[Voice]

[unknownrival]

It's only Eris being Eris. She knows exactly what to say to cause a panic, and I won't fall for it.

[Issei sighs, and there's the sound of a paper crinkling. The next few sentences sound like Issei's reading them off from newspaper headlines, which he is.]

"Kaitou Kid claims his prize yet again." "Gem returned by Kaitou Kid." "Task force foiled in their chase again."

He hasn't been caught. I don't need to talk to him or anyone on his world to confirm it, because I know. I know him, and that's enough to know that he hasn't been caught.

And why should it matter if he remembers me or not, anyway! I told her that if he was safe from the community's whims, it was good enough for me, and I meant it. It isn't as if he needs me, so I don't, I don't-

[There's something like a choking sound.]

...Hakuba's support would have been valuable right about now. I haven't even begun to process that one.

It'll be fine.

Comments

[voice]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

No, please don't worry, Issei-san! You're not troubling anybody at all, really. I'm just worried about you.

[voice]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Things will be fine. I was fine when Haruto left the community, wasn't I? This is hardly any different.

[voice]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

But...

[voice]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

But?

[voice]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

Please don't think that I'm not confident in you or anything like that, because I already know you're a much stronger person than I am to begin with, but I'm still worried about you, Issei-san!

[voice]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Hm. I suppose I would be worried about myself, in this situation.

[voice]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

Please feel better soon, Issei-san. I don't want you to think that there's anything wrong with letting other people know you're unhappy, but, um, I also hope you feel better.

[voice]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

I understand the sentiment. Thanks.

[voice]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

Um... y-you're welcome, I think.

[voice]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

...May I ask a personal question? I can lock it.

[voice|lock]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

U-um, alright.

[voice|lock]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Have you ever been romantically involved?

[voice|lock]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

Me? N-no... I'd be too nervous to ask if I liked anybody. I'm sorry.

[voice|lock]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

I can understand that; is it lonely?

[voice|lock]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

Um... I'm not really sure. I mean, if I like someone, then it is, a little, but I have friends now, so, um... why do you ask, Issei-san?

[voice|lock]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Just wondering, really. And hoping to commiserate, and perhaps encourage.

[voice|lock]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

E-encourage? *It sounds like she just dropped something.*

[voice|lock]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

If you want to be with someone, you should go after them. I think you should be able to be happy.

[voice|lock]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

Y-you really think so?

[voice|lock]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Absolutely.

[voice|lock]

[100thbrokendish.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Issei-san.

[voice|lock]

[stripping.livejournal.com]

Think nothing of it.