reserved at haven...

[particularity]

...

Oi, you...have you even thought this through? What happened to "I'm gonna wait"? You haven't even decided on a canon point.

[It's even a horror game, haven't I been around that genre enough?]

You got a lotta problems you haven't even considered. At all.

And "it's okay, Komaeda's going too" doesn't make me feel happier about this.

[Isn't that one of the problems...]

Comments

[unluckless]

I wouldn't really expect you to be happy that I'm going too. But I think it's a really great stroke of luck. Leaving the island behind and having new dangers to face!

[Yes. Good.] It's really exciting when you think about it, isn't it, Hinata-kun?

[particularity]

[Speak of the devil and he doth appear... I think that's how it goes.]

I'm having a hard time getting excited when I start thinking about all the stuff that's gonna happen. [Horrifying stuff. Monsters and who knows what else. Every day spent with Komaeda... No, that's a joke. Probably.] Are you really not worried at all about this?

[unluckless]

That's the exciting part! You never know the strength of the hope in your until you have to face the worst things.

That's why I'm really looking forward to a place like this. And to going there with you!

[A pause and he adds.] It's not worth it to worry. Even if something terrible happens, that just means what comes after it will be even better.

[particularity]

[I probably should've guessed the conversation would go like this...]

Wouldn't trying to avoid the terrible things be the better course here?

[unluckless]

[Blink.]

Maybe. But that isn't how it works. Isn't that obvious?

Terrible things happen that you can't really do anything about. Picnics get ruined by rain. Field trips that are supposed to be just field trips get taken over by bears.

[particularity]

[...I guess he's got a point.]

But we know about this. Er, well-- [He sighs a little. Meta knowledge. Never there when one truly needs it.] I guess we won't know anymore when we go there.

Still. I'm gonna be careful; I don't wanna rely on your luck.

[soudalicious]

Y-you're going to that game? With him?

[He's mourning you already, Hinata.]

[unluckless]

Mm! See it'll happen even if we don't really want it to.

...you shouldn't rely on my luck, Hinata-kun. That would be really dangerous. But don't worry, mm? Whatever you need, even if it means you have to step on me to get it, I'll be there to help.

[It's comforting, right? Totally comforting. Nailed it.]

[particularity]

[If Komaeda gets him killed, remember him fondly, Souda.]

Yeah. Looks like I'm the one getting shipped off to a horror game first.

[--and so.] What was that you said before? About having my back? [You owe me by now, I think.]

[soudalicious]

Oh...I did say that...

Okay! I can't let my friends down! You can use one of my hiding places and stay there until your mun gets bored and sends someone else.

[particularity]

I'm not going to step on you for anything!

[Wait, getting mad'll do no good. Komaeda's just being. Uh. Komaeda. Except it's hard not to get riled up.] Listen, Komaeda, it can't just be you helping me or whatever. We're going to have to watch out for each other there.

[These are serious talks, right here, right now.]

[particularity]

[You have hiding places ready for this kind of thing? Wait, am I really surprised...?]

I'm not sure that's gonna work for me so well.

[soudalicious]

Oh. Well, do you have a different plan?

[unluckless]

No?

[Oh. Is that the way Hinata wants to think of it?] Saying things like that, Hinata-kun, makes me think you want us to be friends after all? Can we really have that kind of relationship? Wouldn't people talk?

[particularity]

I was going with the "outline everything that's bad about this" but.

That's doing the opposite of what it should.

[soudalicious]

Maybe you should try crying a lot. It's not gonna be any fun putting you in a game where you just cry a lot, right?

[particularity]

...I'm not going to cry.

[I've still got my pride left.]

[soudalicious]

You're so brave. It'll be a huge loss if you get eaten by a monster...

[particularity]

Don't talk about it!

[particularity]

Who cares? [If it's Komaeda, people are going to be talking about something anyway.]

I'm looking at it practically here. It's gonna be more dangerous than the island [in certain ways] so if we wanna get through it we're gonna have to do something.

[soudalicious]

Sorry!

...Hey, you know what's a great horror game? Holly Heights. It's much scarier. Your mun should reserve you there. Don't even read the premise, it's too terrifying. Won't that be more fun? [Yeah this'll definitely work.]

[unluckless]

That's bold, Hinata! For someone so popular, you aren't very good at pandering.

[That was... probably a compliment.]

I'm looking forward to it! If we're really going to work together, I'm even more excited. But... you really should remember that even if it takes killing me for you to overcome those dangers, for the hope inside you to thrive, then I'd be even happier with that!

[Though...] I guess murder might be frowned upon in other places.

[particularity]

Why would I--

[Nevermind... I can't tell if he's insulting me or not.]

Of course it'd be frowned upon! Murder's normally frowned upon. And I'm not going to be killing you, either. Isn't that exactly the opposite of what I'm suggesting here...

[particularity]

--nice try but. I don't think that's going to work, Souda. Thanks anyway.

[It's a little too suspicious when you say not to read it.]

[unluckless]

[All smiles, Komaeda just shrugs.]

It depends on the situation. If the best way to work together is to not work together.

It only makes sense. [To him.]