Kotori - An Invisible Songbird
Patiently perhaps even with a touch of lighthearted hope, the little Songbird settled her own box of lunch upon her lap as she waited for the Iron Giant to arrive. It was almost exhilarating to think that for the first time in her life, she might actually have a friend. For the longest time, it was a thought that she always cast a shadow of doubt upon. After all, if her own mother had feared and despised her enough that she would abandon her in shame, how could anyone else in the world be different?
Just maybe, Sasaki was different. Someone who was free of those heartless prejudices, despite of how hardened his exterior seemed to be.
Her memory of the last events surrounding the conflict in were fuzzy to say the least. The last memory of which was being carried by someone to the infirmary, she didn't even know who had been so kind as to pick up her pathetic little ghostly self; but what she did know was that she felt safe and warm. A muffled voice that was intangible to her as much as a spirit would be spoke a few words, but in her bleary and exhausted state she couldn't recognize it.
It was probably just a member of Judgement arriving and rescuing her to take her to the school's infirmary. She had been there before, and this time certainly wouldn't be the last.
Instead, she let her addled mind and soul rest. The softened onyx texture of her silky hair coming to rest lightly on their shoulder. The only softened words she was weakly able to whisper were a simple note of gratitude: "Thank you."
One day she would have to find that person, whomever they were, and thank them.
Nearby, another girl she recognized she did not know began playing a song on her violin. It was melancholy but beautiful, being picturesque during the midst of a springtime morning. And the little Songbird closed her eyes and leaned against the back of the wooden bench. A soft, small, but warm smile rose on Kotori's lips as she listened. As each note was purposeful as it were delicate, her head tilted slowly back so that she might look skyward. The softened pink of blossoms against the brilliance of the sapphire sky were truly a beauty to observe while time simply crawled by.
A sudden interruption occurred however in the form of the girl who was so terribly violent to her coming in to approach the Telekinetic. First came a begrudging apology, to which Kotori remained impassively silent. This girl didn't mean a word of it, she could tell, the Songbird wasn't a complete imbecile when it came to social interaction. Next however came something that made Kotori swallow a lump in her throat as the girl seized and promptly devoured the meal she had carefully prepared for the Iron Giant. So stunned was she by the audacity, the quiet girl remained absolutely and breathlessly silent as Sunye insidiously continued onward.
The venom from the words crept into her heart swiftly, like a traitor's dagger carefully placed into the back of a tyrannical king or queen. To her very core, the little Songbird let the bitter shards of the sister's icy word pervade her mind. Was she really just a hindrance as Sasaki's friend? Did she really cause him distress and trouble so cruelly like a the spinsters do unto unaware protagonists like the one she had been reading the night before? Venom crept upward and infected her mind, convincing her that every word of this tormenting, cold hearted girl stated was true.
Once again just like her mother before, the little Songbird had become another burden.
Even against the vice-like grip of Sunye though, she stood.
A week ago, she had made a promise. But thanks to being imprisoned with in the infirmary's cage, she hadn't been able to deliver to it. Now, this girl sought to stop her once again. In spite of the stabbing pain in her chest, the Kotori clutched onto her own untouched bento box of food, and she walked away. Refusing to answer her last particularly devilish question as she knew the answer, and how no matter what she said, Sunye would likely not believe her; Kotori spotted Sasaki as he walked out to talk to Aria. Her footsteps hastened, she wanted to run and escape this misery that hung so gravely over her mind, but to even attempt such would be in vain.
Instead, as tears began to stream down her cheeks and she was forced to bite her bottom lip to stop its tremble, Kotori approached Sasaki and Aria.
"P-P-Please forgive m-my interruption. Y-your music is t-t-truly lovely." She stammered to begin with, feeling hopelessly weak as always. "K-Kirima-san, I-I-I..." Her head dipped then, attempting to disguise the heartrending state she was in. Because of her, he was suffering misfortune, because of her and her foolishness, his life was more troubled than how it had began. "I-I brought y-your b-b-breakfast. As p-promised. Here. T-take it." Gently, she forced what would've been her own breakfast into his hands as she finished her presence there with a final statement.
"I-I'm so s-s-sorry for causing you such t-trouble. Su-Sunye-ch-chan told me."
"Goodbye."
Turning away then, she made haste away from the Violinist and the Iron Giant. Aiming of course to disappear into the crowds of fellow students, so that she wouldn't be seen ever again.
