A Rei of Hope

Rei of Hope

Unlike a usual night, your girlfriend goes straight to bed. Today was her first day at a new job and you have an idea ( if unpleasant) of what she’s currently going through. Her pale blue hair swirls behind her as she runs through the house, deep blue eyes flooded with sorrow. You figure the best course of action may just be to try and confront her tomorrow morning.

You wake up Rei with a steaming breakfast. The dimly lit room is only illuminated by minute streams of light through the curtains. As the plate clanks down unto her dresser, you hear groans as her face peeks out of the covers. As is, Rei is already holding back tears as she gazes into your eyes.

“Good Morning Sweetie” You say, trying your best to give some chipper energy to the drained girl.

It seems to have the opposite of the intended effect, driving Rei back under the covers of her bed.

“Come on sweetie, talk to me. It couldn-”

“It was that baaaaaad~~~” Rei wails.

Rei sobs, poking her face out of the covers again, trying to breathe in between fits of crying. Through all the racket and struggle that Rei is putting up, you get ahold of her hand, intertwining your fingers.

“We all have bad days Rei, just tell me and we’ll go from there.

Rei wipes away thick tears and blows her runny nose before starting.

“I- I couldn’t do anything right… even normal orders, it just felt like all the commands together was just so overwhelming that I couldn't do anything to keep up and trying harder only made things worse!”

“Now Now, I-”

“I’m not even cut out to be a fast food cooooook~” Rei manages out while starting to cry again.

There’s not much left for you to do but use your secret weapon. You lift Rei’s pajama-d upper body out of the covers, wrapping her with your arms. Rei’s thin arms and chest are pinned together, but she can’t keep sobbing while with you.

“Rei, I made you breakfast, eat. You need the energy.” You set the plate in her lap after you part from your titanic hug.

Rei picks at the food like a bird, eating little bits here and there with a nibble of toast. Her shoulders slump and she stops eating.

“W-what am I s-supposed to do? Y-You can’t take care of me forever…”

Rei reaches to her dresser, picking a pair of delicate blue framed glasses up with a click. As Rei slips the familiar glasses unto her face, you have a beautiful dawning idea.

“Rei, what if you did something where you could think about what you did before you did it? What if it was a job where being quick didn’t really matter?”

Rei sighs.

“I-I guess that sounds better.”

“Well why don’t you become a librarian? Even if it was just for a school or something, I mean, you’re great with kids even if you act like you aren’t.”

Rei’s face is fraught with confusion, terror and pain.

“I-I don’t thi-think I c-could…”

You grip Rei by her arms and pull her into a kiss. Rei’s cheeks burn with a thick blush as you retreat. With resolve and your future with your beloved in mind, you continue.

“I think you can. I believe in you. I want to see you happy, not crying in your bed because of McDomalts.”

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It took many long nights of studying and even more of your appreciation and motivation to get Rei into her new position. Neither of you could afford a new outfit for her to wear so you took a trip to a thrift shop. As Rei emerged from the changing room, you knew that you had won the game of life.

The sweater had a worn warmth to its very essence, the beige color was outdated but the V-neck style was not. A white blouse and blue tie were partially visible through the moderate layer of wool. Rei expectantly looked at you for feedback, but you were a bit busy taking in “the view”.

Rei’s legs were clad in black nylon with black slip-on shoes and a jet black skirt that went to her knees. Her pale blue hair was held back in a weak bun by a pair of mother-of-pearl chopsticks. You couldn’t think of an answer, you just snatched her up in a hug and spun her around while grinning like an idiot.

“You’re gonna destroy that interviewer, I love you sweetie~”

Rei shrinks in your arms.

“I-I hope so…”

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Rei emerges gleaming, a bounce in her step and smile on her face. Her shoes are obnoxiously loud as she nearly skips across the pavement to you.

“I-I GOT IT!”

You link elbows with Rei, leaning into her head with yours.

“See? I told you. Let’s walk home together.”

“Of course~” Rei’s smile is like the sun as she walks, still attached to your arm.

=========================================================================

You feel obliged to show up on the last day of Rei’s first complete week as a librarian. While you expected something wonderful, what you got was above and beyond that. As you pushed the double doors open to the smell of books, you heard the sweet voice of your beloved narrate “The Hobbit”. As you got closer to her voice, you saw a great ring of adults, seemingly parents also listening.

Rei’s voice could dance among the syllables of the beloved book, and for a moment you forgot that this was the same girl who had cried over a day of working at a fast food joint just months ago. Soon enough, the book snapped closed and Rei stood, to sudden applause. Rei was so shocked that she just froze in place, you strode through the crowd, gaining her attention immediately.

After trapping Rei in a hug, you whisper into her ear.

“You were wonderful.”

The crowd has dissipated, but just by the expression on her face, your sudden arrival meant the world to your sweet little lady.