Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 303: Interlude - 22: Asobi

Fluttering eyes adjusted to the dim light. Back to the waking world they were. Fingers still locked together—they didn’t untwine. As the blonde looked to her, the elf’s eyes remained staring down.

Iridina shook her head lightly, "Agh... Did she try to get your baby memories? My head’s on fire," she massaged her forehead. "Certainly took a chunk out of my mana-" she finally looked to them.

Jotou allowed her mind to be open and thought of what she saw. Iridina gleaned her surface thoughts, "Oh... I’m so sorry. I’m sorry you didn’t get an answer," her tone was monotonous no longer.

"... ..."

Jotou glanced away from Asobi and to the mouse-girl, "No need to be sorry. Thanks for the help. Could you, give us a moment?"

Iridina got up from the sofa, "Of course. I’ll cover your shifts if I need to." "Click." Iridina left the room.

Jotou leaned in closer and sided her head lower, "Asobi...?" she hushed.

Finger by finger she held Jotou’s hand tighter and her eyes waned and waned till they shut completely. In went air and she puffed her chest out—her shoulders rose.

She straightened her posture, then opened her eyes with a continuous breath escaping her lips till she whistled it out. Her shoulders fell and her jade-green eyes faced Jotou.

"I’m still the Amazing Asobi; the greatest magician you’ve ever known," little by little her lips curled.

Her smile. It was always so damn hard not to be infected by it. Especially when not a single tear trailed down her eye. Jotou curved her hand around and grazed a thumb over the knuckles of the hand she held.

She held the raven-haired woman by the shoulder and looked to her, "You don’t need to act."

To which Asobi shook her head, "I’m not acting silly." She stared, "You have really pretty eyes."

"You’ve said that before," her brows knitted.

"Then I’ll say it again," she titled her head and her eyes closed in a smile. "No regrets." Asobi hummed and opened her eyes with another breath, "Looks like I’ve been through a lot of pain too—more than I thought.

I think I’ve always known, but just didn’t see it. Or, it’s more likely that I just smiled it away so I wouldn’t. The circus; all my friends... They were all just used like props for his show.

Some of them I just won’t remember; all because I smiled it away so long ago," she looked to the walls as if they were a circus tent.

"It’s not your fault, you were just a kid. Zayexiwhatever’s to blame," her eyes sparked a smidgen.

Asobi took solace in that.

Jotou glanced up and around, "Are any of them here now?"

Her head turned back, "Just you." Asobi took the chance to stare at her and ponder, "I would’ve died in the Last Stand if Hotaru didn’t save me... Wow," Asobi chuckled. "I was dying..."

"But you didn’t," Jotou gripped her hand and shoulder a tad tighter.

Asobi hummed, "She had to kill people so that I didn’t. How many people would’ve died if you didn’t do what you did Jotou? How many people have you saved so that they’re no longer in pain?"

The grip loosened, "...It goes both ways," Jotou’s eyes averted.

"It’s just how you look at things; there’s always another way to see it. Don’t ignore one thing and look at the other," she smiled.

Jotou looked down and shut her eyes... Her lips tightened, "I won’t," she smirked back up. "I’m proud of myself; and I shouldn’t discount what I did in return."

"You wanted to leave a big mark on this world. Being an adventurer, seeing the world, learning magic, seeing people happy and have the adventure of a lifetime. What a charming goal you have. Can you remember mine?" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"How can I forget? You want to make people happy; entertain people and see the sparkle in their eyes. It makes you happy when other people are and it makes you want to do more."

Asobi beamed, "Well, I think being sad isn’t a bad thing either anymore. Being sad with you, makes me feel a lot better. I just thought of everyone’s who was safe because of us, ignoring the other way to see it.

I’ve killed people too Jotou... Whether it was with my spells or my ignorance. The difference is, I feel better now that I’m aware of what I’m doing.

It makes me feel all the more better of what we did recently, going around Cravolta City— like making bubbles and giving money to that man on the street.

I have more reason than ever before. Although I may one day forget them, their smiles and happiness are something I’ll always remember.

Even if I forget and my own memories go blurry and fuzzy, even if I forget myself, whenever anyone thinks of me, it’ll make them smile.

That’s how I want to be remembered. For the world is your audience and the show never stops," tears pooled in her eyes. "So, don’t let your goal die now."

Jotou took a deep breath and watched the jade-green eyes shift and glimmer in the room’s light. She gave a nod. "I’m sorry you’ve been through so much pain."

"Don’t. Because, it meant I can be with you all..." tears began to roll down her face. "I wouldn’t have it any other way. With all of you, a new Asobi was born.

I’d help you however I could with all the spectacular powers I have. Even if it is really difficult... Honestly, you ask too much of me sometimes..." she exhaled then chuckled, "It’s okay, I guess I’m used to being used."

Jotou released her shoulder, "Asobi-"

"But it’s fine, I don’t mind," she looked Jotou in the eyes. "Because I found out in your mind that you care for me a lot more than I could’ve ever hoped," she squeaked as she cried.

Through the sobs she smiled, "I guess I said it wrongly... It’s more like I’m helping someone I care about rather than being used.

You’ve given me a lot more than what Zayexiwovu ever gave me; including the truth about a lot of things," Asobi’s furrowed her brows, "I think," she lowered her gaze, "I think I, hate him..." she snarled with a wrinkle of her nose.

"It’s about time you did," Jotou smirked.

Asobi smiled... but it faltered-

Jotou pulled her into a hug. Asobi curled into the sofa and sunk her face into the blonde’s shoulder. Her creaky cries filled the room; as she tried to stifle them or gulp them down, she realized and instead let it all out.

As Asobi’s body shuddered and the sobs went silent, Jotou pulled her back up and looked at her with a smile. Asobi still panted and sniffled; however, she found the strength to smile.

The blonde reached her hand out and wiped the tears off her face... Jotou knitted her brows—none of her tears were rainbows though they were still leaving her eyes. A bittersweet smile overtook the blonde’s face as she laughed.

Asobi couldn’t stifle her own bit of a laughter, "What? Is there a chicken behind me?" she turned.

"No, it’s nothing," Jotou pushed her face back and helped Asobi clean herself up. "There you go."

"Quack!" Jotou swivelled her head to the sound behind her. She squinted, then turned back to Asobi, "What the!?" Jotou jolted for a quick second, then sighed with a hand on her chest...

Asobi had the face of a spider and the illusion dissipated into an elf giggling like a gremlin, "Finally got you!"

Jotou rolled her eyes, "Fine, you did."

"Yay!" she hopped out of the sofa.

As the elf cheered, Jotou thought something to herself... "Asobi?"

The magician sat back down and paid attention, "What is it?"

Jotou cocked her head, "Would you like today to be your birthday?"

"Hm? It’s yours silly!"

"It is," she took Asobi’s hands. "And I want to share it with you. You’ve only been counting it every year haven’t you? So today’s your birthday—you’re twenty-one. Let’s set it in stone," her eyes sparked.

Asobi gazed into the smoky quartz-like eyes of the blonde; she gazed still while her own jade-green eyes glittered with white light. Butterflies of light formed around her a bright glow of light and sparkles floated all around like tiny stars.

One laugh escaped and then she was full of smiles, beaming brighter than the illusions. She giggled, "Yes! Yes I’d love that! This is the best birthday present ever!" she shouted and hopped in her seat without letting go of the blonde’s hands.

Jotou laughed along, her arms swinging in the direction of Asobi’s excitement. She looked to the illusions fluttering around, making the room not so dim anymore, "It’s official then."

Asobi hopped back down with a light sigh and gave the brightest smile to Jotou and watched the blonde’s face. The ecstatic magician calmed down as she locked eyes with her... She quickly leaned in and pecked the blonde on the lips.

Jotou’s eyes widened and her heart skipped a beat... Asobi’s eyes glittered with white light as she gazed at the other with a giggle, "Happy Birthday Jotou Howllett," with that, she slipped out of the blonde’s grasp and gleefully skipped to the door.

The wide-eyed stare followed till Asobi turned and loudly whispered, "Let’s go, we have to put our disguises back on Ana," she tucked her hair behind her pointy right ear.

Jotou shook her head and let herself smile, "Coming." She got up and followed. ’It was just an innocent kiss... right?’