route_1065 | MINGLE AHOY

[After seeing Takatora, Micchy is fairly drained. He's riding on his Rapidash, and she trots along at an easy pace, not wanting to bump her rider too much.]

[... But he stops and stares at the second phantom of the day, and slides off of Yuko's back. Hesitantly, he walks towards Kouta, eyes wide. His voice is rough, only slightly above a whisper when he speaks.]

... Kouta-san?

[Kouta stops abruptly when he sees Micchy, a bright smile on his face as he raises his hand in a wave. Pachirisu stops on Kouta's shoulder, perked up and looking in the direction of the newcomer.]

This place is pretty cool, huh?

[And uh, yeah, he's conveniently ignoring the similarities with Inves battles and how horrible things are at home and being in a different world right now.]

[He doesn't know. Should he tell him? Or maybe he does know, and he's playing it off. Either way, the color drains out of his face. He reaches out to touch Kouta's other shoulder, not totally convinced that he's real. He's never been haunted by Kouta, but there's always a first time...]

Kouta-san...

[Oh. ... uh-oh. Kouta doesn't like that expression. His good mood immediately drops and he raises one hand to touch Micchy's, giving it a light and comforting squeeze. Pachirisu takes the opportunity to hop from Kouta's shoulder to Micchy's, oblivious to the serious atmosphere.]

... what? What's wrong?

[The Pachirisu almost makes him smile. Aki's an active little Pachirisu, too. But his attention can't be drawn away from the feeling of a real, solid Kouta in front of him.]

... You're alive. You're...

[He shakes a bit, eyes tearing up.]

Kouta-san...

[Ohhhhhh no, what is this? Kouta doesn't like where this is going, so he brings his hands up to tug at Micchy's shirt. At first, he was only planning on holding his friend to comfort him, but at the first sign of tears, Kouta is tugging Micchy in and tightly securing his arms around his friend.]

Hey, it's okay. I'm here.

[He wants to break away, but - oh. Maybe Kouta's... from an earlier time, especially since he seems so confused.]

Kouta-san, this isn't going to make much sense but... I need you to listen to me, okay?

[Micchy, nothing about anything right now makes sense to Kouta, so he's all for this...]

O-Okay...

... When you get back home, if you remember this...

[How does he say this? How does he convey how important this is?]

When... when I fight you, and try to kill you... don't hold back, okay? Please... don't let me kill you... no matter what it takes to make me stop.

[He'll explain more but... he has to get this out.]

[... ?? ...????? ...what???]

U-uhm.. ... Micchy... Are you feeling okay?

[He's pretty concerned about this, raising one hand up to put the back of his hand against Micchy's forehead, then his cheeks. He doesn't feel warm...]

[He pulls away slightly, just staring somewhat blankly at him.]

The fact that you're acting like that just proves that you came here from a point before when I did. ... And at some point I'm going to try to kill you. So don't let me.

[... point before--? Does that--?

Kouta immediately switches to overly concerned older brother mode, tightly grasping Micchy's shoulders.]

Hey... Come on... What are you talking about? You would never hurt me.

[Unless... ...oh. Kouta's heart drops.]

Does... ... does that mean what happens to Yuuya, happens to me?

[... He lets out a hoarse laugh, shaking his head.]

No. No, but... I'm... it all goes wrong, Kouta-san. I was... I was blind... it's my fault. I'm so sorry...

[He can't ever really be forgiven, even in a perfect situation where things from now on go as well as they can. There's nothing he can do but try and prevent things from going wrong again.]

... hey. Hey. It's okay.

[Kouta rubs at Micchy's shoulders, frown evident on his face. He really doesn't like seeing his friend like this. He's still not even sure he can believe what Micchy is saying, but...

He manages a small smile, barely.]

No matter what happens, we're still friends, right?

[He doesn't answer, and Yuko trots over to nudge at the pair gently. Micchy barely looks at her, just staring down at the ground. 'Friends'? How could Kouta ever want to be friends with him after that?]

[Oh, hey new friend! Pachirisu does a rather dramatic butt-wiggle on Micchy's shoulder before hopping over onto Yuko's back. Personal space? What personal space?

Meanwhile, Kouta shakes Micchy a bit, mostly out of frustration.]

Hey, come on. Right? ... Micchy?

[He's used to the pitter patter of Pachirisu paws, so he doesn't really react much. But at Kouta's question, he looks up, pain written clearly on his face. It was easier to hide it from Takatora - he'd gotten used to it - but hiding it from Kouta is difficult. And the truth is he feels worse about killing Kouta than Takatora in some ways.]

[Sure, Takatora was his brother, but Kouta at least could have saved them from a disastrous end, and he removed that possibility with his former friend's death.]

How can you say that, Kouta-san? When I told you I killed you? It doesn't make sense.

[Despite Pachirisu being so happy to make a new friend, Glameow is sitting very protectively next to Kouta and doesn't seem thrilled at all by whatever is going on between his owner and this new kid.

Kouta does his best to manage a comforting smile, squeezing Micchy's shoulders again.]

Because you're my best friend and I trust you. You wouldn't kill me unless you had a good reason to. So... ... I can't be mad at you.

[He shakes his head, trying to keep it together.]

It wasn't a very good reason in the end. ... It didn't help anything.

... we'll figure something out, okay?

[Kouta isn't sure he wants to keep pressuring Micchy to talk about it if it's making him talk like this. So, he tugs Micchy in and gives him a tight, comforting hug.]

No matter what, we'll save everyone. ... somehow.

[So much hugging. He stares a little, and finally just leans against Kouta, feeling small and weak.]

Okay. ... Okay. If anyone can figure it out, it's you.

[Kouta actually laughs at that, giving Micchy a surprised look.]

Aah, really? You think so? ... you've got a lot of faith in me.

Considering how much you pull new powers out of nowhere, I wouldn't be surprised.

[He turns his gaze over to the Glameow, and gives it a curt nod, before reaching over to the Pachirisu and smiling slightly.]

I have one of these, too.

It's not like I try! It just... happens...

[Excuse you, kid, you're still way too close to his owner, and if you don't back up soon you're liable to accidentally get a claw stuck in your leg.

Pachirisu, on the other hand, perks up when he realizes he's being reached for and saves Micchy the trouble of closing their distance by leaping into his arms with a happy noise.]

Aah! You do? It's pretty cute, isn't it?

[He's had worse. But he nods, giving the Pachirisu a fond scratching from the head to the tail before letting him down. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a Pokeball, expanding it and then releasing Aki the Pachirisu.]

[Upon seeing another Pachirisu, she trills happily, and then looks up at Kouta. Friend! New friend!]

She's been with me for a while. She's pretty powerful.

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