dreamcrystals | [01] a dream is a wish your heart makes

Sender: Susato Mikotoba
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive dream recording
Notes: Based on an AU idea and thus deviates from canon. Susato "inherits" Kazuma's resolve upon his mysterious death and faces some opposition in trying to take his place in Great Britain.

* * * * *
"Preposterous." The words were practically spat as the scene hazily came into view. An older male voice spoke, voice nasaly and unpleasant, though his features were obscured.

"Why?" A second man, recognizable to those in Reverein as Yujin Mikotoba, responded. His tone was more polite than was deserved.

"You know our laws."

"I know that women are subject to the same laws as we men," Yujin argued, "and yet none are afforded the same right to even set foot inside the courtroom to aid in their own defense. Why do you suppose that is?"

"It matters not, professor." The first man, now with a pair of glasses and other recognizable features, shook his head grimly. "A boy is dead. Now is simply not the time for her childish fantasies."

"That boy was like her brother," Yujin said, unable to mask the offense and growing irritation in his voice. "Susato has studied all the same texts, the same laws. She learned a second language in order to be able to assist him. Who better to take his place in the exchange and finish what he started?"

"We have plenty students of law at Yumei who would qualify. Male students."

"None with his resolve." Yujin spoke immediately with confidence, as he looked to his daughter with pride. "Nor hers."

Susato didn't react, remaining stoic as she accepted judgement. She was angry. First at her loss, and then that her hard work would be reduced to this, a petty argument to prove her worth. The more she showed that anger, though, the worse it would be, so outwardly, she only clenches her fist, tugging the edge of her kimono.

"...That is okay, father. I understand." Susato spoke calmly, as someone who has already made her decision. "I understand that they do not wish for me to practice law in Japan--but the way I see it, I am leaving anyway, so this argument is irrelevant. I do not expect to be back until I find the truth he sought."

The voice. Follow the voice, to Great Britain. Susato turned to leave, with Yujin reaching for her moments after, but both stopped at the same nasaly voice.

"Our agreement for the exchange still requires that you have an assistant!"
.
Yujin sighed, sensing the older man's desperation at bringing up such a trivial matter.

"Ah... as it so happens, I know just the young man," Yujin said. "Kazuma's best friend, in fact. I believe he was caught trying to board the steamship already..."

His voice seems to trail off, vibrating as the scene flickers. In the final moment, an image of boy in a black student's uniform appears with his signature wide eyes; but the image statics as Susato stirs in the real world.

Then it fades away abruptly as she awakens with a start.

* * * * *

[ Susato's eyes spring open to the familiar darkness in her room. Even as memories of the dream start to fracture and fade, she tries to make sense of everything she just saw. None of that actually happened, right? Yet somehow, it didn't feel too far off the mark, and she can't seem to decide whether she is thankful for that, or woefully disappointed.

She's never had her dream recorded before, but rather than act embarrassed or ashamed, she just shuts her journal with an apologetic sigh to no one in particular.

Instead, she grabs another journal--a normal one--along with a quill, and starts writing down anything she can remember. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ HOW DARE YOU . . . What he describes is about what she expected of Kazuma anyway, so it's easy for her to ignore that in favor of this insight he seems to have gotten regarding Kazuma's feelings. ]

Ah. Well... [ Sure? Of course he does. Her father raised him like his own. It's like an unwritten rule or something that he must care. Obligation.

...Still, she can't help but worry that he may have commented unfavorably on her performance at the Wild Harvest. Even though that would like, make no sense, because Vigil clearly implies that he said something good. Having self-doubt is really great. ]

Did he say something about me?

[Talking about their potential relationship is far more exciting.]

He did, in fact.

He was worried that you were overworking yourself.

[ Damn...... she can't help but feel like that was anticlimactic? Was she expecting something more?

No, she couldn't possibly. She'll just be mildly relieved. After all... ]

That cannot be helped, when we are down one man in the kitchen. I hope he knows I worry about him, too. [ Kazuma is not one to talk about overworking. ]

I'm nearly certain that he knows.

[With all the worrying and overworking she does!! You know what, he's just going straight for it--]

Do you just view him as a brother figure?

[ "Just" a brother figure? When it came to Kazuma, it didn't feel like he was "just" anything. He was a man who made big waves, and a huge impact on whoever was lucky enough to have him in their life. Somehow, using that word to quantify it didn't seem right, but then what?

She is sheltered, but she is also a teenage girl who had gone to school, so she can guess what he means. ]

To view him as something more would be highly inappropriate of me.

[ A pause. The more she thinks about it, the more the idea sinks in, confusing her as she remembers allowing him in her room just now--something she's never done before for another boy. Not to mention the other soft moments they've together. ]

That said...no one has ever asked me that before.

[For a second, Vigil just finds himself deflating. It's not quite the response he was hoping for, far from it, really. He's thought for sure that Susato had deeper feelings for Kazuma, but guess Evie was always the better of the two of them when it comes to guessing romance...

sigh......

Except.

Oh ho.]

There's nothing wrong viewing someone in a different manner than before, especially as you grow into your own person.

[ Don't you oh ho her, sir!!! Vigil will not be getting the satisfaction of knowing that his scandalous suggestions have made her blush. No. ]

Then... I must have more growing to do. [ "Because I don't know." ]

[ That last part goes unwritten, but Susato will follow up on it regardless, turning the conversation about. Take that. ]

When you met Ms Evie, did you know?

[At least that answer gives hope!! Vigil will take it.

And oh, he's being asked about Evie now... that's fine, he doesn't mind at all recounting his first encounter with his lovely wife.]

I was entirely enamored with her when we first met, and I only found myself loving her more the longer we got to know one another.

[ Well, it's good that he doesn't mind, because she's gonna need more than just that... ]

Did she feel the same? Did you have to woo her?

[ . . . ]

Was there some sort of sign?

Evie told me that she found me 'charming,' but I don't believe she fully returned my feelings until after some time. She wished to give me a chance and it looks like I didn't disappoint her.

[Considering they've been married for a while now with two children.]

I'm not entirely sure there was any specific sign, but I always felt happier when she was near.

[ Hmmm... of course there wasn't any sign. That would make things too easy, wouldn't it? But it does make Susato smile that things had more or less worked out for him. Don't screw it up, Vigil. ]

I see. I'm sure she felt the same, which is how she came to realize that she returned your feelings. I just wonder if there is a difference between the happiness that you two share as a married couple, and the warmth you would feel with family. [ Like... a brother. ]

[Just lie to his lovely wife for 10 years it's fine--]

Family is something you're born into and treated with love and affection. ...I'd hope that's the expectation, at least.

When you find someone-- someone special, you want to share the rest of your life with them. But ah, you have to find and develop those feelings on your own with the other person.

[ It's the thought that counts??????? Luckily Susato isn't thinking about that little fact. She knows Kazuma is special, and she definitely wants to be a part of his life forever, and for him to be a part of hers. ]

What if the other person doesn't develop those feelings? Did you ever think that Ms Evie might reject you during your courtship?

[ Alternatively, what if she never forgave him for lying...?

But whoops. Even without thinking about Vigil lying, she still feels bad getting so personal. Almost instantly: ]

I'm sorry. That was rude of me.

[Maybe a little rude, but that's okay... she's just trying to navigate her own feelings. It's what Vigil tells himself anyway as he takes a moment to finally respond to her.]

I've certainly had those thoughts before. If Evie never returned my feelings, I would've moved on. You can't force someone to love you and I'd hate to have someone be in such a relationship with me.

[ . . . She still feels bad about bothering Vigil with this, so there's a gap before she responds too, as she thinks. Even if Kazuma never comes to love her in the same way she does him, she hopes she can at least help him love himself. Eventually. ]

I would hate that too. [ She doesn't know what else to say. The feeling of betrayal she would feel if someone faked those kinds of feelings for her would be immense. ] I think I have troubled you enough for one night, Mr Vigil. You should get some rest.

[Thanks for the midnight gossip--]

You haven't troubled me at all, but please, get some rest as well.

[ She's going to sleep and think about what she's done, thanks. She definitely just thinks he's just being more kind than she deserves. ]

I will try. Good night... I shall see you at the Wild Harvest again sometime.

[01] a dream is a wish your heart makes

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it's still Vigil's nice writing but also i have to use these icons

lmao gossip!!!! smh

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