Keep That Smile Up, ok? Part 2 (The Stringless Puppet of The Void)

Sorrowful Room

-"Shadow"?! What are you doing here?? You should be supervising the desireworker! Iris said in a quite angry tone
-It's chill, she seems of no harm. She responded
-SHE WHAT- Iris yelled
-She said she was looking for Erwin, and when I sat down next to her near that tree, I could sense her sadness. If she really meant any harm, she would've attacked us the moment she saw us, like last times. Maybe.... Maybe she's not as evil as we think she is, after all, Desire Haru was once that girl that dreamed to become a doctor. I think a bit of her past self is still part of her. The shadow girl said, trying to see through her actions
-You're not wrong... But we can't forget how many people she killed, you know about the Corrupted Records, right? That's one of the things that make me very hardly trust her and think she is not "of no harm". Iris explained her point
-I understand your frustration and worry, but she might be our only "key" to bring them back in Haru and Erwin's bodies... It's like having 8 more Soulworkers, since she was able to almost defeat all 8 of you. I can say she is of great help for what we need. "Shadow" smiled a little
-Just don't let her do really everything she wants, we have to decide things to everyone's liking... Iris sighed
-Of course... She nodded

Iris' phone ringed
-Hello? She asked
-Iris!! Haru and Erwin are in a hospital, it seems that because their desire energy is outside their bodies, it weakens them a lot! Last time it wasn't so bad, now it seems to affect their overall health, I don't know why exactly?! Dr. Sarah said it might be because the desireworkers, more specifically, Desire Erwin, seems to suck some of Erwin's soulforce to recharge his own!! I think it might be Kent's hand in this one, only he could do something like this! I'm scared that we might lose Erwin if this persists! Miriam said with a trembling voice, like she was about to cry
Iris dropped her phone, and the impact with the ground, made it crack to some extent.
-WE NEED TO REACH TO THE HOSPITAL, NOW!! HARU AND MOSTLY ERWIN, ARE IN DANGER! Iris yelled
-What happened?! Stella took a grip of Jin's jacket
-THERE'S NO TIME TO EXPLAIN, WE MUST GO NOW!! Iris checked her pockets for a teleporter
-Dang!! I'm out of them! Iris frowned
Some steps where heard, Desire Haru got in the kitchen.
-What do you want? Iris looked at her with hate in her eyes
-I have a teleporter... Desire Haru handed Iris a teleporter to Grace City
-Wait... Where did you have the money to buy this? I hope you-
-Someone left one near the TV.. I... I thought it would be of great help... She answered, her expression was just as pale and blank looking as it was the last time they met her.
-Hmph... Yes.. It can help us... Iris looked away and took it.
-... Desire Haru bowed her head, looking at her feet.
-Let's go now, everyone! Iris said and used the teleporter in her hand
When the soulworkers got there, they rushed to the hospital. Iris asked for a room where 2 soulworkers where staying in.
When she opened the door, she saw them staying in separate beds holding their hands with an oxygen tube. They were recharged with soulforce drinks so they won't vanish. It was one of the most terrifying and heartbreaking things Iris saw in her life... It almost made her tear up, her friends were near a possible death and she didn't even know if there were chances to save them. Haru gave her the leader title, till she will get better, but what if she'll have to be the leader from now on? It scared her, how would she deal with everything?
That moment she fell on her knees near Haru's hospital bed.
She was not only scared of Haru's condition, but she was afraid of what will happen to Stella, the youngest of them all after Haru will be gone.
In her head there was a phrase that she told herself, "I've failed as a leader, Haru... I'm sorry"... Even if no one could hear her nor her thoughts, she felt the need to say it somehow.
She kept telling herself that this had to be a nightmare, there was no other explanation...
-Haru...? Stella looked at her with sore eyes, the whole image made her tear up.
She ran to Haru and hugged her body. For her Haru was like a sister that acted like a mother figure, a complicated.... Relationship...
She felt a hand on her head, that slowly patted her head.
-I'm fine.. Stella... Haru opened her eyes and looked at the little girl that cried and smiled.
-Is this... Is this going to be our last hug..? Stella looked at her with a somewhat shocked expression.
-No... It won't be, I can assure you of that... The soulworkers will make everything okay again.. Iris is a good leader and will take care of everything.. Please listen to them and help them, we all need a healer. Haru smiled a little, she looked tired, the dark circles under her eyes showed it, it also showed... Pain.
-Haru... I... I'll get you back somehow, i can assure you of that! There must be a way out of this! It might be surprising, but all this time I was a leader, I learned a lot from all these teammates. Even from this creature that creeps me out, she taught me that... There is a way out of everything... She also helped us a lot throughout all this time and I'm thankful for that... Now I also realised, how hard it is to be a leader... You must be so determined and you always have to find a solution for everything... It's just that... Haru, I don't know what we'll do if you'll be gone, we need someone so kind-hearted like you, you're a good leader and I'm sorry we never really showed how grateful we are that we have you... Iris shed a tear
Haru had a bright smile on her face, it was the most filled with life, smile that she saw.
-Thank you, Iris... I'm glad I chose you as a placeholder for me.. And... "Shadow", I have to thank you as well for taking care of Stella, I'm glad she is okay.. Also, please don't blame yourself anymore, all that's happening right now it's because of Kent.. Haru looked at them both
-...You are more than welcome. The Shadow grinned
-I know I always treated you badly, but for once in my lifetime.... I will get back in your body after I'll fix everything with Desire Erwin... It's my fault he is like this... Desire Haru bowed her head and looked away
-Thank you... Haru looked at the desireworker that was in the distance, maybe.... She wasn't REALLY that bad...
-We should go now, Stella... Iris took the little girl's hand
-Can't I stay 5 more minutes? Stella pleaded
-We need you in this mission. She placed one hand on Stella's left shoulder
-Okay, let's go then! Stella smiled bravely
-That's more like you. Iris smiled back
Before leaving the hospital room, Stella looked at Haru and Erwin, she only hoped that they would be okay. That was her biggest wish at the moment....

We're coming after your neck, Kent =)  (a sweet message from Desire Haru, she wrote it with the biggest disgust <3  )

Thanks for reading!!! :D
I didn't actually enjoy writing this chapter lol, it ALMOST made me tear up ;w;
Here have some tissues:🧻
Did you cry on this chapter?

(Just a small note, "Keep That Smile Up, Ok?" 's shortened name is KTSUO or KTSO, so if you draw fanart or smth, you can say "KTSO Au Haru" or "KTSO SW Au Shadow". It just makes it easier for me to find fanart. If there's a tag for smth else already with this name, you can put KTSOSW book fanart. I just thought about this today and KTSO sounded like a nice shortened name, so we don't always say "Keep That Smile Up, Ok?, is a soulworker fanfiction", if you get what I mean ^^".