[... his half-sister, then. belph remembers. we loved each other.
even if it's a simple memory, it's invasive; all the more so considering what kind of person hikage is. he closes his eyes.]
...
[and then, at the sound of a voice, he opens them again, startled.
"not so fast."
it's a male voice. the room is white, futuristic, and enclosed, with no windows—looking almost like a cell. there stands a girl, looking stricken. the view turns around—at the entrance is a man, with long blond hair. again, he speaks.
"I knew this would happen. I have been keeping an eye on you for this reason. you are being way too defiant, my dear belph."
belph's voice, now—uncharacteristically angry. "it was you who broke the promise in the first place, and you expect me to listen?"
"I have told you not to have any expectations. this is a world where you have to carve things with your own hands to get what you want. albec has failed me. I will not let that happen again. if you are not listening, then I will force you until you will."
for a moment, belph is quiet. then— "I remember that a long time ago you told me that my old man died because of radiation poisoning. how could he have died if we already had the vaccine?"
"..."
"I could guess even if you don't tell me, because I've experienced the same feeling just as he had ten years ago."
shock strikes the man's face. "belph, you...!"
in contrast, belph's tone is neutral. quiet, but steady. "if you don't want anything to happen to me—then let go of elcia. that's my only wish."
"... like father, like son." the man's eyes narrow, before closing. "is this fate? ... very well. I will let her off. but you have to remain here."
"I didn't intend to leave in the first place. there's no place for me to run, anyway."
in the present, belph watches, his expression unreadable.]
no subject
even if it's a simple memory, it's invasive; all the more so considering what kind of person hikage is. he closes his eyes.]
...
[and then, at the sound of a voice, he opens them again, startled.
"not so fast."
it's a male voice. the room is white, futuristic, and enclosed, with no windows—looking almost like a cell. there stands a girl, looking stricken. the view turns around—at the entrance is a man, with long blond hair. again, he speaks.
"I knew this would happen. I have been keeping an eye on you for this reason. you are being way too defiant, my dear belph."
belph's voice, now—uncharacteristically angry. "it was you who broke the promise in the first place, and you expect me to listen?"
"I have told you not to have any expectations. this is a world where you have to carve things with your own hands to get what you want. albec has failed me. I will not let that happen again. if you are not listening, then I will force you until you will."
for a moment, belph is quiet. then— "I remember that a long time ago you told me that my old man died because of radiation poisoning. how could he have died if we already had the vaccine?"
"..."
"I could guess even if you don't tell me, because I've experienced the same feeling just as he had ten years ago."
shock strikes the man's face. "belph, you...!"
in contrast, belph's tone is neutral. quiet, but steady. "if you don't want anything to happen to me—then let go of elcia. that's my only wish."
"... like father, like son." the man's eyes narrow, before closing. "is this fate? ... very well. I will let her off. but you have to remain here."
"I didn't intend to leave in the first place. there's no place for me to run, anyway."
in the present, belph watches, his expression unreadable.]