Okay, fine… But I am gonna have to sleep at some point, y’know.
I grumbled as she lounged dramatically across my bed, not even bothering to take her shoes off. I guess I could’ve put up more of a fight… but it was kinda comforting, having her around again. And at least if she was in my room, she wasn’t running around outside and messing up her arm.
Ishi
So like, what’s been going on? Gimme the gossip!
Timaeus
Uh, gossip? It’s only been two days, it’s not like there’s drama or anything… I’ve just been trying to get to know everyone–
Ishi
Yeah, that’s what I mean! What’s everyone like? I mean, I’ve talked to Aoi and Guga plenty, but…
Oh, that made a little more sense. Ishi’s such a social butterfly, even just a few days of bedrest must have been miserable for her…
Timaeus
I think they’re all good people… even if I don’t really get along with some of them yet, ahaha. I dunno, where do you want me to start–
Ishi
–Are you and Nik a thing yet?
Timaeus
What?!
Two days, Ishi! It's been two days!!
Ishi
Uh huh, aaand…?
Timaeus
Welllllll he did say he thinks I’m cute.~
Ishi
I knew it!
Hell yeah, Tim, yer first boyfriend's a fuckin' celebrity! I gotta step up my game--
Timaeus
We’re not dating!! I haven’t… I… I dunno…
Ishi
I guess you got some options, though. Sal’s pretty hot, huh?
Timaeus
Ehh, he’s not really my type… I think he likes Siegfried, anyway.
Ishi
That guy? I guess he’s got looks going for him… but that’s about it! What’s the German word for asshole?
Timaeus
Oh, he’s not so bad if you get to know him…
Ishi
Not you too! Ugh!! What about the others?
Timaeus
Uh, well… Michi’s kinda scary… I don’t think Kapono likes me much? Aoi’s cool but they definitely don’t seem interested in that kind of thing… And I’m pretty sure Jurou’s straight.
Ishi
Sounds like you oughta stick with Nik, huh? Hey that rhymes! If you want any dating advice–
Timaeus
I– I’m not sure I’m sticking with anyone! I’m not sure why we’re talking about this at all!! Everything’s so– we’re kind of in mortal danger here??
Ishi
I fuckin' know that, dude! What the hell d’you think I’m–
She stopped, caught off guard by the anger in her own voice, and sighed.
Ishi
Look, I’m just– just tryin' not t’think about that shit, ‘kay? And I thought you… wouldn’t wanna hear it right now, you were pretty freaked out the other day…
Timaeus
Oh– Ishi, you can always talk to me if something’s bothering you, okay? No matter what.
Ishi
Yeah I know… if you’re sure…
It only took a few seconds for her scowl to falter entirely. She leaned against my shoulder and looked away.
Ishi
…Mom and Dad, and Kiyoshi, d’you think they’re…?
Timaeus
I… don’t know, b-but I’d like to think they’re okay. They’re all tough like you, right?
Ishi
…Yeah. They’re all tougher than I’ll ever be. Just wish I knew, y’know? Everything’s so fuckin' fuzzy in my head…
She tensed up, and I turned to look at her. I hadn’t seen fear in her face like that since… well, never.
Ishi
…What the fuck happened to us, dude? Like, I remember seeing Hope’s Peak, and then I remember now, b-but… do you feel like you just started high school? Is all of that just fuckin' gone?
Timaeus
…I have no idea. It’s scary as hell.
Ishi
I-I can’t even remember if the lil' dude made it through chemo… He had to, right?
I’d remember if he…
Timaeus
Oh… I’m so sorry. C’mere, Ishi.
No wonder she didn’t want to bring it up– I hadn’t even thought about how much harder this whole situation must be on her. Even if we all made it back to Earth alive, she might not get to see her brother again… And she wouldn’t even remember their last words. Jesus.
Not sure what else to do, I put an arm around her shoulders and rested my head on top of hers, as she’d done for me so many times before. We sat there for a while, silent except for the quiet sobs Ishi stubbornly hid behind the brim of her snapback.
Her voice was hoarse when she finally spoke again.
Ishi
…Shit’s fucked.
Timaeus
Yeah.
Ishi
L-let’s just talk about something else, ‘kay? Anything.
Timaeus
‘Kay.
Well… the earlier subject matter was pretty distracting, wasn’t it? Maybe she was on the right track, after all.
Timaeus
…Wanna tell me if you’ve got a crush? It’s only fair.
Ishi
Huh? No I don’t gotta!
Timaeus
I mean, Guga and Vash are the obvious picks I guess, you like buff girls…
Ishi
…Yeah, they cute as hell.
Timaeus
And Jurou has a big ol' crush on you too…
Ishi
Oh no! That poor guy! He’s too nice!!
Timaeus
That’s what I said! He’s the one that’s been making all that food for you, y’know.
Ishi
Well he’s a bomb-ass cook but he doesn’t know what’s good for him! We should set him up with that tap dancer chick…
We sat there on the bed, gossiping like schoolgirls at a sleepover, and slowly I saw her smile again. It almost felt like… you know, we were in high school like we were supposed to be.
Ishi was absolutely the toughest person I knew, and that made it all the more terrifying to see the cracks in her iron will– maybe more terrifying than anything I’d seen aboard the Dreadnought yet, because it meant things really were this bad. But she deserved a chance to let her feelings out too.
If only there I was more I could do for her than just listen…
