—Gaby Mochizuki
Step Step Step
"C'mon now… other me… at least another spoon…"
…
"Please?"
…
"…"
…
No matter how much I tried—She wouldn't budge.
—
Step Step Step
…
"It's alright Gaby." Klein Moretti suddenly spoke, as usual I couldn't sense when he appeared, but I could tell… He was trying to cheer me up.
…
"Yeah I know, no worries" I spoke with a wry smile, it was useless trying to hide my thoughts from him. I'm sure he knows it too, and honestly could you even blame me?
"…" As soon as I thought of those thoughts, Klein Moretti's face seemed to change ever so slightly, then he gave a sigh
Pat
Rustle Rustle
"Kiana's strong. She'll wake up, she always does" He spoke as he rustled by hair before disappearing from my eyes as soon as I blinked
…
"My hair's all ruffled again…."
…
The Other me would've snapped her fingers and fixed my hair..
Step Step Step
Thud
"Oompf—Ah" Damn I didn't pay attention—Who'd I crash into? I thought to myself as I looked ahead, only to find a small figure with bluish—grey with a hint of silver. I couldn't help but mutter.
"Kanade—?"
—
Step Step Step
"I thought you were with the others-?"
"Well… they said they were busy…" She spoke her tone uncertain, and honestly we left her out of this in a way. Ever since she fell into her 'slumber' a couple of us had to work overtime, specifically those of us whose power was a form of 'Conclusion.'
Acheron… The Chrysos Heirs… Goku, Anos… and many more, with the Pillar of Conclusion of out commission for who knows how long—The world itself needed someone to full fill the role of 'Concluding.'
Death, Destruction, Nihility to name a few any Remnants with reality altering powers all lent a hand, after all…
"I'll be blunt but, at this state the world might end" The Pillar of Deviation, Klein Moretti spoke, his tone devoid of emotions.
"I've time slipped to the future" The Pillar of Cohesion Ezron spoke his tone solemn "At this rate it'll end in ████████████."
…
"Well according, to this, without Conclusion, every form of 'Conclusion' will stop existing." The Herta spoke with a sense of urgency, to which Rick continued. "Well basically if this continues soon we're all fucked"
"no one'll die, no stories will end." The Herta continued once more
"There won't be an ending for possibilities, no end on debates, no choices" Spoke one of the members of Herta's Society
…
For a while the entire conference room was silent, then—The Pillar of Deviation spoke.
"I can try my best to reduce the affects by 'deviating' the choices and—" "—I'll ensure they stick to their choices." Followed by the Pillar of Cohesion Ezron spoke
"That isn't a permanent solution though." The Pillar of Continuation Violet spoke. "Without all the Pillars…"
"The balance itself is disrupted" The Pillar of Recollection spoke spoke, her tone serious, a side that none had seen before this moment.
…
If I had just disagreed then—
Nudge Nudge
Glance
"It's not your fault…." Kanade spoke her tone nudging and comforting. "I'm sure you didn't mean for it to happen to…"
…
Even if I didn't—It had happened and now She's… She's… She's—
Do you think she'd blame you for this Gaby?
!!!
Who—
It's me Klein. I'm speaking directly to your mind.
You—
What would she say if you blame yourself—That's all I'll say.
…
I—
…
I—
…
I—
—An unknown amount of time later…
"Well then it's decided, until The Pillar of Conclusion wakes up—We'll fill her in."
"No matter how long it takes"
Huh-?
…
"Gaby?" Firefly spoke, her tone concerned. "The meeting ended already, let's go back home." She spoke with a wry smile.
yet I—
Push Push
…
As I was pushed through the illusory door by who knows who. The first person I saw? was the other me's body still there.
Unmoving
Unchanging
…
—An unknown amount of time later…
…
"Gaby…" I could hear Kanade's voice once more, yet I didn't care.
"You haven't drink a single drop of blood in weeks…"
…
"I'm fine." I spoke, my voice hoarse, yet I didn't care as I continued to hug the other me's body. I couldn't help but remember those words I heard in that white space.
I see, will the other 'me' replace me as the Pillar of Conclusion?
No, I'm not scared, I just don't want her to suffer like I did.
█████████████ That was how long "I" trained
It's just for me right? what's the worse that could happen to them~ maybe it'll feel like decades at most?
Then I better hope my own will stays strong enough so that "I" can wake up
…
Rustle
I could feel someone else sat at the bed where I currently lay with the other me, judging by the weight it was probably Kanade or—
"Gaby." Klein Moretti's voice spoke once more. "How long are you gonna keep this up…"
…
"Everyone's worried about you."
"Yeah… It's been weeks and you haven't left this room."
…
"It's alright. I'll just stay here."
—Yoisaki kanade
"It's alright. I'll just stay here." Gaby spoke, her voice still hoarse, I couldn't help but feel useless, even though I've played my melody countless times, she's still—
…
…
"Gaby, what would Kiana think if you died because of this"
"…"
"…"
…
Sigh
As Klein couldn't help but sigh before leaving the room, and I-? I—.
—Day ██
The room was quiet. Not the comfortable quiet of shared silence. Not the peaceful quiet of sleep. Just... quiet. The kind of quiet that filled the space where words should have been. Where laughter should have been. Where she should have been.
I stood in the doorway, watching.
Gaby hadn't moved. Not in hours. Not in days. Not in weeks. She was still there—curled around Kiana's body like a shield. Like if she held on tight enough, Kiana would wake up. Like if she never let go, nothing would change.
But everything had changed.
—Day ██
"Gaby."
...
"...You need to eat."
Silence
"Gaby, please. Just a little."
…
"The others made soup. Klein helped. It's your favorite."
…
"...I'll leave it here. Please. Just... try."
Step Step Step
Click
Creakkk
The soup was warm in my hands. I'd made it myself—with help from Kim, from Mahiru, from Klein. It was supposedly her favorite.
Yet she didn't eat it—As The soup grew cold.
—Day ██
I sat in my room. My laptop open. My keyboard in front of me. yet the screen displayed a blank composition—empty staff lines, waiting for notes that wouldn't come. I hadn't composed in weeks. Not since …
I tried. Every night, I tried. I sat at my desk. I opened my software. I stared at the blank page. But nothing came. Because every time I closed my eyes—
I saw her.
Her smile. Her laugh Her kindness Her warmth Her—
Stop.
I couldn't cry. Not now. Not while Gaby needed me.
Drip Drip Drip
Yet the tears came down anyways.
—Day ██
I tried again.
I played my melody.
The one I always played. The one that calmed Klein. The one that healed Kiana. The one that could soothe anyone who heard it.
...
Yet Gaby didn't react.
She didn't move.
Didn't blink.
Didn't even breathe differently.
The melody washed over her—and did nothing.
Please. Please wake up. Please come back.
Nothing.
still Nothing.
—Day ██
I couldn't do it anymore. I couldn't watch her waste away. I couldn't play music that meant nothing. I couldn't sit in my room and pretend everything was okay.
So I made a choice.
Step Step Step
Creakkkkkkk
Step Step Step
As I walked over the bed, my steps light and without hesitation I…
I laid down there. On the other side of Kiana's body. Facing Gaby. Facing her.
"...What are you doing?" Gaby's voice was barely a whisper. Hoarse. Broken. I didn't answer I just looked at her. At her sunken eyes. At her tangled hair. At her trembling hands. At the person who was dying right in front of me.
Just like Mafuyu. Just like Klein, Just like Kiana.
and sometimes….
Actions speak more then words
—Gaby Mochizuki
Creakkkkkkk
Step Step Step
"...What are you doing?" I asked, Kanade was laying down there, in the other side of the bed, her eyes had some sort of resolution I would've realized if I was in my right mind. And the answer? I was about to find out.
—Day ██
Kanade hadn't move an inch
—Day ██
She started to look pale, she'll give up soon.
—Day ██
…
—Day ██
Cough
…
—Day ██
Cough Cough
—Day ██
Cough Cough Cough
…
—Day ██
Cough Cough Cough
…
That sound. That horrible sound. I knew it. I'd heard it before. When Kanade got sick. When she pushed herself too hard. When she—
Cough Cough Cough
…
Slowly—so slowly—I turned my head. Kanade was still there. Still lying on the other side of Kiana's body. Still facing me. But she looked... wrong.
Her skin was pale. Paler than usual. Her lips were dry, cracked. Dark circles had formed beneath her eyes—deeper than I'd ever seen. Her chest rose and fell in shallow, uneven breaths.
Cough.
Her body trembled with the effort.
…
"...Kanade."
My voice was a whisper. Hoarse. Broken.
"…"
"...Kanade."
…
Her eyes—those tired, gentle eyes—slowly opened.
They focused on me. Barely.
"...Gaby."
Her voice was so quiet I almost missed it.
"...You're..."
I couldn't finish.
"...An idiot."
…
The words came out before I could stop them.
You're an idiot.
…
"...I know."
...
"...How long?"
...
"...I don't know."
...
"...Why?"
She didn't answer immediately.
Her hand—cold, weak—reached out. Found mine.
"...Because you're family."
...
Drip
…
Drip Drip
The tears came.
Not slowly. Not gently. Violently as I finally broke
—Yoisaki Kanade
Gaby was crying. Not the quiet tears of the past few weeks. Not the silent sobs. Real crying. Loud. Ugly. Human.
I held her hand, it was cold, I wanted to hug her. Push her closer… Yet I couldn't
My body wouldn't listen to me anymore.
So I did the only thing I could—Holding her hands… and at some point…
...
"...I'm sorry."
"...I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry—"
"...I didn't mean to—"
"...I just wanted her to wake up—"
"...I just wanted—"
...
Squeeezeeeee
"...I know."
...
"...I know."
—Day ██
Step
Her body broken
Her hands shaking
But for the first time in a while—She stood up
...
"...Gaby?" I spoke, my voice sounded so raspy I couldn't recognize it anymore
"...Where are you—"
"To get food."
...
"...What?"
"I'm going to get food."
...
"Because you're an idiot. And you need to eat."
...
"Because I need to eat."
...
"Because... she wouldn't want this."
Creakkkkkk
Step Step Step
For the first time in weeks—I smiled.
...
"...She's right, you know."
...
"...You wouldn't want this."
...
"...You'd want us to live."
...
I looked at Kiana. At her peaceful face. At her closed eyes.
...
"...So we'll live."
...
"...Until you wake up."
...
"...No matter how long it takes."