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[h2]Sagamiyama[/h2]
[h3]Saturday - Afternoon[/h3]
Interactions: [/center]
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Mitsuaki stood from his seat, eyes remaining on the table as his comrades in arms slowly left the building. Swallowing, he thought that maybe he should ask Shouko the question that began nagging at him, but bit it back. He didn’t really want to know the answer. Content to live with a possible lie, that spirits killed by Hollows still moved on, he left the mechanic shop and headed home.

The house was silent when Mitsuaki finally entered, slipping his shoes off in the doorway. Taking the stairs two at a time, he tried to ignore the nagging feeling that he began to push into his gut as he went to move past a door on his left. Most days, he could ignore the hand painted black streaks that were still sitting on the wood; curved letters spelling Juno, and the random doodles that dotted here and there. They had decorated it together, one day when boredom had taken a heavy toll on them.

He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, hand reaching out, resting on the doorknob. One push, and the darkness of the room would reveal everything Juno had left behind. Records and posters of bands that Mitsuaki couldn’t listen to anymore. A sketchbook sitting atop a desk, opened to the last page that was being worked on. Clothes littering the floor, shoes sitting beside the door, a messenger bag slung on the bed. The door remained closed, though, and all he could do was try to remember what Juno had left behind.

A hand on his shoulder brought him back with a strangled gasp. “Aki,” Chiaki stood behind him, her gaze so soft as Mitsuaki turned, a hard swallow passing through his throat. “I miss him too.”

Mother and son embraced, her hand pressing into his hair, holding him. Pulling back when he was ready, Chiaki smiled as she pressed a kiss to his forehead. Wrinkling his nose, Mitsuaki had to look away, but he gave her a light smile to show his thanks. For her being there. For adopting him. [color=6B91BA] “Thank you, Chi–”[/color] pausing, he swallowed. [color=6B91BA] “Mom.”[/color]

“Of course, Aki,” her hand met his cheek with a warm comfort. 

[color=6B91BA] “I think I’m going to go lay down.”[/color]

“I’ll bring food up for you when I make dinner,” all he could do was nod, and the two parted.

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[h2]Sagamiyama[/h2]
[h3]Saturday - Evening[/h3][/center]

Swallowing the mod soul, Mitsuaki stumbled back as his soul was ejected from his body. The instructions given were simple; stay in the room, and don’t break anything. Once the window was opened, the substitute shinigami jumped from it and onto the ground below.

A heavy sigh left him as anxiety began to well in his gut, his heart beating faster in his chest as he took in the feeling of the night. Taking his time, Mitsuaki’s hand found the pink koi that sat attached to his zanpakuto, finger tracing the outlines of the delicate wooden carving to try to ground himself. The feelings hanging over the night sat horribly in his chest, his mind working overtime, head snapping to every whisper of sound that echoed his way.

[color=6B91BA] “Calm down,”[/color] there was a light groan from the young man as he pushed his free hand into his hair, tugging lightly on the strands. [color=6B91BA] “You’re jumping at shadows.”[/color]

He still had a ways to go to make it to the park, his pace beginning to quicken, thinking it better to be in the company of others rather than his own thoughts.