[Voice]

[chivalrygrudge]

This week has been weird. Everyone's been really awkward. Even when I talk to the store owners, I end up saying stuff I don't mean.

I tried to kill one of my teammates and he ended up saving my life.

[......................]

I... uh...

I didn't think I was going to live after I killed him.

[............ There's a sniff, as if he's going to start crying, and then he clicks off the SFC.]

Comments

[Text]

[chivalrygrudge]

You shouldn't. None of it is your fault. It's mine.

[...]

You're doing everything you can anyway.

[Voice]

[caesar]

All we can do is our best. We need to, or else what he did will be in vain.

[He pauses but takes an audible breath, so that Ken knows he isn't finished talking - but that breath seems to get caught in his throat. He lets out a small cough, trying to hold back the emotion that wants to pour out. Only talking about Shinji with Ken could get him to this point but he needs to remain strong. He needs to swallow his feelings.]

I don't... Blame you for what happened. [He bites his lower lip again.] Had I been stronger, I could have saved them both.

[Text]

[chivalrygrudge]

If I had been stronger, this wouldn't have been an issue at all.

Missing her just hurt too much.

[Voice]

[caesar]

[What Ken's been through isn't easy - Akihiko knows this all too well. Though his situation hadn't been identical to the boy's, he knew the sting of weakness, of watching someone you love die before your eyes.

Akihiko'd seen it far too many times.]

I know it's hard... But we need to be strong.

[For Ken's mother... For Shinji... For Miki.]

[Text]

[chivalrygrudge]

I know.

... I wish this curse would be over already.

[Voice]

[caesar]

It'll be over soon... I'm sure it will.