Hanabi

Chapter 26: Issues

 INFO:

Sagari – I really don’t understand if this is a youkai or a ghost or… whatever. It’s basically a bizarre thing in the form of a horse’s head that drops from trees in front of people passing by and screams bloody murder. That’s… basically all it does… It screams at your face and probably gives you nightmares for months because it’s a freakin’ horse’s head dropping from a tree. Seriously, Japan…

---------------------------------------------------------------

Tomomi remained in silence, her mind travelling away as her eyes stared vaguely at the floor. After that meeting and everything that was discussed and revealed, she felt even more exhausted. She was mentally drained, with her body still hurting as a bonus.

The good thing was that she had Mami with her. She was in the blonde’s room again, the place being dark with only moonlight coming in from the window. Mami had her back against the wall, sitting with her legs stretched over the futon and now wearing comfy clothes fit for sleeping instead of that kimono, and Tomomi was lying against her with her head over Mami’s good shoulder. The two girls were silent, and Tomomi had her arm resting over Mami’s waist as the blonde kept caressing her hair slowly.

Mami was gradually becoming more comfortable and spontaneous in showing affection to her, not thinking so much about things. It made her feel warm and cared for, something that she wasn’t particularly used to anymore with the turns that her life took. She was the one trying to make Mami feel that way before, but now it went both ways.

That simple gesture of caressing her hair was making Tomomi feel better after a really heavy night. Now on top of everything else they had the perspective of really needing to talk to that Sojobou dude who almost broke her bones, and also the fear of an Oni showing up out of nowhere to kill them.

She didn’t want to believe the things that Haruna and Rina told, but denying it wouldn’t make it go away. She could only imagine where Mami’s mind was after knowing about something like this. But at the same time she wondered if Mami realized what that meant in detail.

- What you mean? - Mami asked softly and she sighed, holding her and nuzzling on her neck.

- You can stop torturing yourself for good.

- … You think it wasn’t my fault.

- I already thought that before. But now I think’ that’s pretty clear. - the brunette heard Mami sighing, and moved her head to face her - You’re not responsible for what happened to your family, listen to me. You didn’t call them, they acted alone.

- Tomo, if I wasn’t this way in the first place…

- Stop right there. - Tomomi sat up, staring the blonde in the eyes - You’re sure as hell not responsible for the way you were born. You heard what the girls said, this is a part of you that you just need to learn how to control. That’s actually possible Mami, and we’re gonna help you with that. - she noticed that Mami still didn’t seem so convinced, and huffed in a similar fashion to Haruna - If I’m gonna follow this twisted logic of yours, then I can say it’s your parents’ fault.

Mami wasn’t expecting to hear that, like it sometimes happened around Tomomi, and looked at her with wide eyes.

- Yeah, exactly. - Tomomi crossed her arms and gave her a knowing look - By your logic of guilt, then your parents brought this upon themselves the moment they decided to sleep together.

Tomomi definitely wasn’t expecting Mami to snort and laugh, but she did. The blonde controlled herself quickly and covered her mouth, but by that point the brunette had a big grin on her face.