soul_campaign | [ 03: February 13th

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[ 03: February 13th | Video ]

[The feed switches on to Kanji sitting in a chair facing backward, though the frame only catches the bottom half of his face as he pulled his arm back. He was never good at filming...]

...Yo. Had a lotta shit to do lately, so this entry's kinda late.

[And that was when an odd jingling started from somewhere behind him. The teen ignored it, taking a fist and slapping it against an open palm.]

I partnered up with Tifa! We're livin' in Death City Heights, Building 6, so don't bother lookin' in Murder Manor or Creeping Crypts.

[A lopsided grin.] Heheh... Witches're seriously screwed now!

[And with that, he cuts off the feed to the public, opens up a private message and hesitates, heart pounding. He could do this. He could do this...!]

[Private: Naoto]

[He'd turned his head away before the private feed started, arms tightly folded as clammy hands were balled into fists.]

Y-... y-y'free tomorrow!?

[Did his voice crack? Of course it did.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He might have to explain the Duffel bag to her. Hanging with the bag of saline was another bag, the red liquid unmistakable. Color was coming back to her skin by now, but she still appeared sickly curled on her side as she was. Her bandaged leg was hidden beneath the tangle of bed sheets]

[Slowly, her eye opened at his voice and she let out a breath.]

Hello, Kanji-kun.

[His heart fell. She looked a hell of a lot worse in person than over the feed.]

[After quietly setting the bag down to the side, he went to get a chair and pulled it up. He'd be careful with this one, he promises. Even gingerly sat in it as he placed the water and things on the bedside table.]

If it's makin' you feel sicker, y'don't need to talk, okay?

[He wanted to reach out, do something...]

[She wouldn't be able to spring up so easily if this chair snapped. Naoto shook her head faintly]

I can manage. I just... need to keep my responses short.

[It made her feel lazy, but with the fever making her dizzy and her stomach having problems settling, it was a small sacrifice.]

O-okay.

[He nodded. If she could manage short ones, that was fine. Without really thinking, he leaned and rest a hand at her forehead, the other moving to his own for comparison. Her temp wasn't too high, was it?]

...Think you can keep somethin' down?

[No, just the usual low fever. Still, she let out a sigh; his hand was pleasantly cool in comparison.]

I should be able to. I haven't tried.

[Not too warm, that was good. He pulled his hand back pretty quick.]

Worth a shot, yeah? I remember my stomach wasn't actin' like an ass as long as it had somethin' in it. I, uh... brought some stuff.

[He hesitated, then looked away, mulling over his options. Some cold water would probably do her a hell of a lot of good, and saltines helped settle the stomach, but...]

L-let's get you up a little bit.

[She probably couldn't sit up, huh...? He rose from his chair and went to find extra pillows or something.]

[It feels like the period after they rescued her from the television world. She doesn't want to move, but she'll try. She had to maneuver slowly so she didn't tug out an IV line or cause her stomach to rebel further.]

[Ah-ha! There they were. He grabbed as many as he could carry and swung right back.]

A'right... uh...

[And he moved as delicately as he could, hoping it wouldn't be too much for her, a shaky arm sliding beneath to help prop her up temporarily as he shifted the pillows beneath, forming an fluffy incline to lie against.]

[Enough pillows, Kanji? She pauses, blinking at the abundance of pillows.]

[Her face burns as he wraps an around from behind and one of her hands take hold of his sleeve, holding on a bit longer even after she's propped against the pillows]

[W-well, you can never have too many.]

[Once she was all set, he leaned and reached for the pack of crackers, but found he couldn't move his other arm. Kanji glanced back and went a little red.]

[He paused, then settled onto the edge of the bed, just listening to his heartbeat in his ears.]

... Sorry. I'm feeling somewhat unsteady.

[She slowly withdrew her hand so he could move again]

[He hesitantly withdrew his arm.]

N-nah, it's.. i-it's fine.

[There was a little crinkling from the package as he retrieved it from the table along with the water, opening them up. He'd grabbed it from the fridge, so it was still a little frosty.]

This should settle yer stomach a little.

[Saltine crackers and water? She hasn't heard of this remedy before, but Kanji thinks she'll actually be able to keep them down, she's willing to try.]

Thank you... [She'll take one cracker for now and nibble at it]

[If he could track down some ginger, they'd really be in business, but well.]

N-no problem.

[He'll just... take one, too. His stomach was doing somersaults.]

[Not feeling well? Or is it because she's still leaning against him more than the pillows]

... Why did you want to know if I was available tomorrow?

[That... may have a lot to do with it.]

[With her question, Kanji froze. Swallowed that piece of cracker he hadn't entirely finished chewing. Coughed.]

W-why I-- ...

[God damn it. Where the hell was the courage and all the advice given to him over the last few days!?]

I-I, uh, w-wanted to hang out.

[Not entirely a lie...]

[Well, she's not totally upright so she feels a little better like this. She peered up at him, frowning when he coughed]

Careful.

[Though, she's not in the position to say anything]

I see... I doubt I'll be discharged until after tomorrow at the very least.

[He waved a hand a little as he coughed, an "I'm okay" gesture before he recovered.]

S'okay. I can just come visit tomorrow, right? Sneak you out for a little fresh air.

[They both really were The Worst Patients.]

[She nods and looks away.]

Hm... we'll see how I'm feeling tomorrow.

[Definitely.]

I-if you're still feelin' pretty shitty tomorrow, it ain't a big deal. You just focus on gettin' better.

[He shrugged casually, but gently, considering she was leaning on him.]

You're tough. You've bounced back from worse.

I will.

[She feels him shift up, but not bad. She's still comfortable.]

I know, but illnesses are not like injuries. It can get worse before getting better... [Or just remain going downhill.]

[Piff and piffle to your pessimism.]

...I got a bag fulla snacks n' drinks. [Among other things, but that was a surprise.]

I'm ready to ride this shit out with you, whether it gets worse or not.

[Forever pessimistic]

Oh... that's what the Duffel bag is for. [She had meant to inquire, but it slipped her mind almost immediately] You... don't have to stay.

[He nodded. Eeyup. That's what the bag was for.]

...But I want to.

[He knew all too well how shitty it was to be holed up by yourself, sick as a dog.]

[He wanted to? That didn't make much sense to her. She was ill; it would be disgusting not to mention boring]

... I'm not going to be able to convince you to leave, am I?

[He probably had better things to do.]

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