This is a really good story.
However, this slightly triggered my annoying "voice" back.
But, overall I like it.
Hope's always tried to keep it up for everyone, but even he suffers from doubt. It makes it worse when I replayed the games and at Lightning goes missing, and Serah dies, and Sazh and Dajh leave, Snow locked himself away, and Noel disappeared.
Now I...I think something in me broke.
Oh no...
Seriously, I loved this. This is a fanfic is can really connect with.
I'm gonna read the rest of your stories now.
Ciao!

hello.

first of all, i would like to express my impression on this fanfic. i think you did a very good job, because you could capture the depression in Hope without making it repetitive. i absolutely love the way he resisted at first but began to accept them later ('I know. I know.'). in my opinion, that is exactly what people with this kind of disorder went through. the little part from Light's perspective in the end also wraps things nicely. however, i think you wanted to convey that Light actually caught the little hints but was too afraid to act on it (because she's not good with emotions), am i right? if so, then that part is too vague, i think you should describe them more.

oh, by the way, the small part where Hope found his photo in Light's room and it made him reconsider (even for a little bit) is very adorable and touching, I love it!

on the other hand, i seriously think this should be bumped to M, with the absolutely heavy trigger and suicide attempt. it was hard for me to read this, esp because i just had the same kind of anxiety attack a few days ago (i had to take a deep breath and let my mind wander every once in a while to avoid having another attack), and i don't want other people to experience it too. or maybe add a trigger warning on the summary.

all in all, good job! thanks for the lovely piece. please keep writing for the lovely Hope and Lighting.

Ann
()

Wow... Uh... Really good.. But a hell of a depressant... Wow.

it would be nice to see a follow up for this.

This story feels….weak-like

I felt that this story really hit home for me. The beginning of Hope's madness and the progress of it as it takes over his mind. His desperation and hopelessness is felt and your writing is incredible. The pacing was well done. When it got to the end, I loved the reuse of the titular phrase in a different light than was used in the throughout fic before. 'ppreciate that you made the relationship type between Hope and Lightning ambiguous. I absolutely love seeing them as having a familial relationship than a romantic one - which makes up of 90% of fics concerning the two. All in all, well done.

Fantastic. I love the angst and the HopeXLightning undertones (were they intentional?).
Good job!

Sent from my iPod touch via Pocket Fiction

Used to be a judge for the Genesis Awards (Primarily Final Fantasy VII Fanfiction) and just thought I'd take a look at some XIII stuff b/c other than playing the game I'd never really looked at what all was here. Well I just kind of found this and well I loved it. I'm a sucker for non-linear plots too, and in my opinion it worked. Sure there were some grammatical things as other reviewers have pointed out, and yet the idea is completely original while still being presented perfectly in light of the touchy material. I guess I'd just like to say I'm impressed.

Oh...god don't cry you're a man don't do it...dammit... I love this story going in my FAVORITES. but maybe another chapter...?

... this is the best fanfic i have ever read.

and ive been reading fanfiction for quite a long time. ;) im not sure why, exactly, but this story spoke to me. i could feel the (for want of a better word) rawness of the emotion included here, as if hope was a part of me. and here is where i think your genius lies - i think we all have a little voice in the back of our heads that occasionally tells us we're worthless; we all have a part of ourselves that is afraid, that is weak, and that feels cold. you've captured these feelings in your work, and youve captured them beautifully. bravo, harikomori, bravo! :D

next chpter D

I am thoroughly overwhelmed by how emotional this story is. Wow...I am completely jealous! (Well...I'm Hope's age, so I guess I have a few years before I get to your level xD) I love how you can draw out the pure angst and agony Hope is experiencing here. Love it!

I really like this story. And because of either the fact that this was so well-written, or the fact that I love Hope and Lightning, I don't know. I love how what the voice (or probably his conscience?) and what everyone else thinks he deserves are different. And especially since he only thinks of the bad in himself, but everyone else sees the good.

I think I'm about to cry T_T ... wow bravo you officially made me cry god dammit . OK well i loved it. Its just that simple. 9.5/10 just because i don't believe in perfect scores for fan-fiction.

Wow. It's comforting to see that you ended that on a slightly hopeful note - I wasn't sure what to expect when I started in. An excellent description of that sort of pain, and the thoughts that drag people down like that: that's what I found here. Kudos for taking on such a difficult topic, and I loved the message that it ultimately sends to readers, especially by presenting both perspectives: that of the one suffering and the people who care about him.

I'd call it 'inspired' in a word :)

Thanks for sharing, and I do hope you've gotten feedback for this deserving one-shot!

-Hthar