naicha | 二十二 ❀

✿ action 1
_{[ When the cherry blossoms disappear, Taiwan holds her breath. Japan always adored things that come and go so easily. Now he was one, too. She should've known better than to expect this the least. Watching his figure put on his coat and walk out the door, Taiwan knows it's not him. And stay out! Taiwan thinks as she slams the door shut. She feels like flicking his drone on the forehead for his remarks. "Be a good wife and make him dinner?" Ooh, the nerve! ... This makes her miss the real Japan already. Hm? What? She's not going to cry, that's silly. Even so, no matter how many times she's learned how to stand on her own, she can't help but feel abandoned. It's okay, though. Not that it hasn't happened before.

At the cafe, it's business as usual. Employees will find that there are no costumes for them to wear, though, if they don't already bring their own. Behind the counter isn't Japan typing away on his computer, but Taiwan, accounting everything by hand. She lifts her head up whenever a customer passes by. ]}

Welcome!

_{[ With no makeup masking her troubled state, Taiwan quickly ducks back into her work again. She isn't even eating anything. She does try her best to put a smile on her face, though. Look! It's as if nothing happened at all. ]}

✿ action 2
_{[ Two siblings are walking around town together, but there's something odd about their dynamic today. ]}

And he was like, "Ah, is that so." And then I was like, "Yes! Yes, it is so!" Ooh, but I tried and tried and he still wouldn't let me and I was so mad that I could... _{[ p-punches her palm ]} hit him...! But I didn't 'cause I'd feel a little bad, you know. Oh! I was gonna say sorry for calling him a stupidhead today, but when I woke up and checked on him, all his stuff was gone! Just like that. It's not fair, you know, I mean- _{[ She waits for a witty, candid response, but nothing. Her voice is full of anger. ]} Hey! _{[ Then worry. ]} Hey, say something...

_{[ It goes on like this until Hong Kong's drone arrives at work. Very upset with this turn of events, Taiwan starts her walk home looking a little glum. She's not exactly looking where she's going, so she might bump into you, a drone or a pole. A detour she makes to the elementary school's playground is where others may find her hanging upside down on the monkey bars. ]}

✿ phone/action for 1245 williams road

Hello... Um, _{[ There's the sound of Taiwan wiping her face with her sleeve. ]} um! _{[ She takes in a deep breath. ]} Japan's... gone and stuff. If anyone wants to hit him, you don't have to, 'cause I already did. If anyone's worried about the cafe, I'm taking over, you know! I mean, until he comes back...

Ahaha, I feel a little dizzy! I think I'll go lie down now.

_{[ But she can't stay still! After the call, she'll be around the house, arranging all the clothes they have by color and sorting the records and books alphabetically. ]}

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, he's really mean! Talking to a girl like that.

_{[ Taiwan laughs and goes back to halfheartedly minding her books to distract her from the thought. ]}

Taiwan... I know it's hard to lose someone. But you can't stay in denial forever. Did he tell you what he told me, what he thought about the drones?

_{[ She stops in the middle of writing a zero and freezes, still hunched over her work. ]}

[Nina hesitates. Maybe she said the wrong thing? Maybe she should have let it go. Well, it's too late to drop it now.]

He said he thinks they all come back eventually. Even if it takes some of them a long time, and some of them don't remember. Everyone comes back, in time.

_{[ The tip of her pen presses hard on the paper. ]}

I know that... I just thought he'd be better than that! _{[ Her tone sounds a tad childish at the end. Japan? Droned until god-knows-when? It's more difficult to believe for her than you think. ]}

I know it's hard. But it isn't his fault. No one can control being droned. [It's hard to watch Taiwan suffering like this.]

No, he's stupid, that's why. He's so stupid. That's why I'm so worried about him. _{[ She exhales. ]} What did he do, anyway? Why? Why do bad things always happen to him? It's not fair. He's not a bad guy...

Nothing. He didn't do anything. That's why the town took him away. It always takes good people.

_{[ Like Jessica, Taiga, Sakura. Taiwan bites her lip and tries to smile. ]}

Even good people can have misfortune, and even bad people can have happiness. Teacher would say that's how things are supposed to be, but... it doesn't happen all the time. 'Cause you know, the amount of bad things in the world should never be greater than the amount of good things.

That's why I know a miracle will happen soon.

_{[ She tightens her fist. Although she says that, and although she believes in it, there's still a part of her that lingers in the present. Anyone would be sad when someone they care for leaves them, after all. ]}

Mmm. I agree, Taiwan. The amount of bad things will never be as much as the amount of good things. It has to be that way, because that's how people can keep going.

But bad things still happen, and it's okay to be sad about them. You're strong, and I know you'll get through this in the end because he would want you to do. But in the meantime, you don't have to pretend to be happy if you aren't.

There are too many sad people, though. I don't wanna add to that! If I show them any more weaknesses, that's another win for them. I can't let them have that, you know. It's not like I'm not used to this anyway. I have to smile! There's nothing else they'd hate more than that, right? _{[ Laughs. She sounds stressed all the while. ]}

You're not letting them win if you cry sometimes, Taiwan. What they want is for you to become a drone with no emotions at all. I think showing real emotion is probably something they hate, whether it's happiness or sadness.

Being sad doesn't mean they win. They only win if you give up completely. [Nina reaches out to lightly touch her shoulder.]

_{[ Upon hearing that, she stands up. Her eyes seem to have regained that spark they had before, but it looks as if her tears are welling up, too. Hiding what she felt made her no different than the drones. Nina... Nina was right. Taiwan doesn't notice her hand, though.

There's a pause before she quietly declares, ]}

Then they won't break me. _{[ She feels a lump in her throat. ]}

They can take everyone away but if they want to see me yield, I won't let them, you know.

I already know what it's like! They'll take away your house, your friends, even - even your name, and that's... _{[ she puts a hand on her chest, and the sound of her heart gets louder ]} I, I really, _{[ inhales; at a loss for breath and words ]} I really hate this place, I really, hate - it's the same as before, I mean, _{[ exasperatedly ]} I've always been...

_{[ She covers her face and walks out on Nina, heading for the door before she can see her shed a tear. ]}

[Nina will run after her and wrap her in a hug before she can get to the door. Maybe she should just let Taiwan go inside and be alone, but... no. She can't leave her like this. So she just hugs her.]

_{[ Taiwan doesn't stop Nina from hugging her. She doesn't fight it at all. In fact, she lets Nina carry her weight as she tries to stand straight. In between breaths, she asks, ]}

Is it, is it really okay for me to cry? Won't crying... make me weak?

二十二 ❀

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