[Day 14, afternoon: Futayo]

[purrtagonist]

[DID YOU SERIOUSLY MAKE THIS INJURED KID WALK UP LIKE FOUR FLIGHTS OF STAIRS TO FIND YOU IN THE AQUARIUM TUNNEL, FUTAYO]

[he's wheezing by the time he gets there, leaning heavily against the wall]

Fut-- [GASP] -- yo. . .

G-got a minute?

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[nnnnngh. . . nnnnnngh. . .]

Futayo--

What was your motive? Your "carrot" and your "stick?"

[cluelesscavewoman]

...They said that Masazumi would have an accident and not be able to make it to peace conference. The others need Masazumi...

[purrtagonist]

[just]

[closes his eyes]

[draws the knee of his uninjured leg up]

[rests his forehead against it]

[and says nothing]

[cluelesscavewoman]

[Goes back to looking at her fish. oh god Dazai's just floated back into view time to turn around.

She just mimics Akira's position again.]

...Pbbfft-

1/2

[purrtagonist]

[ah. . .]

[he lifts his head at that noise, blinking at Futayo blearily, trying to ignore the faint sting in the corners of his eyes, the way his chest tightens, the way his throat threatens to close up--]

[purrtagonist]

[. . .]






[he presses the heel of his palm against one eye, and laughs. it's a desperate, defeated sound]

[cluelesscavewoman]

[There we go, that gets her to smile back.]

[purrtagonist]

[h-heh. . . hehehehee]

[he scrubs at his eyes. takes in a deep, shaky breath, and tries his best to keep his smile]

Futayo, I'm-- . . . I'm going to. . . put in my vote for you.

Is that. . . is that okay?

[cluelesscavewoman]

Judge, I have already placed my vote.

[She's already said that, but she's calm. She'd already excepted it. Then she almost looks sad? It's the closest to sad she's looked so far.]

...Father and Kazuno will be disappointed to see me so soon.

[purrtagonist]

. . .

[honestly, he's just. going to pitch forward and slide an arm around her, drawing her into a hug. SHE JUST KILLED A GIRL, AKIRA. . .]

[cluelesscavewoman]

[Don't worry he's safe, because he's a friend. Even if she doesn't really react, over than slumping over.

...Coincidentally Erika also would have been safe. A shame they got separated.]

[purrtagonist]

[the hug is warm!! slightly awkward because he only has the use of one arm, but. he lingers for a moment, before pulling back, hand clapped on her shoulder]

. . .

Want some fish-watching company?

[just. for a little while. he has to go grill Erika soon. and then. . . let everyone know what he's heard]

[cluelesscavewoman]

Judge, thank you Akira...

[First name only. And she takes another gulp of her booze... Actually, she reaches for the odd metal harness she's been wearing, and one of the two-tone bars splits open. She reaches a hand in and brings a key out.

Then offers it.]

[purrtagonist]

[blinks a few times, but he reaches out to take the key, fingers closing around the cold metal tightly]

To the wine cellar?

[cluelesscavewoman]

Judge. I caught the fish that ate it.

[It's not like she needs it anymore.]

[purrtagonist]

[it's not like Akira does either, but hey. he'll keep it anyway]

A. . . trophy for your victory, then.

[cluelesscavewoman]

Judge, the fish was delicious too... Ah, I apologise, I never showed you how to do it.

[purrtagonist]

. . . it's fine.

You can show me how some other day, okay?

[cluelesscavewoman]

Jud, I will do that if I become a ghost. Though I do not believe that will happen.

[purrtagonist]

I do.

[heh]

If only because we've been talking to ghosts this whole time.

[cluelesscavewoman]

...You have to die with regrets to become a ghost where I am from.

[purrtagonist]

Do you have any regrets. . .?

[cluelesscavewoman]

... I do not. Masazumi is safe, that is all that matters.

[Masazumi would be be dead inside already.]

[purrtagonist]

[gooooood. he'd have regrets, even if he did kill to protect someone]

. . . mmm.

I hope this is something Masazumi would want.

[cluelesscavewoman]

I cannot say. Masazumi is hard for me to understand...