[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

[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...