Oda

[nosediving]

Comments

[odasaku]

[ oda.exe has stopped working ]

What troubles me?

[nosediving]

[ time to start pressing every key in sight. ]

Ah—this might be forward of me, but your difficulty with putting down the words in your mind . . . Is that not called a block? An open discussion may be of help.

[odasaku]

I...no, it's not forward. It's fine.

[ but he actually looks a little unsure about this. ]

I just don't know if I can do something like that. It's...really nothing that bad.

[nosediving]

[ he studies oda like he wants to say more, but ultimately doesn't press the matter. ]

I won't force you; however, I'll listen if you have anything to say.

[ anything at all. in the meantime, he reaches over to take a fountain pen. ]

[odasaku]

It's fine.

[ the more oda says it, the less he believes it but...oh well. ]

Are you okay? It must be hard to deal with this.

[ especially since he thought there wouldn't be any murder, ]

[nosediving]

[ tucking the pen away, he closes his eyes and inhales. as he exhales, his shoulders slump a little. ]

Ah, so you remember. You don't need to worry. This is not the first time I have witnessed death.

[odasaku]

...I see.

[ oda knows that he shouldn't feel surprised by this and, technically he isn't. however, he can't help but sigh. ]

I'm sorry, though--that you have to go through this. It sounded like you really wanted things to be solved peacefully.

[nosediving]

Even if death isn't permanent here, it is vicious to take the life of a junior. With how many children are taking part in this contest, I thought the majority of us would have agreed upon this . . .

[odasaku]

It'd be nice if things actually worked like that. Even when it's not permanent, people always go for those that can't defend themselves.

[ there's a slight tinge of bitternness in oda's otherwise neutral tone. ]

[nosediving]

Then it falls on us as their elders to protect them; however, this curfew makes it nearly impossible for this one to carry out such an important task here.

[odasaku]

We can only do so much until Thursday evening comes around. Then it's just left to fate.

[ and boy how he hates that ]

[nosediving]

Is there really nothing that can be done? In the past, we’ve witnessed our fair share of miracles through fervent prayer and audiences with the great gods. Is it too optimistic to appeal for a week where the contest advances without anyone's death?