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phoenix-downer · 3 years

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Autumn Mending Chapter 1: Fall(ing in Love) is in the Air

~1050 words. Romance, Angst, Pining, Mutual Pining, Fluff, Comfort, Healing, Making Up. For SoKai Day 2021.

Sequel to Kisses and Lies because I couldn’t just leave Sora and Kairi hanging, now could I?

Will have three chapters because the story took on a life of its own, and the actual final chapter will be the one posted on SoKai Day.

Summary: Sora and Kairi are still broken up, but with the help of old friends and Twilight Town’s fall festival, the spark between them just might be rekindled.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3

Fall was in the air. Sora hadn’t grown up with four seasons, but he’d come to appreciate them after going to so many different worlds. Maybe that was why he’d decided to visit Twilight Town today. The changing of the leaves, the hot apple cider and cool pumpkin pie served at the booths scattered throughout town, and the autumn festivities made for a great time. He was long overdue to visit Hayner, Pence, and Olette too.

So yeah, that was why he was going. Absolutely. It had nothing to do with how he was trying to avoid Kairi. Ever since their latest mission together, things had been awkward. Awkward because of that fake kiss that wasn’t fake at all on his end. Awkward because he still had feelings for her and he suspected she knew it. At first, he’d hoped that maybe, just maybe, she’d fallen in love with him again, but—

He’d seen her at a restaurant with some guy he didn’t even know, and he’d fled Destiny Islands again. It was easier to just… stay away. Away from her. Away from home. Home was painful. He couldn’t go anywhere without being reminded of her. It was why he’d spent the last several months running away again. Ignoring her texts. Avoiding her calls.

Why did she always “want to still be friends.” Why couldn’t she get it through her head that he could never “just” be friends. That wasn’t how his heart worked. He’d told her that the night she’d broken up with him. He was in love with her, and there was no way of undoing that. Of making it go away. It wasn’t something he could walk back from. So either they were more than friends or they weren’t friends at all.

Sighing, he parked the Gummi Ship and grabbed his hoodie. Despite his appreciation for fall, he still had the cold tolerance of an islander, and he needed all the extra warmth he could get. That meant jeans, a tank top, a flannel shirt, and this hoodie, because once it got dark, he’d be shivering constantly without the extra layers.

The moment he stepped out of the Gummi Ship and into the woods, however, he couldn’t help but feel a little better. The cold, crisp breeze ruffling his hair was like an old friend, the scent of pines was soothing, and in the distance he could hear the sounds of the fall festival.

“This is what I need right now,” he said to himself as he strolled towards the town. “The chance to make new memories with old friends.”

And maybe… maybe he’d meet someone new. Someone he could have a fresh start with. Kairi had moved on, clearly, and maybe it was time he did the same.

His heart throbbed briefly, and he sighed again and kicked a withered clump of grass. The scar on his chest just had to remind him that there was one person who still had his heart. One woman he’d sacrificed himself to save, over and over again. Once, he’d thought they’d be together forever. Once, he thought she would love him for the rest of their lives, that they’d have their happily ever after. How naive and stupid of him. He couldn’t even look at himself in the mirror and see the scar and not think about how she’d broken his heart.

Maybe it was time to ask Donald to hide the scar again. So his own body wouldn’t constantly tear open the wound deep inside him. So that any other women in his life someday wouldn’t have to be reminded that they were second, that Kairi was always first—

“Sora! Long time no see!” Hayner called, and Sora snapped out of his reverie. Somehow he’d made it to their meeting place in the Usual Spot without even noticing.

Great, I’ve been brooding again. Which is why I’m here, to distract myself.

“Good to see you too,” Sora said as they bumped arms.

“Thanks for coming,” Pence said as he hopped off the old couch to greet Sora. “It really has been too long.”

“I know, I’m sorry.” Sora scratched the back of his head. “Work’s been keeping me busy.”

“You still fighting?” Hayner asked. “Going on missions?”

“Yup. You wouldn’t believe the munny I’ve saved up.”

Munny that was meant to pay for an engagement ring, a house, that kind of thing, but at least Sora could still spend it on other stuff. Gummi Ship upgrades or college perhaps. He’d managed to finish high school only a year and a half late, and maybe burying himself in a pile of books again would be a welcome distraction. Twenty-one wasn’t too late to start university by any means, and several worlds had really good programs for the kind of stuff he was into. Hiro had even told him he could help him apply to the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology. He’d never been much of a student, but he was good at tinkering with things and analyzing them, and Hiro said there were several programs at the Institute that would be right up his alley.

As he and Hayner and Pence chatted, he relaxed. Nothing like spending time with old friends to lift his spirits. The loner life didn’t really suit him. Maybe he should give San Fransokyo Institute of Technology a try. Put down roots somewhere. Make new memories.

“Oh, I was gonna ask, where’s Olette?” he said. “I thought she was meeting us here.”

“Yes, sorry!” came her voice, and she pulled the raggedy curtain to their hideout aside. “I was meeting someone else at the station.”

“Who—”

Sora’s heart dropped into his stomach. Right behind Olette was the last person he wanted to see right now. Her red hair was in low pigtails, she wore a blue and black checkered flannel shirt, and her legs looked great in those jeans. But he was drawn to her face most of all. The moment their eyes met, something like longing flickered through them.

For a second, he forgot all about his hurt, his pain. Forgot all about how frustrated he was with her right now, how hard he was trying to avoid her. One word came out of his mouth, one simple word that betrayed the feelings buried deep in his heart for everyone to hear.

“Kairi?”

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valorxdrive · 5 years

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There's a solid minute of deliberating if she should approach him, if she even should be here at all. There's a tightness in her chest at the thought of even daring to ask, but in a rare moment of impulse, Naminé calls for Sora's attention by a gentle tug at his arm. She even manages to smile a little. "Is... it alright to ask for that hug? If the offer is still open."

♕ - “Hm? Hey there Namine, what’s going on?” His voice holds that chipper edge that naturally invites any of his friends by his side. Now days whenever they do bump heads it comes as a pleasant surprise to the boy. Canting his head to the side, those bright blue eyes would face her as she snagged his attention. The first thing he notices is how she’s silently contemplating for a moment. It’s an instant he gives her all the time she needs as for as he doesn’t speak a word until she expresses her sentiment first. What follows up moments in is a request that makes his heart twist with a spiral of emotion.

Sora has a pretty hard time hiding that surprise with the way his eyes briefly widen. Initially he couldn’t help but think he stepped on the poor girl’s toes before once he asked that. While things hadn’t fell deep into the awkward scale, it caused him to be more careful after their heart to heart on the matter. Just reflecting on that day causes a spike of pain pulse within his chest. Turning to face her fully, what he wishes for is for Namine to see the true extent of his feels as well. A steadied sigh eases from him as a gentle smile settles on his lips, a step closer being made.

“You know? After thinking on it a bit.. I think I finally got a bit of an answer for you. While there wasn’t any questions you said, I still couldn’t help but get this feeling. At first I thought the idea was just plain weird to you.” He admits with an earnest chuckle. They hadn’t exactly closed the gap that day.

“But time helped me figure things out a bit better myself. Why, right? It has to do because you’re yourself and no one else.”

“And two? I care about you. You didn’t have too.. but you really stuck with us through the thick and thin.” He makes use of the expressed permission while opening his arms in order to sweep the blonde right into his hold. Encircling his arms around her, she was settled into a gentle hug on his behalf. It’s a moment blooms a form of contentment inside while keeping the normal form of enthusiasm tucked out of the act. There wasn’t a fear she’d break... yet, something within his heart remembers despite the mind being entirely oblivious for the time being. She was a girl that endured and to offer something like this felt like overdue.

It feels nice, keeping her settled like this and sharing this instance of warmth. His lighter smile turned much more cheeky, much more Sora as he couldn’t stop that happy bout of laughter from him. “Thanks Namine. It feels nice to do this.” He murmurs comfortably, only for an instant of clarity to strike him with the force of a wrecking ball. Dang it! He wound up saying the words he weren’t remotely close to properly say to her yet! That’s one bit he has to upkeep no matter what! Soon she’d be able to hear him sputter in a outright silly fashion.

“That wasn’t the thank you thank you, mind you! Like-- just for this moment. That other one is a promise I gotta fulfill still!”

To properly remember.

#hclianthi #| Bottle Mail #how dare you make me soft

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enstaries · 6 years

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OMG ask box open!!! Can i request for some 2wink and Switch scenario? Whatever is fine, is just because their event together was so cute and I couldn't rank for Sora T-T

this is so overdue i’ve been working on it since monday and it’s long and i’m rusty and i haven’t read the story yet but!!! please accept this ;;;

"WHAT? Shu-niisan and Mika-kun can't make IT?"

Tsumugi looks down, away from the pain that was creeping across Natsume's face. "Y-yeah... Mika-kun said that Shu-kun had a sudden emergency, and both of them couldn't make it for the outing on Saturday."

The colour is completely drained out of Natsume's face, and he has to take a seat. He rubs his knuckle against his temple, sighing. "Oh, GREAT... now we have two spare tickets for the amusement PARK. What're we going to do about it NOW?"

"I'm sorry," Tsumugi says, voice barely above a whisper. "I-I knew you were looking forward to going out and enjoying yourself with everyone when I told you I won five tickets to the amusement park and I... I didn't mean to dampen your spirits, I'm sorry."

Natsume clicks his tongue, but instead of raising his voice at Tsumugi again, he just says, "Whatever, I don't CARE. But those two tickets are going to be wasted, what are you going to do about THEM?"

"Sell them? Then again, they only admit visitors on this Saturday, for the special event... I don't think anyone can make it in time..."

"Um, Master, Senpai." Sora finally says something after Tsumugi had entered the room bearing the devastating news, and the two heads swivel over, curious. "Don't worry, okay? Sora knows two people who would be more than willing to join us!"

"Really?" goes Tsumugi, a smile finally breaking on his face. "Even at such short notice?"

The phone is out of his pocket, and Sora's fingers fly across the screen madly. "No problem!"

That was how the members of Switch and 2wink had the rare opportunity to take a day trip to the nearby amusement park together.

"We're sorry that we're taking the place of the other members of the Handicraft Club," Yuta tells Tsumugi with a small smile. "You all must have been looking forward to it - a joint excursion between the Handicraft Club and the Game Research Club, huh?"

"Ah, yes... I mean no, no! It was meant to be an excursion for the two clubs, but regardless we're so happy that the two of you are willing to come with us today! It's not a bother at all."

Natsume affirms Tsumugi's statements. "It isn't one, TRULY. Well, as long as you're both okay with being the second CHOICE."

"N-Natsume-kun!"

"Oh, we take great pleasure in it!" Hinata says, his beam brilliant like the sun hanging overhead. "After all, we love to spend time with Sora-kun, and being able to talk to Aoba-senpai and Sakasaki-senpai again is a privilege!"

"Yes, we're in your care!"

Beside them, Sora bubbles with laughter. "Hina-chan, Yuu-chan, you're both so formal. HaHa, just relax! Enjoy yourselves!"

"I agree with SORA. Please feel free to speak to us casually, and have FUN." Natsume looks at them fondly for a second, before his attention is diverted to the roller coaster hurtling past him over in the nearby attraction. "Why, how about we try some RIDES? Like this one, HM?"

"O-oh, in that case, I'll just sit this one out. Y-you all go first-eek!"

Hinata and Sora each grab hold of Tsumugi's wrists, and grin at him.

"Of course not! We all should ride this together - it’ll be more fun together!"

"N-no, please!"

It's a harrowing near death experience for Aoba Tsumugi, whose legs are like jelly when he gets off the ride and collapses onto the bench outside.

"I'm," he proclaims, "going to die."

"Don't say that, Aoba-senpai," Yuta says. He takes a seat next to Tsumugi, and continues, "If it's too much for you, I don't mind sitting out for the next few rides. In the first place, I'm not a big fan of them either."

"Aw, don't say that, Yuta-KUN. Didn't your brother and Sora say that it's only fun if we all ride it TOGETHER."

"Y-yes, but... eh? Where's Aniki and Harukawa-kun?"

Natsume's eyes narrow to slits when he hears Yuta's question, and he whips his head around. "Sora... they're not HERE. I can't see THEM."

"Eh?" Even Tsumugi is worried now. "But they were here a minute ago. Where are they?"

"Aniki..."

Seeing the fear seep onto Yuta's face, Natsume touches his shoulder, and tells him, "Don't worry, Yuta-KUN. We'll find them eventually, I SWEAR."

"But-"

"Oi! We're back!"

And just as quickly as panic swept over them, it is washed over with relief as Hinata and Sora approach them again, waving with paper bags hanging from their arms.

"Aniki!" Yuta is back on his feet. "Where were you?"

"Relax, relax," he tells his brother, and lifts his arm to show off the bag he just received. "Look, Sora-kun and I found some cream puffs to eat! We can all have one as we wait for Aoba-senpai to feel better."

Sora affirms Hinata's statement with emphatic nodding, saying, "Yes, yes! When you eat something, you'll feel better!"

The two hand out the cream puffs like Christmas presents, as if nothing had happened. Yuta stares at it, and sighs.

"I... don't think I can eat it. You eat mine, Aniki."

"Eh, bu-"

"I appreciate the thought as well, Sora-kun, Hinata-kun," Tsumugi says as well, his smile wavery, "but I don't think I can eat anything right now without throwing up again."

"Eh, Senpai too? Master, what about Master?"

Having given up on the other two, Hinata and Sora's attention is now on Natsume, the sole person who did not reject their cream puff.

He stares at it; it's been a while since he's eaten a delicacy like a cream puff, hasn't it been? Well, it's been a while since he's gone out with people that he wasn't close to either... and if there's one thing he has learnt from the hour or so, talking away with his juniors, it's that it never hurts to try.

Natsume looks up, and nods. "Of course I will eat IT. Thank you for the MEAL."

#hh i'm sorry you didn't get to rank for sora but his next 5* will probably be points so i hope you get him then!!!#//side eyes jiangshi chiaki yee #tsukki's scribblings #ensemble stars #enstars #aoi hinata #aoi yuta #2wink #sakasaki natsume #aoba tsumugi #harukawa sora #switch #scenario #anon

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