[nope] - date 3, Tatsuya

[afailedmurder]

[The aquarium tunnel is a romantic spot for a date, though Akechi seems a little wary of the water overhead.]

Shall we take a seat?

Comments

[afailedmurder]

Yes...

[chuckles]

He gets embarrassed when I talk about him like this. He'll tell me I put him on a pedestal, or that I'll meet all sorts of good people if I get to know them...

Sort of a silly thing to argue about, wouldn't you say?

[motorcycle_noises]

A little bit. But that sounds like it's part of his charm, too.

[afailedmurder]

It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if he were a little more confident. Or perhaps I'm the one that should be?

[cocks his head to the side]

Are you bored yet? I'm a bit bored, listening to myself.

[motorcycle_noises]

This is going to sound really corny, but... I don't think I could ever be bored, listening to people talk about the ones they care for.

[afailedmurder]

You're right, that's incredibly corny.

[motorcycle_noises]

[ Tatsuya laughs. ]

Well, I did warn you.

[afailedmurder]

Still, the purpose is for us to get to know one another, right? Not for you to get to know Saihara-kun.

[motorcycle_noises]

That's true.... Another time then, maybe.

[afailedmurder]

Another time.

How've you been doing with... all of this?

[motorcycle_noises]

Honestly? I'm trying to enjoy it while I can, regardless of the results. Having company is.... nice. Some of it's very nice.

[afailedmurder]

You don't have company where you come from?

[motorcycle_noises]

Not unless you count the demons.

[afailedmurder]

...Should I count the demons?

[motorcycle_noises]

I mean, you can. Some of them are willing to talk, some of them just want to fight me... Most of them are pretty willing to ignore me if I ignore them. It's pretty "live-and-let-live" these days.

[afailedmurder]

Well, it's not like you have to go back there. Why don't you go home with someone you like?

[motorcycle_noises]

I can't go with the people I'd like to most. Sudoh's world is too dangerous, and I definitely can't go to Yusuke-san's....

[ Tatsuya shrugs slightly. ]

Rin-san offered, and I'm considering it. But even though it's lonely, I'm not sure I'd want to abandon my world entirely.

[afailedmurder]

Why can't you go back with Kitagawa? If you don't mind my asking.

[motorcycle_noises]

Well, ignoring the time travel aspects for a moment... It's technically the same "world" as my own— but on the "other side." And if I go there, the world will end.

[afailedmurder]

What? Why?

[motorcycle_noises]

It's a long story... the short version is that I did something I shouldn't have, and created a paradox. So going there will bring the attention of Nyarlathotep, the crawling chaos.... And even if he's defeated, he'd just be able to come back again. Over and over. He's the reason there's no one left on my side, the reason that my friends and I had to create the other side.

[ ... ]

So I can never go back there. That's the punishment for my sins.

[afailedmurder]

Wh... when did this happen?

[motorcycle_noises]

Not long ago by my standards. The end of summer, 1999....

[afailedmurder]

[ C O O L ]

I... I was born in 1998. What... does that mean?

[motorcycle_noises]

Everyone who died when the world ended.... their consciousnesses were moved over to that side.

[ So technically there's a version of you that died as a toddler, have fun with that thought. ]

No one was ever supposed to remember anything that happened, and most people don't.

[afailedmurder]

[laughs darkly]

Just how often does this sort of thing happen? Is the world simply teeming with demons and evil gods trying to destroy it?