View source for Leave Her, Johnny Leave Her (Erika Shimizu)

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2024/07/14
|Synopsis=Erika goes home to tell her mother she's going on a 'trip' and gets a little emotional as she calls Hinata about it.
|Cast of Characters=159, 160
}}
Mood Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j616idQwcE

Erika Shimizu, the dread pirate magical girl, Jolly Roger, stared down at the softly glowing screen of her smartphone while she stuffed a backpack full of spare clothes to last for a couple of days.. She considered just texting, but for something this important, she ultimately decided a call would be better. And part of her just wanted to hear the other girl's voice before she left. She had already told her mother that she would be spending the next few days with a friend on a trip. She conveniently left out where, and with her father out to sea there was no need to worry about him suspecting a thing, either. Erika pursed her lips as her cold fingers numbly flipped through her contact list and thumbed a name.

Hinata Muramasa.

PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu says, "Peep peep it's a pirate."
PHONE: Hinata Muramasa says, "New Phone, who this?"
PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu says, "Ha ha, very funny."
PHONE: Hinata Muramasa says, "I got you some more candy. They had a sale at the local convenience store."
PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu says, "Ah... About that... Hold onto it for me. I'm going on a little trip."
PHONE: Hinata Muramasa says, "Again...? At least you're letting me know this time."
PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu says, "In my defense I didn't know I was going to get sucked into a time-space portal, last time!"
PHONE: Hinata Muramasa says, "Fine. I'll let you off.... When do you expect to be back?"
PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu says, "Best bet's a week from now, maybe?"
PHONE: Hinata Muramasa sends a picture of a bag full of sweets. Caption: I'll hold you to that.
PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu chuckles. Then pauses briefly. "Keep 'em fresh for me yeah? I'm going to Paris. But it won't be a sightseeing trip."
PHONE: Hinata Muramasa somehow manages to sound worried. "... Stay safe, Eri-chan."
PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu says, "Hey... Hina... I plan to come back. But if anything happens to me... Ah hell. You know I care a lot about you, right?"
PHONE: Hinata Muramasa is silent for a long moment. "Erika Shimizu. I do not give you permission to die. If you do so without my permission I will invade the afterlife, drag you back out, and then kill you myself for disobeying me."
PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu laughs! "Alright, alright! I get it. There's just one problem with that plan. We both know I'm already half in the grave! ... But I promise I'll come home to you."
PHONE: Hinata Muramasa sends another picture. It's Yo-Jim-Bo holding his staff at the ready. Caption: He'll hold you to that.
PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu says, "OH! That's right! Do me a solid and feed Davy for me while I'm gone! You know where I keep the octopus food~."
PHONE: Hinata Muramasa sends a picture of Davy with a freshly fed look on his octopus-face. Caption: We always look out for each other, you know that.
PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu says, "Hey..."

Erika paused, for the first time in forever she could feel a lump rising in her throat, strangling both her and her words as she struggled to form the next sentence. If she could still cry, righit now she'd have tears running down her face. Her hands wouldn't even shake, regardless of how much she wanted them to, regardless of how scared and alone she suddenly felt, they remained steady, cool, and dead.

PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu says, "On the off chance that I don't make it back... --Now listen, just hear me out- ... You know when I said I care about you, I..." Pause. "Mn. Well. If something happens to me... I want you to not give up. You find those sword shards. You free yourself from your curse. Don't let thinking of me bog you down any."
PHONE: Hinata Muramasa Hinata doesn't respond for a long time. "You'll make it back. And we'll find those coins, and my shards. Together."
PHONE: Phoning Hinata Muramasa, Erika Shimizu says, "Yeah. Together. I'll be looking forward to it~."

Green eyes squeezed shut tightly and Erika took a shuddery breath, thumbing the disconnect call button. The line went qiuet with a soft click and she stared in silence for another long moment at the screen of her phone.

"Ah bloody hell." She muttered to herself. "I'll keep that promise, Hina. You can count on it."