-THREE YEARS LATER-

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Ayato

"Haha! Get it, Thoma!"

Thoma

"I got it, I got it!"

The bounty rewarded mora was well spent on Ayato's medical care in Sumeru. They relocated the day following Thoma's visit to your cell. A year later, Ayato finally awoke from his coma. 

It has been two years since he awakened, but he has lost his ability to walk and now occupies a wheelchair.

Ayato, Thoma, and Ayaka were on the shore of Sumeru on a day out. It was nice and sunny outside, they played volleyball.

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However, Ayato couldn't really participate that well. (He's in a wheelchair HAHA LOSER)

Ayaka

"So — You're taking Ayato to physio today, right, Thoma?"

Thoma

"Yup."

Ayaka

"Okay, cool. Don't forget his cane this time."

Thoma

"Hah, I'll try not to."

Ayaka

"Oh- And you'll have to take the long way there. Apparently, our usual route is being blocked by a huge tree that fell over."

Thoma

"Seriously? The long way?"

Thoma complained.

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Thoma was wheeling Ayato in his wheelchair down a path leading to his physio. The two conversed while doing so.

Thoma

"My Lord, do you think you'll ever be able to walk again?..."

Thoma asks.

Ayato

"What are you talking about? Of course, I'll be able to walk again."

"It just takes time."

Thoma

"It's been... A really long time."

Ayato

"I know it has. We all know it has."

"But, patience is key."

Thoma

"Sure... Patience is key."

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"Don't you think it's like... Super strange — living here?"

Ayato

"Where's all this coming from?"

Thoma

"I don't know... I think I miss how things were in Inazuma."

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Ayato

"You miss how things were between you and Y/N, you mean? In Inazuma?"

Thoma

"What?..."

Thoma abruptly stopped pushing Ayato's wheelchair. The mention of your name froze him completely.

Ayato

*Sigh*

Thoma

"No- No, no... That isn't true, My Lord."

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"That's not true."

Ayato

"Whatever you say, Thoma."

"Come now, we're gonna be late."

Thoma continued to push Ayato's wheelchair.

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Thoma worked part-time in a café near Sumeru City. Though he already had an abundance of mora from the bounty prize, he decided to keep earning money to assist the Kamisatos.

After Ayato's physio, he went straight to working the night shift.

Thoma

"Here you are."

Thoma said as he served the last table for the night.

Elderly Man

"Thank you, kind sir."

He walked back behind the counter and started cleaning the equipment. He was the only one working at the period in question.

*Ring!*

The entrance bell rang.

Thoma

"Hey, sorry — We're closed for the night."

???

"You are?"

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Again, Thoma froze, dropping the dish he was washing. The voice was all too familiar to him.

It shattered.

He felt a chill up his spine and looked at the individual standing at the entrance. 

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Ayaka

"Hm. I thought this place closed at 10 pm, not 9 pm!"

Thoma shakily looked down at his hands and the shattered dish below him at his feet.

Thoma

"Fuck..."

He whispered to himself, wiping the sweat off his face with his hands.

Ayaka

"... You okay, Thoma?"

"I'll help you clean that up."

Thoma

"Yeah... Thanks."

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-THE NEXT MORNING-

Ayato

*Yawn* "Thoma, why are you up so early?"

Thoma

"Awh, hey, look at that! You're improving so well!"

Thoma said as he watched Ayato utilize his cane instead of his wheelchair to get around.

Ayato

"Thanks, but I'm not focusing on that."

"What's up with you?"

Thoma

"... I couldn't sleep."

Ayato

"Why so?"

Thoma

"Eh... It's really stupid. I'd rather not share."

Ayato

"Thoma, don't do that. You know you can tell me anything."

Thoma

"I..."

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"I feel trapped."

"I've been feeling trapped for the past two weeks or so."

Ayato gave a confused expression.

Thoma

"Sometimes, I feel like Y/N is haunting me or... Or- they're still here, do you get what I mean?"

"But it's not like a... Scary type of haunting, but at the same time it is? Ugh... I don't know..."

Ayato sighed the second he heard that name.

Ayato

"Come on now. They're the one that's trapped — Locked up deep down. They can't hurt you anymore."

Ayato limped over to Ayato and put a hand on his shoulder.

Thoma

"No- No! That's the thing! I hurt them! Me! I hurt them so bad!"

"I said so many things that didn't need to be said and now- I... I feel like they're haunting me because of how bad I hurt them that day."

Thoma backed away, gently shoving Ayato's hand off his shoulder.

Thoma

"So I-"

*Sigh*

"I want to visit them."

Ayato

"What?! You can't!"

Thoma

"I have to."

"It's the only way-"

Ayato

"Absolutely not. It's too dangerous Thoma, you know that."

"Remember what happened the last time you left me and Ayaka at home for an extended period of time?..."

Thoma

"My Lord- This time it's different! I'll only be gone for a day!"

"I promise you; I won't leave you like that again. Ever."

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Ayato

"... Just stay safe."

Ayato said, on the verge of tears. He turned away and limped back to his room without uttering another word. 

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-AFTERNOON-

Thoma felt the calm breeze on the boat ride to Inazuma. It was something he for sure missed, having that he hadn't left Sumeru since he arrived there. 

Thoma

"Thank you for the ride, Beidou."

Beidou

"Anytime, fuckboy!"

Thoma

"Hmph... I forgot that nickname of mine still existed."

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Thoma made his way toward the Raiden Shogun's residence. On the way, many locals were happy to see him after three years.

Raiden Shogun

"What a surprise."

Thoma

"..."

Raiden

"How's your husband?"

Thoma

"Oh- We're not... Married."

"We're not even a thing."

Raiden

"Cute, cute."

"What do you want?"

Thoma

"Firstly, I want you to stop with that daily list bullshit. It's cruel as fuck."

Raiden genuinely looked confused.

Thoma

"Secondly, let me see them."

Raiden

"Huh?..."

Thoma

"You know who I'm talking about."

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Raiden

"We don't do the "Daily Lists" for them anymore-"

Thoma

"Good."

Raiden

"And nobody has gone down to see Y/N in forever-"

Thoma

"Okay? I don't give a fuck."

"Let me see them."

Raiden

*Sigh*

"Should I tell him, or not tell him?..."

Thoma

"What? Tell me what?!"

Raiden

"Ugh..."

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"Considering you are wildly connected to Y/N, I'll be informing you that..."

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"Y/N is no longer in the Archon's hands. We've lost them, and there haven't been any sights of them anywhere."

"You better stay quiet about this, boy."

"The moment news like that gets out into the world, everyone will be spiralling."

Thoma

"What?... They're not here?"

"So- They escaped!"

Raiden

"What the fuck?! You sound oddly joyous about that!"

Thoma

"No- No! That's not what I'm trying to give off..."

Raiden

"Yes- They have escaped. Only I and the other Archons know about this, and have been searching for them ourselves."

Thoma

"Uhm... Weather patterns- Have you paid attention to any odd weather patterns?"

Raiden

"Strangely enough, ever since they've escaped, the weather has been more regular than ever."

Thoma

"Okay- When did this happen?"

Raiden

"Around two weeks ago."

Thoma

Just when I anticipated that Y/N was haunting me in some sort...

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"Everything makes fucking sense."