REPLAY | anime one shots

don't you mind? [5/12]

i was late, but i arrived.

"am i too late?" a young man in a dark cloak asks with helpless tears streaming down his face. "will i ever be worthy of this paradise that you promise?" she looks upon him with a small smile.

"you are never too far gone to be saved," she reassures him, and instant relief spreads across his facial features. he bows to her at the foot of her throne, not knowing any other way to show his utter gratitude towards his savior. "you are here, and that is all that matters."

"please, show me how to rid myself of this darkness. help me achieve true happiness, my savior," he begs with his head lowered, and she lifts her chin, almost as if she were proving her superiority over these people seeking refuge, as if they were mere peasants and she was a god, giving them wisdom necessary for their survival.

"for so long we have been afraid of our inner demons, but i am here to tell you... embrace them. the ones outside of magenta are the ones who are lost souls. you, my precious follower, are finally found. you are home."

–

"i—i'm sorry i took so long to visit..."

silence.

"college has taken up most of my time... i've been taking it more serious lately," the blonde explains his reasoning—excuse—behind his absence. the first few weeks, she wasn't allowed visitors, but four months later, now that she seems (the key word being seems) better, she was allowed visitors. despite this, he never came; but she didn't care either way. "for... for you! learning that you're alive... it made me more hopeful, you know?"

silence.

"do you want me to tell you about the other members? how they're doing?"

silence.

"i—i know that you care for them. you wanted the best for them. i know you, rika."

silence.

"is it because i didn't visit sooner? i really meant to..."

silence.

"i'm here now. please, talk to me."

silence.

"u—um... well, luci—i mean... saeyoung and [y/n] are getting married. isn't that great?"

silence.

"zen got a new role too. with echo girl! the echo girl! isn't that exciting?"

silence.

"jaehee is the same as always. not entirely sure if that's good or not..."

silence.

"and jumin... i don't know how well he is doing. i heard that he was engaged to someone, but it might just be a rumor. he hasn't entered many chatrooms... ever since v..."

a flinch.

"rika?"

silence.

"are you okay?"

silence.

silence.

silence.

then, a whisper:

"i hate you... yoosung."