Sprace: Kazuki

[perfectpower]

Comments

[teenrebellion]

[ as he steps inside-- ] Don't fake a smile for me.

Is there anything I can do to help? I know I'm not... Nero-san, but still.

[perfectpower]

[Okay, his huff of a laugh at that response is much more genuine.]

Right, gotcha. And you don't gotta be Nero, you just gotta be yourself.

[teenrebellion]

I couldn't be him even if I wanted to.

You didn't answer.

[perfectpower]

Bein' with someone else right now is probably the best thing for me, that's all I really need.

[teenrebellion]

And yet you've holed yourself up in here. [ ... ] I don't blame you, though. If it were me, I'd probably do the same thing.

[perfectpower]

Don't exactly wanna face everyone right now. I might get mad and start punchin' people.

[...]

He was the last one. The last of the people who knew me as a kid. The last of my 'family'. I know I ain't fully alone, but...it's hard.

[teenrebellion]

Even though you don't know who's responsible yet?

...I'm sorry.

[perfectpower]

No, it's...

[He sighs, and shakes his head.]

I'll be better after this weekend. Once we know what happened. But I got a hell of a temper, and if anyone badmouths Nero I won't be able to take it.

[teenrebellion]

I get that. I've got a temper, too. But I don't see why anyone would do that.

[perfectpower]

Where we're from, humans aren't too kind to wizards. We've been doing well here, but a part of me is always waitin' for someone to start shit.

[teenrebellion]

...He's been nothing but nice to me. A little pessimistic, maybe, but I'm a little used to that, anyway.

[perfectpower]

Yeah, he's always been like that. Even when he was little.

[teenrebellion]

That long...? How do you even remember? You guys are hundreds of years old.

[perfectpower]

I don't remember everything about my 600 plus years of life, just like you probably don't remember every waking moment of your 18 years. But I remember the important stuff. I remember the things that made me feel happy.

I remember each of my brothers and sister's names and what their voices sound like, even though they've been dead for over 500 years. I remember what my mother looked like, even though she's been dead longer. When you live to be as old as a wizard gets, that's what you end up being: the keeper of the memories of the dead. Who knows how many memories I'll be keeping when I reach a thousand, or even more.

[teenrebellion]

...No offense, but it sounds kind of miserable. Even if you remember the good things, it sounds like too much.

[ the idea of outliving your family and friends is a little terrifying, kazuki thinks. and now he's lost nero, too? ]

[perfectpower]

Aah, I guess it can be for some people.

[His gaze is a bit sad as he says that. He's definitely thinking of someone specific when he says that.]

[teenrebellion]

[ watches him with both curiosity and concern. ]

Like...?

[perfectpower]

[He shakes his head.]

It's nothing important. Just observations from long ago.

[teenrebellion]

[ hm. ]

If you say so.

[perfectpower]

[That look falters.]

It's just...he's gone now, and I don't think it'll matter for the case. Even if he was strugglin' with his own battles, Nero wouldn't just give up and let someone kill him like that.

[teenrebellion]

Especially with you right here.

...All we can do is just try to figure it out tomorrow. For him and Ragnvindr-san.