[Perhaps at one point there had been trust, way back at the beginning when they were children and far too young and innocent to know the art of deceit and misuse. But as they aged, and despite maturing to supposedly know better, Kimura was quite certain that everything had began to rot from the inside out. Oh sure, Ruruka had kept her around, but only because she was so useful. Whenever they met, especially after getting into Hope's Peak, it always involved the confectioner asking for something. There was barely a word of thanks, hardly a trace of any gesture of friendship in return. Was she being selfish, was that asking too much? A little give and take rather than just being called a friend when it suited the other girl to do so? Maybe she should have voiced those desires, but she doubted it would have made that much of a difference in the long run, when the decay had already long set in.]
[As for her talent, a desire for people to admire and rely on it, that was an entirely different raw nerve, especially in the light of the way things had turned out during the game. She had to shake off the memories, the faces that floated to the forefront of her mind, pale and lifeless because she had failed to do anything in time, even though her talent should surely have been enough to make a difference. What was there to be proud of when she kept letting others down?]
[Fortunately before that overwhelming regret can claim her thoughts once more, Ruruka's outburst in response to her words proved a good distraction. Amazing really, just when she thought she had exhausted all the rage within her, the other girl was still able to make her skin prickle with frustration and anger.]
Then why was it so easy then? Why was it so easy for you to believe I did something like that, as if there was no doubt of my guilt? You never considered any other possibility, you didn't even try to listen to what I had to say, because you were too busy blaming me for everything!
[She might not have been able to explain exactly what had occurred, only having vague guesses upon replaying events in her mind again and again over the years, but whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? From the way that day unfolded, Ruruka and Izayoi had been ready to sling a noose around her neck that instant. Her classmates, her friends, immediately believed her to be guilty without question. Even now the confectioner ranted on and on like it was fact, that there was no other explanation, and yet didn't understand how much that hurt Seiko to hear. Still, she tried her best to not let it show, gaze fixed and steely as her stare burns into Ruruka, regardless of if she returned the eye contact or not.]
I have nothing to gain from lying to you, so for once, just once, listen carefully. I. Didn't. Tamper. With. Anything!
[As if it mattered, as if she would be believed. And yet, she still wasted her breath saying it. Maybe just for closure since she was denied the chance all those years ago, the chance to finally let it all out and release the weight that had been holding her down for so long.]
Don't act like you were the only ones who got expelled. I lost everything too, but you still faired better. You and Izayoi...at least you had each other, you weren't...alone.
[Sure she had been saved by Munakata and the others, and she respected and admired the older graduates, but it wasn't the same. They were her superiors, colleagues, not her friends. Seiko had never known that closeness before meeting Ruruka, and had never known it again since their falling out. Burying herself in work, in the fight against despair only killed so much time, and as much as she denied it, a part of her still craved that companionship again, even with all the resentment and anger inside. Why else had she kept a stale piece of candy for so many years in her pocket?]
[Before she could wallow in that misery for too long however, she caught the near inaudible murmurs, not really understanding what had been said, looking perplexed.] ...what?
no subject
[As for her talent, a desire for people to admire and rely on it, that was an entirely different raw nerve, especially in the light of the way things had turned out during the game. She had to shake off the memories, the faces that floated to the forefront of her mind, pale and lifeless because she had failed to do anything in time, even though her talent should surely have been enough to make a difference. What was there to be proud of when she kept letting others down?]
[Fortunately before that overwhelming regret can claim her thoughts once more, Ruruka's outburst in response to her words proved a good distraction. Amazing really, just when she thought she had exhausted all the rage within her, the other girl was still able to make her skin prickle with frustration and anger.]
Then why was it so easy then? Why was it so easy for you to believe I did something like that, as if there was no doubt of my guilt? You never considered any other possibility, you didn't even try to listen to what I had to say, because you were too busy blaming me for everything!
[She might not have been able to explain exactly what had occurred, only having vague guesses upon replaying events in her mind again and again over the years, but whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? From the way that day unfolded, Ruruka and Izayoi had been ready to sling a noose around her neck that instant. Her classmates, her friends, immediately believed her to be guilty without question. Even now the confectioner ranted on and on like it was fact, that there was no other explanation, and yet didn't understand how much that hurt Seiko to hear. Still, she tried her best to not let it show, gaze fixed and steely as her stare burns into Ruruka, regardless of if she returned the eye contact or not.]
I have nothing to gain from lying to you, so for once, just once, listen carefully. I. Didn't. Tamper. With. Anything!
[As if it mattered, as if she would be believed. And yet, she still wasted her breath saying it. Maybe just for closure since she was denied the chance all those years ago, the chance to finally let it all out and release the weight that had been holding her down for so long.]
Don't act like you were the only ones who got expelled. I lost everything too, but you still faired better. You and Izayoi...at least you had each other, you weren't...alone.
[Sure she had been saved by Munakata and the others, and she respected and admired the older graduates, but it wasn't the same. They were her superiors, colleagues, not her friends. Seiko had never known that closeness before meeting Ruruka, and had never known it again since their falling out. Burying herself in work, in the fight against despair only killed so much time, and as much as she denied it, a part of her still craved that companionship again, even with all the resentment and anger inside. Why else had she kept a stale piece of candy for so many years in her pocket?]
[Before she could wallow in that misery for too long however, she caught the near inaudible murmurs, not really understanding what had been said, looking perplexed.] ...what?