Yeah. It was a pretty big place, so I was never bored there. There was always somewhere to go or something to do, and I had a group of guys I hung out with that I'd met when I started high school. But then my dad got promoted and we had to move halfway through the year.
Inaba's... about two or three hours away by car, so it's not like I could've even visited either. There's really nothing to do there and it's a lot quieter. [ ... ] People used to talk about my family a lot and why we were ruining the town's business. And I tried to ignore it by telling myself I was still better than they were, and that people in the country just didn't get it. Things went on like that for a while.
[ it was, in fact, difficult but he's trying not to think about that because how isolated he felt isn't the entire point of this story. ]
It was, but it wasn't an excuse to think that way about those people just because they didn't understand. All it did was breed resentment on both sides. It... took me a while to really learn to love the town, and it's not even the town itself. [ his friends... ] But back then I was too ashamed to admit how I felt, knowing I probably wasn't helping the situation either.
Nice! [ THANK GOD. he will reach past tsukasa to nudge the door open further. ] Couldn't have done it without ya. Let's get out of here before it changes its mind.
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Yeah. It was a pretty big place, so I was never bored there. There was always somewhere to go or something to do, and I had a group of guys I hung out with that I'd met when I started high school. But then my dad got promoted and we had to move halfway through the year.
Inaba's... about two or three hours away by car, so it's not like I could've even visited either. There's really nothing to do there and it's a lot quieter. [ ... ] People used to talk about my family a lot and why we were ruining the town's business. And I tried to ignore it by telling myself I was still better than they were, and that people in the country just didn't get it. Things went on like that for a while.
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So it's more than just the countryside.
There's a lot more to it than that. The talking about his family... the way that he had to put up defensive walls like that to get through...
...]
I see. That... must have been difficult. To not only be forced to move somewhere you didn't like, but to be ostracized at the same time...
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It was, but it wasn't an excuse to think that way about those people just because they didn't understand. All it did was breed resentment on both sides. It... took me a while to really learn to love the town, and it's not even the town itself. [ his friends... ] But back then I was too ashamed to admit how I felt, knowing I probably wasn't helping the situation either.
[ more candles flicker back on. ]
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Tsukasa looks around, eyes wide as the candles start to light back up.
... An earnest confession, huh?]
It sounds to me like you've come a long way!
Not only do you understand your own feelings now, you're able to admit to it earnestly and sincerely.
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Yeah, well... I had help. But thanks. [ embarrassing... but the power of friendship really kicked his ass. ]
Think we should give the door another shot?
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Let's do it!
[To the door! And sure enough, when he reaches out... it opens.]
Aha, we did it! Well done, Hanamura!
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[OUT THEY GO--
And then get separated, probably.
wow we wrapped up two threads i'm proud of us, ty]