[He doesn't know what to think. If he should think that she'd fooled him so thoroughly, or if he should assume Komaeda's lying. But why would he lie, what would be the point? But then again, what would be the point of her tricking him?
It hurts, somewhere right in the middle of his chest, and it shows in the way his brows furrow and he pushes the basket with the remains of his fries away.]
[He flinches as if struck. If it's the collar... doesn't that mean it was the first night they'd all been there? The same night he'd had sex with her the first time and been so worried about taking advantage afterward.
But then... forcing someone to do something like that doesn't sound innocent at all.]
To see how the limits of the collar. Though it makes one obedient, there are different ways to comply. For example, one could do the literal request rather than the spirit of the request, or the bare minimum of what constitutes as something. Brushed lips for example could constitute a "kiss".
Understanding how useful an item like that would probably be a priority for the first night. Though, I did take it away so she didn't have it after that point.
[Somehow, he can't help but wonder if it's his fault. If he'd somehow been the one to convince her to go along with the rules of this place. But no, that was stupid, right?]
I know. I'm just... glad I have someone I can trust.
[And he's almost surprised to say that aloud and realize that he actually does mean it. He can trust Komaeda. They're away from the extremes of the island, they're away from those kinds of weird situations where people were getting hurt, and Komaeda... Komaeda has done nothing but support him this entire time.]
[He hadn't been expecting to hear that, but the moment of confusion melted into a bright smile, and in his eagerness to just hug Hinata at those wonderful words he almost knocks over their lunch.]
I can't be the only person you feel comfortable around... what if something happens to me?
[What if they end up in a situation like the island...? He's still not entirely certain that they're in the real world, that this isn't just some other level of the Neo World Program.]
Not that I'd leave on purpose, but more like... if I get hurt. If we end up in another dangerous situation like the island.
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[He doesn't know what to think. If he should think that she'd fooled him so thoroughly, or if he should assume Komaeda's lying. But why would he lie, what would be the point? But then again, what would be the point of her tricking him?
It hurts, somewhere right in the middle of his chest, and it shows in the way his brows furrow and he pushes the basket with the remains of his fries away.]
What happened, Komaeda? When you first met?
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[That in and of itself wasn't so bad, he had willingly offered to test it after all.]
Ah, but that part wasn't so bad. I was curious how such a thing would work anyway and was willing to help try it out.
However, she forced me to masturbate in front of her....
[Which had been embarrassing and uncomfortable.]
But, in a way, I can't complain, she caused bad luck... but it always balances out.
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[He flinches as if struck. If it's the collar... doesn't that mean it was the first night they'd all been there? The same night he'd had sex with her the first time and been so worried about taking advantage afterward.
But then... forcing someone to do something like that doesn't sound innocent at all.]
Why...?
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Understanding how useful an item like that would probably be a priority for the first night. Though, I did take it away so she didn't have it after that point.
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[Somehow, he can't help but wonder if it's his fault. If he'd somehow been the one to convince her to go along with the rules of this place. But no, that was stupid, right?]
I didn't think she was that kind of person.
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[He had tried to say something.]
But in the end, she never did anything bad to you, so it's fine. What does it matter?
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[As soon as he says it, he knows how selfish and arrogant he sounds. It still hurts to think about, though, and he shakes his head roughly.]
Never mind, it's stupid.
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[Maybe he should have kept that secret to himself and let Hinata have the illusion instead.... Too late now.]
It's not. And perhaps, what she showed you wasn't as much of a lie as you think. Perhaps it was someone she wanted to be?
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[He doesn't sound convinced, raking a hand through his hair.]
She didn't say goodbye, though. So she was what, just using me? Pretending to be someone she wasn't?
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[And he had identified with her pretty well, though he didn't approve of her methods or her lack of care for anyone.]
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[He can't help but think about Peko, and his teeth grit together.]
People aren't tools. She was... really kind to me, and I'm supposed to just accept that I didn't mean anything at all to her?
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[What else could he say? She had told him that no one mattered to her. The only people who seemed to for her were dead.]
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[He doesn't answer for a long while, just shaking his head. It's hard to reconcile this with the girl he'd known. Or thought he'd known, anyway.
Eventually, he just smiles weakly without looking up.]
At least you're still here.
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[What a silly thing to be glad over. After all, it was a choice to make whether to leave or stay once the ability to do so was reached.]
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[And he's almost surprised to say that aloud and realize that he actually does mean it. He can trust Komaeda. They're away from the extremes of the island, they're away from those kinds of weird situations where people were getting hurt, and Komaeda... Komaeda has done nothing but support him this entire time.]
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[He hadn't been expecting to hear that, but the moment of confusion melted into a bright smile, and in his eagerness to just hug Hinata at those wonderful words he almost knocks over their lunch.]
I'm so glad!
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[Hinata would scoot back, but they're in booths for a proper diner atmosphere and thus has nowhere to go.]
Y-yeah, I mean...
[He looks like he's about to say something, pauses, and thinks better of it.]
Yeah. I guess I do.
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[Not that he understood why, the reasons he thought about where all the wrong ones.]
But this means that we can work together better.
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[He laughs, kind of awkwardly, and tries to scoot back into his seat more properly.]
I mean... I'll try.
[It's unspoken, but it's obvious in his eyes in the look he gives the other boy -- don't do anything to make me regret this.]
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I know that you trying is already more than enough.
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[He exhales a sigh and shakes his head, lips twisting into a frown.]
Hey, Komaeda... have you been able to make any friends, here? It's different from the island.
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There are nice people I've talked to and done things with?
[Did that count as friends?]
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[He relaxes back in his seat and sighs.]
But I mean like... I don't know, someone you can confide in and feel comfortable around. Like... I thought maybe Hazama could have been.
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There are people I don't mind talking to about certain subjects, however, it would take more than casual interaction to get that close to someone.
Especially when there's already someone I confide in and feel comfortable around.....
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[What if they end up in a situation like the island...? He's still not entirely certain that they're in the real world, that this isn't just some other level of the Neo World Program.]
Not that I'd leave on purpose, but more like... if I get hurt. If we end up in another dangerous situation like the island.
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