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[isdf]

HELLO

"Greetings. This is Kisaragi Yuma."

GOODBYE

TEXT | VIDEO | VOICE | ACTION

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[aerodynamic]

[ he tilts his head slightly, looking yuma over with deep consideration. ]

I can see ways you've improved since we've met, actually. You might not see the same ones, but I think that can be said for everybody.

[isdf]

[He blinks.]

Is that so . . . ?

[aerodynamic]

It's always easier to see it in other people than yourself, don't you think?

[isdf]

Not necessarily . . . How do you think I've improved?

[aerodynamic]

You're a little less stringent, for one thing. I feel like you're actually listening to what I'm saying now even when you don't agree with it. You're more open to at least considering things that aren't quite productive. And people have shared some good opinions about you. It means you're connecting to other people.

[isdf]

[He's not sure how he should feel about coming off as more open to being unproductive . . . ]

. . . Have they?

[The people. That's rare.]

[aerodynamic]

Yeah. [ he tilts his head again. ] People like you, dude. They care about what happens to you here. Is that unusual?

[isdf]

[He doesn't answer straightaway.

Most people tolerate him. Being liked has never been something he's sought or experienced in the way of much.]

[aerodynamic]

[ ... oh. ]

Have... you ever liked people? [ platonically. ]

[isdf]

By that, do you mean if I ever cared about what happened to someone? . . . Then yes.

[aerodynamic]

But it hasn't been the same for you in reverse. [ what the fuck. ] ... after weeks here, I guess it isn't so surprising that people start to care about what happens to other people. Or at least taking an interest in them.

[isdf]

So the key to liking someone . . . is to spend time with them?

[aerodynamic]

Yeah. You spend more time with people and learn more about them, you start to like them. And likewise they start to like your company, too.

[isdf]

Earlier, you said that learning something about someone may make it hard to look at them. If so, there are also risks to spending that time together.

[aerodynamic]

Yeah, but those risks are always worth it for people you've come to like. That's the whole point of moving forward.

[isdf]

For . . . people?

[aerodynamic]

[ a hum. ]

... no matter what you're fighting for, doesn't it always come down to doing it for other people?

[isdf]

. . . I suppose you're correct. After all, ISDF was founded for humanity's future.

[aerodynamic]

And not everybody cares about the sake of humanity. [ he shrugs. ] I don't know, I think it's just one of those things where you care about people and they'll care about you in return, even when you don't notice it. That's my point.