Chapter Text
Kronii could hear the loud thuds of footsteps coming quickly down the hall, she already knew what this meant. Being sure Mumei was still asleep, she carefully made her way out of the hospital room and shut the door with a soft click. Instantly she was met with amber eyes burning a hole in her own, she felt herself swallow before she dared to speak. Here’s that earful.
“Ouro Kronii.” The voice was stern but noticeably soft, as the Medical Director’s voice always was.
“Oh! Fauna! Just the person I was looking for,” She was well aware sweet talk wouldn’t get her out of this. She tried nonetheless. “I was actually just about to come talk-”
The same stern voice cut her off before she had the chance to go on. “I heard we had a stowaway in here from yesterday, I have to assume that’d be you?”
“Wha- A stowaway? Me? No no I’m afraid you must have the wrong lady. You’re probably looking for someone much less good looking.” When her exaggerated face of surprise was only met with a look of disapproval, Kronii’s approach changed. “Ok listen I might have made a small fabrication, but really I think the blame is on your staff for believing it without asking you first.”
Fauna let out a sigh, shaking her head in something akin to disbelief. “Kronii It’s fine, I know you need to be here for her. Spend as much time as you like, I’ll let everyone know not to bother you about leaving.” The sternness in her voice had been lost, now replaced by a soothing tone of reassurance.
Kronii’s shoulders dropped, the worry seeping from her body as her friend spoke. That was stupid of me. Why would she even be mad at me? Really she knew why she had this idea in her head. Kronii hadn’t spoken to any of her friends since Mumei’s accident, it was her fault after all. Why would any of them want to talk to her after that, they’d be angry with her surely.
Fauna was too good at reading people for her own good, she could tell ever since Mumei was sent into the hospital that Kronii was beating herself up. She decided now was not the time to pry. She and Mumei should talk it out together when she decides to. The hospital's many long halls had become oddly still and an awkward silence quickly befell the two, Fauna figured she should be the one to break it.
“How has she been doing? I haven’t had the time to visit myself, and I figured it’d be best for one person to introduce themselves at a time.”
Kronii thought for a moment before her answer, she wanted to choose her words carefully and she didn’t like speaking for others. “She’s taking it alright I guess. She really didn’t want me to leave though, worried she’ll forget all over again,” Kronii took a deep breath, ignoring the knot in her stomach before she continued, unsure if she really wanted this question answered. “She’ll get them back right? Her memories?”
Fauna placed a hand gently on the girl’s shoulder, giving her a look of pure certainty. “Of course she will. It can take days, weeks, and sometimes months, but she will get them back.” It took some thought but she couldn’t just watch this, disregarding the decision she made not long ago. “You’re beating yourself up, Kronii. None of us blame you, it was just bad luck and nothing more.”
Only silence came in response for a long while, but Kronii finally spoke up. “I’m gonna go back in and check on her now.” She turned, reaching towards the door handle as quickly as she could.
Fauna wanted to just wrap her arms around the girl, lock her in place and keep explaining how there's no way it could have been her fault over and over until it finally got through that thick skull. Instead she went to reach for her hand. “Kronii-”
Her hand jerked harshly away before any contact was made. She felt regret the moment she had done it, but this was the only way to get Fauna to just leave her be. “I said I’m going to check on her.”
Not another word was spoken as Kronii opened the door and entered swiftly, not taking a moment to look back. Fauna only shook her head, taking one last long look at the door before she walked away.
A long while had passed now, Kronii had been stuck in her head the whole time. Too stuck to notice the sudden stirring in the bed, too stuck to notice dreary brown eyes blinking slowly as they watched her.
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Consciousness came slowly to Mumei, she was awoken by the thud of a door shutting, taking her out of her dream about.. what was she dreaming about again? When she turned in the bed she noticed the blue haired woman slumped in the chair. Kronii. She remembered. Mumei hadn’t forgotten. To most it would be an odd thing to get so excited over. Mumei couldn’t wipe the smile off her face. This was until she noticed Kronii’s demeanor, the girl looked troubled.
“Kronii?” Her voice was deeper now, the slight rasp scratching at her dry throat. She rubbed her eyes a little harshly, her vision currently too blurry to get a good look at the one across from her. After she put her hands back down, she noticed Kronii was now sitting up looking at her, a slight trace of surprise was present only for a moment on her face.
“Ah Mumei, good morning. Do you need water? Anything to eat?” She had noticed Kronii quickly sit up in the chair, her full attention now on Mumei when she barely even seemed to be on this Earth not moments before.
“Mmm.. I’d like some water.” Mumei watched as Kronii picked up her phone, letting out a giggle as the bright screen seemed to flashbang her, Kronii squinting her eyes and moving back as she lowered the brightness. Mumei let out a yawn, slowly stretching her body into awakening. Finally she blinked at Kronii, just observing her for a moment before her question came out. “..Are you okay? It seemed like something was bothering you.”
Kronii’s fingers stopped on her phone, the short stillness lasting so long as blue eyes found a new interest in the clock on the wall. She soon resumed whatever she was typing, her silence lasting until a ding came from her now face down phone. Kronii picked it up quickly. “There should be someone bringing water in about two minutes. Are you sure you don’t want anything to eat as well?”
Mumei only nodded in response. Wait. No, that's not right. She had asked a question, where was her answer? It wasn’t something she should press, Mumei decides. She could tell Kronii was half awake, barely fighting back the warm arms of sleep pulling down on her body. Mumei couldn’t help the tinge of guilt that hit her as she watched Kronii’s eyes slowly close just to snap open.
“You can sleep.”
Kronii’s attention snapped back to the girl across from her, a puzzled look on her face. “What?”
“I said you can sleep silly. You’re tired, I’ll be fine.” Mumei gave her a look of confidence. When her only answer was silence in the air and Kronii’s brows wrinkling in thought, she added on. “Don’t you have anything to do, anyway? Like work or something?”
“Work? That’s uh- it’s covered. I’ll be fine, really.” The words didn’t really put Mumei at ease, but she could tell Kronii was the stubborn type. What actually bothered her was how familiar this conversation felt. She could feel the conversations, they were there. She couldn’t remember a single word from any of them and yet hundreds of this exact scenario filled her head. It was frustrating, nevermind just that all of this was unbelievably frustrating.
Mumei could feel the lump in her throat. She could feel her chest tightening as much as she tried to stop it. Not again. She thought as her hands wrapped around the blanket atop her, gripping it tightly as though something were going to pull her off the bed. Kronii’s already tired and she has to deal with my stupid stuff again. Her self beration didn’t change anything of course, tears welled up in her eyes, slipping down her cheek before she had even realized.
Kronii was beside her in a heartbeat, unfiltered concern plastered on her face. “Mumei, hey, it’s alright. I’ll sit down and get some sleep in the chair, I didn’ mean to worry you.” That wasn’t Mumei’s issue, not that Kronii could know. It didn’t matter anyway
Mumei didn’t hear a single word she said.