Hatori had separated himself from the others of Judgment, claiming he was going to visit a 'friend.' He didn't clarify.
He walked the halls of Memento's HQ, counting the doors as he passed. He had ditched the cloak for once, dressing in a plain collared white shirt, with green trousers that matched his eyes. It wasn't the classiest, but the best someone from Persetta would often wear.
He scanned each number on the door, until he found two hundred-twelve. He paused at the door, raising his fist to knock, but he hesitated. His eyes fell to the floor and he turned to step away. However, with a breath, he gathered himself and hit the door three times.
He waited, with no response. He tried once more, and still nothing. Hatori gave a tilted look, before turning back down the hall. As he started, someone turned the corner with a towering pile of clothes. Freshly made by the looks of it.
A faint smile grew on Hatori's face, until the pile began to fall—and along with it, Correna stumbled.
Hatori dashed forward in a panic, catching half of the folded laundry, as Correna regained her balance. A collection of new, clean Memento cloaks in pristine black.
"Oh! Hatori!" Correna managed with a smile. "Didn't see you there!"
Hatori chuckled. "I imagine these blocked your sight." He lifted the folded cloaks up to show her, and she giggled in response.
Hatori faintly blushed, before turning slightly. "You heading to your room? I can drop these off for you."
"I sure am. I'd love a bit of company. It's been too quiet around here since the raids."
Her expression dropped for only a moment before fading behind a masked smile.
"Oh, but yes! Let me get the door…"
She stepped over, carefully balancing the clothes, before puffing her cheeks and dumping them all in Hatori's arms as she pulled a key from her pockets. Hatori shifted slightly, the towering stack now split evenly between both of his arms.
"Right this way," she said cheerfully, stepping inside and holding the door open just enough for Hatori to squeeze through. He set them down on her desk, raising his head to see her grinning widely.
"Thank you," she said, tilting her head to the side. Hatori didn't say anything. He only gazed into her frosty, gray eyes. Her blonde hair was split down the middle, revealing a face Hatori had cared for longer than he'd admit.
She waved two hands to grab his attention, in which he shook his head violently to snap back to reality.
"So… was there a reason you were at my door?" she asked innocently. Hatori stuttered slightly, rubbing the back of his head, with a cheesy smile.
"I—uh, just wanted to make sure you were okay. After the raids and everything."
Her eyes flicked, as if they were studying his tone vividly. "Well, I appreciate that. I'm doing as good as I can… losing your own people, ones you've known for years hurts."
She looked at the cloaks that were now stocked onto her desk—still neatly folded.
"And well, they'll watch us finally push forward to victory. Well, you guys I mean. I'll keep doing what I do with knitting and all."
She gave a half-smile, but Hatori shook his head. "Don't undercut your importance to Memento."
She tilted her head in confusion. He continued, voice steady and easy. "You craft our cloaks, masks, and everything with fabric that we need. It comes naturally to you. Without you, there is no us."
Her arms met behind her back, fingers interlocking. Something Hatori had known for years that she did when she got praised.
"Well… don't butter me up too much, Hatori," she said, giving him a beautiful smile of hers.
A slightly awkward silence followed, as Hatori's gaze dropped to the floor. He began counting each crack in the wooden flooring.
"I—um… better get going," he managed making his way to the door. He raised a hand to wave, pulling the doorknob with the other. As he was exiting, he hit the corner with his noggin, wincing and giving a final smile of embarrassment. Correna giggled—her head tilted to the side in slight confusion of his sudden rush. She didn't pry.
On the other side, Hatori shut the door, heavily breathing for moments after. He inhaled deeply one last time, before walking down the hallway in a hurry.
Outside, Persetta didn't wait for anyone to collect them. Tsuki and Geo walked stride for stride together. Painted silver by the moonlight. Tsuki had mixed up the choice of food today, picking grilled Persetta Trout from Persetta Lake just west of the main town. A luxury dinner, one which Geo had bought for her a bit earlier.
Their footsteps echoed quietly in the evening, the towering cliffs looming overhead like they wished to be noticed.
"The nightlife here… it's so peaceful compared to the other regions," Geo said, skewer in hand. He ripped a piece of meat off, waving it like a wand in his hand.
"No matter who barges in here, and tries to burn it down," Tsuki said, swallowing her last bite, "it'll never not feel like home anymore."
Geo finished his dinner, tossing the stick into a nearby trash bin as they passed. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his cloak, with his gaze drifting upwards—as if they searched for something among the constellations.
"Y'know, with every passing day, I find more reasons to fight. The list keeps growing… probably reaching the size of a shopping list of yours by now."
He chuckled softly, but Tsuki raised a brow. "Explain."
"At first, it was simple. Fight the tyranny at the top… make a world that I'd one day want my family to live in…"
He paused for a moment, finding a spot to sit along the framing of a fountain. She sat next to him, listening intently.
"Somewhere along the way, I realized it isn't just about that anymore."
He locked eyes onto the stars, as though they may hear him. "I'm not going into battle because I want to secure my future… I'm going because I want to protect those important to me. Hatori, Azumi… you."
Tsuki chuckled warmly. "Look at you getting all heroic on me."
"Really had to ruin the moment, didn't you?"
She leaned closer, still with a teasing smile. She grabbed his hand, placing it at her heart. "I'd say the same about you, Geo."
His face flushed completely, and he quickly turned to hide it. She let his hand go, but her gaze lingered.
"You're genuine… and that's something I like about you."
"Damn, keep the praise coming."
"That's all I've got for you," she joked. They laughed together, the sound warm and unguarded. They were closer now, close enough to feel each other's presence, without touching.
Above them, the stars shimmered in easy silence. They sat there for minutes, saying nothing, simply letting the scenery and each other's company speak for them.
Finally, Tsuki stood, brushing a bit of dirt from her cloak.
"C'mon—let's head back. We've got a mission tomorrow, right?"
Geo rose behind her, hands buried in his pockets. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Right. I'll walk you back."
She noticed the smile—it was a pretty one.
As they walked back through the quiet streets, the world's weight seemed to lift for a short while. The sound of their boots on the cobblestone felt steady and peaceful. No arguments or war talk—just the simple rhythm of their steps under the glow of scattered lanterns.
Eventually, they reached her door. Geo pushed the knob in, holding it until Tsuki entered.
"Thanks, Geo."
"Anytime," he gave a smile, before turning back from the way he came. Tsuki waved, carefully shutting the door with a click. Inside her room, Tsuki leaned against the closed door for a moment, feeling her heart beat just a bit faster. She pushed the thought aside and crossed to her bed, sitting in silence.
Her gaze dropped to the floor, and her eyes shut into a forced concentration.
"No better time than now," she whispered. "Chiumali."
With a practiced flick of her hand, she sank into the shadow's darkness, the cold pull of it swallowing the room from view.