alttitude | [ sousei & jae-ha make mistakes ]

[So that's how it is, huh...? Sousei's contemplative, listening and processing, before he finally nods thoughtfully to himself.]

Then in that sense, you've taken the fate that was laid out for you and...followed it anyway.

[Which he's sure grates on Jae-ha. And yet--]

But in another sense, you have simply chosen a path of your own, regardless of the feelings that plague you, and will follow that to the end. Is that correct?

[It does grate on him - it's obvious in the way that his expression wrinkles a bit at the way it's pointed out, though it smooths out again a moment later. He tries not to think about it that way, like he played right into fate's hands but....

He sighs.]

... I follow her and them not because of some ancient prophecy, but because as people they're the ones I want to be with.

Like I wouldn't mind being next to you right now - but I hate it since the castle told me it's what I'm meant to want.

[prickly bitch]

Hm... yes, I see.

[In all honesty:]

I can believe in a sentiment like that. Being forced into something, constrained into some ridiculous fate...

[Bah.]

You are the sort of person who is at your best when you are free anyway, correct?

[Jae-ha lets his gaze fall on Sousei's face for a moment, before it wanders back upward to the ceiling.]

... I think so.

At the very least, I think pursuing that freedom to make whatever choices I want - that's the most beautiful way to live.

Indeed.

[No arguments here, honestly; that's Tenka's way of life now, in a lot of ways, and he's come to admire that.]

It is not something that should be taken from you, either way.

No - that's the truly ugly thing.

[And that he'll say with far more certainty.]

But anything that I endure here.... it's hardly new. Maybe the situation is a little twisted around from usual, but it's nothing that I haven't experienced before.

[Even the loss.

Though what he doesn't say is that this might be the first time he's lost someone so important to him.]

So you shouldn't have reason to worry.

[Sousei just shakes his head at that, simply and calmly, and:]

You do not get to decide for me what I am concerned over or not.

[Yeah.]

I can decide that on my own perfectly well, and I have already decided for myself.