KATE

[situationship]

Comments

[sootprints]

Wh... who is Tengen? Why does he need someone else's body?

[ ignores him ]

[situationship]

[ girl... at least she's not smoking. ]

They're an ancient sorcerer with the innate cursed technique similar to immortality, but at some point they could evolve into a monster, which is why they "refresh" by merging with a new body. Their other technique which is more relevant is being the source for barriers that we use to shield non-sorcerers from seeing us exorcising curses.

... If the masses saw everything they'd get stress and panic, then there would be a curse outbreak born from their negative emotions.

[sootprints]

Curses... just from negative emotions?

[ ... ]

And is it really okay to sacrifice someone for that...?

[situationship]

That's how they're born and that's why the population's peace of mind is important or else curses will flood the nation, maybe the world.

[ Fate is cruel in such a way, but he looks up to the sky. Days at the beach... It was nice. ]

Do you think it is?

[sootprints]

[ her head just starts pouring out more smoke.

and then she shakes her head. ]

[situationship]

[ Pats her sooty head. ]

Good! You, Suguru, and I reached the same answer.

[sootprints]

... Huh?

[ the soot stops. ]

[situationship]

We were going to give her a choice! And if she wanted to just be herself and keep her life, we'd figure everything else out with Tengen. [ ... ] That was how it should have been.

Lesson, cults are always bad.

[sootprints]

I, I see...

You're right. [ about cults. ]

... I wish she could have had that choice.

[situationship]

Suguru delivered her, so he likely extended it like we promised. It doesn't change that she's dead, but... I don't know. Maybe she was happy in the end.

[ Like a fairytale. He rubs his neck. ]

She wouldn't want us getting sad over it and I know she'd call me gross. We have to live life to the fullest!

[sootprints]

Yes... you're right.

[ alas, the spooky shadow-hands emerge once more, and they're pulled into another memory!

in the dead of night, kate and her companions confront a shadow-woman and her partner. when asked to explain themselves for the trouble they've caused, they say they have no time left. they've been invited.

awkward. ]

[situationship]

[ Lord... Satoru blinks as this comes into view, then things are explained. The parallels are very uncanny here and he wonders if Tengen has ever deliberated over adopting a new body like this. How many have been erased?

Same with these dolls... For shadows? ]

Sorry, sorry.

[ Since she's young... And memories for a young girl must be very precious. ]

[sootprints]

[ well. her head is smoking a bit. ]

You don't need to apologize.

[situationship]

[ Pat pat. Less soot. ]

That's still a lot to learn. [ ... ] This all makes sense with how you answered. That's the path you're going to take, too?

[ No erasing. ]

[sootprints]

... Yes.

If that's the cost of gaining a face, then I'd rather stay like this forever.

[situationship]

Not having a face isn't too bad, anyway. You're pretty expressive already.

[ The sooting is part of it, he guesses. ]

You have dolls, right?

[sootprints]

Huh? Do you mean the "living dolls," or...

[ ... just dolls? ]

[situationship]

Living dolls! They're your friends?

[ Him being like why would I ask if you had Barbie's, but does think he should have clarified. ]

[sootprints]

[ well... she nods at that. ]

[situationship]

[ he's going to hope they're not dead. ]

What do you like about them?

[sootprints]

... Emilico is a cheerful girl who draws people in with her warmth and kindness. Shaun is thoughtful and clever. Ricky has a gentle heart, and Lou is perceptive of others' feelings...

[situationship]

Woah, that's a lot of friends, actually. I thought maybe you guys come in pairs...

[ since he saw the two in the memory. ]

They sound like good kids, too. I'm almost a little jealous.

[sootprints]

Oh... we do.

Shaun is John's attendant, as is Ricky with Patrick, Lou with Louise, and Emilico with me.

[ one of these things is not like the others. ]

[situationship]

[ blinks... ]

Your guys' names don't match like the rest of your group.

[sootprints]

It's customary for shadows to name their living dolls after themselves.

... I didn't, though. I wanted Emilico to be her own person, separate from me.