[Kino wouldn't see the reply until later. They had dropped the blackglass back into their satchel after sending the messages, returning to stillness. Knees held close to their chest, chin resting on top. Staring at Nic but not really seeing him. They can feel the buzz of the reply, but they forget about it within a few moments.
Silence. Well, in a way. Kino's breathing. Wind between the branches of Machan trees. The sound of birdsong that Kino had never heard before. It was so strange how something that should be familiar only went further to remind how far away they were from anything Kino might recognize.
The birds—Nic had been watching them when he died. He'd almost... seemed happy.
"Once, a man told me that watching the birds fly made him want to go on a journey."
The same was true for Kino. How many times had Kino said that? They should understand, but they can't. Not right now.
It's not too much longer before the sound of a cadence of footsteps and quick breathing announce Hinata arriving. Kino doesn't look up to him. They don't need to to know who it is.
Kino doesn't speak for a while either. Not until it becomes a question who would speak first.]
no subject
Silence. Well, in a way. Kino's breathing. Wind between the branches of Machan trees. The sound of birdsong that Kino had never heard before. It was so strange how something that should be familiar only went further to remind how far away they were from anything Kino might recognize.
The birds—Nic had been watching them when he died. He'd almost... seemed happy.
"Once, a man told me that watching the birds fly made him want to go on a journey."
The same was true for Kino. How many times had Kino said that? They should understand, but they can't. Not right now.
It's not too much longer before the sound of a cadence of footsteps and quick breathing announce Hinata arriving. Kino doesn't look up to him. They don't need to to know who it is.
Kino doesn't speak for a while either. Not until it becomes a question who would speak first.]
Who else do we need to tell?
[Kino's voice sounds very far away.]