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Rin, are you all right?
[ A simple message. Yes, perhaps, a little too simple given what he has remembered. ]
[ A simple message. Yes, perhaps, a little too simple given what he has remembered. ]
If she gives up as quick as you are, sure.
Take it from me. There's always opportunities if you look for them. Now that I know all the crazy things that happen in this city, that statement counts double. Ever since I've gotten the app, there hasn't been a peaceful month.
Take it from me. There's always opportunities if you look for them. Now that I know all the crazy things that happen in this city, that statement counts double. Ever since I've gotten the app, there hasn't been a peaceful month.
[Nothing like following the trail of a conspiracy with world-ending implications that might be legit to prompt an unexpected text and spook you. Kei, your timing.]
Who's this?
[She... This isn't the Retrospec app with names automatically attached, and for some reason it seems his name isn't in her phone...]
Who's this?
[She... This isn't the Retrospec app with names automatically attached, and for some reason it seems his name isn't in her phone...]
Rin. I realize that I have never sent you a message asking after your well-being, but I think the situation being as it is -- it is acceptable for me to do so.
I am doing a few things that are very much outside of my usual nature, it's true, but the sass, at least, tells me that you're fine.
I am doing a few things that are very much outside of my usual nature, it's true, but the sass, at least, tells me that you're fine.
[On her end, she actually breathes out a sigh of relief.]
Oh, it's just you. Your first message was so short and to the point, I didn't realize it was you. Maybe I should be asking you if you're alright?
Sorry I didn't recognize your number though, Kei. My phone blew up a few days ago a little too literally, and had to be factory reset from start, soI lost all my contact info. I'll put you back in.
[So she did have his number at one point and wasn't just being an ass! Truly, he should feel special.]
Oh, it's just you. Your first message was so short and to the point, I didn't realize it was you. Maybe I should be asking you if you're alright?
Sorry I didn't recognize your number though, Kei. My phone blew up a few days ago a little too literally, and had to be factory reset from start, soI lost all my contact info. I'll put you back in.
[So she did have his number at one point and wasn't just being an ass! Truly, he should feel special.]
[ Funny.
But the question of if he is all right is a complicated one for him. His memory of causing a young Rin break down into tears -- and the joy he felt afterward -- makes him less all right. He feels almost like starting with an apology but that would be strange.
His biting and poisonous words have been slipping into his usual so quietly and insidiously that he barely notices even when he is typing them out. But he has it under control. ]
I shall attempt to ramble more at you, then. But I am surprised that you had my number in your phone. I suppose that makes sense for the applications you would write up, though.
I ALSO suppose that means that since you have it now that you will make sure to use it more, hm?
But are you all right? Your phone literally blew up, you said. Are you unharmed?
But the question of if he is all right is a complicated one for him. His memory of causing a young Rin break down into tears -- and the joy he felt afterward -- makes him less all right. He feels almost like starting with an apology but that would be strange.
His biting and poisonous words have been slipping into his usual so quietly and insidiously that he barely notices even when he is typing them out. But he has it under control. ]
I shall attempt to ramble more at you, then. But I am surprised that you had my number in your phone. I suppose that makes sense for the applications you would write up, though.
I ALSO suppose that means that since you have it now that you will make sure to use it more, hm?
But are you all right? Your phone literally blew up, you said. Are you unharmed?
[Make sure to use it more—haha. Ha. What a sense of humor on this man.]
Of course, Kei. If I have any business with you, I'll dutifully seek you out.
Anyways, it was actually the battery. I guess it was because I used it on the lower level, where the temperature is the most extreme. Luckily I was wearing a fire suit at the time. A neighbor of the family I'm staying with says that's the only reason he was able to salvage any of it, but I still lost all of my data.
Of course, Kei. If I have any business with you, I'll dutifully seek you out.
Anyways, it was actually the battery. I guess it was because I used it on the lower level, where the temperature is the most extreme. Luckily I was wearing a fire suit at the time. A neighbor of the family I'm staying with says that's the only reason he was able to salvage any of it, but I still lost all of my data.
I'm sighing, Rin. I want you to know that I am sighing so that you understand the depth of what your words have done to me.
You are lucky! I cannot believe that you would do something so foolish! What were you thinking? [ With Sakura, he forces her to stand on her own. With Rin, he worries after he with a gentleness he doesn't have. He's been musing if this is the right way to handle both girls, but since both have received the opposite treatment for so long, it seems it is worth an exercise in seeing if it helps the girls. ]
You are lucky! I cannot believe that you would do something so foolish! What were you thinking? [ With Sakura, he forces her to stand on her own. With Rin, he worries after he with a gentleness he doesn't have. He's been musing if this is the right way to handle both girls, but since both have received the opposite treatment for so long, it seems it is worth an exercise in seeing if it helps the girls. ]
[...And Kei wonders why she never tells him things.
As the daughter who was expected to always do well, Rin's experience from childhood to adulthood has been distinctly different from Sakura. Saddled with the most expectations and meeting each of them with ease, it became something of a double-edged sword.
She wasn't belittled like her younger sister, but she didn't get as much attention as her as they got older either; they easily trusted her to do well as she always had, and that in turn meant she was held to a harsher standard . By the time she hit middle school, it wasn't uncommon for her achievements to be glossed over, only for her parents to zoom in the moment the tiniest error was made and criticize her.
This feels a lot like that, and makes her feel steely with anger. Excusing herself from the group she's with, lest they catch on, she finds somewhere more private to text him back at.]
I was thinking I'd just seen a dragon with my own two eyes and wanted to capture the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with a photo.
The incident didn't occur until after that, for the record, when we were higher up in a place where we'd used the phones safely before. I had every reason to believe it would be safe to briefly use, given that.
Please, do continue to scold me more for an accident out of my control, however, if you see fit to. Are you going to be long about it? I'm very busy.
As the daughter who was expected to always do well, Rin's experience from childhood to adulthood has been distinctly different from Sakura. Saddled with the most expectations and meeting each of them with ease, it became something of a double-edged sword.
She wasn't belittled like her younger sister, but she didn't get as much attention as her as they got older either; they easily trusted her to do well as she always had, and that in turn meant she was held to a harsher standard . By the time she hit middle school, it wasn't uncommon for her achievements to be glossed over, only for her parents to zoom in the moment the tiniest error was made and criticize her.
This feels a lot like that, and makes her feel steely with anger. Excusing herself from the group she's with, lest they catch on, she finds somewhere more private to text him back at.]
I was thinking I'd just seen a dragon with my own two eyes and wanted to capture the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with a photo.
The incident didn't occur until after that, for the record, when we were higher up in a place where we'd used the phones safely before. I had every reason to believe it would be safe to briefly use, given that.
Please, do continue to scold me more for an accident out of my control, however, if you see fit to. Are you going to be long about it? I'm very busy.
... I'm not scolding you.
I was expressing fear that you could have been hurt over something that was an impulse. It was a poor way to do say it. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you while you are out there, as odd as that may seem.
[ Kei is careful in how he words things. "I was expressing" isn't the same as "I was," after all. It's all in the wording to ensure that his morals don't feel guilty; he is someone who speaks truthfully even if it is detrimental to himself. And he does care about Rin -- of course, he does. He remembers what his senpai asked him to do; he remembers tormenting a young girl in the rain. He can't let that stand. His sense of right and wrong won't allow him to not do anything for her.
So, he does this -- something that stays within the bounds of his truthfulness and not. ]
I was expressing fear that you could have been hurt over something that was an impulse. It was a poor way to do say it. I just don't want anything bad to happen to you while you are out there, as odd as that may seem.
[ Kei is careful in how he words things. "I was expressing" isn't the same as "I was," after all. It's all in the wording to ensure that his morals don't feel guilty; he is someone who speaks truthfully even if it is detrimental to himself. And he does care about Rin -- of course, he does. He remembers what his senpai asked him to do; he remembers tormenting a young girl in the rain. He can't let that stand. His sense of right and wrong won't allow him to not do anything for her.
So, he does this -- something that stays within the bounds of his truthfulness and not. ]
You should learn to express your concerns in other ways. But it's noted.
[So she doesn't offer an apology, but in turn neither asks for one of him either. To her, this is the smoothest way to handle the situation. The most fair to both parties.
A part of her wonders why she even cares so much about fairness when it comes to this man, when she's reminded of the hot-tempered child she saw in her memories. Right. As an adult, she can't get caught up and let that mood sway her. But reminded of it, she does wonder...]
Can I ask you something out of the blue?
[So she doesn't offer an apology, but in turn neither asks for one of him either. To her, this is the smoothest way to handle the situation. The most fair to both parties.
A part of her wonders why she even cares so much about fairness when it comes to this man, when she's reminded of the hot-tempered child she saw in her memories. Right. As an adult, she can't get caught up and let that mood sway her. But reminded of it, she does wonder...]
Can I ask you something out of the blue?
I should. I suppose I just wasn't thinking and typed the first thing that came to mind.
[ "I suppose" isn't the same as saying "I just." He's getting better at this and isn't sure whether he should be worried how he is skirting around his own moralities to ensure that he doesn't feel compelled to say what is really going on. ]
Go right ahead.
[ "I suppose" isn't the same as saying "I just." He's getting better at this and isn't sure whether he should be worried how he is skirting around his own moralities to ensure that he doesn't feel compelled to say what is really going on. ]
Go right ahead.
[ ............................................. ]
No. I've lived here since I moved in my teens. Your father kept in touch with me, however. I always wondered why he would worry so much about his wayward kouhai, but I suppose that was just his way.
Why are you curious about such old stories?
No. I've lived here since I moved in my teens. Your father kept in touch with me, however. I always wondered why he would worry so much about his wayward kouhai, but I suppose that was just his way.
Why are you curious about such old stories?
[Mm... She thinks about saying something like she just felt like making small talk, but it probably wouldn't pass scrutiny. Give a little, take a little.]
No particular reason. My mind wandered the other day, and I thought I might have recalled chatting with you when I was little. But if you never left Recolle, that couldn't have happened. It must have been a memory of my past self.
No particular reason. My mind wandered the other day, and I thought I might have recalled chatting with you when I was little. But if you never left Recolle, that couldn't have happened. It must have been a memory of my past self.
[ What. ]
What happened in your memory, Rin?
What happened in your memory, Rin?
[Honestly, she wishes she understood it better.]
There was someone who resembled you closely... Like you, but younger. Or maybe that was just the haircut? It was trimmed sensibly, so he didn't look like a grease-monkey. Anyways.
I did call you—or him, rather—by a different name. It was strange... There was something serious afoot, because it seemed my mother and I had to move out of the house for a while. It wasn't safe for us to stay there.
...I think they were expecting a fight. It didn't sound like you or my father would be coming with us.
[Also her child self yelled a lot.]
There was someone who resembled you closely... Like you, but younger. Or maybe that was just the haircut? It was trimmed sensibly, so he didn't look like a grease-monkey. Anyways.
I did call you—or him, rather—by a different name. It was strange... There was something serious afoot, because it seemed my mother and I had to move out of the house for a while. It wasn't safe for us to stay there.
...I think they were expecting a fight. It didn't sound like you or my father would be coming with us.
[Also her child self yelled a lot.]
[ Thank goodness. It isn't what he thought. ]
Is that so? [ Well, he shouldn't hide it. ] That was, indeed, a memory from another past of ours. I have acquired one, as well. I was worried about telling you about it due to the contents of it.
You are in the middle of a mission right now. I do not wish to cause you any stress while you are attempting to complete what you're doing. But it seems like you are enjoying causing me quite a bit of stress. [ He steals the words of someone else, as he thinks of what he will tell Rin. ]
Is that so? [ Well, he shouldn't hide it. ] That was, indeed, a memory from another past of ours. I have acquired one, as well. I was worried about telling you about it due to the contents of it.
You are in the middle of a mission right now. I do not wish to cause you any stress while you are attempting to complete what you're doing. But it seems like you are enjoying causing me quite a bit of stress. [ He steals the words of someone else, as he thinks of what he will tell Rin. ]
No.
It's my attempt to watch over you since my other self knew you as a child. It gives me an odd feeling. [ Guilt. The feeling is guilt. ] But I am serious that I will not tell you the contents of the memory until you return. I don't want to hear you've done anything impulsive.
Please allow me to look after you this once in place of your father.
It's my attempt to watch over you since my other self knew you as a child. It gives me an odd feeling. [ Guilt. The feeling is guilt. ] But I am serious that I will not tell you the contents of the memory until you return. I don't want to hear you've done anything impulsive.
Please allow me to look after you this once in place of your father.
That just sounds foreboding.
[But he's right that if it's as bad as he thinks, better not to distract her with it now. She seems to accept that as well, as she doesn't press him more than that.
And can I say good fucking call because given this is happening on the 11th, the timing couldn't have been worse if Kei had decided otherwise. Good job, man. Rin probably won't get shot by a bolt of lightning now.
Beyond that though, she'll never admit such a sappy request gets to her... But it does. She...]
...I wish I could talk to him.
I don't need looking after, so you know. Not by him, or by you. But it's been so long since I've called, I'm sure he's worried. I didn't mean for that.
[But he's right that if it's as bad as he thinks, better not to distract her with it now. She seems to accept that as well, as she doesn't press him more than that.
And can I say good fucking call because given this is happening on the 11th, the timing couldn't have been worse if Kei had decided otherwise. Good job, man. Rin probably won't get shot by a bolt of lightning now.
Beyond that though, she'll never admit such a sappy request gets to her... But it does. She...]
...I wish I could talk to him.
I don't need looking after, so you know. Not by him, or by you. But it's been so long since I've called, I'm sure he's worried. I didn't mean for that.
Try not to worry about it, if you could.
[ He hums over those words. ]
I also wish I could speak with him. I'm certain my silence is also worrying him. Indeed, I would sometimes merely call him to let him know that I hadn't seen you two in awhile and ask if he wanted me to check on you both. [ Kei sees nothing wrong in telling her this, because they are sharing in concerns. ] Your father really loves you both.
If you don't mean for that, please don't give me anymore stories of reckless behavior. And it isn't about looking after you because you are helpless. It isn't about attempting to use the status as an "adult" over you. It is because you are cared for by others, and we wish you well.
The gentleness and preferential treatment is how most show they care for someone, Rin.
Not that they want to watch over someone like they are a child.
[ He hums over those words. ]
I also wish I could speak with him. I'm certain my silence is also worrying him. Indeed, I would sometimes merely call him to let him know that I hadn't seen you two in awhile and ask if he wanted me to check on you both. [ Kei sees nothing wrong in telling her this, because they are sharing in concerns. ] Your father really loves you both.
If you don't mean for that, please don't give me anymore stories of reckless behavior. And it isn't about looking after you because you are helpless. It isn't about attempting to use the status as an "adult" over you. It is because you are cared for by others, and we wish you well.
The gentleness and preferential treatment is how most show they care for someone, Rin.
Not that they want to watch over someone like they are a child.
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