[ EVENT: So long and thank you for all the fish ]

[soul_mods]

Characters: Everyone in Death City
Location: Death City
Rating: G
Time: October 8th and onwards
Description: It's time to say goodbye



A day after Medusa's defeat, Shibusen makes an announcement on the network: BREW is acting up again but instead of bringing new people in, it has created a portal.

It's in the Kishin Chamber, available to anyone who wants to go through it. Anyone who looks into it will see the place they came from, frozen in time. The moment you step through everything resumes and, maybe you'll forget or maybe you won't. Either way, there's no need to hurry right now. Shibusen assures all of you they will keep a sharp eye on BREW's energy readings and tell you the moment anything changes. For now, the portal is stable so take all the time you need to say goodbye and settle everything before you go.

Comments

[starfruitfrog]

I had only wanted to run it, because I wanted a never-ending supply of gunpla, de arimasu.

[He chuckles a bit at that, his eyes fond as he looks at everything around them.]

But there are so many memories here. Itou-dono, Hughes-dono, Saya-dono....

She used to sit here and read manga. Itou-dono would make tea, and Hughes-dono would smile and taste-test them for us.

Remember when that guy came in and stubbed out his cigarette on the floor, de arimasu? You can't even really see the burn mark anymore, de arimasu.

[He's not sure what he's trying to get at here anymore.]

[nolicenseyet]

[Her eyes follow every spot he talks about easily because she knew those places and the people who spent their time there so clearly that she can almost imagine them.

Saya getting into a fight with Keroro...Itou correcting the way she held a brush and formed her characters...and Hughes who always seemed to be smiling and laughing.]

There's Yamazaki, too. [She tilts her head and smiles a little.] He turned out okay, right? I thought he wasn't going to be able to do anything. And Yuichi. I really liked the food he made.

[Her hand drops to her side and she stares at the display case for a moment, remembering the time she set up the display for the Chara Misfortune Keychains.]

Remember when everyone was here for the Chara Misfortune Keychain?

[starfruitfrog]

Kerokerokero...and Masamune-dono asked Kojuurou-dono to help him find Kojuurou, de arimasu?

[There's also a photograph of Roy looking surprised on the corkboard, almost a trophy of sorts.]

I told the guys to make sure to keep that robot for Ritsuka-dono, in case he comes back, de arimasu.

And I think we...they'll be hiring a new barista as well, de arimasu.

[nolicenseyet]

He bought a lot of keychains. [At least he opened them in a corner instead of leaving them all over the place.] So did Gai.

[She'd never met Ritsuka herself, but she knows which robot he's talking about.

The mention of a new barista makes her chest ache though. This will be the first employee they didn't interview themselves.]

I hope they'll like it here.

[She turns and looks through the sliding glass door leading to the Hikan Cafe. Earlier their remaining employees, all of them locals, had thrown them a party and presented them with the Keroro float (an ice cream and mint soda float) and the Eve sandwich.

She'll miss this place, really.]

[starfruitfrog]

I hope so too, de arimasu.

[He's quiet....looking over to the cafe.]

I wonder if we could convince them to ask him to put on some glasses, de arimasu.

[nolicenseyet]

We can leave them a letter.

[She's seriously considering it.]

I hope, if we come back one day, that this place will still be here.

1/2

[starfruitfrog]

It will, de arimasu!

It'll be just like it is now.

[Keroro hops up, pointing out the various spots of interest.]

The Metokkori R keychain display will still be here, but covered in dust. And then I'll get on the new manager's case for a job terribly done. And Eve-dono's calligraphy will still be here. And Itou-dono's pseudo-glasses. And the menu will be the same. And then...

[starfruitfrog]

And then...we'll both be here too. And....and it'll be just like before, de arimasu. I-I'm sure of it, de arimasu.

No matter what, we'll see each other again, Eve-dono.

I-

[...I promised myself that I wasn't going to cry.]

[nolicenseyet]

[Eve tried to imagine everything Keroro said. Tried to imagine this place, different but still the same full of all the familiar things and people that had ever been here.

She'd been trying so hard not to cry. To think about things she's leaving behind and try not to be sad.

But then Keroro stutters, and she feels something in her chest clench.]

We will, right? [She turns and her hands are clenched into tight fists.] Promise?

[starfruitfrog]

[He's the adult here. He needs to be the adult.

Keroro reaches out to gently rest his hand against her fist.]

...of course. I promise, de arimasu.

[nolicenseyet]

[It's a promise, one that they'll keep, because nothing can stop them if they were both working towards the same goal. Not Kishin Eggs, not Witches, not even the rain.

But her voice is choked and her eyes are brimming with tears and she can't stop it.]

It's a promise. And promises can't be broken.