A Fairytale Ending

“How soon can we know if she made it or not?”

I turned to Jun and Cyan, looking between them keenly so I didn’t miss whoever answered first.

It was -predictably- Cyan who opened her mouth soonest but Jun quickly cut in and spoke before the Fairy could.

“The time depends entirely on the one who is going through the Replacement. Falling in theme with most things on Oeuvre, Replacement is focused heavily on intent; your own genuine intentions and thoughts will decide whether you will or will not. And also how quickly you will get there.”

Cyan was fast to chime in the moment Jun was finished, nodding her head and fluttering forward to pull me into a hug.

“Only Hana-chan can decide if she goes back home or not, but you can check on planet to see if-”

I was already shaking myself from the Fairy’s arms and hurrying towards Oeuvre’s main building, intent on using either the main Refraction point in the courtyard or one of Cyans or Juns to get myself to Earth as fast as possible; I needed to know.

I had to make sure Hana made it back to Earth.

My wings Manifested as quick as they ever had as I spotted an empty space in the Courtyard area of Oeuvre’s main building and rushed to fill the vacancy before it was taken.

Jun was right beside me, wings already spread wide as I gave them a grateful smile which I hoped didn’t make me look like I was nauseous before we were in the air and climbing through the thick layer of dreamy colored clouds.

We emerged directly into Earth’s sky, right above the place where Ren worked and I quickly pulled my white mesh covering off of myself and bundled it into my pocket before guiding us to the entrance; I held the door open for Jun to step in before me as I carefully scanned the streets in case Hana was already here or on her way.

I didn’t know how this would work, I knew she wouldn’t be able to see me -or even remember me or the memory that we’d revived our friendship- but I knew she’d come here the moment she returned to Earth.

Even if her mind didn’t remember the resolutions she had made Oeuvre, her spirit still did; and she’d promised me that she would tell Ren how she felt if her Replacement was a success.

I knew it would be, it had to; there wasn’t anyone I could think of who wanted to go home more than Hana had.

Jun had to stop me from tripping over a fold out sign signifying the floor was wet as my eyes only continued to sweep across the patrons within the building, scrutinizing each person’s face as they ate and talked and laughed.

She wasn’t here.

I visibly deflated as Jun took my hand with a comforting squeeze and led us to the vacant booth in the back corner which I had been frequenting in the past month; when I hadn’t been Instructing Hana, of course.

That was another thing I had noticed the more I Observed, people seemed to ignore places or things I was around frequently; so the booth I had tentatively claimed as my own remained empty for the time being until I finished my Match and ceased to keep projecting whatever sort of aura I exuded that made the booth easy to ignore and forget.

When asked, Cyan had told me that the things in my close proximity would return to normal once my Match was complete and I was no longer renewing the ‘aura’ or whatever it was that the Oeuvre air had steeped into my being.

“Replacement is not an easy process; give your friend the time she needs.”

Jun's words were carefully soft to my vulnerable ear but solid in their matter of fact realism that the Auspice never failed to deliver. I nodded, daring to rest my head on their shoulder after pressing a gentle kiss to their cheek and whispering ‘thank you’ into their ear.

I’m glad they came with me; not even asking -which was entirely out of character for them- before just following me like they knew I would need the support. And I did; I was so happy to have them to lean on.

I didn't know how long we sat there in the forgotten corner booth facing the door, my head on Jun’s shoulder with our fingers entwined on the seat between us as I closed my eyes so I could focus on taking deep, even breaths as we waited.

Whether Hana succeeded or not, I had to realize at some point that she had forgotten; and who was I to fault her for not following through on a promise she didn’t even remember? That would be unfair of me and I wouldn’t-

“Jin.”

My head shot up at the sound of the bell above the door at the same time Jun squeezed my hand, eyes opening wide as I practically jumped from my seat and stared at the figure who had just rushed in.

There she is.

“Welcome to-Hana?”

“Ren.”

I had to slap a hand over my mouth so I didn’t immediately start sobbing, holding my breath tight and controlled in my chest as I reached out a hand behind me for Jun to take; which they did after standing at a much calmer pace than I had and came to rest beside me, watching the two interact as I was with a look of fascinated wonder.

It occurred to me later that this might be one of the -if not the- first time they had actually seen Subjects interact in person, since an Aupice’s job dealt with Displaced and Heralds; and even if a Herald wanted to try for Replacement, the Auspice assigned to their case never followed them back to see if they succeed or not.

So, with that in mind, Jun was equally as invested as I was as we both stood there, holding our nerves to see how the situation would unfold.

As I said, that thought did not occur to me until much later so I, very much in the moment, could only stare as Hana seemed to shake herself from the stupor she had become entrapped in the moment Ren had said her name and she’d answered in kind.

Red chuckled, coming around the counter and almost pulling Hana into a hug before seeming to think better of it and just settled for a pat on her arm, which she returned with a nod after a moment of hesitation.

“What are you doing here? I know I’m kinda out of your way and look like you’re in a rush-”

“-I have something to tell you!”

Ren stopped abruptly, pulling away at Hana’s outburst and nodding with a slightly confused expression at the desperate tone in her voice.

He led her outside after getting permission to take a short break so they could talk in private; Jun and I were quick to follow them and settled ourselves deeper in the alley so we were shrouded by shadows in case they were to see our wispy outlines.

“What’s the matter, Hana? Is everything okay, you’re freaking me out a little…”

Hana folded her hands together in front of her and took in a deep inhale, nodding her head in response to Ren’s concerned questions before speaking in an even, soft tone that betrayed her nervousness.

“I’m fine, don’t worry. I just need to tell you but this might– this will probably surprise you, but please let me say this all the way through before responding, okay? Please.”

Visibly confused and expression still tinted with concern, Red nodded and reached out again as he had done before but -in a complete repeat of his earlier actions- seemed to think better of it at the last moment and dropped his arms back to his sides; settling them safely in his pockets.

“Ever since we were little, I really–”

Hana froze, a loud swallow clicking in her throat as my heart pounded faster in my chest. I could visibly see how nervous she was, it would be impossible to miss but I was growing more and more worried that she would become too afraid to actually follow through; as she had confessed to me on Oeuvre, telling Ren about her feelings for him had terrified her.

Much to my desperate relief, she started again and I felt Jun exhale sharply with a quick sigh of anxious trepidation that echoed my own beside me.

“I’m sorry, I should have waited until you were finished with your work at home but I wanted– I needed to tell you that… that… for years I’ve-”

“Are… are you saying what I think you’re-”

“Please! Before you- let me finish I just…”

Her voice shook, knuckles going white from how hard she was squeezing them as I stumbled forward on instinct and forced myself to stop as I came along beside her; pure instinct and despair at the scenario that was falling apart in front of us causing me to move.

And then stop.

I didn’t breathe, not even a stutter of an inhale as I leaned forward -oh so calm and steady- and whispered.

Because this was my job; it wasn’t the conventional Herald or Cupid way but this was my Match and I would give it the best odds I could because both Hana and Ren deserved to have that chance.

“...You promised me, Hana; whatever it takes.”

Jun made a noise from behind me, something from their chest that I couldn’t decipher as wondrously approving or absolutely aghast as I slowly backed away; my gaze still locked firmly on Ren and Hana, willing her to have courage and speak.

Hana blinked, expression going blank for a moment before she lifted her head and met Ren’s questioning gaze with a small, small smile that made hope flare to life behind my ribs again.

“...I like-” She huffed out a quiet laugh, slowly lifting her shoulders in a shrug as she adjusted the sleeve of her shirt and corrected herself with another gentle chuckle. “I’ve always liked you, for as far back as I can remember it’s always been you; I’m sorry it’s been too long and I should have told you back when I-”

She laughed again, dry and regretful.

“Back before we stopped being friends because Jin was the only thing holding our friend group together; I should have told you. So… I like you a lot Ren, I know this is something you probably haven’t even-”

“Me too.”

Jun gasped quietly behind me and I absently vowed that I would Manifest a television when we got back to Oeuvre so I could show them some drama genre shows, I had a feeling they’d enjoy them.

“W-What?”

“I said– me too; maybe not as long as you but–” He let out a fast breath in something that might have passed for a disbelieving laugh. “Me too. I like you so much Hana and I’ve been trying to tell you, to ask you but I haven’t been able to work up the courage. I can’t believe that all this time we’ve just been-”

Jun and I both had the simultaneous resolution to promptly turn around when Hana lunged directly forward into Ren’s arms so they could have the moment to themselves, matching smiles on both of our faces as I barely contained my glee at the turn of events.

It was good, everything had turned out well because Hana was back on Earth and was absolutely Ren’s Match.

After a generous moment, we turned back around to see the two of them still standing close, soft words being spoken quietly enough so we couldn’t hear; although I didn’t need to hear what was being said since they weren’t meant for me.

If Jun could hear them what with their enhanced Elf aural abilities, they didn’t make any movement to share what they had hard and I didn’t have any inclination to ask.

The two of them walked out of the alley hand in hand, and I didn’t feel the need to follow them since they were perfectly Matched and happy.

With Hana gone, the elation from her successful Replacement slowly bled the tension I had been holding from my shoulders as I turned to look at Jun with a weary but satisfied smile.

It was good, but seeing Hana happily paired off with Ren was the last piece I needed to finally gain the courage to do what I had been afraid to; if Hana could face her own hurdles, then I could too.

“I… I think we need to talk.”

Clever as Jun was, they obviously felt the tonal shift and I saw a flash of what I knew to be worry streak across their features before it returned to their normal expression; of course they knew what I was talking about.

It was time.

“...I think you are correct.”