[Video]

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

[There's a man, red eyes and white hair, smirking into the camera. There are books behind him, so it's fairly obvious where he is right now.]

Well, isn't this an interesting organization? I am Councilor Naoya, from World-SMTDS.

I look forward to becoming more involved with you all.

Comments

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

[It is the then that all the worry, the doubts, the fear from the past few months--for him--come to a head. Seeing Naoya there, alive and all right, makes something well up in him and he takes a few steps forward, hugging Naoya tight.]

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

[He sighs. Of course. He should have expected something like this. He puts a hand on Akira's back, just letting him get his emotions out.]

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

[It takes a moment, but then Akira pulls back, doing his best to keep his face stoic despite the hug and failing miserably at it.]

Don't ever make me worry like that again.

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

[He snorts softly and can't help a little chuckle.]

You sound like your mother.

[Both of them.]

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

[He rolls his eyes. Yeah, he gets he kind of does, but....]

Do not.

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

You do.

[He chuckles, and replaces the book he's holding on the shelf.]

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

No I don't. [Though he's laughing a little, too, and puts his hands in his pockets to help keep them to himself.]

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

You can keep saying that, but it doesn't make it true.

[Though it's amusing him, at least.]

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

Yes it does. [He's not even pretending to be serious about it at this point. It's nice to be able to joke around like this with Naoya again.]

But seriously. You could've at least put in an appearance back home to let us know you were okay.

[The e-mails were reassuring and all, but it doesn't beat the person himself.]

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

I'm quite capable of taking care of myself. You should be worried about keeping you and your friends alive.

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

Why do you think I brought them here when I got the chance? It's safe here. Sort of.

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

Haha... I see. A good plan.

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but we still can't go home. Time more or less stops back there while we're here, so we need to find a way to lift the Lockdown.

[There's a pause as he thinks. Naoya does seem to know more about what's going on than he should and, other than the disappearing act he pulls at home, he has no reason not to trust him.]

Then there's this Throne of Bel thing I got caught up in.

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

Throne of Bel? What about it?

[This was frustrating... there was no telling what he could have found out while here.]

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

Apparently by defeating Beldr, I got his power so now I'm part of some tournament to get the Throne. Only.... I don't feel any different.

[Plus the weird guy in the nice suit kept calling Naoya his 'brother.' Akira hasn't referred to Naoya as his brother since he was in middle school. Outside of when he's intentionally being annoying to him, at least.]

I think.... even if we lift the Lockdown this Throne of Bel thing might keep happening. And I have no idea who to ask since.... well, I don't want the people here getting caught up in this. Atsuro and Yuzu are bad enough--I doubt they'd let me go home to finish it by myself.

[He has questions for Naoya. So many questions since that guy mentioned him specifically, but he isn't sure if he should ask or not. Maybe the best thing is to see what he has to say about the tournament itself....]

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

Mm. That is a difficult situation, now isn't it?

[He lets out a deep breath. It's not information he's not going to give away unless he's specifically asked, after all.]

Have you spoken to them about it?

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

[He knows this. Naoya's just that sort of person. So's Akira when he needs to be.]

A bit, but.... I'm nervous. Just surviving was one thing, and it'd be another if this was just me, but.... I'm going to get stronger. I have to if I need to beat this Belial guy next and lift the Lockdown. [And save Midori and Keisuke and Atsuro and Yuzu.]

No one here knows you wrote the summoning program, by the way.

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

Yes, you do.

... Good. I'd appreciate it if you could keep it that way.

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

Well, the simulation chambers here are pretty good. That might help.

Atsuro and Yuzu know to keep it to themselves, too, so that's all bases covered as far as I know.

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

Mm. Most likely.

[He's going to have to talk to Atsuro more at a later point... the boy's getting too nosy.]

If you need me to look at anything regarding your COMP, let me know.

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

I will.

[He goes silent for a moment, thinking, then speaks up.]

Before all this happened, you were doing well, right? Mom was worried if you were eating enough.

[It's pretty much guaranteed he isn't going to talk further about the Lockdown if he's bringing up his mother.]

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

I was fine. Just because I'm skinny doesn't mean I'm not eating.

[nekotagonist.livejournal.com]

You know how she is: if she doesn't actually see people eating, she thinks they're starving themselves.

[bloody-program.livejournal.com]

True.

[That doesn't mean he's been eating much, but it's enough.]

I've been busy in recent months, with all the projects I've been doing.