audience: akane

[cyclists]

Comments

[cyclists]

Very well.

I will give you one additional bullet for each living person that will express that they love you without being led into the statement.

[specialdog]

[ Akane just. Sighs. ]

So you won't do it.

[cyclists]

What would you say if I were to express that I do not think it an impossible task?

Similarly... I wonder what you might do, if you opened your heart to the prospect of being loved, Akane.

[specialdog]

Just shut up, already...

[ She's too drained to even snap at Lune. She just sounds exhausted. ]

[cyclists]

[there's just a pause then

that stretches

as lune complies with her request]

[specialdog]

[ Thanks, Lune. She's able to compose herself in the silence. ]

... Even if it were true, no one would just say it to me on their own.

[ Leaving aside that she's sure it's just not true. ]

[cyclists]

If I may -

Is there a reason why you think yourself so difficult to love?

[specialdog]

It's just being realistic.

[cyclists]

Is it simpler to believe that, rather to find hope in the alternative?

[specialdog]

. . .

[ yes. ]

[cyclists]

... you must not be fond of surprises.

[specialdog]

They're scary.

[cyclists]

Mm, I would agree with that. I have lived long enough that I rarely find myself surprised, and it is not always fortunate when I do.

What do you do - when you find yourself scared, Akane?

[specialdog]

I usually don't have to worry about it. That's the whole point of that world.

[ the world that she ran to. because she was scared. ]

[cyclists]

Ah. A goddess would normally have no reason to worry.

[that makes sense.

but - ]

Were you truly happy there?

[specialdog]

Of course I was.

[ why even ask... everything was definitely perfect and she's definitely... fine... ]

[cyclists]

Someone dear to me had once said that in a life without surprises, your heart will die before your body.

... if you were truly happy, then I am relieved to know that such a thing did not happen to you.

[specialdog]

Or it's just too late to be worrying about something like that.

[ maybe her heart already died. ]

[cyclists]

Oh?

[someway, somehow, lune manages to still sound concerned]

Is your heart ailing?

[specialdog]

No. Not at all.

[ which is probably bad. because of all the murders she's already done, back home. ]

[cyclists]

Oh...? Hadn't you lost someone precious to you recently?

[specialdog]

People die and we still get messages from them.

[ That makes it. Better? Sure. Sure. ]

[cyclists]

You do.

But that does not change the fact that they are no longer here with you, does it?

It would be understandable if this upset you.

[specialdog]

[ She's forcing her own voice even. ]

It doesn't matter if it upsets me or not, there's nothing I can do about it.

[cyclists]

Even if such a thing is in the past...

Your feelings are in the present, and they matter plenty.