07 [Voice]

[drawnbythesword]

...Could anyone tell me what the school system here is like?

[Filtered to Richard | 40% unhackable]

Richard, do you mind if I come over? I know you haven't been feeling well lately, but... It's urgent.

[/Filter]

Comments

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[drawnbythesword]

Please, Richard. I wouldn't be asking this of you if I didn't think it was important.

[Filter]

[ledbythewind]

[Might as well just break the news now and get it over with, then.]

Naoki was... sent home several days ago.

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[drawnbythesword]

[That... is not what he was expecting to hear.]

What...?

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[ledbythewind]

Yes. All of his belongings are gone.

[He'd gone over to Naoki's apartment to see for himself, just to be sure.]

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[drawnbythesword]

I... I see... [Damn, that's not the kind of news he was happy to hear.]

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[ledbythewind]

[Richard just remains quiet, obviously not in a very talkative mood right now.]

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[drawnbythesword]

But... That just makes this all the more vital. [Richard, do you really think he'll take a no for an answer?]

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[ledbythewind]

Do you think these people can replace him?

[He snaps it out without thinking, almost automatically.]

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[drawnbythesword]

[...!]

R-Richard...

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[ledbythewind]

[Now he feels bad.]

... I'm sorry, Asbel. I didn't mean...

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[drawnbythesword]

...No, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to imply that, if I did. Of course they can't replace him, he has a different place in your heart.

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[ledbythewind]

Still, I apologize.

[He sounds tired and guilty.]

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[drawnbythesword]

[...He was hoping to make it a surprise when he got there, but... There's no hiding it now.]

...It's Hubert, Pascal, and Sophie.

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[ledbythewind]

They're here as well?

[Asbel, that is not a good surprise. That is a very bad surprise.]

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[drawnbythesword]

[He has good intention, at least. ):]

...Yeah, they are. I know they'd like to see you.

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[ledbythewind]

[Oh, he's sure they all want to see him, all right.]

... even Sophie?

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[drawnbythesword]

... "No matter what may happen, we make the vow to remain friends." ...That's the oath you, Sophie, and I swore on my family's hill, right?

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[ledbythewind]

Yes.

[But many, many things have happened since that day.]

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[drawnbythesword]

...I know a lot's happened since that day, but... nothing can come between our friendship.

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[ledbythewind]

How does Sophie feel about this?

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[drawnbythesword]

...To be honest, I'm sure she's afraid. Afraid that you two might not be friends anymore. [Yeah, that's totally why she's afraid.]

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[ledbythewind]

Afraid of me.

[He can see through your lying, Asbel.]

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[drawnbythesword]

A-ah... That's... [It's not a lie! ...Not intentionally, anyway.]

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[ledbythewind]

You don't have to lie to me, Asbel.

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[drawnbythesword]

...Don't you want to be able to apologize to her for your actions, Richard?