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[ With a secure hold on little Mii-kun, they're off to the races!!!
Literally. Haruaki sprints as fast as his legs can carry him in the direction of the crystal in Stellari, visualizing a tanuki plush in a sailor uniform to make his legs pump faster. ]
He's... right... here!!
[ They skid to a stop in front of the crystal, and without setting Mii-kun down, Haruaki barks out: ]
I wish Mii-kun had Mametarou back!!
[ POOF.
ONE (1) MAMETAROU PLUSH ACQUIRED.
And it lands right in Mii-kun's waiting arms, to boot. ]
Literally. Haruaki sprints as fast as his legs can carry him in the direction of the crystal in Stellari, visualizing a tanuki plush in a sailor uniform to make his legs pump faster. ]
He's... right... here!!
[ They skid to a stop in front of the crystal, and without setting Mii-kun down, Haruaki barks out: ]
I wish Mii-kun had Mametarou back!!
[ POOF.
ONE (1) MAMETAROU PLUSH ACQUIRED.
And it lands right in Mii-kun's waiting arms, to boot. ]
[First of all, woah. They are running super fast right now. Mii-kun giggles and clings, holding on tight, tight, tight before they skid to a sudden stop.]
Uwoah-oah! [Mii-kun dramatically bobbles back and forth. Haruaki barks his wish, and suddenly--
[Mii-kun gasps!]
Mametarou!!!
[He squeezes the plushie close to him, burying his face in the soft fur. His tears start to well up again, this time thick with relief.]
Y-you found him! [No...] You made a wish? That's all?
Uwoah-oah! [Mii-kun dramatically bobbles back and forth. Haruaki barks his wish, and suddenly--
[Mii-kun gasps!]
Mametarou!!!
[He squeezes the plushie close to him, burying his face in the soft fur. His tears start to well up again, this time thick with relief.]
Y-you found him! [No...] You made a wish? That's all?
Yeah! You can wish for anything you want here! W-well, maybe not you just yet...
[ Haruaki stares down at Mii-kun in his arms, no less delighted to see the child, but now also... perplexed. ]
Because you must have just gotten here, Mii-kun! Right? You woke up in a strange garden?
[ Haruaki stares down at Mii-kun in his arms, no less delighted to see the child, but now also... perplexed. ]
Because you must have just gotten here, Mii-kun! Right? You woke up in a strange garden?
You got shocked... ah! That means you were older before!
[ Wait– ]
That means you were already here!
[ How could that be? Mii-kun is from his world, and with how many of them are here, surely one of them would have a connection to him and have already mentioned his presence by now. Unless he just got here? How unlucky would that be...
The gears are turning almost faster than Haruaki's brain can keep up. He squeezes Mii-kun and Mametarou tight in his arms, swaying a little where they stand in front of the crystal as he thinks, thinks, thinks. ]
Mii-kun, Mii-kun, Mii-kun... I never told you, that's a cute nickname! What's it short for?
[ Wait– ]
That means you were already here!
[ How could that be? Mii-kun is from his world, and with how many of them are here, surely one of them would have a connection to him and have already mentioned his presence by now. Unless he just got here? How unlucky would that be...
The gears are turning almost faster than Haruaki's brain can keep up. He squeezes Mii-kun and Mametarou tight in his arms, swaying a little where they stand in front of the crystal as he thinks, thinks, thinks. ]
Mii-kun, Mii-kun, Mii-kun... I never told you, that's a cute nickname! What's it short for?
[ Even the air around them seems to still as Haruaki stops swaying and turns his eyes on Mii-kun–
No.
On Sano. ]
Sano-kun?
[ He stares for a moment longer before it jolts into him like a static shock – those blue eyes! And if he imagines Mii-kun older, with less baby fat on his face... ]
Is it really you? You gave me that talisman, and then... you saved me during the fire, both of you did...
No.
On Sano. ]
Sano-kun?
[ He stares for a moment longer before it jolts into him like a static shock – those blue eyes! And if he imagines Mii-kun older, with less baby fat on his face... ]
Is it really you? You gave me that talisman, and then... you saved me during the fire, both of you did...
[ The shock of this revelation is swiftly settling into a warm, radiant sort of knowing safety. Haruaki cradles Mii-kun– Sano– in his arms, voice quieting as he hums and nods. ]
I was. But you saved me, and you helped me save a little zashiki-warashi. Your talisman did that, Sano-kun.
I was. But you saved me, and you helped me save a little zashiki-warashi. Your talisman did that, Sano-kun.
[Sano is quiet for a moment, little brain struggling to process the severity of the scenario. He finds himself tearing up as he tilts his head back and forth, searching Haruaki for burns. His little fingers take to fiddling with the man's tie.]
It really worked? [Through the tears, there's a tiny smile, then a tiny giggle.] Hehe. It worked!
It really worked? [Through the tears, there's a tiny smile, then a tiny giggle.] Hehe. It worked!
[ Haruaki can't help himself. He sees tears filling Mii-kun's eyes, and his own grow bright and damp in turn. He doesn't start actively crying, but the threat is there.
No, he's too happy. A grin breaks out over his face to hear that little giggle – has he ever heard Sano giggle? – and then he's hugging the boy tight, Mametarou squished between them. ]
It worked. You're my hero, Sano-kun!
No, he's too happy. A grin breaks out over his face to hear that little giggle – has he ever heard Sano giggle? – and then he's hugging the boy tight, Mametarou squished between them. ]
It worked. You're my hero, Sano-kun!
[ That's right... he never told him, did he?
He never told any of them. They called him Nagano.
A soft sob escapes right alongside a laugh as Haruaki grins even wider, tears spilling over onto Mii-kun's pudgy little hands. ]
Abe Haruaki. But...
[ Sano calls him Seimei. ]
You can call me Seimei. Mii-kun.
He never told any of them. They called him Nagano.
A soft sob escapes right alongside a laugh as Haruaki grins even wider, tears spilling over onto Mii-kun's pudgy little hands. ]
Abe Haruaki. But...
[ Sano calls him Seimei. ]
You can call me Seimei. Mii-kun.
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