Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 165: Arc 4, Act I, - 10: A Bond Beyond Death
As those words left Jotou’s lips, Daiyu furrowed her brows. Her eyes softened, "I thought you’d mock me for sure..."
"For what? I asked you a question that I asked myself. And you gave a perfect answer."
"Question you asked yourself huh? Go on then, what was your answer?" Daiyu leaned her back and elbows onto the railing.
Jotou pouted and then looked up to the stars—faint from the city and palace lights polluting it. "Why I want to do this? As in, stay in this world?"
"What, you found a way out?" Daiyu cocked a brow.
Jotou scoffed, "I don’t even know where the hell to start. It was a goal when I first ended up in this world. Now, it’s something in the back of my mind, but not really a priority.
I had nearly the same thought as you really. I wanted to become a decent artist, do something with my life to be remembered before I died.
I wanted to do something; prove myself or... prove everyone wrong I guess. Then I realized, art was just some hobby I picked up and was good at.
Once I made it a job and started not really doing what I wanted to do anymore, the idea of a dream job doing what I like faded away within months. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦
But hey, it was better than the alternatives. I realized, I didn’t really have a ’dream job’. Why would I want to dream about working? It’s the same as studying—a means to an end.
I wanted to do what I enjoyed, simple as that. I think I only fully came to terms with it once I was here. I tried to get back, if you’d call continuously thinking and worrying about it ’try’.
I thought some people or some things would help and lead to a clue. After all, there was a chance you were not all dead. There was a chance this was all some coma dream.
But the more I lived, the closer I got to people and the more I figured out how to live in this world, the more I pushed the thought of going back away.
I missed you all and there was nobody who could replace you. But I decided to move on and enjoy this life. An adventurer sounded pretty fun.
And then I realized, that I liked this. I’ve helped people, saved them even. I have magic that I’m learning," her lips were curling up unbeknownst to her.
"I can fight with a sword, I have amazing friends, cool magical stuff and I get to travel the world to get views like this," Jotou threw her hands out to the city afar.
"I like all of this. I want to adventure and keep seeing all of this and play hero. I’m also aware of all the risks... My mental sanity, the lives I befriend, the possibility of betrayal and the paranoia of existing like this.
My anxiety and stress’ve been put through the ringer, again and again. And the things they’ve made me realize is, that I’m very stubborn, overdramatic and have a will of glass..." Jotou’s eyes glazed over.
Daiyu snickered, "Got that right."
"But," Jotou gave a half-cocked grin, "I can always stand back up. Like a will of constantly shattering glass that keeps putting itself back together."
She spoke with broad shoulders and her head held high, "So, that’s my answer. I want to adventure, live my life out to the fullest and keep playing hero to see these happy faces.
And now, I know that you’re here. If I wouldn’t’ve kept going, I would’ve never found you. I can look for the rest of us and bring us all together again.
Every bad thing has an end. Every bad memory’s just a reason to savour the good. I also have another goal in mind. To maybe bring an end to this war..." Jotou’s face wilted as she uttered.
Daiyu smiled, listening along to the blonde’s rant—for once, an optimistic one. She watched like a proud mother as the wind drifted past the two.
Upon hearing her last sentence, Daiyu’s brows furrowed. Maybe, she could...?
Jotou sighed, "It’s a dream at least. It sounds as fictional as me trying to make it big by making art in my room. But hey, dreams’re meant to be unrealistic."
"Jotou."
"Hm?" the blonde turned to her.
A soft smile from ear to ear the princess wore, "I’m glad you’ve figured out so much about yourself. I’m glad you made friends here and you seem to be happy with them too.
But that dream? It doesn’t sound too fictional. Us being able to use magic, you some legendary fighter and me a princess? That’s fictional.
If you, want to help with the war; it’s possible. Still, I feel a little selfish to, ask you to stay here a while. The council has plans to deal with the war obviously.
You could help there and help us with all the Trailon crap. Feyan could give you the info coming up, about the trials and all that from when you got rid of them in Kria.
In other words, I’m kinda asking you to help me—here. Can I, ask you to stay and help me figure this all out? And seriously, if you feel forced, don’t."
’Are you kidding?’ "Hm, I have a personal vendetta against them. And I’d have to tell the other three about it too... I’m not sure," Jotou placed a hand on her chin.
Daiyu tapped her foot on the tiles as she stared at Jotou. She half-closed her right eye and scowled, catching onto the blonde’s ruse.
"And honestly, travelling’s just made me so happy... But I’d feel terrible leaving you here all alone. I have to accept," Jotou shrugged.
"Oh yeah, absolutely, sorry to put you in such a difficult position..." Daiyu folded her arms and rolled her eyes.
’Welp, she caught on...’ Jotou shook her head, "I can’t believe you’re forcing me to stay here; you monster. Clipping my wings and making me do what you want for your own selfish goals?
I can’t believe it. You’re just like my mother," Jotou overacted with a hand to her forehead, "Oh, what is the poor Thundering Blade to do to such trippings of guilt. I mean, these shackles that bind my-"
"Alright you li’l bitch, enough," Daiyu groaned with a chuckle.
Jotou laughed sinisterly. "I’ll stay cause I want to dumbass. I want to be with my best friend—even after death," she beamed.
Daiyu could not help but smile along, "Thanks. I know I’ll regret it." Jotou brushed it aside with a giggle. Daiyu stared at her for a solid moment, "Look at you!" she exclaimed. "You look so pretty!" in disbelief.
Jotou paused at the statement before glancing up to Daiyu with a grin, "What? I looked ugly before?" she threw her blonde locks forward in a huff.
"Dumbass, that’s not what I meant. I was the one always saying you looked good. You just had so little confidence."
"Yeah, yeah, thanks."
... "Hello?" Daiyu awaited with her arms folded.
"Look at you! I thought you’d never grow taller than me! And you’re wearing a dress!?" Jotou fake gasped.
"I hate you."
"Hate you more."
Daiyu shook her head.
"Fine, fine, I’m kidding. You look great alright?"
"A little more genuine please."
Jotou took a huge breath and groaned it all into the air, "Seriously; you’re really beautiful. I see you all the same anyway," she beamed warmly.
"I’ll take it, thanks," Daiyu smiled. "Was that so hard?"
"Painfully."
"Drama queen," she sighed. "So, what d’you want me to, ya know... Call you? They all use ’she’, should I be...?" Daiyu raised a brow.
"Hm... I don’t really care. Call me whatever you want," Jotou pondered aloud before shrugging.
"You, really got used to being a girl huh?" Daiyu scanned over.
"I’ve been here for three months, what d’you want me to do? It’s not like I have the ability to change myself at will. It bothered me at first, but honestly, it wasn’t really a big deal. At the end of the day, Jotou Howllett is Jotou Howllett."
Daiyu sided her head, "Yup. I still see that same smart-assed, stubborn boy," she smiled. "Odd question."
"Go for it, you’re always odd."
"Definitely you..." Daiyu half-closed her right eye. She shook her head, "How’ve you been, dealing with cramps and stuff? You alright?"
"The once a month thing? It’s a very mild pain, but Hotaru pretty much heals it away. Takes five seconds of hovering her hand over my clothes and gone."
"Yeah, it’s a different pain for every person. What about," a devious grin grew on the princess, "’That’?"
"That?" ’The hell’s she talking about?’
"Oh come on, you became a girl; it must’ve been literally the first thought in your head," Daiyu affirmed.
’Oh.’ "First of all, that wasn’t the first thought I had so you’re wrong there. Second..." Jotou blushed, tightening her lips, "I’ve..." she peered away, "...explored myself, yes..."
"I KNEW IT!" Daiyu shouted into the air.
Jotou turned, her blonde locks slapping the incoming wind, "Oh shut it princess."
Daiyu began cackling maniacally. Jotou groaned louder, "Why do I even talk to you... Anyway, if I’m staying here then they’ll probably have to stay here too; and I’ll have to tell them everything."
Daiyu wiped the tear from her eye, "I got more space than I know what to do with it, so the more the merrier. Do you have to tell them everything?" she raised her brows.
"I trust them," Jotou locked eyes with Daiyu. "Besides, they’ve helped me a lot and I think they can help here without a doubt," she tilted her head.
"Then go for it," Daiyu looked back to the city. Jotou walked back to the banister to watch along. "So, which one of them d’you have a crush on?" she grinned, barely allowing simple silence.
"Excuse me?" Jotou glared.
"Do I need to interrogate you for the answer?"
"Listen, I, don’t need to be in a relationship. With all that’s going on, helping you with the Council of Cravolta and the overall war?
Not right now; maybe someday. I’ll deal with that stuff once I figure out all of this- Don’t look at me like that!" Jotou knitted her brows.
Daiyu’s face was simply, disappointed, "You’ve been giving that same excuse forever!!! If you like one of them, just do it!"
"Well," Jotou choked up, "I-I’m getting closer to that goal alright!? I’ll do it, I will. I just have to, figure it out."
"So there is someone," she tapped her foot.
"NO!" almost a childish yell resonated from the blonde.
"Liar! There’s nothing to figure out, just do it!"
Jotou huffed at the princess, "I’ll do it alright!? I’ll march to her! Swoop her off her feet! And say everything! DOES THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY!?"
Daiyu watched Jotou’s determined eyes; her fists clenched and muscles tensing. "Woah, woah, woah, calm down. I’m just messing~ Get some rest, think about it, then ask her," Daiyu put her hands up.
Jotou exhaled, "Yeah, that’s what I thought. I’ll do it when I’m ready." ’When will I be ready though? The thing is, Hotaru’ll probably just ask to ask her again later...
And I did say I’ll never ask her again... Potential romantic relationship with responsibilities? Or keep my promise I yelled out? The second one seems kinda petty...’ "Can we change the subject already?"
"Sure. What about the fact that we can use magic?" Daiyu smirked.
Jotou sighed before she beamed alongside, "What’s your affinity huh?"
"Earth," Daiyu flaunted, "Ahem, manipulation."
Jotou squinted, "You’re kidding... Empire of Shattering Earth and you’re affinity aligns with earth?"
"Mhm~"
"What’s your lesser affinity?"
Daiyu’s grin broke for a moment, "Lesser?"
Jotou smiled, "Well, manipulation must be your main affinity then. My main is offensive and lesser is support, lightning-based. Though, my support spells only can be used on myself..." she shrugged.
"You can have two...?"
"You can, but maybe you just have one. You never really know. I also have that sense-thingy I was telling you about. I can tell when a storm’s coming or when something’s about to endanger me...
I’ve been getting it all night for some reason... Just, tiny ones I barely even notice," Jotou peered around to the sky and into the palace. Daiyu tapped her foot. "There it is again," Jotou then looked at Daiyu, "Is it... you?"
Daiyu giggled impishly, "I have a special ability too. When I tap my feet I make little earthquakes—unnoticeable; then, I can tell if someone’s lying or not, as long as they’re standing on the same level as me.
Helped me out a ton dealing with the council, guests and everything," she tapped her foot again.
Jotou felt the lightning arc over her hair gently, "Of course it was you... You’ve been using that all night against me? Rude," she leered.
Daiyu stuck her tongue out, "If you had it you’d be tapdancing 24/7." Jotou stuck her tongue out in response. "Crazy to even think we got magic in this weird world that’s kinda like ours."
"Yeah, for a different world, a lot of it’s the same; I’m not really complaining, but," Jotou pouted in pondering.
Daiyu moved her hands around, "I mean seriously; completely different world and like, there’s seven days a week, four weeks a month and twelve months a year. How’d they have the same system?
They’re even named from Sunday to Saturday. Everyone speaks the same language, like, the only thing that’s different’s like, the letters that just look slightly off," she raised her shoulders.
"I know right? Mannerisms, the names of technology, the names of people, slang, abbreviations, seasons, theoretical concepts," Jotou added.
"They have the same like, terminology for the same things as us too. Titles, governmental systems, hierarchies."
"Except Krialin. They do have their own cuisines too. Even so, there’s so many things that’re literally what we ate in our world."
"It really is convenient. Almost like someone just made this world up and like, didn’t bother to change much."
"Or maybe cause changing too many things would’ve been too complicated? I mean, the Sun, the Moon—changing that would just throw everyone for a loop."
"That’s true I guess," Daiyu sided.
"Besides, this world could just be an alternate reality or something. Physically and biologically speaking, evolution still needs to occur and stuff, so the planet has to be suitable."
Daiyu sighed, "Let’s just forget about it. There’s other things to worry about."
"Yeah, I don’t need an existential crisis," Jotou yawned and stretched, "Especially before bed."
"Oh?" Daiyu smiled, "Has the master of sleep deprivation lost his nocturnal habits?"
"The master of sleep deprivation has had an exhausting few weeks and is an adventurer who can’t have an erratic sleep schedule anymore," Jotou lowered her voice and put on an English accent.
"Keep talking like that and you’ll win the nobles over in no time," Daiyu rolled her eyes.
Jotou grumbled and covered a yawn with her palm, "I still love the night. But seriously, I need all the sleep I can get.
Knowing you’re here, and probably the others somewhere in this world, is gonna make me sleep a whole lot deeper. I have to find Feyan for the rooms. Coming?" Jotou sauntered over to the doors.
Daiyu leaned on the banister, taking a deep breath; the others... "Nah. I’ll be here a few more minutes. Need to think about some stuff."
"Something you need to vent about?"
"Not really."
Jotou smirked looking back, "Mind if I keep you company then?"
Daiyu looked to the blonde with an invitation written on her face, "Nope."
Jotou hummed as she walked towards Daiyu; she rested her shoulder against the princess’s as she leaned on the balustrade, parking her elbows down.
Both of them synced their sighs, before chuckling at each other for doing so. The howl and chill of the breeze drifted through their hair, jingling the little chimes upon the balcony. The two stared off into the city in silence.
