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[cognitivism]

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[cognitivism]

Thank you, Haru-chan. [ Her kindness despite everything touched him. Forgiveness may never be in the cards, but he was grateful she would extend her assistance.

He stays silent for a moment, leaning up against the island deep in thought. After all that has happened-- what was next for him? Haru was right, after all. She would return home and everyone would be there with no recollection of their time here. He takes a shallow breath.

It's okay to not be okay. ]

Do you think... I survived?

[ A loaded question, he knows but if his mother couldn't claw her way out of her depression in the end, could he? ]

[girlybruiser]

[ It takes Haru a moment to parse what Goro is asking, so when it does dawn on her her shoulders sink and she has to tear her gaze off him. While she doesn't want to lower his hopes any more than they are, it also seems cruel to tell him he's probably dead back home.

A part of her doesn't want to believe that anyway. Ryuji survived the explosion and that may have been sheer luck. ]

... I think you are too clever to have let Shido beat you. [ She says finally, sounding fairly resolute in her response. ] It took all of us to come up with a plan to deceive you, after all.

[ Some parts of Goro Akechi were a façade, but the other aspects of him held up. ]

I'm sure you found a way.

[cognitivism]

You're very optimistic. I enjoy that about you.

[ But it helps. It gives him some hope that he managed to escape but then what? That's the thing that scared him the most. He didn't know what awaited him when he finally went home. ]

Thank you. It's been a difficult month. Dooku's lightsaber was stolen from me, Akira is gone... my mother died this month. [ He admits quietly. ] Sorry I shouldn't put that on your shoulders.

[girlybruiser]

Count Dooku got back his lightsaber?

[ Her face fills with dread a little at the thought. She may not have been here for the heist, but she's seen him around the network and the people he publicly converses with. They're all frightening in their own regards and from what she understands, Dooku isn't an adversary to take lightly.

But if he got back the lightsaber, which Goro had... ]

Wait. Did he... did he attack you, Goro-kun? Are you okay?

[ As the rest of the information sinks in, she can only offer him a sympathetic look. ]

You don't need to be sorry. I understand it's a heavy burden to carry.

[cognitivism]

I don't think Dooku has it. He offered a reward for its return but I doubt that's where it's going immediately. I was attacked by someone else-- he was clearly hired for the job.

I'm attempting to track down where it's going but I've had no luck so far.

[ A heavy burden that he doesn't want to continue to share now. His mother's suicide was not something he enjoyed talking about. ]

[girlybruiser]

[ That's puzzling to Haru, wondering who else could have the lightsaber. ]

Do you know who it was? Maybe this person wants Dooku to pay a larger sum of money for its safe return? Possibly blackmail.

[ Is Dooku offering money? She actually can't remember.

She notes the change in topic and while she won't press if Goro isn't comfortable speaking about it, Haru won't allow it to slide fairly easily, not when she knows the kind of trauma losing a parent presents can eat someone alive.

Shifting in her seat, she lifts her hand, slow and cautious, before placing it atop of Goro's gently. That's all she does, letting it sit there for a moment. ]

If you ever need to talk to anyone, we— I will be here. [ Quietly, she adds: ] ... and I am sorry about the last time. I shouldn't have done that.