Well, I don’t think you’re gross. I’ve never thought that about you, even once. You’re one of the most amazing people that I’ve ever met and I’ll do my best to help you.
[There is no safe way to answer this. If he tells Inaba that he gets it, then is he saying that everything they did was gross? Is that a good thing? He kind of suspected that she hated those memories, but he doesn’t want to hear it confirmed either. He doesn’t want to imply she’s gross either. But if he says any of that, then he is going to be killed.
He stares quietly, unsure how to answer, then shakes his head.]
Then it’s settled! That’s stupid and has nothing to do with us anymore.
I’ll do anything that I can to help you. Even if I have to go talk to your narrator myself- Or if I have to bring you there to fight your own battle. I won’t ever abandon you, Inaba. If you want my help, then nothing will be allowed to kill me either. Not until you’re done with me.
[He holds up his pinky, reminding her of the promise from their dream.] I’ll do my best to make it true.
Based on what I know, they seem to always be watching... it's like some - online text forum thing to the narrator? But yeah. You're not allowed to die. It's banned.
[He can’t meta right now, but he can acknowledge it. Yuuto quite nearly takes Inaba’s hands, but stops himself. No touchy the ex. Instead, partway through the movement, he settles his hands over his chest instead.
He’s promised not to die. So even if the Rumor there has been making him cold and his chest feels heavy, he can’t die. Not until it’s useful to his friends. He has one shot to make himself someone worth knowing.
But in that moment, Yuuto only closes his eyes and speaks calmly.]
Then please. Take care of Inaba for a little while longer. Guide her to happiness and protect her.
If you mess up, I’ll find you!
[He hums softly, indicating the message is over, but doesn’t lower his hands yet. It’s cold.]
Maybe, maybe not… But I’d rather have said it, so they can’t complain about not knowing I warned them!
[He’s recovering his smile, bit by bit. It’s necessary for discussing uncomfortable things, without letting it show that he can be hurt. Since Inaba has been open and helpful, Yuuto decides to repay her with his own honesty.
Even if he has to take a deep breath and steady himself first.]
Speck-san is a bit similar. They’re omnipotent. They can see everything and everywhere at once, across many worlds. But in order to interact with time, you have to pick a singular point. You give up omnipotence, being everywhere and everytime, in order to be in one place and time.
So they would control people in the worlds that they wanted to interact with. And for a little while, they picked me to play with. In every world I went to, Speck would create a ‘character’ to interact with me. They said that I was their favorite person in all of the omniverse, but…
[His voice trails off. He wonders if Inaba can understand why it might be helpful for her to understand someone like Speck. He’s doing his best not to imply how hurt he got, since this isn’t about him… but it sure can be heard in his voice and seen as he lowers his head.]
It’s not the same. But maybe it would help put you on the right track…
[His laugh is audibly more miserable. Yuuto isn't sure how honest he's supposed to be, but he doesn't want to hurt Inaba by saying the wrong thing. Some of his guard drops with the honorifics on his ex's name.]
It's my fault for thinking someone so cool would ever... [love me back, Yuuto can't say.]
But Speck is very kind! When there's a problem, they always find a solution. So... You still have options. Don't give up yet! If Satou-san said their name, then I bet they'd be here in an instant.
Then we should consider a way to ask if they want help too…
[Weird. He feels like he should underline the punching idea.]
So the big problem is when you’re handed back to the ‘author’ and reach Christmas… That would be in December of your third year. Got it. In the worst case scenario, I’ll be there. Mm! Okay, I’ll plan for that!
[He looks back at her, still busying his mind and heart with Inaba in order to avoid anything else.]
[He laughs again, but it’s easier to be happy this time.]
Yeah, you do. You probably don’t need my help after all, huh?
[… self reflection happens. Yuuto knows he’s trying to find a ‘use’ to Inaba, so that she’ll keep him around. He’s looking for a way to excuse how he bothers her all of the time.
He sighs, disappointed in himself.] You’ll be just fine on your own.
[ She laughs derisively, her smile a little sad. There's no way that she'd be fine on her own, no matter how much she tries to convince herself. She's a being that needs people by her side. Otherwise the loneliness with eat at her heart. ]
[Not missed on Yuuto! Though he specifically meant that she’d be fine without him, he knows saying that right now might land him in the testing zone for the punch of hers.
He takes a half step closer, hands behind his back as he smiles to tease her lightly.]
Well. I guess I’d like to be there to cheer you on. Now that we’re friends, you’re a little bit stuck with me. I’m like, uh… hm… something annoying, probably.
Something annoying that wants to stay with you while I can, Inaba.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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… are you saying that you’re gross, Inaba?
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Well, I don’t think you’re gross. I’ve never thought that about you, even once. You’re one of the most amazing people that I’ve ever met and I’ll do my best to help you.
So don’t lump yourself in with sewage!
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He stares quietly, unsure how to answer, then shakes his head.]
That’s stupid.
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I’ll do anything that I can to help you. Even if I have to go talk to your narrator myself- Or if I have to bring you there to fight your own battle. I won’t ever abandon you, Inaba. If you want my help, then nothing will be allowed to kill me either. Not until you’re done with me.
[He holds up his pinky, reminding her of the promise from their dream.] I’ll do my best to make it true.
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Based on what I know, they seem to always be watching... it's like some - online text forum thing to the narrator? But yeah. You're not allowed to die. It's banned.
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[He can’t meta right now, but he can acknowledge it. Yuuto quite nearly takes Inaba’s hands, but stops himself. No touchy the ex. Instead, partway through the movement, he settles his hands over his chest instead.
He’s promised not to die. So even if the Rumor there has been making him cold and his chest feels heavy, he can’t die. Not until it’s useful to his friends. He has one shot to make himself someone worth knowing.
But in that moment, Yuuto only closes his eyes and speaks calmly.]
Then please. Take care of Inaba for a little while longer. Guide her to happiness and protect her.
If you mess up, I’ll find you!
[He hums softly, indicating the message is over, but doesn’t lower his hands yet. It’s cold.]
… Do you have anything to add, Inaba?
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[ But she scowls. ]
And why the hell are you saying stupid shit like that? You really think they're going to even listen?
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[He’s recovering his smile, bit by bit. It’s necessary for discussing uncomfortable things, without letting it show that he can be hurt. Since Inaba has been open and helpful, Yuuto decides to repay her with his own honesty.
Even if he has to take a deep breath and steady himself first.]
Speck-san is a bit similar. They’re omnipotent. They can see everything and everywhere at once, across many worlds. But in order to interact with time, you have to pick a singular point. You give up omnipotence, being everywhere and everytime, in order to be in one place and time.
So they would control people in the worlds that they wanted to interact with. And for a little while, they picked me to play with. In every world I went to, Speck would create a ‘character’ to interact with me. They said that I was their favorite person in all of the omniverse, but…
[His voice trails off. He wonders if Inaba can understand why it might be helpful for her to understand someone like Speck. He’s doing his best not to imply how hurt he got, since this isn’t about him… but it sure can be heard in his voice and seen as he lowers his head.]
It’s not the same. But maybe it would help put you on the right track…
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[ However, she's going to ignore that for now! It's not like she has anyone to tell, anyway. ]
...maybe.
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It's my fault for thinking someone so cool would ever... [love me back, Yuuto can't say.]
But Speck is very kind! When there's a problem, they always find a solution. So... You still have options. Don't give up yet! If Satou-san said their name, then I bet they'd be here in an instant.
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[ She frowns deeply, giving him A Look. ]
'Always', huh. Well... I guess I can give it a shot.
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Yay~! Okay! See, we’ve already got our hopes renewed! I’ve got other ideas too, so don’t worry~!
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[All of these plans require that he’s still alive. Maybe he needs some backups.]
I’m sure your friends have better ideas than me… ah. Do they need help too?
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I don't think most of them think that hard about this sort of thing--or maybe they just don't care all that much.
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[Weird. He feels like he should underline the punching idea.]
So the big problem is when you’re handed back to the ‘author’ and reach Christmas… That would be in December of your third year. Got it. In the worst case scenario, I’ll be there. Mm! Okay, I’ll plan for that!
[He looks back at her, still busying his mind and heart with Inaba in order to avoid anything else.]
You should practice your punches, just in case!
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Yeah.
[ But wait-- ]
I already have a good right hook.
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Yeah, you do. You probably don’t need my help after all, huh?
[… self reflection happens. Yuuto knows he’s trying to find a ‘use’ to Inaba, so that she’ll keep him around. He’s looking for a way to excuse how he bothers her all of the time.
He sighs, disappointed in himself.] You’ll be just fine on your own.
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[ She laughs derisively, her smile a little sad. There's no way that she'd be fine on her own, no matter how much she tries to convince herself. She's a being that needs people by her side. Otherwise the loneliness with eat at her heart. ]
I suppose.
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He takes a half step closer, hands behind his back as he smiles to tease her lightly.]
Well. I guess I’d like to be there to cheer you on. Now that we’re friends, you’re a little bit stuck with me. I’m like, uh… hm… something annoying, probably.
Something annoying that wants to stay with you while I can, Inaba.
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