Finding the Words

The broadcast room sat halfway up a skyscraper owned by the Hirogari organization.

Braith still found it difficult to reconcile the idea that the anti-purists - who publicly postured as fringe activists - had an entire skyscraper to themselves. He decided not to think too hard about it. Instead, he focused on guiding Yumie as Natsuki led them - Sunata trailing behind - through the controlled chaos toward the studio.

The room itself was far more professional than he’d expected.

It was dark, but deliberately so. Soft, directional lights illuminated a single chair at the center of the space, four cameras trained on it from different angles. Behind it was a muted, tasteful backdrop - designed to feel intimate, sincere. Perfect for someone speaking from the heart.

Around them, people hurried in every direction. Braith assumed they were anti-purists - technicians, producers, coordinators - but everyone moved with practiced efficiency.

Yumie tugged gently on his sleeve.

“What does it look like?”

He smiled softly.

“I’ll show you.”

He let his gaze drift across the room as he imagined her in a skimpy sailor’s uniform, triggering the telepathic link between his eyes and hers.

She shivered.

“I’m nervous.”

He patted her head.

“You’ll be fine.”

She didn’t reply.

Natsuki stopped in front of the chair, turning to face them.

“Alright,” she said briskly. “We’ll sit you down and run through what you’re going to say.”

They nodded, and she led them toward the spotlights.

But before they reached it, Yumie stopped.

“I want my husband to sit with me.”

Natsuki winced.

“Oh… this won’t take very long-”

“No.”

Yumie tightened her grip on Braith’s arm.

“If he can’t sit with me, I won’t do it.”

Natsuki opened her mouth to argue - then stopped. Sunata’s glare from behind the couple made the decision for her.

“…Fine,” she sighed. “We’ll get another chair.”

It happened immediately.

Only once Braith was seated beside her did Yumie finally relax enough to sit down. Their hands remained intertwined.

Sunata drifted away, leaving Natsuki standing in front of them.

“Okay,” she said, forcing warmth into her voice. “Since you’re blind, this is actually simpler than usual. I only need to explain what you’ll say.”

She gestured vaguely toward the cameras, completely contradicting herself.

“You tell your story. What you want for the future. Then you ask the audience, plainly, to stop the violence.”

Yumie nodded.

Natsuki waited.

Nothing happened.

“…Well?” Natsuki prompted. “What are you going to say?”

Yumie’s ears flattened.

“I’m not talking to you.”

Natsuki blinked.

“I’m talking to my husband.”

Natsuki looked like she wanted to protest - then thought better of it.

“…Alright,” she said carefully. “I’ll give time warnings before we go live.”

She turned and walked away.

The moment she was gone, Yumie spoke again, quieter.

“Where exactly are you?”

Braith squeezed her gloved hand.

“Here.”

She turned her head toward him. Their fingers were linked, but that wasn’t enough for her to know where to look. Her voice dropped to a whisper, barely audible over the hum of the room.

“What should I say?”

He shrugged.

“Whatever you feel like.”

She frowned.

“That’s not very helpful.”

He tilted his head.

“What are you feeling?”

“Nervous.”

“Why?”

She hesitated.

“…Because I’m afraid I’m being used again.”

His expression softened.

“But you’re not,” he said quietly. “This is your choice. You can stop anytime.”

She nodded.

“I know. I just… can’t shake the feeling.”

He smiled faintly.

“Hey. I’m right here. If you’re being used, so am I.”

She huffed softly.

“Let’s just do this,” he continued, “and then get married.”

She nodded again.

“Okay. And let’s also have s-”

Her voice vanished as Braith clamped a hand over her mouth.

“Yumie,” he hissed, “there are microphones everywhere.”

Her eyes widened.

He slowly removed his hand.

“…Children,” she whispered.

He was fairly certain that hadn’t been the word she was about to say.

He sighed.

“Anyone would think you’re deprived.”

“I am,” she muttered.

“To the point you’ll talk about it on a recording set?”

She shifted uncomfortably.

“…Maybe you’re right.”

He chuckled - and then froze as Natsuki hurried back over.

“Five minutes,” she said.

And then she was gone again.

Braith’s face went numb.

Yumie’s hand trembled in his.

“Already?”

Her voice shook, panic bleeding through the word.

“What do I say? What should I say?”

He didn’t hesitate - there wasn’t time.

“Start with your name,” he said quickly. “Who you are. Then talk about what you want.”

She swallowed.

“Is that enough? How do I tell people to stop killing each other when all I’ve done is kill people?”

He glanced down at their intertwined fingers.

“Then show them you don’t want to,” he said softly. “That you want to be a person.”

He straightened slightly.

“Tell them what you tell everyone else. That you don’t want to be a weapon.”

She nodded, slow and uncertain.

“I… think I can do that.”

He smiled and squeezed her hand.

“I’ll be right here.”

She squeezed back.

Sunata reappeared then, moving with purpose. He crouched in front of Yumie, his expression serious.

“Alright, Yumie. A few rules.”

He raised one finger.

“Firstly, you cannot say anything about what we discussed earlier.”

A second.

“Secondly, nothing that undermines the government or the anti-purists.”

He paused.

“You may talk about everything that’s happened to you, but if it risks breaking rule two, you must stay neutral. Understood?”

She nodded.

“Good.”

He stood.

“Good luck.”

He was gone almost immediately.

Yumie’s hand still wouldn’t stop shaking.

Then Natsuki hurried back.

“This isn’t going to work.”

Braith blinked.

“What? Why?”

“Because,” Natsuki said tightly, “people might think you’re controlling her, like a normal Mahotona. If they believe that, everything falls apart.”

Yumie hissed.

“I’m not talking without my fiancé-”

“I know,” Natsuki cut in, gentler now. “But you need to show that you aren’t being controlled.”

Yumie froze.

“…How?”

Natsuki hesitated, then shrugged helplessly.

“I don’t know. I haven't had my magic unlocked. I don’t know how it feels.”

Braith opened his mouth to ask why - then remembered. International travel. Choice. Fear.

Before he could speak, Yumie inhaled sharply.

“Okay. I have an idea.”

Natsuki blinked.

“I can do that,” Yumie said, firmer now.

Natsuki studied her for a moment, then nodded.

“Alright. Three minutes.”

She turned and left.

The room shifted as the countdown began. Movement became purposeful. Focused. The cameras were all manned now - large lenses adjusting in the darkness where Braith couldn’t see them.

Yumie spoke quietly.

“I’m nervous.”

He huffed a laugh.

“You keep saying that.”

“Well,” she muttered, “aren’t you?”

He laughed again, breathy.

“Oh, I’m terrified. I just don’t have to talk.”

He squeezed her hand.

“But I’m here. You’ll be fine.”

She nodded.

“Okay.”

He doubted it would be the last time she said that.

On the inside, he was shaking just as badly as she was. His thoughts looped endlessly - this is our last chance. No running. No hiding. Straight into the fire.

There was nothing he could do now except hold her hand and hope.

Pray.

That everything would go well.

He wished - briefly, painfully - that he’d had time to call his parents.

Just once.