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"If you could go on a Valentine's date with any member of Justice, who would it be?"
"I think we already know the answer to that."
"Who would you choose between Liz and Shiori?"
"Honestly? Not too difficult. I feel like it would have to be Liz."
We already knew the answer to that, huh?
Not too difficult, huh?
…Yeah. Sounds about right.
Everyone knew she was old news. Shiori did too. She should have known.
Nerissa was too beautiful, too friendly, too talented. Too special, too… perfect. Shiori never could have kept her around for long.
Shiori always kept quiet when Nerissa flirted with others in front of her. Who was she to assert a claim? Her own feelings aside, in Nerissa's eyes, she's just one of many. Not even the favorite.
At least, not anymore.
She didn't know when she let herself believe that fucking joke of an idea. Maybe after all that time they spent together in The Cell, and after they got even closer after their escape, Nerissa wore her down like a river did rock.
She enjoyed Nerissa's company a lot, but she failed to see how Nerissa could possibly feel the same about her. She could just be using Shiori to while away the time until she can be with someone she truly likes.
When Shiori called Nerissa beautiful, she meant it. When she said Nerissa was reliable, a good friend, a good person, she meant it. She just couldn't tell if Nerissa was also being sincere with her, her words so sweet they tasted like chocolate—Shiori's favorite.
But the Demon of Sound kept coming back. She talked and touched until she had Shiori thinking: Maybe Nerissa's feelings for her were a real thing.
And so, Shiori allowed herself to fall.
Then Nerissa threw her away in the most public way possible. In front of strangers, in front of friends. Maybe even in front of family. She said it in such a matter-of-fact manner too. After all, the choice was not too difficult, right?
Used. Unwanted. Replaced by something so much better.
It was fucking humiliating.
Shiori laughed bitterly.
Now, now. It wasn't Nerissa's fault that Shiori fell seriously in love with her.
But she could very well have planned it. Just like Shiori planned a Valentine's date over the past few months. And just like how she was now planning on cancelling the reservations. Hopefully, they give refunds for cancellations this late. She'll eat the chocolates herself, but now she feared they'd taste like ashes on her tongue. The flowers can join her in the trash.
Nerissa deserved a standing ovation for having played her perfectly. Maybe she should have been the mastermind in Advent's escape, because the way she lured Shiori in like a siren only to wound her like this was masterful.
And this was coming from someone who let herself be taken to The Cell.
Almost like Nerissa was sent down by the Gods as punishment for Shiori's hubris: Prisons can't detain her? Chains can't bind her? Weapons can't kill her? Fine. Then aim for the heart.
This was exactly what she was trying to protect herself from, right from the start.
Deflect, deny, hide.
She kept Nerissa at arm's length and dismissed her claims of affection at every turn. For who could ever truly love her, right?
On second thought, that could have been the problem. Well, one of the problems.
She has gotten used to treating Nerissa like she only spouts nonsense and lies that she has crossed the line of disbelief into being cruel. This, towards someone Shiori has decided she likes.
She didn't realize how terribly she was acting until Fuwawa and Mococo pulled her aside when Nerissa wasn't around.
"We need to talk about earlier, Shiori."
"What's up?"
"That was very bad form, Shiori!"
"Nerissa chose to call you, of all people, after she finished working hard during her panel," Mococo started.
"And you chose to be difficult!"
"She was trying so hard to make conversation while you were solving puzzles. She even asked you to wait for her so you can spend time together while working on it. Think of how you made her feel when instead of responding to her, you just kept muttering to yourself!"
"I didn't mean to. I just wanted to get the stupid dungeon over with," Shiori said. She wasn't too into what they were doing so she was trying to finish her obligations and leave as soon as she could.
"It was beyond rude, Shiori. MamaPuppy and PapaPuppy taught us at a young age that lack of bad intentions doesn't translate to lack of bad actions. Have you considered that, haeh?"
"We're just very disappointed, Shiori. I think you should get your head out of your butt. Maybe you're not being as kind as you think you are."
Ouch. That was kind of mean.
Good god, Fuwawa was a force of nature. One would think that the twins couldn't be scary when angry, considering how cute they were, how their words were hard to make out, how they always had sunny dispositions. They (almost) never even curse.
But apparently Shiori pissed them off enough. They were furious. Only a wonderful person like Nerissa could have inspired loyalty this fierce. Maybe even those two deserved Nerissa more than Shiori did. At least they'd treat her better.
There was knocking on her door. By several hands. A few of them sounded like paws.
What a coinkydink.
"Shiori?" Nerissa's call of her name was followed by more knocking. "Our kids want to go out for yakiniku!"
The statement was followed by Fuwawa and Mococo's enthusiastic calls of "Let's go, Shiori!" "We know you love meat!"
Then, Biboo's voice.
"Nerissa, Shiori said she'll be out for a few days for Archiver work or something."
She didn't. Today was supposed to be one of her rest days. She didn't know where Biboo got that misconception but it was helping her out right now.
Atta girl, Biboo.
"Really? But she didn't tell me anything." Three more knocks. "I thought I heard movement from inside."
"Maybe it's a hostage. You know how Shiori is."
"Mm-hmm. I do. That's why I love her."
Liar.
An irritated 'tsk' left Shiori's mouth and her hand clutching the sheets balled into a fist. She didn't know that outside, Nerissa's head snapped to her door. She thought she heard something from inside again.
"But…" Nerissa's voice was hesitant. "...Alright. As her wife, I'll just have to take her on a yakiniku date when she comes back. Just the two of us."
As expected, protests sounded from the three girls as they all walked away.
She's just teasing Biboo and FuwaMoco. It doesn't mean anything. She's just being a good friend. She's probably using the excuse to have meat again too.
She let out a sigh of relief when she heard the sound of Advent's car fading into the distance.
Good.
Shiori went to her table and opened the little book she always kept holstered at her waist. She dipped her pen in ink. Scribbling can give her comfort for a little while.
Maybe Nerissa never planned to stay. She was bored, Shiori was around.
Or maybe she did like her, then realized over time that Shiori wasn't what she was looking for.
Or she got tired. Shiori warned her that she was a slowburn. Nerissa just hadn't realized at the starting line that she wasn't worth it and eventually left once a new shiny thing caught her eye.
It doesn't matter.
After all, who could blame her? Elizabeth is beautiful, strong, and kind. Talking with her is much less difficult. She's much more leader-like than Shiori. More outgoing, much like Nerissa. She will treat her better, that's for sure. She's an amazing singer. The two had similar interests. They looked amazing together.
Now that I know you've found someone who's better than me in every way
There's no point in hanging on, is there?
There's no choice to be made
I'm letting you go