[ shu reminds him to breathe, and though he can't see him, nazuna nods to himself. his breath catching is much more obvious, as he inhales slowly and deeply, then exhales, a gush of air as he tries to get himself back together again.

it was a dream. it was just a dream. he just has to keep telling himself, keep listening to this voice on the end of the line to anchor himself back down into reality. this is the real shu--the one who called him in the middle of the night, like he knew. his heart squeezes, tight, and he shuts his eyes tightly as he tries to decide what he wants to say ]

...thanks. [ is where he starts. ] I'm okay.

[ he sniffles again, a deeper breath in as he rubs at his face, slowly starting to uncurl a little bit, starting to lay backwards on his bed again--if he touches the sheets, they're a little wet from what has to be sweat. ] I...

I had a dream I was a doll. [ i was a doll, and you were there. nazuna laughs, just a little, rubbing at his face. ] Isn't that strange? There was this stage, and I was... someone's marionette.

[ your marionette. ] I'm--I'm glad you called, Itsuki. [ but unfortunately for him, nazuna won't be proving him wrong today. ] It felt really real.