dreamcrystals | 2nd Wish

[Normal for them, it would seem.

He would like to do better than just running away from his problems, but he's tended to take the route that seems safest for those he cares about. And when he doesn't, like trying to challenge heaven to protect Bishamon, it seems to end badly. He can't let that happen to Hiyori. He can't.

His gaze follows her movement, catching her eyes briefly before he glances away with a shy smile. She feels safe, huh...]

In that case maybe it wouldn't be so bad to have a couple in the house. If you feel comfortable with it. They still unsettle me, I won't lie.

[Glancing back to her in the mirror, he lets his eyes fixate on hers, so pink and pretty.]

Yeah. I feel like you'd get more than a couple hits in. You could likely wrestle whatever tries to show up and subdue them with your moves. Normal intruders are one thing we don't have to worry about. It's the unusual ones that concern me.

[ the thing with bishamon was all and all BAD. in every way. contrived by his father. it wasn't his fault and he tried to do right by his morals and by her wish to help. operating on the strong belief that yato could do it.

at what cost?

that answer is better than taking them all down and handing them over to whoever is taking advantage of yato's misguided generosity. hiyori hums in thought, considering.]

Y, yeah. I get your point. It's not like I don't understand why you're worried. Ummm--

[she doesn't want to disregard yato's concern completely. when she looks back up, they make eye contact through the mirror finally. ]

If it really bothers you... what if... we covered them when they're not being used? Will that help at all? I want you to be comfortable, too.

[It cost Yukine far too much, in Yato's mind. And that his friends risked their guideposts for them... It's something he never, ever wants to go through again. Now he sees why so many gods bow down to Heaven. It can be a frightening force.

Focusing on her staring at him a while longer gets him turning a faint pink color that he tries to ignore. She isn't wrong, either, but still...]

I appreciate you not going off on me. I know it might seem silly, but I can't help how I feel. Better safe than sorry, yeah?

[With his face heating up, he turns around to face her properly, leaning back against the sink and folding both arms across his chest.]

Hmm... That's not a bad idea. I think it might make me feel better, yeah. And if something does try to come through, they'll have to deal with an obstacle first. So yeah-- let's do that!

[ though she might not have been there to witness yato moving the mountain that was heaven, she has witnessed the mark he's made on so many people.

she nearly went off on him, but after hearing how he felt about it (and managing to stop him in time)... it's not that unfathomable. what's wrong is giving them away to avoid the problem altogether.

yato's faint blush is something she's going to ignore, too. in the hopes that he ignores her slightly flushed face as they HANG OUT IN THIS TINY ROOM TOGETHER. she fiddles with the hem of her sweater. ]

How you feel isn't the silly part. We'll make it work, as long as it makes you feel better. [ towels? blankets? what can they use...? she leans against the counter on her elbows, tugging at her sleeves. ]

Not only that, looking in mirrors is the real problem rather than the mirrors themselves. It's like... turning a creepy doll around because you don't want to feel like it's staring at you or something, right?

[It's probably ridiculous for someone capable of such a feat to be concerned with mirrors of all things, but here they are. There's no getting around the fact that the damn things are grating on his nerves.

Hiyori's always so understanding when it counts, he can't help but feel a surge of emotion when she's working hard to find a sensible solution that suits them both. The urge to take her hands in his own and thank her is strong.

But not strong enough to win out over his self-consciousness. As she messes around with her shirt, he idly runs a hand down the side of his pants. S-Sweating again. Damn his nerves...!]

Y-Yeah, okay. Alright. I know we can come up with something. [With his skills, it shouldn't be too hard to mock up some cute, usable curtains for the mirrors. Something tasteful that won't look out of place.]

...you're not wrong. So what you're saying is I ought to be focusing on dealing with that issue rather than getting rid of them, huh? Sounds like something Yukine would say. [He offers her a knowing smile.]

[ just a little, but it's okay. you can't control how you feel, but you can control how you act.

as for the hands, they're always sweating tho........ but her next smile at him is more heartfelt and brighter, glad he has more faith in himself. and her, too. she stands back up straight.

she can design something and he can weave it! yeah!! ]

... D-does it? [ she flusters, being compared to genteel yukine makes her feel warm. being reminded of yukine makes her smile a bit melancholy. ]

I wish we could see him. I know time moves funny here, so I keep hoping he hasn't been alone all this time, but I wish I could talk to him for just a bit. To everyone. Mother and father and onii-chan and grandmother, too...

[ don't cry don't cry don't cry. she's been so GOOD about staying strong. ]

[How he acts, huh... He's always just followed his whims, never really putting a huge amount of thought into managing his behavior. Which is how they ended up with him proposing to her, wearing her clothes, and other weird things. It's how they ended up crammed together in their small bathroom, like they're sharing secrets.

Which they kinda are, in a way. But it's a good kind. He smiles back at her, starting to feel better about the whole deal. At least briefly.

Hurrah for teamwork! Something to make everybody happy!]

Y-Yeah...! In a good way! [That much he feels the need to clarify, just in case. Although when she seems to start tearing up, he's quick to push off the sink and hesitantly reach out with both hands, eager to comfort her somehow.]

H-Hiyori... I know you're missing them some kinda bad right now, but it'll be alright--! I'll figure out a way of getting you home soon, I promise...! Just... hang in there, okay?

[He won't dare to tell her not to cry. She's allowed to; there's no reason she shouldn't. Not in the face of everything they've been through and are still up against.]

[ as if she could take being compared to yukine in a bad way.

since he's noticed her tears, she startles and reaches up to try and wipe them away in a hurry with her hands. ]

I-I know! I know it'll be alright... [ ugh. she doesn't want to cry like this. she doesn't want to worry yato. it may be okay to cry, but that doesn't mean it's ever easy. ]

I'm okay! Sometimes I think of everyone and miss them, that's all. You do too, right? So don't take everything upon yourself. [ is there even a way to get home? someone would have found out by now, right?

tissues. where are the tissues...? with blurry vision, she grabs a towel and rubs her face with it with a sigh. her nose and face are red when she lowers it and she can't quite meet yato's eyes. ]

It's not bad here, anyway! I can't complain. It's just a little weird.

[True, true. Though Yukine does have his moments, too. He is only human.

Feeling guilty about pointing it out, he hesitates a few more second before gently placing a hand on her upper arm, trying desperately to be reassuring without overstepping any boundaries.]

I know you know, I just-- [Don't know what else to say that isn't empty niceties without real meaning. Although even if they're trite and cliched, he does mean every word he says.]

Of course... I wake up sometimes, expecting to see Yukine only to realize that he's not here, and that I can't get to him in case he's having a nightmare. [There has to be a way, given that he's heard of people leaving. It's just... nobody seems to know how to trigger it.

He watches Hiyori work to compose herself, hesitating again before doing something brazen: wrapping his arms around hers in a tight hug. It's brief, it's gentle, but it's heartfelt.]

You're also allowed to miss them, too. You can complain about it hurting. I'll listen to any troubles you have, okay?

[ some old moments come to mind. being a thief, for one. that's behind him now though.

the hand on her upper arm makes her tense before she relaxes at it. she finds some of her nerve to glance up because he's doing his best to be comforting to her. for her. again. she tightens her grip around the towel, a thick tension in her throat. he's not having nightmares though, right? time isn't moving on earth. grandmother's clock isn't ticking without her, either.

his hug is brief, it's gentle, it's heartfelt, and it's what she actually needed in this moment. just over his shoulder, her eyes well up again. she's embarrassed but moved at the same time, so she reaches around to clutch the back of his jersey tightly and buries her nod against his shoulder. ]

I'm just... my grandmother worries me most of all. What if she, while I'm here. I'd feel so awful. But she won't, right?

[He almost doesn't try to go any further when a simple hand upon her causes that kind of reaction, but thankfully the moment of tension passes and she seem more comfortable with the contact. Last thing he wants to do is make things worse for her, after all. He can't say for certain what the relationship between this world and earth is, if one keeps moving without the other, or if they're in sync down to the second. He may be a god, but he's not omnipotent. Regrettably.

When Hiyori ends up clinging to him, his heart aches for her, clenching tight. Time is much more precious to humans, limited as it is. He understands and respects that. Trying to be comforting, her moves one handle to gently cradle the back of her head, the other rubbing her back in small circles. When he speaks, his voice is quiet. Calm. More confident than he really feels.]

She won't. I'm sure of it. She's just as strong as you are, Hiyori. She'll hang in there until you can see her again, I'll make certain of it. I'll keep searching for a way to get you back, even if only temporarily.

[ even if these are niceties, they're appreciated. it eases the ache in her heart for her grandmother. the dread that's been steadily creeping in on it. when, in yato's words, she was told it's her time. against him, with his soothing, she sags and calms. his smell is in her nose and he envelops her and it's so safe.

another silent nod against his shoulder. she believes him. when it matters, he's been honest with her. he hasn't been wrong. ]

I get my strength from her.

[ the thick tension in her throat, emotion, makes her croak out the words. she hasn't let him go but her grip has loosened slightly and isn't so desperate and helpless. for a while, she takes the comfort he offers her. ]

You have to get back, too. For Yukine-kun. I don't want him to suffer nightmares on his own, either.

[ the god's greatest secret.

mirrors being the worst of their problems compared to what's going on on earth doesn't seem all that bad. compared to what they had to leave behind. still, they bothered yato enough. she didn't mean to have things end up this way. crying on him.

hugging him for consolation. ]

Yato. Thank you. I needed that. You're always there when it's important...

[ and when it's not. her god of fortune. ]

[Until he learns more about Songerein and waking up, this is the best he can do for Hiyori. If he can provide even some small measure of comfort when things get tough for her, then he'll feel that he's done his job as her God of Fortune. Making the best of a bad situation, turning a negative into a positive, providing a safe haven... All are things he ought to be able to do for her.

He hugs her just a smidge tighter at her nod, smiling softly to himself. She's strong. She can handle this.]

That you do. Although some of it is your own. Don't forget that.

[When her hold on him loosens, so does his, in case she wishes to slip free. It's never his intention to hold her in place, to keep her for himself, however much he may long to do so. She's her own person, capable of standing on her own two feet. But he's also there in case she stumbles and needs a hand.]

Yeah. We'll find a way home, together. To that room where we belong, all three of us. Otherwise we'll get one hell of a scolding!

[Yukine won't let them hear the end of it, that's for sure. Leaving him to do all the work around the shop, studying on his own, and having to watch over his sleeping form. Provided he hasn't rolled off the roof yet. The kid would probably let him as punishment for being an idiot dozing off up there in the first place.

And for dragging Hiyori into this mess, whether it's his fault or not. Which he still feels it must be. That's one reason he has to do right by her.]

You're welcome, Hiyori. That's what a god is for, right? To answer your prayers, no matter how big or small. I'll always be there to hear them.

[ his best is enough. it's a comfort. he would be her god of fortune regardless, but he's done his job. in so many ways.

in reminding her that some is her own. she won't forget.

mention of getting a scolding has her laughing, just a bit wetly because her nose was running. like he gets when he's all weepy over shrines. she picks up the towel again and wipes her face. ]

Hehe. I'll just be happy to hear his voice.

[ although, something else has been bothering her. she doesn't know how to approach it. she doesn't want to believe it, either.

she's distracted by his comment that that's what a god is for. yes, it is. but strangely, even if it's true, a little ache is back. ]

Yeah. I'll keep making my prayers to the Yatogami. [ she pulls back and smiles at him but it's just slightly more reluctant to meet her eyes like her other smiles. it feels more polite. ]

I'd like to make a prayer now, if you'll hear it.

[He really is making it as a God of Fortune, in some small way, at least. It's a good start, being able to make one person happy. Especially when that person is Hiyori. She will always be his number one priority - he made a promise as such.

So hearing her laughter brings a smile back to his face, brighter and more assured than before. All is well between them, mirrors or no, being stuck here or not. It's what he craves, to be someone she can rely on and have faith in. Worthy of her devotion.

Releasing her, his brows raise in sympathy over the runny nose and he has to hold in a chuckle. Not easy getting emotional, huh?]

You and me both. I'll even take a slippering for being absent so long.

[That she'll keep praying to him sends a rush of color to his cheeks, but instead of getting all flustered, he embraces it with a brighter beaming that turns eager as she asserts there's more to her request. He has to resist the urge to take up her hand in his own, and instead nods emphatically. As if he could say no!]

O-Of course! I'll always hear them for you, any time, any place. What is it?

[ in a big way, to her. without him, what would she have done? he's saving her again. there's a reason she places so much faith in him.

NO. GETTING EMOTIONAL SUCKS UGHHHH ]

Pff, haha!

[ a sl-slippering. she smothers more laughter into her towel. ]

[ ... before she gets a bit more serious, anyway. ah. yes. her prayer. here it is: ]

Yatogami. [ VERY SERIOUS. so serious she is going through the whole bowing. clapping twice. bowing again. ]

I pray that, when I come home later tonight, no mirrors will be missing from the walls.

[Sometimes it's the smaller rescues that matter the most, huh. The little daily things that keep trying to drag you down, making life that much more challenging. But that's what he's here for, to make those times easier.

Her laughter gives him mighty fierce mixed signals, but it's all good. Better that she be laughing and enjoying herself rather than crying. He can't stand it when she cries. It makes his heart ache helplessly.

Once she grows somber, he straightens up, ready to fulfill his role as god. Whatever her wish, he'll see it through until the end...!

...

E-Even if it's actually not that serious after all. His brows disappear beneath his bangs when she makes such a silly request so seriously. N-Not that he can blame her. He has been ridiculous after all. After the stun wears off, he breaks out into a beaming smile, reaching out to take one of her hands by the fingers.]

Your wish has been heard loud and clear. The mirrors can stay. Because you prayed for it. That'll be five yen, please~ ♥

[He's so gonna get smacked, but it's worth it to enjoy this fun banter with her.]

[ matters held closest to the heart, when you're at your most vulnerable, make the most impact. it's the second time yato has come to her rescue when it comes to her grandmother. family is so important to her. friends are important, too. gods and shinki.

hiyori didn't realize just how much it was dragging her down in the background until she was made to confront it here in front of yato. she's so, so grateful he's here...

what mixed signals, though?? slippering is a funny word is all!

just like now. he might think he's going to get smacked, but a grin tugs her lips as well. fufufu, just as keikaku!! without a word, hiyori reaches into her pocket and pulls out... a five yen coin?! no, it can't be. it sure looks a lot like one, though. just not as bright or shiny.

or it's a homemade one. made of clay. using his grip on her fingers, she turns his hand so it's palm facing up so that she can place the clay five yen into it. ]

I'm ready this time!

[And to him, all he's done is be there and be as honest as possible with her, trying to gently break the news without crushing all of Hiyori's hope or her heart. Hardly anything worth mentioning, really, but he supposes that's what gods (and friends) are for. To help people through the tough times, whatever they may be.

That's why if he can help ease her burden even a little bit, he'll consider that to be a success. Just as she's glad he's here, so is he that she is too; she gives him strength and a sense of purpose. Truly a fine substitute guidepost. And best friend.

W-Well, she went from laughing to being all serious on him...! What was he supposed to think??

As he certainly does expect to get a thwack over the head, or at least a headlock for his little joke between them. What he doesn't think will happen is her being absolutely prepared for this inevitability and presenting him with a... handmade coin?

He blinks as she presents it to him and manipulates his hand in order to pay him with it. Color slowly rises to his cheeks once again, his fingers clutching protectively at the little charm. He holds it to his chest while glancing away, a smile still playing at his lips.]

Y-You aren't kidding. Thank you for your payment.

[M...Maybe they ought to move out of the bathroom before Kazuma gets any weird ideas about what they might be doing in here...]

[ as a friend (her best, and as a god), hopefully, he's learned that sometimes all people need is someone to listen. someone to show comfort and care with a simple hug or a thoughtful word. yato did it naturally with her, even through his doubt. he's always had compassion. since he was little, it was just... lost for a little while.

looking extremely proud of herself, she beams as brightly as he did. as bright as his beloved coins.

don't mind that she's ESSENTIALLY counterfeiting money. it doesn't count in dreamland. the coin isn't a perfect replica by any means. she's done her best, but it might say 'YA TO GA MI' on the back. for funsies. who else is she going to give them to? ]

I've been trying to think of a way to surprise you with one. This works out!

[ they're having TOTALLY NORMAL CONVERSATIONS in the bathroom, remember!! if kazuma thinks anything else, he's the weird one! as hiyori sees nothing wrong with this. at all. nope. ]

You keep asking for five yen, so I wanted to make sure I could pay you when I made a wish here. N-not that it's actually worth anything, haha...

[It's a fact that he's slowly learning, or rather relearning, that oftentimes it isn't help so much as support that is necessary to help someone overcome difficult times. That opposed to doing stuff for somebody, giving them the strength they need to do it themselves is better.

Because for sure Hiyori is strong enough to stand on her own two feet. If she stumbles, he'll be there to catch her, but she doesn't need someone to carry her all the way.

The coin may be handmade and hold no monetary value to society as a whole, but to him it's the most precious change he's ever received. It has meaning. He'll never forget where it came from, or what happened to earn it. It's a special piece of their memories now, counterfeit or not. It's real to his heart. And it's going right on the collection box of his new shrine, to make him smile even more every morning.]

I-It does! I appreciate it. It's more than I tend to get for any other wishes here, monetarily speaking.

[Absolutely normal conversation where they're squeezed into the room with the loo, yup. Nobody would think them strange! Or if they do, they're the ones with dirty minds. Sheesh.]

You really do know me too well... [Which is a good thing in his mind.] N-No! It's worth plenty! To me, at least... Thank you, Hiyori.

[He opens his palms to glance down at the coin, a soft expression coming over him. Like it's Christmas all over again.]

[ that's an important thing to remember and will take him far. has already brought him a long way. he's become a source of support and comfort for hiyori. ever since the hospital attack.

maybe even before that.

this is just another small token of her support for him. his dreams -- helping him build his shrine here in reverein. whatever else he wants to do, too. besides, you know, get rid of mirrors.

currency doesn't exist here. when yato put up his advertisement, asking for five yen, she imagines most people probably commented on it. still, she knows how much the gesture itself means to him. five yen is the standard offering to a god. he SHOULD up his prices, but if this makes him happy...?

what else does he like? she'd like to know him better. why? couldn't tell you. ]

You're welcome, Yato. [ she smiles, feeling light on her toes that it's worth something to him as just a clay mimic of their country's coin, and folds her hands behind her back. there are no splinters or bandages for her to hide away, this time. ]

[ ... their surroundings, the fact that she's with yato in the BATHROOM (NORMALLY), settles in. so belatedly. ] U-um, so! I'll go start thinking of a design and leave you b-EEE?! [ she nearly runs into the door as she turns, banging into the bottom of it with her toe. stubbing her poor toe. ] Owowowowowwwww...!

[ CRUMPLES INTO A BALL, IN TEARS. PAIN TEARS. ]

[Really, they've both come so far from that fateful day where their eyes locked onto to one another and the following weeks when they got on each other's nerves all the time. It's almost difficult to imagine that's how this all started when now they provide support to each other and a shoulder to lean on in tough times.

Like when Hiyori turns on a dime and promptly smacks her foot into the door. He instantly winces in sympathy and drops down to grip her by the shoulders, in fretting mode.]

H-Hiyori...! You okay? D'you need an ice pack? Pain killer? Here-- let me...!

[Without waiting for an answer, he scoops her up in both arms, pushing the rude door further open with his own foot so they can get out into the hallway and head down towards her room.]

Shit, I'm sorry... Let me have a look at it, okay?

[Once in her room, he sets her carefully upon the bed and crouches down to pull the sock off her injured foot. Taking it in his hand, he checks for any blood or busted nails. Fretfretfret~!]

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