[It's true. Ryunosuke can only imagine the struggles that Kazuma will have to face in the aftermath of everything. He's not unaware of that, nor is he unsympathetic. Really, he wishes with all his heart they could be of one mind about this. But the truth is... Now that the truth is out, the only thing Ryunosuke can think of are the numerous other lives that might wind up changed, or irrevocably ruined, if Kazuma goes through with this.
It feels cruel, though. To bring that up right now, to call him selfish in the face of this extraordinarily rare admission of vulnerability. So instead, Ryunosuke focuses on the road ahead, his expression somber.]
...It was.
[He can't disagree with that.]
But... You know that simpler doesn't always mean better, Kazuma.
[Kazuma does know. Of course he does. This is precisely why he needs Ryunosuke near him, to make Kazuma see sense when he's lost the thread of it himself. It's precisely what he values Ryunosuke for: the truth.
He just wishes that, just once, the truth could be a little easier to bear.
Kazuma sighs, massaging the bridge of his nose, and simply nods. It's not quite agreement, but it is a concession: he doesn't have a counterargument. Or, at least, he doesn't have one that he feels equipped to make at the moment.]
Can we... talk about this later? After the mission? [He winces; it sounds exactly like a dodge.] I promise I won't avoid it. I just... don't want to do this here.
[Something about not being in his own body makes him even less willing to put himself through emotional distressing conversations than usual. That, and the party has quite left them both in the dust at this point.]
[It does sound exactly like a dodge, and the look on Ryunosuke's face when Kazuma first says it indicates that's how he's reading it. But once Kazuma clarifies, he softens a little, and nods his assent.]
Yes... Alright. I suppose this isn't exactly the ideal time or place, is it?
[He squares his shoulders, ready to start walking again.]
Just one last thing, Kazuma: If you really feel the need to participate in these demands that the orbs hand out...? Don't involve me. Please. I don't want any part of it.
[They're not even from the same timeline, sure. But Ryunosuke knows his counterpart would feel exactly the same way, if he were here to hear all this. So he refuses to play a part in it. In undoing everything.
He starts walking again, that being his final word on the matter, at least for now. They can talk about something else while they try to catch up to the rest of the party. Anything else, ideally.]
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It feels cruel, though. To bring that up right now, to call him selfish in the face of this extraordinarily rare admission of vulnerability. So instead, Ryunosuke focuses on the road ahead, his expression somber.]
...It was.
[He can't disagree with that.]
But... You know that simpler doesn't always mean better, Kazuma.
no subject
He just wishes that, just once, the truth could be a little easier to bear.
Kazuma sighs, massaging the bridge of his nose, and simply nods. It's not quite agreement, but it is a concession: he doesn't have a counterargument. Or, at least, he doesn't have one that he feels equipped to make at the moment.]
Can we... talk about this later? After the mission? [He winces; it sounds exactly like a dodge.] I promise I won't avoid it. I just... don't want to do this here.
[Something about not being in his own body makes him even less willing to put himself through emotional distressing conversations than usual. That, and the party has quite left them both in the dust at this point.]
no subject
Yes... Alright. I suppose this isn't exactly the ideal time or place, is it?
[He squares his shoulders, ready to start walking again.]
Just one last thing, Kazuma: If you really feel the need to participate in these demands that the orbs hand out...? Don't involve me. Please. I don't want any part of it.
[They're not even from the same timeline, sure. But Ryunosuke knows his counterpart would feel exactly the same way, if he were here to hear all this. So he refuses to play a part in it. In undoing everything.
He starts walking again, that being his final word on the matter, at least for now. They can talk about something else while they try to catch up to the rest of the party. Anything else, ideally.]