it's acceptance masquerading as a revelation. [break][break]

she's causing him pain, in the same way he tugged at her heart in ways that'd make her confused, and in ways that'd pit her facing a cliff, to stare into the void of her own regrets. she's tired, staring back into the familiar void as she wears a small, unreadable smile. [break][break]

they say you'll default to familiarity when you're faced with things you don't understand, or can't control. so she smiles, unreadable, with a familiar glaze over a muted spark in her eyes. they do move, to glance to the axew that holds her stubby arms out to the trainer. but ayame only gives her a small smile. she's at peace. [break][break]

when the elevator slows to a stop, she gazes at the numbers, blankly. then feels the slight popping of her ears at how quickly it stops. a swallow fixes that. a ding resounds, and the doors slowly begin to slide open. it felt like forever. [break][break]

then her gaze finally raises to a man, the familiar (distant) smile to her lips and the gently honey-glazed tone laced in her words are unnatural. she has better ways to cope; they just don't work right now. "i'm sorry for taking your time." she says, with a tilt of her head before taking a step out, with her hands gently clutching her arms as they're held against her stomach. [break][break]

"sayonara, hakuryuu."

Asahiko Hakuryuu

☉