✮⋆˙ deluxe ✮⋆˙ 20 ✮⋆˙ any pronouns ✮⋆˙ artist + writer ✮⋆˙ multifandom nerd ✮⋆˙ oc parent ✮⋆˙ always suffering ✮⋆˙ do not feed my work to ai. ✮⋆˙
hiyaaaa!! im deluxe, your below average artist and writer trying to figure out everything out. i'm mainly here to share and grow a community so please say hi whenever you'd like!! my works can be NSFW so if you're a minor, please do not interact!!! additionally, if you don't like what i make, that's ok!! please feel free to move on and live your life :)
i block freely, please don't feel like it's anything against you.
i am open for fic requests, art comms, or art trades!!! feel free to dm me or request (whenever i get that button to work lol).
dms are open to moots but please be aware im bad at responding so thank you for being understanding <3. asks are open for any one as long as its respectful!!! i don't want to interact with fandom discourse or bashing anything or anyone. always be respectful of everyone around you!!!
day 1 An Afternoon
Khaslana is always seen running around before meeting Cyrene, as if he's eager to show her something new. But, she's always more than happy to take things slow.
day 2 What Keeps Me Moving
Phainon lived every day for something, someone one. But who? That thought haunted him every single moment he lived. Who could he be fighting so desperately for? Who lingered in the back of his mind this entire time?
day 3 Asphodel Flower
High school is just about to end and everyone is ready to graduate. Then, its announced. Cyrene has passed away from something known as Hanahaki disease. The class is devastated… But Phainon is taking it the worst.
day 4 Do Something
Haunted by the thought of her leaving forever, Phainon rushes to the hospital, meeting face-to-face with a sickly Cyrene.
day 5 Welcome to AMPHOREUS
Welcome to AMPHOREUS. You have been living here for as long as you can remember.
day 6 A Romantic Story Like Never Before
Today was the day, the most important day of their lives. It was the day he gets to see her walk down the aisle and promise himself to her.
day 7 Humanity, the Finest Among Them All
It was the 33,550,337th season of the competition. His guardian, Lygus, loomed over him for countless of years watching as he rose to fame and annihilated every competition. This season? It was nothing special. It was another round of watching as his competitors were brutally slaughtered before his very eyes. Another round of mindless praise from a monster that meant nothing to him.
this palette reminds me of how the night sky goes from dark blues to purples after the sun sets and before the sun rises. original title for this was ‘night wave,’ hehe.
Humanity, the Finest Among Them All | Phairene Week 2026 Day 7
Characters: Phainon. Cyrene. The Herta. Screwllum. Lygus. Nanook
Summary: It was the 33,550,337th season of the competition. His guardian, Lygus, loomed over him for countless of years watching as he rose to fame and annihilated every competition. This season? It was nothing special. It was another round of watching as his competitors were brutally slaughtered before his very eyes. Another round of mindless praise from a monster that meant nothing to him.
Word Count: 3,411 words
Tags: Phairene Week 2026. No beta read. CW Guns and blood. Alien Stage AU. Semi-canon compliant to alien stage?? (as much as i could be </3). Angst. Phainon is stuck singing. Cyrene is working with The Herta and Screwllum. SCREWLLUM AND THE HERTA PLAY A MAJOR ROLE. Lygus is bad guy as always. Nanook shows up. This fic is Amphoreus arc merged with Alien Stage. Angst with a happy ending.
Notes: day 7 alien stage,, this was not meant to be 3k words long, something happened and the words just kept going. i can and will yap about this if you let me,,, maybe will rewrite this fic fully like the omori fic,,,
Misc.: dividers by @/cafekitsune
"Phainon~!" Cyrene called out from under the tree. "Come, come! Take a look!"
Just as he came rushing over, the little girl raised the paper up into the air. Drawn on it was a picture of them both holding hands with a setting sun just behind them. Beside there were numerous items that he couldn't quite recognize. But, nonetheless, he was awestruck.
"Wowww!"Phainon gasped, slowing down as he came closer. "That looks so cool!"
"I know, right?" Cyrene grinned. "My dad told me that there's so much more out there aside from home. I can't wait to see them all one day!"
"Oooh, can I come too?" Phainon asked, his smile beaming from ear to ear.
"Sure! I bet we can all go together one day!"
It was the 33,550,337th season of the competition. His guardian, Lygus, loomed over him for countless of years watching as he rose to fame and annihilated every competition. This season? It was nothing special. It was another round of watching as his competitors were brutally slaughtered before his very eyes. Another round of mindless praise from a monster that meant nothing to him.
It was time for the final round. By now, his heart had grown sick of the entire thing. How much longer could he fake the passionate drive in his heart? To sing for someone who never seemed to return. To dream of another day under that artificial sky before she was taken away from him. What more could he do than grieve and do as he was told?
By his side was a young man grieving, crying his heart out. How could he blame him? Watching as each competitor was killed, forced to move on and now face what could be viewed as a goliath in the scene? There was no hope in beating Phainon. What more could he do but grieve his awaiting death?
But, even after all these years, Phainon pitied him. He pitied the humanity that still wavered in his heart. Approaching the boy carefully, Phainon knelt down to his level and offered a comforting embrace.
"You did great," he comforted with a soft whisper. "Keep believing in yourself, please."
The man looked up, staring into Phainon's cloudy eyes before a hesitant nod followed. Helping the man to his feet, their conversation was shortened with the sound of doors creaking open, revealing blinding stage lights that made their way towards the two.
Phainon wore a practiced smile like every single round, waving towards the sea of monsters that reveled in their misery. The other man could barely hold himself together, afraid that this would be his end.
But, as Phainon looked through the crowd, a glimmer of pink caught his attention. The same shade as her hair. His smile faltered for a second before forcing it back to his face. When he looked again, there was no sight of that pink shade to be seen. It was just his imagination, just as always.
With the music starting, Phainon sang as he always had. His voice powerful and artificial, crafted by his guardian to be the best, enough to destroy his competition. Even if he wanted to slack and let others win, his voice wouldn't let him. That monster wouldn't even consider the thought. It was solely thanks to his voice that that monster rose to fame. Flaunting his ever so beautifully crafted masterpiece, claiming it would be enough to even make greatest aliens fear him.
"What are you doing?!" The Herta scolded her, dragging the young lady down to her level. "You're risking us being seen. The entire mission could be ruined because of your recklessness!"
"Sorry," Cyrene muttered. "I just, had to see if he was okay."
"Define 'okay'," She replied harshly. "Your friend has watched person after person get killed because of his talent. He witnessed countless of deaths practically by his own hands. Is that 'okay' to you?"
Cyrene's face scrunched in horror, glancing away as her heart shattered into pieces. Having everything just laid out to her like that felt gruesome to face. Upon seeing this, The Herta's face softened upon seeing the pain on her face.
"Okay, admittedly that was a little harsh but—"
"I get it," Cyrene interrupted, falling onto her level. "He's in pain, and we have to stop this right away."
"Right," she replied curtly, accessing the computer and booting up the system. "Well, it might take some time to download the virus but Screwllum made this to be efficient. The second we're in, the virus will implant itself immediately and shut down the entire system. Then, we'll just have to go from there."
"Do you mean, this is only meant to shut down the contest? Nothing else?" Cyrene asked, taking a seat beside The Herta as she tries to boot up another computer.
"Unfortunately, yes," she said directly. "With a society like this, there's no way you can dismantle the system overnight. Every 'guardian' has a human they want to take advantage of because of their own pleasure and desire. Like how they've used humans for entertainment with these contests. You can't just get them to stop, they have a mind of their own. But, if we could stop these contests, it should buy use some time to free more people and maybe dissuade them from thinking of them as entertainment."
Cyrene frowned at the thought. This ongoing cycle, was there really nothing else that could be done? Were humans, these beautiful and magnificent creatures, just forced to be mere toys for aliens' entertainment? Her hand balled into a fist, barely able to contain itself as the number slowly crept up, booting up the entire system that held this disgusting show together.
"Miss Cyrene," a new voice called out from behind them. "Could you see if there are additional back-up files we could access from the main computer?"
"Ah, yes," she replied, quickly scooting away to a new computer to access to cloud data. "Would it be enough to access it through the cloud data? Just so that every device with it would lose the main file?"
Screwllum inched closer, glancing from across her shoulder. "It should do enough damage," he responded. "They may have additional back-ups but if they were not saved nor updated through the cloud, they would have a lot to rebuild before we could see another one of these shows pop up again."
The thought was enough to make her grimace. The situation seemed so barren. Will this be enough to change the future and humanity? Or will it be enough to free only a handful of people?
No, she refused to think like that. If this mission could be enough to save even a single person, it would be worth it. It would mean they had a chance to save another person, then another. If humanity had to be rebuilt one person at a time, so be it.
And let it start with him.
His voice carried across the stage, sending cheers and applause throughout the stadium. Each word crafted perfectly to represent the image of him he presented to the world but never true to himself. But, that was for the best. How could he entertain if he was his true self? A reflection of hatred towards the monsters that held him captive in this moment? His voice of power would quickly be simmered if he showed an ounce of defiance. A cruel truth Phainon had to bear.
Across from him was that young man, his voice trembling with each high note. He sang desperately, his voice scratching against his note. Each move filled with please and desperation, begging to be seen, to be looked at, to live. The dichotomy between them both could be posted as the sole reason why this season was anything remarkable. Because even with his pleas, the winner was set from the very beginning. He entered a stage where everything was rigged against him.
Then suddenly, the lights began to flicker. The screen illuminating behind them struggled to stay on. For once, Phainon's voice stuttered, his attention being drawn behind him.
But, rather than many capturing his imperfection, they began to scream and cheer even more. The drama and excitement was the kind of entertainment these monsters needed, an unknown factor that sent them to the edge of their seats.
With the instrumental still blasting behind them, the pathetic man looked towards Phainon, seeking reassurance. "What happened?"
"I…I don't know," Phainon whispered, his calm expression doing nothing to comfort the man. "We just have to keep going."
Turning back to the audience, Phainon continued to sing, as he had always practiced.
Breaking through the loading screen, The Herta had the drive stuck into the USB port. The virus quickly settling in and infecting every file and folder inside the device. Before they could even celebrate, a presence made themselves known.
"Ah, what do we have here?" An eerie, robotic voice called from behind. "Cyrene, my child… And the children of Nous? What a pleasant surprise."
Cyrene snapped her head back, blood running cold as that monster stood behind them. "Lygus…!"
"I was naive to think this would go as smoothly as it had been." The Herta shook her head, standing up to her feet and facing him. "But, it seems you've arrived a moment too late."
Lygus broke into a hysterical laugh, the sinister smile plastered on his inhumane face. "Foolish humans, you seem to have forgotten how frail and pathetic your bodies can be."
Raising a gun, he fired at Cyrene's arm, forcing her to recoil back and shudder with pain.
"Miss Cyrene," Screwllum called out, taking her side and quickly inspecting the wound. "Allow me, please stay still."
"You monster!" Cyrene screamed, her face boiling with anger.
"It was merely a matter of time," Lygus laughed. "You managed to escape your very first season despite losing so disgracefully."
She scowled at the thought, teeth gritting as Screwllum had to treat her wound.
"It must be a tragedy," Lygus continued. "To flee for your own life but leave your dearest friend behind and force him to rise from your ashes. Only to return and soon spell his demise."
"What are you saying?" The Herta interrupted, brow raising at the alien. "You've crafted Phainon so he wouldn't lose. Do you intend to keep him suffering for this long?"
"Not quite. In fact, this may be his second to last song. What a shame he won't enjoy it like he should."
"Nanook?" The Herta said. "Are you planning to draw THEIR gaze?!"
"Not just that," laughed the maniac, turning his back to face the barely functional screen as it pans to show Phainon singing. "Nanook will grow interested in this boy. And soon, enough to try and face him themselves. And once THEY even attempt to, Phainon will destroy THEM. He'll be enough to destroy every higher alien out there—even the evasive Nous!"
"What a short-sighted dream," Cyrene snapped. "And you think Phainon will follow you till the end?"
"What choice does he have?" he laughed. "He has nothing but that voice I've gifted him."
"No, he has more than just that," she interrupted, taking a step back toward the computer. "He has a will that burns just as bright, one that he'll command for his own sake!"
With a push of a button, the screen began to distort before rolling the camera on all four of them.
The crowd gasped, seeing the well-known Lygus confronting two humans and another alien. But, among all of them, Phainon was the most shocked. Cyrene, she was there and alive.
Immediately, he stopped singing and faced the screen. One step after another, he approached the illuminating dots that formed the image. "Cyrene…!"
"Phainon, if you can hear me…!"
He froze in the spot, watching Cyrene's mouth move on its own. His gaze traced her figure, noticing the familiar deep red hue trickling down her arm.
"You have to break free! Let's finally end this and see all those sights we talked about! The beautiful setting sun, the endless blue sea, all of it! Let's see it together!"
Bang.
Another shot. Clear as day, shot through her heart. He watched as the other two that accompanied her stumbled to her side.
His hands trembled with anger, one he had never felt before. The sounds of points jumping back and forth from him to his competitors rang through his ears. Points suddenly skewed away from him, placing him at second place. The gun clearly pointed towards him. With a push of a trigger…
He stepped aside, the bullet scratching the metallic floor. His head snapped towards the gun before he quickly approached, snatching and pointing the weapon towards the alien. Phainon didn't give the man another chance as he fired, killing the monster.
Suddenly, the crowd erupted in fear, witnessing a murder before their very eyes. But, it wasn't the typical human fear. No, it was as if they were enjoying the sight before them. The inhumane nature of the singer they once praised.
He kept pulling the trigger, mind keenly aware of every spot they occupied. Phainon had watched person after person fall, each from a similar position, similar angle. He etched every death he witnessed into his head, remembering the spot those shots were fired from.
Before long, the stage was bloodied with whatever these aliens had inside their bodies. And still, the crowd cheered. They reveled in the twist, utterly moved by the entertainment. The sight was revolting.
When the gun was pointed at them, he expected a new kind of response. But instead, they laughed harder, mocking his autonomy. As audiences, they all believe themselves to be immortal, mere observers of the chaos around them. They believe their to be untouched, unharmed, and at no risk of the consequences of their actions.
But he disagreed.
His finger tightened around the trigger, holding the pressure until the bullet escaped the muzzle. Swirling through the air, the bullet sliced through air, striking through the chest of an alien, and digging deep into its skin.
Silence fell across the stadium, all in shock as they watched the alien stumble backwards. It's panicked breath turned to its peers, asking for help through strained cries, only to collapse pathetically on the floor.
Now panic erupted. The once cheers and screams of thrill and laughter were now shrouded with horror and fear—human fear: the fear of death.
Aliens fighting among themselves for the exit, pushing one another away to make it to safety. But, Phainon wouldn't let them.
One shot after another, he shot at the crowd, keeping count of how many bullets he let loose. Each bullet was dedicated to every person who died to bring him here. Three rounds, countless bodies, heart-wrenching screams, for too many seasons. A bullet for those held captive, forced to serve and raised to be cattle, a toy for entertainment. A bullet to those who had their voices silenced by these monsters. And a bullet for all his suffering, the torment his voice brought him, and those he played a hand in killing.
Before long, the stadium was cleared. Bodies scattered across the seats, some aliens successfully escaping. But, emerging through the open doors was an alien he had never seen before. Golden blood oozing from THEIR veins, illuminating the darkness that surrounded them. THEY towered over the stage, eyes looming over the boy that chose to defy his fate.
"Phainon," the contestant stuttered, reaching out to tug the man's sleeve. "We have to go, we should—"
"Go," Phainon demanded, his foggy eyes staring right ahead. "Go find the others, get out of here safely."
Approaching a deceased alien, Phainon swapped his weapon, opting for something with more bullets than a simple pistol. "I'll keep him distracted."
The screens flashed bright yellow as gunfire sounded through the speakers. Lygus stood hovering over the keyboard, smirk reaching from one ear to another as he watched the gruesome display between human and alien. While Cyrene laid there in pain, comforted by Screwllum, The Herta approached, brandishing her weapon.
"Have you gotten all you wanted?" she asked bluntly, her manner still cool and composed. "Have you witnessed the culmination of where your knowledge can take others?"
Lygus simply laughed, his eyes glued to the monitor. "Can't you see it?" he asked, voice twisted with maniacal laughs. "My Iron Tomb, the perfect creation, enough to draw the ire of the greatest alien… And look, he still struggles against THEM. How pathetic."
"No," Cyrene interrupted, her voice harsh as she forced herself to sit up. "Phainon is doing something incredible, far beyond what you could ever do. He has face horrors you could never acknowledge and he still fights for everyone. Unlike you."
"Fighting for this so-called humanity," Lygus chuckled, turning around to face the trio. "Though a pointless endeavor, I find it thrilling to witness. The so-called will to live, desire to fight for others. It results in nothing but the cycle continuing yet, it is entertainment for the masses."
"That's all that we are? Entertainment?" Cyrene shot back, her face scowling at the thought. "So what was everyone? A stepping stone just for what you want?"
"Yes, exactly," he remarked, his tone twisted with narcissism. "All of this was to witness this very moment! The epitome of my brilliance against those powerful enough to be regarded as god-like, beloved and worshiped."
Before Cyrene could say another word, Screwllum stood up, stepping between The Herta and Lygus. The two shared a long stare before…
Pain. All he could feel was utter pain. How their fight turned so one-sided so quickly. Phainon could barely move his legs let alone his arms. But, regardless, he forced one foot forward. His mind forced himself to remember all the poor and innocent lives that were taken for this. How the world failed them, failed Cyrene.
The scream was born from deep within him. All of the anguish and rage culminating to a single scream clawing its was through his throat till it escaped his mouth. Raising the gun, he took aim and fired. The bullet… grazed against THEIR cheek. The first blow he was able to make.
The alien stood there, expression unchanging as the skin around the wound grew back together. But, it still meant something. This monster could be harmed, the same way everyone else could be. Phainon raised another shot—but felt the stinging pain across his chest.
In just a blink of an eye, a painful shot was delivered through his chest, shredding upwards. The gush of red was the last thing he could see before his eyes fell to a close. Hopefully, all he did was enough to buy someone time to save themselves. Maybe, he could finally rest, knowing he carried everyone's revenge to the very end.
His body ached like before, but he could feel something warm against his hand. Even though it hurt, he forced his eyes to open, revealing a familiar shade of pink into his blurry vision.
"Cy…rene?" he whispered through his hoarse throat. "Is it really you?"
Immediately, her figure bounced up to her feet, taking both his hands and greeting him with a soft and warm smile. "Yes! Yes, it's me Phainon," she reassured. "We're free, thanks to so many people and you, you're finally free."
Phainon laughed, immediately regretting it as he began coughing a storm. "That contestant," he managed to speak through his fit. "Is he ok too?"
"Yes, he's ok too," she laughed, her hand gently caressing his arm. "He saved other people too. All thanks to you."
Phainon softly laughed thinking about it, slowly resting his head back onto the pillow. "Finally," he whispered. "I'm glad."
"You should be," The Herta interrupted, standing by the doorframe. "You did impressive job against THEM. Actually landing a hit."
"Yeah, she's right," Cyrene continued, bringing Phainon's hand close to her chest. "And, now that you're free, we can start experiencing the world together! With everyone else too. You'll love everything—it's even better than what we thought about as kids!"
Phainon smiled, his hands tightening around Cyrene's. "Well, since I'm still recovering, can you tell me more?"
Seeing his eyes twinkle with a shroud of hope and excitement, Cyrene reflected his smile, inching closer as she nodded. "Of course. I'll tell you everything I know till you get better."
Summary: Nene and Nene-Robo had been away for a week, practicing for the upcoming play. However, their return was cursed with Nene-Robo seemingly malfunctioning. With no hope of diagnosing the problem, Nene seeks Rui for help. But, the solution turns out to be pretty simple.
Word Count: 752 words.
Tags: RuiNene Week 2026. Established Relationship. Cute. Wholesome. Rui and Nene are referred to as Nene-Robo's parents. Tickle-fight. Nene is a bit of a tsundere. Rui is a tease. Fluff.
Notes: day 5, nene-robo
Misc.: dividers by @/cafekitsune
It happened so suddenly.
During practice, the adorably talented Nene-Robo was singing, until something akin to the sound of explosion was heard deep inside of her. Then, she wouldn't sing. Any attempt to sing was some garbled and screeching mess. The rest of her functions were failing as well.
"Hmmm… Is that so?" Rui asked, kneeling down to inspect the poor robot. "Just out of nowhere?"
Nene nodded, tugging at the sleeves of her school jacket. "Yeah… It was so sudden. I didn't know what could be the cause."
Rui frowned, grabbing a screwdriver from his desk. "Me too. If it was something internal that exploded, that would be concerning. But, nothing I've added to her should've caused that," he said, pressed the tip of the screwdriver into to screws. With a push of a button, the screws began to come loose. Carefully, he placed each of them into a small container, separating them for ease. "She already had an update recently too so it couldn't be from that…"
Nene watched from behind him, biting her lip as he slowly took the panels apart, revealing the complex interior underneath the beloved robot. The guilt and worry was practically eating her alive. Was she careless to ignore a simple routine check up? Did Nene-Robo find another handful of screws to eat? Or did she push her too far? The thoughts were endless.
"Are you worried for her?" Rui asked, his eyes glued to the motherboard he carefully crafted for her. "It's ok, you didn't do anything to cause her to break down like this."
She frowned, brows furrowed like she was annoyed more than anything now. "We don't know that," she replied. "I was gone for a week with her after that routine check-up. Maybe I pushed her too hard for the next show."
"She's handled much worse than a week of practice," Rui laughed, shifting his position as he inspected deeper into the inner cavity of the robot. "Nene-Robo was made to keep up with you, after all. You could last a whole week performing and singing over and over again. I made sure she can do the same."
Her lips pursed, clearly not satisfied with that response. Upon seeing this, Rui smiled lazily. Picking himself up from the floor, he approached his beloved neighbor before lazily throwing his weight over her head. Feeling her stumble from the sudden heaviness, she began to fight back by lightly hitting his chest.
"Rui?! What's all this for?" she asked, repeatedly trying to smack him off. "You're so heavy…!"
"How rude~" he purred, smirking as he feigned heartbreak by batting his eyes. "Am I really that heavy, Nene~?"
She grimaced, eye twitching with annoyance before she forced off by leaning his weight off of her. She leaned towards the nearby couch, hearing him thud before quickly climbing on top of him, pinning him down with her hands.
"You..!" She grumbled through gritted teeth, watching him play coy and naive as he glanced away. "You know exactly what you're doing!"
In one swift motion, her hands released his wrists, darting down toward his stomach. With a flurry of tickles, she sent Rui into a burst of chaotic laughter. Enough so that tears trickled down his eyes as he begged Nene to stop. In an act of defiance, he tried to raise his hands to her waist, attempting the same attacking but failing miserably thanks to his uncontrollable laughter.
Eventually, she joined in on his laugh, unable to hide her victorious smile plastered on her face. Then, a strange clap was heard.
The pair froze, turning to see the robot happily clapping her two metallic hands together. "Nene and Rui, smiling! Mission success!" she cheered.
"What…?!" Quickly stumbling off Rui, she staggered towards Nene-Robo and inspected her head to toe. "You're alright?! After all that, you're alright?!"
"Yes, no internal damage," Nene-Robo happily replied, swaying back and forth.
"All of that was just so you could see Rui?!"
"Actually, I think she wanted to see the both of us together," Rui cheekily commented, getting up from the chair and approaching Nene's side. "She missed seeing her mama and papa together!"
Hearing those words, her face flushed a bright red as she quickly swung against Rui's chest. "Don't say absurd things like that!!!"
Despite choking from the sudden hit, Rui couldn't help but laugh as he brought Nene into his embrace. Looking down at the robot, he gave her a cheeky wink, acknowledging and praising her successful attempt.
Summary: Life forced them down two paths, parallel but never meeting. And even then, they still longed for one another.
Word Count: 360 Words.
Tags:RuiNene Week 2026. RuiNene. Hurt. No dialogue. Middle school to High School. Isolation. Separation.
Notes: day 4, guilt.
Misc.: dividers by @uzmacchiato
He was always the weirdo. A weird kid with his weird robots that did and said weird things. However, he always had someone by his side. A cute and talented singer. The little girl that loved to sing every chance she got. The little girl that joined theater to share her passion to sing.
But, she lost her voice. She lost everything that made her love performing and isolated herself. And at the same time, he was isolated by his peers for being a nobody. The strands of time drew them away from each other, down a lonely path filled with silence.
Yet, even with their paths diverging away, they still couldn't stop themselves from looking after the other. Even in opposite roads, their gaze never seemed to leave each others.
Occasionally, Rui would find himself leaving small gifts in Nene's desk. He found himself spending day and night in his garage, creating a gift that would hopefully one day lead her back to her passion.
Nene would often watch Rui from afar. Every time someone made a snide remark, she was the first to bark back. Her brows would always furrow, voice just a bit louder than her normal whisper. Every person would ignore her or even make fun of her but she still said something, knowing how hurtful their words could be if her childhood best friend heard them. But, at the same time, she knew he wouldn't show it.
She watched from down below, seeing him idle on the school's rooftop, making a new friend in his isolation. Always, she turned away when that friend arrived, believing that he found comfort in someone new.
But, whenever she left, he would watch as she walked out of the gates. His gaze never left her till she was physically out of his sight. Even then, he traced the path back to their home, counting the seconds to make sure she got home in time.
It was always the small things they thought of. The small signs to show they still cared about one another. That even if the road forced them apart, they wouldn't stop thinking about each other.
A Romantic Story Like Never Before | Phairene Week 2026 Day 6
Characters: Phainon. Cyrene. Mydei.
Summary: Today was the day, the most important day of their lives. It was the day he gets to see her walk down the aisle and promise himself to her.
Word Count: 625 Words.
Tags: Phairene Week 2026. Phairene. Marriage. Ceremony. Kiss. Mydei is Phainon's best man. Mentions of Castorice, Tribbie, Trinnon, Trianne, and Anaxa. Fluff. Wholesome.
Notes: day 6 marriage. could not bring myself to write another angst,,,
Misc.: dividers by @/cafekitsune.
Today was the day, the most important day of their lives.
Phainon stood underneath the arch, his hands trembling as his heart beating against his chest. To think that all these months of preparation and anticipation would culminate to this, something absolutely exhilaration.
Mydei nudged him in the arm, raising his brow as he looked up and down. "There's no way you're second-guessing yourself now, right?"
Phainon choked on a cough, attempting to hide his nervousness as he nudged Mydei back. "No! Never, never in a lifeline!" he defended.
"Calm down," Mydei muttered, stiffing a laugh at the man's sudden reaction. "Just messing. You look obviously nervous."
"How can I not be?" he asked, slowing his breath as he looked down the aisle to see all their friends and family sitting and talking among themselves. "This is the most important day of my life… Marrying her after so long…"
Mydei laughed. "Yeah, good for you," he smiled. "You deserve the happiness."
"Thanks," Phainon smiled back. But, before more could be said, the music began to change. The gentle tune of the piano's keys harmonizing together. He could feel his heart race all over again, all heads turning down to the aisle and waiting for the lady of the moment to make her entrance.
And there she was. Her hair strewn into a beautiful braid with a veil covering her face. A long, flowing white dress bedazzled with jewelry and soft hues of the rainbow adorning her chest and skirt. In short, she looked stunning. Enough so that Phainon's jaw was fully agape. He needed Mydei to nudge his shoulder to get him to close his mouth.
Everyone watched as she walked down the aisle with Castorice, Tribbie, Trinnon, and Trianne as her flower girls. Castorice walked ahead of them, her steps blooming a beautiful hue of purple flowers. While the three fragments scattered hues of red, orange, and blue flowers across the aisle. It was a breath-taking sight to witness, a gorgeous sight that reflected the inner beauty of Cyrene.
When Cyrene stepped onto the altar, she gave Phainon a soft and gentle smile, enough to have his ears blush a hue of red similar to Tribbie's hair.
Anaxa took to the altar, leading the ceremony. But, even if he was once Phainon's professor, he couldn't give him enough of his attention. Cyrene stood across from him, smiling so wondrously and radiant as ever. His eyes couldn't leave her at all, entranced at this moment and etching it into every crevice of his mind.
With their vows shared, Phainon reached for her hands, carefully placing the ring on her ring finger. She had to hold back her laugh, noticing his trembling hands. When it was her turn, she took his hand gracefully, her hands much more confident as she slipped the ring into his.
"You may now seal this arrangement with a kiss," Anaxa declared, taking a step back so that March 7th could capture the moment.
Eagerly bringing her close, he pushed the veil and a part of her hair aside to get a good look at her. His eyes practically welling with tears as he scanned every inch of her face, taking it all in.
"Are you going to take your time?" Cyrene teased under her breath, smile curling up one side of her face.
"Yes," Phainon answered truthfully. "To remember this moment and every moment leading up to this."
Instead of teasing, Cyrene laughed softly. "That's so romantic," she swooned. "I promise to remember every detail from today too~"
The two shared a soft laugh. Looking deeply into her eyes, Phainon leaned in, feeling her soft lips pressed against his.
The crowd cheered ceremoniously, celebrating a romantic story like never before.
Characters: Rui Kamishiro. Nene Kusanagi. Mentioned Emu and Tsukasa.
Summary: Before one of their first shows, the cast of Wonderlands Showtime have to get ready. But, Nene struggles with the minutes before the curtain rises. And Rui couldn't stand by like before.
It was 10 minutes till the show began. Most of her troupe were getting settled in their places. Tsukasa was finishing his warm-ups and going over some reminders with Emu, and Rui was doing the last checks for the lighting and equipment. But, Nene stood by the stage, heart pounding against her chest.
She felt it all over again. The nausea and the tightness around her chest. Her throat felt uncharacteristically dry and painful. Worst of all, her hands couldn't stop shaking. Their grip tight against the sheet of paper, eyes scanning each line but never fully reading them. But, she had to read it, she had to remember it, remember every line, don't mess up. Don't mess up. Don't mess up.
"Nene~" A singsong voice chimed from around the corner, peaking through to find the last member of their group. "Everyone is ready except for you—"
Rui was quick to fall silent, watching her hands tremble uncontrollably as her eyes zoned in on the pages. His heart shattered into a million pieces, recalling the moment that turned her away from her love of performing. He didn't need a second to deliberate; he immediately stepped forward, gently placing his hand on her shoulder.
"Nene?" he called out, softer this time.
Nene snapped back, stumbling over her legs. Losing her balance, she frantically tried to catch herself before feeling a pair of arms wrap around her, holding her steady.
"It's ok," he reassured, his embrace tight around her. "You're not alone, you'll be ok."
Nene, even in his arms, struggled to believe that. "But, what if…" her voice quivered. "What if I do it again…"
"You won't, you haven't, not in a long time," he reassured her. "You've done incredible during practice. And if it does happen, we'll be here to help. No one will leave you alone like that, never again."
A soft yet shaky sigh left her lips. Her arms stretched around him, returning the embrace. Her face sunk into his chest, uncaring whether the tears would stain his shirt. All she cared was the comfort he provided, the promise he was making at this very moment.
A minute passed, her arms grew loose around him. Carefully, he let go, taking a step back. "Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, I am," she whispered, slowing down her breaths. "We should… Get ready as well, right?"
Rui smiled, taking her hand. "Yes, we should. Everyone is almost ready."
Nene nodded her head slowly. The feeling of his gentle tug led her along, meeting the rest of Wonderlands Showtime in the back. Emu greeted her enthusiastically while Tsukasa went on about how there was only 5 minutes left till showtime. All the while, Rui stayed by her side, thumb gently rubbing against hers to remind her that it'll be alright.
Summary: Welcome to AMPHOREUS. You have been living here for as long as you can remember.
Word Count: 520 Words
Tags: Phairene 2026. Omori AU. Little dialogue. Concept fic atp lol.
Notes: day 5, dreamspace. one day ill make this into a series bc its a cool concept.
Misc.: dividers by @/cafekitsune
Welcome to AMPHOREUS. You have been living here for as long as you can remember.
Phainon woke up, the vision of pure white greeting him as his eyes opens. Nothing surrounding him except the white void and a door that stood ten feet away from him. He recalled nothing, just that there were people waiting across that door for him.
He could stand idly in the blank space, wait for something to happen. He has, in fact. In all of the XXXXXXXX days he has been here, he spent so much time in the void, doing nothing in particular.
Approaching the door against the sheer nothingness, Phainon knelt down to peak through the keyhole. There, he saw a small group of friends huddled around in a circle. It seemed like they were all playing a game.
Go through the door?
Phainon's hand reached for the doorknob, carefully twisting it before creaking the door open. A blinding array of colorful lights hit his face, slowly seeping in the more he opened the door.
"Phainon's here!" called Hyacine cheerfully. She got up, approaching Phainon to hold his hand and bring him ahead. "Everyone, come look!"
Mydei huffed a little laugh, nodding at Phainon's presence. Castorice gave the young man a small smile paired with a wave. Tribbie was the second to approach, eagerly taking Phainon's side as he was escorted out of the door.
"Snowy!" they cheered. "We were all waiting for you. Agy and Naxy had to go do something but Reney's waiting for you by the tree! She said she had something incredible to share with you!"
"Oh, that's right," Castorice spoke up, carefully standing onto her feet as she dusted off her skirt. "Miss Cyrene mentioned preparing a divination for all of us today. She remarked that today was a very special day."
The rest of the path was filled with chatter between Hyacine and Tribbie, followed with comments given by Mydei and Castorice. Phainon was characteristically quiet, joining along once in a while.
But, before long, they were before the large tree, casting its shade on the pink-haired girl sat on her swing. Phainon was the first to approach, his steps much quicker than before. Hearing his feet crunch against the grass, Cyrene laughed.
"Good morning, Phainon! Slept well?" she asked.
"Reney~!" Tribbie cheered, running down the hill to give the girl a big hug.
"Tribbie! It's great to see you again!" Cyrene gushed, returning the hug twice as tightly before giggling. "You too everyone! Come along! I told you, right? I have a special divination just for today!"
"Hm, I wonder what she has in store," Mydei quietly commented, taking a seat on the wooden dock.
Castorice nodded her head, taking a seat beside him. "Me as well, I am quite excited too."
The rest took their seats, forming a semi circle with Cyrene in the middle. Her gentle smile tugged on Phainon's mind, an odd and unsettling sensation creeping through his nerves. However, the conversation that soon blossomed around him distracted him away from those thoughts.
Summary: Haunted by the thought of her leaving forever, Phainon rushes to the hospital, meeting face-to-face with a sickly Cyrene.
Word Count: 817
Tags: Phairene Week 2026. Phairene. Phainon. Cyrene. Sickly Cyrene. Angst and fluff. Crying. High School AU. Vague sickness.
Notes: day 4, free. sorta alt au for day 3's fic.
Misc.: art by @/kam_nlfa on twt. dividers by @/cafekitsune
"I should have said something—no, I should have done something."
Phainon stood across the eerie white door, his hands trembling against the doorknob. His gut was screaming at him but, for what? There was something here that felt wrong, it felt impossible to pinpoint.
Hesitantly, his hand twisted against the golden knob. The door creaked open slowly, light seeping in to reveal…
Cyrene, sat on the dull hospital bed with her eyes staring off into the beautiful midday skies.
With her pink hair, the dull atmosphere of the hospital didn't suit a girl like her. It felt so out of place, like she was ripped out of a storybook just to be here. Maybe a part of him struggled to imagine how the sweetest Cyrene could ever get this sick.
It was evident that others have already visited. Beside the bed was a table filled with balloons, flowers, and adorably colorful. All of them said the same thing, "feel better soon" and "we miss you." Phainon glanced down, finding he had nothing but his trembling hands.
He finally remembered. He was told the news and bolted to the hospital. His skin finally felt the beads of sweat rolling against his face. The entire time, his bind was blank, imagining his best friend in a coffin, forced to wear a black dress that Aglaea would call tacky and unfit for Cyrene's bright nature.
"Phainon..?"
His head snapped up, finally seeing Cyrene.
She was so sick. Skin pale and arms so fragile.
"I… I didn't think you'd be here!" she said cheerfully, resting her hands against her lap. "Big sis Tribbie said you've been really busy with schoolwork and clubs. I—"
"I'm sorry," he whispered under his breath.
Cyrene blinked. "Huh? What did you say?"
He took another step forward. And then another. He slowly approached the sickly girl sat up on the bed, closing the gap. The more he approached, the more the thought settled in. He hadn't seen her in forever. He didn't bother to check in or anything. He was too busy with everything and didn't bother to see his best friend in so long.
"Phainon?" she called out softly, "Why are you crying?"
Huh?
He raised his hand up to his face. It was wet. Before he realized, tears flowed down his cheeks, one drop after another landing against the tiled floors.
Even then, he forced a painful smile on his face, taking Cyrene's hand into his. "I'm sorry," he spoke, much clearer now. "I was so distracted, I never even knew till now how sick you've gotten. I should have check in on you more often, I'm sorry."
He stripped himself bare, wearing his faults on his sleeves in hopes of forgiveness. The feeling of utter guilt and shame was all he could stomach, a sensation that only worsened if he dared to look her in the face.
And yet, she laughed. Her soft laughter singing against his ears. It was unexpected. When he glanced up to finally face her directly, she held the sweetest smile with tears threatening to fall.
"You're so silly," she whispered. "You don't have to apologize, you couldn't help it."
"No, I do," he replied, his voice trembling. "I should've been more considerate—I will be more considerate. I'll stay by your side until you can get better. And, I'll keep staying by your side after that."
"Where's all of this coming from?" Cyrene laughed.
Where was this all coming from?
Phainon thought about the imagery of her stuck in a coffin. The thought of living another day without her by his side. The thought of her presence slowly withering away in his daily life. He couldn't imagine a day without her. That alone was enough to crush him.
"Because, I love you."
Her laughter fell silent. Instead, her smile dropped to a look of shock as she sat there, processing those three words.
The lump in his throat become more obvious as he stood there, waiting for her to say something back. No, he shouldn't expect a response. Not when he just blabbered that out there.
"Sorry, I'm not—" he stammered, hands retracting so he could fiddle with the cuffs of his sleeves. "I don't expect an answer or anything. I just care deeply about you and… The thought—the thought of losing you… I can't—"
"I love you too."
His ramblings came to a halt as those words seeped into his mind. He had to let it simmer for a moment, as if he was processing the fact it was real.
"You're so silly," Cyrene said once more, breaking into a little laugh. "Come on, sit beside me. You have to tell me about what happened in school now that you're here."
Phainon blinked, taking a moment to wipe his face and share her laugh. "You're right, there's so much you haven't been able to see…!"
Summary: The Princess of sea and the Prince of Land has always been the best of friends. But, when the time comes that the little mermaid has to leave, what does the prince do?
Word Count: 1,026 words
Tags: Ruinene week 2026. Ruinene. Pre-established friendship. Rui Kamishiro. Nene Kusanagi. Young adults. Royalty AU. Alternate Universe. Prince Rui. Princess Nene. Angst disguised as fluff. Not canon-compliant.
Notes: day 2, royalty au.
Misc.: art by @/llustellia on reddit. dividers by @/cafekitsune
The gentle crashing waves against the bright, almost pure-white sand created a beautiful scenery with the rising sun. The sky bled a gorgeous orange hue. Salty air pressed against his soft pale skin. And the figure of a person, a mermaid to be specific, sat against the scenery tied everything in.
Even from a distance, Rui could recognized who she was. With a smile creeping up from his face, he picked up his pace, just enough to meet her a second sooner.
"Nene," he called out softly with the whistling wind. "I'm glad to see you're here again."
The green-haired girl glanced up, the familiar face leading her to smile. "Rui," she greeted. "I told you I'd be here, just like everyday."
He laughed, taking a seat beside her. "I know, I'm still happy to see you."
"I am too," she shared, her head slowly resting against his shoulder. Feeling the warm sun press against her skin as it rose from the horizon, Nene's eyes slowly came to a close. Finally, a moment of peace.
But, she couldn't keep the peace forever. "I'll be leaving soon," she told him, her voice low and quiet. "Maybe off to another kingdom."
Rui's gentle smile dropped to a frown. "Is that so?" he asked. "I guess there was nothing you could do or say to change his mind?"
"I'm afraid not," she sighed. "It's for the best anyways."
Rui's eyes shifted away, the lump in his throat growing more and more apparent as they sat basking the morning glory. He should say something, right?
"Let's enjoy today then," he spat out. "You still have places to see, right?"
Her head shifted towards him, a look of confusion plastered on her face. "I suppose? But, how will we—"
Her question was swiftly interrupted. The young man got up to his feet and hoisted her up into his arms like a bride. "I'll bring you around, it's no worries."
Her face flustered into a tomato red shade as she clung on to his neck, burying her face into his chest. "Rui! This is too much!" she whined as she felt him begin to walk.
"I'm not hearing it~" he sang, smiling softly as his feet tread through the sand.
His persistence was annoying yet endearing. Seeing that smile on his face left her feeling reassured. Even if she has to leave, he'll make sure she'll leave with a smile.
The rest of the morning and afternoon were spent with laugh. Each destination was one check from her bucket list. He was even sure to splurge on her favorite sweets or new delicacies she wanted to try. Never once did his eyes laid off her; he wanted to capture every reaction she could give today. A bright smile, a sour pucker, a disgusted look, everything was something he wanted to witness and cherish. Now knowing that the next few days will be their final day together, he wanted to hold these moments close to his heart.
The same went for the little mermaid. She adored his desire to make her smile or his outlandish actions to have his way. Behind her smile, Nene was worried about her friend. He was neglecting duties left and right, dragging her along like he had no care in the world. It would be difficult for either of them to find a friend, how will they manage?
But, each bite of sweet and each new destination distracted her from the thought. In these last moments together, she wanted to hold him close, feel his warmth against her cool skin. She wanted to watch as the young prince made these moments special for them both to remember.
And on the last day, they shared a cool treat in the warmth of the setting sun. Both her tail and his feet were submerged in the sea, hand overlapping with one another as they enjoyed the peaceful sunset.
"I think I've seen more of the human world than ever before," Nene joked, her tongue pressed against the cool, soft texture of the ice cream. "And now I think I'm really gonna miss the treats you humans make."
Rui laughed, his fingers curling around hers. "If you get sick of that place, you can come back any time. I'll make sure to have all the food ready when you return."
The mermaid giggled at the notion, her eyes drifting to the setting sun as her fingers curled around his too. "I can't wait."
They both remained silent, each wanting to say something they could never dare to utter. Their gaze could no longer stay on the other, the fear of letting go becoming more apparent.
"I… I should probably go now," Nene whispered, taking one final bite of her cone before shifting towards the sea.
Rui felt her fingers slowly drift away from his. The lump in his throat becoming obvious.
"Nene…!"
She froze, quickly turning back to face her friend. "Yes?"
His heart fluttered, but quickly, he glanced away. "I'll miss you…"
Nene's excited smile dimmed to a hesitant one. "I'll miss you too…"
And, just like that, she dove back into the water, swimming away.
Rui fell silent, the guilt and regret clawing at his chest as tears formed in his eyes. Yes, he'll miss her, but he wanted to tell her the truth.
He wanted to tell her to stay, to let someone else deal with the conflicts just so long as she stays within his grasp. He wanted to be selfish, ask her to abandon her role and be with him. But, could he really ask her that? He couldn't even fathom the thought of leaving his kingdom, how could he demand the same for her?
If anything, the deepest regret that would haunt him every night would be the fact he never confessed. He never spoke those three simple words. Maybe she wouldn't have felt the same but, the hope of her reciprocating would linger with him.
He hoped, if someone would grant him this, to see her once again and tell her the truth. Maybe at a better point, maybe when they were both ready.
Summary: High school is just about to end and everyone is ready to graduate. Then, its announced. Cyrene has passed away from something known as Hanahaki disease. The class is devastated... But Phainon is taking it the worst.
Word Count: 607 words.
Tags: Phairene 2026. Phairene. Phainon. Cyrene. High School AU. Hanahaki Disease. Cyrene's funeral. Phainon grieving and spiraling. Angst to the max. No comfort, all hurt. Self-deprication.
Notes: day 3, funeral. Asphodel flowers are commonly associated with death and "my regrets follow you to the grave."
Misc.: dividers by @cafekitsune
If only he had known. If only he had known how she truly felt, maybe she wouldn't be lying dead in that distasteful black coffin. Black doesn't suit her, nor does being dead.
Phainon remembered all the conversations they shared. She would always talk about love and romance, how she loved humanity and learning about them through books and observation. He remembered the softness in her eyes as she watched their classmates from above. The way she laughed at any silly drama or conflicts within the school.
He just wished he could see it one more time.
Rather, he didn't do enough. He knew she was sick but from what? She brushed off his concerns like it was just the common flu. He watched as she grew paler by the day, but did he do anything? No, he was too busy with proving himself to everyone around him.
But when her mother came up to comfort him, she held him close.
"She always loved you so much."
Loved? Didn't Cyrene love everyone? She would go on about how she loved Miss Aglaea's watchful eye or Professor Anaxa's brilliant mind. She loved Hyacine's comforting hugs and Castorice's warm presence. She loved Mydei's quiet and stoic desire to protect. She loved every single one of her classmates and teachers, what was so special about him? Did she really love him the way he thought?
The ceremony went by like a blur. All he could see was black, black, black. The black went horribly with her brightly colored hair. The black dress didn't suit the pastel pink ribbons she would use with her school uniform. The dreary atmosphere was no better too. He could practically hear her voice cheering everyone up, asking them not to make it so gloomy.
He heard one condolence after another, a painful repetition reminding him of the childhood friend he had lost. Each apology, each sincere remark, made him sick to the stomach. If they were sorry, why didn't they do anything? If he was so sorry, why didn't he do something?
By the time they got home, he barricaded himself in his room. What a mistake. Every corner was filled with her memory, proof that she no longer exists. She won't be able to sit in his bed to divine their luck for the next day, she wouldn't be knocking against his window waking him up for school, she wouldn't be there to leave her presence. Soon, all these small reminders of her would disappear, and he couldn't stand the thought.
Pain. That's all he could feel. Pain manifesting into something physical, suffocating. He coughed. And coughed. And coughed again. The air scratched against his lungs, dragging out as he hunched over to the floor. Hand rushed to his mouth as he felt something press against the palm of his hand.
Blood.
And a thin white petal.
What a twisted joke. Enough to make him break into hysterical laughter.
"Phainon? Are you okay there hun?" a voice called from across the door.
He couldn't stop laughing, even when the tears start trickling against his cheeks.
Was this a prank? A cruel joke? The moment she is gone, this happens? All the feelings that swelled deep in him were threatening to explode at any second, but into what? Anger? Frustration? Resentment?
How could he hold resentment over her when she must've felt that way first? No, he should've been the one to approach her, to reach out. Now this was the ultimate punishment.
But, maybe it was freedom. Maybe this was divined by Oronyx. Maybe this was faith.
Summary: The day they watched that play led to the day they discovered their dream together.
Word Count: 881 words.
Tags: Ruinene Week 2026. Ruinene. Rui x Nene. Childhood. Childhood Memory. Not exactly canon compliant. Mostly fluff, a touch of angst at the VERY end. Rui is a yearner.
Notes: day 1, childhood. inspired by nene's recent card with the pic of them as kids,,,
Misc.: art by @/omumorning on twt. dividers by @cafekitsune
Her wish was simple.
"I want to recreate the scene!"
Seeing her brilliant smile inside the dark theater, eyes reflecting the colored lights, it was an otherworldly sight. Witnessing the moment his best friend fell in love with singing and acting, witnessing her love reflected with utter joy and delight, was simply unforgettable. He wanted to see that every day, every moment.
So when she spoke those simple, childish words, he got to work.
Rui spent every day after class inside his parents' garage, working away with the clutter of his projects. Everything else was sidelined for her wish. Though he was inexperienced, he was eager to learn, eager to make her wish come true.
"Ta-da~!" he cheered, pulling away the tattered blanket to reveal a small boxy machine.
Nene bent down with her knees, carefully hovering the small machinery. "And this is…?"
"A bubble machine—like the one in the play!" Rui exclaimed, getting down to her level. Bringing his hand to the front, he pointed at the circular holes. "These are where the bubbles come out of. I already loaded up the solutions so all we need is to set the stage!"
Nene's face twisted with uncertainty, a little pout emerging from her face. "Are you super duper sure this will work, Rui?" she asked. "I don't wanna have it explode and make our mamas and papas worry."
Rui laughed as he reaches over to hold her hand. "Don't worry! I tested it and made sure it works! Now come on!"
Rising up to the ground, he drags her along to the playground set. Carefully, he sets up plastic shells and drew bubbles all over the sand pit. Nene made sure to join along, drawing a castle not too far from the bars.
"Are you ready, Nene?" he asked, holding out his hand for her to take.
Looking at him, her cheeks flushed a soft pink before a smile bloomed from her face. "Yes!" she responded eagerly, taking his hand.
Slowly, he helped her up to the bars. He kept his hand tight, waiting till she found her balance. Just watching her from below had his heart racing with excitement. The thought of witnessing her fulfill a wish was exhilarating.
Turning down to him, Nene continued to smile. "Ok! I'm ready, you can start!"
Rui grinned in return, slowly letting go of her hand before rushing over to the small machine. With a quiet countdown, his finger flicked the switch. Within seconds, small bubbled emerged from the circular grates of the machine. Then, larger ones, all clustering in the air around the green-haired girl.
With the stage set, the little mermaid began to sing. Her voice melodically following the tune of the finale song of the play. Though imperfect and unprofessional, she made sure to emphasis each emotion she could convey. The mermaid's longing, desire to roam the world and connect with others. The emotions she felt during that play, she channeled it through her voice, letting it carry every feeling onto those who would listen.
And they would reach him. Rui knelt beside the machine, watching from below and Nene bellowed her feelings into the world. Just like the play, he felt his heart race with excitement, as if he could feel the mermaid's fascination of the world around him. But, most of all, he was moved by Nene's desire to be heard. How she emphasized certain words over others, characterizing herself as the little mermaid rather than just singing the song. Paired with the simple scenery and bubbles clouding the air, he could believe the idea that she was the mermaid.
He felt accomplished. He did more than just help her achieve her wish. He was able to discover and accomplish his own wish too. To see her shine.
Nene continued to sing, but found herself peeking through closed eyes to look at Rui. He seemed utterly infatuated with her voice. The thought of being viewed as something incredible like that actress felt unreal, yet here she is. It empowered her to keep singing, reaching the bridge of the song, and ending with the final chorus.
Nene lowered her arms, breathing heavily to catch her breath. Immediately, Rui applauded. His bright smile and glimmering eyes reassured Nene that she did an incredible job. The incoming cascade of compliments did the same.
"I could really feel it, Nene!" he exclaimed. "You really were the little mermaid!"
"But! It's not fun if the mermaid is all by herself!" she interrupted him, reaching down the hold his hands. "The mermaid needs her companion too. The smart and wise alchemist that helps her throughout her journey!"
Rui tilted his head in confusion. "The alchemist? But, there's no alchemist in the play?"
"I know that, silly," she replied, a meek shy plastered on her face. "It's our version of the story! And in our version, the little mermaid doesn't meet a prince. She meets a kind and smart alchemist! And together, they perform all over the world!"
It clicked in that moment, the dream they would hope to accomplish together.
Rui smiled, taking Nene's hand with his. "Alright! We'll do it together!"
The two children shared a joyous laugh, dancing below the floating bubbles. Unaware of what life had planned for them.
Summary: Phainon lived every day for something, someone one. But who? That thought haunted him every single moment he lived. Who could he be fighting so desperately for? Who lingered in the back of his mind this entire time?
Word Count: 780 Words
Tags: Phairene 2026. Phairene. Phainon. Cyrene. Mom-energy Aglaea. Aglaea comforts Phainon. Spoilers to the Amphoreus Arc if you squint. Co-dependency. Angst. Longing. Flame Reaver appears towards the end.
Notes: day 2 Codependecy
Misc.: dividers by @cafekitsune
Ever since he could imagine, there was that nagging feeling deep inside of him. Every single day, he felt restless watching as time slips by his fingers. But why? What was he waiting for?
Phainon couldn't pinpoint what this feeling was or where it came from. It was like a string dragging him along through the ebb and flow of life. If he could just squint, it was like the image of a pink-haired girl at the other end.
But, every pink-haired girl he knew wasn't that girl. No, she meant more to him than anything, right? So why couldn't he remember a single thing?
"Phainon," a voice called. "Are you having trouble sleeping?"
His head lifts up to the door, seeing the Golden Weaver leaning against the doorframe. "Ah, Aglaea, it's the same dream again."
She approached slowly, taking his side as the man brings his hands up to his face. "That girl?"
"Yes, or something like that. I could feel it, something is waiting for me—something needs me," he explained, his voice trembling with the slightest hint of fear. "Aglaea, I can't sit here and do nothing. Not when I feel like this."
"I understand that," she spoke softly, reassuring the poor man. Her hands reached over, slowly lowering his. "But, you can't do anything at your current state. You have not slept a wink in days."
"I just can't," he said. "Not after everything, not when I—"
"Phainon," she interrupted, her face now stern yet gentle. "I insist you get some rest. That way, we can rely on your help for our next step in the Flame-Chase Journey."
He fell silent, her words stirring deep in his heart. She was right, he couldn't do anything as of right now. If anything, he was being a burden; he needed to be the one carrying them, leading the charge. It had to be him—
"Get some rest, Phainon."
A hint of something struck him, eerie yet familiar all the same. His shoulders relaxed as a faint laugh finally escaped his lips. "You're right, Aglaea," he said, "Do you mind… Watching over till I fall asleep?"
A soft huff left her lips, an amusing smile creeping up on her face as she nods. "Of course, if that helps eases your mind."
He slowly leaned into his bed, feeling his head press against the soft pillow. With a deep sigh, he closes his eyes, working to reassure the stirring thoughts deep inside of him.
Was it really ok to rest now? Should he be the one keeping an eye out for the others? Or perhaps working to defend Aglaea's name and honor? Uncover the Flame Reaver's true identity?
"It's ok, you've done enough for now."
Is it really ok?
"Yes, I'll watch over. So, please get some rest, kHaSlanA."
For tonight, he let go of his worries, reassured by nothing but the thought of… Someone.
Standing face-to-face against the Flame Reaver's destructive path dyed by gold, Phainon gritted his teeth as he drew his blade. One strike after another, he fought for his friends; he fought for his fallen comrades; he fought for those who couldn't witness the new dawn; he fought for—
One slash. One slash pierced through the Executioner's chest, drawing one final blow. Phainon's hands trembled against the hilt of his blade, adrenaline slowly calming down. Then, the Flame Reaver's hand reached outward, guiding the man's trembling hand closer to his neck. Then, a ceremonial blade was drawn.
"Wh..What?" Phainon questioned.
The Flame Reaver forced Phainon's hand closer, drawing his last breath. Then, an eruption of glass shattered throughout the empty room.
He remembered everything. Their conversation, their promise, their duty.
Khaslana's head throbbed in pain, memories flooding in like there was no tomorrow. What cycle was this? How many times had he done this? It was suffocating.
Yet, his mind cleared as the Worldbearing Coreflame floated in front of him. Their mission, he couldn't idle when the pages would soon reset. Cyrene, she is out there, waiting for him. He had to go on this painful journey, no matter how long it takes.
They both have to see the dawn of the new day together.
Cyrene stood within the endless space of nothingness, watching as the cycle looped back to the beginning. Her hands trembled at the thought of his suffering. He had killed all of his friends so many times and yet he still continues forward for everyone's sake—but hers in particular. She watched from afar without any role in the upcoming cycles. All she could do was pray, pray and guide both Phainon and Khaslana till a new page has been written.
