Life is Better (Togafuka)

...With Daily Apologies

The fact of the matter is that my thoughts were NOT settled when I woke up the next day. Nor were they settled the next next day. Or the one after that. Instead, I've been filling pages with tales of hatred and pain. Do not confuse this with love. You know what love is now! And... maybe something is different now with him, but there's still been no actual admittance of wrongdoing. Stand your ground. Do not fall in love without a mutual exchange of apologies. In fact! Don't even entertain the possibility of a friendship without it! That's my goal. We don't just get to pretend none of it happened.

One morning just like any other, I wake up. I can't decide whether I want Western or Japanese style breakfast, so I flip a coin. Western it is. Soon the scent of cooking waffle batter wafts throughout my house. I flick the bottle of syrup open and inhale deeply. The intoxicatingly sweet aroma informs me that this was the right choice. I pour an excessive amount over the top and dig in. I need to go to the market. I'm nearly out of eggs, and some extra flour would be nice.

Once I finish eating, I take care of myself. I suppress the part of myself that doesn't like showers for the sake of hygiene. Then, to reward myself for that bold act of courage, I put on my favorite outfit and do my hair in a milkmaid braid. Yep. That's it. You don't have to let the insecure thoughts win. You're not an ugly hag. People don't think you're an ugly hag. Actually, yeah, you do look kind of cute today! And anyway, if anyone DOES think you're an ugly hag, you're an ugly hag who can totally kick some ass. Just ask Komaru.

After that pep talk, I take a deep breath and step outside. Time to go to the store. Except... I immediately find a letter resting on my front porch. My tragedy instincts tell me it might be dangerous, so I tentatively flip it over with a delicate hand. The envelope is addressed to me in handwriting I'm absolutely familiar with. My heart starts to race with possibility.

Eiko,
I'm sure that, if you know anything about me, it's that I don't do things halfway. I strive to do things perfectly all the time, and that means taking initiative to make things happen. I hope you don't find this too unappealing. I swear I didn't stalk you. I wouldn't lower myself so. I merely asked Makoto for your address.

Here's how this is going to work. There are certain regrettable actions I performed whilst interacting with you. It is my desire to make amends. However, I do not simply wish to give a general, half-hearted "sorry for everything." So, instead, I will apologize for one thing a day. Yes, grueling, I know. Because there are many things to apologize for. Even so, I feel this must be done.

Today, I am sorry that I broke our promise and told the others that you were Genocide Jack. That action lacked integrity, and I betrayed your trust.

Byakuya Togami

I hold the letter in my shaky hands. W-Wow. Wow! I run my fingers against the lettering. Ah, he pressed hard on the page! The stationery is high-quality, and he obviously used a fancy fountain pen! Maybe the ink is Pilot Irushizuku! God, I'm such a nerd, getting all worked up over what kind of ink he may have used. Not like it matters.

I rush inside and get MY nicest stationery and fountain pen.

Byakuya,
I appreciate the apology. I was hurt when you did that, but in hindsight, it was probably the right thing to do. If you hadn't, Jill probably would've killed you eventually. Even so, the fact that you feel remorse for sharing my secret comforts me.

Allow me to join you in the daily apologies. Today, I am sorry for all those times I actually physically chased after you. That must've been pretty atrocious.

Eiko Fukawa

I snatch up an envelope and carefully slide the letter in. Byakuya... wouldn't want stickers slapped all over the envelope, right? Yeah. He's too strict for that. But I do have a wax seal, and that's pretty damn cool. And it goes with the whole aesthetic. Hell yeah. I go about my day as normal, including going to the market, and then, before I go to sleep, I place the envelope gingerly on the porch.