[b][i][u]Location: Glory Star Orphanage - Lucent's Room[/u][/i][/b] [i]Before they could continue, Kaito closed the door so that no one would be able to hear them. At that moment, Lucent, who usually stood quiet and just listened to them, finally replied.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/DzNjiXy.png[/img] Kaito: See? Now, c'mon. Let's get out, have you something nice to eat- Lucent: ... The good that living in a shell will do... [img]https://i.imgur.com/a532uBK.png[/img] Kaito: Eh? [b][i]BGM: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhMnxjIaTfw]Reverie (Persona 4)[/url][/i][/b] [img]https://i.imgur.com/bkej3Go.png[/img] Lucent: That was the question, right? Then here's the answer: the less I interact, the less I hurt. And the less I hurt, the less I kill! [img]https://i.imgur.com/3iIzZff.png[/img] Kaito: Whoa, no need to get so defensive on this. We're just trying to help you. [img]https://i.imgur.com/Kub07aL.png[/img] Lucent: ... I told you two everything already, didn't I? About myself and... about the incident. [i]He did tell them one day. It was on one of the first scoldings he received from Kaito and Reeta. Lucent fully revealed his nature as a dream-eating half-demon and had told them about the incident that made him fear interactions as much as he feared himself.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/aLnX6XQ.png[/img] Kaito: Lucent... [img]https://i.imgur.com/qsihRDH.png[/img] Lucent: If I'm that unsociable, it's because I don't want to hurt people with my power. I managed to end the happy life of a family, by drowning a simple kid in a nightmare that became reality and led him to his death. Do you really think that I should just live my life normally knowing that I could take someone to their grave? [img]https://i.imgur.com/71kyvRy.png[/img] Kaito: Like I said before, that wasn't your fault. You both were kids and he provoked you first. Besides, you didn't even know you had a power like that. [img]https://i.imgur.com/9W2NWsK.png[/img] Lucent: That's not a valid reason from me to just ignore everything. [img]https://i.imgur.com/Bml5VJQ.png[/img] Kaito: Neither is using this fact to justify anything. You're just running away. [img]https://i.imgur.com/bkej3Go.png[/img] Lucent: Yeah, I am. But what other choice do I have? I don't want this to happen again. I don't want to get close to people if I'm just going to end their life. Besides... besides... [img]https://i.imgur.com/Kub07aL.png[/img] Lucent: If something ever happened to you two because of me... I would never be able to live anymore. [img]https://i.imgur.com/AyKAzID.png[/img] Kaito: ... Lucent: Even though I'm a monster, you two decide to spend time, to worry about how I am. If you think I'm ungrateful, I'm not. I just... don't want to do something that will hurt you. That's why I try my hardest to get used to being lonely and distant to people... though I don't understand this... no matter what I do, you don't give up. Why? Am I that important to you? [i]*BGM fades*[/i] Kaito: ... Yeah, you are. [img]https://i.imgur.com/vK3uHoL.png[/img] Lucent: Huh? [b][i]BGM: [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1MmNjHLtUE]SMILE (Persona 4)[/url][/i][/b] [img]https://i.imgur.com/5Ni8MqY.png[/img] Kaito: You might not find yourself important, but I do. C'mon, we've been friends for a long time, haven't we? [img]https://i.imgur.com/qsihRDH.png[/img] Lucent: True... but- [img]https://i.imgur.com/FbEGXXX.png[/img] Kaito: There's nothing you can say that will make me give up. Your powers, the incident... nothing will make me simply give up on trying to get you back to life. After all... [i]Kaito went forward and gave Lucent a hug. Maybe that's what he wanted. If someone were to show him that nothing mattered and that whoever this would be was going to stay by his side, maybe he could crack up a smile.[/i] [img]https://i.imgur.com/uyGwOf0.png[/img] Kaito: Because I know that you want that as well. [img]https://i.imgur.com/TuhT9uk.png[/img] Lucent: !! [img]https://i.imgur.com/7BCyHE8.png[/img] Kaito: Lucent, if you ever need to cry, to complain, to talk, you can just come to me. I'll be there for you, OK? Just... promise me you'll take care of yourself and that you'll try your best to stop with this sad routine. [img]https://i.imgur.com/9W2NWsK.png[/img] Lucent: ... I... I'll try... I can't promise anything. [img]https://i.imgur.com/DzNjiXy.png[/img] Kaito: That's good enough for me.