[ after a day spent hyperaware of the eyes of strangers (in public) and painfully, miserably lonely (in private)— the sudden privacy, the strength in the hug, and Korone's words have her pressing her forehead into the other girl's shoulder and slumping in relief as she gulps for air. it's laced with the same scent that had hit her like a welcome slap in the face—the same scent she'd frantically chased down through the hallways outside—and she can finally, finally feel like she can start to settle down. ]

...I know you would. I know you'd try.

[ it's the try that she'd gotten stuck on. for all the fight still left in Eve, she's still learned that some things may as well be stone walls and locked doors— to be fought against only because stopping means having to face being trapped.

to her, the space between worlds is one of them. ]