[Week 2, Saturday: Makoto]

[purrtagonist]

[that was a long day, wasn't it?]

[at any rate, once the crowd from the trial dies down, Akira is going to reach out and gently grab Makoto by the arm]

Hey. Got a second?

Comments

[justfists]

[She looks more than a little frustrated with that trial but-- her look softens when he asks her for a moment.]

Of course.

[purrtagonist]

[yeah, he looks pretty frustrated too, if not downright exhausted. everything happens so much]

[a nod, and he drops his hand from her arm, hands slipping into his pockets]

. . . we got three.

But there are seven more.

[ask him how he feels about having to go through this song and dance twice. ask him]

[justfists]

I thought that might be the case.

[how many people might be lying about losing anything... or were they all a secret from each other.]

I had hoped not, but... given the emphasis on how few people were allowed to make it out...

... We also found out there was a way to save the Erased.

[something she feels... conflicted about.]

[purrtagonist]

[she may feel conflicted, but Akira's response is immediate and firm. without hesitation]

I want to save the erased.

[they may all be dead, and those spots for a second chance at living may be limited, but. . .]

[he wants to save them. no matter the cost. along with everyone else here]

[justfists]

I want to, as well. But I know I don't want to give someone like Dahlia a second chance.

[she feels a little bad? saying that. But only a little. She's mostly running with the sentiment because she knows she would've had it.

She HAS to have had it...? But she can't remember.]

[purrtagonist]

Hawthorne is one of many.

[and even then, Akira would like to see her pay in other ways. death and murder had never been a part of the Phantom Thieves' motto. what they coveted most of all as part of their justice was the change of heart]

[he thinks that would have suited her much, much better]

But what about Ushiromiya? Utena? Hime-- no, Anthy? Maya? And everyone else who has been killed who was otherwise a good person?

[justfists]

No, you're right. Regardless of my feelings on Dahlia, I want to help the rest.

[she just has a feeling there are worse things lurking, especially with at least two killers who weren't reapers on the loose... Still... This presents a problem.]

If we're going to find the information we need, part of it has to be finding information outside of finding ways to ask Max questions...

[purrtagonist]

Especially since he can't give us all the information we want.

[mmmm. idly, he tugs at his bangs, expression pensive]

Before Setz asked that question of Reaper Creeper, he and I had been talking about. . . well. About how to save the souls of the erased. We both asked that same question to Max, who said that he couldn't answer us then, but could later on. I guess asking the souls of the dead just got us a response far earlier than what was on Max's schedule.

But there's something else Setz told me in that conversation. Something important.

[justfists]

[she's all ears, now. She tilts her head just slightly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ears.]

What was it?

[purrtagonist]

[another deep breath, before he just. lets it go]

It's technically possible to kill the Composer and take their place.

[justfists]

Wait, what?

[but then... they'd have to know who the composer is, wouldn't they?]

... And... that's probably related to being able to help the Erased.

[purrtagonist]

Yeah. That's right.

[and they'd have to know who they are, and how, exactly, to kill a being powerful enough to bring them here in the first place]

I don't know anything more than that, though. And I'd be willing to bet Setz doesn't, either.

[justfists]

What if... The composer is actually here with us now?

[it's an off thought, one she has no basis for but.

She feels like she should say it.]

[purrtagonist]

[he looks kind of surprised by that guess, because truthfully? it wasn't something he thought of]

Would that even be fair? To us? To disguise themselves as a player. . . they might be accidentally targeted.

[justfists]

Didn't the reapers say they were given names of who to target? If that's the case, they would be at dramatically lower risk.

But there is also the possibility they are here in some other way.

[she considers... but she can't think of something specific.]

... It's worth considering, for now.

[purrtagonist]

[he falls silent, contemplating her words. and although he isn't sure if it seems likely. . . he does think it worth considering]

Another piece of the puzzle that is this game to think about, right?

[justfists]

Until we get more information.

[she sighs softly.]

I wonder if we should be looking around more carefully for clues?