InsaneJournal

Who: Renju, Kiriko
What: Talking.
Where: A small bookstore somewhere in Iburi.
When: The day after Seijidungeon.
Why: Things need to be said.


After returning from the beach, Renju had gone straight back to business as usual. She'd asked to talk to Toshimi and never followed up on it; she'd gone right back to burying herself in her schoolwork; she'd picked up her part on the investigation team again, not thinking about the implications of any of it unless, as with Toshimi, she had no choice in the matter.

And then her Shadow had forced her to confront everything all over again.

What it had said was true. She'd improved for a little bit, true, but then she'd fallen straight back into old habits. She'd had a taste of self-reflection, decided she didn't like it, and hidden herself from anything that could force the matter. That, she realized now, was why she hadn't gone to the beach, and why only the bonds of obligation had forced her there. It had made her realize that, and resolve once more to change, sealing it with the loss of Prometheus. The familiar presence in her mind--strong but subtle--remained, but only faintly; she really would have to go it alone.

Well, perhaps not alone. But did the rest of them understand? Toshimi might, but the others?

Either way, things had to change, and the easiest way seemed to be to change up that regular routine she settled into so easily--school, club meeting/studying, homework, sleep. She'd tried Matsuri briefly last time, but perhaps that had been too big a change for her to keep up. Instead, this time, she had actually gone out into the city after school, finding a bookstore she'd been interested in but not investigated yet.

Baby steps. One foot in front of the other.

She'd been there about an hour and was just now emerging, plastic bag in hand. She had enough money for a purchase or two, and indulging a little in celebration (what a foreign concept) of a fresh start didn't seem too unreasonable...