(no subject)

[throughthelookingmax]

"Hey, looks like there's a town up ahead."

Reigen obviously saw it --- he was the one driving, so he saw just about everything. But Max wasn't sure that the others in the back had. She looked over the shoulder of her seat as she said it, making sure that her voice wasn't drowned out by the sound of the 80s citypop CD they acquired at the last town they ran into.

Max turned back around and squinted her eyes, trying her best to filter out the rays of blinding light that seemed to reflect off of everything.

"I think it might be near a beach, too," she said. "That looks like a seagull, right?" Max pointed at the figure of a bird flying overhead.

Comments

[espresso_doppio]

Smiling, Doppio took a seat beside the small boy. The more he focused on the coast, the more the memories came trickling back.

“This coast was developed by a prince. Since then, a lot of wealthy people have started settling here. When I was your age, I used to sneak out to look down at it a lot but I was never brave enough to walk all the way down by myself.”

[princechid]

A prince...

"I'm sure you wouldn't have any problems walking it now!"

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

“Hold on, hold on. Doppio-kun…are you saying you’re loaded?”

[espresso_doppio]

“No, no. No way. I’m not rich. I….”

…

“I…still don’t really remember…”

[aoihitomi]

"Well, you remembered that you were from here, right? Maybe once we have the opportunity to explore, more will come to you."

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

Reigen took another deep breath of the salty sea air and let the moment linger for a little while longer.

"Well...shall we make nice with the locals?" He headed back to the van and nudged Max, lowering his voice. "Hey. What do you think the chances are of one of those villas down by the water being open for a little squatting?

[throughthelookingmax]

Max had no idea, but she could find out. "I can go scout the area if you can chaperone the kids."

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

"You're a gem." Reigen watched her hike down towards the water. When he looked to the kids, what he noticed first was how Doppio was lingering where he sat and Hitomi beside him.

"Chid-kun," Reigen cleared his throat, "can you come help me clean up the potato skins in the van?"

[princechid]

"Yes, of course." Chid was nothing if not obedient.

[espresso_doppio]

It took Doppio a moment to realize he and Hitomi were alone. He suddenly felt awkward and he wasn't sure why.

"...Can I...be honest about something?"

[aoihitomi]

"Sure."

[espresso_doppio]

"I'm really nervous...I should be happy, shouldn't I?"

[aoihitomi]

"Well, I think it's normal to be nervous about the unknown. There's so many things it can be."

[espresso_doppio]

Doppio's shoulders drew up. "I'm nervous about me."

[aoihitomi]

Hitomi figured as much. "If you think it might make you feel better... I could do a reading for you."

[espresso_doppio]

"Well...that's the thing." Doppio tried to smile as if that could lighten the weight of what he was about to say. "This whole time I've been wondering if the person who I was before is anyone worth remembering."

[aoihitomi]

Hitomi got the sense that there was more that Doppio wanted to say, so she just listened.

[espresso_doppio]

"I've been clinging to this person who I'm sure I knew. I told you about them, right? But I don't even remember their name or their voice. So...back when we all first met...when I got nervous, I would try and imagine what their face looked like. I'd imagine what kind of words of encouragement they'd have...it's silly, right?" Doppio laughed a little. "But lately, when I'm worried...I don't picture their face anymore. I see Reigen, and Max, and Chid...and I see your face, Hitomi."

[aoihitomi]

"Our friendship isn't going to change, even if you learn more about yourself." Hitomi was confident of this. "We're all with you, Doppio."

[espresso_doppio]

Doppio's forced smile softened. "I know you all have lives to return to, but...if this never changed, I wouldn't mind at all."

Doppio stood, brushing off Max's jeans. "I know that's cowardly of me, but that's how I feel. Whoever I was before...I'm scared of it replacing who I am now."

Everyone had been so kind and patient. It was only now he felt like he was getting to a place where he could reciprocate.

[aoihitomi]

Hitomi stood up after him and turned so she was face to face with him. "If you're not sure you're ready, we don't have to go."

[espresso_doppio]

"I..." He wanted to say it was fine, but was it?

Before he could process the question in full, he paused. There was a voice nearby that didn't belong to Reigen or Chid, but it was obscured by the van.

[mp_strikinglyblessed]

"Oh no, we're doing alright. Just cleaning the back out." Reigen laughed, trying to ease the kindly older man's concern. "Are you from the village nearby?"

"I am. I lead the Cresia de Santu Jude parish. If you and your son drive just a bit further, you'll find it."

"Oh, he's not my..."

[aoihitomi]

Hitomi turned at the sound of new voices.

"I wonder who that is..."

[princechid]

"He's my guardian," Chid supplied. "He's taking care of me until we find my aunt."