Well, when it gets to be too much, that's what friends are for. You've got a superhero team, right? Not a superhero solo. Believe in me who believes in you and all that.
[Silver you piece of shit weeb-]
Although I guess I didn't really do much of that last month. Sorry about that.
[...He feels bad for asking, with how upset Akira was- how upset everyone was, really- but...]
Did everyone really forget we existed? No one else brought that up.
Do you have toast in your mouth as you run to school?
[ But he knows they shouldn't derail for long or else they'll just go on a large tangent. ]
Yeah. It was like none of you existed. If I asked around—even at the places you usually hand around... My coworkers or people that take your orders at your favorite places, they would look at me with confusion. It wasn't only you, but also the rest. I watched as some people started throwing out the last remnants of those that disappeared.
[ And he couldn't convince them that those items belonged there. Despite that, he tries to be okay. Deep breaths. ]
I guess this wouldn't have hit me so hard if it wasn't for a memory.
[ Silver... Please tell him you're sleeping with a roof over your head?? ]
I remember reality being distorted while my friends started... Disappearing. They were in agony as their limbs vanished gradually, then their whole person. There was a voice that said we were being erased because we were forgotten by everyone—like we never existed.
[ He lets out a tired laugh because it took him so long to really settle with it. If they never met, would they have avoided that fate? It's a small doubtful thought that he knows doesn't matter. ]
It almost felt like an omen since I received this memory at the end of July? Since people disappeared and were forgotten, too.
My luck seems bad, but I think it's also good in some ways. It's fine. I'm over it.
[ But, yeah, he was having moments and will probably still have moments. He does think of it... A little more positively now. Somehow. ]
Swinging through the trees, sailing the seas. [ He thinks that would be fun?? But— ] I guess not. Some of my memories seem jumbled in terms of timeline, but... I want to think it isn't the end for us, so I just need to have faith.
Well, I'm not going to forget about you, no matter what.
[He's not sure what one person can do, in a case like that, but it's the most reassuring thing he can say, at this point.]
And if I ever go missing again, I'll do my best to find the nearest dragon to hitch a ride back on, so just wait for me, alright?
[Even then, that doesn't account for anyone else, and as much as he can muster the false confidence over his own well-being, for others, that's...
...]
I don't want to lose anyone either.
[It turned out "okay" this time- if okay means that someone died and they still only have the barest grasp on what happened- but what about next time?]
[ He's about to say something like it's not something anyone can stop, but keeps that to himself. It's still a nice thought and he accepts the sentiment as is. ]
You can't expect me to wait. I'll do my best to help somehow.
[ Even if they may face more mourning, he knows they can't bow down to any adversity. ]
But I'm glad to hear you'll fight back, but it's not like I expected anything less.
Man, I really do sound like I'm reciting stuff from an anime. Maybe that's what the protagonists were really trying to tell us all along. The only way to deal with freaky existential stuff is with a bunch of reckless optimism.
There is the very visible sound of Silver opening his mouth to speak, taking a deep sigh, and letting it back out again. He is so damn grateful that this is a phone call. This is fine, right? Blow it off, make a joke, don't get stuck on it or make it weird and move on.]
[ This is so rare. Akira seldom finds Silver in a state of embarrassment and disarray— ]
Well, when I returned to Recolle, you became my friend, right? I wasn't that great at keeping up, but... You still went out of your way to talk to me and spend time with me even when I never looked at anyone directly. Just one day I happened to look at your face—it was an accident, but you were smiling even though I wasn't that responsive. It was a small smile, nothing big.
[ ... ]
I don't know what the conversation was even about and that really left me shaken. I needed to make changes in my lifestyle... And treat other people, especially those that are kind to me, better.
...I was lonely, and you were a weirdo like me. You didn't seem threatening. Maybe it was easier to approach you because of that distant attitude. So I talked to you. I couldn't tell you what about if I tried. Whether you just didn't care or were a really patient person, I didn't feel unwanted or like a nuisance like I did everywhere else. You just accepted that I was around. That was enough to smile about. I don't think I talked to everyone else combined as much as I talked to you.
[Did he even smile before he met Akira? For something he never would have said just a few months ago, it's much easier to say this out loud than he thought. They grew together. He's grateful they get to experience all of this together, too, even if it's far from an easy ride. They both have other friends now, but...]
I don't think you ever treated people poorly, but if it meant that much to you, I'll try to smile a little more often.
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though i probably wouldn't go, personally.
[ Not even because he's distrusting. ]
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yeah. it's also something i think i can handle on my own.
[ ...shit he didn't mean to type it out like that. ]
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Stuff like that's best with as few people knowing as possible, right?
[There's a pause- he's making sure he's still sending texts to Akira before continuing.]
Besides, I bet you can handle anything.
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really? thanks. sometimes i don't know and it worries me.
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[Silver you piece of shit weeb-]
Although I guess I didn't really do much of that last month. Sorry about that.
[...He feels bad for asking, with how upset Akira was- how upset everyone was, really- but...]
Did everyone really forget we existed? No one else brought that up.
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do you mind if i just call you?
[ Because he's not comfortable typing about it. ]
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Don't judge my lifestyle. Anime's a good influence.
[Might as well try to keep things light before going in the deep end.]
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[ But he knows they shouldn't derail for long or else they'll just go on a large tangent. ]
Yeah. It was like none of you existed. If I asked around—even at the places you usually hand around... My coworkers or people that take your orders at your favorite places, they would look at me with confusion. It wasn't only you, but also the rest. I watched as some people started throwing out the last remnants of those that disappeared.
[ And he couldn't convince them that those items belonged there. Despite that, he tries to be okay. Deep breaths. ]
I guess this wouldn't have hit me so hard if it wasn't for a memory.
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[They didn't lose their apartment, after all. Someone else just... Moved in while they were gone.]
What did you remember?
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I remember reality being distorted while my friends started... Disappearing. They were in agony as their limbs vanished gradually, then their whole person. There was a voice that said we were being erased because we were forgotten by everyone—like we never existed.
[ He lets out a tired laugh because it took him so long to really settle with it. If they never met, would they have avoided that fate? It's a small doubtful thought that he knows doesn't matter. ]
It almost felt like an omen since I received this memory at the end of July? Since people disappeared and were forgotten, too.
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Your memories didn't waste any time freaking you out, did they?
[He didn't even get a month. And right before everything that happened last month- some luck, huh?]
That can't be the end of it, right? You're here right now. Maybe you just need to remember your time on a ship or in the jungle.
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[ But, yeah, he was having moments and will probably still have moments. He does think of it... A little more positively now. Somehow. ]
Swinging through the trees, sailing the seas. [ He thinks that would be fun?? But— ] I guess not. Some of my memories seem jumbled in terms of timeline, but... I want to think it isn't the end for us, so I just need to have faith.
[ ... ]
I don't want to lose you... Or anyone else.
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[He's not sure what one person can do, in a case like that, but it's the most reassuring thing he can say, at this point.]
And if I ever go missing again, I'll do my best to find the nearest dragon to hitch a ride back on, so just wait for me, alright?
[Even then, that doesn't account for anyone else, and as much as he can muster the false confidence over his own well-being, for others, that's...
...]
I don't want to lose anyone either.
[It turned out "okay" this time- if okay means that someone died and they still only have the barest grasp on what happened- but what about next time?]
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You can't expect me to wait. I'll do my best to help somehow.
[ Even if they may face more mourning, he knows they can't bow down to any adversity. ]
But I'm glad to hear you'll fight back, but it's not like I expected anything less.
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[...]
Man, I really do sound like I'm reciting stuff from an anime. Maybe that's what the protagonists were really trying to tell us all along. The only way to deal with freaky existential stuff is with a bunch of reckless optimism.
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[ He's laughing a bit. ]
You even have your little sidekicks with you, too.
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[...]
Or a toaster, while we're at it.
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[ The biggest heart-to-heart phone call of his life, but— ]
Is that a reference to some movie I never watched as a kid?
1/2
I mean, I think there's some movie about a toaster, but I just meant that I won't have anywhere to uh... Make my anime toast, and...
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There is the very visible sound of Silver opening his mouth to speak, taking a deep sigh, and letting it back out again. He is so damn grateful that this is a phone call. This is fine, right? Blow it off, make a joke, don't get stuck on it or make it weird and move on.]
My smile did what?
[Silver's managed exactly none of those things.]
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[ Did Silver forget that? Akira will cover everything for his sweet Silver. ]
It saved me? That must be weird to hear, but that's what I think it did.
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[It's super effective! When did this turn from hearing Akira out to this?]
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[ This is so rare. Akira seldom finds Silver in a state of embarrassment and disarray— ]
Well, when I returned to Recolle, you became my friend, right? I wasn't that great at keeping up, but... You still went out of your way to talk to me and spend time with me even when I never looked at anyone directly. Just one day I happened to look at your face—it was an accident, but you were smiling even though I wasn't that responsive. It was a small smile, nothing big.
[ ... ]
I don't know what the conversation was even about and that really left me shaken. I needed to make changes in my lifestyle... And treat other people, especially those that are kind to me, better.
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[Did he even smile before he met Akira? For something he never would have said just a few months ago, it's much easier to say this out loud than he thought. They grew together. He's grateful they get to experience all of this together, too, even if it's far from an easy ride. They both have other friends now, but...]
I don't think you ever treated people poorly, but if it meant that much to you, I'll try to smile a little more often.
[Too bad smiles don't translate over the phone.]
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