week 3, saturday

[digestif]

Nito-kun.

[ after that shitshow, Mizuki has some things to work out. There's still so much they don't know - and now they've got more people to suspect, too. The trial ended with more questions than answers.

And who always seems to have answers? Senri. They track him down sooner or later before he can disappear for the night. ]

Comments

[digestif]

[ That annoys them. Maybe it's because he's hitting close to a truth that even Mizuki doesn't want to acknowledge - a truth that they don't feel like he's earned the right to speak about to them in such bold, vulgar terms. Their expression pinches, in annoyance or maybe something else, though only momentarily; then they continue, more coldly than before. ]

Nito-kun. Worry about yourself first. I'm not going to tell you that again. What I'm doing is none of your business, and what I'm feeling shouldn't even cross your mind. You wouldn't be here if you didn't have some goal you wanted to attain, would you? Have you forgotten about that?

[usogi]

[he hears the coldness and winces - but otherwise doesn't flinch away.]

Of c-course I know that... and I haven't g-given up. But I've n-never played this game thinking that I c-could or sh-should win alone. It's not... Ch-Cheri never asked m-me to hurt anyone, and I never w-would anyway. I'm not a s-sabotage type of p-person.

Everyone here... g-gets more important to me everyday. It's s-stupid and I d-don't know what to do... but -

[senri thinks of something and his expression gets all the more stubborn and determined]

.... I t-told someone I'd be more honest. I'd t-try to be more real. Acting like I d-don't care or know how to p-put some people over others... that'd be a l-lie.

[digestif]

... Are you being honest, or are you making excuses for yourself? I think you should consider that.

[ despite his serious expression, Mizuki doesn't seem convinced. They give a long sigh through their nose, shoulders sagging a little, and rub their neck, tidying up their expression and their tone as best they can until they're something more neutral again. ]

Every "good person" here wants to give everyone a fair shake. You're not the only one who feels that way. But what we want doesn't match up with reality. Whether you're lying or not won't change the situation.

[usogi]

You d-don't know that.... P-People can change and I've s-seen it. It's why I h-h-hate everything here so much, and why I'm s-so mad that people are still hurting each o-other when they d-don't have to. When all of this started Ch-Cheri told me that if we can c-convince everyone to go to one god, we c-can win.

I know that Yu's p-plan didn't work... but there's a way to d-do this without as many p-people getting hurt. I'm still g-going to look for it. Even if M-Mizuki-san doesn't want to help me.

[senri watches mizuki closely - but decides to shake his head and offer a smile, almost like an olive branch. no matter what he really feels, he'd rather move on than talk about something where mizuki clearly disagrees with him. it won't be productive.]

It's okay. Th-That's all I had to ask Mizuki-san. P-Please stay with B-Beauty so no one can hurt him, and I'll f-figure out the rest.

D-Did you need me for something? It's p-probably hard to accept information from someone you s-suspect, but I was honest when I s-said I would rather have someone s-smarter than me know what to do with it.

[digestif]

[ People can change, but the rules can't. They don't quite return that smile - not because they think he's suspicious (although they do), but because his attitude his grating on them. Normally, they'd find that kind of wide-eyed idealism charming, if a little sad; yet for some reason, coming from Senri right now, it's annoying. ]

No... That's all. I just wanted to ask you that. [ they wave a hand. ] Get some rest, Nito-kun.