[ he isn't wrong. shoma's an introvert, and shoma's someone who tends to do his best work alone, but he has intelligence and perseverance to back him up the entire way. half the time, he's pretty sure it's the only thing that keeps him going. what would he do if he let himself just...not pursue these questions? what would happen if he didn't bother trying to understand things further?

he both did and did not expect this question. he already knows the answer won't be satisfactory either, but since he doesn't have another form of payment at the moment he's fine giving it away. ]

It's unsalvageable. [ this is matter-of-fact and strangely serious for someone his age, like a statement with zero wiggle room. ] ...it's nothing like a world plagued by a disease that kills people before they hit twenty-three. I just...like to ask to fully understand things. How people come to conclusions and what lengths people will go to.

[ are the answers the same across universes? or do circumstances change a person's drive to take other people down with them? ]