door behind him. He would say that he's home if it felt that way.
The cemetery is quiet, like it always is. There's a few people in the same area that he comes to, a little white haired man and woman, standing together in front of a grave. Akihiko runs a hand through his hair, wondering if he's as old as this place makes him feel.
He sits in front of the familiar grave, putting the flowers he bought at the station into the small vase that stands next to it. He sits in silence until the couple leave. He isn't embarrassed, but what he has to say is just between him and his sister.
"Hey. It's been a while," he finally says. "Don't really know where to start. A couple of juniors have joined the team, so we're able to do more. Don't worry. They're not half-bad, and I'm getting stronger too. Shinji comes by every so often too. Says he's doing alright."
His voice trails off and dies, the forced cheerfulness and energy that he was keeping up draining out of him. He's heard people rambling on before, talking about this and that and everything, which has never been his style. Why mention the Nexus, when mostly it's just a pain? Why talk about school, which would just be boring to hear about? Why bring up all the confusing things that are happening with Mitsuru - what would he even say about that?
Really though, he's come here to say one thing and one thing only. He swallows, bowing his head and staring at his hands. "I'm sorry about forgetting."
Akihiko stays past dark, not saying anything more. The silence follows him onto the mostly-empty train, and on the walk back to the dorm from the station. His feet automatically go into his patrolling gait as he carefully avoids the other people who are still outside. They'll be coffins soon, even if he's the only one around here who knows that. It doesn't encourage him to linger.
There's about forty minutes left until the Dark Hour when he opens the dorm's front door, squinting into the sudden bright light. He steps inside and closes the door behind him. He would say that he's home if it felt that way.