on the morning of the 4th

[spirithacker]

[This was supposed to be an IM to Sakura Tohsaka, but Shinji's the tiniest bit upset, enough to not notice that he clicked the wrong button in the Retrospec app.]

sakura
my parents are gone
i hear them but i dont see them and they dont see me

can i stay with you for now
please

[You can hardly blame a nine-year-old for being upset over his parents disappearing.]

Comments

[imaginex]

What

[WHAT]

Shinji-kun call me please

[spirithacker]

[RING RING RING almost immediately after she posts this

it's like shinji was waiting anxiously for sakura to respond or something]

[imaginex]

[Blurting into the line:]

What do you mean your parents are gone?

[spirithacker]

I mean they're not here. I can hear them talking, but even if I try to follow the voices and throw paint where they should be, nothing happens. And they can't see me, or hear me even if I shout...

I don't like this.

[He hasn't liked 'this' for a long time, but he likes this even less.]

[imaginex]

Okay...

Okay.

[Deep breaths then. That is madness and she hates it, but first priority is fetching her cousin.]

Wait where you are, get some clothes. I'll be by to pick you up.

[me_matey]

-tbh, she didn't even need the call when she saw this.-

already gettin a room ready for him. see u both when u get here.

[imaginex]

Thank you May-chan.

[beneathmoonlight]

Shinji-kun?

Are you alright??

You sent this over the network.

[spirithacker]

it was supposed to be an IM

im not hurt or anything

[beneathmoonlight]

But your parents are gone?

I’m so sorry.

[spirithacker]

theyll come back
they have to

[beneathmoonlight]

Of course they will.

But I’m worried about you being alone for now.

Did you get ahold of Sakura-san?

[maidofmistakes]

Everyone's gone... How are we gonna live? Not just us kids, everyone.

[spirithacker]

idk
maybe the adults can take care of themselves

[maidofmistakes]

Maybe. But if, like, your boss thinks you're not showing up to work or something...

[spirithacker]

maybe i can get a doctors note later
there are doctors on retrospec
right

[maidofmistakes]

Maybe. I don't know what we're gonna do. Any of us.

[amodelidol]

Shinji? Are you alright?

Are you with your cousin now?

[spirithacker]

shes coming to pick me up

im okay
its not like i got hurt

[amodelidol]

Okay, that's good

i'm glad you're not hurt too
it's just you said your parents are gone and i'm wondering if you're okay by yourself

when did you notice they were gone?

[spirithacker]

when i woke up

[So, the morning of the 4th.]

i tried to paint them
it didnt work

[me_matey]

well we gonna meet in person soon enough but lemme just say

permission granted to come aboard, welcome

its kinda formality. old seaman thing.

[spirithacker]

thanks captain

ill keep my room clean and everything

[me_matey]

i mean u aint gotta

i sure dont

but thanks? listen just make urself at home lil dude. if u need anything just ask

[spirithacker]

ok

what if i need a bunch of snacks