Day 27: Breakfast

[lighthearted]

Day came too soon.

Sora hadn't been able to find Rena, had instead been forced to crumple onto the grass of the recreational field and bleed all over himself, and hadn't even accomplished what he'd been sent out to do. What he'd been entrusted to do. He didn't know how he was going to be able to face Renji and the others, but he also knew he wasn't going to hide from them, either. That would just be low, after all, and he was ready to face up to the consequences.

He didn't try to make excuses for himself. Even though there had been a Special Counseling patient, they had managed to take her down by sheer numbers. The fact that he hadn't seen any sign of Rena was what had him the most worried. He hoped he could find her today.

The boy laid in his bed for a good while that morning before his nurse finally came in to collect him. She clucked over the bandages wrapped tightly around his chest and leg, and asked him if he was okay to walk.

Once Sora assured her he was fine (he didn't really want to use crutches, as that would just attract attention to himself, and he didn't need others worrying over him), they made their way to the cafeteria. Sora yawned and winced against the bright light of morning - it seemed even earlier than usual, and he realized why when they entered the cafeteria and found it empty.

The boy shuffled over to grab a chocolate chip pancake, a bowl of cereal, and a glass of milk (good for the bones, or so his mom had always told him) before settling at a table. He kept an eye on the door, hoping he would see Rena walking in soon.

Comments

[reanalyze.livejournal.com]

"That being the case, you've nothing to blame yourself for. That manner of conditioning is impossible to fight. Not one of us would be able to fight it. It's only a trick of the enemy to turn us against one another." Citan offered her another reassuring smile.

"I'm sure they are. Now, let us talk of more pleasant things, hmm? There's no need to let the darkness of night carry on into breakfast. And certainly not when we've such a delectable spread as this before us!"

[icy-pole.livejournal.com]

Ami woke up groggily in her own bed with no memory of actually getting there. Just like the other night, she thought, flicking hair out of her still tired eyes. An ache in her arm caused her to examine her wound. It was completely bandaged, and no longer bleeding. Peeling back the bandaging slightly, Ami noticed the wound had been stitched up. So, it appears that someone in here does actually look after people who are injured during nightshift, she mused as she rose. Just in time too because the too-cheery nurse had arrived to take her to breakfast. Schooling her face into a bland smile, Ami followed the nurse through to the cafeteria.

Scanning the area, Ami spotted the girl who had attacked them the night before. Ami shyly made her way over to the table, blushing and feeling awkward for interrupting the conversation already happening.

"Excuse me," she said timidly to the pair. "My name is Mizuno Ami." She turned slightly to face MOMO. "I just wanted to make sure you are okay," she said, concerned. "I'm not sure if you remembered what happened last night...but you did take a very severe blow to the head..." Ami trailed off, eyes scanning the girl's eyes. She appeared to be back to normal, but very distressed.

[floraltempest.livejournal.com]

"Right... Yes, thank you." MOMO smiled once more, feeling more at ease then she had when first entering the cafeteria.

She couldn't help but laugh a little as he mentioned a change in topic. She was grateful for that, and despite there not being many pleasant things to discuss within the institute, she nodded.

Before she could say anything, however, another girl approached them. It didn't take long for the realian to recognize her as one of the people she had met during the night, either. Her fist instinct was to sink lower in her chair, but she determinedly remained as she was, though her hands were clutched tightly in her lap. Speaking with Citan had lifted her spirits a little, and she needed to remain strong now more than ever.

"I-I'm fine, thank you," MOMO replied, a little surprised that Ami would be worried over her well-being. She couldn't deny that it was strange, and a little frightening, to speak to her, but at least she seemed to be someone who understood the situation. "You really don't need to worry about me. Are you all right?"

[reanalyze.livejournal.com]

Citan only continued to smile, and turned his attention to breakfast. Holding on to life last night had left him very drained. He'd let the girls speak, and perhaps gather information from listening to their conversation.

At least it seemed he'd been right, and people were understanding about the situation.

[icy-pole.livejournal.com]

Ami could tell the girl was nervous when she started speaking, and gave her a shy, reassuring smile. She's probably nervous because she remembers everything that happened overnight, Ami thought to herself, her heart filling with sympathy for MOMO. "I'm glad you are okay today. I'm fine, just a little weary after everything that happened." No need to make her feel worse by going into an injury analysis.

Quickly scanning the cafeteria and spotting a number of people from last night's battle, Ami turned back to MOMO and said, "Don't worry about what happened last night. Most of us understand that you had no control over what was happening, and though a couple people took some serious hits, you didn't kill anyone." Ami's smile was understanding. "Believe it or not, I've been in the same situation, just not in here."

[floraltempest.livejournal.com]

MOMO couldn't help but smile slightly once Ami assured that she was all right. She didn't think she had hurt any of the females too badly (according to her memory, it had been two of the males who took the worst hits-- though it was possible she missed something since it had been difficult to keep track of everyone), but it was still nice to be assured.

"Right... I'm extrememly thankful for that." For both having them understand the situation, and for not having killed anyone... If the latter had happened... she didn't even want to think about that.

Ami's last statement caught her attention, and MOMO canted her head slightly. "You have?"

[icy-pole.livejournal.com]

Ami visibly relaxed, glad that she had been able to reassure MOMO to some extent and hoped the girl wouldn't have too many nightmares about the previous night.

Ami was expecting MOMO's question and nodded an affirmation. "Yes. About a year or so ago I was brainwashed by a monster into believing my best friends had turned against me and I attacked them." Ami's eyes took on a slightly blank look as she became lost in her memories of that particular incident, still inwardly wincing at the abuse she believed her friends had hurled at her.

Realising she had paused, Ami blushed profusely and continued. "S..sorry. Um, anyway, in the end the only way I was able to break free of the control over me was because I believed in my friends and knew they would not have turned against me." Ami smiled as she thought about how amazing her friends were. "I still feel awful about attacking them, even now after all this time. But they forgave me for it, even though I find it hard to forgive myself."

Ami smiled sincerely at MOMO. "So I really do understand what you must be going through right now."