2025-10-11: The Need To Be Loved
- Log: The Need to be Loved
- Cast: Tsubasa Seki, Myunghon Yeo
- Where: Hirasaka Ward, Tsubasa's Apartment
- OOC Date: October 11, 2025
- IC Date: July 24, 2012
- Summary: Myunghon comes to Tsubasa's apartment with supplies after they're discharged from medical custody. In catching up, Myunghon finds the appalling state of their home as Tsubasa relates the abuses of their father, and offers them the former safehouse as a new home.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Myunghon gets two texts at sundown, around when Ichika drops by to pick up Lance because Tsubasa's back:
> im out im ok
> gon crash then reach out ok
... and then nothing for the next four hours, which is, for everyone keeping score, a really long nap. (Even accounting for Ichika's visit.) But then--!!
Then, Tsubasa texts Myunghon again, asking if they can come over because they're just not feeling going out right now. They give them an address in the process; it's in the bad part of Hirasaka. Up grated stairs, there are units with singular windows barred to prevent intrusion, and...
"Hey." When Tsubasa opens the door, Myunghon will have to duck -- the staircase runs over the front door. There's space under the stairs there to drop off one's shoes -- barely -- and room to take one good step or two mindful ones, which are the order of the day because there is a dog who is happy to see them. Lance borks, happily, wagging her tail. Myunghon is her friend now!! They're friends!!! Friends with dog!!!!
The door does at least not bump into the table jammed in by the end of the staircase as it curves around the other wall, though if Tsubasa pulled that chair out too much it might cause a problem. There's a kitchen wedged in under the loft, with a (actually nice and new) microwave and a (definitely not new) kettle and a leaky kitchen sink, and jammed in beside that is a bathroom behind a sliding door, with the world's most cramped shower (deluxe!) which sometimes has hot water.
... notably, no heating unit.
"Sorry," they shrug, as they step inside to let them in. "It's a shithole. Just... real tired." They're looking a bit fucked, themself; they haven't put concealer on, so their scars are pale like their normal skin tone against the nigh-orange dark tan of their unscarred skin. They're piebald. They have a wig on, though! The blond one Myunghon got them. It survived!!
(No binder, but they're also in their sleeping clothes, so maybe that's normal.)
"Wanted to see ya, anyway... oughta thank ya. Uh. You want some coffee?" They ask, a touch awkwardly. "Milk's fucked, but I got sugar..."
LISTEN, THEY ONLY HAVE THE ONE HOSPITALITY MOVE.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon basically drops everything they're doing the moment they get a text from Tsubasa and has to restrain themself from fussing even though they've been in a holding pattern of Katsuya telling them they're in custodial medical care and visitors aren't allowed. They've gone to preparing another care bag for Tsubasa in the meantime, which proves a little prescient when Tsubasa asks if they can come over -- it's in the bad part of Hirasaka, which isn't exactly unknown to Myunghon given their association with the Zainichi...
"Tsubasa-kun... I'm-- very glad to see you," Myunghon whispers gently, dressed in their white dress shirt and tie combo, with the black dress pants. They kneel gently and drapes their arm around Lance to give her a good healthy dose of petting and hugs, even though they've been looking after her the last few days.
They do take their shoes off and steps in, ducking a little as they wedge themselves in. This is a pretty small apartment, and Myunghon has definitely an inkling of the conditions Tsubasa lives in... a shower does put them in some ways ahead of even Myunghon, however. Myunghon doesn't move to give Tsubasa a hug because they're not large on contact themself, but does set the bag down as they say, "I can scarce imagine how exhausting it must have been. I brought you supplies, in case you needed anything."
There's a variety in the bag, which is a little overstuffed -- another wig because Myunghon suspected the police would be cruel enough to take it away, a bright blue in colour. Some sets of clothes (masculine or neutral-coded), toiletries, medical supplies, food.
"Ah... water would be all right," Myunghon expresses gently. They don't really make a face or anything to Tsubasa's scars, given how messed up their own skin is underneath all the bandages, their preferred way of concealing the extensive bodily damage... but it's not lost on them that Tsubasa was hurt further, so there is some concern simmering underneath their countenance, kept gentle with a supportive smile at present.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa already exhausted their stash of hugs on Ichika, it's cool. Inviting Myunghon to see how terribly they live (they may be able to smell the mould) is at least a kind of closeness.
As for the shower: don't ask how much effort it took Reiko to get their father to rent a place which would be friendly to Tsubasa's gender concerns. ... it was a bad time.
"... yeah," they say, their shoulders sagging. "I'm real tired." Even though they just napped for hours! But Myunghon brought things, and Tsubasa looks over the bag, with the ghost of a smile. "Thanks, Yeo-sama."
But -- water, they say, so Tsubasa grabs a mug (they only really have two mugs) and fills it up with water to hand over to them. It's just tap water, but the tap water is mostly fine, it's fine. They fetch a mug of water for themself, too, and swing over to sit on the stairs -- which naturally leave the chair at the table free for Myunghon.
That's just kind of the way of things.
"Uh..." They start, looking down at the mug. And Myunghon might recognise it, really; the hollowed-out exhaustion of not knowing what to say after detention for adults. A whole week passed by while they were busy with this. Ichika broke up with one of her boyfriends! The world kept moving, and here they are!!
"... sorry 'bout the cops findin' me," they settle on, at length. "Musta caused problems for ya... I shoulda been more careful." Even if they found Ichika, that night, they wouldn't have seen her if Tsubasa hadn't asked her to stay. There's no way cops can patrol during the Dark Hour, after all!
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
The smell of mould is a very familiar one, given Myunghon's chaos third floor. It's also not a terribly uncommon smell in Hirasaka, given the average age of buildings here, and how lacking in weatherproofing they inevitably are with the decades and constant deferred renovation. Most people don't have it this bad, but... Myunghon gets it.
Myunghon does seat themself on the chair as they let Tsubasa fetch water for them. "That isn't surprising in the least. Do you need anything else? I've pushed my schedule out for the rest of the day, so don't hesitate to ask if you do." They know they're not the only ones looking after Tsubasa at the moment, but more hands make lighter work, as they say.
There's an appreciative smile as they accept the water and sip, staring down at the reflection in their mug for a moment along with Tsubasa's.
"No. Don't worry about it. They had me in for questioning as well, but I had someone less violent handling me," they answer, because they're ready for Tsubasa inevitably likely feeling bad that they got spotted by the cops. "That safehouse was already earmarked by the police for a time, but they have no evidence of any wrongdoing. In fact..." A pause, as they glance around this place further.
"Given that it has no further use as a safehouse, Tsubasa-kun, I was wondering if you would like to move into it. Auntie Taeyun has been beside herself with worry... she would be able to help with your day to day needs too."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Think I'm okay..." Tsubasa says, though they sound a little unsure about that. "... that cop said they'd be watchin' me in case I stepped outta line again," they share, "and, I mean, Akechi-san got on his case 'bout it, how I ain't did that to start with, but... oughta keep me head down a bit."
They sigh, staring at the water. "Dunno what to do tomorrow, tho'... the Boss wants me to keep tryin' with exams an' shit, but I reckon if I say shit they'll just tell me it's my fault. So maybe I oughta jus'... sit 'em now... I dunno." Missing two days of their exams, let alone having no time to study for them because they were too busy being almost assassinated would assuredly ensure they ended up scraping the bottom of the barrel grades-wise, but...
Well, they just told them about the warnings they got vis-a-vis rocking boats.
They frown, though, when Myunghon reveals they got taken in too. "Shit. Sorry." And it's really a little dire that they're taking the blame for their own attempted assassination. Still... it was known to the police, huh. Tsubasa sighs. "Explains why they'd be lurkin' around to catch the Boss out..."
They are surprised, though, to hear Myunghon's next suggestion. "Huh?" They blink, their head jerking up. "Seriously?! C'mon, man, you gotta have way better uses for a whole-ass apartment, even if the cops know 'bout it now!" Though, they bite their lip, and add: "Ah, man, poor Auntie..."
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon listens attentively, and frowns gently as Tsubasa mentions 'that cop'. Ezoe...? That's the most they can guess on who's involved. He was apparently tied in with Ishiba too, according to some of the accounts from the others in the Cardboard Dragon. But Akechi intervened...? They'll have to see if they can track him down to at least thank him for it.
"All I was able to receive was reassurance from Suou-san... but it is well that you were able to have someone arguing your defence," Myunghon does sigh. But Ichika wants them to keep trying with exams. This is a rough situation -- exams are difficult enough when you don't have anything else going on, and after multiple attempts to try to get murdered and framed for arson, getting pulled by the cops...
"I imagine the teachers won't listen if you ask for arrangements... would they," Myunghon murmurs quietly, glancing to one side. They already know how it works. Kasugayama High is already known for being a corrective school, but the thing about being a corrective school as well is that it tends to be particularly fond of punitive examples.
They shake their head as Tsubasa commisserates on being puleld in, though. "It's really not a problem. I wasn't hurt this time," Myunghon quietly chuckles, a bit weak that they have to say 'this time', but pauses as Tsubasa expresses surprise at their offering.
"I am serious," they reply, even though yes, correct, there are better uses for a whole-ass apartment like improving THEIR own nightmare of a living situation. Their face settles, however, as they become more resolved:
"You could do better than this, Tsubasa-kun... no, you deserve better. I'd like to offer that to you."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Mm," Tsubasa nods. "They, uh... busted in an' slammed me at like two in the mornin'... were grillin' me 'til all the normal fucks woke up, which I guess is when they told Sergeant Suou and Akechi-san 'bout me. They couldn't just clear my name like that, but they at least got 'em to send me to hospital... put a guard in my room an' said I couldn't have visitors or nothin', tho'."
They shake their head. "Guess Sergeant Suou an' Akechi-san were fightin' for me in the background all that time, tho'... like, Akechi-san kept insistin' he ain't seen the shit they were sayin'. 'Pparently they weren't gonna go 'gainst what he saw, in the end... since he's all popular an' shit."
Tsubasa doesn't really know the fine points of detective and police culture, that's what they think must have happened.
They shake their head, too, when Myunghon shares their pessimism. "Nah," they say. "Tho', uh... the Boss reckons her dad might be willin' to talk to 'em. So he might convince 'em... I dunno." It's super not fair for them to be made an example of for being a victim of filicide, but, well, that's the crushing inequity of existence.
"Cool," they affirm, when Myunghon offers that weak chuckle, though they're still frowning, because of course they're thinking about how traumatising it must be for them to be pulled in even if they weren't hurt.
Still... Myunghon's serious.
"I--" Tsubasa starts, looking to them, before they look at the bannister instead. (It's a bit wobbly. It probably won't drop them one night.) They look quite shocked; perhaps it's the same reason Myunghon doesn't think to take the home for themself that leads Tsubasa to feel undeserving of the offer. If they knew how they were living up there on the third floor, they might have something else to say about it, too, but...
Well, Tsubasa isn't the only one who's tried to keep people away from seeing where they sleep.
"But... but, I..." They certainly didn't tell tears to get caught in their eyes; if they'd realised, they would have put the kibosh on that right quick. Instead they find themself all choked up without even getting a saving throw, and they just swallow, and then take a long drink of water to try and clear that lump out.
"Y-you're serious, man?" They ask, even though they just said they were. "Seriously, I can't pay ya back for somethin' like that, I don't got..." The fact that Tsubasa don't got is of course the entire reason why they're offering, but it's hard for them to grok that at all. "I-I mean... maybe I can make it up to ya, or... but I ain't good for nothin'... I... fuck, man, it'd be so much better than this joint... y-you really reckon Auntie liked me?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
Myunghon has a quiet, distasteful face at the tale of Tsubasa's treatment. It's entirely unsurprising, of course, and also not unfamiliar to Myunghon, how harrassment tactics are levelled time and time again until you feel like you want to break. Even after Suou and Akechi both moved them to medical confinement, the results of the exhaustion are plain to see. Akechi's fighting to throw stones that halt the gears of the machine, and it appears that the Detective Prince's popularity has a lot of weight. But still...
"We'll do something about this," Myunghon murmurs. "We won't take it lying down, their continued attempts to frame and make you disappear for crimes others have committed."
They have the Shadow Cards too now. But for once, their pessimism might not turn out -- Ichika's dad is willing to talk to the school to see if anything that can be done. "... I see," Myunghon nods quietly. "I wouldn't wish for you to give up on schooling if you can, either... I know you've a sharp mind." They smile a bit wider. "After all, you picked out that something didn't add up with the books in City Hall those years ago. Not everyone is able to just piece that together."
It's difficult to unwind a self-sacrificing nature, and it's much easier to believe that everyone else deserves the best and you don't. The bannister does look unsteady. This whole place looks unsteady. They don't know how much injury Tsubasa's experienced living here -- physical or otherwise.
"Mm," Myunghon does answer, retaining that composed look on their face. "I imagine your father picked this place out for you, didn't he? I can feel the spite and I've only been here for ten minutes. It isn't a matter of paying me back, Tsubasa-kun... this isn't right. You deserve better. Lance deserves better."
There's a pause as Myunghon feels uncertain whether that was manipulative, but they do sincerely believe that.
But Myunghon has a soft nod at the end too. "... she does. She told me she's very tired of seeing young ones suffer. She had to see Shinjiro-ssi go, too. And, after all we know about what your mother and father tried to do..." A deeper frown, but that just redoubles their resolve. It's rather scary, but they push through with it: "I'll take my share of responsibility too, of course. I just can't..." They feel a strong note of emotion. "I don't wish to see you handed back to them to be cruel all over again, Tsubasa-kun."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"... I'm pretty scared," Tsubasa admits, quietly, when Myunghon promises to do something.
It's an understatement, but it's hard to admit how it's hitting them, too.
Myunghon says they're sharp, though, and Tsubasa looks up to them uncertainly. "Ya reckon...? But I was dumb enough not to change my theories the minute you said it was a huge security hole... the cops got everythin'. They know I know, man."
... of course, they probably knew they knew long before they got that proof of who they were connecting together on that conspiracy board.
"It's, uh..." Tsubasa starts, their throat tightening up again. "H-he kicked me out when I broke up with that shithead an' came out," they explain, clutching their mug tightly. "S-so Officer Shimizu put me up on her couch for a bit while she tried reasonin' with him... tellin' him he got obligations under th' law an' shit... he was real mad he couldn't just scrub his hands of me. Like he couldn't scrub the tan off, neither..." Which is a horrifying detail they completely fail to elaborate on. "He wanted to put me in a room, but Officer Shimizu managed to convince him it'd fuck me up goin' to a bathhouse, so... he grabbed this shitbox last minute. Hot water don't work, taps are always drippin', bugs get in everythin', an' you cook in summer an' freeze in winter, but... y'know, it was somethin'? I mean... I could ask him to fix this shit with the landlord or whatever, but... but when the microwave broke an' I couldn't put it off none he -- uh -- that's the first time he hit me with a closed fist, y'know? Hit me an' told me to hurry up an' die so I'd stop bein' his problem, since I weren't gonna get married and be some other guy's problem..."
They really shouldn't talk about their father this much. (He doesn't like it.) It just -- kind of pours out, when he comes up, after everything which Tsubasa still isn't convinced isn't his fault. "B-but... guess it's hard on Lance... I-I mean, ain't like we're here much 'sides from sleepin', but..."
They finish off their mug of water, and put it aside so they can fold their arms, instead. (Myunghon may effortlessly recognise an obscured attempt to hug themself.) "I-I don't wanna be trouble none," they say, and if they say they're not crying maybe the fact that they are will magically stop being a fact. "I -- I'm a real pain in the ass, I --"
Their head tucks down, against their chin, as they try to get over their own efforts to play it off. "I'm scared!" They wail, cutting themself off. "I dunno why anyone would wanna bother with me when -- when -- they want me dead, man! A-and everyone who I drag down gets all fucked up with whatever bad fucking mojo I got 'cuz I shouldna even been born an' -- an' mom wanted me but -- but she's the one what put the hit out s-so she figured out I'm no good too, so--!"
Tsubasa sniffs, and swallows. "S-- sorry, I -- it's ungrateful, it's disrespectful, I... I jus'... it hurts so bad, man. It's..." Snif. "I oughta be tougher... I jus'..."
They look back up, biting at their lip, face all drawn in tension. "I'm really... not jus' gon' be a burden or nothin'...? I -- I-I don't wanna... I-I mean, maybe I can help Auntie out or, or somethin', I dunno, I can... I can be worth it, I jus'... if it's really okay...?"
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
The topic of what Tsubasa knows and what the police want to put them away for forever is indeed an incredibly scary one. "We're not invincible, no... but that we know what they're scared of isn't something we should soon forget, even if they know we know. That's the very same ticket to how we can stay safe too, after all..."
Because they all need to act upon this, sooner than later, likely, because the situation is still simmering. Jose appeared as if to give them a lifeline out, and that makes them suspicious, but they'll use it. To protect Tsubasa and the others... to protect themself.
But they push that away for now, because-- Tsubasa explains what happened that led them here to this apartment, what Reiko's done for them as well. It's painful, knowing how this place was tailor selected to make them suffer. Like the shower is just an exercise in checking one checkbox. But something about the way Tsubasa says 'couldn't scrub the tan off' makes Myunghon tremble for a moment, even as they redouble their efforts to not look aghast, because the evocation of physical abuse rankles them very easily, makes that wounded shoulder and arm in their sling ache harder.
"It's beyond awful..."
What's implication becomes explicit, however, when Tsubasa explains how the microwave led to direct abuse, and Myunghon finds themself shrinking in closer in a slight mimic that Tsubasa's own gesture to fold their arm. They find themself unable to directly rebuff it with anger in the way someone like Shinobu might, however, and they loathe how effective physical violence is on them, how much it evokes fear as an instinctual reaction inside of them. They instead opt to reinforce the positive:
"You have been in that apartment for a bit. It's much cleaner and warmer and the water works fine... and Auntie Taeyun has a bath with a shower. I'll talk to her, you'll be able to use it and you won't have to use the public bathhouses. I'll talk to her about your pronouns, and about X-gender, too. I know she'll understand."
But that in itself suggests that Myunghon's been putting off telling her about themself and likely dying of the ambient radiation, too, but this is a good time to reinforce boundaries and assert themselves. And THEY haven't solved the issue of having to use the public bathhouses themself either.
But it's overwhelming for Tsubasa, despite their efforts to play it off -- and when they admit it's frightening, Myunghon quietly moves forward, still uncertain whether to lend a physical presence, but close enough should they need it. "It isn't... it isn't like that, Tsubasa-kun. It shouldn't be about what you can trade with others... how valuable you can make yourself..."
They can feel the hypocrisy worming their way into their brain, as they realise that they'd break down in much the same way as well. That they suffered the wounds they have because they bit their father's hand after being nothing but valuable to them all this time and being given... everything, for a certain, horrid measure of everything.
"You aren't going to be a burden. It really is okay," they affirm, close to feeling that mask crack themself. "She'll appreciate it if you do, but that's not what this is about. This is about... this is okay to want, to be... to want to be safe. To not have to peek over your shoulder to the shadows and fear they'll jump out at you..."
They tremble for a moment. "Ichika-kun said we're all forgotten people, that we should look after each other. You aren't dragging anyone down with you. Would you let me look after you, Tsubasa-kun...?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"I won't forget," Tsubasa promises. "... I can't."
It's a bit of a boast; the reason they copy all those figures down so often is because they're scared they will forget. In another sense, though, it's entirely true. How can they forget something which ruined their life?
If Tsubasa were thinking a little more clearly, they'd see how affected Myunghon was; they'd think they ought to spare them from the details. (It's for them to carry, not anyone else.) But they're not thinking clearly, not really. They hide all these awful things, but that doesn't mean they don't eat them from the inside, like swallowing venom down. Sometimes it shows through the cracks; sometimes they're not cool.
"Y'reckon?" They choke out, when Myunghon insists Taeyun will understand. She'd taken them for a boy, and Tsubasa hadn't had the nerve to correct her; didn't want to see the look in her eyes change, when she realised they were wrong. ... since the sink worked fine, they'd just washed up with that, rather than risk asking.
There's not terribly much room on the stairs, of course -- Myunghon might be able to squeeze past, but there's not enough room to fit another person for more than a passing moment. They're kind of stuck with pulling the chair up to the bottom step, if they want to get closer. The perils of the sardine can!! "B-but I'm not worth nothin'," they shake their head, which is of course aside from the way they're shaking in general.
Myunghon says it really is okay, though, and Tsubasa tries their best to stop breathing quite so fast. When they hear the Boss mentioned, at least, they look up from the little ball they've made of themself on the stairs. "I... I-I..."
They're all forgotten, huh. They're looking out for each other...
They take a breath, gather their bravery, and bow their head deeply to them. "P-please," they say, their voice catching on the plea, "look after me, Yeo-sama. I'm unwanted, an' no good, an' thievin', a-an' I always get into fights, an' I cause a bunch a trouble, an' I got a bad attitude... but I don't want everyone to jus' give up on me."
It's still too frightening to say out loud that they need to be loved, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
It's not something Myunghon can admit, either, wanting to be loved.
Because when Tsumugi reminded them by asking whether they're alive or dead... when they started to reach for some of the things that someone alive might need... people all say it's better to take the shot and miss, than regret it forever. But it's so easy to say that when they're not the one taking the shot, is it? It's easier to regress into the brain-patterns they've been dwelling with forever.
"That's good," Myunghon answers, on the topic of not forgetting. They can't either. They put things down on that board, but the Colonel, the Purple Monster, the Fry Guys, they're all just stimulation for something that ultimately lives inside their brain. Because if they let their brain cool down for even a second...
Well, Fuuka might just have already answered all this time how it is they might start helping themself.
But a part of Myunghon still appreciates not being spared the details. Because even if their body starts to tremble, the atrocities Tsubasa experienced needs to be shown under a clear light. They rationally know this. "Mm," Myunghon expresses. "She's never been one to hate. Auntie Taeyun's experienced... too much of it, in her long life. She'll understand it." And at the very least on that front they'll have the advantage of explaining it from their perspective first, if it does turn out horribly wrong.
It is pretty cramped. To say the apartment is for sardines isn't wrong. But Tsubasa affirms they're not worth nothing, and they do spare the energy to look at them more directly for a moment. "Of course not," they say in turn, in belief of Tsubasa's worth. "People always judge by what you're worth, what you can offer them, how they can get one over you... this world is in need of change. Until then..."
It's almost cold for a moment, as they feel themself trembling -- but Tsubasa's plea and bowed head returns them to life. "... we won't. We're here for you, Tsubasa-kun. Every step of the way," they say, as they -- do finally act on a brief burst of courage to lean forward, careful because of how painful it is for their arms, to loosely drape their left arm over Tsubasa's shoulder, touching their chin gently against the back of Tsubasa's bowed head.
Their heart hurts at their need to be non-specific on 'giving up'. Right now, Merry feels like they subscribe to that feeling, buoyed and strong. On other days, Myunghon's heart is eternally cold, when their palms grip against the six mon coins with a cold sweat. The doctors always coldly lectured them on how they should 'live for others', that that's 'the most aspirational thing you can do'. It always sounds like platitudes.
That cold fear is easy enough to lock in cold storage for another day. Tsubasa is here and warm, after all.
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
That's the problem with deciding to live; it's realising that people can't live alone, as much as that would be so much easier.
"O-okay," Tsubasa nods, when Myunghon vouches for Auntie Taeyun again. "Yeah... she's cool..." She's cool, so she'll be cool, right? Doesn't that follow?
But it's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and Tsubasa's always known that. They've always insisted they were looking out for number one... even if, when the chips were down, they weren't able to throw their mother under the bus to escape. "Somethin's gotta give," they say, which is like advocating for change.
Myunghon says they're here for them, though. And they'll feel them stiffen, beneath them, feeling that contact -- bracing for what they instictively know to expect -- before they realise that they're not really in any danger. They sigh, and the tension they're holding leeches from them, feeling for once that maybe someone is protecting them.
"You're so nice to me," they say, quietly.
"You ever had anyone like that...?"
... Myunghon's shared the similiarities between them before... maybe they wish someone had looked out for them, Tsubasa thinks.
<Pose Tracker> Myunghon Yeo has posed.
On that day, when the rain turned to snow, Miho gave them a choice. She'd accomplished what it was they were ordered to do. Whether they died or lived wasn't her choice -- it was theirs. Fiction loves to make you believe that once you make your bold dramatic declaration, you're bulletproof. The traditional inspiration story with a happy ending's been one that people've been telling long before television and the internet existed.
"Yeah." It should follow. It needs to follow. Myunghon can't afford to be paranoid about secret hate again in one of the more trusted people in their lives. (Fortunately, Auntie will be cool. The Ma'am and ma'ams of Hirasaka are Just Like That.)
Myunghon does draw back after a bit, not wanting to excessively crowd them. They understand and recognise the signals -- of reeling back the moment someone draws close because they're mortified they'll be struck, hit, abused. Don't resist. Those words still permeate over them like unwanted programming.
You're so nice to me.
Myunghon can quietly smile at that...
You ever had anyone like that...?
Myunghon's smile drains halfway, as their eye widens a bit. They're blocking the fear from coming through on this warm moment.
"... it's a work in progress," is the best answer Myunghon can answer on the spot. It's an answer not borne of Merry's Hope, a bravado of larger than life theatrics and ultimately a desire to have legacy and ideology as their immortal blood and flesh. It's the answer Myunghon gives, a little hope a living creature of life and nerves that trades in emotion and, at least on this good day, can at the very least desire, yes.