[Part of him wants to argue that it isn't the same, exactly, but he doesn't. He seems to understand that Higekiri doesn't mean any harm and instead he thinks about what he says.]
I'm glad Nikkari's helping you pass messages to Hizamaru. This'll be over soon, and then we'll be able to bring everyone back. That's the goal, anyway. [But the next part also makes him pause but not for the same reason. There's something unreadable in his expression then.]
...I miss her every day, but that isn't new. I spent a year trying to find her so...a few weeks is tolerable, sometimes.
[Ow? When phrased that way he almost looks a little stricken but it melts almost immediately to something neutral.]
...she left, yeah. After we saved her and secured her existence, she ditched us in the desert to move on to her next plan. So I dropped out of school and joined my firm to find her. Even when I found her I don't think she wanted to be found at first. Her plans were always pretty important to her.
[and that much is true, it's just. what comes out of his mouth. he sees the ways he hurts people and is certain again that he is better off broken, if there is no hope of repair]
... did she think that having you with her would compromise her plans?
It's not offensive. [It's factual and it's tiring to think about all over again, but it's. Fine.] And it's possible that's what she was thinking. I told her I'd help her and do whatever to make sure her plans worked, and she said no right before she erased my memories.
...but that was a different timeline. In the new one, I'll just have to argue harder.
It's not exactly the same for us like it is for you guys. Every timeline is the same up to a certain point. We don't exactly have to relive the same events because they've already happened, but a different choice or a different outcome will happen instead to create a different path.
Like...let's say there's a coin toss. In one version of history, you win. In the other, you lose. Everything before that coin toss is the same, but if you go to the point of the coin toss itself you can change what happens next.
But because we're espers we have access to all of the alternate memories, too. So...we both remember what happened. Getting her to stay is going to be more about my actions going forward instead of repeating previous ones.
[it sounds familiar - enough? they don't get to redo once they're actually in the mission, but... well. he nods regardless.]
So she remembers the times she's left [he - obviously needs to bite his tongue on the 'you'. he does. and then he winces briefly before continuing] as well....?
Yeah. She remembers every history we've ever lived just like I do, plus some other stuff I haven't even experienced yet because that's just how she is. She can see across a lot of different timelines and I guess sort of talk to future versions of herself? It was a little complicated.
I suppose I am not too surprised that you would lay your affections on someone so complicated. It will be interesting when she will have to meet Nightheart as well.
[A shrug.] I've known her for most of my life, even if there was a long period of time we didn't see each other. You don't forget the important things.
[...ah.] It'll be fine whenever they meet. Akane will understand, and so will he. [Probably.]
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I'm glad Nikkari's helping you pass messages to Hizamaru. This'll be over soon, and then we'll be able to bring everyone back. That's the goal, anyway. [But the next part also makes him pause but not for the same reason. There's something unreadable in his expression then.]
...I miss her every day, but that isn't new. I spent a year trying to find her so...a few weeks is tolerable, sometimes.
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[A RATHER SCATHING PHRASING but that's.... that's just why he needs repairs - he at least seems to frown at his own word choice before speaking again]
Or something took her away?
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...she left, yeah. After we saved her and secured her existence, she ditched us in the desert to move on to her next plan. So I dropped out of school and joined my firm to find her. Even when I found her I don't think she wanted to be found at first. Her plans were always pretty important to her.
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... I did not mean to offend.
[and that much is true, it's just. what comes out of his mouth. he sees the ways he hurts people and is certain again that he is better off broken, if there is no hope of repair]
... did she think that having you with her would compromise her plans?
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...but that was a different timeline. In the new one, I'll just have to argue harder.
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Oh...? How much of your new timeline must you relive in order to get her to stay?
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Like...let's say there's a coin toss. In one version of history, you win. In the other, you lose. Everything before that coin toss is the same, but if you go to the point of the coin toss itself you can change what happens next.
But because we're espers we have access to all of the alternate memories, too. So...we both remember what happened. Getting her to stay is going to be more about my actions going forward instead of repeating previous ones.
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[it sounds familiar - enough? they don't get to redo once they're actually in the mission, but... well. he nods regardless.]
So she remembers the times she's left [he - obviously needs to bite his tongue on the 'you'. he does. and then he winces briefly before continuing] as well....?
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a soft laugh at that]
I suppose I am not too surprised that you would lay your affections on someone so complicated. It will be interesting when she will have to meet Nightheart as well.
[he's just gonna say it]
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[...ah.] It'll be fine whenever they meet. Akane will understand, and so will he. [Probably.]
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[please he has no understanding of human courtship]
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