Shiori Novella One-shots

Shiori and the Storm

Mental condition: 91%.

The rain drops continue streaking across the windows. The pitter-patter on the roof remains at a rapid beat as you settle in for the evening. The storm hasn't let up all day, and the soft rumble of thunder echoes above.

It's a bit...scary, isn't it?" asks Shiori.

She snuggles on her bed under a loose blanket. Her voice is quiet and low instead of her usual energetic and excited tone. A sudden bolt of lightning in the window and boom of thunder overhead made her jump up and throw herself under the blanket. I could see her quiver under the cloth.

"Please make it go away. Please make it go away. Please make it go away."

You've seen her stare into the void and face fear itself, but you never thought the ????? could be rattled by a storm. At the moment, you're able to remain calm enough to think of a solution.

~~~~~

You smile to yourself, shaking your head. Just like always, you started to overthink it. You don't need a solution. You just need to be there for her. ????? or not, right now, she's just someone who's scared.

You stand up, and the rustling of your clothes alerts her. She opens a tiny window, barely big enough for her eye to be visible.

"You're not leaving me, right?" she asks softly. "I'm sorry, I'm sure this is annoying but it's scary."

"Actually, the opposite," you whisper back, just loud enough for her to hear you, with a warm smile playing its way onto your lips. You sit down on the edge of the bed, next to the blanket cocoon that is where Shiori is hiding. Gently placing a hand on top of where you are pretty confident her head is, you continue, "It's ok. We all have things we're not good with. You might not be good with storms, but you are good with stuff like bugs, right?"

You feel the space under your hand move forward and back.

"Good, that is her head. Was a little worried for a sec," you think to yourself, mentally sighing, letting yourself relax a little.

"You also like stuff like endless libraries, which, personally, I find terrifying. I wouldn't be scared if you were with me, but alone? That'd be rough," you lean forward so she can see you smile.

"Well... yeah," you feel the cocoon start to come undone, the tension easing in the blankets. "But, that's because I was alone for so long, with only books around."

"So? That still strikes me as brave. I'm a little scared of the storm, too, but I'm ok because I know that you're here."

"So you're afraid of being alone?"

"Sure. A lot of people are, so it's not that unusual, after all. A lot of people are scared of heights too."

"I guess that's true."

"Think you can come out, now? I think it's nice to drink tea and watch the rain, have you ever tried it?"

Shiori just shakes her head in response, finally poking her head out, looking like a blanket turtle now.

You stand up and offer a hand to her.

"Shall we try it, Princess?"

She looks at your hand for a moment before looking up at you and smiling just a little.

"Sure... But! You have to stay right next to me, ok? I mean it!" she replies, grabbing your hand with both of hers, holding it tightly.

"Of course, I'd never leave you alone," you grin at her as you help her up.

Shiori nods, and gets up, holding your hand close to herself, not giving even the slightest hint that she'll let go any time soon.

"Well? Let's go..." Shiori whispers. "Tea won't make itself."