Week 4; Monday 4 PM; Hajime Hinata

[princessantly]

[ She's wondered... and she'd already resolved to mostly keep from asking others about the things she saw flash on the monitor, unless they were prepared to talk to her about it first. Which Alisha doubts, but the look she'd seen on Hinata's face...

So when she gets the chance to, she's catching him by the sleeve. ]

Hajime, do you have a minute?

Comments

[hopefragment]

Huh?

[He jumps when his sleeve is suddenly caught, stopping short to glance toward whomever had grabbed him. Being abruptly knocked out of his own thoughts like that is enough that it almost takes him a second to realize who it is, then he nods.]

Y-yeah, of course. What do you need?

[He doesn't even try to get his sweater sleeve out of her grasp, honestly, waiting patiently for her to STAB HIM IN THE NECK AND MURDER HIS TRUSTING ASS.]

[princessantly]

... I wanted to ask you about... er, earlier. With the motive.

[ But she's saying this in a lowered voice, releasing his sleeve without murdering him like a good non-killer. ]

[hopefragment]

...Mm.

[He hums quietly, and with his sleeve released, shoves both hands into his jeans pockets and glances anywhere but at her.]

...You don't have to worry about me. I wouldn't kill for something like that.

Are you okay?

[princessantly]

That's not-- that is to say, I was never concerned about you killing another person.

... But yes, I'm fine. I was wondering if you were.

[hopefragment]

You were?

[He actually sounds surprised again. Will this kid ever stop being surprised by people who are concerned for his well-being, a true mystery.]

I... yeah. It's... hard, you know? Having something you wish you could change shoved right in your face like that. Something you couldn't forget about no matter how much you might want to.

[his hands clench into fists inside his pockets in an effort to keep his expression neutral.]

Do you... ever think about what's waiting for you? If we all get out of here?

[princessantly]

Yes, of course. Even without the motive from last week, I think about it daily.

[ Working to end the war, wondering how the world is faring with Sorey struggling to protect it... ]

... I imagine you do, as well?

[hopefragment]

...Yeah. All the time.

[he tilts his head and takes a step to indicate that he'd like to walk, if she wants to come with him. If she was able to find him here, after all, there's no telling who else might be around listening in.]

But you said you wanted to ask me about the motive, right?

[princessantly]

I did, yes-- [ Immediately falling into step! ] I didn't intend to, but I caught a glimpse of what seemed to trouble you most... were those people your friends from that thing you showed me?

[hopefragment]

...

[He really should have expected someone to take notice. He'd tried to hide it, but, well, there's not much he can do when he's suddenly confronted with that scene all over again. The chance to change it...

He shakes his head to dismiss it, then realizes that probably seems like he's denying it, so he nods almost as quickly. It's a weird motion, to be sure.]

I... really didn't get the chance to know them that well. Togami Byakuya, the Super High School Level Affluent Prodigy, and Hanamura Teruteru, the Super High School Level... Chef. My classmates, if you couldn't tell from the title.

[There's a catch to his voice right before he says "chef," but it's probably nothing. He rattles off those titles as if the clunky "Super High School Level" is the most natural phrase to say (it's not).]

[princessantly]

[ That-- sure was a bizarre head motion, but Alisha merely nods, expression darkening with sympathy. ]

I'm sorry that... happened. [ AND DIDN'T LOOK LIKE AN ACCIDENT? DROPPING SOMEONE IN A VOLCANO?? ]

[hopefragment]

It's not your fault. It was...

[He hums quietly, clearly wrestling with how he wants to put it, before just shaking his head again and glancing toward her.]

...complicated. It was complicated, what happened. I wish I could have done something to stop it. But I know that... Togami especially, he'd never want to see someone killed for his sake. He... was a better person than I could ever be, that's for sure. Really arrogant, kind of hard to talk to, but... he truly deserved his title as the Super High School Level Affluent Prodigy. If he were here... maybe things would have turned out differently.

[princessantly]

Perhaps... but then again, no matter how many of us are determined to keep from playing this 'game', we still find ourselves repeating the process week after week.

... I wouldn't wish for anyone to be brought here.

[ Especially not one of Hinata's friends... even if he's already deceased. ]

[hopefragment]

...Yeah. You're right.

[He exhales through his nose and just rakes a hand through his hair]

Even if I think he might be able to help here, I definitely... don't want him to have to go through this. None of my classmates.

But... what about you...? For this motive, do you... want to talk about it?

[princessantly]

... Did you happen to see me on that device?