FOURTH WALL EVENT [VIDEO/ACTION IN ICE PATH]

[usedeverything]

[ Oh hey, it's that Seta kid again and his stupid little video feeds. He's been around a lot over the network with his centre-house catching on fire, the Cleffamigos, and all that. Well, how about this one where the camera is GOING ALL OVER THE FUCKING PLACE OH MY GOD WHERE'S A BARF BAG WHEN YOU NEED IT--

After a minute of this flailing and what

Comments

[imyuandyurme]

Well, well. Is it that time again already? [POOF STANDING IN FRONT OF YOU LIKE A SMUG BASTARD.]

[usedeverything]

[ That completely takes Souji by surprise and he jumps back out of pure instinct, but then realizes that this whole area is covered with ice. He slips and falls sharply to the floor, only not managing to fall upon his back by propping his hands out. He winces as the pain shooting up his tailbone and hands from the rough landing, but it quickly passes. After all, he has more important things to worry about... ]

What are you doing here? [ Not like Souji doesn't know the answer already. ]

[imyuandyurme]

The fact that you're asking at all answers your question. [He crosses his arms, looking down smugly at Souji, eyes glowing brightly.]

We have a lot to talk about, you know.

[usedeverything]

[ Souji pushes himself up the best he can, not bothering to pat off any dirt off his pants or hands. ]

I'm not interested.

[imyuandyurme]

That's not how it works, Souji.

[He stands in front of Souji, eye-to-eye.] You know what happens when you deny me, right?

[usedeverything]

[ He wants to step back, just to get away from it and the uneasy feeling in his stomach; the feeling of how he wants to hurl everything up in the corner and like he has been punched. He doesn't move though, staying right in his spot, finding his mouth becoming dry and just hating how that thing just rolls his name so smoothly. ]

[ He doesn't answer the question but instead, repeats his own. ] What are you doing here?

[imyuandyurme]

Wasn't I clear? [He's scoffing right now.] You have a lot of things you really want to deny. And...

If you can deal with them, I'll just have to do it for you.

[usedeverything]

I've been fine on my own till now.

Whatever you're going to say, I'm not going to listen. [ He's stubborn. He doesn't want to listen, he won't listen. What's a leader if he shows weakness? How can a team trust in someone that always asks for help; always so weak? He has to be strong, someone that everyone knows they can turn to when they're having a hard time at school or needs to make sure they make it through alive. ]

[imyuandyurme]

Right, right. How dare I suggest you even have the slightest weakness. [He sounds mildly amused.]

Not at all. It's not why you never sleep. Always stressed about eggs, about who's sleeping, who's out late. It's not why you buy 8 cups of coffee a day. It's not why you're pathetically using a marker to confess your feelings to a guy who's so vehemently against that sort of relationship.

It's not why at all, right?

Because you're Souji Seta! The Leader. The Senpai. The Partner who wishes he was "Partner" instead.

Screw that. I'm sick of this. I'm so tired of pretending to be strong. Pretending I have no weaknesses. Pretending I know who I am. The wild card.

Hahahaha, yeah, right. What a fucking joke that is. As if not having a damn clue who you are or what you want in life means you're worthy of that title. A leader who can't be honest with the people that trust him isn't a leader.

It's disgusting. You're disgusting. I'm sick of this bullcrap.

[usedeverything]

[ He holds back. He doesn't move, he doesn't breathe, he doesn't think, he doesn't do anything. He stands there, listening, doing the exact opposite of what he has said he wasn't going to do. Exactly the same as many other times

[imyuandyurme]

[There's not a sliver of hesitation in the shadow's voice as he continues. His voice grows more prominent, more bitter, entrenched in echoes and more shadows -- as if he's about to reach his breaking point.]

Oh, but that's not all.

I want to know who I am. Really. This is sickening. Sense of self doesn't come from everyone else. All this persona is? A facade to show the world, right? It's not even original. This isn't my facade at all

[usedeverything]

[ He completely stops. ]

[ "Who are you again"? ]

[ He's... He's Souji Seta. He's born to a business couple and partners in Shinjiuku, Tokyo of Japan on March 20th, 1994. He's currently a high school student, just recently attending Yasogami High School for his second year. He's trainer in Johto and a breeder as his job. He's the proud owner of a well-received breeding centre. He's the loving leader of a team that has come out successful. He's a senpai of those who seek him out when they're in trouble. He's a sensei to the bear that knows no better of the society than a child. He's a partner to the one that has stuck with him for so long, the one that he's ridiculously making all of those stupid secret notes over a coffee cup. He's all of those and more. ]

[ But that's not what the Shadow wants to hear, is it? ]

[ He remembers how to breathe and how to move his mouth to form words, and ever so softly, he begins to whisper a chant; ]

You're me and I'm you. You're me and I'm you. You're me and I'm you. You're me and I'm you.

[imyuandyurme]

Do you really think that's going to work? Pedantic repetition? Telling yourself that each shallow thing is what makes up who you are?

I thought I said it already.

I'm tired.

This is boring. It's all so shallow. Knowing them all so well doesn't make a friendship. Yosuke crying his pathetic little heart out over a girl who never liked him anyway -- what does that really mean? Falling for him? That's not love. It's pity. The poor boy can't get a girl, so maybe he'll settle for less?

A guy?

A guy who can't even acknowledge when he's beaten?

Maybe I should vomit on your shoes. Would you accept me then?

Face it, me. These "bonds," are worthless. All of them. Sooner or later, it'll be back to Japan. Nothing that happened here will matter. Coming "so far" with the people from Inaba, the new "friends" made. It'll all be forgotten in an instant. It's a waste of time. And then going back will bring nothing... those bonds? How solid can they be? Everyone will be split up. Soon they'll forget. It'll burn. Fade away

[usedeverything]

[ It's not like Souji hasn't thought of that before. He knows that when he goes home and leaves Johto, he just might forget everything about here. It's not unusual. He has so many friends come and go, leave and return without remember a single thing about this world; not remembering the times they have spent together or that they have even been friends. He knows that and just thinking about it pains him. ]

[ Does that mean what he's trying here is for nothing? That he should just give up? Should he just close down his centre, lose contact with everyone, forget about that stupid cup of coffee? Should he just go back to the way he was before Inaba, doing the exact same thing? After all, this place... ]

[ It's just like back home, always moving from one place to another. ]

[ But if this place is somewhere he can enjoy just like in Inaba, that doesn't matter, and if that has taught him anything, it's just that. ] It's not a waste of time. Even if I'll forget, the time I spend here is still true

[imyuandyurme]

You say that, but how much do you believe it?

I can see your doubts. I can hear them. What you think, I think, remember?

[usedeverything]

It'll work out in the end like it always does.

[ Of course it will. Isn't that how it has for his friends? Can it be the same for him? It will. It has to. ]