[Point. He thinks on this for a moment, but after a soft cough, decides this isn't even an issue.] I doubt they care that much. I'm just the lowly grunt who sells candy bars.
You haven't gotten rid of them yet? I figured that would have been the first thing you would have done to completely cut all ties.
I'm not saying that. But your... word of choice... [There's a pause, and he just opts for not continuing. Really, he's just annoyed that you keep telling people they're friends.] It's not even worth arguing. You're as stubborn as they come.
[But if they're in his box, then he's pretty safe for the time being.] ...Alright. Just don't do anything obviously conspicuous. And at least get word to the others where you're headed. ['So they'll know you're safe', he wants to add, but he won't.]
[Hijirikawa's annoyed over "Ren's words of choice". Ren understands why. Everyone he's talked to must have thought Ren and Hijirikawa were friends. Actually, everyone must have thought everyone who came from his world was... when in reality, it wasn't that simple.]
I have just said that we're in the same band, the four of us, which is the reality I come from. I have said nothing more than that. It's been up to them to decide if we're comrades or just people that know one another when in in reality... [He hesitates before adding with a small dose of hurt in his voice.] When in reality the only friends I have are in this world.
[Except Haruka, but even that was complicated. Complicated and painful.]
I see no point in telling them, because we're "just bandmates". If you're so worried on what they think, why don't you tell them. You probably get along with them better than I do anyway.
[He can already hear that edge coming back to Ren's voice, and Masato's pretty sure that his little 'concern' has definitely upset him. And while Masato wants to just not care, he actually feels a little bad for it. There's a long moment of silence on his end.]
I'm pretty certain the other bandmates see you as a friend, whether you want to push them aside or not. You've probably got more than you assume you do.
[There's another long silence, and he actually feels a little guilty when he admits this:] ...I haven't corrected anyone.
I somehow doubt that. Well, not with Haruka, but the others.
[He's not even kidding. He doesn't feel too much of a bond between the three of them. Actually, the only one he really cared to talk with was Ichinose and even that was mostly business talk. He also talked with Kurusu, especially in this world, but even that... wasn't really what he'd call friendship.
Sometimes it felt like they were just a punch of guys pulled together by Haruka - no real bond had really started developing yet. At least that's how Ren saw things.
Not that it really mattered. At least not right now. They'd figure out how things were once there was a better time and place to do that.]
Maybe you should start correcting them, if it bothers you so much. [Or then you could just try to be friends-- yeah, like that's possible.]
But you don't know for a fact. Have you ever considered just asking, Jinguji?
[Not that he thinks it'll help much, but it had to be worth something. He half wonders if this is just Jinguji's normal habit of just not letting people get close, but Masato isn't the best to help with that. After all, he's hardly got friends as it is. Social connections who will come in handy later, but that's really it.
They're a messed up set, but Masato's not sure he's the first who'd make the step to change that. Instead, he scoffs.]
And have to deal with trying to explain it if they ask? Hardly worth the effort.
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Feb 28 | voice
[... he could have also said that a guy like you isn't fit for the team, but he doesn't want to sound like he's that worried.]
It's too early. I would be putting them in danger if I'd contact and meet up with them. Especially because of the microchips... they're still there.
Feb 28 | voice
You haven't gotten rid of them yet? I figured that would have been the first thing you would have done to completely cut all ties.
Feb 28 | voice
[Or something like that.]
I haven't had the time to do that. I had plans, but then I had to run away.
Feb 28 | voice
Well... do that. So they can't track you anymore. It'll make running easier in the long run, I'd imagine.
Feb 28 | voice
[Stop sighing, it's starting to annoy Ren.]
They've been on my PC this whole time, so they can't really track me with them. I will do that as soon as I can.
Feb 28 | voice
[But if they're in his box, then he's pretty safe for the time being.] ...Alright. Just don't do anything obviously conspicuous. And at least get word to the others where you're headed. ['So they'll know you're safe', he wants to add, but he won't.]
Feb 28 | voice
I have just said that we're in the same band, the four of us, which is the reality I come from. I have said nothing more than that. It's been up to them to decide if we're comrades or just people that know one another when in in reality... [He hesitates before adding with a small dose of hurt in his voice.] When in reality the only friends I have are in this world.
[Except Haruka, but even that was complicated. Complicated and painful.]
I see no point in telling them, because we're "just bandmates". If you're so worried on what they think, why don't you tell them. You probably get along with them better than I do anyway.
Feb 28 | voice
I'm pretty certain the other bandmates see you as a friend, whether you want to push them aside or not. You've probably got more than you assume you do.
[There's another long silence, and he actually feels a little guilty when he admits this:] ...I haven't corrected anyone.
Feb 28 | voice
[He's not even kidding. He doesn't feel too much of a bond between the three of them. Actually, the only one he really cared to talk with was Ichinose and even that was mostly business talk. He also talked with Kurusu, especially in this world, but even that... wasn't really what he'd call friendship.
Sometimes it felt like they were just a punch of guys pulled together by Haruka - no real bond had really started developing yet. At least that's how Ren saw things.
Not that it really mattered. At least not right now. They'd figure out how things were once there was a better time and place to do that.]
Maybe you should start correcting them, if it bothers you so much. [Or then you could just try to be friends-- yeah, like that's possible.]
Feb 28 | voice
[Not that he thinks it'll help much, but it had to be worth something. He half wonders if this is just Jinguji's normal habit of just not letting people get close, but Masato isn't the best to help with that. After all, he's hardly got friends as it is. Social connections who will come in handy later, but that's really it.
They're a messed up set, but Masato's not sure he's the first who'd make the step to change that. Instead, he scoffs.]
And have to deal with trying to explain it if they ask? Hardly worth the effort.
Feb 28 | voice
[Like he wanted it to become a huge scene of Kurusu yelling at him and Haruka looking like Ren had just sold the world to the devils.
Besides, it wasn't the time or the place to do that.]
Then quit complaining.
Feb 28 | voice
Tch. Just find the others once you're able to get rid of the chips so they're not completely left in the dark on where to find you.
Feb 28 | voice
I'll see what I can do.
Though if you talk to them, tell them I'm fine.
Feb 28 | voice
[And himself, but he's not adding that one.]
Feb 28 | voice