lili.

[nonbelligerent]

Comments

[coastal]

[ . . .

she looks back into the pond and lets her fingers flick in the water]

... how am I supposed to believe they want to help people, if they're not being honest?

[nonbelligerent]

People generally prioritize self-preservation as well. To be frank, you're unusually selfless, Lili.

[coastal]

[she doesn't like that at all - and even if the words might technically be a compliment, for some reason it just makes her frown more]

.... no. Four did something impressive today.

Even though people still doubted her enough to vote for her, she gave us more information to work with.

Isn't that what people ought to do?

[nonbelligerent]

"Ought to do" is a rather subjective view. In any case, for many, it's easier said than done.

[coastal]

... I know that...

[does she?]

I thought that I -

[she just looks more frustrated and a little bit like some of her composure is cracking]

... I still don't understand people at all, Shess.

[nonbelligerent]

Understanding people is one of the hardest tasks in life. You're not exactly alone in that regard.

[coastal]

But we have to here, right?

We have to be able to know what another person is like in order to see if they're corrupted and yet -

No one... with Swift Wind...!!

[she didn't even suspect it?]

[nonbelligerent]

Swift Wind was quite a surprise to me as well.

[and jan should just stop coming up with theories because they're always wrong]

[coastal]

He's been like that for two weeks...

[since junna!!!]

How must he be feeling?

[nonbelligerent]

Terrible, probably. Without the darkness, he was nothing but eager to help.

[coastal]

... so he's suffering too...

[and yet other people are dead and it's his fault and

ugh]

... at least there's a way to help him without costing him his life.

[nonbelligerent]

Yes. Let's hope it works.

[a pause, because even if he doesn't say anything, kara's probably going to tell lili anyway:]

Ookurikara and I also received an item that sounds as if it will serve the same purpose.

[coastal]

[ . . .

that makes her pause]

Are you only telling me because I gave Akane a hard time?

[which

now she's unsure if that was the right thing also]

[nonbelligerent]

I won't deny that for my own safety, I'd have preferred to keep quiet until the time came, but Ookurikara also believes we should be open about it.

[coastal]

[ . . . this is why lili likes kara so much but]

What makes it unsafe?

[she really doesn't seem to understand, but there's at least the fact that now she's trying to get it]

You don't need to announce that you have it - only that the possibility exists. Just like you did today with the food items...

What's wrong with giving people hope?

[nonbelligerent]

I believe Ookurikara wanted me to admit possessing the object at all, unless I misunderstood him.

[coastal]

I don't think you have to do that...

[hmmm]

He's straightforward, but probably has faith that if anyone were to attack you or him, it'd only make it simpler for you to know who you'd have to cut down.

[that's

what lili would do if she was strong enough to be honest]

[nonbelligerent]

If it comes down to that, then I suppose I'm one of the better options.

[especially since he's like

not maimed.

but he's also not leaping at the opportunity to make a potential living sacrifice of himself, especially before he completes his task.]

[coastal]

... that wasn't a suggestion.

Don't actually do that.

[she doesn't want shess to be in danger!!]

[nonbelligerent]

I'm getting somewhat mixed signals here.

[coastal]

Just because I can make a guess at what Ookurikara might be thinking doesn't mean I agree with him.

I think it's good to know that these items exist, but no one is obligated to say that they personally possess them and bring danger to themselves.

[nonbelligerent]

I suppose. Though, is that not the point Akane was making for herself?

[coastal]

She waited a week to even mention the foray into the gateway and how they were able to combat it when we had no other direction. That's not the same as declaring that they have a way to save specific lives.

That is what I find stupid.

[nonbelligerent]

I admit, I was a bit frustrated that she deliberately omitted that bit when I spoke to her, even if I later got some of the missing parts from another person.

Though to give her the benefit of the doubt, without Namine's item, she may have believed the information to be useless.

[coastal]

[she frowns at that]

... I don't know if I'll be able to understand her. She said she wanted to be my friend, but she said she wasn't sure if she even wanted to help if there was a chance that Minato might not be looked after.

[which led to lili's immediate drop in opinion of akane]