One of the things that Ringo really loved about visiting home, besides seeing her awesome sisters, was getting to AirTrek with people who had been doing it almost as long as she had. The scene had continued to evolve since the last time she'd visited, but that just meant that it was possible to get involved in a pick-up match of almost anything. You could even get into a casual game of Balloon, which hadn't really been something she'd ever imagined.

And while she might find it difficult to admit, the public nature of AT gatherings in Tokyo (well, public within the community, anyway) gave her a chance to show off. Sure, Ringo tried not to be too, you know, arrogant or anything, but she knew she was good. Really good. And having people who could recognize that, and appreciate it, was a real thrill.

It just felt awesome to have people clap and whistle appreciatively at some of the tricks she'd spent so much time practicing over and over back at Fandom. The hard work wasn't for nothing.

"This is so much more amazing than last time I came out to one of these!" Ringo declared excitedly as she flopped down on the ground next to her sisters to take a quick breather and chug water from the bottle she'd brought with her.

Ringo had done what she'd suggested to Dante she would do and left the island Friday afternoon to go back to Tokyo for a bit. Her sisters had been surprised, she hadn't warned them she was coming, but glad to see her, and Rika had made hotpot to celebrate.

It had been hard to smile through dinner, but Ringo had managed, if a bit stiffly. When Mikan asked why she was back, Ringo had deflected with something vague about the end of the semester and taking a break. She didn't think anyone bought it, but no one pressed her for more details, either. Ringo's sisters were awesome that way.

They ate, and then stayed up late into the night talking, and by the time Ringo finally laid down to sleep she was feeling better. It wasn't that the pain in her heart was gone, or even lessened really, but there were other things in there, too, and they helped.

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It was late when Ringo blinked awake. Still exhausted, both physically and emotionally, but feeling like she could finally see a future she could smile about again. And smile she did as she realized that her sisters hadn't actually left her once she'd fallen asleep. She must have just drifted off after another bout of crying, and they'd just laid her out on the floor and brought in blankets and pillows before joining her. So here she was, literally surrounded by family, listening to their breathing in the darkness.

She turned her attention inward. The pain that she'd gotten so accustomed to so quickly was still there. Perhaps lessened a bit, but it was hard to say. The sharp edges of it were still there, and Ringo was sure that she'd keep bumping unexpectedly into them for years, but now those edges were wrapped in a soft layer of her sisters' love.

She quietly got up and padded to the bathroom, spending a few minutes washing her face. Then she stepped outside and sat down just outside the door where she could look up at the sky and smile a weak and tiny, but utterly genuine, smile.

[ooc: NFB for distance, mostly establishy, but if anyone wanted to call or text or whatever, that's fine]