💫among the stars

(twst oc rp blog) ★

[starry-nights-abound]

navigation / master post ! ⊹　₊

hailo and welcome to @starry-nights-abound (formerly nrc-asteryn-crew) !!!! (≧∇≦)ﾉ i'm the mod for this blog - you can call me ven , aue , or robin , and i'm 17 ! this blog is a twst oc rp blog , with 8 muses ! my main is @venaue <3

my timezone is ACST (UTC+9:30), and im usually around more often on mornings and evenings / late nights on weekdays , and whenever i can otherwise !! ༄

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

i'm not the fastest with responses , and i tend to sometimes dissapear for (usually) short periods when i'm overwhelmed , so just keep that in mind when interacting ^^

general rules / (other) disclaimers ! 𓂃 ୧

im still a minor so no nsfw stuff is allowed around here or with my ocs in general !! slightly suggestive stuff (like teasing-flirting etc) is fine though !!

general broad dni applies , ill add more specific examples here if it comes up (which im hoping it will not...) ,,, !!

im very open to discussing shipping between our ocs !! i wont always accept outright but in most cases im totally open to seeing where their interactions go in terms or romantic potential :D

my responses are usually at least a few paragraphs long , but as long as you're okay with that , i'm totally okay with interacting with any type of rp style !!

for asks , pls specify which muse/s ur directing them to , for my peace of mind if anything ! <3

muses (and other links!) (wip) ! ୭ ͜͡꒱

yuuto (#🌠yuuto) kiyuu (#🎀kiyuu) anchor (#⚓anchor) mace (#🔌mace) crimson (#🫧crimson) aros (#🪞aros) miko (#🐱miko) xiphos (#🩸xiphos)

xen (the bird!) (#🐦‍⬛xen)

(general) tags ! ⁺ 𓇼

#🕰️lost to time - (the common) stray mod posts #📖tales among men - lore posts #🖌️brush to a page - my oc related art / other creative projects #💫among the stars - most things related to the critters #📜once upon a time - rp starters #🔮unintelligible ritual summons - yapping in tags #✒️the messenger - mod reblogs #🌷answers in bloom - ask responses #✉️letters to the wind - ask games (more character specific tags can be found in their respective link above !!)

okay thats all i think !! the oc links will be updated as i make those posts , and ill add more things if i need to as i think of them !!

thank you so much for taking the time to read <3

( divider creds: @uzmacchiato @/luvuxa )

[starry-nights-abound]

ahaha hi..... time keeps escaping me i actually cant do this no more i swear it feels like barely any time has passed and then i check and my latest post was over a month ago.... its so bizzare to me because it really doesnt feel like its been that long </3

but anyways , ive decided im definitely not gonna be active on this account too much anymore , at least for now unfortunately ... ive started to sort of lose my really like more intense interest in twisted wonderland lately , so i definitely dont have the same motivation i usually did to keep posting here ... and its been sort of weighing on my mental health feeling guilty for not posting and just leaving without saying anything at all (like i do... aha...) so ,,, i mean i doubt anyone cares but 😭😭 that probably didnt make sense but anyway

ill still try to interact with mutuals posts etc when i can but yeah !!

if you for some odd reason still wanna catch me , i've caved and made a new blog to rant about my most recent obsessions at @more-at-eights , or i might still post stuff on my main too , im not sure :)

thank you so much to anyone whos interacted with me and my blorbos here , i seriously love you all you're all so amazing <3 thank you for putting up with my nonsense self 💗

i didnt really proof read this so so sorry if it makes like no sense but tldr is just an official statement declaring an indefinite hiatus from this blog </3

[starry-nights-abound]

Uh, hi, I didn’t expect to see another member of my dorm, what’s up? Your name is Aros, right? - Asai Hikaru

(Ooc: @ask-the-reddit-sillies )

"Oh- Hello. Yes, that's me. Do you need anything? Or, are you after an autograph, perhaps?"

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Not an autograph or anything! I don’t really care about that stuff. I guess…it’s just nice to see more people from my dorm online ig- (also I have pyromaniac behind me trying to encourage me to make more friends) - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Ah, I see. That makes you a lot more amicable than a lot of the students here, I can say that much. But in any case, it's nice to meet you. I hope Night Raven College has been treating you well so far.

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Thank you, hope ya doing well too, you do seem more kind too. It’s nice to meet you too ig, hope we survive NRC this year - Asai Hikaru

Huuuh~? Dear Hikaru, have you actually followed my advice? I’m so glad! Hello new person who has aquatinted with my dear Hikaru, hehe! - Zora Shroud

Oh shush, I didn’t do it cause of ya, also, don’t you have to go log online to play games with your ‘siblings’ or smt? - Asai Hikaru

Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me! Ah, you’re so amazing at remembering stuff! It’s so nice to have you in my life, cya around?- Zora Shroud

Cya Zora, EHEM, anyways… -Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

'Survive' is certainly a way to put it, though I can't say I disagree with you there, at this point...

Oh-! Uh- hello..? Oh, nevermind, they're gone... uh- who was that..?

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Yeah…I mean, when you have Floyd as your co-worker, students here can be very…hostile, it’s gonna feel like you’re trying to survive most of the time - Asai Hikaru

That was Zora, he’s…something, while he does advise me to have more friends, he is always somehow, someway, near me or trailing behind me - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Haha, I can understand that, definitely. My partner, Crimson, works pretty closely with Floyd and his brother, for... reasons unbeknownst to even me... So I believe I see a lot more of them than is considered a... 'safe' amount.

Well, you two seem like you get along. Er- I think..? It sounds like he likes your company, anyway, if he follows you around often. That's nice.

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Yeah, us Mostro Lounge workers have a complicated life, gl to your partner. Hope he can tell Floyd to stop squeezing during shifts - Asai Hikaru

Do you think so? Ig we do hang out a lot… I think? Zora’s something else, not sure why he bothers so much with me though - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Unfortunately for the patrons and other staff of Monstro Lounge, he... isn't really the type to overly care about Floyd's actions...

Sure I do. He seems to care about you enough to urge you to make more friends- or whatever it is that his 'advice' was about, and his constant acts of seeking proximity to you alludes to his enjoyment in doing so. He must see something worthy in you if that's the case.

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

I mean, fair enough- was worth asking anyways… - Asai Hikaru

…Do you think that’s the case? It’s just, Zora is someone unpredictable and I really can’t tell what’s actually on his head most of the time. But if you think so…I’ll think about it, thanks - Asai Hikaru - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

One's behaviours and actions are just as important to convey ones inner emotions as what's explicitly being said out loud - a very important rule to live by in acting. Even if you are unsure of what he is thinking, the way he acts around you, especially compared to around others, should be of help to you. I don't know either of you well enough to come to any conclusions myself, but I hope you'll take my words to heart regardless.

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Hmmm…thank you, you were of great help either way. And that you have a good day. - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Don't mention it, it was hardly any trouble to pass down a few words. I hope your day treats you well as well.

[starry-nights-abound]

Sitting atop one of Ramshackle's lower rooves, sat Yuuto, knee's to his chest, drawing tablet balanced carefully on top, propped up for easier access. From an outside perspective, it looked a little unorthodox, but he wasn't planning on anyone seeing him anyway, so he didn't care.

With a frown and narrowed eyes, he scratched his pen across the tablet's surface. He'd been sitting there in the same spot for a while now; hours at this point, had watched the sun set and the sky turn dark. Though he showed no effort to move back inside, focus glued to the screen in front of him.

Hearing the familar flap of a bird's wings, he snapped out of his trance, looking up to see Xen flying towards him, landng on his shoulder with a squawk. He paused his drawing, reaching a hand to run down the birds back, a slow movement, giving a small smile to the bird, before the corners of his lips ticked back down, and he turned back to focus on his drawing, much to the bird's disapointment.

Xen stayed a moment, tilting his head a tick towards Yuuto in inquiry, before suddenly launching himself off of his shoulder with a loud caw, flying down from the roof, Yuuto too focused on ignoring everything around him again to notice in just who's direction Xen was flying.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Looking at the sky, Yuna had decided it was finally late enough for her to prepare herself for her standard late-night venture. Her bag of music books, assorted journals, and a simple lantern sat on her back, much heavier than it looked, and she had only just left the dorm.

Recently, her mood had actually been quite high, and she really didn't believe she had to spend time in the Music Room to suffer in silence for once, but she did quite enjoy the solitude when she got to practice. As such, it was only fitting that she would take the opportunity on such a lovely night to maybe get a few hours of practice in before going to sleep.

Unfortunately, though, her practice would likely not come to fruition as she heard a familiar cry in the distance along with the sound of flapping wings. She looked up, noting the dark crow that seemed honed in on her presence and paused, turning towards the silhouette.

"Ah! Xen, is that you little guy?" Yuna asked, sticking her arm out for the crow to land on. "What might you be doing flying around this late?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Taking Yuna's extended arm as an invitation, Xen landed down gracefully, peering up at her. He fluttered his wings, making a sort of clicking sound, making sure he had her attention. For a moment, he was still, just staring, until he suddenly bounced off of her arm, almost as quickly as he'd come. He hovered in front of her for a second, as if trying to communicate something to her, the retainment of her attention, or a certain sense of urgency, perhaps, before flying off again, back in the direction he'd come from.

Landing atop of Yuuto's tablet this time, Xen squawked loudly at him. Yuuto tsk-ed, swatting him off, trying to focus, but Xen was persistant in his efforts to get his attention, until finally, he paused, looking up.

"Xen- get off- what're you-" He started, before his mouth snapped shut. Xen having flown out of his direct line of sight, he'd made direct eye contact with someone else behind him; Yuna.

"Oh."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna stuck up her hand in an awkward wave. Despite having been in the same dorm for a while, Yuna still wasn't sure how to carry herself around Yuuto, considering the latter's tendency to act standoffish (in her opinion). Still, the least she could do is offer a polite greeting, maybe even a conversation! After all, Xen HAD gone out of his way to grab her attention.

"Hey," She said, tilting her head up to see where Yuuto was seated. "Whatcha up to up there? It's awful late to be on the roof, isn't it?"

Yuna knew full well the hypocrisy of pointing out her dormmate's presence this late, but she figured it didn't matter as long as she wasn't criticizing. Plus, there was also the matter of having her attention dragged towards Yuuto by Xen.

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto spun his head to glare at Xen, who gave an pleased click in response, perched on his shoulder once more, seemingly happy with himself. Why Xen had even gotten Yuna to notice him up there - because he knows the bird did, he didn't know. Nor did he have the energy to question it.

He didn't wave back right away, debating if he really wanted to engage in conversation right now. He could easily just ignore her, or tell her to leave him alone, but... he decided that something in him didn't really want to do that. Even though he was way too tired.

"Drawing." He answered finally. A second passed, then he added, "Didn't wanna sit inside. I'd've been up anyway." He shrugged.

Taking more notice of Yuna now that they were 'convsersing', he noticed her bag and the lantern she'd brought with her. She was leaving the building. For what though?

"Where were you off to, then?" He offered, half as a begrudging effort at pleasantry, half out of his own faint curiosity. He told himself it was just because Xen had made her pay attention to him. No other reason.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Sounds fun," Yuna replied with a nod. She was pleased that she was successful in her attempt to converse. Still, she couldnt quite figure out how to talk to the boy just yet. She was gonna do her best, though. "I would ask why the roof, but im sure you have your reasons for why there specifically.

As for me? I was gonna go find a quiet place to practice, but... well, your little friend decided to divebomb me as I was heading out... not that I mind, though. I can always head out tomorrow or some time after classes anyways, so why pass up a chance to chat?"

She tucked the lantern at her waist and moved back closer to the building so she didn't have to speak as loud. As she did, Yuna noticed an odd vibe to the air around her, a nagging question forming in the back of her mind - one that always nagged when she found herself in conversations this late:

"So how have you been doing lately? Everything alright on your end?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...'S closer to the stars." Yuuto responded, glancing up, gaze lingering for a second longer than it probably should have. He wasn't really sure why he'd even answered, Yuna hadn't even explicitly asked. Maybe there was just something about tonight that was compelling him to talk.

"That and- it's outta the way. Don't usually get bothered up 'ere. Well- 'xcept for when this fucker decides to swoop innocent bystanders for no reason." He grumbled.

"Oi- why'd' ya swoop 'er like that, hah?" He asked the bird, just to recieve an almost mischevious sounding chirp in response. He scoffed, though with a hint of fondness, and turned back to Yuna with an 'apologetic look'. "Damn, got nothin' for ya. This guy's pretty stubborn."

At the question she'd followed up with, only an innocent inquiry into his wellbeing, he faltered slightly, before just shrugging again. "I've been fine, I guess." He said, promptly ignoring the dissaproving clicks from Xen.

Without much wait, not wanting to stew too long on... whatever that was, he asked, "...How 'bout yours? Your end- I mean. You all good?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna opened her mouth to speak, and-

No, this wouldn't do. She could barely see her conversation partner and anything that needed to be kept under wraps would still have to be blurted out to be heard.

"Hold on, just a sec." She said suddenly, placing her bag under the awning of the front door and promptly throwing herself up onto the railing, clambering up to the roof where Yuuto sat.

"Sorry- didn't want to keep shouting, you know? It's easier to talk this way."

She hummed to herself in thought for a moment, nodding.

"I myself am... pretty okay, surprisingly... it's not too often that I don't wanna throw it all away and hide in the basement and cry for the rest of my life, so...?" She finally said, placing the lantern on the roof between the two. "But... the stars, huh?"

She looked up, a quiet hum already returning on her lips. She often found herself wondering just who else might be seeing the same sky she was...

"I guess I can't fault you for that, then. It's one of the few familiar comforts we can afford ourselves at this point..." She said, though the second part was directed more towards herself than anything.

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Huh. I was 'bout to invite you up, actually. Or come down myself. But this works too." Yuuto said, a small grin making its way onto his expression.

"Hah. That's certainly a thought. But- it's good you're doin' alright, right now at least. Silver linings or something." He nodded.

He followed Yuna's gaze, looking up again. He'd always felt drawn the the stars, and the night sky. It was the one thing he couldn't let go of, even after abandoning all of his other interests and interests in times long passed, even after countless sleepless nights underneath them, before being whisked away.

"I getcha. I mean, not that I care to much about the familiarity, though. I've always liked 'em, even when I was little. Living under 'em for enough time'll help ya out there too, I think. You end up lovin' 'em or hating 'em."

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Yeah..." Yuna nodded. "I used to live out in the suburbs, but it was empty enough that you could always see the sky - though I didnt usually pay it too much mind... too many different things yknow? I always did love the rain, though... kinda that same feeling. Enough rainy days and it starts to be you look forward more to the clouds than the sun."

She sighed, craning her neck to peer over Yuuto's shoulder.

"So... what're you drawing? The night sky is a pretty subject, sure, but is it as obvious a subject as that? Or just something else?" She asked. It was one of the fun things about drawing compared to photography - you never could tell what someone was doing if they were drawing.

[starry-nights-abound]

"I was always lookin' up at it. Back then, like- ages ago, I used to sneak out of my room just to go lie outside in the yard and stargaze. My parents hated it for some god forsaken reason. They hated everything I did though." Yuuto commented, nothing more than an eyeroll at the mention, before moving on.

"It is a pretty subject, but I don't really draw it all that much. It's..." He turned to his tablet again, hesitating for a fraction of a second, before shaking it off, moving to zoom the screen out to see the almost-finished drawing more clearly.

It was a pretty large scale view of an arcade looking place, a mix of old-school and more modern looking game machines lining the walls and in other areas, pops of purple and pinkier-purple, a bunch of bright colours everywhere, the whole piece abundant in details. Near the middle, enthusiastically playing on one of the machines, was a figure, the only figure in the drawing, that was undoubtebly Kiyuu, the only difference between them the slightly more blonde colour to her hair.

"...A place we used to frequent a lot. As well as I can remember it, anyway." Yuuto said, after a moment, after staring at it for a little too long. It took another moment before he continued.

"I don't even know how this got here to be honest... I mean- I barely ever even draw stuff like this- like- I don't miss it back in our world, at all, it sucked. I guess I've just been- like- weirdly sentimental or something recently without any real reason to be, I dunno."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's expression softened as she looked at the drawing, listening intently to Yuuto's words.

"It looks nice... I can feel the nostalgia just by looking at it, yknow? I wish I could capture that feeling with my own stuff, hehe..."

She leaned back a bit, a soft huff escaping her lips as she looked back out at the sky.

"But yknow... I think its normal to miss our old homes... even if they sucked or didn't have much going for them, yknow?" She mused, a slight somber tone creeping into her voice. "Like... it's honestly been super conflicting, cause everything leading up to me coming here? Sucked. But... I do miss the nicer parts. Like playing the piano for my dad when I was younger or sitting in the rain with my friends or just listening to my mom's stories. Maybe it's just something like that... you don't really miss it, sure, but there was a strange sense of normalcy and the occasional good thing, maybe? Sorry- I'm just rambling, aren't I?"

Yuna continued to stare out. She never was really good at analysing people's feelings, was she?

Still, there was just a feeling she couldn't shake. She was actually having a conversation and by God or the Seven or whoever was listening, she was going to talk about it, even if she couldn't discern what it even was.

"... What was it like for you guys? If you don't mind me asking, of course... it just occurred to me that I still don't know too much about what you guys got to experience 'back home'."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto's eyes crinkled slightly as he looked over at Yuna, smiling ever so slightly at her words. He usually just drew for himself, but it was still nice when someone had something to say other than shallow compliments.

He shook his head. "S fine. Don't apologise for talking. 'Specially 'bout that stuff. "It's not like I'm filling the silence."

He looked down at the screen for a moment longer, before clicking the tablet shut and putting it to the side. Stretching his legs back out, he spoke up again.

"...I think of this place more like home than back there. It- I dunno. I don't like- have many fond memories of back then. So."

He peered back up at the stars again, just staring up at them. Then he leant back, moving to lie on his back, stretching an arm out for Xen to perch on instead. He had no idea why the bird hadn't flown away yet, or why he'd done anything he'd done today, but it wasn't like he could just ask, so he didn't really care enough.

"Kiyuu 'n I aren't like- childhood friends or anything, so I don't know what she'd have to say. I only met 'er like- half a year before all this? I think. We hung out a ton, but there was only so many places we could go without bein' harrassed by other kids from our school. Like the arcade. 'S why we were always there. I'm pretty sure it was illegal for us to even be there though. Not that anyone cared enough about us to say anythin'. Hah." He continued, abscentmindedly petting Xen's back as he spoke, the bird's wing fluttering in contentment.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Wish I had a space where I could've escaped like that with someone else..." Yuna replied. "I think I could've avoided a lot of what wound up leading to my being here if I did. Even if I dont really regret having come here."

She looked down at her hands, twiddling her thumbs as she continued.

"Kids... really do suck, don't they? They suck even more when youre not only being mistreated or outcast by them, but also one or more of your own parents? It's the worst."

Yuna thought back to her old life and the events that had led up to her own overblot. Speaking like she was now, though, made her feel almost embarrassed about the whole scenario - freaking out like that when it seemed her dormmates had been through something similar at least.

And yet it was also oddly cathartic to think that she wasn't alone in how she navigated the world, at least somewhat.

"How did you two meet if you weren't childhood friends?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Yeah. They do. I didn't really have anyone there." He muttered. "...'xcept for Kiki, for the short time I'd known 'er."

Looking up at the night sky, his thoughts wandered back to their time at the arcade, recalling all of their times there with fondness.

"To be honest, It didn't even last forever. The fuckers that owned the place got sick of me tryna crash there. Then some jackasses followed us there this one time- and- ugh. Let's just say they didn't appreciate us 'engagin' in violence' in the middle of the fuckin' place. It was so dumb. But yeah- we were banned from comin' back and that was that." He sighed. He didn't miss a lot of things, but he felt like maybe he did miss it there. Those moments of refuge where he didnt't have to think or worry about anything else, he could just... be.

Listening to Yuna as she spoke again, he blinked at her question, not really expecting the curiosity. He shrugged.

"Transferred to the school I went to after winter break that year. Our teacher sat her next to me, and the next thing you know- she was actually talking to me. Fuckin' crazy. Everyone else thought so too. And they definitely didn't take too kindly to it either."

And he knew why all too well. They didn't figure her out immediately, but it had only taken a couple of weeks for the rumors to circulate. No matter how many fights Yuuto engaged himself in, to protect Kiyuu more often than not, they never stopped, never left them alone. And he knew how much it upset her, too. And yet she stuck by him anyway, has told him countless times that she'd never regretted it, even though he could always see the exhaustion in her eyes.

He turned his head to the side then, dragging his eyes away from the stars to land on Yuna instead.

"So... what about you? Any stories to tell?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna wanted to respond right off the bat - offer some sort of consolation, relief, anything, but she knew full well how little anything like that would do now... they were all away from their old lives, after all. What use was there in sympathizing over it when things weren't like that anymore?

She sighed, shrugging her shoulders as she tapped her fingers on the roof.

"...Wish I did, really. But honestly... before coming here, my life was unremarkable. So unremarkable, in fact, that I really didn't have that many people to talk to except for the two friends I did have..."

She hadnt spoken about her old school life with others since... well...

But it always filled her with a sense of discomfort. Sure, she was never, like, physically bullied or anything, but her own issues came from the isolation and ostracization she felt at the hands of her peers.

"People always talked about me like I wasnt there... but that did mean they just kind of said whatever around me, not really thinking anything of it. I probably have some gossip stories, but anything related to myself in particular is... less than interesting."

She looked down at her legs, kicking her feet aimlessly.

Any stories she could share were all things that had happened here. There was no such thing as an interesting day in her life prior to getting whisked away through Minerva's influence - God, how she didn't want to think about that - and there never would be. Without her friends, she was functionally no one. A blank slate. Someone who existed in the background of everyone else's life, including her own. Before Twisted Wonderland, there was no 'Yu' or 'Yuna' or anything. Just the plain girl who sat in the back of the class and spoke to no one and was, presumably, only kept around as some sort of weird pet project by students who were superior to her in every way (no matter how untrue that last statement actually was).

"Unless, of course, you dont mind just... smaller anecdotes. Nothing interesting... but... its something?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto listened quietly, laying still, aside from the occasional pat to Xen.

"...If it was really that unremarkable though, you wouldn't really miss it, would'dya? I mean- you had friends, parents, people you meant something to, and who meant something to you, ya'know? You were someone to them."

He swung his arm out, casually pointing a finger out as he continued.

"It might not have been the liveliest of lives, and'ya might not think it was all that great, but it was yours. You said you played piano, right? And I don't doubt you were just as good of a friend as you are now. That doesn't seem that 'unremarkable' to me."

He shrugged. He was really talking tonight, wasn't he? He didn't really even know why he felt so compelled to speak now, why he was unusually content in this sort of peaceful atmosphere. And yeah, maybe it wasn't his place to say stuff like that to Yuna, but he didn't regret it.

He brang his arm back down, putting his head on the hand now.

"I don't care what'cha tell me. But I wanna hear about you, if I have any say in it. Doesn't matter what it is. What kinda things did you do with your friends? What'd you do for fun, for yourself? Whatever you wanna share. Hah, god knows I've talked more than enough for one night."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's eyes widened slightly, surprised that anyone would show any real, full interest in her life aside from her odd anecdotes and occasional pieces of advice.

"Oh- um... well... I guess I could always start with my friends back home... I do miss seeing them both..." Yuna said, pushing her bangs from her face.

"I think I may have mentioned Minerva once or twice before, but she's the one thats partially responsible for my being here... in fact if I didnt mention it before, it was her visiting that led to... well... everything."

She began to tap her fingers on the roof beneath her again, a rhythmic thumping as she thought and worked herself through her own words and what she wanted to say versus what she found herself capable of saying.

"She was always the 'pretty' one of my little trio, and I dont really blame anyone for thinking that. Min was like... actually, she's a lot like Kiyuu, now that I think about it? Peppy and cheerful and really doesnt like to see anyone sad, but also has this kinda glamorous air about her. I dunno... but she was also one of the first people to really chat me up when I transferred schools in middle school. A lot of people thought she mustve had this real 'mean girl' air about her, since she was pretty and popular, but like... she was never actually that mean. Hell, even her basically lying to me for the entire duration of our friendship was done in the interest of others rather than herself. Maybe if I can ever get her to visit again, I'll try and introduce you all."

Once the words had started flowing, though, Yuna found it was quite easy to talk about things, even if they were a bit painful to think about. Her voice wavered a tiny bit as she continued, only serving to exemplify that idea.

"Then there was Wilomena, or just Mena... she was the 'smart' one in the group, though personally, I think she was just as pretty as Min. But her smart title was also not a stretch in the least, considering she was always top of our class and student council president and this that and the other and..."

Yuna paused.

"She always liked playing music with me. She played violin, kinda like how some of my otjer friends do here... and she'd drag me along to meetings, trying her best to make everyone feel included..."

She didn't realize it when her face started becoming damp with tears.

"She's the only one still back there... she doesn't even know that I'm still alive and that Min is out here as some powerful witch and she's the only one left... God I hope she's alright..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto let Yuna talk, even sitting up again at one point, glad Yuna was a little more confident in her words now. It was nice to listen to her voice, a soothing sound to fill the quiet air.

...He didn't really like this Minerva chick though, based on what Yuna was saying about her. But maybe he didn't have any right to comment on living in a lie, either.

Catching onto the more somber tone of voice, Yuuto peered at her, quickly realising her eyes were watering. He froze for a second, inwardly berating himself for not considering this a possibility. Of course Yuna would be upset about this stuff, just because he didn't have anyone back then that would have missed him, didn't mean everyone else was the same. And now he'd made her talk about it for some stupid reason-

He shuffled a bit closer to her, turning to give her what he hoped was a small smile that conveyed some kind of reassurance, before looking up again, hands on the surface behind him to hold him up.

"It sounds like you guys were really close then, huh. It's good you had people like that. I'm sure they still think of you fondly. Both of them. I mean, who wouldn't? ...For what it's worth, I hope she's alright too."

Xen, who'd fluttered into the air when Yuuto moved, perched himself onto one of Yuna's thighs, cawing at her and staring up at her with his bug eyes. He huffed in amusement, looking back down to watch him. The pesky little thing, he probably knew exactly what he was doing.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna gave a small sniff, finally taking note of the tears running down her face. She nodded her head ever so slightly in acknowledgement of Yuuto's words, trying her best to smile back. She only really got as far as the upturning of the corners of her lips.

"Yeah, we were," She said. "I just... I miss how things were before. Even if I do go back, things will never be the same - how could they? I vanish without a word for at least a year and someone else who was just "going abroad" turns out to be some crazy magical being and then whatever happens to the last of us who didn't get stuck anywhere..."

She sighed and gave Xen a small pat on the head, thankful for the little gesture. She also turned her head towards Yuuto, wiping at her eyes as she spoke. Her voice still wavered somewhat, but it was a bit more steady as she tried to relax herself.

"Thank you, though... hearing you say that makes me feel a bit less anxious, even if stuff is... well, like this..." She gestured vaguely with a hand. "They were two of the maybe three? Four? People who really kinda looked out for me, so it's really hard to not be attached, yknow? Even with the whole 'spiriting away' thing..."

Yuna gave a slightly dry chuckle.

"Actually, I was kinda mad about that at first, cause I didn't really have a choice in coming here. Last I knew I was just gonna run away and hide forever... but if whatever happened HADN'T happened... I wouldn't have been able to make more friends, like you or Kiyuu or... well... literally anyone else here... so I guess it wasn't all bad."

[starry-nights-abound]

As Yuna talked, Yuuto couldn't help but think back to his own life, before everything. Having the support and care of others like she had... sounded really nice. It wasn't like he cared now, though. Definitely not. It's not like thinking about it would change how everyone had thought about him anyway.

"...I wish I could say I could empathise, but honestly, I can't really. I understand to an extent, sure, but I don't think I'll ever know how that feels. I mean- the only person that would've missed me even a little bit is here too. I don't really know what it's like to be missed." He said, sighing quietly.

He shook his head. "Though, I think I'm definitely the odd one out. 'Cause like- after the initial shock of y'know- literally being kidnapped without my consent and being transported to a literal other dimension- the first thoughts I had once I'd processed it all weren't anything like panic, or fear- I was just kinda like- "This is so cool", y'know?" He commented, with a huff of laughter.

"Well- I guess it would have prefered not having to like- die to get here- and maybe it would have been dope to actually be able to use magic myself- but like- really honestly- I'm kinda thankful, more than anything. Even back then- when all I had was Kiki and the rusty old roof of this damn building over my head- I felt better than I had in ages. Even though it was hard, I finally had some kind of... hope, I guess."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Instead of honing in on anything else, one detail of Yuuto's words stuck out to Yuna.

"Wait... so... you also nearly died- er... did? Die? Before waking up in the coffin?" She asked suddenly, before realizing that such a question was likely inappropriate.

"Wait- sorry that... nevermind." She said, shaking her head as though that would somehow erase the embarrassment. Still, she was glad at least that Yuuto was also willing to converse with her at this moment.

Yuna was silent for a moment, waiting just a brief second to readjust and recover from her slight self-perceived blunder before continuing.

"But, um... I agree, honestly. I think thats the nice part about this place - yknow, what you said about hope? I can't really ever determine what your life was like before this and you said yourself you don't quite get mine... but... in the end it really doesnt matter, yknow? Because it wound up giving an entirely new start to... everything."

That was another reason Yuna couldn't be entirely angry. She was able to be someone different here - hell, she was simply able to be someone, even if that someone was the magicless stranger from another world. She didnt have a clue how bad it might have been for her friends, and that definitely made her feel some sort of guilt, but she certainly could relate to the feeling of having a fresh start.

She sighed, now looking at Yuuto full-on, her green eyes reflecting an odd melancholy.

"It honestly makes any decisions that I'll have to make later a lot harder, though. I honestly dont know if i even want to go home anymore... I think I'd miss everyone here even more than the people back there..."

[starry-nights-abound]

"Nah, it's fine." He shook his head. "I mean, I'm pretty fuckin' sure I died. I remember the stupid carriage runnin' us clean over and I felt that pain. So- either died or nearly before the transportation, yeah. You too huh?" He asked casually, leaning forward again to look over at her.

He nodded in acknowledgement of her words. He thought about it, and really, Yuna was right, at least a little bit. It didn't really matter if they understood what the other had experienced, they were in the same situation now. It was a fresh start for all of them. Although...

"Yeah, 'cause you've had time to adjust to this life now, right? As much as you have. It's not really a decision I have to think about, though. I'm not going back no matter what, even if they make me. I couldn't ever. But..."

He paused, hesitating. He looked to Yuna, seeing the expression in her eyes, before turning his head away with a soft breath out, gaze fixed downwards.

"...I know it's not the same for Kiyuu. She... I know she misses things just being... normal. Just having- regular problems- Not- constantly being in dangerous situations, or risking her life- as often as we've had to, or dealing with- magic and potions and all of this supernatural stuff."

He admitted quietly. He didn't like to say it out loud, the blaring truth that Kiyuu could just- leave one day, just like that. Speaking it into existance made it feel so much more real, like something that was so much closer to being an actual possibility than just a far away idea. She wasn't attatched to life here like he was, god he knew that. He just... didn't have much hope that he was enough to get her to stay. And that hurt more than anything.

"I guess... eh, it doesn't matter. I want her to be happy. She deserves that much. And if she can't be happy here, then... that's that."

He'd never been enough for anyone to stay. ...Why would that change now?

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna noticed the shift in Yuuto's casual demeanor to something more subtle.

'He doesnt really mean that, does he?' She thought, watching his movements carefully. Yuna may not be the best at offering words to others, but she knew damn well when people weren't being fully truthful about their feelings, especially when they were negative feelings.

"How do you know?" She started. Yuna's voice held a softness like someone coaxing a wild animal from the shadows. "That she isn't at least somewhat happy here, that is...? I know this whole place is... crazy and confusing but... I've seen how you two act together. While I think there definitely is an aspect of place and all... I dunno. I just... think you two are kind of a package deal, really-"

Yuna paused, wondering if maybe she was going beyond what was acceptable to say, and stopped herself. She pulled her legs in, sitting cross-legged as she looked down.

"Sorry- I don't mean to make assumptions or anything... just... ignore me, I guess. All I mean is that it's hard to imagine that you two would actually split up..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto stayed quiet. His eyes narrowed, feeling irritation swell up inside him. Not at her, really, but at himself. He wanted to say something, tell her she didn't have to keep apologising for just sharing her thoughts - something he'd told Kiyuu countless times before - but the words were stuck.

Eventually, he spoke up again, quieter.

"I don't want her to leave. She's- the only person- the first person to ever really- mean something to me. But it's her choice, not mine. She shouldn't have to stay just- because I don't want her to go. Do you know how- selfish I'd have to be to do that to her? ...She's always so stressed, Yuna. Even though she tries to hide it, I- I know. ...Everything scares her."

He spoke, despite the tightness in his throat, the familiar feeling of holding back all of the signs of his watering eyes. He wouldn't cry now, he wouldn't.

"...She doesn't deserve to live like that. And especially, not for me. I'm not enough for that kind of... sacrifice."

He winced, already regretting the words as soon as they'd come out of his mouth. First he'd said- all of that, and now this? God, what kind of- attention seeker was he?

He forced a dry laugh, shaking his head and looking up again, trying desperately to shake off the crushing weight of his helplessness. Through the slight fogging of his eyes, he could see Xen fluttering nearby, clicking at him curiously. With a slow movement, he held out an arm, the weight of the bird's claws on his arm grounding him enough to open his mouth again.

"...I'm just being stupid, aren't I? Chances are that we'll probably never have any way back anyway. Why the fuck am I so worked up over something so small? Ugh."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna cautiously extended a hand. Countless reassurances danced on the tip of her tongue, but none of them were quite able to make themselves known as she opened and closed her mouth, trying to figure out something to offer, anything to offer. These were a lot of heavy words and feelings that she felt like she had to do something about...

And yet, all she could really muster were a few words:

"I don't think you're being stupid... I think you have every right to be worried about your future, just like the rest of us, whether it's here or anywhere else... and that means worrying about what other people might wanna do, too. Especially the ones we care about."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto stared for a moment, bringing his eyes to look between Yuna and her outstretched hand. He laughed again, then, though it really sounded more like a sigh than anything.

"...Thanks." He mumbled. For a moment longer, he hesitated, a small yet almost overpowering part of him not wanting to break the silence yet. Though he quickly huffed again, shaking his head.

"Wow, I really do not wanna think about that anymore. Hey, earlier, you said you were gonna go practice, right? I've changed my mind, I don't wanna sit 'ere anymore. Lemme come wit'cha." He commented, already moving to sit up. He stopped then, and looked Yuna's way again.

"Uh, I mean. If you want to, anyway. I don't care either way." He added, faltering a little. He normally wouldn't stop to ask something like that, but after all of that shit, it would be totally fair if she didn't want to practice anymore, and he'd respect that. ...Just this once, though.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna pursed her lips, eyes narrowed, but then ultimately just sighed. She could understand the desire of desperately wanting to change topics, even now. Especially now.

She carefully pushed herself up, nodding.

"I dont mind. Honestly, I prefer doing it much later at night anyways... less risk of people catching videos of the 'cryptid' in the music room." She said, carefully lifting up her lantern and preparing to hop down. "Plus, I think we could both use a break, right? Some scenery alone might be enough, but I think just a straight up pause might help a little too."

She jumped down carefully, hoisting her bag over her shoulder before offering a hand to help Yuuto down.

"Main building should be pretty well empty save for ghosts, too. It's a little more private, I guess, if that helps."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto snickered, looking up at her with an exaggerated surprised expression.

"Oohh, so you're that 'cryptid' I've been hearin' about. Hah, that's real funny."

Getting himself up, he nodded along without much thought to her words about having a break or whatever, pausing briefly to take a moment to stretch, wincing slightly at how sore some of his limbs had become, not having moved in what'd been hours by now.

"I come up here all the time Yun', I think I know how to get down by myself." He commented with a smirk, while taking the hand anyway, making sure to grab his tablet on the way down.

He held an arm out for Xen, who'd joined them at ground level, petting his head gently.

"'Alright Xen, I'll see ya later, kay? Say bye to Yuna too, c'mon." He coaxed, Xen cawing loudly in response.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna scoffed playfully, a smile of her own twitching at the corners of her lips.

"Fine, then! I'll let you fall next time - I'll even make sure to bring my camera." She teased, but there was no malice in her voice.

She reattached her lantern to her belt, making sure she had everything in her bag before turning around.

"Alright, I'm good to go, now," she said, turning and waving at Xen.

"Buh-bye little guy," She said, thankful for the bird's earlier attempt to get her attention, but now preparing to get back to her original goal for the night, albeit now with a somewhat real feeling behind it. "Try not to get into too much trouble while we're gone, alright?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"Hah, I wouldn't have even fallen anyways. Nice try though." Yuuto snarked back, as Xen clicked at Yuna, peering at her before Yuuto shook him off his arm, letting him fly off into the woods.

Even though he didn't want to admit it, he felt a little lighter now, finding himself eager to spend more in company tonight. He felt himself smile a little more genuinely.

"Sure, lead the way then, wherever we're headin'."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna nodded.

"Of course. It'll be a little bit of a walk but... well, that's just how it is when going to the main campus, isn't it?"

She started off without much else, using the lantern at her waist and her phone flashlight as the primary sources of light while the two walked.

There was always an odd feeling to the campus as night, but it brought Yuna a great sense of relief. It was empty, but that somehow only made it feel more normal for her. No other students meant no crazy magic nonsense, and the ghosts often left her alone unless she decided she wanted to chat.

Her path was purposeful and mechanical, making it clear that this venture was a common occurrence, though Yuna would only assume it meant she was stressed more often than not. Her footsteps in the soft soil changed from the quiet crunch of grass and leaves to a familiar patter of stone as she continued the quiet walk, making it to the main street of campus without so much as a peep in the time since the two had left Ramshackle.

She finally stopped in front of the main doors, fiddling with a ring of keys as she unlocked the large doors that creaked open with a familiar groan.

"Not too much longer now, thankfully... I wonder if we could blackmail the bird into installing a mirror to the dorm at some point, though..." She murmured as she stepped to the side. "After you."

[starry-nights-abound]

He walked alongside Yuna on their way down the path, completely fine with the silence, basking in the unusually calm atmosphere around them, just enjoying the walk under the night sky.

"Yo, now that'd be so cool, if we actually managed to do it. Knowing that bastard though..." He said, rolling his eyes.

When they arrived, Yuuto stopped next to Yuna while she used her keys. When she moved aside, he raised an eyebrow.

"Eeh? I thought it went 'ladies first'?" He teased, though quickly deciding he didn't care enough, stepping through the gates, then turning his head back to wait for Yuna to follow.

[starry-nights-abound]

Sitting atop one of Ramshackle's lower rooves, sat Yuuto, knee's to his chest, drawing tablet balanced carefully on top, propped up for easier access. From an outside perspective, it looked a little unorthodox, but he wasn't planning on anyone seeing him anyway, so he didn't care.

With a frown and narrowed eyes, he scratched his pen across the tablet's surface. He'd been sitting there in the same spot for a while now; hours at this point, had watched the sun set and the sky turn dark. Though he showed no effort to move back inside, focus glued to the screen in front of him.

Hearing the familar flap of a bird's wings, he snapped out of his trance, looking up to see Xen flying towards him, landng on his shoulder with a squawk. He paused his drawing, reaching a hand to run down the birds back, a slow movement, giving a small smile to the bird, before the corners of his lips ticked back down, and he turned back to focus on his drawing, much to the bird's disapointment.

Xen stayed a moment, tilting his head a tick towards Yuuto in inquiry, before suddenly launching himself off of his shoulder with a loud caw, flying down from the roof, Yuuto too focused on ignoring everything around him again to notice in just who's direction Xen was flying.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Looking at the sky, Yuna had decided it was finally late enough for her to prepare herself for her standard late-night venture. Her bag of music books, assorted journals, and a simple lantern sat on her back, much heavier than it looked, and she had only just left the dorm.

Recently, her mood had actually been quite high, and she really didn't believe she had to spend time in the Music Room to suffer in silence for once, but she did quite enjoy the solitude when she got to practice. As such, it was only fitting that she would take the opportunity on such a lovely night to maybe get a few hours of practice in before going to sleep.

Unfortunately, though, her practice would likely not come to fruition as she heard a familiar cry in the distance along with the sound of flapping wings. She looked up, noting the dark crow that seemed honed in on her presence and paused, turning towards the silhouette.

"Ah! Xen, is that you little guy?" Yuna asked, sticking her arm out for the crow to land on. "What might you be doing flying around this late?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Taking Yuna's extended arm as an invitation, Xen landed down gracefully, peering up at her. He fluttered his wings, making a sort of clicking sound, making sure he had her attention. For a moment, he was still, just staring, until he suddenly bounced off of her arm, almost as quickly as he'd come. He hovered in front of her for a second, as if trying to communicate something to her, the retainment of her attention, or a certain sense of urgency, perhaps, before flying off again, back in the direction he'd come from.

Landing atop of Yuuto's tablet this time, Xen squawked loudly at him. Yuuto tsk-ed, swatting him off, trying to focus, but Xen was persistant in his efforts to get his attention, until finally, he paused, looking up.

"Xen- get off- what're you-" He started, before his mouth snapped shut. Xen having flown out of his direct line of sight, he'd made direct eye contact with someone else behind him; Yuna.

"Oh."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna stuck up her hand in an awkward wave. Despite having been in the same dorm for a while, Yuna still wasn't sure how to carry herself around Yuuto, considering the latter's tendency to act standoffish (in her opinion). Still, the least she could do is offer a polite greeting, maybe even a conversation! After all, Xen HAD gone out of his way to grab her attention.

"Hey," She said, tilting her head up to see where Yuuto was seated. "Whatcha up to up there? It's awful late to be on the roof, isn't it?"

Yuna knew full well the hypocrisy of pointing out her dormmate's presence this late, but she figured it didn't matter as long as she wasn't criticizing. Plus, there was also the matter of having her attention dragged towards Yuuto by Xen.

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto spun his head to glare at Xen, who gave an pleased click in response, perched on his shoulder once more, seemingly happy with himself. Why Xen had even gotten Yuna to notice him up there - because he knows the bird did, he didn't know. Nor did he have the energy to question it.

He didn't wave back right away, debating if he really wanted to engage in conversation right now. He could easily just ignore her, or tell her to leave him alone, but... he decided that something in him didn't really want to do that. Even though he was way too tired.

"Drawing." He answered finally. A second passed, then he added, "Didn't wanna sit inside. I'd've been up anyway." He shrugged.

Taking more notice of Yuna now that they were 'convsersing', he noticed her bag and the lantern she'd brought with her. She was leaving the building. For what though?

"Where were you off to, then?" He offered, half as a begrudging effort at pleasantry, half out of his own faint curiosity. He told himself it was just because Xen had made her pay attention to him. No other reason.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Sounds fun," Yuna replied with a nod. She was pleased that she was successful in her attempt to converse. Still, she couldnt quite figure out how to talk to the boy just yet. She was gonna do her best, though. "I would ask why the roof, but im sure you have your reasons for why there specifically.

As for me? I was gonna go find a quiet place to practice, but... well, your little friend decided to divebomb me as I was heading out... not that I mind, though. I can always head out tomorrow or some time after classes anyways, so why pass up a chance to chat?"

She tucked the lantern at her waist and moved back closer to the building so she didn't have to speak as loud. As she did, Yuna noticed an odd vibe to the air around her, a nagging question forming in the back of her mind - one that always nagged when she found herself in conversations this late:

"So how have you been doing lately? Everything alright on your end?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...'S closer to the stars." Yuuto responded, glancing up, gaze lingering for a second longer than it probably should have. He wasn't really sure why he'd even answered, Yuna hadn't even explicitly asked. Maybe there was just something about tonight that was compelling him to talk.

"That and- it's outta the way. Don't usually get bothered up 'ere. Well- 'xcept for when this fucker decides to swoop innocent bystanders for no reason." He grumbled.

"Oi- why'd' ya swoop 'er like that, hah?" He asked the bird, just to recieve an almost mischevious sounding chirp in response. He scoffed, though with a hint of fondness, and turned back to Yuna with an 'apologetic look'. "Damn, got nothin' for ya. This guy's pretty stubborn."

At the question she'd followed up with, only an innocent inquiry into his wellbeing, he faltered slightly, before just shrugging again. "I've been fine, I guess." He said, promptly ignoring the dissaproving clicks from Xen.

Without much wait, not wanting to stew too long on... whatever that was, he asked, "...How 'bout yours? Your end- I mean. You all good?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna opened her mouth to speak, and-

No, this wouldn't do. She could barely see her conversation partner and anything that needed to be kept under wraps would still have to be blurted out to be heard.

"Hold on, just a sec." She said suddenly, placing her bag under the awning of the front door and promptly throwing herself up onto the railing, clambering up to the roof where Yuuto sat.

"Sorry- didn't want to keep shouting, you know? It's easier to talk this way."

She hummed to herself in thought for a moment, nodding.

"I myself am... pretty okay, surprisingly... it's not too often that I don't wanna throw it all away and hide in the basement and cry for the rest of my life, so...?" She finally said, placing the lantern on the roof between the two. "But... the stars, huh?"

She looked up, a quiet hum already returning on her lips. She often found herself wondering just who else might be seeing the same sky she was...

"I guess I can't fault you for that, then. It's one of the few familiar comforts we can afford ourselves at this point..." She said, though the second part was directed more towards herself than anything.

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Huh. I was 'bout to invite you up, actually. Or come down myself. But this works too." Yuuto said, a small grin making its way onto his expression.

"Hah. That's certainly a thought. But- it's good you're doin' alright, right now at least. Silver linings or something." He nodded.

He followed Yuna's gaze, looking up again. He'd always felt drawn the the stars, and the night sky. It was the one thing he couldn't let go of, even after abandoning all of his other interests and interests in times long passed, even after countless sleepless nights underneath them, before being whisked away.

"I getcha. I mean, not that I care to much about the familiarity, though. I've always liked 'em, even when I was little. Living under 'em for enough time'll help ya out there too, I think. You end up lovin' 'em or hating 'em."

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Yeah..." Yuna nodded. "I used to live out in the suburbs, but it was empty enough that you could always see the sky - though I didnt usually pay it too much mind... too many different things yknow? I always did love the rain, though... kinda that same feeling. Enough rainy days and it starts to be you look forward more to the clouds than the sun."

She sighed, craning her neck to peer over Yuuto's shoulder.

"So... what're you drawing? The night sky is a pretty subject, sure, but is it as obvious a subject as that? Or just something else?" She asked. It was one of the fun things about drawing compared to photography - you never could tell what someone was doing if they were drawing.

[starry-nights-abound]

"I was always lookin' up at it. Back then, like- ages ago, I used to sneak out of my room just to go lie outside in the yard and stargaze. My parents hated it for some god forsaken reason. They hated everything I did though." Yuuto commented, nothing more than an eyeroll at the mention, before moving on.

"It is a pretty subject, but I don't really draw it all that much. It's..." He turned to his tablet again, hesitating for a fraction of a second, before shaking it off, moving to zoom the screen out to see the almost-finished drawing more clearly.

It was a pretty large scale view of an arcade looking place, a mix of old-school and more modern looking game machines lining the walls and in other areas, pops of purple and pinkier-purple, a bunch of bright colours everywhere, the whole piece abundant in details. Near the middle, enthusiastically playing on one of the machines, was a figure, the only figure in the drawing, that was undoubtebly Kiyuu, the only difference between them the slightly more blonde colour to her hair.

"...A place we used to frequent a lot. As well as I can remember it, anyway." Yuuto said, after a moment, after staring at it for a little too long. It took another moment before he continued.

"I don't even know how this got here to be honest... I mean- I barely ever even draw stuff like this- like- I don't miss it back in our world, at all, it sucked. I guess I've just been- like- weirdly sentimental or something recently without any real reason to be, I dunno."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's expression softened as she looked at the drawing, listening intently to Yuuto's words.

"It looks nice... I can feel the nostalgia just by looking at it, yknow? I wish I could capture that feeling with my own stuff, hehe..."

She leaned back a bit, a soft huff escaping her lips as she looked back out at the sky.

"But yknow... I think its normal to miss our old homes... even if they sucked or didn't have much going for them, yknow?" She mused, a slight somber tone creeping into her voice. "Like... it's honestly been super conflicting, cause everything leading up to me coming here? Sucked. But... I do miss the nicer parts. Like playing the piano for my dad when I was younger or sitting in the rain with my friends or just listening to my mom's stories. Maybe it's just something like that... you don't really miss it, sure, but there was a strange sense of normalcy and the occasional good thing, maybe? Sorry- I'm just rambling, aren't I?"

Yuna continued to stare out. She never was really good at analysing people's feelings, was she?

Still, there was just a feeling she couldn't shake. She was actually having a conversation and by God or the Seven or whoever was listening, she was going to talk about it, even if she couldn't discern what it even was.

"... What was it like for you guys? If you don't mind me asking, of course... it just occurred to me that I still don't know too much about what you guys got to experience 'back home'."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto's eyes crinkled slightly as he looked over at Yuna, smiling ever so slightly at her words. He usually just drew for himself, but it was still nice when someone had something to say other than shallow compliments.

He shook his head. "S fine. Don't apologise for talking. 'Specially 'bout that stuff. "It's not like I'm filling the silence."

He looked down at the screen for a moment longer, before clicking the tablet shut and putting it to the side. Stretching his legs back out, he spoke up again.

"...I think of this place more like home than back there. It- I dunno. I don't like- have many fond memories of back then. So."

He peered back up at the stars again, just staring up at them. Then he leant back, moving to lie on his back, stretching an arm out for Xen to perch on instead. He had no idea why the bird hadn't flown away yet, or why he'd done anything he'd done today, but it wasn't like he could just ask, so he didn't really care enough.

"Kiyuu 'n I aren't like- childhood friends or anything, so I don't know what she'd have to say. I only met 'er like- half a year before all this? I think. We hung out a ton, but there was only so many places we could go without bein' harrassed by other kids from our school. Like the arcade. 'S why we were always there. I'm pretty sure it was illegal for us to even be there though. Not that anyone cared enough about us to say anythin'. Hah." He continued, abscentmindedly petting Xen's back as he spoke, the bird's wing fluttering in contentment.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Wish I had a space where I could've escaped like that with someone else..." Yuna replied. "I think I could've avoided a lot of what wound up leading to my being here if I did. Even if I dont really regret having come here."

She looked down at her hands, twiddling her thumbs as she continued.

"Kids... really do suck, don't they? They suck even more when youre not only being mistreated or outcast by them, but also one or more of your own parents? It's the worst."

Yuna thought back to her old life and the events that had led up to her own overblot. Speaking like she was now, though, made her feel almost embarrassed about the whole scenario - freaking out like that when it seemed her dormmates had been through something similar at least.

And yet it was also oddly cathartic to think that she wasn't alone in how she navigated the world, at least somewhat.

"How did you two meet if you weren't childhood friends?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Yeah. They do. I didn't really have anyone there." He muttered. "...'xcept for Kiki, for the short time I'd known 'er."

Looking up at the night sky, his thoughts wandered back to their time at the arcade, recalling all of their times there with fondness.

"To be honest, It didn't even last forever. The fuckers that owned the place got sick of me tryna crash there. Then some jackasses followed us there this one time- and- ugh. Let's just say they didn't appreciate us 'engagin' in violence' in the middle of the fuckin' place. It was so dumb. But yeah- we were banned from comin' back and that was that." He sighed. He didn't miss a lot of things, but he felt like maybe he did miss it there. Those moments of refuge where he didnt't have to think or worry about anything else, he could just... be.

Listening to Yuna as she spoke again, he blinked at her question, not really expecting the curiosity. He shrugged.

"Transferred to the school I went to after winter break that year. Our teacher sat her next to me, and the next thing you know- she was actually talking to me. Fuckin' crazy. Everyone else thought so too. And they definitely didn't take too kindly to it either."

And he knew why all too well. They didn't figure her out immediately, but it had only taken a couple of weeks for the rumors to circulate. No matter how many fights Yuuto engaged himself in, to protect Kiyuu more often than not, they never stopped, never left them alone. And he knew how much it upset her, too. And yet she stuck by him anyway, has told him countless times that she'd never regretted it, even though he could always see the exhaustion in her eyes.

He turned his head to the side then, dragging his eyes away from the stars to land on Yuna instead.

"So... what about you? Any stories to tell?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna wanted to respond right off the bat - offer some sort of consolation, relief, anything, but she knew full well how little anything like that would do now... they were all away from their old lives, after all. What use was there in sympathizing over it when things weren't like that anymore?

She sighed, shrugging her shoulders as she tapped her fingers on the roof.

"...Wish I did, really. But honestly... before coming here, my life was unremarkable. So unremarkable, in fact, that I really didn't have that many people to talk to except for the two friends I did have..."

She hadnt spoken about her old school life with others since... well...

But it always filled her with a sense of discomfort. Sure, she was never, like, physically bullied or anything, but her own issues came from the isolation and ostracization she felt at the hands of her peers.

"People always talked about me like I wasnt there... but that did mean they just kind of said whatever around me, not really thinking anything of it. I probably have some gossip stories, but anything related to myself in particular is... less than interesting."

She looked down at her legs, kicking her feet aimlessly.

Any stories she could share were all things that had happened here. There was no such thing as an interesting day in her life prior to getting whisked away through Minerva's influence - God, how she didn't want to think about that - and there never would be. Without her friends, she was functionally no one. A blank slate. Someone who existed in the background of everyone else's life, including her own. Before Twisted Wonderland, there was no 'Yu' or 'Yuna' or anything. Just the plain girl who sat in the back of the class and spoke to no one and was, presumably, only kept around as some sort of weird pet project by students who were superior to her in every way (no matter how untrue that last statement actually was).

"Unless, of course, you dont mind just... smaller anecdotes. Nothing interesting... but... its something?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto listened quietly, laying still, aside from the occasional pat to Xen.

"...If it was really that unremarkable though, you wouldn't really miss it, would'dya? I mean- you had friends, parents, people you meant something to, and who meant something to you, ya'know? You were someone to them."

He swung his arm out, casually pointing a finger out as he continued.

"It might not have been the liveliest of lives, and'ya might not think it was all that great, but it was yours. You said you played piano, right? And I don't doubt you were just as good of a friend as you are now. That doesn't seem that 'unremarkable' to me."

He shrugged. He was really talking tonight, wasn't he? He didn't really even know why he felt so compelled to speak now, why he was unusually content in this sort of peaceful atmosphere. And yeah, maybe it wasn't his place to say stuff like that to Yuna, but he didn't regret it.

He brang his arm back down, putting his head on the hand now.

"I don't care what'cha tell me. But I wanna hear about you, if I have any say in it. Doesn't matter what it is. What kinda things did you do with your friends? What'd you do for fun, for yourself? Whatever you wanna share. Hah, god knows I've talked more than enough for one night."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's eyes widened slightly, surprised that anyone would show any real, full interest in her life aside from her odd anecdotes and occasional pieces of advice.

"Oh- um... well... I guess I could always start with my friends back home... I do miss seeing them both..." Yuna said, pushing her bangs from her face.

"I think I may have mentioned Minerva once or twice before, but she's the one thats partially responsible for my being here... in fact if I didnt mention it before, it was her visiting that led to... well... everything."

She began to tap her fingers on the roof beneath her again, a rhythmic thumping as she thought and worked herself through her own words and what she wanted to say versus what she found herself capable of saying.

"She was always the 'pretty' one of my little trio, and I dont really blame anyone for thinking that. Min was like... actually, she's a lot like Kiyuu, now that I think about it? Peppy and cheerful and really doesnt like to see anyone sad, but also has this kinda glamorous air about her. I dunno... but she was also one of the first people to really chat me up when I transferred schools in middle school. A lot of people thought she mustve had this real 'mean girl' air about her, since she was pretty and popular, but like... she was never actually that mean. Hell, even her basically lying to me for the entire duration of our friendship was done in the interest of others rather than herself. Maybe if I can ever get her to visit again, I'll try and introduce you all."

Once the words had started flowing, though, Yuna found it was quite easy to talk about things, even if they were a bit painful to think about. Her voice wavered a tiny bit as she continued, only serving to exemplify that idea.

"Then there was Wilomena, or just Mena... she was the 'smart' one in the group, though personally, I think she was just as pretty as Min. But her smart title was also not a stretch in the least, considering she was always top of our class and student council president and this that and the other and..."

Yuna paused.

"She always liked playing music with me. She played violin, kinda like how some of my otjer friends do here... and she'd drag me along to meetings, trying her best to make everyone feel included..."

She didn't realize it when her face started becoming damp with tears.

"She's the only one still back there... she doesn't even know that I'm still alive and that Min is out here as some powerful witch and she's the only one left... God I hope she's alright..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto let Yuna talk, even sitting up again at one point, glad Yuna was a little more confident in her words now. It was nice to listen to her voice, a soothing sound to fill the quiet air.

...He didn't really like this Minerva chick though, based on what Yuna was saying about her. But maybe he didn't have any right to comment on living in a lie, either.

Catching onto the more somber tone of voice, Yuuto peered at her, quickly realising her eyes were watering. He froze for a second, inwardly berating himself for not considering this a possibility. Of course Yuna would be upset about this stuff, just because he didn't have anyone back then that would have missed him, didn't mean everyone else was the same. And now he'd made her talk about it for some stupid reason-

He shuffled a bit closer to her, turning to give her what he hoped was a small smile that conveyed some kind of reassurance, before looking up again, hands on the surface behind him to hold him up.

"It sounds like you guys were really close then, huh. It's good you had people like that. I'm sure they still think of you fondly. Both of them. I mean, who wouldn't? ...For what it's worth, I hope she's alright too."

Xen, who'd fluttered into the air when Yuuto moved, perched himself onto one of Yuna's thighs, cawing at her and staring up at her with his bug eyes. He huffed in amusement, looking back down to watch him. The pesky little thing, he probably knew exactly what he was doing.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna gave a small sniff, finally taking note of the tears running down her face. She nodded her head ever so slightly in acknowledgement of Yuuto's words, trying her best to smile back. She only really got as far as the upturning of the corners of her lips.

"Yeah, we were," She said. "I just... I miss how things were before. Even if I do go back, things will never be the same - how could they? I vanish without a word for at least a year and someone else who was just "going abroad" turns out to be some crazy magical being and then whatever happens to the last of us who didn't get stuck anywhere..."

She sighed and gave Xen a small pat on the head, thankful for the little gesture. She also turned her head towards Yuuto, wiping at her eyes as she spoke. Her voice still wavered somewhat, but it was a bit more steady as she tried to relax herself.

"Thank you, though... hearing you say that makes me feel a bit less anxious, even if stuff is... well, like this..." She gestured vaguely with a hand. "They were two of the maybe three? Four? People who really kinda looked out for me, so it's really hard to not be attached, yknow? Even with the whole 'spiriting away' thing..."

Yuna gave a slightly dry chuckle.

"Actually, I was kinda mad about that at first, cause I didn't really have a choice in coming here. Last I knew I was just gonna run away and hide forever... but if whatever happened HADN'T happened... I wouldn't have been able to make more friends, like you or Kiyuu or... well... literally anyone else here... so I guess it wasn't all bad."

[starry-nights-abound]

As Yuna talked, Yuuto couldn't help but think back to his own life, before everything. Having the support and care of others like she had... sounded really nice. It wasn't like he cared now, though. Definitely not. It's not like thinking about it would change how everyone had thought about him anyway.

"...I wish I could say I could empathise, but honestly, I can't really. I understand to an extent, sure, but I don't think I'll ever know how that feels. I mean- the only person that would've missed me even a little bit is here too. I don't really know what it's like to be missed." He said, sighing quietly.

He shook his head. "Though, I think I'm definitely the odd one out. 'Cause like- after the initial shock of y'know- literally being kidnapped without my consent and being transported to a literal other dimension- the first thoughts I had once I'd processed it all weren't anything like panic, or fear- I was just kinda like- "This is so cool", y'know?" He commented, with a huff of laughter.

"Well- I guess it would have prefered not having to like- die to get here- and maybe it would have been dope to actually be able to use magic myself- but like- really honestly- I'm kinda thankful, more than anything. Even back then- when all I had was Kiki and the rusty old roof of this damn building over my head- I felt better than I had in ages. Even though it was hard, I finally had some kind of... hope, I guess."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Instead of honing in on anything else, one detail of Yuuto's words stuck out to Yuna.

"Wait... so... you also nearly died- er... did? Die? Before waking up in the coffin?" She asked suddenly, before realizing that such a question was likely inappropriate.

"Wait- sorry that... nevermind." She said, shaking her head as though that would somehow erase the embarrassment. Still, she was glad at least that Yuuto was also willing to converse with her at this moment.

Yuna was silent for a moment, waiting just a brief second to readjust and recover from her slight self-perceived blunder before continuing.

"But, um... I agree, honestly. I think thats the nice part about this place - yknow, what you said about hope? I can't really ever determine what your life was like before this and you said yourself you don't quite get mine... but... in the end it really doesnt matter, yknow? Because it wound up giving an entirely new start to... everything."

That was another reason Yuna couldn't be entirely angry. She was able to be someone different here - hell, she was simply able to be someone, even if that someone was the magicless stranger from another world. She didnt have a clue how bad it might have been for her friends, and that definitely made her feel some sort of guilt, but she certainly could relate to the feeling of having a fresh start.

She sighed, now looking at Yuuto full-on, her green eyes reflecting an odd melancholy.

"It honestly makes any decisions that I'll have to make later a lot harder, though. I honestly dont know if i even want to go home anymore... I think I'd miss everyone here even more than the people back there..."

[starry-nights-abound]

"Nah, it's fine." He shook his head. "I mean, I'm pretty fuckin' sure I died. I remember the stupid carriage runnin' us clean over and I felt that pain. So- either died or nearly before the transportation, yeah. You too huh?" He asked casually, leaning forward again to look over at her.

He nodded in acknowledgement of her words. He thought about it, and really, Yuna was right, at least a little bit. It didn't really matter if they understood what the other had experienced, they were in the same situation now. It was a fresh start for all of them. Although...

"Yeah, 'cause you've had time to adjust to this life now, right? As much as you have. It's not really a decision I have to think about, though. I'm not going back no matter what, even if they make me. I couldn't ever. But..."

He paused, hesitating. He looked to Yuna, seeing the expression in her eyes, before turning his head away with a soft breath out, gaze fixed downwards.

"...I know it's not the same for Kiyuu. She... I know she misses things just being... normal. Just having- regular problems- Not- constantly being in dangerous situations, or risking her life- as often as we've had to, or dealing with- magic and potions and all of this supernatural stuff."

He admitted quietly. He didn't like to say it out loud, the blaring truth that Kiyuu could just- leave one day, just like that. Speaking it into existance made it feel so much more real, like something that was so much closer to being an actual possibility than just a far away idea. She wasn't attatched to life here like he was, god he knew that. He just... didn't have much hope that he was enough to get her to stay. And that hurt more than anything.

"I guess... eh, it doesn't matter. I want her to be happy. She deserves that much. And if she can't be happy here, then... that's that."

He'd never been enough for anyone to stay. ...Why would that change now?

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna noticed the shift in Yuuto's casual demeanor to something more subtle.

'He doesnt really mean that, does he?' She thought, watching his movements carefully. Yuna may not be the best at offering words to others, but she knew damn well when people weren't being fully truthful about their feelings, especially when they were negative feelings.

"How do you know?" She started. Yuna's voice held a softness like someone coaxing a wild animal from the shadows. "That she isn't at least somewhat happy here, that is...? I know this whole place is... crazy and confusing but... I've seen how you two act together. While I think there definitely is an aspect of place and all... I dunno. I just... think you two are kind of a package deal, really-"

Yuna paused, wondering if maybe she was going beyond what was acceptable to say, and stopped herself. She pulled her legs in, sitting cross-legged as she looked down.

"Sorry- I don't mean to make assumptions or anything... just... ignore me, I guess. All I mean is that it's hard to imagine that you two would actually split up..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto stayed quiet. His eyes narrowed, feeling irritation swell up inside him. Not at her, really, but at himself. He wanted to say something, tell her she didn't have to keep apologising for just sharing her thoughts - something he'd told Kiyuu countless times before - but the words were stuck.

Eventually, he spoke up again, quieter.

"I don't want her to leave. She's- the only person- the first person to ever really- mean something to me. But it's her choice, not mine. She shouldn't have to stay just- because I don't want her to go. Do you know how- selfish I'd have to be to do that to her? ...She's always so stressed, Yuna. Even though she tries to hide it, I- I know. ...Everything scares her."

He spoke, despite the tightness in his throat, the familiar feeling of holding back all of the signs of his watering eyes. He wouldn't cry now, he wouldn't.

"...She doesn't deserve to live like that. And especially, not for me. I'm not enough for that kind of... sacrifice."

He winced, already regretting the words as soon as they'd come out of his mouth. First he'd said- all of that, and now this? God, what kind of- attention seeker was he?

He forced a dry laugh, shaking his head and looking up again, trying desperately to shake off the crushing weight of his helplessness. Through the slight fogging of his eyes, he could see Xen fluttering nearby, clicking at him curiously. With a slow movement, he held out an arm, the weight of the bird's claws on his arm grounding him enough to open his mouth again.

"...I'm just being stupid, aren't I? Chances are that we'll probably never have any way back anyway. Why the fuck am I so worked up over something so small? Ugh."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna cautiously extended a hand. Countless reassurances danced on the tip of her tongue, but none of them were quite able to make themselves known as she opened and closed her mouth, trying to figure out something to offer, anything to offer. These were a lot of heavy words and feelings that she felt like she had to do something about...

And yet, all she could really muster were a few words:

"I don't think you're being stupid... I think you have every right to be worried about your future, just like the rest of us, whether it's here or anywhere else... and that means worrying about what other people might wanna do, too. Especially the ones we care about."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto stared for a moment, bringing his eyes to look between Yuna and her outstretched hand. He laughed again, then, though it really sounded more like a sigh than anything.

"...Thanks." He mumbled. For a moment longer, he hesitated, a small yet almost overpowering part of him not wanting to break the silence yet. Though he quickly huffed again, shaking his head.

"Wow, I really do not wanna think about that anymore. Hey, earlier, you said you were gonna go practice, right? I've changed my mind, I don't wanna sit 'ere anymore. Lemme come wit'cha." He commented, already moving to sit up. He stopped then, and looked Yuna's way again.

"Uh, I mean. If you want to, anyway. I don't care either way." He added, faltering a little. He normally wouldn't stop to ask something like that, but after all of that shit, it would be totally fair if she didn't want to practice anymore, and he'd respect that. ...Just this once, though.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna pursed her lips, eyes narrowed, but then ultimately just sighed. She could understand the desire of desperately wanting to change topics, even now. Especially now.

She carefully pushed herself up, nodding.

"I dont mind. Honestly, I prefer doing it much later at night anyways... less risk of people catching videos of the 'cryptid' in the music room." She said, carefully lifting up her lantern and preparing to hop down. "Plus, I think we could both use a break, right? Some scenery alone might be enough, but I think just a straight up pause might help a little too."

She jumped down carefully, hoisting her bag over her shoulder before offering a hand to help Yuuto down.

"Main building should be pretty well empty save for ghosts, too. It's a little more private, I guess, if that helps."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto snickered, looking up at her with an exaggerated surprised expression.

"Oohh, so you're that 'cryptid' I've been hearin' about. Hah, that's real funny."

Getting himself up, he nodded along without much thought to her words about having a break or whatever, pausing briefly to take a moment to stretch, wincing slightly at how sore some of his limbs had become, not having moved in what'd been hours by now.

"I come up here all the time Yun', I think I know how to get down by myself." He commented with a smirk, while taking the hand anyway, making sure to grab his tablet on the way down.

He held an arm out for Xen, who'd joined them at ground level, petting his head gently.

"'Alright Xen, I'll see ya later, kay? Say bye to Yuna too, c'mon." He coaxed, Xen cawing loudly in response.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna scoffed playfully, a smile of her own twitching at the corners of her lips.

"Fine, then! I'll let you fall next time - I'll even make sure to bring my camera." She teased, but there was no malice in her voice.

She reattached her lantern to her belt, making sure she had everything in her bag before turning around.

"Alright, I'm good to go, now," she said, turning and waving at Xen.

"Buh-bye little guy," She said, thankful for the bird's earlier attempt to get her attention, but now preparing to get back to her original goal for the night, albeit now with a somewhat real feeling behind it. "Try not to get into too much trouble while we're gone, alright?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"Hah, I wouldn't have even fallen anyways. Nice try though." Yuuto snarked back, as Xen clicked at Yuna, peering at her before Yuuto shook him off his arm, letting him fly off into the woods.

Even though he didn't want to admit it, he felt a little lighter now, finding himself eager to spend more in company tonight. He felt himself smile a little more genuinely.

"Sure, lead the way then, wherever we're headin'."

[starry-nights-abound]

Uh, hi, I didn’t expect to see another member of my dorm, what’s up? Your name is Aros, right? - Asai Hikaru

(Ooc: @ask-the-reddit-sillies )

"Oh- Hello. Yes, that's me. Do you need anything? Or, are you after an autograph, perhaps?"

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Not an autograph or anything! I don’t really care about that stuff. I guess…it’s just nice to see more people from my dorm online ig- (also I have pyromaniac behind me trying to encourage me to make more friends) - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Ah, I see. That makes you a lot more amicable than a lot of the students here, I can say that much. But in any case, it's nice to meet you. I hope Night Raven College has been treating you well so far.

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Thank you, hope ya doing well too, you do seem more kind too. It’s nice to meet you too ig, hope we survive NRC this year - Asai Hikaru

Huuuh~? Dear Hikaru, have you actually followed my advice? I’m so glad! Hello new person who has aquatinted with my dear Hikaru, hehe! - Zora Shroud

Oh shush, I didn’t do it cause of ya, also, don’t you have to go log online to play games with your ‘siblings’ or smt? - Asai Hikaru

Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me! Ah, you’re so amazing at remembering stuff! It’s so nice to have you in my life, cya around?- Zora Shroud

Cya Zora, EHEM, anyways… -Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

'Survive' is certainly a way to put it, though I can't say I disagree with you there, at this point...

Oh-! Uh- hello..? Oh, nevermind, they're gone... uh- who was that..?

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Yeah…I mean, when you have Floyd as your co-worker, students here can be very…hostile, it’s gonna feel like you’re trying to survive most of the time - Asai Hikaru

That was Zora, he’s…something, while he does advise me to have more friends, he is always somehow, someway, near me or trailing behind me - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Haha, I can understand that, definitely. My partner, Crimson, works pretty closely with Floyd and his brother, for... reasons unbeknownst to even me... So I believe I see a lot more of them than is considered a... 'safe' amount.

Well, you two seem like you get along. Er- I think..? It sounds like he likes your company, anyway, if he follows you around often. That's nice.

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Yeah, us Mostro Lounge workers have a complicated life, gl to your partner. Hope he can tell Floyd to stop squeezing during shifts - Asai Hikaru

Do you think so? Ig we do hang out a lot… I think? Zora’s something else, not sure why he bothers so much with me though - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Unfortunately for the patrons and other staff of Monstro Lounge, he... isn't really the type to overly care about Floyd's actions...

Sure I do. He seems to care about you enough to urge you to make more friends- or whatever it is that his 'advice' was about, and his constant acts of seeking proximity to you alludes to his enjoyment in doing so. He must see something worthy in you if that's the case.

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

I mean, fair enough- was worth asking anyways… - Asai Hikaru

…Do you think that’s the case? It’s just, Zora is someone unpredictable and I really can’t tell what’s actually on his head most of the time. But if you think so…I’ll think about it, thanks - Asai Hikaru - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

One's behaviours and actions are just as important to convey ones inner emotions as what's explicitly being said out loud - a very important rule to live by in acting. Even if you are unsure of what he is thinking, the way he acts around you, especially compared to around others, should be of help to you. I don't know either of you well enough to come to any conclusions myself, but I hope you'll take my words to heart regardless.

[starry-nights-abound]

Sitting atop one of Ramshackle's lower rooves, sat Yuuto, knee's to his chest, drawing tablet balanced carefully on top, propped up for easier access. From an outside perspective, it looked a little unorthodox, but he wasn't planning on anyone seeing him anyway, so he didn't care.

With a frown and narrowed eyes, he scratched his pen across the tablet's surface. He'd been sitting there in the same spot for a while now; hours at this point, had watched the sun set and the sky turn dark. Though he showed no effort to move back inside, focus glued to the screen in front of him.

Hearing the familar flap of a bird's wings, he snapped out of his trance, looking up to see Xen flying towards him, landng on his shoulder with a squawk. He paused his drawing, reaching a hand to run down the birds back, a slow movement, giving a small smile to the bird, before the corners of his lips ticked back down, and he turned back to focus on his drawing, much to the bird's disapointment.

Xen stayed a moment, tilting his head a tick towards Yuuto in inquiry, before suddenly launching himself off of his shoulder with a loud caw, flying down from the roof, Yuuto too focused on ignoring everything around him again to notice in just who's direction Xen was flying.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Looking at the sky, Yuna had decided it was finally late enough for her to prepare herself for her standard late-night venture. Her bag of music books, assorted journals, and a simple lantern sat on her back, much heavier than it looked, and she had only just left the dorm.

Recently, her mood had actually been quite high, and she really didn't believe she had to spend time in the Music Room to suffer in silence for once, but she did quite enjoy the solitude when she got to practice. As such, it was only fitting that she would take the opportunity on such a lovely night to maybe get a few hours of practice in before going to sleep.

Unfortunately, though, her practice would likely not come to fruition as she heard a familiar cry in the distance along with the sound of flapping wings. She looked up, noting the dark crow that seemed honed in on her presence and paused, turning towards the silhouette.

"Ah! Xen, is that you little guy?" Yuna asked, sticking her arm out for the crow to land on. "What might you be doing flying around this late?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Taking Yuna's extended arm as an invitation, Xen landed down gracefully, peering up at her. He fluttered his wings, making a sort of clicking sound, making sure he had her attention. For a moment, he was still, just staring, until he suddenly bounced off of her arm, almost as quickly as he'd come. He hovered in front of her for a second, as if trying to communicate something to her, the retainment of her attention, or a certain sense of urgency, perhaps, before flying off again, back in the direction he'd come from.

Landing atop of Yuuto's tablet this time, Xen squawked loudly at him. Yuuto tsk-ed, swatting him off, trying to focus, but Xen was persistant in his efforts to get his attention, until finally, he paused, looking up.

"Xen- get off- what're you-" He started, before his mouth snapped shut. Xen having flown out of his direct line of sight, he'd made direct eye contact with someone else behind him; Yuna.

"Oh."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna stuck up her hand in an awkward wave. Despite having been in the same dorm for a while, Yuna still wasn't sure how to carry herself around Yuuto, considering the latter's tendency to act standoffish (in her opinion). Still, the least she could do is offer a polite greeting, maybe even a conversation! After all, Xen HAD gone out of his way to grab her attention.

"Hey," She said, tilting her head up to see where Yuuto was seated. "Whatcha up to up there? It's awful late to be on the roof, isn't it?"

Yuna knew full well the hypocrisy of pointing out her dormmate's presence this late, but she figured it didn't matter as long as she wasn't criticizing. Plus, there was also the matter of having her attention dragged towards Yuuto by Xen.

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto spun his head to glare at Xen, who gave an pleased click in response, perched on his shoulder once more, seemingly happy with himself. Why Xen had even gotten Yuna to notice him up there - because he knows the bird did, he didn't know. Nor did he have the energy to question it.

He didn't wave back right away, debating if he really wanted to engage in conversation right now. He could easily just ignore her, or tell her to leave him alone, but... he decided that something in him didn't really want to do that. Even though he was way too tired.

"Drawing." He answered finally. A second passed, then he added, "Didn't wanna sit inside. I'd've been up anyway." He shrugged.

Taking more notice of Yuna now that they were 'convsersing', he noticed her bag and the lantern she'd brought with her. She was leaving the building. For what though?

"Where were you off to, then?" He offered, half as a begrudging effort at pleasantry, half out of his own faint curiosity. He told himself it was just because Xen had made her pay attention to him. No other reason.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Sounds fun," Yuna replied with a nod. She was pleased that she was successful in her attempt to converse. Still, she couldnt quite figure out how to talk to the boy just yet. She was gonna do her best, though. "I would ask why the roof, but im sure you have your reasons for why there specifically.

As for me? I was gonna go find a quiet place to practice, but... well, your little friend decided to divebomb me as I was heading out... not that I mind, though. I can always head out tomorrow or some time after classes anyways, so why pass up a chance to chat?"

She tucked the lantern at her waist and moved back closer to the building so she didn't have to speak as loud. As she did, Yuna noticed an odd vibe to the air around her, a nagging question forming in the back of her mind - one that always nagged when she found herself in conversations this late:

"So how have you been doing lately? Everything alright on your end?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...'S closer to the stars." Yuuto responded, glancing up, gaze lingering for a second longer than it probably should have. He wasn't really sure why he'd even answered, Yuna hadn't even explicitly asked. Maybe there was just something about tonight that was compelling him to talk.

"That and- it's outta the way. Don't usually get bothered up 'ere. Well- 'xcept for when this fucker decides to swoop innocent bystanders for no reason." He grumbled.

"Oi- why'd' ya swoop 'er like that, hah?" He asked the bird, just to recieve an almost mischevious sounding chirp in response. He scoffed, though with a hint of fondness, and turned back to Yuna with an 'apologetic look'. "Damn, got nothin' for ya. This guy's pretty stubborn."

At the question she'd followed up with, only an innocent inquiry into his wellbeing, he faltered slightly, before just shrugging again. "I've been fine, I guess." He said, promptly ignoring the dissaproving clicks from Xen.

Without much wait, not wanting to stew too long on... whatever that was, he asked, "...How 'bout yours? Your end- I mean. You all good?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna opened her mouth to speak, and-

No, this wouldn't do. She could barely see her conversation partner and anything that needed to be kept under wraps would still have to be blurted out to be heard.

"Hold on, just a sec." She said suddenly, placing her bag under the awning of the front door and promptly throwing herself up onto the railing, clambering up to the roof where Yuuto sat.

"Sorry- didn't want to keep shouting, you know? It's easier to talk this way."

She hummed to herself in thought for a moment, nodding.

"I myself am... pretty okay, surprisingly... it's not too often that I don't wanna throw it all away and hide in the basement and cry for the rest of my life, so...?" She finally said, placing the lantern on the roof between the two. "But... the stars, huh?"

She looked up, a quiet hum already returning on her lips. She often found herself wondering just who else might be seeing the same sky she was...

"I guess I can't fault you for that, then. It's one of the few familiar comforts we can afford ourselves at this point..." She said, though the second part was directed more towards herself than anything.

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Huh. I was 'bout to invite you up, actually. Or come down myself. But this works too." Yuuto said, a small grin making its way onto his expression.

"Hah. That's certainly a thought. But- it's good you're doin' alright, right now at least. Silver linings or something." He nodded.

He followed Yuna's gaze, looking up again. He'd always felt drawn the the stars, and the night sky. It was the one thing he couldn't let go of, even after abandoning all of his other interests and interests in times long passed, even after countless sleepless nights underneath them, before being whisked away.

"I getcha. I mean, not that I care to much about the familiarity, though. I've always liked 'em, even when I was little. Living under 'em for enough time'll help ya out there too, I think. You end up lovin' 'em or hating 'em."

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Yeah..." Yuna nodded. "I used to live out in the suburbs, but it was empty enough that you could always see the sky - though I didnt usually pay it too much mind... too many different things yknow? I always did love the rain, though... kinda that same feeling. Enough rainy days and it starts to be you look forward more to the clouds than the sun."

She sighed, craning her neck to peer over Yuuto's shoulder.

"So... what're you drawing? The night sky is a pretty subject, sure, but is it as obvious a subject as that? Or just something else?" She asked. It was one of the fun things about drawing compared to photography - you never could tell what someone was doing if they were drawing.

[starry-nights-abound]

"I was always lookin' up at it. Back then, like- ages ago, I used to sneak out of my room just to go lie outside in the yard and stargaze. My parents hated it for some god forsaken reason. They hated everything I did though." Yuuto commented, nothing more than an eyeroll at the mention, before moving on.

"It is a pretty subject, but I don't really draw it all that much. It's..." He turned to his tablet again, hesitating for a fraction of a second, before shaking it off, moving to zoom the screen out to see the almost-finished drawing more clearly.

It was a pretty large scale view of an arcade looking place, a mix of old-school and more modern looking game machines lining the walls and in other areas, pops of purple and pinkier-purple, a bunch of bright colours everywhere, the whole piece abundant in details. Near the middle, enthusiastically playing on one of the machines, was a figure, the only figure in the drawing, that was undoubtebly Kiyuu, the only difference between them the slightly more blonde colour to her hair.

"...A place we used to frequent a lot. As well as I can remember it, anyway." Yuuto said, after a moment, after staring at it for a little too long. It took another moment before he continued.

"I don't even know how this got here to be honest... I mean- I barely ever even draw stuff like this- like- I don't miss it back in our world, at all, it sucked. I guess I've just been- like- weirdly sentimental or something recently without any real reason to be, I dunno."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's expression softened as she looked at the drawing, listening intently to Yuuto's words.

"It looks nice... I can feel the nostalgia just by looking at it, yknow? I wish I could capture that feeling with my own stuff, hehe..."

She leaned back a bit, a soft huff escaping her lips as she looked back out at the sky.

"But yknow... I think its normal to miss our old homes... even if they sucked or didn't have much going for them, yknow?" She mused, a slight somber tone creeping into her voice. "Like... it's honestly been super conflicting, cause everything leading up to me coming here? Sucked. But... I do miss the nicer parts. Like playing the piano for my dad when I was younger or sitting in the rain with my friends or just listening to my mom's stories. Maybe it's just something like that... you don't really miss it, sure, but there was a strange sense of normalcy and the occasional good thing, maybe? Sorry- I'm just rambling, aren't I?"

Yuna continued to stare out. She never was really good at analysing people's feelings, was she?

Still, there was just a feeling she couldn't shake. She was actually having a conversation and by God or the Seven or whoever was listening, she was going to talk about it, even if she couldn't discern what it even was.

"... What was it like for you guys? If you don't mind me asking, of course... it just occurred to me that I still don't know too much about what you guys got to experience 'back home'."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto's eyes crinkled slightly as he looked over at Yuna, smiling ever so slightly at her words. He usually just drew for himself, but it was still nice when someone had something to say other than shallow compliments.

He shook his head. "S fine. Don't apologise for talking. 'Specially 'bout that stuff. "It's not like I'm filling the silence."

He looked down at the screen for a moment longer, before clicking the tablet shut and putting it to the side. Stretching his legs back out, he spoke up again.

"...I think of this place more like home than back there. It- I dunno. I don't like- have many fond memories of back then. So."

He peered back up at the stars again, just staring up at them. Then he leant back, moving to lie on his back, stretching an arm out for Xen to perch on instead. He had no idea why the bird hadn't flown away yet, or why he'd done anything he'd done today, but it wasn't like he could just ask, so he didn't really care enough.

"Kiyuu 'n I aren't like- childhood friends or anything, so I don't know what she'd have to say. I only met 'er like- half a year before all this? I think. We hung out a ton, but there was only so many places we could go without bein' harrassed by other kids from our school. Like the arcade. 'S why we were always there. I'm pretty sure it was illegal for us to even be there though. Not that anyone cared enough about us to say anythin'. Hah." He continued, abscentmindedly petting Xen's back as he spoke, the bird's wing fluttering in contentment.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Wish I had a space where I could've escaped like that with someone else..." Yuna replied. "I think I could've avoided a lot of what wound up leading to my being here if I did. Even if I dont really regret having come here."

She looked down at her hands, twiddling her thumbs as she continued.

"Kids... really do suck, don't they? They suck even more when youre not only being mistreated or outcast by them, but also one or more of your own parents? It's the worst."

Yuna thought back to her old life and the events that had led up to her own overblot. Speaking like she was now, though, made her feel almost embarrassed about the whole scenario - freaking out like that when it seemed her dormmates had been through something similar at least.

And yet it was also oddly cathartic to think that she wasn't alone in how she navigated the world, at least somewhat.

"How did you two meet if you weren't childhood friends?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Yeah. They do. I didn't really have anyone there." He muttered. "...'xcept for Kiki, for the short time I'd known 'er."

Looking up at the night sky, his thoughts wandered back to their time at the arcade, recalling all of their times there with fondness.

"To be honest, It didn't even last forever. The fuckers that owned the place got sick of me tryna crash there. Then some jackasses followed us there this one time- and- ugh. Let's just say they didn't appreciate us 'engagin' in violence' in the middle of the fuckin' place. It was so dumb. But yeah- we were banned from comin' back and that was that." He sighed. He didn't miss a lot of things, but he felt like maybe he did miss it there. Those moments of refuge where he didnt't have to think or worry about anything else, he could just... be.

Listening to Yuna as she spoke again, he blinked at her question, not really expecting the curiosity. He shrugged.

"Transferred to the school I went to after winter break that year. Our teacher sat her next to me, and the next thing you know- she was actually talking to me. Fuckin' crazy. Everyone else thought so too. And they definitely didn't take too kindly to it either."

And he knew why all too well. They didn't figure her out immediately, but it had only taken a couple of weeks for the rumors to circulate. No matter how many fights Yuuto engaged himself in, to protect Kiyuu more often than not, they never stopped, never left them alone. And he knew how much it upset her, too. And yet she stuck by him anyway, has told him countless times that she'd never regretted it, even though he could always see the exhaustion in her eyes.

He turned his head to the side then, dragging his eyes away from the stars to land on Yuna instead.

"So... what about you? Any stories to tell?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna wanted to respond right off the bat - offer some sort of consolation, relief, anything, but she knew full well how little anything like that would do now... they were all away from their old lives, after all. What use was there in sympathizing over it when things weren't like that anymore?

She sighed, shrugging her shoulders as she tapped her fingers on the roof.

"...Wish I did, really. But honestly... before coming here, my life was unremarkable. So unremarkable, in fact, that I really didn't have that many people to talk to except for the two friends I did have..."

She hadnt spoken about her old school life with others since... well...

But it always filled her with a sense of discomfort. Sure, she was never, like, physically bullied or anything, but her own issues came from the isolation and ostracization she felt at the hands of her peers.

"People always talked about me like I wasnt there... but that did mean they just kind of said whatever around me, not really thinking anything of it. I probably have some gossip stories, but anything related to myself in particular is... less than interesting."

She looked down at her legs, kicking her feet aimlessly.

Any stories she could share were all things that had happened here. There was no such thing as an interesting day in her life prior to getting whisked away through Minerva's influence - God, how she didn't want to think about that - and there never would be. Without her friends, she was functionally no one. A blank slate. Someone who existed in the background of everyone else's life, including her own. Before Twisted Wonderland, there was no 'Yu' or 'Yuna' or anything. Just the plain girl who sat in the back of the class and spoke to no one and was, presumably, only kept around as some sort of weird pet project by students who were superior to her in every way (no matter how untrue that last statement actually was).

"Unless, of course, you dont mind just... smaller anecdotes. Nothing interesting... but... its something?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto listened quietly, laying still, aside from the occasional pat to Xen.

"...If it was really that unremarkable though, you wouldn't really miss it, would'dya? I mean- you had friends, parents, people you meant something to, and who meant something to you, ya'know? You were someone to them."

He swung his arm out, casually pointing a finger out as he continued.

"It might not have been the liveliest of lives, and'ya might not think it was all that great, but it was yours. You said you played piano, right? And I don't doubt you were just as good of a friend as you are now. That doesn't seem that 'unremarkable' to me."

He shrugged. He was really talking tonight, wasn't he? He didn't really even know why he felt so compelled to speak now, why he was unusually content in this sort of peaceful atmosphere. And yeah, maybe it wasn't his place to say stuff like that to Yuna, but he didn't regret it.

He brang his arm back down, putting his head on the hand now.

"I don't care what'cha tell me. But I wanna hear about you, if I have any say in it. Doesn't matter what it is. What kinda things did you do with your friends? What'd you do for fun, for yourself? Whatever you wanna share. Hah, god knows I've talked more than enough for one night."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's eyes widened slightly, surprised that anyone would show any real, full interest in her life aside from her odd anecdotes and occasional pieces of advice.

"Oh- um... well... I guess I could always start with my friends back home... I do miss seeing them both..." Yuna said, pushing her bangs from her face.

"I think I may have mentioned Minerva once or twice before, but she's the one thats partially responsible for my being here... in fact if I didnt mention it before, it was her visiting that led to... well... everything."

She began to tap her fingers on the roof beneath her again, a rhythmic thumping as she thought and worked herself through her own words and what she wanted to say versus what she found herself capable of saying.

"She was always the 'pretty' one of my little trio, and I dont really blame anyone for thinking that. Min was like... actually, she's a lot like Kiyuu, now that I think about it? Peppy and cheerful and really doesnt like to see anyone sad, but also has this kinda glamorous air about her. I dunno... but she was also one of the first people to really chat me up when I transferred schools in middle school. A lot of people thought she mustve had this real 'mean girl' air about her, since she was pretty and popular, but like... she was never actually that mean. Hell, even her basically lying to me for the entire duration of our friendship was done in the interest of others rather than herself. Maybe if I can ever get her to visit again, I'll try and introduce you all."

Once the words had started flowing, though, Yuna found it was quite easy to talk about things, even if they were a bit painful to think about. Her voice wavered a tiny bit as she continued, only serving to exemplify that idea.

"Then there was Wilomena, or just Mena... she was the 'smart' one in the group, though personally, I think she was just as pretty as Min. But her smart title was also not a stretch in the least, considering she was always top of our class and student council president and this that and the other and..."

Yuna paused.

"She always liked playing music with me. She played violin, kinda like how some of my otjer friends do here... and she'd drag me along to meetings, trying her best to make everyone feel included..."

She didn't realize it when her face started becoming damp with tears.

"She's the only one still back there... she doesn't even know that I'm still alive and that Min is out here as some powerful witch and she's the only one left... God I hope she's alright..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto let Yuna talk, even sitting up again at one point, glad Yuna was a little more confident in her words now. It was nice to listen to her voice, a soothing sound to fill the quiet air.

...He didn't really like this Minerva chick though, based on what Yuna was saying about her. But maybe he didn't have any right to comment on living in a lie, either.

Catching onto the more somber tone of voice, Yuuto peered at her, quickly realising her eyes were watering. He froze for a second, inwardly berating himself for not considering this a possibility. Of course Yuna would be upset about this stuff, just because he didn't have anyone back then that would have missed him, didn't mean everyone else was the same. And now he'd made her talk about it for some stupid reason-

He shuffled a bit closer to her, turning to give her what he hoped was a small smile that conveyed some kind of reassurance, before looking up again, hands on the surface behind him to hold him up.

"It sounds like you guys were really close then, huh. It's good you had people like that. I'm sure they still think of you fondly. Both of them. I mean, who wouldn't? ...For what it's worth, I hope she's alright too."

Xen, who'd fluttered into the air when Yuuto moved, perched himself onto one of Yuna's thighs, cawing at her and staring up at her with his bug eyes. He huffed in amusement, looking back down to watch him. The pesky little thing, he probably knew exactly what he was doing.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna gave a small sniff, finally taking note of the tears running down her face. She nodded her head ever so slightly in acknowledgement of Yuuto's words, trying her best to smile back. She only really got as far as the upturning of the corners of her lips.

"Yeah, we were," She said. "I just... I miss how things were before. Even if I do go back, things will never be the same - how could they? I vanish without a word for at least a year and someone else who was just "going abroad" turns out to be some crazy magical being and then whatever happens to the last of us who didn't get stuck anywhere..."

She sighed and gave Xen a small pat on the head, thankful for the little gesture. She also turned her head towards Yuuto, wiping at her eyes as she spoke. Her voice still wavered somewhat, but it was a bit more steady as she tried to relax herself.

"Thank you, though... hearing you say that makes me feel a bit less anxious, even if stuff is... well, like this..." She gestured vaguely with a hand. "They were two of the maybe three? Four? People who really kinda looked out for me, so it's really hard to not be attached, yknow? Even with the whole 'spiriting away' thing..."

Yuna gave a slightly dry chuckle.

"Actually, I was kinda mad about that at first, cause I didn't really have a choice in coming here. Last I knew I was just gonna run away and hide forever... but if whatever happened HADN'T happened... I wouldn't have been able to make more friends, like you or Kiyuu or... well... literally anyone else here... so I guess it wasn't all bad."

[starry-nights-abound]

As Yuna talked, Yuuto couldn't help but think back to his own life, before everything. Having the support and care of others like she had... sounded really nice. It wasn't like he cared now, though. Definitely not. It's not like thinking about it would change how everyone had thought about him anyway.

"...I wish I could say I could empathise, but honestly, I can't really. I understand to an extent, sure, but I don't think I'll ever know how that feels. I mean- the only person that would've missed me even a little bit is here too. I don't really know what it's like to be missed." He said, sighing quietly.

He shook his head. "Though, I think I'm definitely the odd one out. 'Cause like- after the initial shock of y'know- literally being kidnapped without my consent and being transported to a literal other dimension- the first thoughts I had once I'd processed it all weren't anything like panic, or fear- I was just kinda like- "This is so cool", y'know?" He commented, with a huff of laughter.

"Well- I guess it would have prefered not having to like- die to get here- and maybe it would have been dope to actually be able to use magic myself- but like- really honestly- I'm kinda thankful, more than anything. Even back then- when all I had was Kiki and the rusty old roof of this damn building over my head- I felt better than I had in ages. Even though it was hard, I finally had some kind of... hope, I guess."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Instead of honing in on anything else, one detail of Yuuto's words stuck out to Yuna.

"Wait... so... you also nearly died- er... did? Die? Before waking up in the coffin?" She asked suddenly, before realizing that such a question was likely inappropriate.

"Wait- sorry that... nevermind." She said, shaking her head as though that would somehow erase the embarrassment. Still, she was glad at least that Yuuto was also willing to converse with her at this moment.

Yuna was silent for a moment, waiting just a brief second to readjust and recover from her slight self-perceived blunder before continuing.

"But, um... I agree, honestly. I think thats the nice part about this place - yknow, what you said about hope? I can't really ever determine what your life was like before this and you said yourself you don't quite get mine... but... in the end it really doesnt matter, yknow? Because it wound up giving an entirely new start to... everything."

That was another reason Yuna couldn't be entirely angry. She was able to be someone different here - hell, she was simply able to be someone, even if that someone was the magicless stranger from another world. She didnt have a clue how bad it might have been for her friends, and that definitely made her feel some sort of guilt, but she certainly could relate to the feeling of having a fresh start.

She sighed, now looking at Yuuto full-on, her green eyes reflecting an odd melancholy.

"It honestly makes any decisions that I'll have to make later a lot harder, though. I honestly dont know if i even want to go home anymore... I think I'd miss everyone here even more than the people back there..."

[starry-nights-abound]

"Nah, it's fine." He shook his head. "I mean, I'm pretty fuckin' sure I died. I remember the stupid carriage runnin' us clean over and I felt that pain. So- either died or nearly before the transportation, yeah. You too huh?" He asked casually, leaning forward again to look over at her.

He nodded in acknowledgement of her words. He thought about it, and really, Yuna was right, at least a little bit. It didn't really matter if they understood what the other had experienced, they were in the same situation now. It was a fresh start for all of them. Although...

"Yeah, 'cause you've had time to adjust to this life now, right? As much as you have. It's not really a decision I have to think about, though. I'm not going back no matter what, even if they make me. I couldn't ever. But..."

He paused, hesitating. He looked to Yuna, seeing the expression in her eyes, before turning his head away with a soft breath out, gaze fixed downwards.

"...I know it's not the same for Kiyuu. She... I know she misses things just being... normal. Just having- regular problems- Not- constantly being in dangerous situations, or risking her life- as often as we've had to, or dealing with- magic and potions and all of this supernatural stuff."

He admitted quietly. He didn't like to say it out loud, the blaring truth that Kiyuu could just- leave one day, just like that. Speaking it into existance made it feel so much more real, like something that was so much closer to being an actual possibility than just a far away idea. She wasn't attatched to life here like he was, god he knew that. He just... didn't have much hope that he was enough to get her to stay. And that hurt more than anything.

"I guess... eh, it doesn't matter. I want her to be happy. She deserves that much. And if she can't be happy here, then... that's that."

He'd never been enough for anyone to stay. ...Why would that change now?

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna noticed the shift in Yuuto's casual demeanor to something more subtle.

'He doesnt really mean that, does he?' She thought, watching his movements carefully. Yuna may not be the best at offering words to others, but she knew damn well when people weren't being fully truthful about their feelings, especially when they were negative feelings.

"How do you know?" She started. Yuna's voice held a softness like someone coaxing a wild animal from the shadows. "That she isn't at least somewhat happy here, that is...? I know this whole place is... crazy and confusing but... I've seen how you two act together. While I think there definitely is an aspect of place and all... I dunno. I just... think you two are kind of a package deal, really-"

Yuna paused, wondering if maybe she was going beyond what was acceptable to say, and stopped herself. She pulled her legs in, sitting cross-legged as she looked down.

"Sorry- I don't mean to make assumptions or anything... just... ignore me, I guess. All I mean is that it's hard to imagine that you two would actually split up..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto stayed quiet. His eyes narrowed, feeling irritation swell up inside him. Not at her, really, but at himself. He wanted to say something, tell her she didn't have to keep apologising for just sharing her thoughts - something he'd told Kiyuu countless times before - but the words were stuck.

Eventually, he spoke up again, quieter.

"I don't want her to leave. She's- the only person- the first person to ever really- mean something to me. But it's her choice, not mine. She shouldn't have to stay just- because I don't want her to go. Do you know how- selfish I'd have to be to do that to her? ...She's always so stressed, Yuna. Even though she tries to hide it, I- I know. ...Everything scares her."

He spoke, despite the tightness in his throat, the familiar feeling of holding back all of the signs of his watering eyes. He wouldn't cry now, he wouldn't.

"...She doesn't deserve to live like that. And especially, not for me. I'm not enough for that kind of... sacrifice."

He winced, already regretting the words as soon as they'd come out of his mouth. First he'd said- all of that, and now this? God, what kind of- attention seeker was he?

He forced a dry laugh, shaking his head and looking up again, trying desperately to shake off the crushing weight of his helplessness. Through the slight fogging of his eyes, he could see Xen fluttering nearby, clicking at him curiously. With a slow movement, he held out an arm, the weight of the bird's claws on his arm grounding him enough to open his mouth again.

"...I'm just being stupid, aren't I? Chances are that we'll probably never have any way back anyway. Why the fuck am I so worked up over something so small? Ugh."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna cautiously extended a hand. Countless reassurances danced on the tip of her tongue, but none of them were quite able to make themselves known as she opened and closed her mouth, trying to figure out something to offer, anything to offer. These were a lot of heavy words and feelings that she felt like she had to do something about...

And yet, all she could really muster were a few words:

"I don't think you're being stupid... I think you have every right to be worried about your future, just like the rest of us, whether it's here or anywhere else... and that means worrying about what other people might wanna do, too. Especially the ones we care about."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto stared for a moment, bringing his eyes to look between Yuna and her outstretched hand. He laughed again, then, though it really sounded more like a sigh than anything.

"...Thanks." He mumbled. For a moment longer, he hesitated, a small yet almost overpowering part of him not wanting to break the silence yet. Though he quickly huffed again, shaking his head.

"Wow, I really do not wanna think about that anymore. Hey, earlier, you said you were gonna go practice, right? I've changed my mind, I don't wanna sit 'ere anymore. Lemme come wit'cha." He commented, already moving to sit up. He stopped then, and looked Yuna's way again.

"Uh, I mean. If you want to, anyway. I don't care either way." He added, faltering a little. He normally wouldn't stop to ask something like that, but after all of that shit, it would be totally fair if she didn't want to practice anymore, and he'd respect that. ...Just this once, though.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna pursed her lips, eyes narrowed, but then ultimately just sighed. She could understand the desire of desperately wanting to change topics, even now. Especially now.

She carefully pushed herself up, nodding.

"I dont mind. Honestly, I prefer doing it much later at night anyways... less risk of people catching videos of the 'cryptid' in the music room." She said, carefully lifting up her lantern and preparing to hop down. "Plus, I think we could both use a break, right? Some scenery alone might be enough, but I think just a straight up pause might help a little too."

She jumped down carefully, hoisting her bag over her shoulder before offering a hand to help Yuuto down.

"Main building should be pretty well empty save for ghosts, too. It's a little more private, I guess, if that helps."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto snickered, looking up at her with an exaggerated surprised expression.

"Oohh, so you're that 'cryptid' I've been hearin' about. Hah, that's real funny."

Getting himself up, he nodded along without much thought to her words about having a break or whatever, pausing briefly to take a moment to stretch, wincing slightly at how sore some of his limbs had become, not having moved in what'd been hours by now.

"I come up here all the time Yun', I think I know how to get down by myself." He commented with a smirk, while taking the hand anyway, making sure to grab his tablet on the way down.

He held an arm out for Xen, who'd joined them at ground level, petting his head gently.

"'Alright Xen, I'll see ya later, kay? Say bye to Yuna too, c'mon." He coaxed, Xen cawing loudly in response.

[starry-nights-abound]

Uh, hi, I didn’t expect to see another member of my dorm, what’s up? Your name is Aros, right? - Asai Hikaru

(Ooc: @ask-the-reddit-sillies )

"Oh- Hello. Yes, that's me. Do you need anything? Or, are you after an autograph, perhaps?"

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Not an autograph or anything! I don’t really care about that stuff. I guess…it’s just nice to see more people from my dorm online ig- (also I have pyromaniac behind me trying to encourage me to make more friends) - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Ah, I see. That makes you a lot more amicable than a lot of the students here, I can say that much. But in any case, it's nice to meet you. I hope Night Raven College has been treating you well so far.

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Thank you, hope ya doing well too, you do seem more kind too. It’s nice to meet you too ig, hope we survive NRC this year - Asai Hikaru

Huuuh~? Dear Hikaru, have you actually followed my advice? I’m so glad! Hello new person who has aquatinted with my dear Hikaru, hehe! - Zora Shroud

Oh shush, I didn’t do it cause of ya, also, don’t you have to go log online to play games with your ‘siblings’ or smt? - Asai Hikaru

Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me! Ah, you’re so amazing at remembering stuff! It’s so nice to have you in my life, cya around?- Zora Shroud

Cya Zora, EHEM, anyways… -Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

'Survive' is certainly a way to put it, though I can't say I disagree with you there, at this point...

Oh-! Uh- hello..? Oh, nevermind, they're gone... uh- who was that..?

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Yeah…I mean, when you have Floyd as your co-worker, students here can be very…hostile, it’s gonna feel like you’re trying to survive most of the time - Asai Hikaru

That was Zora, he’s…something, while he does advise me to have more friends, he is always somehow, someway, near me or trailing behind me - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Haha, I can understand that, definitely. My partner, Crimson, works pretty closely with Floyd and his brother, for... reasons unbeknownst to even me... So I believe I see a lot more of them than is considered a... 'safe' amount.

Well, you two seem like you get along. Er- I think..? It sounds like he likes your company, anyway, if he follows you around often. That's nice.

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Yeah, us Mostro Lounge workers have a complicated life, gl to your partner. Hope he can tell Floyd to stop squeezing during shifts - Asai Hikaru

Do you think so? Ig we do hang out a lot… I think? Zora’s something else, not sure why he bothers so much with me though - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Unfortunately for the patrons and other staff of Monstro Lounge, he... isn't really the type to overly care about Floyd's actions...

Sure I do. He seems to care about you enough to urge you to make more friends- or whatever it is that his 'advice' was about, and his constant acts of seeking proximity to you alludes to his enjoyment in doing so. He must see something worthy in you if that's the case.

[starry-nights-abound]

Sitting atop one of Ramshackle's lower rooves, sat Yuuto, knee's to his chest, drawing tablet balanced carefully on top, propped up for easier access. From an outside perspective, it looked a little unorthodox, but he wasn't planning on anyone seeing him anyway, so he didn't care.

With a frown and narrowed eyes, he scratched his pen across the tablet's surface. He'd been sitting there in the same spot for a while now; hours at this point, had watched the sun set and the sky turn dark. Though he showed no effort to move back inside, focus glued to the screen in front of him.

Hearing the familar flap of a bird's wings, he snapped out of his trance, looking up to see Xen flying towards him, landng on his shoulder with a squawk. He paused his drawing, reaching a hand to run down the birds back, a slow movement, giving a small smile to the bird, before the corners of his lips ticked back down, and he turned back to focus on his drawing, much to the bird's disapointment.

Xen stayed a moment, tilting his head a tick towards Yuuto in inquiry, before suddenly launching himself off of his shoulder with a loud caw, flying down from the roof, Yuuto too focused on ignoring everything around him again to notice in just who's direction Xen was flying.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Looking at the sky, Yuna had decided it was finally late enough for her to prepare herself for her standard late-night venture. Her bag of music books, assorted journals, and a simple lantern sat on her back, much heavier than it looked, and she had only just left the dorm.

Recently, her mood had actually been quite high, and she really didn't believe she had to spend time in the Music Room to suffer in silence for once, but she did quite enjoy the solitude when she got to practice. As such, it was only fitting that she would take the opportunity on such a lovely night to maybe get a few hours of practice in before going to sleep.

Unfortunately, though, her practice would likely not come to fruition as she heard a familiar cry in the distance along with the sound of flapping wings. She looked up, noting the dark crow that seemed honed in on her presence and paused, turning towards the silhouette.

"Ah! Xen, is that you little guy?" Yuna asked, sticking her arm out for the crow to land on. "What might you be doing flying around this late?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Taking Yuna's extended arm as an invitation, Xen landed down gracefully, peering up at her. He fluttered his wings, making a sort of clicking sound, making sure he had her attention. For a moment, he was still, just staring, until he suddenly bounced off of her arm, almost as quickly as he'd come. He hovered in front of her for a second, as if trying to communicate something to her, the retainment of her attention, or a certain sense of urgency, perhaps, before flying off again, back in the direction he'd come from.

Landing atop of Yuuto's tablet this time, Xen squawked loudly at him. Yuuto tsk-ed, swatting him off, trying to focus, but Xen was persistant in his efforts to get his attention, until finally, he paused, looking up.

"Xen- get off- what're you-" He started, before his mouth snapped shut. Xen having flown out of his direct line of sight, he'd made direct eye contact with someone else behind him; Yuna.

"Oh."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna stuck up her hand in an awkward wave. Despite having been in the same dorm for a while, Yuna still wasn't sure how to carry herself around Yuuto, considering the latter's tendency to act standoffish (in her opinion). Still, the least she could do is offer a polite greeting, maybe even a conversation! After all, Xen HAD gone out of his way to grab her attention.

"Hey," She said, tilting her head up to see where Yuuto was seated. "Whatcha up to up there? It's awful late to be on the roof, isn't it?"

Yuna knew full well the hypocrisy of pointing out her dormmate's presence this late, but she figured it didn't matter as long as she wasn't criticizing. Plus, there was also the matter of having her attention dragged towards Yuuto by Xen.

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto spun his head to glare at Xen, who gave an pleased click in response, perched on his shoulder once more, seemingly happy with himself. Why Xen had even gotten Yuna to notice him up there - because he knows the bird did, he didn't know. Nor did he have the energy to question it.

He didn't wave back right away, debating if he really wanted to engage in conversation right now. He could easily just ignore her, or tell her to leave him alone, but... he decided that something in him didn't really want to do that. Even though he was way too tired.

"Drawing." He answered finally. A second passed, then he added, "Didn't wanna sit inside. I'd've been up anyway." He shrugged.

Taking more notice of Yuna now that they were 'convsersing', he noticed her bag and the lantern she'd brought with her. She was leaving the building. For what though?

"Where were you off to, then?" He offered, half as a begrudging effort at pleasantry, half out of his own faint curiosity. He told himself it was just because Xen had made her pay attention to him. No other reason.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Sounds fun," Yuna replied with a nod. She was pleased that she was successful in her attempt to converse. Still, she couldnt quite figure out how to talk to the boy just yet. She was gonna do her best, though. "I would ask why the roof, but im sure you have your reasons for why there specifically.

As for me? I was gonna go find a quiet place to practice, but... well, your little friend decided to divebomb me as I was heading out... not that I mind, though. I can always head out tomorrow or some time after classes anyways, so why pass up a chance to chat?"

She tucked the lantern at her waist and moved back closer to the building so she didn't have to speak as loud. As she did, Yuna noticed an odd vibe to the air around her, a nagging question forming in the back of her mind - one that always nagged when she found herself in conversations this late:

"So how have you been doing lately? Everything alright on your end?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...'S closer to the stars." Yuuto responded, glancing up, gaze lingering for a second longer than it probably should have. He wasn't really sure why he'd even answered, Yuna hadn't even explicitly asked. Maybe there was just something about tonight that was compelling him to talk.

"That and- it's outta the way. Don't usually get bothered up 'ere. Well- 'xcept for when this fucker decides to swoop innocent bystanders for no reason." He grumbled.

"Oi- why'd' ya swoop 'er like that, hah?" He asked the bird, just to recieve an almost mischevious sounding chirp in response. He scoffed, though with a hint of fondness, and turned back to Yuna with an 'apologetic look'. "Damn, got nothin' for ya. This guy's pretty stubborn."

At the question she'd followed up with, only an innocent inquiry into his wellbeing, he faltered slightly, before just shrugging again. "I've been fine, I guess." He said, promptly ignoring the dissaproving clicks from Xen.

Without much wait, not wanting to stew too long on... whatever that was, he asked, "...How 'bout yours? Your end- I mean. You all good?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna opened her mouth to speak, and-

No, this wouldn't do. She could barely see her conversation partner and anything that needed to be kept under wraps would still have to be blurted out to be heard.

"Hold on, just a sec." She said suddenly, placing her bag under the awning of the front door and promptly throwing herself up onto the railing, clambering up to the roof where Yuuto sat.

"Sorry- didn't want to keep shouting, you know? It's easier to talk this way."

She hummed to herself in thought for a moment, nodding.

"I myself am... pretty okay, surprisingly... it's not too often that I don't wanna throw it all away and hide in the basement and cry for the rest of my life, so...?" She finally said, placing the lantern on the roof between the two. "But... the stars, huh?"

She looked up, a quiet hum already returning on her lips. She often found herself wondering just who else might be seeing the same sky she was...

"I guess I can't fault you for that, then. It's one of the few familiar comforts we can afford ourselves at this point..." She said, though the second part was directed more towards herself than anything.

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Huh. I was 'bout to invite you up, actually. Or come down myself. But this works too." Yuuto said, a small grin making its way onto his expression.

"Hah. That's certainly a thought. But- it's good you're doin' alright, right now at least. Silver linings or something." He nodded.

He followed Yuna's gaze, looking up again. He'd always felt drawn the the stars, and the night sky. It was the one thing he couldn't let go of, even after abandoning all of his other interests and interests in times long passed, even after countless sleepless nights underneath them, before being whisked away.

"I getcha. I mean, not that I care to much about the familiarity, though. I've always liked 'em, even when I was little. Living under 'em for enough time'll help ya out there too, I think. You end up lovin' 'em or hating 'em."

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Yeah..." Yuna nodded. "I used to live out in the suburbs, but it was empty enough that you could always see the sky - though I didnt usually pay it too much mind... too many different things yknow? I always did love the rain, though... kinda that same feeling. Enough rainy days and it starts to be you look forward more to the clouds than the sun."

She sighed, craning her neck to peer over Yuuto's shoulder.

"So... what're you drawing? The night sky is a pretty subject, sure, but is it as obvious a subject as that? Or just something else?" She asked. It was one of the fun things about drawing compared to photography - you never could tell what someone was doing if they were drawing.

[starry-nights-abound]

"I was always lookin' up at it. Back then, like- ages ago, I used to sneak out of my room just to go lie outside in the yard and stargaze. My parents hated it for some god forsaken reason. They hated everything I did though." Yuuto commented, nothing more than an eyeroll at the mention, before moving on.

"It is a pretty subject, but I don't really draw it all that much. It's..." He turned to his tablet again, hesitating for a fraction of a second, before shaking it off, moving to zoom the screen out to see the almost-finished drawing more clearly.

It was a pretty large scale view of an arcade looking place, a mix of old-school and more modern looking game machines lining the walls and in other areas, pops of purple and pinkier-purple, a bunch of bright colours everywhere, the whole piece abundant in details. Near the middle, enthusiastically playing on one of the machines, was a figure, the only figure in the drawing, that was undoubtebly Kiyuu, the only difference between them the slightly more blonde colour to her hair.

"...A place we used to frequent a lot. As well as I can remember it, anyway." Yuuto said, after a moment, after staring at it for a little too long. It took another moment before he continued.

"I don't even know how this got here to be honest... I mean- I barely ever even draw stuff like this- like- I don't miss it back in our world, at all, it sucked. I guess I've just been- like- weirdly sentimental or something recently without any real reason to be, I dunno."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's expression softened as she looked at the drawing, listening intently to Yuuto's words.

"It looks nice... I can feel the nostalgia just by looking at it, yknow? I wish I could capture that feeling with my own stuff, hehe..."

She leaned back a bit, a soft huff escaping her lips as she looked back out at the sky.

"But yknow... I think its normal to miss our old homes... even if they sucked or didn't have much going for them, yknow?" She mused, a slight somber tone creeping into her voice. "Like... it's honestly been super conflicting, cause everything leading up to me coming here? Sucked. But... I do miss the nicer parts. Like playing the piano for my dad when I was younger or sitting in the rain with my friends or just listening to my mom's stories. Maybe it's just something like that... you don't really miss it, sure, but there was a strange sense of normalcy and the occasional good thing, maybe? Sorry- I'm just rambling, aren't I?"

Yuna continued to stare out. She never was really good at analysing people's feelings, was she?

Still, there was just a feeling she couldn't shake. She was actually having a conversation and by God or the Seven or whoever was listening, she was going to talk about it, even if she couldn't discern what it even was.

"... What was it like for you guys? If you don't mind me asking, of course... it just occurred to me that I still don't know too much about what you guys got to experience 'back home'."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto's eyes crinkled slightly as he looked over at Yuna, smiling ever so slightly at her words. He usually just drew for himself, but it was still nice when someone had something to say other than shallow compliments.

He shook his head. "S fine. Don't apologise for talking. 'Specially 'bout that stuff. "It's not like I'm filling the silence."

He looked down at the screen for a moment longer, before clicking the tablet shut and putting it to the side. Stretching his legs back out, he spoke up again.

"...I think of this place more like home than back there. It- I dunno. I don't like- have many fond memories of back then. So."

He peered back up at the stars again, just staring up at them. Then he leant back, moving to lie on his back, stretching an arm out for Xen to perch on instead. He had no idea why the bird hadn't flown away yet, or why he'd done anything he'd done today, but it wasn't like he could just ask, so he didn't really care enough.

"Kiyuu 'n I aren't like- childhood friends or anything, so I don't know what she'd have to say. I only met 'er like- half a year before all this? I think. We hung out a ton, but there was only so many places we could go without bein' harrassed by other kids from our school. Like the arcade. 'S why we were always there. I'm pretty sure it was illegal for us to even be there though. Not that anyone cared enough about us to say anythin'. Hah." He continued, abscentmindedly petting Xen's back as he spoke, the bird's wing fluttering in contentment.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Wish I had a space where I could've escaped like that with someone else..." Yuna replied. "I think I could've avoided a lot of what wound up leading to my being here if I did. Even if I dont really regret having come here."

She looked down at her hands, twiddling her thumbs as she continued.

"Kids... really do suck, don't they? They suck even more when youre not only being mistreated or outcast by them, but also one or more of your own parents? It's the worst."

Yuna thought back to her old life and the events that had led up to her own overblot. Speaking like she was now, though, made her feel almost embarrassed about the whole scenario - freaking out like that when it seemed her dormmates had been through something similar at least.

And yet it was also oddly cathartic to think that she wasn't alone in how she navigated the world, at least somewhat.

"How did you two meet if you weren't childhood friends?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Yeah. They do. I didn't really have anyone there." He muttered. "...'xcept for Kiki, for the short time I'd known 'er."

Looking up at the night sky, his thoughts wandered back to their time at the arcade, recalling all of their times there with fondness.

"To be honest, It didn't even last forever. The fuckers that owned the place got sick of me tryna crash there. Then some jackasses followed us there this one time- and- ugh. Let's just say they didn't appreciate us 'engagin' in violence' in the middle of the fuckin' place. It was so dumb. But yeah- we were banned from comin' back and that was that." He sighed. He didn't miss a lot of things, but he felt like maybe he did miss it there. Those moments of refuge where he didnt't have to think or worry about anything else, he could just... be.

Listening to Yuna as she spoke again, he blinked at her question, not really expecting the curiosity. He shrugged.

"Transferred to the school I went to after winter break that year. Our teacher sat her next to me, and the next thing you know- she was actually talking to me. Fuckin' crazy. Everyone else thought so too. And they definitely didn't take too kindly to it either."

And he knew why all too well. They didn't figure her out immediately, but it had only taken a couple of weeks for the rumors to circulate. No matter how many fights Yuuto engaged himself in, to protect Kiyuu more often than not, they never stopped, never left them alone. And he knew how much it upset her, too. And yet she stuck by him anyway, has told him countless times that she'd never regretted it, even though he could always see the exhaustion in her eyes.

He turned his head to the side then, dragging his eyes away from the stars to land on Yuna instead.

"So... what about you? Any stories to tell?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna wanted to respond right off the bat - offer some sort of consolation, relief, anything, but she knew full well how little anything like that would do now... they were all away from their old lives, after all. What use was there in sympathizing over it when things weren't like that anymore?

She sighed, shrugging her shoulders as she tapped her fingers on the roof.

"...Wish I did, really. But honestly... before coming here, my life was unremarkable. So unremarkable, in fact, that I really didn't have that many people to talk to except for the two friends I did have..."

She hadnt spoken about her old school life with others since... well...

But it always filled her with a sense of discomfort. Sure, she was never, like, physically bullied or anything, but her own issues came from the isolation and ostracization she felt at the hands of her peers.

"People always talked about me like I wasnt there... but that did mean they just kind of said whatever around me, not really thinking anything of it. I probably have some gossip stories, but anything related to myself in particular is... less than interesting."

She looked down at her legs, kicking her feet aimlessly.

Any stories she could share were all things that had happened here. There was no such thing as an interesting day in her life prior to getting whisked away through Minerva's influence - God, how she didn't want to think about that - and there never would be. Without her friends, she was functionally no one. A blank slate. Someone who existed in the background of everyone else's life, including her own. Before Twisted Wonderland, there was no 'Yu' or 'Yuna' or anything. Just the plain girl who sat in the back of the class and spoke to no one and was, presumably, only kept around as some sort of weird pet project by students who were superior to her in every way (no matter how untrue that last statement actually was).

"Unless, of course, you dont mind just... smaller anecdotes. Nothing interesting... but... its something?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto listened quietly, laying still, aside from the occasional pat to Xen.

"...If it was really that unremarkable though, you wouldn't really miss it, would'dya? I mean- you had friends, parents, people you meant something to, and who meant something to you, ya'know? You were someone to them."

He swung his arm out, casually pointing a finger out as he continued.

"It might not have been the liveliest of lives, and'ya might not think it was all that great, but it was yours. You said you played piano, right? And I don't doubt you were just as good of a friend as you are now. That doesn't seem that 'unremarkable' to me."

He shrugged. He was really talking tonight, wasn't he? He didn't really even know why he felt so compelled to speak now, why he was unusually content in this sort of peaceful atmosphere. And yeah, maybe it wasn't his place to say stuff like that to Yuna, but he didn't regret it.

He brang his arm back down, putting his head on the hand now.

"I don't care what'cha tell me. But I wanna hear about you, if I have any say in it. Doesn't matter what it is. What kinda things did you do with your friends? What'd you do for fun, for yourself? Whatever you wanna share. Hah, god knows I've talked more than enough for one night."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's eyes widened slightly, surprised that anyone would show any real, full interest in her life aside from her odd anecdotes and occasional pieces of advice.

"Oh- um... well... I guess I could always start with my friends back home... I do miss seeing them both..." Yuna said, pushing her bangs from her face.

"I think I may have mentioned Minerva once or twice before, but she's the one thats partially responsible for my being here... in fact if I didnt mention it before, it was her visiting that led to... well... everything."

She began to tap her fingers on the roof beneath her again, a rhythmic thumping as she thought and worked herself through her own words and what she wanted to say versus what she found herself capable of saying.

"She was always the 'pretty' one of my little trio, and I dont really blame anyone for thinking that. Min was like... actually, she's a lot like Kiyuu, now that I think about it? Peppy and cheerful and really doesnt like to see anyone sad, but also has this kinda glamorous air about her. I dunno... but she was also one of the first people to really chat me up when I transferred schools in middle school. A lot of people thought she mustve had this real 'mean girl' air about her, since she was pretty and popular, but like... she was never actually that mean. Hell, even her basically lying to me for the entire duration of our friendship was done in the interest of others rather than herself. Maybe if I can ever get her to visit again, I'll try and introduce you all."

Once the words had started flowing, though, Yuna found it was quite easy to talk about things, even if they were a bit painful to think about. Her voice wavered a tiny bit as she continued, only serving to exemplify that idea.

"Then there was Wilomena, or just Mena... she was the 'smart' one in the group, though personally, I think she was just as pretty as Min. But her smart title was also not a stretch in the least, considering she was always top of our class and student council president and this that and the other and..."

Yuna paused.

"She always liked playing music with me. She played violin, kinda like how some of my otjer friends do here... and she'd drag me along to meetings, trying her best to make everyone feel included..."

She didn't realize it when her face started becoming damp with tears.

"She's the only one still back there... she doesn't even know that I'm still alive and that Min is out here as some powerful witch and she's the only one left... God I hope she's alright..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto let Yuna talk, even sitting up again at one point, glad Yuna was a little more confident in her words now. It was nice to listen to her voice, a soothing sound to fill the quiet air.

...He didn't really like this Minerva chick though, based on what Yuna was saying about her. But maybe he didn't have any right to comment on living in a lie, either.

Catching onto the more somber tone of voice, Yuuto peered at her, quickly realising her eyes were watering. He froze for a second, inwardly berating himself for not considering this a possibility. Of course Yuna would be upset about this stuff, just because he didn't have anyone back then that would have missed him, didn't mean everyone else was the same. And now he'd made her talk about it for some stupid reason-

He shuffled a bit closer to her, turning to give her what he hoped was a small smile that conveyed some kind of reassurance, before looking up again, hands on the surface behind him to hold him up.

"It sounds like you guys were really close then, huh. It's good you had people like that. I'm sure they still think of you fondly. Both of them. I mean, who wouldn't? ...For what it's worth, I hope she's alright too."

Xen, who'd fluttered into the air when Yuuto moved, perched himself onto one of Yuna's thighs, cawing at her and staring up at her with his bug eyes. He huffed in amusement, looking back down to watch him. The pesky little thing, he probably knew exactly what he was doing.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna gave a small sniff, finally taking note of the tears running down her face. She nodded her head ever so slightly in acknowledgement of Yuuto's words, trying her best to smile back. She only really got as far as the upturning of the corners of her lips.

"Yeah, we were," She said. "I just... I miss how things were before. Even if I do go back, things will never be the same - how could they? I vanish without a word for at least a year and someone else who was just "going abroad" turns out to be some crazy magical being and then whatever happens to the last of us who didn't get stuck anywhere..."

She sighed and gave Xen a small pat on the head, thankful for the little gesture. She also turned her head towards Yuuto, wiping at her eyes as she spoke. Her voice still wavered somewhat, but it was a bit more steady as she tried to relax herself.

"Thank you, though... hearing you say that makes me feel a bit less anxious, even if stuff is... well, like this..." She gestured vaguely with a hand. "They were two of the maybe three? Four? People who really kinda looked out for me, so it's really hard to not be attached, yknow? Even with the whole 'spiriting away' thing..."

Yuna gave a slightly dry chuckle.

"Actually, I was kinda mad about that at first, cause I didn't really have a choice in coming here. Last I knew I was just gonna run away and hide forever... but if whatever happened HADN'T happened... I wouldn't have been able to make more friends, like you or Kiyuu or... well... literally anyone else here... so I guess it wasn't all bad."

[starry-nights-abound]

As Yuna talked, Yuuto couldn't help but think back to his own life, before everything. Having the support and care of others like she had... sounded really nice. It wasn't like he cared now, though. Definitely not. It's not like thinking about it would change how everyone had thought about him anyway.

"...I wish I could say I could empathise, but honestly, I can't really. I understand to an extent, sure, but I don't think I'll ever know how that feels. I mean- the only person that would've missed me even a little bit is here too. I don't really know what it's like to be missed." He said, sighing quietly.

He shook his head. "Though, I think I'm definitely the odd one out. 'Cause like- after the initial shock of y'know- literally being kidnapped without my consent and being transported to a literal other dimension- the first thoughts I had once I'd processed it all weren't anything like panic, or fear- I was just kinda like- "This is so cool", y'know?" He commented, with a huff of laughter.

"Well- I guess it would have prefered not having to like- die to get here- and maybe it would have been dope to actually be able to use magic myself- but like- really honestly- I'm kinda thankful, more than anything. Even back then- when all I had was Kiki and the rusty old roof of this damn building over my head- I felt better than I had in ages. Even though it was hard, I finally had some kind of... hope, I guess."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Instead of honing in on anything else, one detail of Yuuto's words stuck out to Yuna.

"Wait... so... you also nearly died- er... did? Die? Before waking up in the coffin?" She asked suddenly, before realizing that such a question was likely inappropriate.

"Wait- sorry that... nevermind." She said, shaking her head as though that would somehow erase the embarrassment. Still, she was glad at least that Yuuto was also willing to converse with her at this moment.

Yuna was silent for a moment, waiting just a brief second to readjust and recover from her slight self-perceived blunder before continuing.

"But, um... I agree, honestly. I think thats the nice part about this place - yknow, what you said about hope? I can't really ever determine what your life was like before this and you said yourself you don't quite get mine... but... in the end it really doesnt matter, yknow? Because it wound up giving an entirely new start to... everything."

That was another reason Yuna couldn't be entirely angry. She was able to be someone different here - hell, she was simply able to be someone, even if that someone was the magicless stranger from another world. She didnt have a clue how bad it might have been for her friends, and that definitely made her feel some sort of guilt, but she certainly could relate to the feeling of having a fresh start.

She sighed, now looking at Yuuto full-on, her green eyes reflecting an odd melancholy.

"It honestly makes any decisions that I'll have to make later a lot harder, though. I honestly dont know if i even want to go home anymore... I think I'd miss everyone here even more than the people back there..."

[starry-nights-abound]

"Nah, it's fine." He shook his head. "I mean, I'm pretty fuckin' sure I died. I remember the stupid carriage runnin' us clean over and I felt that pain. So- either died or nearly before the transportation, yeah. You too huh?" He asked casually, leaning forward again to look over at her.

He nodded in acknowledgement of her words. He thought about it, and really, Yuna was right, at least a little bit. It didn't really matter if they understood what the other had experienced, they were in the same situation now. It was a fresh start for all of them. Although...

"Yeah, 'cause you've had time to adjust to this life now, right? As much as you have. It's not really a decision I have to think about, though. I'm not going back no matter what, even if they make me. I couldn't ever. But..."

He paused, hesitating. He looked to Yuna, seeing the expression in her eyes, before turning his head away with a soft breath out, gaze fixed downwards.

"...I know it's not the same for Kiyuu. She... I know she misses things just being... normal. Just having- regular problems- Not- constantly being in dangerous situations, or risking her life- as often as we've had to, or dealing with- magic and potions and all of this supernatural stuff."

He admitted quietly. He didn't like to say it out loud, the blaring truth that Kiyuu could just- leave one day, just like that. Speaking it into existance made it feel so much more real, like something that was so much closer to being an actual possibility than just a far away idea. She wasn't attatched to life here like he was, god he knew that. He just... didn't have much hope that he was enough to get her to stay. And that hurt more than anything.

"I guess... eh, it doesn't matter. I want her to be happy. She deserves that much. And if she can't be happy here, then... that's that."

He'd never been enough for anyone to stay. ...Why would that change now?

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna noticed the shift in Yuuto's casual demeanor to something more subtle.

'He doesnt really mean that, does he?' She thought, watching his movements carefully. Yuna may not be the best at offering words to others, but she knew damn well when people weren't being fully truthful about their feelings, especially when they were negative feelings.

"How do you know?" She started. Yuna's voice held a softness like someone coaxing a wild animal from the shadows. "That she isn't at least somewhat happy here, that is...? I know this whole place is... crazy and confusing but... I've seen how you two act together. While I think there definitely is an aspect of place and all... I dunno. I just... think you two are kind of a package deal, really-"

Yuna paused, wondering if maybe she was going beyond what was acceptable to say, and stopped herself. She pulled her legs in, sitting cross-legged as she looked down.

"Sorry- I don't mean to make assumptions or anything... just... ignore me, I guess. All I mean is that it's hard to imagine that you two would actually split up..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto stayed quiet. His eyes narrowed, feeling irritation swell up inside him. Not at her, really, but at himself. He wanted to say something, tell her she didn't have to keep apologising for just sharing her thoughts - something he'd told Kiyuu countless times before - but the words were stuck.

Eventually, he spoke up again, quieter.

"I don't want her to leave. She's- the only person- the first person to ever really- mean something to me. But it's her choice, not mine. She shouldn't have to stay just- because I don't want her to go. Do you know how- selfish I'd have to be to do that to her? ...She's always so stressed, Yuna. Even though she tries to hide it, I- I know. ...Everything scares her."

He spoke, despite the tightness in his throat, the familiar feeling of holding back all of the signs of his watering eyes. He wouldn't cry now, he wouldn't.

"...She doesn't deserve to live like that. And especially, not for me. I'm not enough for that kind of... sacrifice."

He winced, already regretting the words as soon as they'd come out of his mouth. First he'd said- all of that, and now this? God, what kind of- attention seeker was he?

He forced a dry laugh, shaking his head and looking up again, trying desperately to shake off the crushing weight of his helplessness. Through the slight fogging of his eyes, he could see Xen fluttering nearby, clicking at him curiously. With a slow movement, he held out an arm, the weight of the bird's claws on his arm grounding him enough to open his mouth again.

"...I'm just being stupid, aren't I? Chances are that we'll probably never have any way back anyway. Why the fuck am I so worked up over something so small? Ugh."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna cautiously extended a hand. Countless reassurances danced on the tip of her tongue, but none of them were quite able to make themselves known as she opened and closed her mouth, trying to figure out something to offer, anything to offer. These were a lot of heavy words and feelings that she felt like she had to do something about...

And yet, all she could really muster were a few words:

"I don't think you're being stupid... I think you have every right to be worried about your future, just like the rest of us, whether it's here or anywhere else... and that means worrying about what other people might wanna do, too. Especially the ones we care about."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto stared for a moment, bringing his eyes to look between Yuna and her outstretched hand. He laughed again, then, though it really sounded more like a sigh than anything.

"...Thanks." He mumbled. For a moment longer, he hesitated, a small yet almost overpowering part of him not wanting to break the silence yet. Though he quickly huffed again, shaking his head.

"Wow, I really do not wanna think about that anymore. Hey, earlier, you said you were gonna go practice, right? I've changed my mind, I don't wanna sit 'ere anymore. Lemme come wit'cha." He commented, already moving to sit up. He stopped then, and looked Yuna's way again.

"Uh, I mean. If you want to, anyway. I don't care either way." He added, faltering a little. He normally wouldn't stop to ask something like that, but after all of that shit, it would be totally fair if she didn't want to practice anymore, and he'd respect that. ...Just this once, though.

[starry-nights-abound]

Uh, hi, I didn’t expect to see another member of my dorm, what’s up? Your name is Aros, right? - Asai Hikaru

(Ooc: @ask-the-reddit-sillies )

"Oh- Hello. Yes, that's me. Do you need anything? Or, are you after an autograph, perhaps?"

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Not an autograph or anything! I don’t really care about that stuff. I guess…it’s just nice to see more people from my dorm online ig- (also I have pyromaniac behind me trying to encourage me to make more friends) - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Ah, I see. That makes you a lot more amicable than a lot of the students here, I can say that much. But in any case, it's nice to meet you. I hope Night Raven College has been treating you well so far.

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Thank you, hope ya doing well too, you do seem more kind too. It’s nice to meet you too ig, hope we survive NRC this year - Asai Hikaru

Huuuh~? Dear Hikaru, have you actually followed my advice? I’m so glad! Hello new person who has aquatinted with my dear Hikaru, hehe! - Zora Shroud

Oh shush, I didn’t do it cause of ya, also, don’t you have to go log online to play games with your ‘siblings’ or smt? - Asai Hikaru

Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me! Ah, you’re so amazing at remembering stuff! It’s so nice to have you in my life, cya around?- Zora Shroud

Cya Zora, EHEM, anyways… -Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

'Survive' is certainly a way to put it, though I can't say I disagree with you there, at this point...

Oh-! Uh- hello..? Oh, nevermind, they're gone... uh- who was that..?

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Yeah…I mean, when you have Floyd as your co-worker, students here can be very…hostile, it’s gonna feel like you’re trying to survive most of the time - Asai Hikaru

That was Zora, he’s…something, while he does advise me to have more friends, he is always somehow, someway, near me or trailing behind me - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Haha, I can understand that, definitely. My partner, Crimson, works pretty closely with Floyd and his brother, for... reasons unbeknownst to even me... So I believe I see a lot more of them than is considered a... 'safe' amount.

Well, you two seem like you get along. Er- I think..? It sounds like he likes your company, anyway, if he follows you around often. That's nice.

[starry-nights-abound]

Sitting atop one of Ramshackle's lower rooves, sat Yuuto, knee's to his chest, drawing tablet balanced carefully on top, propped up for easier access. From an outside perspective, it looked a little unorthodox, but he wasn't planning on anyone seeing him anyway, so he didn't care.

With a frown and narrowed eyes, he scratched his pen across the tablet's surface. He'd been sitting there in the same spot for a while now; hours at this point, had watched the sun set and the sky turn dark. Though he showed no effort to move back inside, focus glued to the screen in front of him.

Hearing the familar flap of a bird's wings, he snapped out of his trance, looking up to see Xen flying towards him, landng on his shoulder with a squawk. He paused his drawing, reaching a hand to run down the birds back, a slow movement, giving a small smile to the bird, before the corners of his lips ticked back down, and he turned back to focus on his drawing, much to the bird's disapointment.

Xen stayed a moment, tilting his head a tick towards Yuuto in inquiry, before suddenly launching himself off of his shoulder with a loud caw, flying down from the roof, Yuuto too focused on ignoring everything around him again to notice in just who's direction Xen was flying.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Looking at the sky, Yuna had decided it was finally late enough for her to prepare herself for her standard late-night venture. Her bag of music books, assorted journals, and a simple lantern sat on her back, much heavier than it looked, and she had only just left the dorm.

Recently, her mood had actually been quite high, and she really didn't believe she had to spend time in the Music Room to suffer in silence for once, but she did quite enjoy the solitude when she got to practice. As such, it was only fitting that she would take the opportunity on such a lovely night to maybe get a few hours of practice in before going to sleep.

Unfortunately, though, her practice would likely not come to fruition as she heard a familiar cry in the distance along with the sound of flapping wings. She looked up, noting the dark crow that seemed honed in on her presence and paused, turning towards the silhouette.

"Ah! Xen, is that you little guy?" Yuna asked, sticking her arm out for the crow to land on. "What might you be doing flying around this late?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Taking Yuna's extended arm as an invitation, Xen landed down gracefully, peering up at her. He fluttered his wings, making a sort of clicking sound, making sure he had her attention. For a moment, he was still, just staring, until he suddenly bounced off of her arm, almost as quickly as he'd come. He hovered in front of her for a second, as if trying to communicate something to her, the retainment of her attention, or a certain sense of urgency, perhaps, before flying off again, back in the direction he'd come from.

Landing atop of Yuuto's tablet this time, Xen squawked loudly at him. Yuuto tsk-ed, swatting him off, trying to focus, but Xen was persistant in his efforts to get his attention, until finally, he paused, looking up.

"Xen- get off- what're you-" He started, before his mouth snapped shut. Xen having flown out of his direct line of sight, he'd made direct eye contact with someone else behind him; Yuna.

"Oh."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna stuck up her hand in an awkward wave. Despite having been in the same dorm for a while, Yuna still wasn't sure how to carry herself around Yuuto, considering the latter's tendency to act standoffish (in her opinion). Still, the least she could do is offer a polite greeting, maybe even a conversation! After all, Xen HAD gone out of his way to grab her attention.

"Hey," She said, tilting her head up to see where Yuuto was seated. "Whatcha up to up there? It's awful late to be on the roof, isn't it?"

Yuna knew full well the hypocrisy of pointing out her dormmate's presence this late, but she figured it didn't matter as long as she wasn't criticizing. Plus, there was also the matter of having her attention dragged towards Yuuto by Xen.

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto spun his head to glare at Xen, who gave an pleased click in response, perched on his shoulder once more, seemingly happy with himself. Why Xen had even gotten Yuna to notice him up there - because he knows the bird did, he didn't know. Nor did he have the energy to question it.

He didn't wave back right away, debating if he really wanted to engage in conversation right now. He could easily just ignore her, or tell her to leave him alone, but... he decided that something in him didn't really want to do that. Even though he was way too tired.

"Drawing." He answered finally. A second passed, then he added, "Didn't wanna sit inside. I'd've been up anyway." He shrugged.

Taking more notice of Yuna now that they were 'convsersing', he noticed her bag and the lantern she'd brought with her. She was leaving the building. For what though?

"Where were you off to, then?" He offered, half as a begrudging effort at pleasantry, half out of his own faint curiosity. He told himself it was just because Xen had made her pay attention to him. No other reason.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Sounds fun," Yuna replied with a nod. She was pleased that she was successful in her attempt to converse. Still, she couldnt quite figure out how to talk to the boy just yet. She was gonna do her best, though. "I would ask why the roof, but im sure you have your reasons for why there specifically.

As for me? I was gonna go find a quiet place to practice, but... well, your little friend decided to divebomb me as I was heading out... not that I mind, though. I can always head out tomorrow or some time after classes anyways, so why pass up a chance to chat?"

She tucked the lantern at her waist and moved back closer to the building so she didn't have to speak as loud. As she did, Yuna noticed an odd vibe to the air around her, a nagging question forming in the back of her mind - one that always nagged when she found herself in conversations this late:

"So how have you been doing lately? Everything alright on your end?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...'S closer to the stars." Yuuto responded, glancing up, gaze lingering for a second longer than it probably should have. He wasn't really sure why he'd even answered, Yuna hadn't even explicitly asked. Maybe there was just something about tonight that was compelling him to talk.

"That and- it's outta the way. Don't usually get bothered up 'ere. Well- 'xcept for when this fucker decides to swoop innocent bystanders for no reason." He grumbled.

"Oi- why'd' ya swoop 'er like that, hah?" He asked the bird, just to recieve an almost mischevious sounding chirp in response. He scoffed, though with a hint of fondness, and turned back to Yuna with an 'apologetic look'. "Damn, got nothin' for ya. This guy's pretty stubborn."

At the question she'd followed up with, only an innocent inquiry into his wellbeing, he faltered slightly, before just shrugging again. "I've been fine, I guess." He said, promptly ignoring the dissaproving clicks from Xen.

Without much wait, not wanting to stew too long on... whatever that was, he asked, "...How 'bout yours? Your end- I mean. You all good?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna opened her mouth to speak, and-

No, this wouldn't do. She could barely see her conversation partner and anything that needed to be kept under wraps would still have to be blurted out to be heard.

"Hold on, just a sec." She said suddenly, placing her bag under the awning of the front door and promptly throwing herself up onto the railing, clambering up to the roof where Yuuto sat.

"Sorry- didn't want to keep shouting, you know? It's easier to talk this way."

She hummed to herself in thought for a moment, nodding.

"I myself am... pretty okay, surprisingly... it's not too often that I don't wanna throw it all away and hide in the basement and cry for the rest of my life, so...?" She finally said, placing the lantern on the roof between the two. "But... the stars, huh?"

She looked up, a quiet hum already returning on her lips. She often found herself wondering just who else might be seeing the same sky she was...

"I guess I can't fault you for that, then. It's one of the few familiar comforts we can afford ourselves at this point..." She said, though the second part was directed more towards herself than anything.

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Huh. I was 'bout to invite you up, actually. Or come down myself. But this works too." Yuuto said, a small grin making its way onto his expression.

"Hah. That's certainly a thought. But- it's good you're doin' alright, right now at least. Silver linings or something." He nodded.

He followed Yuna's gaze, looking up again. He'd always felt drawn the the stars, and the night sky. It was the one thing he couldn't let go of, even after abandoning all of his other interests and interests in times long passed, even after countless sleepless nights underneath them, before being whisked away.

"I getcha. I mean, not that I care to much about the familiarity, though. I've always liked 'em, even when I was little. Living under 'em for enough time'll help ya out there too, I think. You end up lovin' 'em or hating 'em."

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Yeah..." Yuna nodded. "I used to live out in the suburbs, but it was empty enough that you could always see the sky - though I didnt usually pay it too much mind... too many different things yknow? I always did love the rain, though... kinda that same feeling. Enough rainy days and it starts to be you look forward more to the clouds than the sun."

She sighed, craning her neck to peer over Yuuto's shoulder.

"So... what're you drawing? The night sky is a pretty subject, sure, but is it as obvious a subject as that? Or just something else?" She asked. It was one of the fun things about drawing compared to photography - you never could tell what someone was doing if they were drawing.

[starry-nights-abound]

"I was always lookin' up at it. Back then, like- ages ago, I used to sneak out of my room just to go lie outside in the yard and stargaze. My parents hated it for some god forsaken reason. They hated everything I did though." Yuuto commented, nothing more than an eyeroll at the mention, before moving on.

"It is a pretty subject, but I don't really draw it all that much. It's..." He turned to his tablet again, hesitating for a fraction of a second, before shaking it off, moving to zoom the screen out to see the almost-finished drawing more clearly.

It was a pretty large scale view of an arcade looking place, a mix of old-school and more modern looking game machines lining the walls and in other areas, pops of purple and pinkier-purple, a bunch of bright colours everywhere, the whole piece abundant in details. Near the middle, enthusiastically playing on one of the machines, was a figure, the only figure in the drawing, that was undoubtebly Kiyuu, the only difference between them the slightly more blonde colour to her hair.

"...A place we used to frequent a lot. As well as I can remember it, anyway." Yuuto said, after a moment, after staring at it for a little too long. It took another moment before he continued.

"I don't even know how this got here to be honest... I mean- I barely ever even draw stuff like this- like- I don't miss it back in our world, at all, it sucked. I guess I've just been- like- weirdly sentimental or something recently without any real reason to be, I dunno."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's expression softened as she looked at the drawing, listening intently to Yuuto's words.

"It looks nice... I can feel the nostalgia just by looking at it, yknow? I wish I could capture that feeling with my own stuff, hehe..."

She leaned back a bit, a soft huff escaping her lips as she looked back out at the sky.

"But yknow... I think its normal to miss our old homes... even if they sucked or didn't have much going for them, yknow?" She mused, a slight somber tone creeping into her voice. "Like... it's honestly been super conflicting, cause everything leading up to me coming here? Sucked. But... I do miss the nicer parts. Like playing the piano for my dad when I was younger or sitting in the rain with my friends or just listening to my mom's stories. Maybe it's just something like that... you don't really miss it, sure, but there was a strange sense of normalcy and the occasional good thing, maybe? Sorry- I'm just rambling, aren't I?"

Yuna continued to stare out. She never was really good at analysing people's feelings, was she?

Still, there was just a feeling she couldn't shake. She was actually having a conversation and by God or the Seven or whoever was listening, she was going to talk about it, even if she couldn't discern what it even was.

"... What was it like for you guys? If you don't mind me asking, of course... it just occurred to me that I still don't know too much about what you guys got to experience 'back home'."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto's eyes crinkled slightly as he looked over at Yuna, smiling ever so slightly at her words. He usually just drew for himself, but it was still nice when someone had something to say other than shallow compliments.

He shook his head. "S fine. Don't apologise for talking. 'Specially 'bout that stuff. "It's not like I'm filling the silence."

He looked down at the screen for a moment longer, before clicking the tablet shut and putting it to the side. Stretching his legs back out, he spoke up again.

"...I think of this place more like home than back there. It- I dunno. I don't like- have many fond memories of back then. So."

He peered back up at the stars again, just staring up at them. Then he leant back, moving to lie on his back, stretching an arm out for Xen to perch on instead. He had no idea why the bird hadn't flown away yet, or why he'd done anything he'd done today, but it wasn't like he could just ask, so he didn't really care enough.

"Kiyuu 'n I aren't like- childhood friends or anything, so I don't know what she'd have to say. I only met 'er like- half a year before all this? I think. We hung out a ton, but there was only so many places we could go without bein' harrassed by other kids from our school. Like the arcade. 'S why we were always there. I'm pretty sure it was illegal for us to even be there though. Not that anyone cared enough about us to say anythin'. Hah." He continued, abscentmindedly petting Xen's back as he spoke, the bird's wing fluttering in contentment.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Wish I had a space where I could've escaped like that with someone else..." Yuna replied. "I think I could've avoided a lot of what wound up leading to my being here if I did. Even if I dont really regret having come here."

She looked down at her hands, twiddling her thumbs as she continued.

"Kids... really do suck, don't they? They suck even more when youre not only being mistreated or outcast by them, but also one or more of your own parents? It's the worst."

Yuna thought back to her old life and the events that had led up to her own overblot. Speaking like she was now, though, made her feel almost embarrassed about the whole scenario - freaking out like that when it seemed her dormmates had been through something similar at least.

And yet it was also oddly cathartic to think that she wasn't alone in how she navigated the world, at least somewhat.

"How did you two meet if you weren't childhood friends?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Yeah. They do. I didn't really have anyone there." He muttered. "...'xcept for Kiki, for the short time I'd known 'er."

Looking up at the night sky, his thoughts wandered back to their time at the arcade, recalling all of their times there with fondness.

"To be honest, It didn't even last forever. The fuckers that owned the place got sick of me tryna crash there. Then some jackasses followed us there this one time- and- ugh. Let's just say they didn't appreciate us 'engagin' in violence' in the middle of the fuckin' place. It was so dumb. But yeah- we were banned from comin' back and that was that." He sighed. He didn't miss a lot of things, but he felt like maybe he did miss it there. Those moments of refuge where he didnt't have to think or worry about anything else, he could just... be.

Listening to Yuna as she spoke again, he blinked at her question, not really expecting the curiosity. He shrugged.

"Transferred to the school I went to after winter break that year. Our teacher sat her next to me, and the next thing you know- she was actually talking to me. Fuckin' crazy. Everyone else thought so too. And they definitely didn't take too kindly to it either."

And he knew why all too well. They didn't figure her out immediately, but it had only taken a couple of weeks for the rumors to circulate. No matter how many fights Yuuto engaged himself in, to protect Kiyuu more often than not, they never stopped, never left them alone. And he knew how much it upset her, too. And yet she stuck by him anyway, has told him countless times that she'd never regretted it, even though he could always see the exhaustion in her eyes.

He turned his head to the side then, dragging his eyes away from the stars to land on Yuna instead.

"So... what about you? Any stories to tell?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna wanted to respond right off the bat - offer some sort of consolation, relief, anything, but she knew full well how little anything like that would do now... they were all away from their old lives, after all. What use was there in sympathizing over it when things weren't like that anymore?

She sighed, shrugging her shoulders as she tapped her fingers on the roof.

"...Wish I did, really. But honestly... before coming here, my life was unremarkable. So unremarkable, in fact, that I really didn't have that many people to talk to except for the two friends I did have..."

She hadnt spoken about her old school life with others since... well...

But it always filled her with a sense of discomfort. Sure, she was never, like, physically bullied or anything, but her own issues came from the isolation and ostracization she felt at the hands of her peers.

"People always talked about me like I wasnt there... but that did mean they just kind of said whatever around me, not really thinking anything of it. I probably have some gossip stories, but anything related to myself in particular is... less than interesting."

She looked down at her legs, kicking her feet aimlessly.

Any stories she could share were all things that had happened here. There was no such thing as an interesting day in her life prior to getting whisked away through Minerva's influence - God, how she didn't want to think about that - and there never would be. Without her friends, she was functionally no one. A blank slate. Someone who existed in the background of everyone else's life, including her own. Before Twisted Wonderland, there was no 'Yu' or 'Yuna' or anything. Just the plain girl who sat in the back of the class and spoke to no one and was, presumably, only kept around as some sort of weird pet project by students who were superior to her in every way (no matter how untrue that last statement actually was).

"Unless, of course, you dont mind just... smaller anecdotes. Nothing interesting... but... its something?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto listened quietly, laying still, aside from the occasional pat to Xen.

"...If it was really that unremarkable though, you wouldn't really miss it, would'dya? I mean- you had friends, parents, people you meant something to, and who meant something to you, ya'know? You were someone to them."

He swung his arm out, casually pointing a finger out as he continued.

"It might not have been the liveliest of lives, and'ya might not think it was all that great, but it was yours. You said you played piano, right? And I don't doubt you were just as good of a friend as you are now. That doesn't seem that 'unremarkable' to me."

He shrugged. He was really talking tonight, wasn't he? He didn't really even know why he felt so compelled to speak now, why he was unusually content in this sort of peaceful atmosphere. And yeah, maybe it wasn't his place to say stuff like that to Yuna, but he didn't regret it.

He brang his arm back down, putting his head on the hand now.

"I don't care what'cha tell me. But I wanna hear about you, if I have any say in it. Doesn't matter what it is. What kinda things did you do with your friends? What'd you do for fun, for yourself? Whatever you wanna share. Hah, god knows I've talked more than enough for one night."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's eyes widened slightly, surprised that anyone would show any real, full interest in her life aside from her odd anecdotes and occasional pieces of advice.

"Oh- um... well... I guess I could always start with my friends back home... I do miss seeing them both..." Yuna said, pushing her bangs from her face.

"I think I may have mentioned Minerva once or twice before, but she's the one thats partially responsible for my being here... in fact if I didnt mention it before, it was her visiting that led to... well... everything."

She began to tap her fingers on the roof beneath her again, a rhythmic thumping as she thought and worked herself through her own words and what she wanted to say versus what she found herself capable of saying.

"She was always the 'pretty' one of my little trio, and I dont really blame anyone for thinking that. Min was like... actually, she's a lot like Kiyuu, now that I think about it? Peppy and cheerful and really doesnt like to see anyone sad, but also has this kinda glamorous air about her. I dunno... but she was also one of the first people to really chat me up when I transferred schools in middle school. A lot of people thought she mustve had this real 'mean girl' air about her, since she was pretty and popular, but like... she was never actually that mean. Hell, even her basically lying to me for the entire duration of our friendship was done in the interest of others rather than herself. Maybe if I can ever get her to visit again, I'll try and introduce you all."

Once the words had started flowing, though, Yuna found it was quite easy to talk about things, even if they were a bit painful to think about. Her voice wavered a tiny bit as she continued, only serving to exemplify that idea.

"Then there was Wilomena, or just Mena... she was the 'smart' one in the group, though personally, I think she was just as pretty as Min. But her smart title was also not a stretch in the least, considering she was always top of our class and student council president and this that and the other and..."

Yuna paused.

"She always liked playing music with me. She played violin, kinda like how some of my otjer friends do here... and she'd drag me along to meetings, trying her best to make everyone feel included..."

She didn't realize it when her face started becoming damp with tears.

"She's the only one still back there... she doesn't even know that I'm still alive and that Min is out here as some powerful witch and she's the only one left... God I hope she's alright..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto let Yuna talk, even sitting up again at one point, glad Yuna was a little more confident in her words now. It was nice to listen to her voice, a soothing sound to fill the quiet air.

...He didn't really like this Minerva chick though, based on what Yuna was saying about her. But maybe he didn't have any right to comment on living in a lie, either.

Catching onto the more somber tone of voice, Yuuto peered at her, quickly realising her eyes were watering. He froze for a second, inwardly berating himself for not considering this a possibility. Of course Yuna would be upset about this stuff, just because he didn't have anyone back then that would have missed him, didn't mean everyone else was the same. And now he'd made her talk about it for some stupid reason-

He shuffled a bit closer to her, turning to give her what he hoped was a small smile that conveyed some kind of reassurance, before looking up again, hands on the surface behind him to hold him up.

"It sounds like you guys were really close then, huh. It's good you had people like that. I'm sure they still think of you fondly. Both of them. I mean, who wouldn't? ...For what it's worth, I hope she's alright too."

Xen, who'd fluttered into the air when Yuuto moved, perched himself onto one of Yuna's thighs, cawing at her and staring up at her with his bug eyes. He huffed in amusement, looking back down to watch him. The pesky little thing, he probably knew exactly what he was doing.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna gave a small sniff, finally taking note of the tears running down her face. She nodded her head ever so slightly in acknowledgement of Yuuto's words, trying her best to smile back. She only really got as far as the upturning of the corners of her lips.

"Yeah, we were," She said. "I just... I miss how things were before. Even if I do go back, things will never be the same - how could they? I vanish without a word for at least a year and someone else who was just "going abroad" turns out to be some crazy magical being and then whatever happens to the last of us who didn't get stuck anywhere..."

She sighed and gave Xen a small pat on the head, thankful for the little gesture. She also turned her head towards Yuuto, wiping at her eyes as she spoke. Her voice still wavered somewhat, but it was a bit more steady as she tried to relax herself.

"Thank you, though... hearing you say that makes me feel a bit less anxious, even if stuff is... well, like this..." She gestured vaguely with a hand. "They were two of the maybe three? Four? People who really kinda looked out for me, so it's really hard to not be attached, yknow? Even with the whole 'spiriting away' thing..."

Yuna gave a slightly dry chuckle.

"Actually, I was kinda mad about that at first, cause I didn't really have a choice in coming here. Last I knew I was just gonna run away and hide forever... but if whatever happened HADN'T happened... I wouldn't have been able to make more friends, like you or Kiyuu or... well... literally anyone else here... so I guess it wasn't all bad."

[starry-nights-abound]

As Yuna talked, Yuuto couldn't help but think back to his own life, before everything. Having the support and care of others like she had... sounded really nice. It wasn't like he cared now, though. Definitely not. It's not like thinking about it would change how everyone had thought about him anyway.

"...I wish I could say I could empathise, but honestly, I can't really. I understand to an extent, sure, but I don't think I'll ever know how that feels. I mean- the only person that would've missed me even a little bit is here too. I don't really know what it's like to be missed." He said, sighing quietly.

He shook his head. "Though, I think I'm definitely the odd one out. 'Cause like- after the initial shock of y'know- literally being kidnapped without my consent and being transported to a literal other dimension- the first thoughts I had once I'd processed it all weren't anything like panic, or fear- I was just kinda like- "This is so cool", y'know?" He commented, with a huff of laughter.

"Well- I guess it would have prefered not having to like- die to get here- and maybe it would have been dope to actually be able to use magic myself- but like- really honestly- I'm kinda thankful, more than anything. Even back then- when all I had was Kiki and the rusty old roof of this damn building over my head- I felt better than I had in ages. Even though it was hard, I finally had some kind of... hope, I guess."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Instead of honing in on anything else, one detail of Yuuto's words stuck out to Yuna.

"Wait... so... you also nearly died- er... did? Die? Before waking up in the coffin?" She asked suddenly, before realizing that such a question was likely inappropriate.

"Wait- sorry that... nevermind." She said, shaking her head as though that would somehow erase the embarrassment. Still, she was glad at least that Yuuto was also willing to converse with her at this moment.

Yuna was silent for a moment, waiting just a brief second to readjust and recover from her slight self-perceived blunder before continuing.

"But, um... I agree, honestly. I think thats the nice part about this place - yknow, what you said about hope? I can't really ever determine what your life was like before this and you said yourself you don't quite get mine... but... in the end it really doesnt matter, yknow? Because it wound up giving an entirely new start to... everything."

That was another reason Yuna couldn't be entirely angry. She was able to be someone different here - hell, she was simply able to be someone, even if that someone was the magicless stranger from another world. She didnt have a clue how bad it might have been for her friends, and that definitely made her feel some sort of guilt, but she certainly could relate to the feeling of having a fresh start.

She sighed, now looking at Yuuto full-on, her green eyes reflecting an odd melancholy.

"It honestly makes any decisions that I'll have to make later a lot harder, though. I honestly dont know if i even want to go home anymore... I think I'd miss everyone here even more than the people back there..."

[starry-nights-abound]

"Nah, it's fine." He shook his head. "I mean, I'm pretty fuckin' sure I died. I remember the stupid carriage runnin' us clean over and I felt that pain. So- either died or nearly before the transportation, yeah. You too huh?" He asked casually, leaning forward again to look over at her.

He nodded in acknowledgement of her words. He thought about it, and really, Yuna was right, at least a little bit. It didn't really matter if they understood what the other had experienced, they were in the same situation now. It was a fresh start for all of them. Although...

"Yeah, 'cause you've had time to adjust to this life now, right? As much as you have. It's not really a decision I have to think about, though. I'm not going back no matter what, even if they make me. I couldn't ever. But..."

He paused, hesitating. He looked to Yuna, seeing the expression in her eyes, before turning his head away with a soft breath out, gaze fixed downwards.

"...I know it's not the same for Kiyuu. She... I know she misses things just being... normal. Just having- regular problems- Not- constantly being in dangerous situations, or risking her life- as often as we've had to, or dealing with- magic and potions and all of this supernatural stuff."

He admitted quietly. He didn't like to say it out loud, the blaring truth that Kiyuu could just- leave one day, just like that. Speaking it into existance made it feel so much more real, like something that was so much closer to being an actual possibility than just a far away idea. She wasn't attatched to life here like he was, god he knew that. He just... didn't have much hope that he was enough to get her to stay. And that hurt more than anything.

"I guess... eh, it doesn't matter. I want her to be happy. She deserves that much. And if she can't be happy here, then... that's that."

He'd never been enough for anyone to stay. ...Why would that change now?

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna noticed the shift in Yuuto's casual demeanor to something more subtle.

'He doesnt really mean that, does he?' She thought, watching his movements carefully. Yuna may not be the best at offering words to others, but she knew damn well when people weren't being fully truthful about their feelings, especially when they were negative feelings.

"How do you know?" She started. Yuna's voice held a softness like someone coaxing a wild animal from the shadows. "That she isn't at least somewhat happy here, that is...? I know this whole place is... crazy and confusing but... I've seen how you two act together. While I think there definitely is an aspect of place and all... I dunno. I just... think you two are kind of a package deal, really-"

Yuna paused, wondering if maybe she was going beyond what was acceptable to say, and stopped herself. She pulled her legs in, sitting cross-legged as she looked down.

"Sorry- I don't mean to make assumptions or anything... just... ignore me, I guess. All I mean is that it's hard to imagine that you two would actually split up..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto stayed quiet. His eyes narrowed, feeling irritation swell up inside him. Not at her, really, but at himself. He wanted to say something, tell her she didn't have to keep apologising for just sharing her thoughts - something he'd told Kiyuu countless times before - but the words were stuck.

Eventually, he spoke up again, quieter.

"I don't want her to leave. She's- the only person- the first person to ever really- mean something to me. But it's her choice, not mine. She shouldn't have to stay just- because I don't want her to go. Do you know how- selfish I'd have to be to do that to her? ...She's always so stressed, Yuna. Even though she tries to hide it, I- I know. ...Everything scares her."

He spoke, despite the tightness in his throat, the familiar feeling of holding back all of the signs of his watering eyes. He wouldn't cry now, he wouldn't.

"...She doesn't deserve to live like that. And especially, not for me. I'm not enough for that kind of... sacrifice."

He winced, already regretting the words as soon as they'd come out of his mouth. First he'd said- all of that, and now this? God, what kind of- attention seeker was he?

He forced a dry laugh, shaking his head and looking up again, trying desperately to shake off the crushing weight of his helplessness. Through the slight fogging of his eyes, he could see Xen fluttering nearby, clicking at him curiously. With a slow movement, he held out an arm, the weight of the bird's claws on his arm grounding him enough to open his mouth again.

"...I'm just being stupid, aren't I? Chances are that we'll probably never have any way back anyway. Why the fuck am I so worked up over something so small? Ugh."

[starry-nights-abound]

Uh, hi, I didn’t expect to see another member of my dorm, what’s up? Your name is Aros, right? - Asai Hikaru

(Ooc: @ask-the-reddit-sillies )

"Oh- Hello. Yes, that's me. Do you need anything? Or, are you after an autograph, perhaps?"

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Not an autograph or anything! I don’t really care about that stuff. I guess…it’s just nice to see more people from my dorm online ig- (also I have pyromaniac behind me trying to encourage me to make more friends) - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Ah, I see. That makes you a lot more amicable than a lot of the students here, I can say that much. But in any case, it's nice to meet you. I hope Night Raven College has been treating you well so far.

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Thank you, hope ya doing well too, you do seem more kind too. It’s nice to meet you too ig, hope we survive NRC this year - Asai Hikaru

Huuuh~? Dear Hikaru, have you actually followed my advice? I’m so glad! Hello new person who has aquatinted with my dear Hikaru, hehe! - Zora Shroud

Oh shush, I didn’t do it cause of ya, also, don’t you have to go log online to play games with your ‘siblings’ or smt? - Asai Hikaru

Oh yeah, thanks for reminding me! Ah, you’re so amazing at remembering stuff! It’s so nice to have you in my life, cya around?- Zora Shroud

Cya Zora, EHEM, anyways… -Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

'Survive' is certainly a way to put it, though I can't say I disagree with you there, at this point...

Oh-! Uh- hello..? Oh, nevermind, they're gone... uh- who was that..?

[starry-nights-abound]

Sitting atop one of Ramshackle's lower rooves, sat Yuuto, knee's to his chest, drawing tablet balanced carefully on top, propped up for easier access. From an outside perspective, it looked a little unorthodox, but he wasn't planning on anyone seeing him anyway, so he didn't care.

With a frown and narrowed eyes, he scratched his pen across the tablet's surface. He'd been sitting there in the same spot for a while now; hours at this point, had watched the sun set and the sky turn dark. Though he showed no effort to move back inside, focus glued to the screen in front of him.

Hearing the familar flap of a bird's wings, he snapped out of his trance, looking up to see Xen flying towards him, landng on his shoulder with a squawk. He paused his drawing, reaching a hand to run down the birds back, a slow movement, giving a small smile to the bird, before the corners of his lips ticked back down, and he turned back to focus on his drawing, much to the bird's disapointment.

Xen stayed a moment, tilting his head a tick towards Yuuto in inquiry, before suddenly launching himself off of his shoulder with a loud caw, flying down from the roof, Yuuto too focused on ignoring everything around him again to notice in just who's direction Xen was flying.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Looking at the sky, Yuna had decided it was finally late enough for her to prepare herself for her standard late-night venture. Her bag of music books, assorted journals, and a simple lantern sat on her back, much heavier than it looked, and she had only just left the dorm.

Recently, her mood had actually been quite high, and she really didn't believe she had to spend time in the Music Room to suffer in silence for once, but she did quite enjoy the solitude when she got to practice. As such, it was only fitting that she would take the opportunity on such a lovely night to maybe get a few hours of practice in before going to sleep.

Unfortunately, though, her practice would likely not come to fruition as she heard a familiar cry in the distance along with the sound of flapping wings. She looked up, noting the dark crow that seemed honed in on her presence and paused, turning towards the silhouette.

"Ah! Xen, is that you little guy?" Yuna asked, sticking her arm out for the crow to land on. "What might you be doing flying around this late?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Taking Yuna's extended arm as an invitation, Xen landed down gracefully, peering up at her. He fluttered his wings, making a sort of clicking sound, making sure he had her attention. For a moment, he was still, just staring, until he suddenly bounced off of her arm, almost as quickly as he'd come. He hovered in front of her for a second, as if trying to communicate something to her, the retainment of her attention, or a certain sense of urgency, perhaps, before flying off again, back in the direction he'd come from.

Landing atop of Yuuto's tablet this time, Xen squawked loudly at him. Yuuto tsk-ed, swatting him off, trying to focus, but Xen was persistant in his efforts to get his attention, until finally, he paused, looking up.

"Xen- get off- what're you-" He started, before his mouth snapped shut. Xen having flown out of his direct line of sight, he'd made direct eye contact with someone else behind him; Yuna.

"Oh."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna stuck up her hand in an awkward wave. Despite having been in the same dorm for a while, Yuna still wasn't sure how to carry herself around Yuuto, considering the latter's tendency to act standoffish (in her opinion). Still, the least she could do is offer a polite greeting, maybe even a conversation! After all, Xen HAD gone out of his way to grab her attention.

"Hey," She said, tilting her head up to see where Yuuto was seated. "Whatcha up to up there? It's awful late to be on the roof, isn't it?"

Yuna knew full well the hypocrisy of pointing out her dormmate's presence this late, but she figured it didn't matter as long as she wasn't criticizing. Plus, there was also the matter of having her attention dragged towards Yuuto by Xen.

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto spun his head to glare at Xen, who gave an pleased click in response, perched on his shoulder once more, seemingly happy with himself. Why Xen had even gotten Yuna to notice him up there - because he knows the bird did, he didn't know. Nor did he have the energy to question it.

He didn't wave back right away, debating if he really wanted to engage in conversation right now. He could easily just ignore her, or tell her to leave him alone, but... he decided that something in him didn't really want to do that. Even though he was way too tired.

"Drawing." He answered finally. A second passed, then he added, "Didn't wanna sit inside. I'd've been up anyway." He shrugged.

Taking more notice of Yuna now that they were 'convsersing', he noticed her bag and the lantern she'd brought with her. She was leaving the building. For what though?

"Where were you off to, then?" He offered, half as a begrudging effort at pleasantry, half out of his own faint curiosity. He told himself it was just because Xen had made her pay attention to him. No other reason.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Sounds fun," Yuna replied with a nod. She was pleased that she was successful in her attempt to converse. Still, she couldnt quite figure out how to talk to the boy just yet. She was gonna do her best, though. "I would ask why the roof, but im sure you have your reasons for why there specifically.

As for me? I was gonna go find a quiet place to practice, but... well, your little friend decided to divebomb me as I was heading out... not that I mind, though. I can always head out tomorrow or some time after classes anyways, so why pass up a chance to chat?"

She tucked the lantern at her waist and moved back closer to the building so she didn't have to speak as loud. As she did, Yuna noticed an odd vibe to the air around her, a nagging question forming in the back of her mind - one that always nagged when she found herself in conversations this late:

"So how have you been doing lately? Everything alright on your end?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...'S closer to the stars." Yuuto responded, glancing up, gaze lingering for a second longer than it probably should have. He wasn't really sure why he'd even answered, Yuna hadn't even explicitly asked. Maybe there was just something about tonight that was compelling him to talk.

"That and- it's outta the way. Don't usually get bothered up 'ere. Well- 'xcept for when this fucker decides to swoop innocent bystanders for no reason." He grumbled.

"Oi- why'd' ya swoop 'er like that, hah?" He asked the bird, just to recieve an almost mischevious sounding chirp in response. He scoffed, though with a hint of fondness, and turned back to Yuna with an 'apologetic look'. "Damn, got nothin' for ya. This guy's pretty stubborn."

At the question she'd followed up with, only an innocent inquiry into his wellbeing, he faltered slightly, before just shrugging again. "I've been fine, I guess." He said, promptly ignoring the dissaproving clicks from Xen.

Without much wait, not wanting to stew too long on... whatever that was, he asked, "...How 'bout yours? Your end- I mean. You all good?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna opened her mouth to speak, and-

No, this wouldn't do. She could barely see her conversation partner and anything that needed to be kept under wraps would still have to be blurted out to be heard.

"Hold on, just a sec." She said suddenly, placing her bag under the awning of the front door and promptly throwing herself up onto the railing, clambering up to the roof where Yuuto sat.

"Sorry- didn't want to keep shouting, you know? It's easier to talk this way."

She hummed to herself in thought for a moment, nodding.

"I myself am... pretty okay, surprisingly... it's not too often that I don't wanna throw it all away and hide in the basement and cry for the rest of my life, so...?" She finally said, placing the lantern on the roof between the two. "But... the stars, huh?"

She looked up, a quiet hum already returning on her lips. She often found herself wondering just who else might be seeing the same sky she was...

"I guess I can't fault you for that, then. It's one of the few familiar comforts we can afford ourselves at this point..." She said, though the second part was directed more towards herself than anything.

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Huh. I was 'bout to invite you up, actually. Or come down myself. But this works too." Yuuto said, a small grin making its way onto his expression.

"Hah. That's certainly a thought. But- it's good you're doin' alright, right now at least. Silver linings or something." He nodded.

He followed Yuna's gaze, looking up again. He'd always felt drawn the the stars, and the night sky. It was the one thing he couldn't let go of, even after abandoning all of his other interests and interests in times long passed, even after countless sleepless nights underneath them, before being whisked away.

"I getcha. I mean, not that I care to much about the familiarity, though. I've always liked 'em, even when I was little. Living under 'em for enough time'll help ya out there too, I think. You end up lovin' 'em or hating 'em."

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Yeah..." Yuna nodded. "I used to live out in the suburbs, but it was empty enough that you could always see the sky - though I didnt usually pay it too much mind... too many different things yknow? I always did love the rain, though... kinda that same feeling. Enough rainy days and it starts to be you look forward more to the clouds than the sun."

She sighed, craning her neck to peer over Yuuto's shoulder.

"So... what're you drawing? The night sky is a pretty subject, sure, but is it as obvious a subject as that? Or just something else?" She asked. It was one of the fun things about drawing compared to photography - you never could tell what someone was doing if they were drawing.

[starry-nights-abound]

"I was always lookin' up at it. Back then, like- ages ago, I used to sneak out of my room just to go lie outside in the yard and stargaze. My parents hated it for some god forsaken reason. They hated everything I did though." Yuuto commented, nothing more than an eyeroll at the mention, before moving on.

"It is a pretty subject, but I don't really draw it all that much. It's..." He turned to his tablet again, hesitating for a fraction of a second, before shaking it off, moving to zoom the screen out to see the almost-finished drawing more clearly.

It was a pretty large scale view of an arcade looking place, a mix of old-school and more modern looking game machines lining the walls and in other areas, pops of purple and pinkier-purple, a bunch of bright colours everywhere, the whole piece abundant in details. Near the middle, enthusiastically playing on one of the machines, was a figure, the only figure in the drawing, that was undoubtebly Kiyuu, the only difference between them the slightly more blonde colour to her hair.

"...A place we used to frequent a lot. As well as I can remember it, anyway." Yuuto said, after a moment, after staring at it for a little too long. It took another moment before he continued.

"I don't even know how this got here to be honest... I mean- I barely ever even draw stuff like this- like- I don't miss it back in our world, at all, it sucked. I guess I've just been- like- weirdly sentimental or something recently without any real reason to be, I dunno."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's expression softened as she looked at the drawing, listening intently to Yuuto's words.

"It looks nice... I can feel the nostalgia just by looking at it, yknow? I wish I could capture that feeling with my own stuff, hehe..."

She leaned back a bit, a soft huff escaping her lips as she looked back out at the sky.

"But yknow... I think its normal to miss our old homes... even if they sucked or didn't have much going for them, yknow?" She mused, a slight somber tone creeping into her voice. "Like... it's honestly been super conflicting, cause everything leading up to me coming here? Sucked. But... I do miss the nicer parts. Like playing the piano for my dad when I was younger or sitting in the rain with my friends or just listening to my mom's stories. Maybe it's just something like that... you don't really miss it, sure, but there was a strange sense of normalcy and the occasional good thing, maybe? Sorry- I'm just rambling, aren't I?"

Yuna continued to stare out. She never was really good at analysing people's feelings, was she?

Still, there was just a feeling she couldn't shake. She was actually having a conversation and by God or the Seven or whoever was listening, she was going to talk about it, even if she couldn't discern what it even was.

"... What was it like for you guys? If you don't mind me asking, of course... it just occurred to me that I still don't know too much about what you guys got to experience 'back home'."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto's eyes crinkled slightly as he looked over at Yuna, smiling ever so slightly at her words. He usually just drew for himself, but it was still nice when someone had something to say other than shallow compliments.

He shook his head. "S fine. Don't apologise for talking. 'Specially 'bout that stuff. "It's not like I'm filling the silence."

He looked down at the screen for a moment longer, before clicking the tablet shut and putting it to the side. Stretching his legs back out, he spoke up again.

"...I think of this place more like home than back there. It- I dunno. I don't like- have many fond memories of back then. So."

He peered back up at the stars again, just staring up at them. Then he leant back, moving to lie on his back, stretching an arm out for Xen to perch on instead. He had no idea why the bird hadn't flown away yet, or why he'd done anything he'd done today, but it wasn't like he could just ask, so he didn't really care enough.

"Kiyuu 'n I aren't like- childhood friends or anything, so I don't know what she'd have to say. I only met 'er like- half a year before all this? I think. We hung out a ton, but there was only so many places we could go without bein' harrassed by other kids from our school. Like the arcade. 'S why we were always there. I'm pretty sure it was illegal for us to even be there though. Not that anyone cared enough about us to say anythin'. Hah." He continued, abscentmindedly petting Xen's back as he spoke, the bird's wing fluttering in contentment.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Wish I had a space where I could've escaped like that with someone else..." Yuna replied. "I think I could've avoided a lot of what wound up leading to my being here if I did. Even if I dont really regret having come here."

She looked down at her hands, twiddling her thumbs as she continued.

"Kids... really do suck, don't they? They suck even more when youre not only being mistreated or outcast by them, but also one or more of your own parents? It's the worst."

Yuna thought back to her old life and the events that had led up to her own overblot. Speaking like she was now, though, made her feel almost embarrassed about the whole scenario - freaking out like that when it seemed her dormmates had been through something similar at least.

And yet it was also oddly cathartic to think that she wasn't alone in how she navigated the world, at least somewhat.

"How did you two meet if you weren't childhood friends?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Yeah. They do. I didn't really have anyone there." He muttered. "...'xcept for Kiki, for the short time I'd known 'er."

Looking up at the night sky, his thoughts wandered back to their time at the arcade, recalling all of their times there with fondness.

"To be honest, It didn't even last forever. The fuckers that owned the place got sick of me tryna crash there. Then some jackasses followed us there this one time- and- ugh. Let's just say they didn't appreciate us 'engagin' in violence' in the middle of the fuckin' place. It was so dumb. But yeah- we were banned from comin' back and that was that." He sighed. He didn't miss a lot of things, but he felt like maybe he did miss it there. Those moments of refuge where he didnt't have to think or worry about anything else, he could just... be.

Listening to Yuna as she spoke again, he blinked at her question, not really expecting the curiosity. He shrugged.

"Transferred to the school I went to after winter break that year. Our teacher sat her next to me, and the next thing you know- she was actually talking to me. Fuckin' crazy. Everyone else thought so too. And they definitely didn't take too kindly to it either."

And he knew why all too well. They didn't figure her out immediately, but it had only taken a couple of weeks for the rumors to circulate. No matter how many fights Yuuto engaged himself in, to protect Kiyuu more often than not, they never stopped, never left them alone. And he knew how much it upset her, too. And yet she stuck by him anyway, has told him countless times that she'd never regretted it, even though he could always see the exhaustion in her eyes.

He turned his head to the side then, dragging his eyes away from the stars to land on Yuna instead.

"So... what about you? Any stories to tell?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna wanted to respond right off the bat - offer some sort of consolation, relief, anything, but she knew full well how little anything like that would do now... they were all away from their old lives, after all. What use was there in sympathizing over it when things weren't like that anymore?

She sighed, shrugging her shoulders as she tapped her fingers on the roof.

"...Wish I did, really. But honestly... before coming here, my life was unremarkable. So unremarkable, in fact, that I really didn't have that many people to talk to except for the two friends I did have..."

She hadnt spoken about her old school life with others since... well...

But it always filled her with a sense of discomfort. Sure, she was never, like, physically bullied or anything, but her own issues came from the isolation and ostracization she felt at the hands of her peers.

"People always talked about me like I wasnt there... but that did mean they just kind of said whatever around me, not really thinking anything of it. I probably have some gossip stories, but anything related to myself in particular is... less than interesting."

She looked down at her legs, kicking her feet aimlessly.

Any stories she could share were all things that had happened here. There was no such thing as an interesting day in her life prior to getting whisked away through Minerva's influence - God, how she didn't want to think about that - and there never would be. Without her friends, she was functionally no one. A blank slate. Someone who existed in the background of everyone else's life, including her own. Before Twisted Wonderland, there was no 'Yu' or 'Yuna' or anything. Just the plain girl who sat in the back of the class and spoke to no one and was, presumably, only kept around as some sort of weird pet project by students who were superior to her in every way (no matter how untrue that last statement actually was).

"Unless, of course, you dont mind just... smaller anecdotes. Nothing interesting... but... its something?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto listened quietly, laying still, aside from the occasional pat to Xen.

"...If it was really that unremarkable though, you wouldn't really miss it, would'dya? I mean- you had friends, parents, people you meant something to, and who meant something to you, ya'know? You were someone to them."

He swung his arm out, casually pointing a finger out as he continued.

"It might not have been the liveliest of lives, and'ya might not think it was all that great, but it was yours. You said you played piano, right? And I don't doubt you were just as good of a friend as you are now. That doesn't seem that 'unremarkable' to me."

He shrugged. He was really talking tonight, wasn't he? He didn't really even know why he felt so compelled to speak now, why he was unusually content in this sort of peaceful atmosphere. And yeah, maybe it wasn't his place to say stuff like that to Yuna, but he didn't regret it.

He brang his arm back down, putting his head on the hand now.

"I don't care what'cha tell me. But I wanna hear about you, if I have any say in it. Doesn't matter what it is. What kinda things did you do with your friends? What'd you do for fun, for yourself? Whatever you wanna share. Hah, god knows I've talked more than enough for one night."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's eyes widened slightly, surprised that anyone would show any real, full interest in her life aside from her odd anecdotes and occasional pieces of advice.

"Oh- um... well... I guess I could always start with my friends back home... I do miss seeing them both..." Yuna said, pushing her bangs from her face.

"I think I may have mentioned Minerva once or twice before, but she's the one thats partially responsible for my being here... in fact if I didnt mention it before, it was her visiting that led to... well... everything."

She began to tap her fingers on the roof beneath her again, a rhythmic thumping as she thought and worked herself through her own words and what she wanted to say versus what she found herself capable of saying.

"She was always the 'pretty' one of my little trio, and I dont really blame anyone for thinking that. Min was like... actually, she's a lot like Kiyuu, now that I think about it? Peppy and cheerful and really doesnt like to see anyone sad, but also has this kinda glamorous air about her. I dunno... but she was also one of the first people to really chat me up when I transferred schools in middle school. A lot of people thought she mustve had this real 'mean girl' air about her, since she was pretty and popular, but like... she was never actually that mean. Hell, even her basically lying to me for the entire duration of our friendship was done in the interest of others rather than herself. Maybe if I can ever get her to visit again, I'll try and introduce you all."

Once the words had started flowing, though, Yuna found it was quite easy to talk about things, even if they were a bit painful to think about. Her voice wavered a tiny bit as she continued, only serving to exemplify that idea.

"Then there was Wilomena, or just Mena... she was the 'smart' one in the group, though personally, I think she was just as pretty as Min. But her smart title was also not a stretch in the least, considering she was always top of our class and student council president and this that and the other and..."

Yuna paused.

"She always liked playing music with me. She played violin, kinda like how some of my otjer friends do here... and she'd drag me along to meetings, trying her best to make everyone feel included..."

She didn't realize it when her face started becoming damp with tears.

"She's the only one still back there... she doesn't even know that I'm still alive and that Min is out here as some powerful witch and she's the only one left... God I hope she's alright..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto let Yuna talk, even sitting up again at one point, glad Yuna was a little more confident in her words now. It was nice to listen to her voice, a soothing sound to fill the quiet air.

...He didn't really like this Minerva chick though, based on what Yuna was saying about her. But maybe he didn't have any right to comment on living in a lie, either.

Catching onto the more somber tone of voice, Yuuto peered at her, quickly realising her eyes were watering. He froze for a second, inwardly berating himself for not considering this a possibility. Of course Yuna would be upset about this stuff, just because he didn't have anyone back then that would have missed him, didn't mean everyone else was the same. And now he'd made her talk about it for some stupid reason-

He shuffled a bit closer to her, turning to give her what he hoped was a small smile that conveyed some kind of reassurance, before looking up again, hands on the surface behind him to hold him up.

"It sounds like you guys were really close then, huh. It's good you had people like that. I'm sure they still think of you fondly. Both of them. I mean, who wouldn't? ...For what it's worth, I hope she's alright too."

Xen, who'd fluttered into the air when Yuuto moved, perched himself onto one of Yuna's thighs, cawing at her and staring up at her with his bug eyes. He huffed in amusement, looking back down to watch him. The pesky little thing, he probably knew exactly what he was doing.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna gave a small sniff, finally taking note of the tears running down her face. She nodded her head ever so slightly in acknowledgement of Yuuto's words, trying her best to smile back. She only really got as far as the upturning of the corners of her lips.

"Yeah, we were," She said. "I just... I miss how things were before. Even if I do go back, things will never be the same - how could they? I vanish without a word for at least a year and someone else who was just "going abroad" turns out to be some crazy magical being and then whatever happens to the last of us who didn't get stuck anywhere..."

She sighed and gave Xen a small pat on the head, thankful for the little gesture. She also turned her head towards Yuuto, wiping at her eyes as she spoke. Her voice still wavered somewhat, but it was a bit more steady as she tried to relax herself.

"Thank you, though... hearing you say that makes me feel a bit less anxious, even if stuff is... well, like this..." She gestured vaguely with a hand. "They were two of the maybe three? Four? People who really kinda looked out for me, so it's really hard to not be attached, yknow? Even with the whole 'spiriting away' thing..."

Yuna gave a slightly dry chuckle.

"Actually, I was kinda mad about that at first, cause I didn't really have a choice in coming here. Last I knew I was just gonna run away and hide forever... but if whatever happened HADN'T happened... I wouldn't have been able to make more friends, like you or Kiyuu or... well... literally anyone else here... so I guess it wasn't all bad."

[starry-nights-abound]

As Yuna talked, Yuuto couldn't help but think back to his own life, before everything. Having the support and care of others like she had... sounded really nice. It wasn't like he cared now, though. Definitely not. It's not like thinking about it would change how everyone had thought about him anyway.

"...I wish I could say I could empathise, but honestly, I can't really. I understand to an extent, sure, but I don't think I'll ever know how that feels. I mean- the only person that would've missed me even a little bit is here too. I don't really know what it's like to be missed." He said, sighing quietly.

He shook his head. "Though, I think I'm definitely the odd one out. 'Cause like- after the initial shock of y'know- literally being kidnapped without my consent and being transported to a literal other dimension- the first thoughts I had once I'd processed it all weren't anything like panic, or fear- I was just kinda like- "This is so cool", y'know?" He commented, with a huff of laughter.

"Well- I guess it would have prefered not having to like- die to get here- and maybe it would have been dope to actually be able to use magic myself- but like- really honestly- I'm kinda thankful, more than anything. Even back then- when all I had was Kiki and the rusty old roof of this damn building over my head- I felt better than I had in ages. Even though it was hard, I finally had some kind of... hope, I guess."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Instead of honing in on anything else, one detail of Yuuto's words stuck out to Yuna.

"Wait... so... you also nearly died- er... did? Die? Before waking up in the coffin?" She asked suddenly, before realizing that such a question was likely inappropriate.

"Wait- sorry that... nevermind." She said, shaking her head as though that would somehow erase the embarrassment. Still, she was glad at least that Yuuto was also willing to converse with her at this moment.

Yuna was silent for a moment, waiting just a brief second to readjust and recover from her slight self-perceived blunder before continuing.

"But, um... I agree, honestly. I think thats the nice part about this place - yknow, what you said about hope? I can't really ever determine what your life was like before this and you said yourself you don't quite get mine... but... in the end it really doesnt matter, yknow? Because it wound up giving an entirely new start to... everything."

That was another reason Yuna couldn't be entirely angry. She was able to be someone different here - hell, she was simply able to be someone, even if that someone was the magicless stranger from another world. She didnt have a clue how bad it might have been for her friends, and that definitely made her feel some sort of guilt, but she certainly could relate to the feeling of having a fresh start.

She sighed, now looking at Yuuto full-on, her green eyes reflecting an odd melancholy.

"It honestly makes any decisions that I'll have to make later a lot harder, though. I honestly dont know if i even want to go home anymore... I think I'd miss everyone here even more than the people back there..."

[starry-nights-abound]

"Nah, it's fine." He shook his head. "I mean, I'm pretty fuckin' sure I died. I remember the stupid carriage runnin' us clean over and I felt that pain. So- either died or nearly before the transportation, yeah. You too huh?" He asked casually, leaning forward again to look over at her.

He nodded in acknowledgement of her words. He thought about it, and really, Yuna was right, at least a little bit. It didn't really matter if they understood what the other had experienced, they were in the same situation now. It was a fresh start for all of them. Although...

"Yeah, 'cause you've had time to adjust to this life now, right? As much as you have. It's not really a decision I have to think about, though. I'm not going back no matter what, even if they make me. I couldn't ever. But..."

He paused, hesitating. He looked to Yuna, seeing the expression in her eyes, before turning his head away with a soft breath out, gaze fixed downwards.

"...I know it's not the same for Kiyuu. She... I know she misses things just being... normal. Just having- regular problems- Not- constantly being in dangerous situations, or risking her life- as often as we've had to, or dealing with- magic and potions and all of this supernatural stuff."

He admitted quietly. He didn't like to say it out loud, the blaring truth that Kiyuu could just- leave one day, just like that. Speaking it into existance made it feel so much more real, like something that was so much closer to being an actual possibility than just a far away idea. She wasn't attatched to life here like he was, god he knew that. He just... didn't have much hope that he was enough to get her to stay. And that hurt more than anything.

"I guess... eh, it doesn't matter. I want her to be happy. She deserves that much. And if she can't be happy here, then... that's that."

He'd never been enough for anyone to stay. ...Why would that change now?

[starry-nights-abound]

Uh, hi, I didn’t expect to see another member of my dorm, what’s up? Your name is Aros, right? - Asai Hikaru

(Ooc: @ask-the-reddit-sillies )

"Oh- Hello. Yes, that's me. Do you need anything? Or, are you after an autograph, perhaps?"

[ask-the-reddit-sillies]

Not an autograph or anything! I don’t really care about that stuff. I guess…it’s just nice to see more people from my dorm online ig- (also I have pyromaniac behind me trying to encourage me to make more friends) - Asai Hikaru

[starry-nights-abound]

Ah, I see. That makes you a lot more amicable than a lot of the students here, I can say that much. But in any case, it's nice to meet you. I hope Night Raven College has been treating you well so far.

[starry-nights-abound]

Uh, hi, I didn’t expect to see another member of my dorm, what’s up? Your name is Aros, right? - Asai Hikaru

(Ooc: @ask-the-reddit-sillies )

"Oh- Hello. Yes, that's me. Do you need anything? Or, are you after an autograph, perhaps?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Sitting atop one of Ramshackle's lower rooves, sat Yuuto, knee's to his chest, drawing tablet balanced carefully on top, propped up for easier access. From an outside perspective, it looked a little unorthodox, but he wasn't planning on anyone seeing him anyway, so he didn't care.

With a frown and narrowed eyes, he scratched his pen across the tablet's surface. He'd been sitting there in the same spot for a while now; hours at this point, had watched the sun set and the sky turn dark. Though he showed no effort to move back inside, focus glued to the screen in front of him.

Hearing the familar flap of a bird's wings, he snapped out of his trance, looking up to see Xen flying towards him, landng on his shoulder with a squawk. He paused his drawing, reaching a hand to run down the birds back, a slow movement, giving a small smile to the bird, before the corners of his lips ticked back down, and he turned back to focus on his drawing, much to the bird's disapointment.

Xen stayed a moment, tilting his head a tick towards Yuuto in inquiry, before suddenly launching himself off of his shoulder with a loud caw, flying down from the roof, Yuuto too focused on ignoring everything around him again to notice in just who's direction Xen was flying.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Looking at the sky, Yuna had decided it was finally late enough for her to prepare herself for her standard late-night venture. Her bag of music books, assorted journals, and a simple lantern sat on her back, much heavier than it looked, and she had only just left the dorm.

Recently, her mood had actually been quite high, and she really didn't believe she had to spend time in the Music Room to suffer in silence for once, but she did quite enjoy the solitude when she got to practice. As such, it was only fitting that she would take the opportunity on such a lovely night to maybe get a few hours of practice in before going to sleep.

Unfortunately, though, her practice would likely not come to fruition as she heard a familiar cry in the distance along with the sound of flapping wings. She looked up, noting the dark crow that seemed honed in on her presence and paused, turning towards the silhouette.

"Ah! Xen, is that you little guy?" Yuna asked, sticking her arm out for the crow to land on. "What might you be doing flying around this late?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Taking Yuna's extended arm as an invitation, Xen landed down gracefully, peering up at her. He fluttered his wings, making a sort of clicking sound, making sure he had her attention. For a moment, he was still, just staring, until he suddenly bounced off of her arm, almost as quickly as he'd come. He hovered in front of her for a second, as if trying to communicate something to her, the retainment of her attention, or a certain sense of urgency, perhaps, before flying off again, back in the direction he'd come from.

Landing atop of Yuuto's tablet this time, Xen squawked loudly at him. Yuuto tsk-ed, swatting him off, trying to focus, but Xen was persistant in his efforts to get his attention, until finally, he paused, looking up.

"Xen- get off- what're you-" He started, before his mouth snapped shut. Xen having flown out of his direct line of sight, he'd made direct eye contact with someone else behind him; Yuna.

"Oh."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna stuck up her hand in an awkward wave. Despite having been in the same dorm for a while, Yuna still wasn't sure how to carry herself around Yuuto, considering the latter's tendency to act standoffish (in her opinion). Still, the least she could do is offer a polite greeting, maybe even a conversation! After all, Xen HAD gone out of his way to grab her attention.

"Hey," She said, tilting her head up to see where Yuuto was seated. "Whatcha up to up there? It's awful late to be on the roof, isn't it?"

Yuna knew full well the hypocrisy of pointing out her dormmate's presence this late, but she figured it didn't matter as long as she wasn't criticizing. Plus, there was also the matter of having her attention dragged towards Yuuto by Xen.

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto spun his head to glare at Xen, who gave an pleased click in response, perched on his shoulder once more, seemingly happy with himself. Why Xen had even gotten Yuna to notice him up there - because he knows the bird did, he didn't know. Nor did he have the energy to question it.

He didn't wave back right away, debating if he really wanted to engage in conversation right now. He could easily just ignore her, or tell her to leave him alone, but... he decided that something in him didn't really want to do that. Even though he was way too tired.

"Drawing." He answered finally. A second passed, then he added, "Didn't wanna sit inside. I'd've been up anyway." He shrugged.

Taking more notice of Yuna now that they were 'convsersing', he noticed her bag and the lantern she'd brought with her. She was leaving the building. For what though?

"Where were you off to, then?" He offered, half as a begrudging effort at pleasantry, half out of his own faint curiosity. He told himself it was just because Xen had made her pay attention to him. No other reason.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Sounds fun," Yuna replied with a nod. She was pleased that she was successful in her attempt to converse. Still, she couldnt quite figure out how to talk to the boy just yet. She was gonna do her best, though. "I would ask why the roof, but im sure you have your reasons for why there specifically.

As for me? I was gonna go find a quiet place to practice, but... well, your little friend decided to divebomb me as I was heading out... not that I mind, though. I can always head out tomorrow or some time after classes anyways, so why pass up a chance to chat?"

She tucked the lantern at her waist and moved back closer to the building so she didn't have to speak as loud. As she did, Yuna noticed an odd vibe to the air around her, a nagging question forming in the back of her mind - one that always nagged when she found herself in conversations this late:

"So how have you been doing lately? Everything alright on your end?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...'S closer to the stars." Yuuto responded, glancing up, gaze lingering for a second longer than it probably should have. He wasn't really sure why he'd even answered, Yuna hadn't even explicitly asked. Maybe there was just something about tonight that was compelling him to talk.

"That and- it's outta the way. Don't usually get bothered up 'ere. Well- 'xcept for when this fucker decides to swoop innocent bystanders for no reason." He grumbled.

"Oi- why'd' ya swoop 'er like that, hah?" He asked the bird, just to recieve an almost mischevious sounding chirp in response. He scoffed, though with a hint of fondness, and turned back to Yuna with an 'apologetic look'. "Damn, got nothin' for ya. This guy's pretty stubborn."

At the question she'd followed up with, only an innocent inquiry into his wellbeing, he faltered slightly, before just shrugging again. "I've been fine, I guess." He said, promptly ignoring the dissaproving clicks from Xen.

Without much wait, not wanting to stew too long on... whatever that was, he asked, "...How 'bout yours? Your end- I mean. You all good?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna opened her mouth to speak, and-

No, this wouldn't do. She could barely see her conversation partner and anything that needed to be kept under wraps would still have to be blurted out to be heard.

"Hold on, just a sec." She said suddenly, placing her bag under the awning of the front door and promptly throwing herself up onto the railing, clambering up to the roof where Yuuto sat.

"Sorry- didn't want to keep shouting, you know? It's easier to talk this way."

She hummed to herself in thought for a moment, nodding.

"I myself am... pretty okay, surprisingly... it's not too often that I don't wanna throw it all away and hide in the basement and cry for the rest of my life, so...?" She finally said, placing the lantern on the roof between the two. "But... the stars, huh?"

She looked up, a quiet hum already returning on her lips. She often found herself wondering just who else might be seeing the same sky she was...

"I guess I can't fault you for that, then. It's one of the few familiar comforts we can afford ourselves at this point..." She said, though the second part was directed more towards herself than anything.

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Huh. I was 'bout to invite you up, actually. Or come down myself. But this works too." Yuuto said, a small grin making its way onto his expression.

"Hah. That's certainly a thought. But- it's good you're doin' alright, right now at least. Silver linings or something." He nodded.

He followed Yuna's gaze, looking up again. He'd always felt drawn the the stars, and the night sky. It was the one thing he couldn't let go of, even after abandoning all of his other interests and interests in times long passed, even after countless sleepless nights underneath them, before being whisked away.

"I getcha. I mean, not that I care to much about the familiarity, though. I've always liked 'em, even when I was little. Living under 'em for enough time'll help ya out there too, I think. You end up lovin' 'em or hating 'em."

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Yeah..." Yuna nodded. "I used to live out in the suburbs, but it was empty enough that you could always see the sky - though I didnt usually pay it too much mind... too many different things yknow? I always did love the rain, though... kinda that same feeling. Enough rainy days and it starts to be you look forward more to the clouds than the sun."

She sighed, craning her neck to peer over Yuuto's shoulder.

"So... what're you drawing? The night sky is a pretty subject, sure, but is it as obvious a subject as that? Or just something else?" She asked. It was one of the fun things about drawing compared to photography - you never could tell what someone was doing if they were drawing.

[starry-nights-abound]

"I was always lookin' up at it. Back then, like- ages ago, I used to sneak out of my room just to go lie outside in the yard and stargaze. My parents hated it for some god forsaken reason. They hated everything I did though." Yuuto commented, nothing more than an eyeroll at the mention, before moving on.

"It is a pretty subject, but I don't really draw it all that much. It's..." He turned to his tablet again, hesitating for a fraction of a second, before shaking it off, moving to zoom the screen out to see the almost-finished drawing more clearly.

It was a pretty large scale view of an arcade looking place, a mix of old-school and more modern looking game machines lining the walls and in other areas, pops of purple and pinkier-purple, a bunch of bright colours everywhere, the whole piece abundant in details. Near the middle, enthusiastically playing on one of the machines, was a figure, the only figure in the drawing, that was undoubtebly Kiyuu, the only difference between them the slightly more blonde colour to her hair.

"...A place we used to frequent a lot. As well as I can remember it, anyway." Yuuto said, after a moment, after staring at it for a little too long. It took another moment before he continued.

"I don't even know how this got here to be honest... I mean- I barely ever even draw stuff like this- like- I don't miss it back in our world, at all, it sucked. I guess I've just been- like- weirdly sentimental or something recently without any real reason to be, I dunno."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's expression softened as she looked at the drawing, listening intently to Yuuto's words.

"It looks nice... I can feel the nostalgia just by looking at it, yknow? I wish I could capture that feeling with my own stuff, hehe..."

She leaned back a bit, a soft huff escaping her lips as she looked back out at the sky.

"But yknow... I think its normal to miss our old homes... even if they sucked or didn't have much going for them, yknow?" She mused, a slight somber tone creeping into her voice. "Like... it's honestly been super conflicting, cause everything leading up to me coming here? Sucked. But... I do miss the nicer parts. Like playing the piano for my dad when I was younger or sitting in the rain with my friends or just listening to my mom's stories. Maybe it's just something like that... you don't really miss it, sure, but there was a strange sense of normalcy and the occasional good thing, maybe? Sorry- I'm just rambling, aren't I?"

Yuna continued to stare out. She never was really good at analysing people's feelings, was she?

Still, there was just a feeling she couldn't shake. She was actually having a conversation and by God or the Seven or whoever was listening, she was going to talk about it, even if she couldn't discern what it even was.

"... What was it like for you guys? If you don't mind me asking, of course... it just occurred to me that I still don't know too much about what you guys got to experience 'back home'."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto's eyes crinkled slightly as he looked over at Yuna, smiling ever so slightly at her words. He usually just drew for himself, but it was still nice when someone had something to say other than shallow compliments.

He shook his head. "S fine. Don't apologise for talking. 'Specially 'bout that stuff. "It's not like I'm filling the silence."

He looked down at the screen for a moment longer, before clicking the tablet shut and putting it to the side. Stretching his legs back out, he spoke up again.

"...I think of this place more like home than back there. It- I dunno. I don't like- have many fond memories of back then. So."

He peered back up at the stars again, just staring up at them. Then he leant back, moving to lie on his back, stretching an arm out for Xen to perch on instead. He had no idea why the bird hadn't flown away yet, or why he'd done anything he'd done today, but it wasn't like he could just ask, so he didn't really care enough.

"Kiyuu 'n I aren't like- childhood friends or anything, so I don't know what she'd have to say. I only met 'er like- half a year before all this? I think. We hung out a ton, but there was only so many places we could go without bein' harrassed by other kids from our school. Like the arcade. 'S why we were always there. I'm pretty sure it was illegal for us to even be there though. Not that anyone cared enough about us to say anythin'. Hah." He continued, abscentmindedly petting Xen's back as he spoke, the bird's wing fluttering in contentment.

[night-raven-miscellany]

"Wish I had a space where I could've escaped like that with someone else..." Yuna replied. "I think I could've avoided a lot of what wound up leading to my being here if I did. Even if I dont really regret having come here."

She looked down at her hands, twiddling her thumbs as she continued.

"Kids... really do suck, don't they? They suck even more when youre not only being mistreated or outcast by them, but also one or more of your own parents? It's the worst."

Yuna thought back to her old life and the events that had led up to her own overblot. Speaking like she was now, though, made her feel almost embarrassed about the whole scenario - freaking out like that when it seemed her dormmates had been through something similar at least.

And yet it was also oddly cathartic to think that she wasn't alone in how she navigated the world, at least somewhat.

"How did you two meet if you weren't childhood friends?"

[starry-nights-abound]

"...Yeah. They do. I didn't really have anyone there." He muttered. "...'xcept for Kiki, for the short time I'd known 'er."

Looking up at the night sky, his thoughts wandered back to their time at the arcade, recalling all of their times there with fondness.

"To be honest, It didn't even last forever. The fuckers that owned the place got sick of me tryna crash there. Then some jackasses followed us there this one time- and- ugh. Let's just say they didn't appreciate us 'engagin' in violence' in the middle of the fuckin' place. It was so dumb. But yeah- we were banned from comin' back and that was that." He sighed. He didn't miss a lot of things, but he felt like maybe he did miss it there. Those moments of refuge where he didnt't have to think or worry about anything else, he could just... be.

Listening to Yuna as she spoke again, he blinked at her question, not really expecting the curiosity. He shrugged.

"Transferred to the school I went to after winter break that year. Our teacher sat her next to me, and the next thing you know- she was actually talking to me. Fuckin' crazy. Everyone else thought so too. And they definitely didn't take too kindly to it either."

And he knew why all too well. They didn't figure her out immediately, but it had only taken a couple of weeks for the rumors to circulate. No matter how many fights Yuuto engaged himself in, to protect Kiyuu more often than not, they never stopped, never left them alone. And he knew how much it upset her, too. And yet she stuck by him anyway, has told him countless times that she'd never regretted it, even though he could always see the exhaustion in her eyes.

He turned his head to the side then, dragging his eyes away from the stars to land on Yuna instead.

"So... what about you? Any stories to tell?"

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna wanted to respond right off the bat - offer some sort of consolation, relief, anything, but she knew full well how little anything like that would do now... they were all away from their old lives, after all. What use was there in sympathizing over it when things weren't like that anymore?

She sighed, shrugging her shoulders as she tapped her fingers on the roof.

"...Wish I did, really. But honestly... before coming here, my life was unremarkable. So unremarkable, in fact, that I really didn't have that many people to talk to except for the two friends I did have..."

She hadnt spoken about her old school life with others since... well...

But it always filled her with a sense of discomfort. Sure, she was never, like, physically bullied or anything, but her own issues came from the isolation and ostracization she felt at the hands of her peers.

"People always talked about me like I wasnt there... but that did mean they just kind of said whatever around me, not really thinking anything of it. I probably have some gossip stories, but anything related to myself in particular is... less than interesting."

She looked down at her legs, kicking her feet aimlessly.

Any stories she could share were all things that had happened here. There was no such thing as an interesting day in her life prior to getting whisked away through Minerva's influence - God, how she didn't want to think about that - and there never would be. Without her friends, she was functionally no one. A blank slate. Someone who existed in the background of everyone else's life, including her own. Before Twisted Wonderland, there was no 'Yu' or 'Yuna' or anything. Just the plain girl who sat in the back of the class and spoke to no one and was, presumably, only kept around as some sort of weird pet project by students who were superior to her in every way (no matter how untrue that last statement actually was).

"Unless, of course, you dont mind just... smaller anecdotes. Nothing interesting... but... its something?"

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto listened quietly, laying still, aside from the occasional pat to Xen.

"...If it was really that unremarkable though, you wouldn't really miss it, would'dya? I mean- you had friends, parents, people you meant something to, and who meant something to you, ya'know? You were someone to them."

He swung his arm out, casually pointing a finger out as he continued.

"It might not have been the liveliest of lives, and'ya might not think it was all that great, but it was yours. You said you played piano, right? And I don't doubt you were just as good of a friend as you are now. That doesn't seem that 'unremarkable' to me."

He shrugged. He was really talking tonight, wasn't he? He didn't really even know why he felt so compelled to speak now, why he was unusually content in this sort of peaceful atmosphere. And yeah, maybe it wasn't his place to say stuff like that to Yuna, but he didn't regret it.

He brang his arm back down, putting his head on the hand now.

"I don't care what'cha tell me. But I wanna hear about you, if I have any say in it. Doesn't matter what it is. What kinda things did you do with your friends? What'd you do for fun, for yourself? Whatever you wanna share. Hah, god knows I've talked more than enough for one night."

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna's eyes widened slightly, surprised that anyone would show any real, full interest in her life aside from her odd anecdotes and occasional pieces of advice.

"Oh- um... well... I guess I could always start with my friends back home... I do miss seeing them both..." Yuna said, pushing her bangs from her face.

"I think I may have mentioned Minerva once or twice before, but she's the one thats partially responsible for my being here... in fact if I didnt mention it before, it was her visiting that led to... well... everything."

She began to tap her fingers on the roof beneath her again, a rhythmic thumping as she thought and worked herself through her own words and what she wanted to say versus what she found herself capable of saying.

"She was always the 'pretty' one of my little trio, and I dont really blame anyone for thinking that. Min was like... actually, she's a lot like Kiyuu, now that I think about it? Peppy and cheerful and really doesnt like to see anyone sad, but also has this kinda glamorous air about her. I dunno... but she was also one of the first people to really chat me up when I transferred schools in middle school. A lot of people thought she mustve had this real 'mean girl' air about her, since she was pretty and popular, but like... she was never actually that mean. Hell, even her basically lying to me for the entire duration of our friendship was done in the interest of others rather than herself. Maybe if I can ever get her to visit again, I'll try and introduce you all."

Once the words had started flowing, though, Yuna found it was quite easy to talk about things, even if they were a bit painful to think about. Her voice wavered a tiny bit as she continued, only serving to exemplify that idea.

"Then there was Wilomena, or just Mena... she was the 'smart' one in the group, though personally, I think she was just as pretty as Min. But her smart title was also not a stretch in the least, considering she was always top of our class and student council president and this that and the other and..."

Yuna paused.

"She always liked playing music with me. She played violin, kinda like how some of my otjer friends do here... and she'd drag me along to meetings, trying her best to make everyone feel included..."

She didn't realize it when her face started becoming damp with tears.

"She's the only one still back there... she doesn't even know that I'm still alive and that Min is out here as some powerful witch and she's the only one left... God I hope she's alright..."

[starry-nights-abound]

Yuuto let Yuna talk, even sitting up again at one point, glad Yuna was a little more confident in her words now. It was nice to listen to her voice, a soothing sound to fill the quiet air.

...He didn't really like this Minerva chick though, based on what Yuna was saying about her. But maybe he didn't have any right to comment on living in a lie, either.

Catching onto the more somber tone of voice, Yuuto peered at her, quickly realising her eyes were watering. He froze for a second, inwardly berating himself for not considering this a possibility. Of course Yuna would be upset about this stuff, just because he didn't have anyone back then that would have missed him, didn't mean everyone else was the same. And now he'd made her talk about it for some stupid reason-

He shuffled a bit closer to her, turning to give her what he hoped was a small smile that conveyed some kind of reassurance, before looking up again, hands on the surface behind him to hold him up.

"It sounds like you guys were really close then, huh. It's good you had people like that. I'm sure they still think of you fondly. Both of them. I mean, who wouldn't? ...For what it's worth, I hope she's alright too."

Xen, who'd fluttered into the air when Yuuto moved, perched himself onto one of Yuna's thighs, cawing at her and staring up at her with his bug eyes. He huffed in amusement, looking back down to watch him. The pesky little thing, he probably knew exactly what he was doing.

[night-raven-miscellany]

Yuna gave a small sniff, finally taking note of the tears running down her face. She nodded her head ever so slightly in acknowledgement of Yuuto's words, trying her best to smile back. She only really got as far as the upturning of the corners of her lips.

"Yeah, we were," She said. "I just... I miss how things were before. Even if I do go back, things will never be the same - how could they? I vanish without a word for at least a year and someone else who was just "going abroad" turns out to be some crazy magical being and then whatever happens to the last of us who didn't get stuck anywhere..."

She sighed and gave Xen a small pat on the head, thankful for the little gesture. She also turned her head towards Yuuto, wiping at her eyes as she spoke. Her voice still wavered somewhat, but it was a bit more steady as she tried to relax herself.

"Thank you, though... hearing you say that makes me feel a bit less anxious, even if stuff is... well, like this..." She gestured vaguely with a hand. "They were two of the maybe three? Four? People who really kinda looked out for me, so it's really hard to not be attached, yknow? Even with the whole 'spiriting away' thing..."

Yuna gave a slightly dry chuckle.

"Actually, I was kinda mad about that at first, cause I didn't really have a choice in coming here. Last I knew I was just gonna run away and hide forever... but if whatever happened HADN'T happened... I wouldn't have been able to make more friends, like you or Kiyuu or... well... literally anyone else here... so I guess it wasn't all bad."

[starry-nights-abound]

As Yuna talked, Yuuto couldn't help but think back to his own life, before everything. Having the support and care of others like she had... sounded really nice. It wasn't like he cared now, though. Definitely not. It's not like thinking about it would change how everyone had thought about him anyway.

"...I wish I could say I could empathise, but honestly, I can't really. I understand to an extent, sure, but I don't think I'll ever know how that feels. I mean- the only person that would've missed me even a little bit is here too. I don't really know what it's like to be missed." He said, sighing quietly.

He shook his head. "Though, I think I'm definitely the odd one out. 'Cause like- after the initial shock of y'know- literally being kidnapped without my consent and being transported to a literal other dimension- the first thoughts I had once I'd processed it all weren't anything like panic, or fear- I was just kinda like- "This is so cool", y'know?" He commented, with a huff of laughter.

"Well- I guess it would have prefered not having to like- die to get here- and maybe it would have been dope to actually be able to use magic myself- but like- really honestly- I'm kinda thankful, more than anything. Even back then- when all I had was Kiki and the rusty old roof of this damn building over my head- I felt better than I had in ages. Even though it was hard, I finally had some kind of... hope, I guess."

[starry-nights-abound]

4 and 14 for the unusual questions ask game :3

HAIII !!!!! THANK U FOR THE NUMBRS !! :D

4. do you write your drafts in order or jump around?

when i have more than 1 thing to respond to at once, i usually do rp threads first, then asks, each in order of when i got them !! but when im stumped for ideas i do usually jump around a bit, but i do try to finish them in order for the most part ^^

then with like my own drafts, like things im planning on posting, i definitely jump around a lot more, its way harder to get myself to finish things in order 😭😭

14. what's a detail you always try to slip into your writing?

i cant rly think of an answer to this akfksdgs but iguess i try to like something thats hard for me in rp is like actually writing the ocs thoughts kind of??? like i describe actions and do speech instinctively but so often i forget to give like any context to their thoughts which i think is pretty bad but i try to more so theres that!!!