𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯.

[unequally]

s h a d o w;
1. a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
2. used in reference to proximity, ominous oppressiveness, or sadness and gloom.
OTA 25/8 - Action, Texts, Etc.
( art )

Comments

[unequally]

Probably.

[ megumi likewise debates his answer. he knows the rules and generally abides by them (you know until he doesn't...) but especially involving a civilian like this...but if he's not explicit in what's going on that is fine? it makes it worse actually. hm. he knows what tsumiki would do in his situation, his sister being kinder and more open about it to boot. but tsumiki would never be in this situation in the first place so why compare? because he can't help it. even as he criticizes people for being kind or too soft, it might as well be the pot calling the kettle black. ultimately it is only a second later from the first text that he sends, ]

My part-time work brings me there a lot. It might be easier to just transfer.

[ that's not a lie. they send megumi out to this area at least once every two weeks if not more, definitely more in the winter. ]

[tepidity]

[ megumi's answer is the perfect and dangerous amount of innocuous and open, allowing nisaka just enough hope that he immediately feels stupid for it. this isn't something to be excited about; if anything, he should feel very, very worried. ]

That particular side street can get pretty busy after school hours, so if you're in a rush again I'd try to avoid it if you can.

[ in return, nisaka does his best to remain just as casual, distant. a simple offer of advice, from a native to a non-native, as a sort of would-be-thank-you to a would-be-rescue. this is fine, right? no one's committing to anything. ]

[unequally]

"Busy" the way it was busy when I ran into you?

[ and just like that, the unwritten rule of not prying is once again annihilated but maybe megumi feels this is not as much 'prying' as it is clarification. if it is that kind of 'busy', he'll just have to be quicker about bullies than his past-self. then on to work. no one can yell at him or admonish him for doing things his way if he gets everything done right? ]

[tepidity]

[ ...

how the hell did he manage to read between the lines so easily? ]

It's a pretty popular spot for that kind of activity.

[unequally]

[ on his end of things, megumi sighs because not surprised, given he asked the question himself, but people in general are so disappointing. stressful. not nisaka. but the people responsible for the 'busy' hours of that place. why aren't teachers more mindful or aware? he can't imagine something so regular could go unnoticed by everyone. but some would surely choose to Ignore it for their own selfish reasons, even if kids are getting hurt.

it makes him sick honestly. ]

I'll keep that in mind.

[ ex-delinquent soon to be delinquent-anew. that school is going to start having rumors that will get back to megumi's school about a 'devil' who seems to consistently beat up bullies but is never 'seen'. then megumi's "teacher" will have a solid hour laugh about it when he realizes the truth.

"you can't really mind your own business, can you, megumi?"

maybe not. ]

[tepidity]

[ nisaka can't help but feel a little guilty, actually. isn't he just burdening some virtual stranger with nonsense? problems that are nisaka's alone to deal with (and, frankly, sometimes his own that he creates), yet here he is, talking so freely about it like he expects megumi to do something. he doesn't. but he imagines megumi might actually be a decent person, and what decent person wouldn't feel the weight of knowing someone else is suffering?

nisaka really is selfish, isn't he? and all this for what? the chance to speak to someone outside of it all? pathetic. ]

Don't let it trouble you too much. [ please. ]

[unequally]

It's not any trouble. I'm in the area plenty, and I usually have time to kill.

[ waiting for 'emergencies' to show up and all. it wouldn't sit right with megumi if he knew that nisaka felt guilty, but having no idea, he can only make clear his own perspective on the situation, which is as stated above. in ways, it is a completely logical use of time. if he can handle cursed spirits, he can certainly handle five or ten or twenty ill behaved morons who think their lacks of empathy and sympathy are fine to operate on with other human beings. ]

[tepidity]

Are you some kind of teenage vigilante?
You could get hurt, or in trouble.

[ even with his guilt, nisaka almost laughs. who is this guy? ]

[unequally]

[ megumi more or less kermits....for a second... ]

I don't get hurt easily and I don't usually get in trouble either. I just don't like bullies.

[ about as straightforward as one can be... ]

[tepidity]

[ nisaka is this 🤏 close to asking if he goes around wearing a mask, too, but he refrains. as amusing as the thought is, he has to step back into seriousness for a moment. ]

Even still. I'd feel pretty awful if any of that happened to you because of me.

[unequally]

If anything happens to me it would be my own fault, not yours.

[tepidity]

Nice try, but I'm not that naive.

[unequally]

It's not about being naive. It's the truth.
I'm responsible for myself.

[tepidity]

But you wouldn't have known about it if it weren't for me.
So it's not only your responsibility.

[unequally]

I won't get hurt.

[ because he is just stubborn enough to not say 'okay maybe' to that ]

[tepidity]

Are you Superman?

[unequally]

Definitely not.

[tepidity]

You'd be outnumbered. Even strong people have their limits.

[unequally]

I mean I never kept count but I'm sure I'd be fine.

[ he is Trying to remember but a Pile Of Bodies is just...such a vague measurement...but surely decent to place conviction in?!... ]

[tepidity]

[ ........ ]

So you're just... okay with this.

[unequally]

I'd be less okay just pretending I didn't see it.

[tepidity]

There's nothing I can say to dissuade you?

[unequally]

To be honest, and not waste your time: no.

[tepidity]

Will you at least let me thank you?

[unequally]

It's not really necessary. I'm not acting out of selflessness. That kind of behavior is just something I can't tolerate.

[ people with a fractional often even false sense of power stepping all over others often 'because they can'. maybe it shouldn't tick him off as much as it does, but...well. too late. ]