by Hibiki Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:29 am
Hibiki watched Natsuki's outburst with a mix of understanding and sorrow. His pain was palpable, his anger justified. She knew the horrors he spoke of all too well, yet her perspective had been shaped by countless days of surviving and witnessing destruction. When Natsuki finally pushed back his chair and stood, Hibiki decided it was time to address the raw emotions in the room, hoping to bring some clarity and perhaps solace.
She hesitated, searching for the right words. "Natsuki," she began softly, her voice trembling slightly, "I... I understand your anger and your pain. Every word you said... it resonates deeply with me, more than you might realize." She paused, her throat tightening as she continued. "I've seen friends, comrades, innocent people... lost to the very things we discuss so casually now. It's easy to become desensitized when chaos is your everyday reality."
Hibiki took a shaky breath, glancing around the table at Ghost and Yamato before returning her gaze to Natsuki. "But please, understand this: our experiences, our scars, they shape our views differently. Ghost speaks of strength and resilience not to diminish the loss, but because... because that's what keeps some of us moving forward. Yamato, too, tries to find a silver lining in the devastation, because sometimes, it's the only way to not be consumed by despair."
Her hands fidgeted slightly as she leaned forward, her eyes locking onto Natsuki's. "You're right. The silence of the dead speaks volumes, and it's... it's a silence I've heard more times than I can count. But we're here, in this moment, trying to make sense of it all. Trying to find ways to prevent more loss, more silence. For some, it's about finding strength. For others, it's about finding hope."
Hibiki stood up slowly, her movements deliberate and calm, but her voice wavered as she continued. "I don't take the suffering lightly. And I don't think any of us do. But we all cope in our ways. You seek to honor the fallen through your anger, your determination. And that's valid. But don't let it consume you to the point where you forget why you're fighting in the first place."
She offered a small, sad smile, struggling to maintain eye contact. "We all need to find a balance. How did Big sis put it again?" she mused putting her finger to her mouth as she tried her best to remember the quote. "Oh right, Strength without compassion is tyranny. Compassion without strength is helplessness." she said with an especially proud look on her face for being able to say that verbatem.
"We're all struggling to find that middle ground. And maybe, just maybe, by understanding each other's pain, we can find a way to build a future where such suffering is a distant memory."
Hibiki reached out, her hand trembling slightly as she placed it on Natsuki's shoulder. "Stay, if you can. If not for the sake of the conversation, then for the sake of finding that balance within yourself. We need voices like yours, raw and honest, to remind us of the reality we face. But we also need each other to find the strength to change that reality."
She looked around the room once more, her gaze lingering on each person. "Let's not forget the pain we've endured, but let's also not lose sight of the hope we can create together."
As she finished speaking, Hibiki's head began to throb from the effort of expressing her complex emotions so openly. She clutched her head, feeling it overheat from the strain. "I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "It's just... it's hard for me to put all of this into words." She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, hoping that despite her struggle, her message had been clear.
[12]
