[He considers it seriously for a minute, mulling over what Asch has already told him, what he's picked up on.
...]
Ideally? Yeah, I would. But his pride's one of those things that Asch will protect to his last breath, even if he has to rip everyone around him to pieces in the process. If something's happened, then I doubt he's going to share anything at all to anyone.
...
I don't need details. Just a yes or no.
Did someone kill him? Or did he kill someone else?
[he did, but honestly? he's kind of glad for it. he wasn't close to Asch, but he remembers the conversation they had while Asch awaited execution. he remembers being so angry himself that Asch would volunteer himself, think of himself as expendable, willingly throw away his second chance--]
[a sharp exhale. his own expression darkens again, because. . . well. doesn't he have his own Asch too, in a way?]
He's a moron.
[Akira says sharply]
Multiple people-- including myself-- tried to tell him to value himself more.
. . . but you said it yourself, right? He's stubborn and full of pride. I feel like it'd take a lot more than us telling him to value himself to get the message through his thick skull.
[hooray, another member of the "salty about asch" club]
He has his reasons. [stupid as they might be.] People can tell him whatever they want, but he has a choice he has to make about himself before any of those well wishes will go anywhere but straight through his ears. If he can't believe it, then why bother listening?
[Stupid, stupid kid.
...
He lets out another long breath, trying to relax his posture, as though the breach in his temper was unintentional.]
Sorry. I wish I could say he's been any different, but none of this is a damn surprise.
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...]
Ideally? Yeah, I would. But his pride's one of those things that Asch will protect to his last breath, even if he has to rip everyone around him to pieces in the process. If something's happened, then I doubt he's going to share anything at all to anyone.
...
I don't need details. Just a yes or no.
Did someone kill him? Or did he kill someone else?
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He was injured while trying to protect someone else from being killed by one of the monsters. He lost an arm in the process.
[. . .]
We weren't able to identify the monster within the trial's time limit, so. . . he volunteered to be executed instead.
He was killed the next day.
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...
...
Cold, careful:]
Why did he volunteer?
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He insisted it was because he had died back home.
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He immediately swears under his breath.]
That idiot.
...
Is that all?
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[JUST SIGHS]
This next part I didn't see, but someone said he gave a grand speech about returning home to his fate right as we were all leaving.
So he's probably feeling pretty stupid that he wound up here instead.
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you brought this on yourself akira]
He had better feel stupid. That he went through all that and still decided he was better off going back--
[He scowls, hand gripling tightly against the hilt of his sword, the leather cracking audibly under the effort.]
The bastard never learns anything.
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[a sharp exhale. his own expression darkens again, because. . . well. doesn't he have his own Asch too, in a way?]
He's a moron.
[Akira says sharply]
Multiple people-- including myself-- tried to tell him to value himself more.
. . . but you said it yourself, right? He's stubborn and full of pride. I feel like it'd take a lot more than us telling him to value himself to get the message through his thick skull.
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He has his reasons. [stupid as they might be.] People can tell him whatever they want, but he has a choice he has to make about himself before any of those well wishes will go anywhere but straight through his ears. If he can't believe it, then why bother listening?
[Stupid, stupid kid.
...
He lets out another long breath, trying to relax his posture, as though the breach in his temper was unintentional.]
Sorry. I wish I could say he's been any different, but none of this is a damn surprise.
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[sets his jaw tightly]
Maybe he'll finally learn something here. Maybe-- [a pause] Maybe you can get through to him yourself.
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[...]
Thanks. You didn't have to tell me all of that. [But it definitely puts some things in perspective.]
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[because ASCH IS STUPID]
. . . but don't tell him I told you or he might throw salt at me again.
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He can't help but snort out a laugh, humorless.]
Yeah, I get that. Don't worry. If he and I talk about it, it's on me to own up for it, not you. I'm the one who asked.
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Thanks.
[a beat]
Also wow, this is not at all what I expected us to talk about.
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While we're opening up the floor, any deep, dark secrets you want me to secretly trip over?
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I drink my coffee completely black. No cream, no sugar.
Does that count?
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Tell me about some of that life of crime, then. I'll warn you, I reserve every right to judge you if it involves your coffee addiction.
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[opens mouth. closes it again. sweats. he's been a bit more loose-lipped about it here, but. . .]
What if it does?
[a beat]
Kidding.
I'm a Phantom Thief.
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Phantom, huh.
You mean like the monsters, or something else?
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You know, Phantom Thieves? Thieves who steal things in the flashiest manner they can?
Like Arsene Lupin? [a beat] You've never heard of the phrase?
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You're from Japan, Akira. I'm from Malkuth. It might be best to assume I know absolutely nothing.
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Fair enough.
That's what I am, though. A Phantom Thief. Though I don't steal material possessions.
I steal hearts.
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okay that's probably not what he means, but]
I mean... where I'm from, we just call that a really lucky guy.
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I steal corrupted hearts. Distorted hearts.
The hearts of those who commit crimes beyond the law's ability to punish.
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So, it's more a sort of fighter for justice. A vigilante, maybe.
How do you go determining who's done right or wrong? That's pretty subjective depending on the circumstance, isn't it?
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