starsand // starnet DM / open post

[loveedition]

@OdenLove

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[loveedition]

No. You didn't do anything wrong. I really did want to help her.

But I let myself get mad at her instead.

I'm glad you can be there for her after all, so she doesn't have to deal with me.

[spacialeyes]

Oh

Hey, you sound like me.

[loveedition]

Mmm.

Sorry.

I just...

I've already hurt enough people I care about. I don't want to add onto that list.

But if I'm going to get mad at Inaba-san for being upset, then it's better to accept her disliking me.

[spacialeyes]

Hmmm. Well.

I’m very bad with people, but.

Things like anger and sadness aren’t your whole self. If you have them sometimes, that doesn’t make you bad, Ryoko.

So maybe instead, it’s okay to ask “do you want to like Inaba and be friends?” And then you can ask her the same

And work from there? Even if it’s slow?

I forgot to ask if Inaba wanted to be my friend… and that hurt her more than me trying to help by staying away, I think.

[loveedition]

[ A long. Long pause. ]

I can't.

She's too important to you for me to keep trying to force a friendship she doesn't want. All I'll do is keep making things worse.

[spacialeyes]

[Inaba had said something similar about making things worse…

He had said before that he wouldn’t interfere with her making friends. Yuuto had promised to stay out of it and respect Inaba’s process, but-]

What if the three of us hung out together then?

If it’s hard to fix it when you’re alone, I’ll be the third wheel!

[loveedition]

[ ...what. Huh. What. ]

I don't... hate the idea, but

She's probably still upset with me?

[spacialeyes]

I really don’t think so, but we can ask her!

[If anything, he’s worried that Inaba is internalizing some hatred.]

What would you find relaxing then? And neutral!

We can invite her out!

[loveedition]

Just, a quiet day in, I think? With tea and snacks.

I really don't know if it's a good idea... I mean, we're already so busy and you just woke up...

[spacialeyes]

[And he’s supposed to go back to sleep!!! But Yuuto is stubborn. He’ll sleep better knowing that Ryoko and Inaba are both happy. If he writes a calculation where his being away will lead to them being happier, it isn’t as bad.]

Then you both need a break, right?

So I’ll handle all of the preparations! All you need to do is some drink tea, eat snacks, and let me love you!

[loveedition]

[ Long. Long pause.

She... really doesn't know if she can go through with it. Just because she's afraid she'll make everything worse again--

But, coming up with excuses to not hang out with Inaba would just... end up hurting Inaba more, wouldn't it?

And the fact that it's Yuuto, who she saw sleeping in the snow trying to patch things together...

........ ]

Do you mind if I think on it a little?

[spacialeyes]

Go ahead!

I’ll ask if Inaba would be ready for something like that too.

Thank you for considering it, Ryoko.

I love you!

[loveedition]

Love you. I'll do my best.

Thanks.