Not yet, no. I've spoken to him before and he's not really a big people person, you know? (He leans back on his hands, looking up at the sky,) Sometimes the best thing you can do is give people a break.
Right. To be fair, it was suspicious but a lot of us got caught up on it when there were other clues.
(Lesson learned for everyone,)
He's definitely a tough one to get to. He's not really the type to get to know people, I think. (He's quiet for a second and glances at Hikaru,) He might be more willing to give you a chance if you can share something useful with him, though.
(In case Hikaru wants to try to get closer on her own?)
Something useful... [It's parroted as she draws her knees up and rests her head against them, wrapping her arms around her legs.]
I wonder what he considers useful. I... got a little carried away with him a couple days after we got here, so I wonder if he's going to assume I just have a bad temper and that what I say is, um... childish.
But I'm going to keep trying to talk to him. Even if that's what he thinks.
[Mm. Her eyes flick to him at the nudge, her gaze growing sheepish.] Do you ever do that, Claude-san? Make someone mad just being yourself, I mean. You're so friendly... I don't know why people wouldn't like you, you know?
[Even before that... somehow, that makes her heart feel just a little sad. Why would anyone hate someone for just existing?
...]
I don't think it's fair to treat someone bad just cause of how I think they might look like, or where they're from, or how different they are. I have two whole worlds I love, and they're really different from each other. They all know different things and have different ways of life that are important. But everyone there... they're all still people. They deserve to be heard and share in things.
That's how I wanna look at people here, too. Even people like Virid-kun, or the leaders... or even the Realm, regardless of whether it's actually a person or not.
(She has his attention the moment she starts to speak. He brings his head down, chancing a glance over in her direction. He isn't sad. He's not some pitiful, broken person that needs someone to pick him up. That bit of lingering darkness that he always keeps in his heart comes from a different sort of conflict.
He gives her his complete attention or rather, she captures his completely and just a little... he can feel something in his chest that he's keenly aware of. What is it? He's never quite felt it before.
Not acceptance. Not sympathy.
He's found those things already.
The feeling he gets when he reads a book. When he listens to the Professor. That feeling of
understanding
He looks away, hopefully before Hikaru can really notice,)
... Yeah. I feel the same way.
(Softly, honestly,)
You'd be surprised at what you can learn if you just give others a chance; just let go of preconceived notions and let people show how they can really be. The world's a big place filled with all sorts of people. There's no reason to think so small.
(He reaches out to ruffle Hikaru's hair,)
You're pretty impressive, Hikaru.
(And he stops, taking his hand back and whispers seriously,)
Uh, don't tell Hilda any of this, will you? I haven't told her yet... I will eventually. The timing just isn't right yet.
[So he was keeping secrets... she can relaten at least a little.
She takes a moment to think, watching the wind whip at the grass.]
...Fuu-chan told me once that it's hard when you can't have somebody to talk to about things on your heart... that that's what your friends are there for, when you really need them.
I think you're really lucky, Claude-san, to have somebody that already knows you. I... really, really miss my friends. [So much so that her heart feels like it could break some days.] There was so much I could never talk about, except when it was with them...
So I hope, whenever you're ready to talk to her, that you can be brave. Because I think somebody as nice as you shouldn't need to carry things alone.
(It's not the first time he's heard this before and he's quiet, letting those words sink in one more time.
Again, he thinks, and he pulls his knees up to his chest, hugging them as he looks up at the clouds.
(He dreams of a bigger world, one where people can accept each other regardless of where they're from or how they're born. A world where no one has to hide who they are.))
She sounds wise. You're lucky to have a friend like that, Hikaru.
You're right, I'm lucky to have Hilda here. Just like I'm lucky to have a friend like you.
((A world where people can make friends with each other easily.))
Thank you. Since we're friends, if you ever want to talk, feel free to find me. No matter what, okay?
[It's said teasingly, but the moment feels so warm, like her memories with Kakeru, or Masaru, or Satoru...]
Mn. Just because someone isn't related to you by your blood, that doesn't mean they can't be like family. Umi-chan and Fuu-chan are like my big sisters! I've never had sisters, but they're the best ones I coulda asked for.
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I hope Rufus-san doesn't hold this against everyone. A lot of people were treating him like he was suspicious, because of his face...
I don't want him to have more of a reason not to talk to anybody, you know?
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Right. To be fair, it was suspicious but a lot of us got caught up on it when there were other clues.
(Lesson learned for everyone,)
He's definitely a tough one to get to. He's not really the type to get to know people, I think. (He's quiet for a second and glances at Hikaru,) He might be more willing to give you a chance if you can share something useful with him, though.
(In case Hikaru wants to try to get closer on her own?)
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I wonder what he considers useful. I... got a little carried away with him a couple days after we got here, so I wonder if he's going to assume I just have a bad temper and that what I say is, um... childish.
But I'm going to keep trying to talk to him. Even if that's what he thinks.
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(He leans over, nudging Hikaru with his arm,)
Don't feel like you have to give him anything. You can only meet someone as far as they're willing to meet you at first.
And take it from an expert, anyone can bounce back from a bad first impression. You just have to keep putting your best foot forward.
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Honestly? They were probably even mad before that.
(He can't quite bring himself to actually look at Hikaru while he speaks so he speaks to the sky,)
The difference between here and there is that you guys gave me a chance. For that, I'm grateful.
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...]
I don't think it's fair to treat someone bad just cause of how I think they might look like, or where they're from, or how different they are. I have two whole worlds I love, and they're really different from each other. They all know different things and have different ways of life that are important. But everyone there... they're all still people. They deserve to be heard and share in things.
That's how I wanna look at people here, too. Even people like Virid-kun, or the leaders... or even the Realm, regardless of whether it's actually a person or not.
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(She has his attention the moment she starts to speak. He brings his head down, chancing a glance over in her direction. He isn't sad. He's not some pitiful, broken person that needs someone to pick him up. That bit of lingering darkness that he always keeps in his heart comes from a different sort of conflict.
He gives her his complete attention or rather, she captures his completely and just a little... he can feel something in his chest that he's keenly aware of. What is it? He's never quite felt it before.
Not acceptance.
Not sympathy.
He's found those things already.
The feeling he gets when he reads a book. When he listens to the Professor. That feeling of
understanding
He looks away, hopefully before Hikaru can really notice,)
... Yeah. I feel the same way.
(Softly, honestly,)
You'd be surprised at what you can learn if you just give others a chance; just let go of preconceived notions and let people show how they can really be. The world's a big place filled with all sorts of people. There's no reason to think so small.
(He reaches out to ruffle Hikaru's hair,)
You're pretty impressive, Hikaru.
(And he stops, taking his hand back and whispers seriously,)
Uh, don't tell Hilda any of this, will you? I haven't told her yet... I will eventually. The timing just isn't right yet.
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[She just barely sees that look on his face, but it's so subtle and over so fast that she doesn't know how to place it. Hm.
Still, she giggles at the hair ruffle, though his question gets her to blank out for a moment.]
Huh? You mean about you not being liked? I think Hilda-chan likes you just fine!
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(He wonders how to explain,)
Hilda wasn't-- isn't one of those people. We've always gotten along pretty well. It's just a little complicated.
(Like her family is in charge of watching the border to keep out the "Eastern menace" so he probably shouldn't have gotten past them.)
I haven't really told her much about myself.
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[So he was keeping secrets... she can relaten at least a little.
She takes a moment to think, watching the wind whip at the grass.]
...Fuu-chan told me once that it's hard when you can't have somebody to talk to about things on your heart... that that's what your friends are there for, when you really need them.
I think you're really lucky, Claude-san, to have somebody that already knows you. I... really, really miss my friends. [So much so that her heart feels like it could break some days.] There was so much I could never talk about, except when it was with them...
So I hope, whenever you're ready to talk to her, that you can be brave. Because I think somebody as nice as you shouldn't need to carry things alone.
Okay?
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Again, he thinks, and he pulls his knees up to his chest, hugging them as he looks up at the clouds.
(He dreams of a bigger world, one where people can accept each other regardless of where they're from or how they're born. A world where no one has to hide who they are.))
She sounds wise. You're lucky to have a friend like that, Hikaru.
You're right, I'm lucky to have Hilda here. Just like I'm lucky to have a friend like you.
((A world where people can make friends with each other easily.))
Thank you. Since we're friends, if you ever want to talk, feel free to find me. No matter what, okay?
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You kind of remind me of one of my big brothers, you know? You look his age, anyway.
Is that weird to think?
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(Maybe he would have been less lonely if there was someone else like him around but he wouldn't have wished the life he lived on anyone.)
I can't replace your brothers and I wouldn't want to either. It isn't weird at all. It's flattering, really.
(Another hair ruffle!!! This one a little more aggressive and messy,)
Does this mean you're going to start calling me, "brother?" I'll make you regret it!
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Hahaha-- "Nii-san, Nii-san"!!
[It's said teasingly, but the moment feels so warm, like her memories with Kakeru, or Masaru, or Satoru...]
Mn. Just because someone isn't related to you by your blood, that doesn't mean they can't be like family. Umi-chan and Fuu-chan are like my big sisters! I've never had sisters, but they're the best ones I coulda asked for.