Preventing The Inevitable

Chapter 25

"And that's why I don't like Kuro-chan." Inner concluded, finishing her story with the same statement that had started it in the first place.

"I see." Sakura agreed. "But he didn't know it was wrong, did he? An-san even apologized for him."

"Still!" The girl humphed, crossing her arms. She looks cute, Sakura thought, and then immediately wondered if she also looked like that when she crossed her arms.

"Everyone makes mistakes. And he didn't do it after that time, right? Maybe you should forgive Kuro-chan."

"But he bit me! It really hurt, y'know?" Inner pouted.

Well, they must at least look similar, right? They were the same person, after all. But Sakura didn't pout.

Probably. She hoped so.

"Kuro-chan was really small back then. Maybe he wanted to say hello but accidentally bit you instead."

Did she pout?

"But Kuro-chan's a dog! Dogs 're supposed to put their paws on you an' look cute an—they don't bite you!"

Sakura hummed thoughtfully, twirling her hair. When had it gotten this long? "Well, I saw Kuro-chan the other day, and he was very nice to me. No biting. That means he changed after that."

"I don't believe you!"

"Why not, Sakura-chan? Hm?" Sakura teased with a smile, growing more confident at Inner's eagerness to respond.

"Maybe you are lying and Kuro-chan didn't change 't all!"

"When would you believe me, then?"

Inner quieted, pondering for a while. "I dunno... if I see it?"

Oh.

"See... it? Yeah, I guess—" Sakura cleared her throat. "Yeah, that would do the job, wouldn't it? If you see it for yourself..." Her voice was barely a whisper towards the end.

"But anyway!" Sakura sat upright, startling Inner in her suddenness. "What did you say earlier about that ice cream shop?"

"Oh right!" Inner brightened. Literally. Her dress lit up.

Sakura internally let out a sigh of relief. There was no need to unnecessarily sadden her with the topic of 'outside' again.

She nodded along to Inner's excited words, ignoring the thoughts that were sure to plague her for the coming nights. She didn't think about how the word 'unnecessarily' echoed in her mind, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

—

Sakura blinked back into the outside world with a gasp and a shiver running down her back.

The first moments always felt a bit strange—having to pick up the notion of breathing again and being confronted with all the uncomfortable sensations she conveniently shut out during her visits to her mindscape, like the ache in her muscles from daily training and the numbness of her wrist where the beginnings of her Byakugō seal were manifesting. It felt unnatural, almost, to be back in a body too young to match her mental age. To remind herself that this was her real body, not the one she took on whenever she visited Inner.

This was the fifth time she had talked face-to-face with her Inner Child. After the first incident three weeks ago, she had taken to visiting her 'lower consciousness,' as the book had soulfully dubbed it, from time to time. Though, it was always a hassle to find the opening since it apparently moved each time.

Once she entered the world made of gel floor, it didn't take too long to find Inner in some region. It was quite eerie, honestly. How Sakura would aimlessly traverse the vast plains, yet always manage to find the small figure of the pink-haired girl at the end of her walk.