hanaban | Rita Mordio ☆ Cobalt Ox

[ he's dying, don't come in here and start scolding him?? ]

Size doesn't matter! He said it would only knock somebody unconscious for a while.

[ And he believed him. god I wish it were actually lethal instead ]

Yeah, and that toxin's meant to work on bigger opponents, so even if he told the truth, the risk was higher for you. Dumbass.

[ she's absolutely just coming in here and scolding him. ]

... But I guess we're both idiots for believing anything he said, so there's that.

[ He's only a couple inches shorter than everybody else... It'd knocked him out instantly, so maybe for Whisper... maybe she died instantly, and didn't have to go through everything that followed.

He pulls his knees up to his chest and buries his face against them. ]

...I heard everybody voted for him. But are you sure he did it...?

[ Rita's his teammate. Maybe she'll defend him, maybe everybody else is just wrong. ]

... Yeah, he did it. There's no question.

The evidence was decisive, the idiot admitted to it, and he even went on to make a whole circus out of the situation. Frankly, you're lucky you were unconscious for it.

[ Rita you were his last hope ]

That bad, huh... He admitted it, though? He had a good reason for what he did?

[ like... like... ... okay he can't think of a good reason anybody would want to take out poor sweet Whisper ]

No. [ icily. ] It was stupid reason. He's a stupid person.

[ ouch ]

I guess... there's no use wondering what kind of person he is. I won't see him again after tomorrow.

[ unless he kills whoever is facing him in that arena. but he'd just get attacked immediately after, he's got to know that ]

... Yeah.

[ her voice is hollow. she kind of wanted to believe him, too. ]

Anyway, I actually wanted to talk about something else.

About what...?

[ again he steels himself, as would anybody when they hear the dreaded words "I want to talk." ]

About how you've been acting weird around me all day.

... Weirder than usual, anyway.

[ she thinks hanako is always weird. ]

[ very quickly-- ] No I haven't.

[ he was right, he does not want to talk about this. he's 1000% sure Rita won't want to either. ]

That right there! That's what I'm talking about.

If you've got a problem with me, just come out and say it already!

I have a problem with you!

[ how does anybody not have a problem with her?? she's scary ]

And why the hell is that!?

Because you don't like me!

[ because you're loud! and scary! and meddlesome! and scary!! ]

What does that matter!? I didn't like you before, and you weren't acting this weird then!

You like me less now, because I killed you!

Wh...

No, I don't!

You like me more now, because I killed you?!

I dislike you the same amount that I always have!

[ urk—

he shuts up for a moment, before tentatively looking back up at her ]

But it was my fault you died, back there, in the school. I thought you wouldn't want to speak to me ever again anyways.

[ ... hm. well. ]

It's not like you could have known that would happen. It'd be a stupid thing for me to hold a grudge over.

[ He's held grudges over stupider things, so this is honestly a surprise to him. ]

R-really? Even though I also killed our teammates, and our friends, our family...?

[ an entire classroom full of innocent students? the teacher?? ]

Don't be an idiot. All you did was cheat on a test.

[ and it's cool, no one cared about the teacher. "ryuki did--" no one. ]

Oh... okay.

[ That's... weirdly reassuring. To know that he can kill dozens of lives but it's okay because it was an accident! wow. this is great. ]

Thanks, Rita.

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rizomata - 2023-10-17 18:34 (UTC) - Expand