come out of hiding, i'm right here beside you

[barehands]

[A while after the execution has ended, everyone will find a simple note slipped under their door.]

If you don't want to be alone after everything that's happening, some of us will be in the dining room. Even if you decide not to come, please remember that you aren't alone here.

[The note isn't signed, but the handwriting is feminine and neat.

For anyone who decides to come, there's a good array of food laid out on the table. There are some small and simple cakes, cookies, and pastries, a healthy amount of okonomiyaki, okayu, and other Japanese dishes (with a focus on rice and eggs), along with curry. In addition, there are pancakes, and a large pot of soup. It looks like a few people collaborated to make enough food for everyone here.

Just like the meal they shared together earlier in the week, the candles from the storage room lend a more peaceful light than the fluorescent lights above.]

Comments

[halleberry]

It's fine, Rose. I'm more than okay.

[ She can't help but give the poor girl a soft smile; she's clearly been taking this quite hard. Tsubasa hasn't been eating very much herself (who can blame her, in this situation?), but she's been working herself to the bone since she stepped foot in the kitchen. Still, she has to give credit where credit is due... ]

I think this was a wonderful thing that you helped with tonight, Rose. I'm glad to see so many of us together here.

[ She had expected the turnout to be far less; it's a bit inspiring, to see everyone still united, for one reason or another. ]

[barehands]

More than okay? Even after...

[All of that, really. She looks concerned, and she's definitely not certain whether she believes it, but... Would it be wrong to push more if she doesn't want to talk about it? Rose has to wonder.

Regardless, she looks a bit taken aback at the next words Tsubasa says.]

Oh, well... A lot of other people helped, too. I just hope that it helped some people even a little.

[halleberry]

I'm positive that it's a lot more helpful than everyone sitting around by themselves. Being together in a situation like this...I think it does far more help than harm, to know that when you're at a low point, you're not alone.

[ She seems genuine about it, at the very least. ]

I probably would be feeling far more...defeated, were it not for this.

[barehands]

Yeah... I think it's nice that so many people came. To be honest, I wasn't sure if anybody would.

[There's a small, hesitant smile at what Tsubasa says next. Despite the circumstances, she's glad to hear it.]

I'm glad. And, um, thank you for helping so much! It was really nice of you.