Versatile then. [He seems pleased with that assessment. He doesn't know that much about blades, to be honest, but he can at least understand that much.] No wonder you're a popular sword.
[And now he's just kind of gently teasing him. Sometimes it happens when he's stressed, this is just how it be like.]
It's a good thing you're here then. I have a feeling we're going to need some pretty strong fighters with whatever comes next. [Brag away. It's fine by him.]
Nope. I know some stuff for my job but otherwise I've got nothing. [...] Well, I mean, I can throw a punch but that's probably not what you meant.
[At the mention of the games though, he pauses.] ...they were puzzles inside locked rooms, yeah. To get through them, and to avoid dying, we had to figure out all of the pieces.
Where would I even find a weapon, Izuminokami? They're not exactly readily available for everybody. [Which is frustrating, but it's something he feels need to be pointed out.]
I feel more comfortable getting answers that way, yeah. Mostly because there's always another way to solve something if you try hard enough.
I've heard some people are getting knives from the kitchen, so you're not completely without options... There must be a way to use the environment to your advantage, as well.
[ he's gonna be thinking about this now thanks
but he smiles, genuinely curious as he asks: ]
That sounds nice - but difficult. Have you never faced an enemy who refused to talk it out, then?
Or, maybe I'll just carry around a bottle of booze and swing. [It's kind of a joke, but. That's not a bad idea.]
Usually our enemies are right under our noses and we don't realize it right away. It's complicated because...some of the choices we make change everything. Sometimes it feels like we're constantly losing in different ways, but there's still options to turn it around and make the future better.
If you’re not drinking at it, and you swing hard enough, it could work. The blunt force would at least stun them, and if it breaks, you'll have another weapon.
[ he’s taking this joke seriously, unfortunately. but then he hears “future” and suddenly he’s focused on that instead. ]
Yeah. That's what happens when things get rough at dive bars, at least. [Sometimes you just know things.] I think most people wouldn't expect it either, or think it was out of place. I'll think abobut it.
[But...yeah. About that. He settles on a shrug that says it's sort of correct.] You could say that. It's...something called SHIFTing. Some of us learned how to do it so we could jump to different timelines and histories. We can go backwards, but it's a different version of history where the events can be changed. Just like we can also go forward and change things there, too.
[ he doesn’t know what diving has to do with it, but kanesan can imagine what he means, at least? bar fights exist no matter what century you’re from. ]
And if you’re lucky, they may think you’re just drinking and underestimate you.
I see… It sounds different for you, then, if you’re dealing with different timelines. For us, there’s only one, so changing it can have disastrous effects for everyone.
I think a lot of people underestimate me anyway. [Which is to say he's 100% considering it. He'll be fine, really.]
It's a little complicated to explain because even if it's a different history, our minds stay the same. So we remember everything that's happened in all of the other ones whenever we SHIFT. Sometimes changing history was the only way to save ourselves. But I can understand what you're saying. It's another kind of multiverse theory.
..do you always have to go on the missions you're assigned? Or do you get the choice to say no? Not that I think you'd want to.
Our master tries to take it into account if we have any misgivings about the missions that we’re chosen for. But they have a reason for everything they do, and usually we’re chosen to protect our own masters’ histories, so… I don’t think anyone has ever wanted to walk away from it.
[ but this brings him to another question... ]
If there are multiple timelines where you come from… What do you if it’s better for history that someone dies?
Makes enough sense. Otherwise there wouldn't be much of a reason for your missions, huh? As a sword protecting the one you serve seems kind of obvious now that I think about it.
[But...ah.] SHIFTing only works on SHIFTers or people who are around other espers that're strong enough together. We can't bring other people across timelines or anything, so...if some people die, there's nothing we can do. But the ones who can SHIFT are the ones who have to live anyway for our own mission.
There will always be a reason for our missions. [ just. primly pointing that out before moving on. ] While I may not know exactly why the saniwa chooses who they do for certain missions… I believe we all fight that much harder when the one in danger is a master we love.
[ hm… after a moment of consideration, he nods. ]
I suppose I can understand that. It’s the ones who have an effect on history who need to survive the most… but any loss is still a loss. Can you at least minimize the damage done when you… shift?
[He looks properly chastised at least.] No, no I get that. I didn't mean that they weren't important at all. Just...some things are more important than others. Like people you love.
[Considering that's how he developed his own powers...but he won't say that.] We can definitely minimize damage if we jump to the right point in an alternate history that we can change the outcome. It's the timing that's a little tricky because you really have to concentrate, but any losses that occurred in that timeline previously will remain losses. We can only change things going forward.
...Yes, I suppose so. But protecting history as it is supposed to play out is more important than our own feelings, however strong they may be.
[ they can't risk destroying history for the love of their masters. ]
That makes sense, I suppose. It's the same for us, when we are sent back in time. Our actions and that of the Revisionists can't affect anything prior to when we arrived, but everything after...
...[Can't exactly agree given he's changed history once or twice to be with Akane, but he nods instead of arguing.]
I've wondered if that's why we're here, too. We can't change what happened to the people in the past, but going forward we can write a better history. It would make sense hat they brought people who've done this before.
[Until we learn weeks later that no, demons just suck.]
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[And now he's just kind of gently teasing him. Sometimes it happens when he's stressed, this is just how it be like.]
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That's right. And I'm one of the strongest uchigatana around - aside from Nagasone, of course.
[ he doesn't mind bragging ]
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So you’re not a fighter, then. [ he’d thought so, from how junpei talks and his physique... ] Your... games were really all based on puzzles?
[ yikes ]
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[At the mention of the games though, he pauses.] ...they were puzzles inside locked rooms, yeah. To get through them, and to avoid dying, we had to figure out all of the pieces.
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[ it's practical! please don't die, junpei! ]
So you'd be more at home with something like the missions from the other day, then?
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I feel more comfortable getting answers that way, yeah. Mostly because there's always another way to solve something if you try hard enough.
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[ he's gonna be thinking about this now thanks
but he smiles, genuinely curious as he asks: ]
That sounds nice - but difficult. Have you never faced an enemy who refused to talk it out, then?
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Usually our enemies are right under our noses and we don't realize it right away. It's complicated because...some of the choices we make change everything. Sometimes it feels like we're constantly losing in different ways, but there's still options to turn it around and make the future better.
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[ he’s taking this joke seriously, unfortunately. but then he hears “future” and suddenly he’s focused on that instead. ]
So you’ve traveled through time, too?
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[But...yeah. About that. He settles on a shrug that says it's sort of correct.] You could say that. It's...something called SHIFTing. Some of us learned how to do it so we could jump to different timelines and histories. We can go backwards, but it's a different version of history where the events can be changed. Just like we can also go forward and change things there, too.
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And if you’re lucky, they may think you’re just drinking and underestimate you.
[ it’s worth considering! please protect yourself, junpei. ]
I see… It sounds different for you, then, if you’re dealing with different timelines. For us, there’s only one, so changing it can have disastrous effects for everyone.
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It's a little complicated to explain because even if it's a different history, our minds stay the same. So we remember everything that's happened in all of the other ones whenever we SHIFT. Sometimes changing history was the only way to save ourselves. But I can understand what you're saying. It's another kind of multiverse theory.
..do you always have to go on the missions you're assigned? Or do you get the choice to say no? Not that I think you'd want to.
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[ but this brings him to another question... ]
If there are multiple timelines where you come from… What do you if it’s better for history that someone dies?
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[But...ah.] SHIFTing only works on SHIFTers or people who are around other espers that're strong enough together. We can't bring other people across timelines or anything, so...if some people die, there's nothing we can do. But the ones who can SHIFT are the ones who have to live anyway for our own mission.
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[ hm… after a moment of consideration, he nods. ]
I suppose I can understand that. It’s the ones who have an effect on history who need to survive the most… but any loss is still a loss. Can you at least minimize the damage done when you… shift?
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[Considering that's how he developed his own powers...but he won't say that.] We can definitely minimize damage if we jump to the right point in an alternate history that we can change the outcome. It's the timing that's a little tricky because you really have to concentrate, but any losses that occurred in that timeline previously will remain losses. We can only change things going forward.
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[ they can't risk destroying history for the love of their masters. ]
That makes sense, I suppose. It's the same for us, when we are sent back in time. Our actions and that of the Revisionists can't affect anything prior to when we arrived, but everything after...
[ that's why their battle is so important. ]
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I've wondered if that's why we're here, too. We can't change what happened to the people in the past, but going forward we can write a better history. It would make sense hat they brought people who've done this before.
[Until we learn weeks later that no, demons just suck.]