solesuccess | CATCHALL: Kazuki

Oh yeah, that's easy mode. [ lol. ] Gimme a day or two and I'll shoot you something.

[ it's just another excuse for him to explore new music hehe. ]

Understandable. [ kazuki wouldn't want someone screwing with his dna, either, even without prior experience in it. ] I know science is the obvious answer, but have you thought about looking into the magical side of things? There are a ton of worlds out there with magic, apparently, so maybe one of them would have something that would work, too. I mean, obviously you'd know what you want better than me, but.

[ just a thought, since everyone here keeps talking about missing their magic or whatever. ]

Thanks. [ he does actually look a little curious so thank you, kazuki. he is pleased. ]

...I hadn't thought about that, no. We're not sure if we'll be able to see each other again when this is over no matter how much I want that to be true. But I wouldn't even know where to start looking when it came to magic either. Or how it'd translate. [ ... ] I'm open to options until they're too hard to consider. Does that make sense?

Fair enough. I just figured... you know. If it's an option, then maybe it'll be worth checking, just in case. You'll find something, either way.

...But it would suck if we couldn't see everyone again, after all this.

No it's...a good point. I really never considered it. Magic's not something I'm familiar with so I've been mostly focused on science and what I know. [ but....yeah. ] I've talked about this with Throné a little. They brought all of us here, so they have to have a way to let us all see each other again when it's finished. It's the least that can be done when we solve everything and figure out a way back.

Yeah, no, I understand that. It's just that with everyone talking about it all the time, it's hard for me not to think about that kind of thing.

[ almost everyone's worlds are so different from his. ]

You'd think so. I'm not sure I'd understand how something like that would work if it's really like - parallel universes or whatever, but it'd be nice if we got that chance, anyway. I wouldn't mind getting to see other worlds or meeting everyone else's friends.

[ sometimes you are from normal tokyo... but he nods because yeah, that's fair and valid. ]

I mean I could actually talk about the multiverse theory if you're interested. [ it's a little bit of a joke. ] It's one of those things I've been considering lately. We've been here for a while now that we keep hearing all of these stories about places and people and...you always want to see the things that've shaped the other friends you've made. Or maybe that's just me.

[ the secret is that shoma's incredibly antisocial now but overall his curiosity's still one of his biggest personality traits and he used to like people well enough. ]

I've been wishing I could meet their friends pretty much since this started. Mistral-san knows someone who I'd definitely get along with and I really want to pick her brain about some stuff. It's not just you.

Yeah, Throné's shown me some places back home that I want to see in person. And I'd like to stay in touch with people like Viktor, Dahut and Scien while I'm making progress. [ it's...wild. ] So we'll add it to the wish list for sure. I'd take a paycut if it meant being able to stay in touch.

I actually haven't seen that much of everyone's worlds yet... but I think it wouldn't be that bad to, as long as it's somewhere safe.

[ please don't make him fight monsters ]

A paycut would be worth it for that.

I doubt any of our friends would actually bring you somewhere you'd be in danger. [ everyone knows kazuki's a normie... ]

We'll have to hope. Which is a stretch, considering where we are, but...I'm trying to keep my options open. If only to remind other people and give them a reason not to quit yet.

I dunno, some of them have kind of a warped sense of danger.

Only for other people? What about you?

True. [ they. they sure do. ] I don't have a reason to quit yet. I have a lot of reasons to be mad, and a lot of reasons to think certain things won't work, but I don't plan on stopping yet either.

[ so he doesn't have to worry about shoma being too much like akito in certain ways. he nods. ]

Good. We all need something to keep us going.

Yeah. [ a pause. ] Maybw it isn't surprising that it's easier here than it was back home. But there's more than just me involved in a place like this. Maybe that's why.

[ is it really just shoma, though... kazuki has to wonder. ]

Guess so. There's no avoiding it here when it's all people we know... friends.

[ he could ask whatever he's wondering, really. at this point kazuki has rights. i also see my phone betrayed me in this tag too jfc. ]

Yeah, exactly. [ another pause...but then he figures he may as well state the obvious. ] That, and I have to make sure Mizuki gets back no matter what.

[ hums ]

She seems pretty strong on her own. [ ... ] But it's good that you guys have each others' backs.

[ maybe not great, having someone you're close to here with you. but maybe it would make this whole thing feel a little less lonely. ]

She is, but she's also an idiot sometimes. [ pointblank. ] She's...obviously really strong and really smart and can take care of herself just fine, but she's kind of the worst at remembering she doesn't have to do everything herself just because she's able to. Half the time I'm pretty sure she doesn't even notice what I'm trying to do here.

[ which isn't unusual. mizuki leads, shoma follows sometimes, until she realizes everything he's been doing in the background behind her back to ensure they'll be fine. ]

It's been a good and a bad thing for both of us to be here. And as long as I can get both of us out along with everybody else, then...it can be more of a good one.

Hah. Sounds like someone else I know.

[ and it's always driven him crazy, how some people do that. as if they can always stand alone and manage just fine. as if they don't need to ask for help like other people. as if they aren't just as human as anyone else.

or maybe he's just projecting. whatever. ]

As long as you remember that you don't have to do it all on your own, too.

[ shakes hands with kazuki in things that are unsaid but also felt deeply about other people. there's a half-smile. ]

I've been...trying to be better about it, but I've kind of been on my own a lot for the last six years. Old habits, you know?

[ hey ty can our characters stop being the same fucking people for two seconds ]

Screw old habits. You're not on your own anymore.

[ signs are pointing to no.

anyway that startles a laugh out of him. ]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm getting that. [ but TIME, kazuki. these things take time. ] All the more reason it's stuff I want to take back home. Kinda came full circle there.

We'll find a way to. Somehow.

[ "we" because he stands by what he said. it's not just shoma's job to figure it out, or anyone else's. ]

Somehow. [ but he pauses to cough wetly into his sleeve, clearing out more rust before there's just a deadeyed expression. ]

...might have to wait for this to pass, but it's not impossible.

God, it's annoying, isn't it? [ scowls at his gloved hands. ] I can't play like this, either. It'd ruin the strings.

[ his guitar is significantly less important than finding a way home but still. ]

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