130. To heal
<span style="font-weight:400">When Tomoka opened her eyes again she found herself to be empty. No, there was something there, like a weak candle me surviving in the harshest of winters. A me that refused to go out as it fed from the warmth the two hugging her provided.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tomoka, I’am so sorry I didn’t realize before.” Hinata cried while hugging the regressed version of her girlfriend.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s fine, I-”
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s not fine! You are not fine!” Nozomi shouted while tightening her hug on the now four year old Tomoka.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What is important now is that we will help you get fine in whichever way we can.” Even the fox was having a hard time containing his emotions.
<span style="font-weight:400">Nodding Tomoka wiggled herself out of the tight hug Tomoka looked around before speaking. She knew what needed to be done, she knew what doing so would entail. However, despite all the suffering she would have to put herself through she was willing.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I am broken, that much should be obvious now. I have separated my own feelings and emotions by killing mental versions of myself. What I need to do now is relive all those experiences and ept them.” Saying that Tomoka approached one of the nearby corpses.
<span style="font-weight:400">“nO ma-tEr wHa-t You dO, yOu a-Re sssTill A fAi-lure” The corpse spoke with its broken and creepy speech while its dead eyes stared towards Tomoka.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I-” Before Tomoka could answer Hinata stood between her and the corps.
<span style="font-weight:400">“If Tomoka is a failure then there is no one in the world who is not. Yes, she has her own quirks and she makes mistakes sometimes. BUT! She always strives to better herself and help others! Tomoka is no failure”
<span style="font-weight:400">As Tomoka heard Hinata’s words she relieved the painful memory associated with this corpse. The Memory of her parents'' indifference to her efforts. The memories of her boss shouting at her for not creating her inventions even faster. The feelings of being inadequate at everything. All those feelings were washed away by Hinata’s words.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Failure is part of sess. Fail a hundred times, and learn a hundred things so you may seed the next time.” After saying that, Tomoka''s eyes gain a glint of determination.
<span style="font-weight:400">Determination had settled within her. The determination to make things right. The determination to progress and better herself. With her determination the corpse now regained its life as it looked at the little girl that seemed to age by a few months.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then let us fail as much as we need to seed.” Leaving those words behind the corpse burst into motes of light that sank into the ground. As thest mote of light banished a circle of dead grass regained its life. Then a brazier burning with bright orange mes appeared where the corpse once had been representing her ever burning determination.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thanks Hinata.” Tomoka had made up her mind to go through all of that pain for herself and for those she loved. However, she hadn’t realized how hard it would be. Now, with the help of those she loves the pain would lessen and the trials toe would be bearable.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No problema. So this is how we fix you?”
<span style="font-weight:400">Nodding Tomoka walked towards the next corpse. She felt nervous moving forward. Every single corpse represented her trauma, her past, and in a sense who she is. Would the others treat her differently after this? Would their rtionship change? and if so, would it be for better or worse? She didn’t know.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Common Tomoka. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can spend our time together” Hearing Nozomi’s words, Tomoka couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Whatever is toe, at least she knows that they love her and she loves them too.