Destiny [Ai Mikaze x Reader] [FATE BOOK TWO]

Chapter 11 - Empty Shell Of Metal

"It's okay... It's okay." I whispered to myself, taking deep breaths while walking down the hallway towards the meeting room. "Just act natural. Don't make this worse for him. He must be confused about this whole case..."
My heart couldn't stop pounding at just the simple thought of seeing Ai in that state again - not to mention to try and explain to him what he's supposed to do on the concert that's coming up in just a few days. I wasn't really sure that I could get through this conversation calmly, but I tried my best to calm my breaths as I shakily pushed open the conference room's door.
"... H-Hello, Ai. I see that you're already here..." I gave the cyanette a weak smile, whose emotionless eyes looked up at me.
"Why wouldn't I be? This is the destination and time that we have agreed in." he jerked an eyebrow at me.
"... Very true... A-Anyway!!" I laughed awkwardly, putting my papers down on the table. "Uhm... this is all the information you need for the concert, and..."
"I already researched up what I am supposed to do." he jabbered blankly. "I have to stand right in the middle of the stage, raise the microphone just 4.5 centimeters away from my lips, and sing my new song that I have already written yesterday. I have got all the notes down perfectly. There should not be any problems with this event."
"..." for a few seconds, I didn't really know what to say. "... You've written a song in just a day?"
"Yes." he nodded, suddenly handing me a paper.
"..." I frowned a bit, slowly taking the song and reading it. I sighed deeply and shakily. "Ai, this is..."
"... Did I do something wrong with it? I can rewrite it." he tilted his head.
"N-No... it's not that. There aren't any problems with it professionally, but..." I bit my lips a bit. "... This song is completely empty."
"Empty...?" he blinked at me.
"You can't just... write a song. You need to feel all notes and lines when you're writing and when you're performing... This song doesn't have any emotions..."
"... E...motions...?" he asked slowly, tilting his head at me. "..."
He looked down sadly. "I... don't understand that word..."
"..." my hands slightly clenched the paper. I suddenly felt like crying again, but instead, I took a deep breath and sat down beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"... Emotions aren't easy to understand. Especially for you." I mumbled quietly. "They aren't something to just learn... they are something to feel. In your heart..."
"... My heart? But I don't have one..." he slowly and quietly muttered.
"... You do." I smiled sadly. "You just have to find it..."
"..." he blinked at me - I could see that he was really confused.
"..." I deeply inhaled, taking the gem on my necklace in my palm. "... See this?"
"... What's that?" he mumbled just like a curious kid would.
"... You gave it to me... before you lost your memories." I chuckled in pain. "It was my birthday... You told me that this gem lends balance and inner peace."
"..." he tilted his head, curiously eyeing the aquamarine. "How can a simple stone do that...?"
"... It's not the stone. It's the gesture." I smiled softly.
"The... gesture?"
"It's you," I whispered.
"..."
"... S-Sorry. I didn't mean to confuse you." I quickly added, looking away. I could already feel my cheeks flush.
"... your face... it's red." Ai mumbled softly. I suddenly felt a hand grab my chin.
"E-Eh...?"
"Why is that?" he tilted his head.
".... U-Uh..."
I could only gape, looking back into Ai's eyes, which were curiously searching for some kind of answer in my own ones. I felt myself getting incredibly dizzy as my heart was pounding even faster than before.
Before suddenly, Ai's phone started ringing. 
"... It's a reminder," he said bluntly once he leaned back and looked at his phone. "I have to go to an interview... What... am I supposed to do there?"
"... Just answer the questions." I mumbled quietly.
"Hai." he nodded, then stood up and bowed. "Otsukaresama."
I nodded in silence, as he grabbed his stuff and left.
"..."
I walked over to the windowsill in silence, staring out through the window at the sky. I could only bite my lips and take deep breaths to try and prevent myself from crying again.
He didn't understand what emotions were. Just like the professor said - he was back to zero. All of our memories together... the pain and the happiness that we shared... all that was gone with just the snap of a finger. I could teach him emotions again... slowly... maybe he could love me again.
... But at what cost?
Who knows how much time he has left. He shuts down or loses control. Even if he could love again... It would only hurt more to lose him again.
But just watching him go further and further away... watching him disappear...
I shakily inhaled, looking down at the flower in front of me.
... It reminded him of me, so he took really good care of it. But... now that he doesn't know who I really am...
I watched a flower petal slowly falling down into my palm. I slowly clenched the petal into my fist. This was only another reminder of our situation.
It wasn't only the flower that was dying...
I gave up, as I let fresh tears roll down my pink cheeks yet again.