Shards of War: Eclipsian Secrets

Chapter 42

Matsu sat quietly in his room, the soft glow of his laptop screen casting a gentle light on his face. The day had been long, and his mind was still buzzing with all the tasks he had completed, but now it was time to unwind. He got up and locked the door, ensuring he had some privacy.

Returning to his desk, he navigated through the icons on his desktop, his fingers moving with practiced ease. Finding the video call app, he clicked on it and waited for it to load. While the app opened, he walked over to his bedside table, where his headphones lay. He picked them up, plugging them into the laptop, wanting to ensure his conversation remained private—even if it was obvious to his sisters who he was about to talk to.

Meanwhile, back at Calie and Marie's home, the two cousins were curled up together in their living room. Calie held Marie close, her presence a comforting anchor as Marie continued to work through the sensory overload that had built up throughout the day. The soft music playing in the background, the warmth of the blanket wrapped around them, and the dim lighting all contributed to creating a soothing atmosphere.

Marie's breathing had finally evened out, and she leaned back slightly, looking up at Calie with a small, grateful smile. "I'm feeling better now," she murmured, her voice soft but more steady.

Calie smiled warmly, brushing a strand of hair behind Marie's ear. "Good. I'm glad you're feeling better."

Marie nodded, her eyes still a bit tired but no longer overwhelmed. "Let's call Matsu. I could use a friendly face right now."

Calie agreed, reaching over to grab Marie's laptop. They set it up in front of them on the coffee table, the two cousins snuggled up together as they opened the video call app. They settled in, waiting for Matsu to connect. The anticipation was comforting, knowing that soon they would be seeing their best friend's familiar face.

As Matsu's laptop finally connected to the video call, the screen flickered to life, revealing the familiar faces of Calie and Marie. They were huddled together on the couch, the soft light of their living room making the scene feel warm and intimate.

"Hi, Matsu!" Calie greeted him with a bright smile, her energy still intact despite the long day.

Marie offered a quieter, but no less genuine, "Hi, Matsu."

"Hey," Matsu replied, his voice immediately softening as he saw them. He noticed the cozy setup and the way Marie was nestled close to Calie, her expression a little more drained than usual. "Marie, did you have another sensory overload?"

Marie nodded, a small, tired smile on her lips. "Yeah... but I'm okay now."

Matsu's brow furrowed with concern. "It'll be okay, Marie. You've got Calie there with you."

"I know," Marie said, her voice tender and appreciative. "Calie always takes good care of me."

Matsu sighed, his worry evident. "I just wish I could've been there with you. Help out, you know?"

Calie, ever the optimist, quickly interjected with a gentle but firm tone. "Matsu, you need to listen to Dr. Boskow. Remember? Let us handle it when things like this happen."

Matsu frowned slightly. "But this is different. Marie wasn't feeling good. It's not the same."

Marie, her voice calm, added, "Matsu, I do prefer it when you're here with us, but we handled it by ourselves. We're okay."

Matsu sighed again, his shoulders relaxing a little. "I know... I just worry about you both."

"We know," Calie said with a reassuring smile. "But we're strong, and we've got each other."