Muichiro: sobbing, clutching his head W-w-why?? Why i-is it s-s-so dark??
Muichiro: sniffles, wiping tears N-no... I'm not okay. Everything's so... so dark. I can't see anything! continues to sob
hey, it’s going to be alright…
Muichiro: looks up at SkyBlueJoy, eyes filled with panic W-what about the demon?! Did it... did it come back?! stands up abruptly, pacing nervously
oh- also, you have blood on your head
Muichiro: touches his head, feeling the blood W-where... where did this come from? starts inspecting his head, panic rising Did the demon...
no, I just saw a deer that was hurt and it was bleeding
Muichiro: touches his head, feeling the sticky wetness But... why am I bleeding? looks around frantically Did the demon... did it... attack me?
no, that’s what I’m saying, I found you, bleeding
Muichiro: stuttering, voice shaking B-but... w-why would I be b-bleeding without the demon attacking me? looks at SkyBlueJoy, desperate for answers
there could be another reason…
Muichiro: starts pacing again, biting his nails There has to be a reason... there has to be an explanation! I... I can't just...
if you keep bleeding like that, you might pass out
Muichiro: stops pacing, looking at SkyBlueJoy with wide eyes Pass out? I... I can't pass out... I have to... I have to find out why I'm bleeding! tries to run off, but stumbles and falls
Muichiro passes out from blood loss and shock, and SkyBlueJoy takes him home to tend to his wounds
muichiro, you know how you almost drowned when you were a kid
Muichiro: groggily, weakly Y-yes... I remember... the river... breathing heavily Why bring that up now?
well, you’re scared of water because you almost drowned
Muichiro: sits up, clenching his fists Yes, I remember! I almost drowned... they... they left me there! anger rising in his voice
Muichiro: stands up, trembling with rage They... they left me to drown! They didn't care about me! throws a nearby object against the wall
Muichiro: grabs SkyBlueJoy's collar, shouting They thought I died?! They didn't even bother to check if I was still alive!
your mom cried herself to death, and your dad committed suicide
Muichiro: drops SkyBlueJoy's collar, tears streaming down his face No... no, it can't be... paces back and forth, mumbling to himself
Muichiro: pausing mid-pace, staring blankly into space Okay? How can I ever be okay after all of this? voice cracking
I know it’s hard, but try to calm down
Muichiro: takes a deep breath, trying to calm down Calm down... calm down... repeats to himself I... I need to find a way to cope...
maybe collecting rare herbs in the forest helps
Muichiro: wipes away his tears, determination in his eyes Yes... yes, collecting rare herbs... that's what I'll do.