Mikan Tsumiki

She looks around at the small section, excitement buzzing through her despite the smaller selection. There's still much to choose from. "Is th-there a favorite o-of yours?"

The way Sonia lit up made Mikan light up as well, a soft smile gracing the nurse's features. She laughed softly, nodding.

"Th-that sounds wonderful. P-please show me, I'd l-l-love to see what you have to suggest!"

Don't leave m-me..."

She was asking, begging him to help, to stay, as if he could fix this. Because he always fixed things...Deep down she knew it unfair to ask a dying man to solve her problems. But she was so very scared.

There was a trembling in her hands as she pressed against the wounds, the blood pouring between her fingers. Tears streaming down her face.

"P-please...What do I do? H-how...how do I help? I-I'm sorry...this is-isn't fair...I only...I only j-j-just got the chance...t-to know you...please don't go.

allowed it. Or if something caught him entirely off guard. She wasn't sure which it was, but either was she was scared. She didn't know how to fix this god among men.

She couldn't. She could try her best, but here her best wasn't enough, and she knew it. She was failing him.

This felt impossible, unreal. Mikan's hands trembled as she tried to piece together how this could have come to be. But...at the end of the day he was still human, wasn't he? Just like anyone else. Sure, he had many abilities far above the rest. But he was still a person. Just as easy to break if he

question, mulling it over.

"U-um...I read r-really whatever is available, th-though I do like thrillers...h-horror...Um...also fantasy c-can be fun as well..." She nodded, considering options.

Mikan often read in the downtimes between her work, finding it a useful hobby for when things got quiet that didn't disturb hospital residents or the like.

She was glad to see Sonia seemed interested in the place as well, not alone in their passion for books.

She hummed thoughtfully at the

anything..."

Words waterlogged with tears spill forth in a wave as she trembles, trying to hold it together. Everything feels like a mess, crashing and tumbling together. Why is this happening again? It's not fair!

whimpers, apologies spilling from her lips despite this being far from her fault. She doesn't know what else to do. What else to say. She isn't sure she can handle losing Nanami a second time.

"I-I'm sorry...p-p-please forgive me...please. Please don't go....S-stay...stay with me...I'll do

This can't be happening again....Mikan almost feels like the situation is surreal, seperated from her body almost as she clutches the other tightly in her arms, trying desperately to press on the wounds that she can.

But as the nurse she is, she knows it's a lost cause. Tears flow freely, as she

its been busy at the hospital today

"O-okay...I'll...I'll try. Thank you."

She nodded, more assuredly, as she went with the other into the store, marveling at the small whimsical charm of it.

It felt warm and inviting, and she drifted amongst the books, searching for something new to read. To add to her collection.

Sonia always felt warm and safe to the nurse. Someone she could rely on and trust no matter what. Even in despair, Mikan had felt...connected. So she did not guilt the other, did not blame her. And now it was good between them once more.

It felt warm and she giggled alongside the other.

hello

hand.

what to s-ssay. I'm not...s-sure how much I-I agree. But...thank you. Y-you're very kind..."

She gives a soft smile, before glancing up and over. Giving a soft nod.

"Y-yes. Let's..um...Yes. Please and thank you. I would...ap-appreciate it."

She makes her way that direction, still holding Sonia's

Mikan blinks, a bit surprised at how serious and certain Sonia was about this. This felt...surreal. She wasn't used to this much kindness. She blushes, ducking her head and tearing up a bit.

"Ah! Th...th-thank you...y-y-you...you mean...s-sso much to me...ahahah...Thank you...I..I d-don't know

to browse wh-what they have, if that's alright."

She flashes a soft smile, before considering as they finish up paying.

"I...I st-still appreciate it a lot, Sonia...Y-you're very kind...s-ssometimes it feels like I don't deserve s-sssuch a nice friend. But thank you."

She scans the area, before pointing to a nearby bookstore. "I...I would like

Mikan listens to the princess's words, nodding, taking them in. Though she's a bit uncertain when it comes down to Hiyoko. That's a still shakey territory to come across. Especially given what all went down between them.

She swallows her nerves on the matter though, and tries to stay positive.

m-m-me..."

together! I...I like this...u-us spending time tog-together."

She smiles softly towards the other as they begin to check out, gently grabbing her friend's hand.

"Th-thank you...for saying I deserve it by the way...Nobody really thinks...much of me deserving m-much of anything...Especially not

same. After all, if the roles were reversed, Mikan wouldn't be able to stop feeling guilty...

She sighed, accepting it as she moved on to the positive aspects of today. She returned, more cheery now.

"Eheh...That would be v-v-very nice....W-w-we should definitely t-try to do more th-things

Mikan barely caught the tail end of what Sonia said as she flitted off to find more clothes, brow scrunching a bit as she pieced the rest together. She didn't blame Sonia still for what happened. Why must the princess still blame herself?

Mikan supposed she shouldn't judge too much, as she was the

herself, but it was true. She always admired Tanaka's sense of style and fashion. As well as envied the way he was boldy able to be *himself*.

She found some jewelry to go with it, a nice choker, and a nice skirt as well.

She nodded to herself, not wanting to go overboard for her first time.

Mikan beamed back in response, positivily glowing under the other's praise. "Th-thank you...you've b-been so...so kind to me, S-sssonia! You r-really are a great friend..."

She nods, thinking to herself for a bit as she looks through the store a bit more. She hadn't considered the comparison

moment, before returning to the item in question. Something like the item below. She smiles at it, and folds it over an arm to take with her, nodding.

"I-I'll get it then.."

Mikan giggled a bit softly herself, blushing a bit at the comment and compliments.

"Eheh...Y-yeah...I d-don't...don't make it well kn-known...I find it s-scares a lot of people...o-o-off...But thank you!" She beams with pride at the praise, bubbling underneath it all.

She basks in it for a

back as she held up a shirt she particularly liked. "Wh-what do you think?"

It was a dark purple shirt with lace sleeves, flowy and a bit different from her usual attire.