We're... friends... right?

[newhire]

[Her students... friends? The Apprentices here have always gathered in the aftermath of even the worst tragedies. And she wants to support that strength they find in one another.

With Tsukasa's help, she's made a star-shaped cake. The icing is shades of yellow and orange, and there's a little card next to it that says `Happy Birthday Terra`. It's rather lovely, thanks to Tsukasa's help. But it's nothing extravagant. She also throws together various drinks of all types and some snacks-- but the others are welcome to make additions to the food options. She's not very skilled with that type of thing.

Likewise, when it's finished, she leaves notes for everyone.]

Should you wish, there's food and drink in the cafeteria. I'll be here, if you want to talk. You don't have to be alone after something like that.

Take care.

- Vivienne

[Like she said, she's... staying. Should anyone want to talk to her. Anything else she had planned could wait.]

Comments

[reshoot]

Akira, you're not doing yourself any favors by continuing to act like apologizing to me is so tiresome. Just be sincere

[She pinches his cheek, if she can]

I would never suspect you of anything. You know that, idiot.

[covertizer]

[ She absolutely can. And he reaches up to catch her hand and squeeze it, but not tight enough she can't pull away. ]

It's not tiresome. But the more people apologise, the less weight and meaning it has, or... that's how it feels to me?

Hurting you is the last thing I'd ever want to do, if you don't know that then I've really fucked up.

[ ... Especially with everything that's happened over the past week or so and how it's just been snowballing, especially onto Max. ]

[reshoot]

...I know, Akira.

Every day, I wake up in my room, alone. Every day, I wake up in my room, alone, and I pray, I pray that you're still with me. And every day, you've come through for me. I'm not going to waste my time being mad at you, but...

[she moves her hand in his grip, enough that they're holding each other properly.]

I was betrayed by someone close to me, and it hurt. Do you know, Akira? What I was ready to do today? If Mitarai hadn't done what he had...My plan was to...



[Max shivers, and quiets down for a few moments.]

...We should talk privately later.

[covertizer]

It was warranted.

[ He squeezes her hand back, and seeing as she's not snatching it away, he keeps his grip tighter now. Especially the longer she talks and the more ominous it sounds... and the more nerves and fear he feels curling in his stomach. ]

...

Yeah.

I'm going to make this as clear as I can, and as many times as I have to Max... But if you're sad, or scared or if you just don't want to be alone, you can always come and find me. Even if you just want to sit there, and say nothing for hours. I've always got time for you.

[ And then he nods. ] Whenever you want to talk.

[reshoot]

. . .

. . .
[Max leans into him, squeezing his hand. Everything is so scary, confusing. Each decision is final, and the line between life and death is razor thin. The world has crumbled, more than half of the people here have died. Survivor's guilt, the pain of losing someone...It's all so much, but for months, there's been one person consistently shouldering that burden.]
. . .

. . .

I love you, okay?

[covertizer]

[ It's nice, just leaning against someone like this. A solid presence and a reminder that they're not alone, and not without people who care. ]

I love you too.

Don't... feel like you need to go through any of this alone.

[reshoot]

I know. Thank you, Akira.

No matter what I say,

Or do,

No matter what happens in the coming weeks,

I really do love you. Don't forget that. [Max slowly wraps an arm around him.]

Later, we'll talk about the serious stuff.

For now, I'm going to stay here with you for a little while, though...

[covertizer]

[ Akira wraps his own arm around Max and squeezes in a gentle hug. ]

Don't do anything reckless.

No matter what happens, I'm always going to be looking out for you, okay? So don't try and take on things alone. Not when you've got all of us here to support you.