[ DEPARTURE ]

[sheriffexe]

DEPARTURE

It's time to go. Most people are on the train by now. Settled into their cabins and among friends and loved ones. There are only three new arrivals left to board and once they do, Hal pulls a conductor's hat out from underneath the bar, tugs it on, and steps around it to the middle of the train. He opens his mouth to talk, voice filling the train. "It's time to go. Stops happen once a day until everyone's departed and I already have your stopped listed. If you'd like to be prioritized, let me know, otherwise we'll go in order of death. Settle in and enjoy the ride. If there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask, folks." This, of course, means that those who died earliest (Manfred, Higekiri) will depart first while those who died latest (Barnham, Damian, Percy) will depart last. There's a stop for everyone, though those who want to get off together are more than welcome to. Hal pulls a notepad and pen out of his pocket later and people will notice that he goes around the train confirming stops with everyone. Whatever feeling Hal may have had to a character back in town isn't noticeable here -- he is simply a robot assigned with a job. After that, it's all a matter of settling in and enjoying the ride. If that's possible for you, at least.

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Comments

[cherrypuncher]

I'll have time for that later, too, but I'm here with you now. Oh, and anyway— [She pats at her pockets, setting those candy bars aside.] I almost forgot. I have something for you!

[insincerely]

[Never have words struck such fear into his heart until now: I have something for you.]

— You know what, I think I have to go use the facilities right now.

[STANDING UP

BYE]

[cherrypuncher]

—I think that's a lie, too!

[STANDING UP she's knocking over candy bars in the process. they live on the floor now]

[insincerely]

Shouldn't you clean up your mess?

[He says, looking over his shoulder as he begins... walking away...]

A hero should keep things neat and tidy!

[cherrypuncher]

That isn't a thing!

[NO SHE'S JUST LEAVING THEM THERE AND FOLLOWING HIM]

[insincerely]

Are you sure? Weren't you ever taught to clean up after yourself?

[SHIT

well even though he was totally bullshitting that, he might as well head to the men's washroom to see if even Yuna will actually follow him inside—]

[cherrypuncher]

Don't say that while you're—! Oh.

[nope the door closes in front of her and she is entirely too polite to go barging into the men's washroom so she's just

so sad

she looks kind of like a puppy that's been thrown and locked outside. what if she just kind of steps back and aside and waits here to see if he comes out.]

[insincerely]

[... On one hand, this is almost the perfect hiding spot (if it weren't for the fact that half his friends/not-friends are also male, so he'll inevitably run into them if he stays in here forever).

............ On the other hand, he doesn't hear Yuna walking away, which is a bad sign and means she's waiting outside for him, and to his increasing horror, he actually feels bad.








He's going to

wait inside a minute or two????]

[cherrypuncher]

[SHE'S

STILL HERE

SHE'S STILL HERE. SHE'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE. she probably has to assure a passerby that she's fine she's just waiting for someone in the interim because she's hanging around here looking like a kicked dog??? she's shuffling through her pockets to make sure she's prepared if Shinnosuke ever emerges from behind the door at all.]

[insincerely]

[UGH

okay fine Shinnosuke's slamming the door open after a while]

Why are you still here!?

[cherrypuncher]

Because you ran off before I could give you your gift!

[OBVIOUSLY??? she has perked up considerably just because he's back though because, again, dumb dog]

[insincerely]

And you didn't think there was a reason for that?

[yuna stop]

[cherrypuncher]

...I guess you really did have to go?

[help]

[insincerely]

[







SIGH]

What did you want to give me?

[cherrypuncher]

[VICTORY]

Here. [And she retrieves from her pocket a bookmark, dark red with a matching ribbon in the corner and a pressed pink flower on it, and holds it out in front of her. It's too cleanly cut and sealed to be one she's made, but of course Yuna would just have pressed flower bookmarks on her.]

Sorry, I didn't have a green one anymore. [Like, she did, but too many of her friends have green as a favorite color?? Red is Karin's, anyway, and Yuna's always thought of her when she's thought of how to better be closer to Shinnosuke, too, and so she wants to create that connection, even if only for herself.] It's something from home, but it's been with me since I got to the town, too. ...When I got sick and my Hero Club at home visited me, like I talked about before, they brought presents sometimes, so when I finally woke up, I had this in my hand.

[For now, she brings her free hand to her heart, all smiles as always.]

I know it isn't much, but it's still important to me, so I really want you to have it.

[insincerely]

[Shinnosuke doesn't take it, instead staring at it—and then at Yuna.]

If it's still important to you, why give it away to me?

[cherrypuncher]

[This should be obvious by now, where the hell has he been the past like seven weeks?? But when Yuna answers him, her voice is bright and warm.]

Because you're important to me.

[insincerely]

[living in denial???]

... Honestly...

[He should've expected no less from Yuna. A part of him knew this was coming, really.

Even so, he can't stop his expression from faltering for a moment, because that's something he both didn't want to hear but wanted to hear (why?) all at once.]

... You really creep me out, you know? Saying stuff like that with a straight face...

[cherrypuncher]

Is it really creepy...? I really mean it, though. [Just like she's meant everything else she's told him and everyone; she can't be anyone else but Yuna, and she can't pretend that means anything else.] You're important to me, and I'm glad I got to be your friend. That's why I want you to have this.

[She's still holding the bookmark out, but she hasn't tried to shove it at him or anything. She's been patient this long.]

For me, it was a reminder that even when I was far away, the friends who gave it to me were still right by my side. I want you to know I'm always with you, too.

[insincerely]

[Hesitantly, he takes the bookmark, staring at it as if it's an unfamiliar object to him. I want you to know I'm always with you, too. Does that even mean anything? How would memory alone give him any strength?

He doesn't know yet. But, he supposes, it might not hurt (too much) to see.]

You're still a moron.

[It's Shinnosuke talk for thanks, probably.]

[cherrypuncher]

You said that already. [he has not stopped saying that??? But Yuna still smiles, wide and warm, because she knows an almost-thanks when she hears it.]

[insincerely]

[Stop, that smile is blinding!!]

Because it never stops being true.