LUCETI POST [voice/action]
[What with the draft and Keiichi's recent hospitalization, to say that House 22 had been tense was an understatement, to say the least. True, things had been getting better- Keiichi was healing (and supervised) and Rena looked less like she was about to burst into tears at any moment, but Satoshi still found it hard to stay inside the house. It's a
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...And Satoshi would be lying if he said his heart didn't leap up in his throat when he casually opened his eyes and saw who it was. He's not...sure what to say to Keiichi, if he knows him well enough to really ask what happened.
So Satoshi decides to proceed with a carefully neutral:]
...How are you feeling?
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Sleepy, laying here invites for a good nap, doesn't it? Though it'll be better once the weather gets warmer.
[He doesn't mean this as a diversion, he just hasn't thought Satoshi could be referring to that.]
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Mmm...It's a nice day to stay outside.
[It doesn't feel that way to him, not really anyway. But for now, it's better than going in and feeling that tension cloud up around him like some sort of thick perfume.
But oh dear, this is awkward. What to bring up. Huh.]
...Are you caught up in school yet? You were out for a while so, umm...I don't know if you need help or anything.
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Yeah, it was a piece of cake actually. School here isn't anywhere near as demanding as the ones in Tokyo or cram school. I just had to be serious for a couple of days and I'm all up again.
How about you? Getting used to it here? It's not that different from Hinamizawa, right?
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...Satoko would have liked it here. [He's sure she would have liked any place far away from their aunt, really, but that's beside the point.
Satoko wouldn't have to worry about her anymore anyway.]
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He manages a smile and a laugh anyway, pulling out his K-1 act to hide the clouds over his thoughts at the moment.]
She sure would have, I can see her going everywhere placing traps and all. It would be dangerous to get outside the house! But then she would put them inside the house too... There's really nowhere to run from her when she puts her will on it, right?
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And he's here, watching her friends from Hinamizawa nearly die from being sent off to war.
Letting her fend for herself alone. What kind of older brother was he?
A failure. One that lays in the grass and sleeps while his sister is God knows where, crying and alone. Time doesn't move while he's gone? It'll start up right where it had left off once he returns?
Somewhere, time is moving. Somewhere, she is without him.
No. No, don't think about that, Satoshi. You can't do anything about this. Just smile, and make the best of it.]
She might be scared at first, but...people here are really friendly.
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[It's clear though, that he doesn't think of it badly or anything, in fact he laughs at the memory.]
Back there I kept wondering when she would stop doing that to me, but now I miss it. Sometimes I will even hesitate upon entering in class and check for any traps she may have put, out of instinct despite how long it has been already.
She would be, but we're here, right? She wouldn't be scared for long even if people weren't as friendly as they are. I would bolt through the door the moment I heard her, right behind you, right?
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That's right. Keiichi remembers her being cheerful and mischievous, not like that broken shell of a child Satoshi had been tending to until he had been forced here.]
Hahaha...that sounds like her.
[...But he freezes slightly at what Keiichi said. Bolt through the door when he heard her, right after him.
Satoshi had no idea what happens in 1983, nor does it particularly matter to him. All he cares about is the fact that Satoko is okay, happy enough to play pranks on the members of her class, and that someone is looking out for her.
He doesn't know you, Keiichi, but that means very little right now. Satoshi leans over and puts his hand on his head anyway, rubbing his hair affectionately.]
...Thank you, Keiichi.
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He couldn't wait to see those two meeting again.
He's distracted from his own thoughts as Satoshi rubs his hair. What the... Keiichi just laughs at it. Ookay, so this was why he had heard that Satoshi and him were alike? Both of them have this habit?]Satoko is a dear friend for me, I'm an only child but she, Rika and Hanyuu are like sisters to me. She has her flaws, but ( ... )
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...Even though Satoshi himself can't do it.
"Dear friend." "Make herself be loved." "Strong and reliable." Satoshi can see it clearly now, the reason why Rena liked him so much, why she trusted him so despite saying she had only known him for a few weeks back in Hinamizawa.]
I'm...really glad to hear that. [And he means it. The soft gratitude in his voice doesn't come close to portraying how much he actually means it.]
Umm...I don't really know what it's like when you come to Hinamizawa [and that goes for his own fate as well], but...
...I'll trust you to look after her, okay?
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With my life on the line.
[It's a simple and short answer but it's honest and anyone can see it, anyone can hear that it's not just words, he seriously means it.]
To protect her I would do anything and stand against anyone.
[He already did it, several times even if not always by choosing the right path. Even if once he ended hurting her... No, they were sick, both of them, it was out of their control.]
But you know... That goes for you too. I know we barely know each other, but I want to be your friend and protect you too. Satoko wouldn't forgive me, no, I wouldn't even be able to look at her in the eyes if something happened to you while I was around.
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But that's okay. Because maybe if Oyashiro-sama gets His fill of the first-born, He'll leave Satoko alone.
And Keiichi said he would protect her. That's all that matters. Keiichi might as well have stopped talking there because nothing else he could have said would have had as much impact as simply promising to keep Satoko safe. Which may be why he seems to take the similar offer of friendship Keiichi extends to him with much less weight.]
Hahaha...well, thanks for the sentiment, Keiichi. I don't know you in Hinamizawa...
[Apparently.]
...But, umm...it'd be nice to be friends here.
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[Even if Satoko is missing.]
So, tell me, how good were you?
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