[While Kotone doesn't quite lose her smile completely, there's a seriousness in her eyes as she presses her lips together and glances toward Scott.]
Dara-san. Somebody cut all her organs out and hid them all over Aldrip. It's why there's snakes all over town, and miasma in other parts.
[Just... not going to mention her own fuck-up with one of those said organs. But she nods at the revelation about Call of Chaos -- Goro had been pretty angry when she'd said she had Loki, but he had talked about an ability that only he had. Maybe that's what he'd meant. Like inflicting Rage on somebody, but within his own party...?]
Yeah, Kotone and I managed to grab one of the organs, but we didn't run into anything or anyone that required us to fight. [Just not going to mention how she grabbed the organ with her Persona because he'll go back to being a little upset. Besides, they. Talked that out.]
Did... Akechi run into the person responsible for Dara's missing organs? Or got affected by the miasma? He briefly mentioned Call of Chaos to me once but. [He shrugs a little.] He never talked about it that much with me before.
[Probably because Akechi doesn't like him, but whatever.]
[This organ stuff is really starting to sour his stomach, what the fuck. He grimaces, looking somewhat incredulous, but nods anyway. Sure, okay, someone named Dara's organs got cut out and hidden and apparently Akechi and some other people killed a clown over one of them?? He can't decide if he needs to work less, or work a lot more with this revelation.]
[Holy snakes and miasma, Batman. Cake Knight. Whatever.]
[He sighs, putting his elbows on the table and rubbing his hands over his face roughly like his head hurts.] I was at work, so I didn't see any of it, Shijiro just texted me because of Goro. Point being, whatever happened he used it on himself, and-- I know what cuts from his sword look like. Some of Shinjiro and Minato's wounds... Akechi is responsible for.
[For the first time since they'd arrived, Kotone's smile vanishes into something more serious. Goro's a friend, sure, but he's not a member of SEES. Shinji is, which makes him her responsibility. Minato is too, indirectly. She at least knows better than to direct her anger at Akira, but some of her lightheartedness has vanished from her voice.]
Are they all alive?
[She's not asking if they're "okay," because they're clearly not if they have wounds from Goro's stupid breadknife of a sword. The scar from a wound on her own shoulder itches slightly at the reminder.]
[Why would Akechi cast Call of Chaos on himself, knowing that makes people go berserk??? Did he want to lose control? It seems... weird, maybe unlike him? Well, guess that's not a question he's going to ask Akira, especially since the picture he's describing right now isn't great.
There's a brief and somewhat surprised glance tossed Kotone's way though, hearing the more serious tone in her voice. It's a rare sight to see her like this, but these are her friends-- well, his friends too, but.
They're part of SEES, even if they aren't hers.
But Scott quickly returns his attention back to Akira, figuring that there's no point in repeating her question.]
[He looks a little alarmed at the question, and nods.] I'd like to think I'd have approached this differently if they weren't, [A breathless little laugh.]
[And... yeah, unfortunately, Scott, he would. Goro has done a lot of absolutely insane things for strength, because ultimately he was a neglected child given superpowers and absolutely no structure on how to use them.]
[Anyway,]
[He drops his gaze to his lap, drawing in a breath and sighing, slumping a bit in the booth. Without realizing, he reaches up to twist his hair between two fingers.] ...they'll be okay, both of them, but I wanted the chance to tell you before you realized it on your own. I haven't had much chance to talk to Goro about it, either, he's in rough shape himself.
i've done nothing but play stardew, i have no excuse for my lateness 😔
[Listen, she knows Shinji texted him, but jury's out on Minato. Like, maybe he has a penchant for dying! Her expression doesn't get any less severe as Akira explains, even as their drinks are set before them.]
Does his ability always make him attack his teammates?
[One leader to another: what the fuck, buddy. Like, sure, if an enemy enraged someone on her team and tactically they had to focus on taking the enemy down instead of healing, sometimes they had to take that risk. If someone were charmed and attacking others, that was to be dispelled as quickly as possible. At least, that's how she'd tried to do it. If that ability is uncontrollable... that's a liability. Goro's not stupid. He should know that.]
[There's undisguised relief to hear that both of them are okay. Although, what the hell, why is it all the teens from Kotone and Minato's world that are injured-- or in Kotone's case, just touched a stomach and put herself in danger. Figures. Oh, he's gearing up to visit all of them later in the hospital, if just so he can kick all of their asses. He might have yelled at Kotone, but don't worry, he has enough energy still to yell at everyone.
...Is it their fault for Akechi casting something on himself to make him go berserk? No. But. He doesn't care.]
So, they're all in the hospital right now. [...That place must be hella awkward.]
Akira... do you know why Akechi would cast something like that on himself? Even if it makes him stronger... [He loses control. He kind of pictured the other teen never wanting to lose that.]
He doesn't have teammates especially often. [He says this with a slightly sour tone, crinkling his nose. After a moment, he amends the statement thoughtfully.] He'd use it in a joint attack we had, and never attacked me, so I'm not sure it's specific to attacking comrades as it just... Puts him into a blind rage, and if he's not... [He makes a series of vague hand gestures, one in a direct line, one in a loose sweeping motion, and then both hands splayed outward like an explosion.] ...directed, I guess? Teammates can end up on the wrong side of it.
[He nods to Scott, and then chuckles at Kotone's second question.] There was a very dead guy among the group that I didn't recognize, but I'm not sure if Goro alone killed him or if he did it before or after slicing the others up like bread.
[A hum to Scott's question, his expression pinching thoughtfully.] It... I think, honestly, it's because it's something only he can do.
[Kotone, on the other hand, doesn't look at all surprised by Akira's answer as to why Goro would do something like that. In more ways than just being their respective Justice arcanas, Goro really does remind her of Ken, if Ken hadn't had the rest of them there to support him. She just nods, though there's still a seriousness to her expression as she turns that over in her mind, managing not to flinch when Akira describes her friends as "being sliced up like bread."]
...You're sure it was Goro who killed him? [It's an expression both of them have seen on her more than once, the careful blankness that takes over when she knows not to smile, but doesn't know what other expression to make in its place. There's an undercurrent of urgency to her voice as she adds,] It wasn't Shinji?
[Shinji, not Aragaki-senpai. Since their time together as natives in Aldrip, she'd taken that nickname for herself and he hasn't told her no, so- But this is important. She can't be sure if Shinji's conscience can handle having another death on it.]
Or maybe even in a blind rage, he doesn't want to hurt you.
[Maybe he's talking out of his ass, because he doesn't know Persona stuff as well as either of them, but those two are dating, right? So, Akira probably means a lot to Akechi, and it makes sense in his mind that even when Akechi's completely taken over by something, he still would have some sense not to hurt him. Or maybe it's as Akira said and he just needs to be directed when he's in that state. Maybe both??
So, they did kill someone. Scott wonders if it's the guy responsible for the organ stuff in the first place. He almost cringes. Not that he is all too sorry about that guy getting offed, but... it's still murder, right? Sure, he'd probably be brought back, unless it was a local that did all this, but it still feels... heavy. It's definitely hard to think of Shinjiro killing anyone and it's apparent that Kotone is also upset by the thought. He sends a brief concerned look her way.
...Although, he's kind of worried about Minato killing anyone as well. Even if he doesn't like the thought, Akechi being the person to... do the actual murder seems less troubling. Is that shitty? Doesn't feel like something that should be piled on the detective either.]
Has he killed people before? In that way? [He adds, almost quietly.]
I don't-- [He shakes his head to Kotone's question, shrugging his shoulders a bit, helplessly.] I wasn't there, I'm not sure. I just assumed, since Goro-- [He looks at Scott, then, features drawn tight, and nods.] ...he was an assassin for a shitty politician for a couple years before I even met him.
[It sinks in, slowly and horribly, that he designated Goro as the murderer despite there being a multitude of other people involved. He didn't even consider it having been someone else. Not for a second. Someone was dead, and Goro was present, so he immediately figured it was him. How awful does that make him?]
[She nods with Scott's assessment, though she's still not thrilled with the idea of him driving himself berserk. Forcing himself to lose control of his Persona sounds like one hell of a double-edged sword, and she doesn't relish having to fight him again if he loses control in the wrong direction. If anyone can get through to him, though, it's Akira; she's certain of that, at least.
Although his answer is the opposite of reassuring. There's a part of her that wants to go straight to the clinic to check in on him -- and Minato and Goro too, of course, but she didn't have to see Minato and Goro struggling to stay alive while waiting for the Dark Hour to end so doctors could see to him at a hospital. Technically, she never saw that for this Shinji, either, but it's a powerful memory.
Even when food's set before them at the table, she only picks up her spoon for the soup as a polite gesture, stirring it in front of her. Sorry Scott, for the moment, the burden of conversation falls on him.]
Good thing Scott's a little better at controlling his reactions, because otherwise, he'd be staring at Akira with shock. Dude, how did he not know this until now?? So Akechi is actually kind of a crazy asshole-- okay, probably poor taste, given what just happened and the company present. Plus, he... kind of likes Akechi?? Or. He tolerates him. Scott's feelings on him tend to change every second, but he at least knows that he doesn't want any of this to happen.
As Kotone slowly stirs the soup in front of her, Scott musters up what he wants to say next, because it's clear that it's on him right now.]
Probably best we don't wonder about details like that right now, not until we get the full story from all of them. [...] What matters is they're safe and healing.
[Well except for the dead guy but yanno.] They'll be okay.
[He looks at both of them, trying to look as confident as he sounds.]
[Akira tries to keep that particular tidbit of information on the down-low, especially with people he cares about, that run in their little circle of camaraderie. He wants Goro to form organic bonds on his own, and detailing "yeah he was a psychological child assassin" was a pretty quick way to dash most of those chances early on.]
[Akira, similarly to Kotone, just prods at his food. He doesn't want to eat, but he doesn't want to be rude, and they insisted on getting a little spread of things with a pretty clear aim of getting him to eat, but... His stomach's a little sour with the conversation circling the drain the way it is.] I'll ask for details when he's lucid, or if someone else is, first.
[It's funny; they'd come out here to take care of Akira, but now every fiber of her being wants to bolt toward the hospital. It doesn't sound like there's much point to that right now, though, and getting underfoot of the staff will hurt more than it helps. Best case scenario, she's just asked politely to leave. Worst case...
She pushes that out of her mind and determinedly takes a bite of her soup, nudging Akira to do the same.]
Scott's right! [There's a note of injected cheer in her voice, like she's really trying to find a brighter side in all of it.] There's no point worrying until we know more. Both Shinji and Goro would be pretty annoyed to hear we're worried about them, huh?
[Scott nearly snorts, before he starts to pick at his own food. Maybe if he starts eating with a little more energy, it'll prompt the other two to actually ingest something. Mostly Akira, but he can tell that Kotone is really bothered too.]
But we need to eat, especially since I'm paying. I'll kick both of you if you don't eat up.
[Akira actually just sets his spoon down, Kotone's forced brightness congealing in his chest and making it hard to breathe. He sets his elbows on the table and rests his face in both hands a moment, exhaling.]
Sorry, Scott, I'll get there.
[This was his fault, he was sure of it. He should have kept better tabs on things, but he's too busy fucking off trying to pretend he's a normal kid. Now there's a kid with a horribly broken leg, a dead clown, and three Persona users down for the count because he wasn't there to keep Goro from being cataclysmic.]
[Her brightness fades, and she nudges her shoulder into Akira's to get his attention before leaning forward, trying to put herself right into his field of view in spite of his best efforts.]
It's not your fault, you know. Even if he's part of your team, he's still his own person. Just like I can't control Shinji and Scott can't control me, [sorry boyfriend, she bumps his foot beneath the table with her own,] You can't control Goro.
[He offers a threadbare little laugh of a sound, pushing the dish in front of him away enough to fold forward and put his head on the table.]
I know. I know that, but I still feel responsible. Not a lot of people care enough about him to try and rein him in, and even if I'm mad he did all this, it's. Still really scary.
[Her shoulder itches again where the scar from Akechi's dumb breadknife sword still tugs sometimes, and she frowns uncharacteristically. It doesn't stop her from taking a bite of her rice, because like, it's right there, but...
The fact remains that Akira isn't wrong. Goro, for as much as he is her friend, doesn't make himself very likable to most people.]
If he really can't rein himself in when he uses that ability, he has to tell his teammates. Whoever they are. [She gives Scott a kind of guilty look, as if to wordlessly say yeah, I know, hypocritical, but continues anyway,] Maybe he just needs someone to tell him that.
[Scott sort of gets where Akira is coming from. Feeling responsible for your loved one's actions even if you don't control them. Luckily, Kotone is... less violent, but he thinks if he was in Akira's shoes right now, he'd feel the same. Like why wasn't he there to stop all this from happening in the first place. He'd... feel like shit.
Guess it's what happens you fall hard for someone.]
Do you think there's other people that Akechi would be willing to listen to?
[He adds after Kotone. And yeah, he saw that guilty expression, but in a way, it's progress. Scott almost wants to smile, but they're focusing on Akira-- not to mention that he thinks she needs to work on that more.]
[Akira just snorts a derisive laugh into the table, shoulders hiking up near his ears, and they stay there as he sits up and leans backward as if his spine is made of liquid in the booth. He's smiling, but it's a pretty ugly expression.]
You've both met him, you should know better. He barely listens to me, and I've been trying to get him to be more careful for himself and others for ages now.
It's not about getting him to stop. [Because yeah, trying to tell Goro "no" sounds like an exercise in futility. She takes another bite of her rice without really tasting it, going through the motions rather than any real desire to eat. She takes the time to chew, then swallow, before finishing,] It's about strategy. He likes to win at all costs, right? And hampering his team isn't gonna do that.
[Because if Goro's recklessness is getting her friends hurt, then she has a responsibility to step in as Goro's friend, too. Sure, she has a hard time imagining the SEES boys holding a grudge, but that won't always be the case. It's as much for Goro's sake as for others.]
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Dara-san. Somebody cut all her organs out and hid them all over Aldrip. It's why there's snakes all over town, and miasma in other parts.
[Just... not going to mention her own fuck-up with one of those said organs. But she nods at the revelation about Call of Chaos -- Goro had been pretty angry when she'd said she had Loki, but he had talked about an ability that only he had. Maybe that's what he'd meant. Like inflicting Rage on somebody, but within his own party...?]
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Yeah, Kotone and I managed to grab one of the organs, but we didn't run into anything or anyone that required us to fight. [Just not going to mention how she grabbed the organ with her Persona because he'll go back to being a little upset. Besides, they. Talked that out.]
Did... Akechi run into the person responsible for Dara's missing organs? Or got affected by the miasma? He briefly mentioned Call of Chaos to me once but. [He shrugs a little.] He never talked about it that much with me before.
[Probably because Akechi doesn't like him, but whatever.]
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[Holy snakes and miasma, Batman. Cake Knight. Whatever.]
[He sighs, putting his elbows on the table and rubbing his hands over his face roughly like his head hurts.] I was at work, so I didn't see any of it, Shijiro just texted me because of Goro. Point being, whatever happened he used it on himself, and-- I know what cuts from his sword look like. Some of Shinjiro and Minato's wounds... Akechi is responsible for.
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Are they all alive?
[She's not asking if they're "okay," because they're clearly not if they have wounds from Goro's stupid breadknife of a sword. The scar from a wound on her own shoulder itches slightly at the reminder.]
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There's a brief and somewhat surprised glance tossed Kotone's way though, hearing the more serious tone in her voice. It's a rare sight to see her like this, but these are her friends-- well, his friends too, but.
They're part of SEES, even if they aren't hers.
But Scott quickly returns his attention back to Akira, figuring that there's no point in repeating her question.]
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[And... yeah, unfortunately, Scott, he would. Goro has done a lot of absolutely insane things for strength, because ultimately he was a neglected child given superpowers and absolutely no structure on how to use them.]
[Anyway,]
[He drops his gaze to his lap, drawing in a breath and sighing, slumping a bit in the booth. Without realizing, he reaches up to twist his hair between two fingers.] ...they'll be okay, both of them, but I wanted the chance to tell you before you realized it on your own. I haven't had much chance to talk to Goro about it, either, he's in rough shape himself.
i've done nothing but play stardew, i have no excuse for my lateness 😔
Does his ability always make him attack his teammates?
[One leader to another: what the fuck, buddy. Like, sure, if an enemy enraged someone on her team and tactically they had to focus on taking the enemy down instead of healing, sometimes they had to take that risk. If someone were charmed and attacking others, that was to be dispelled as quickly as possible. At least, that's how she'd tried to do it. If that ability is uncontrollable... that's a liability. Goro's not stupid. He should know that.]
Did he at least take down the enemy first?
jade reconnecting with her country self
...Is it their fault for Akechi casting something on himself to make him go berserk? No. But. He doesn't care.]
So, they're all in the hospital right now. [...That place must be hella awkward.]
Akira... do you know why Akechi would cast something like that on himself? Even if it makes him stronger... [He loses control. He kind of pictured the other teen never wanting to lose that.]
i respect this
[He nods to Scott, and then chuckles at Kotone's second question.] There was a very dead guy among the group that I didn't recognize, but I'm not sure if Goro alone killed him or if he did it before or after slicing the others up like bread.
[A hum to Scott's question, his expression pinching thoughtfully.] It... I think, honestly, it's because it's something only he can do.
sometimes you just wanna FARM
...You're sure it was Goro who killed him? [It's an expression both of them have seen on her more than once, the careful blankness that takes over when she knows not to smile, but doesn't know what other expression to make in its place. There's an undercurrent of urgency to her voice as she adds,] It wasn't Shinji?
[Shinji, not Aragaki-senpai. Since their time together as natives in Aldrip, she'd taken that nickname for herself and he hasn't told her no, so- But this is important. She can't be sure if Shinji's conscience can handle having another death on it.]
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[Maybe he's talking out of his ass, because he doesn't know Persona stuff as well as either of them, but those two are dating, right? So, Akira probably means a lot to Akechi, and it makes sense in his mind that even when Akechi's completely taken over by something, he still would have some sense not to hurt him. Or maybe it's as Akira said and he just needs to be directed when he's in that state. Maybe both??
So, they did kill someone. Scott wonders if it's the guy responsible for the organ stuff in the first place. He almost cringes. Not that he is all too sorry about that guy getting offed, but... it's still murder, right? Sure, he'd probably be brought back, unless it was a local that did all this, but it still feels... heavy. It's definitely hard to think of Shinjiro killing anyone and it's apparent that Kotone is also upset by the thought. He sends a brief concerned look her way.
...Although, he's kind of worried about Minato killing anyone as well. Even if he doesn't like the thought, Akechi being the person to... do the actual murder seems less troubling. Is that shitty? Doesn't feel like something that should be piled on the detective either.]
Has he killed people before? In that way? [He adds, almost quietly.]
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[It sinks in, slowly and horribly, that he designated Goro as the murderer despite there being a multitude of other people involved. He didn't even consider it having been someone else. Not for a second. Someone was dead, and Goro was present, so he immediately figured it was him. How awful does that make him?]
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Although his answer is the opposite of reassuring. There's a part of her that wants to go straight to the clinic to check in on him -- and Minato and Goro too, of course, but she didn't have to see Minato and Goro struggling to stay alive while waiting for the Dark Hour to end so doctors could see to him at a hospital. Technically, she never saw that for this Shinji, either, but it's a powerful memory.
Even when food's set before them at the table, she only picks up her spoon for the soup as a polite gesture, stirring it in front of her. Sorry Scott, for the moment, the burden of conversation falls on him.]
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Good thing Scott's a little better at controlling his reactions, because otherwise, he'd be staring at Akira with shock. Dude, how did he not know this until now?? So Akechi is actually kind of a crazy asshole-- okay, probably poor taste, given what just happened and the company present. Plus, he... kind of likes Akechi?? Or. He tolerates him. Scott's feelings on him tend to change every second, but he at least knows that he doesn't want any of this to happen.
As Kotone slowly stirs the soup in front of her, Scott musters up what he wants to say next, because it's clear that it's on him right now.]
Probably best we don't wonder about details like that right now, not until we get the full story from all of them. [...] What matters is they're safe and healing.
[Well except for the dead guy but yanno.] They'll be okay.
[He looks at both of them, trying to look as confident as he sounds.]
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[Akira, similarly to Kotone, just prods at his food. He doesn't want to eat, but he doesn't want to be rude, and they insisted on getting a little spread of things with a pretty clear aim of getting him to eat, but... His stomach's a little sour with the conversation circling the drain the way it is.] I'll ask for details when he's lucid, or if someone else is, first.
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[It's funny; they'd come out here to take care of Akira, but now every fiber of her being wants to bolt toward the hospital. It doesn't sound like there's much point to that right now, though, and getting underfoot of the staff will hurt more than it helps. Best case scenario, she's just asked politely to leave. Worst case...
She pushes that out of her mind and determinedly takes a bite of her soup, nudging Akira to do the same.]
Scott's right! [There's a note of injected cheer in her voice, like she's really trying to find a brighter side in all of it.] There's no point worrying until we know more. Both Shinji and Goro would be pretty annoyed to hear we're worried about them, huh?
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[Scott nearly snorts, before he starts to pick at his own food. Maybe if he starts eating with a little more energy, it'll prompt the other two to actually ingest something. Mostly Akira, but he can tell that Kotone is really bothered too.]
But we need to eat, especially since I'm paying. I'll kick both of you if you don't eat up.
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Sorry, Scott, I'll get there.
[This was his fault, he was sure of it. He should have kept better tabs on things, but he's too busy fucking off trying to pretend he's a normal kid. Now there's a kid with a horribly broken leg, a dead clown, and three Persona users down for the count because he wasn't there to keep Goro from being cataclysmic.]
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[Her brightness fades, and she nudges her shoulder into Akira's to get his attention before leaning forward, trying to put herself right into his field of view in spite of his best efforts.]
It's not your fault, you know. Even if he's part of your team, he's still his own person. Just like I can't control Shinji and Scott can't control me, [sorry boyfriend, she bumps his foot beneath the table with her own,] You can't control Goro.
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He glances at Kotone when she nudges Akira and yeah, she has a point there. Even if she's using him as an example!! But. Yeah.]
Knowing Akechi, he'd hate it if you tried to.
whoops i missed this one
I know. I know that, but I still feel responsible. Not a lot of people care enough about him to try and rein him in, and even if I'm mad he did all this, it's. Still really scary.
Re: whoops i missed this one
[Her shoulder itches again where the scar from Akechi's dumb breadknife sword still tugs sometimes, and she frowns uncharacteristically. It doesn't stop her from taking a bite of her rice, because like, it's right there, but...
The fact remains that Akira isn't wrong. Goro, for as much as he is her friend, doesn't make himself very likable to most people.]
If he really can't rein himself in when he uses that ability, he has to tell his teammates. Whoever they are. [She gives Scott a kind of guilty look, as if to wordlessly say yeah, I know, hypocritical, but continues anyway,] Maybe he just needs someone to tell him that.
[Like Scott had for her.]
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Guess it's what happens you fall hard for someone.]
Do you think there's other people that Akechi would be willing to listen to?
[He adds after Kotone. And yeah, he saw that guilty expression, but in a way, it's progress. Scott almost wants to smile, but they're focusing on Akira-- not to mention that he thinks she needs to work on that more.]
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You've both met him, you should know better. He barely listens to me, and I've been trying to get him to be more careful for himself and others for ages now.
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[Because if Goro's recklessness is getting her friends hurt, then she has a responsibility to step in as Goro's friend, too. Sure, she has a hard time imagining the SEES boys holding a grudge, but that won't always be the case. It's as much for Goro's sake as for others.]
I don't mind telling him that.
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