GODLY AUDIENCES - TAKAOMI SHISHIMARU

[divus]

Comments

[bakaomi]

... mm.

It's too complicated.

[divus]

If people are really your friends, they won't expect more of you than what you're capable of giving. They'll be patient.

[bakaomi]

Is that really enough?

[ people seem more greedy than that. ]

[divus]

Maybe not for some people, but that's why you talk to them about it.

[bakaomi]

That's so much of a hassle...

[ although there's not that much bite to his words ]

[divus]

I think you're just being silly, personally. Is it worth it or not?

[bakaomi]

... I'm trying to figure that out still.

[divus]

[An eyeroll.] Well...what would make you think maybe it's not?

[bakaomi]

...

You don't really seem like the type of person who has trouble connecting with people.

[divus]

[She just kind of looks away for a moment.]

...for a really long time, I didn't have friends. Mostly because I didn't know how to talk to people. I always looked at my feet and didn't know what to say, so when I was in class I was bullied a lot.

[A shrug.] And then I became an idol to change all of that. It worked for a little while, but most people didn't want to talk to me. They wanted to be friends with Risette.

[bakaomi]

[ ... ]

And then you moved to Inaba?

[divus]

No. Then I worked for years, decided I was sick of being something I didn't know I could be, and took a hiatus from my career. Then I moved to Inaba. The town was already on the news because of the murders, but it was worse when they found out I moved here. [A gesture to the tofu shop. Welcome to her house. ]

...eventually I met Senpai and the others when they rescued me. They let me join their team to help them out, and they let me be Rise instead of always having to be Risette.

[bakaomi]

Were you going to go back to being an idol? Before you ascended?

[ he almost asked "will you," but then realized that's not actually an option for her anymore. ]

[divus]

Yup. I was just getting ready to leave Inaba to go back to the city. But then I got the call and realized I could do more to help people this way.

[bakaomi]

Really? It was that easy of a choice?

[divus]

Yes. ...my power isn't the same as the others in my old life. So I wanted to be someone who could do more to help protect people and make them happy. Being an idol was a great start, but what I ultimately wanted to do was help make a better world. We were all parting ways anyway, so...it made sense at the time.

[bakaomi]

[ ... ]

And it still makes sense now?

[divus]

It has to. I don't really get another choice, huh? [There's a rueful smile.] But...I think the answer is yes anyway. I want to make the world a better place. Even if that means leaving other things behind.

[bakaomi]

[ it's a little amazing to hear. ]

You're kind of cool, you know?

[divus]

...you think so? [Oh no, she sounds...so flattered to hear that.] I was thinking the same about you, you know.

[bakaomi]

No one thinks I'm cool here.

[ except luke who is an outlier and should not be counted ]

[divus]

I'm not sure I believe it, but if you say so. [But she perks up suddenly.] Oh! Your reward for completing your task.

[Give her a second to reach under the counter and pull out the promised iPod.]

[bakaomi]

[ it's

kind of embarrassing how immediately he brightens up at the mention of the reward ]

[divus]

[Cute lion...but tada! There it is, an iPod with his music on it. She sets it on the counter, pushing it toward him.]

I'm sorry I couldn't get you a charger, but I think you can probably charge it up in the lab.

[bakaomi]

That's fine! I'll figure something out.

[ he is...... happy ]