[ If she's ever wondered what it's like to truly, wholly connect with someone, she wasn't expecting it just by bumping into Mineo in the hallway. But for a moment, there's such a swirl of rage in her, hatred burning in her chest as the smell of stale air and death so sharp and distinct in the air.
And then they're back at the base. She startles into reality, blinking at Mineo and letting silence fill in the gap for a moment. ]
...It can't be helped.
[ It's no one's fault this happens, and she doesn't mind it, besides how invasive it feels. ]
Was that the work of—whatever was haunting your Shinjuku? [ This Adonis. ]
[probably too much, given that after vira told him that he didn't deserve to eat until he did something useful, it took a while to eat after they got trial wrong again
but it's fine
at the question, his smile is - both adoring and deeply in despair.]
.... you have anyone you look up to, Vira-san? Like - you think that they're the best person. Fuji-senpai was like that to me. Cool, caring, and always straightforward about his sense of how he wanted to help people.
He was like - my paragon of justice. I thought that if I could just make him proud, then I'd be doing a good job.
.... I don't know what that is right now. [and he seems bitter to admit it] Because... you're right. Fuji-senpai... was mortal.
He got judged for being evil. So supposedly that was already supposed to be justice - when he was killed, we were all supposed to be happy.
[and the idea of it makes his insides twist. his friend, his mentor, unmasked to be a monster and then vanquished like that's what leads to a happy ending]
I just... want to know what happened. Who killed him. And then I'll... have to decide what I want from there.
[he hasn't thought about it that far - ... no, maybe it's simpler to say that he hasn't let himself.]
[ so was he meant to be vanquished, and not just murdered? strange, though it did seem that mineo's peers cared much less about solving this than he did. ]
[ . . . . evil. he looks like he's still thinking about how he wants to answer that part before she asks the second and - he stalls entirely.
and then, quietly:]
.... I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about it.
But I... I don't know. I hate that person more than I've ever hated anybody.... No matter their reasons, I don't think that Fuji-senpai needed to go out like that - disgraced, abandoned, tortured.
[he scowls, brow furrowing]
.... maybe I will. But I - Wouldn't that just be imposing my own broken idea of justice...?
[ Mineo is softer than she is—still, of course she'd be affected if she saw the same thing. Maybe not for ideological reasons, but affected all the same.
Who wouldn't consider a dark path if they found someone they loved like that? ]
It could be.
Ultimately, you'll have to choose based on the strength of your character, and not what's just or not. [ ... ] For someone like you, I would make a decision that you can live with.
Yeah. I know. I don't think.... I get to decide much anymore based on some idea of 'justice' or what's 'good'. I think we all just have to make choices we can live with, based on our goals.
[so there's... at least some growth, from the young man who used to follow his idol around like a puppy]
[ she nods, because it sounds like he does have a grasp on this, at least. ultimately, it's up to his own capabilities to find the culprit, and his own heart to act judgment upon them.
though she does sigh a bit, straightening up. ]
While at times I find you hopeless and spastic, I don't dislike you, Enomoto. [ which doesn't sound tsun as much as an honest appraisal of her feelings. maybe a little guarded—but still, it's better than thinking of him as a pervert, probably. ] Listening to serious concerns is not a laborious task. We are presently allies—don't be surprised if I act like it from time to time.
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And then they're back at the base. She startles into reality, blinking at Mineo and letting silence fill in the gap for a moment. ]
...It can't be helped.
[ It's no one's fault this happens, and she doesn't mind it, besides how invasive it feels. ]
Was that the work of—whatever was haunting your Shinjuku? [ This Adonis. ]
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... yeah.
... I want to help people but - I can't deny... I've got my own reasons for looking into it too.
[deeply personal ones, that feel like a raw open wound.]
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[ maybe too much, given the state of him. still, she gets it. ]
...He was close to you?
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but it's fine
at the question, his smile is - both adoring and deeply in despair.]
.... you have anyone you look up to, Vira-san? Like - you think that they're the best person. Fuji-senpai was like that to me. Cool, caring, and always straightforward about his sense of how he wanted to help people.
He was like - my paragon of justice. I thought that if I could just make him proud, then I'd be doing a good job.
[ - and then he was gone.]
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...It's difficult, when people so wonderful are still just as mortal as you or I.
[ her voice is soft, her vision still filled with his memory of that dark room. ]
Is that what you're seeking? [ is that what he wished for...? ] Justice?
[ he hadn't seemed too pleased discussing such a thing at trial, though. ]
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.... I don't know what that is right now. [and he seems bitter to admit it] Because... you're right. Fuji-senpai... was mortal.
He got judged for being evil. So supposedly that was already supposed to be justice - when he was killed, we were all supposed to be happy.
[and the idea of it makes his insides twist. his friend, his mentor, unmasked to be a monster and then vanquished like that's what leads to a happy ending]
I just... want to know what happened. Who killed him. And then I'll... have to decide what I want from there.
[he hasn't thought about it that far - ... no, maybe it's simpler to say that he hasn't let himself.]
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Evil...?
[ so was he meant to be vanquished, and not just murdered? strange, though it did seem that mineo's peers cared much less about solving this than he did. ]
Do you think you'll kill them?
[ she asks without flinching. ]
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and then, quietly:]
.... I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about it.
But I... I don't know. I hate that person more than I've ever hated anybody.... No matter their reasons, I don't think that Fuji-senpai needed to go out like that - disgraced, abandoned, tortured.
[he scowls, brow furrowing]
.... maybe I will. But I - Wouldn't that just be imposing my own broken idea of justice...?
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Who wouldn't consider a dark path if they found someone they loved like that? ]
It could be.
Ultimately, you'll have to choose based on the strength of your character, and not what's just or not. [ ... ] For someone like you, I would make a decision that you can live with.
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Yeah. I know. I don't think.... I get to decide much anymore based on some idea of 'justice' or what's 'good'. I think we all just have to make choices we can live with, based on our goals.
[so there's... at least some growth, from the young man who used to follow his idol around like a puppy]
.... thanks, Vira-san. For listening.
[and for trying to help, from what he can tell]
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though she does sigh a bit, straightening up. ]
While at times I find you hopeless and spastic, I don't dislike you, Enomoto. [ which doesn't sound tsun as much as an honest appraisal of her feelings. maybe a little guarded—but still, it's better than thinking of him as a pervert, probably. ] Listening to serious concerns is not a laborious task. We are presently allies—don't be surprised if I act like it from time to time.