scp ♥ post-game call me out

[dereban]

► open post ♫ for inaba himeko from kokoro connect

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[dereban]

Actually, if we're going with that line of thinking, I might be able to narrow the people down a bit more.

[ And that's when she opens her laptop back up, and although she has the BEAST novel synopsis up, she's more or less skimming it for names. ]

People can be unaware of their abilities, right? And what they entirely do? If we're going at this like a mystery novel, it might be someone we've already seen and not a new character entirely.

[moonlightbeast]

Like...Ranpo?

[He never met Ranpo in his world, but he saw the guy in the anime. And apparently he doesn't have an ability? But that seems odd, for him to be the only one without an ability in the whole agency.]

[dereban]

Yeah. But I don't think he's the one we're looking for here. Unless they somehow throw us a curveball.

[. . .]

But why did Dazai tell you about the Book to begin with?

[moonlightbeast]

...

[There's that hesitation again, and he's looking away.]

I think passing on its importance, and why even its existence needed to be protected, was his last attachment to the world. He...I think he truly meant to die, that day. And that's why he told us. That way someone would be in Yokohama to protect the book, even after he died.

cw suicide talk from here on out

[dereban]

That's a large burden to put on you.

[ And to be honest, it's pretty messed up if you ask her.

Regardless of whether he wanted to die, or even if Dazai had thought that he was meant to die in that world... she can't help but get angry, just a little bit. Her hand instinctively curls into a fist for a moment by her side before she unclenches it.

It's not going to help matters much at all. ]

[moonlightbeast]

[It really won't, and he reaches out instinctively to take that hand.]

It is, but I'm alright with shouldering it. Plus it's not so much of a secret anymore, if anyone who watches this show can know about it.

[dereban]

[ Inaba doesn't stop him at all. Instead, she laces her fingers around his when he goes to take her hand, squeezing it a little bit. ]

You're really strong if you can shoulder something like that. I'd probably crumble if I had to do something like that. . . Honestly, my problems seem so small in comparison.

[moonlightbeast]

[Awww yeee hand-holding!]

Any problem can seem big to the person who has it. Though telling you about this makes my problem feel smaller.

[dereban]

Well, that's-

[ He's not wrong, she supposes. ]

I guess? But I'm glad that I got to learn more about you, Atsushi. Even if this is a weird way to learn. . . about you? I can't really do the same in return though, since you already know a lot about me.

[moonlightbeast]

Maybe we should watch your show next, then.

[He's teasing there.]

I do wish we had something happier to talk about, but it feels like all of my happy memories come from this world.

[dereban]

Ah, I mean. . . if it's you, I don't mind, but there's a lot of embarrassing stuff, probably. [ A lot of embarrassing stuff. ]

[moonlightbeast]

[Oh right, she had feelings for someone in that world, didn't she?]

I'll...let you decide on that one, then.

[dereban]

I want to make things fair, Atsushi.

[ Her words are pretty firm on that regard, and alsoー ]

And I trust you.

[moonlightbeast]

[Oh.

Oh hearing that makes him go shy all of a sudden, but there is a warm smile on his face.

He's not used to hearing people say they trust him.]

W-well if you're sure, then. I'll watch it.

[dereban]

I'm definitely sure. But if you laugh at me, I'm contractually obligated to sock you.

[moonlightbeast]

I-I'll try my best not to laugh.

[He can only say he'll try though, because Atsushi is one for nervous laughter at times.]

[dereban]

[ She'll accept nervous laughter, at least. It's better than making fun of her. ] That's all I ask. To be honest, I don't k ow if I want any of the others to see my series. . . I feel like the other boys would make fun of me and I'd never hear the end of it.

[moonlightbeast]

That...

[He thinks to the other boys that they have befriended by now.]

...is probably true, yes. Though I don't think Kurosaki would tease you.

[dereban]

. . . [ She just gives him a bit of a skeptical look, eyebrows raised. ] Are you sure about that? Because he teases me a lot.

[moonlightbeast]

W-well yeah, he teases me too, but never about stuff I'm sensitive about. Or if he does and realizes it's hurting me, he stops right away.

[dereban]

Mm, yeah, I think he's picked up on some of the stuff I was sensitive about, especially with how things ended back in the Hotel...

[moonlightbeast]

You did scare us a little bit, Inaba.

[With her sudden melancholy and reluctance to stay in this world and all.]

And he's very observant, it makes sense that he would be the first to notice.

[dereban]

Mm... to be honest, [ She'll lean up against him closing her eyes for a moment ] I'm still not entirely comfortable with it. I don't know if I ever will be. Am... I weird, for being the only one to think that way?

[moonlightbeast]

For not being entirely okay with this world? Or not being okay with Kurosaki noticing that you're not entirely okay with this world?

[dereban]

I'm not okay with this world, but. . . it's not that what I'm referring to, or what he noticed. I mean, would anyone be completely okay with this world? I doubt I'd be the only one, Atsushi.

I. . . reacted a bit, during that last deliberation, to "fake bodies", if you noticed. It's- [...] It's one of the few things that fucks me up that the others were completely fine with. Like. . . I didn't choose to come back and stay here for myself at all. That's stupid of me, isn't it?

[ She curls her hand into a tight fist, nails digging slightly into the skin. ]

Since when did I give so much of a damn about other people that I'm suddenly the selfless bastard?