[ AUDIENCE: YAMATO ISHIDA ]

[dormheads]

Comments

[ghoststrums]

It's not just strange, that sounds insane. [ he says like he doesn't regularly go to the digital world but Listen, Isekai, man. ] ... Well, the part where you argued your way out of a lesser sentence right after winding up in a completely different world doesn't surprise me that much.

[ Sounds Like Iris ]

But if you were a villain before, don't people find your personality change a bit weird?

[azuta]

[she nods in understanding... it totally is insane....

but she blinks at that, before laughing - ]

Well... it's a little different. I was a villain in an otome game, which mostly meant that I was the mean fiancé who was upset at her betrothed being charmed away by the protagonist. So I mostly did some juvenile bullying that I regret now... I'd say that's still a part of my personality, though I'm trying to be more mature about watching my temper. [does it work? who can say]

Though I do get in trouble now and then, even still. It's easy to paint someone as a villain in medieval politics.

[ghoststrums]

... Isn't being sent to a nunnery for that is a bit much...?

[ he kind of feels like seducing someone betrothed is the real asshole move but it's not the Point so he'll let it go ]

I guess... at least you were familiar with the setting you ended up in. That must help a little, but... uh, I don't know how much a dating game would go into politics, so never mind.

[azuta]

[that makes her laugh]

It's set among the nobility, so... everything is politics. From the dresses you wear to the tea parties you attend to who speaks to whom first at said party....

[her expression drops a bit]

It's exhausting. I hate politics.

[ghoststrums]

[ yamato makes a face at that ]

I wouldn't have lasted a day in there. I can't even handle the politics back home. [ yamato has never once in his life been diplomatic? ] You've got a lot of determination, Iris.

... But you really don't think you'll ever be able to leave that place? [ does she. even want to?? ]

[azuta]

Ahah, I just don't like condescending people winning over me.

[she can't wage war with throwing a punch but please understand if it was socially acceptable she would. but his question makes her pause and she tilts her head]

... there's not really a way for me to do so - and in truth, I have a lot of responsibilities now... But - since I've been here... I suppose I've been thinking about it. If maybe once I'm done working, I can retire and go back to modern Japan maybe... or somewhere else.

[ghoststrums]

... Are you thinking of going to someone else's world if you can?

[azuta]

Inviting myself is a little rude.

[but she seems amused]

But a visit here and there sounds fun. Maybe I'll just do the - what do they call it? Backpacking? Backpacking through different worlds.

[ghoststrums]

[ he laughs a bit ]

I don't think you can hitchhike through worlds, though, so you'll need to make sure you've got a way to travel.

[azuta]

[she tilts her head thoughtfully]

That's true... I suppose if the wishes upon graduation are available, I wouldn't be surprised if someone used theirs on that.

[a beat]

Well, even if they aren't, I don't think I could leave here without demanding them.

[ghoststrums]

Like a permanent portal between all of our worlds...?

[azuta]

Something along those lines -

I don't see why it wouldn't be possible. But then again, I tend to dream very big.

[ghoststrums]

... It'd be nice if it was. The gate between my world and the Digital World isn't always open, so that might help us out, too.

[azuta]

[well,]

... may I ask what you would use your wish for then, if you got one? Which you will.

[even if she has to twist this story backwards with her bare hands to make sure everyone gets something]

[ghoststrums]

[ oh. he's surprised but touched when he says that and he laughs a bit, but... he tilts his head back in thought ]

I don't know. What I'd want the most back home... is for our two worlds to be able to coexist in peace, I think. It's hard having to be separated from our friends all the time.

[azuta]

[ . . . . she nods at that.]

... I don't mean to pry too much but - does this have something to do with the decision that Taichi told me he made, before you all arrived here?

I suppose a wish would be able to resolve that...

[ghoststrums]

[ oh. hm. ]

... I don't think we can go back from making it. But... if we could bring her back, at least...

[ he sighs a little ]

It wouldn't solve the bigger problems, so it's a little selfish, I guess.

[azuta]

[ . . . she shakes her head.]

It's your wish, as recompense for everything you've gone through. If there's any time to be selfish, I think it's now.

... but there's two of you, at least, if you both have wishes you'd want to affect your home world.

[ghoststrums]

... Both of them are selfish, really. Erasing something terrible we had to do, and finally finding an end to all the fighting we do so we can just be with our friends.

[ Is That Selfish ]

[azuta]

[ . . . . ]

I'm not sure which of those are particularly selfish....

[ghoststrums]

Self-serving, at least. [ how's that different. but he shakes his head ] What about you? Or is it strictly connecting to other worlds?

[azuta]

Ah...

[she looks a bit sheepish at that]

No, I'm afraid I have to rely on the generosity of others if that wish is to come true.

There's someone I have to save, so I'm using my wish for them.

[ghoststrums]

... You don't have to share if you don't want to, but...?

[ well, he's curious now??? ]

[azuta]

[ . . . she glances over at one of the other bouquets - there's one for every member of winter, even if he can't make out the names on the cards.]

... someone isn't willing to use their wish for their own life, so I'm using mine for them.

I'm being a bit selfish too.

[ghoststrums]

... Are they dead back home? [ why does that apply to so many people. ] And... not to steal your line, but I don't see how that's selfish.