audio; on the shadow train//backdated to the 19th!

[trainwrecking]

[Audio]

[The (strategically chosen) audio feed comes in grainy, but the sound of unrestrained crying rings clear. The boy chokes; incomplete words stumble over themselves, dying just past his lips to make way for another agonized sob.]

H-he took my-- the only person w-who ever really loved-- who ever loved me... H-he killed m-my... my most precious p-person...

The other m-me killed her...

[He sniffles, the sound wet and gross.]

P-please don't let that... t-that thing have another chance to live... He's keeping himself alive by hurting others..! [The feed clicks off quickly, cutting off his last cry.]

[Introspective]

[It's a pain to act like this... But you've been revived from death, what? Twice now? I think it's my turn. You're not even fit to keep yourself alive.]

Comments

[trainwrecking]

I've tried... but it's worthless. I can't help anyone, and I'll end up back in the afterlife if I keep trying.

[That, from this twisted Otonashi, is sincere.]

You'll help me stop him, won't you? So that nobody else has to die..?

[eyewillprotect]

That isn't true. You can help the people here... the residents and Visitors alike!

[The second part gives her a pause, though.]

Just... who is it that did all of this...?

[trainwrecking]

I haven't helped anyone. Besides, I get so tired of that... I'd rather not have to deal with so many people all the time.

[Also quite sincere.]

It was the other me... The worst version of me.

[Unfortunately, that might be the hitch in the plan. She's smarter than most of his friends that remain here: smart enough to keep prying like this.]

[eyewillprotect]

[She wants to argue that point, but... there's something extremely concerning about that last bit.]

The worst version... You mean like the Shadows that have been appearing?

[trainwrecking]

[He hesitates, the sound of his deep exhale the line's only feedback at first. He could lie, of course, and insist that he is the original. Or he could come clean and rely on only himself -- or others that he can convince -- to dispose of the original.

It's quite a dilemma, especially when he's so intimately aware of how powerful an ally Aoi can be.]

Yeah... that's what I mean. I don't want 'him' around.

[eyewillprotect]

[There's still something not lining up here. It's true that she feels an immense empathy for him, but... she still doesn't quite understand.]

But... I thought Shadows have only started appearing. If that's the case, how could he have killed your sister...? Did she ever come here at some point?

[It just... seems like the sort of thing she ought to have known.]

[trainwrecking]

[For those who asked less questions and were less adamant on checking on new arrivals, this would have probably worked fine.

But for the smarter crowd--the type of people he wasn't used to anymore after being in an band of misfits so long--it wouldn't be so easy.]

No... No, she won't get a second chance like he has. Maybe I should have said 'we' killed her.

[eyewillprotect]

[But--]

What do you mean "we"?

[trainwrecking]

He won't admit it. The worst kind of person is like him: someone who pretends to be some great martyr. Since he and I are the same-- it would be 'we,' wouldn't it?

[He wants to scoff. Stop asking so many questions.]

What are you really asking? Are you... not going to help me?

[eyewillprotect]

No... I'll help you. Fighting these Shadows on your own is dangerous.

[...Even if there's so much more she wants to ask.]

I'll keep an eye out for another you.

[trainwrecking]

At least I can count on you... You're the only one.

[He smiles on the other end, but is careful not to let that muddle his voice.]

If you see him, don't hesitate to tell me... I think if he's gone, I can finally be at peace with myself.

[eyewillprotect]

...Yes. I'll be sure to call you.

[There's a short hesitation before she adds:]

Yuzuru... If you don't want to tell me about what happened, that's fine. [She doesn't want to push...] But... You know that if you need someone to talk to, I'd be happy to listen. Okay?

[trainwrecking]

Thanks, but I want to take real action. Trying to fit in and spending time talking to people really wears on you...

[eyewillprotect]

...?

[Was it... always that difficult for him? She hadn't even noticed.]

Then... I'll get going.

[trainwrecking]

Mhm.

[It's a simple acknowledgement before he cuts the feed.

That had actually... gone better than he expected. Convincing her that he should be the real one, though-- that's difficult.]