[He frowns a little at the realization that oh god, it is like a detective novel. Hate that.]
The murders... not especially. They were all on my suspect lists, which had grown much shorter over time. Alisaie was the only one I was certain about, however.
The roles? A few. I'm not surprised Kotetsu had one, but the nature of it... I never would have imagined it.
Mmm. A few I suspected, but I scarcely wanted to waste time on them.
[Not when there were new mysteries to solve. Things were pushed aside. It wasn't important, in the moment.]
[He smiles, lightly.]
That's why I knew what you meant by windows. I've seen them alongside him over the last several weeks. He's been keeping that knife close to him without anyone aware.
It was. And I was...I was honestly worried. I kept his role even secret from the others for a long while, since his duty seemed far larger than all of us.
[He notices the other trailing off.]
Those windows...if left open, brought ruin. And I'm sure...you saw that firsthand.
I'm sure it was nothing compared to what some of us went through. [Some of us specifically including Sholmes, right here.] In many ways, I was fortunate.
[There's a long pause as those words sink in. Kim shifts his sitting position, slightly. He might seem just a bit more relaxed.]
... Yes.
If not for Kijima, I would have been thrown through the window and left to die -- likely of exposure. And it was Diluc who staunched the bleeding and carried me when I was too weak to walk. Kotetsu and Nero were there to help mere minutes after we made it back...
[The cigarette he's been smoking drops to the ground below, and he now has a detective's hand instead. It's not a bad trade-off.]
...Yes, well...
[He's at a loss for words, still unsure of how to react in situations like this. How to handle emotional openness...]
I'm flattered to hear that. And... not to worry. These events may have shaken me, it's true. But I am far from defeated. I'm prepared to see all of this through to the end, with the rest of you.
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[He waves back - Irene in beagle form at his side lets out a little bark.]
Did any of that surprise you?
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The murders... not especially. They were all on my suspect lists, which had grown much shorter over time. Alisaie was the only one I was certain about, however.
The roles? A few. I'm not surprised Kotetsu had one, but the nature of it... I never would have imagined it.
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[Not when there were new mysteries to solve. Things were pushed aside. It wasn't important, in the moment.]
[He smiles, lightly.]
That's why I knew what you meant by windows. I've seen them alongside him over the last several weeks. He's been keeping that knife close to him without anyone aware.
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... A little disturbing, to think they've been among us all this time. Those windows...
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[He notices the other trailing off.]
Those windows...if left open, brought ruin. And I'm sure...you saw that firsthand.
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Some of it, yes.
And it's not hard to imagine what more they could do... keeping the bombs and the windows together in one place. They could deploy them anywhere.
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[A pause, as he looks at Kim for a long moment. His tone is soft, concerned.]
...What you saw there...it was terrifying for you, wasn't it?
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[A few moments pass.]
But, yes.
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[He glances towards the missing leg.]
Losing a limb, certainly, is nothing to sneeze at.
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Even more so to think that somewhere, in some distant world, there is a piece of me that is slowly rotting in the wilderness.
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[He frowns.]
However, the most important part of that is...you're here. An arm may be gone, but you are here, certainly not rotting but alive. Thriving. Among us.
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... Yes.
If not for Kijima, I would have been thrown through the window and left to die -- likely of exposure. And it was Diluc who staunched the bleeding and carried me when I was too weak to walk. Kotetsu and Nero were there to help mere minutes after we made it back...
[His voice wavers just a little.]
I'm truly grateful to be here. Among you.
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[He reaches out to touch the man's hand, before solidly grasping it. His words are nothing but sincere.]
We are truly grateful to have you with us. We are blessed for that.
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...Yes, well...
[He's at a loss for words, still unsure of how to react in situations like this. How to handle emotional openness...]
I'm flattered to hear that. And... not to worry. These events may have shaken me, it's true. But I am far from defeated. I'm prepared to see all of this through to the end, with the rest of you.