[When they hear the radio crackle on the first night of the fog, they consider asking. They don't know what to do, or what to say however, and so instead they keep to themself, continuing their usual methods; telling Elias about the new goggles they made that light up the dark, about the little bird they're looking after (having. well. orphaned it unintentionally). If it's important, the 4th will tell them when he is ready after all. They have asked if there is something to be done before-the one time there was, they did so, bringing Ron out from the fog and into the arcade. When they were given their notebook and told to use it well, they did so-writing all that they saw, even of the strange 'city' at the bottom of Lake Fors, and telling him as much as they knew.
They will wait, is what they decide.
But then, while they sleeps in their bed outside the arcade, they dreams of the End they had yet to remember. They dream of Zarc, and Ray-of letting Ray take their body to fight the dragon that Zarc was...and then of forcing Ray back in order to seal Zarc away through their body.
Forever.
In 'Death'.]
...I can't go back anymore. Can I? [they ask the arcade quietly. It seems quiet tonight-as if the sounds of the machines have been turned down, and the robotic clicks stopped. They sit by the pinball console-His favorite, Reira knows-and they talk and struggle to keep tears from gathering at their eyes.] ...Did you know that? People remember things before others do sometimes...and they keep them secret to make sure they don't hurt, but I don't know if it helped or not, [the child weeps. They do not blame the god, however. That much is clear. But they shake, and they cry, holding their legs and their notebook close as teardrops stain the pages.] ...You'll still bring him back, when we stop her, right?
...Even if I can't go back, niisama can still live with his real family...can't he? ...I want him to be happy. ...He's my brother, even if he wasn't my real one...he... He was my first family! [the child declares. He was the first who didn't look to the child and view a tool for their own gain, a puppet to give orders. ...He was the first, and She took him.]
...If I can't go back...we'll be friends for as long as I live, right? I didn't want to leave my friends behind here. I didn't want to leave you behind. ...but if I can't, then I guess I don't have to worry about that...right? [It's a childish sort of logic, but one that suits a child, certainly. And Reira thinks back to what the 4th was muttering about on the radio earlier, perhaps to himself, and perhaps not. What matters though is that he was muttering it.
And they holds their notebook tightly.] ...I don't know who the 'he' you were talking about was. If you don't want to tell me, that's okay. I don't tell other people a lot of things.
But I want to learn more about where we live-about what I saw at the bottom of the lake, and other places, so that I can help you. If you can't go there, I want to find what there is, and see it, and if it can stop the Fog God forever, then you can use it! ...And then everyone will be happy again.
[And then the important people will go home. Like Shun should have. Like Yuuto should have. Like Yuugo, Serena, Gongenzaka, Reiji-]
I don't know where to start, but I have goggles that can see in the dark now. So I'll find a place, and look. And I'll keep looking, until we don't have to look any more.
[Reira wipes their eyes, still leaning against the console. The notebook is still clutched in their arms, and the sounds are still muted in their ears. But even so, their words are resolute. This is...]
I promise.
[Tell them who 'He' was, that 'stubborn' being who still has 'juice' left. They will track them down, and find them, just as they once searched for and unearthed information for the soldiers in their world.
no subject
They will wait, is what they decide.
But then, while they sleeps in their bed outside the arcade, they dreams of the End they had yet to remember. They dream of Zarc, and Ray-of letting Ray take their body to fight the dragon that Zarc was...and then of forcing Ray back in order to seal Zarc away through their body.
Forever.
In 'Death'.]
...I can't go back anymore. Can I? [they ask the arcade quietly. It seems quiet tonight-as if the sounds of the machines have been turned down, and the robotic clicks stopped. They sit by the pinball console-His favorite, Reira knows-and they talk and struggle to keep tears from gathering at their eyes.] ...Did you know that? People remember things before others do sometimes...and they keep them secret to make sure they don't hurt, but I don't know if it helped or not, [the child weeps. They do not blame the god, however. That much is clear. But they shake, and they cry, holding their legs and their notebook close as teardrops stain the pages.] ...You'll still bring him back, when we stop her, right?
...Even if I can't go back, niisama can still live with his real family...can't he? ...I want him to be happy. ...He's my brother, even if he wasn't my real one...he... He was my first family! [the child declares. He was the first who didn't look to the child and view a tool for their own gain, a puppet to give orders. ...He was the first, and She took him.]
...If I can't go back...we'll be friends for as long as I live, right? I didn't want to leave my friends behind here. I didn't want to leave you behind. ...but if I can't, then I guess I don't have to worry about that...right? [It's a childish sort of logic, but one that suits a child, certainly. And Reira thinks back to what the 4th was muttering about on the radio earlier, perhaps to himself, and perhaps not. What matters though is that he was muttering it.
And they holds their notebook tightly.] ...I don't know who the 'he' you were talking about was. If you don't want to tell me, that's okay. I don't tell other people a lot of things.
But I want to learn more about where we live-about what I saw at the bottom of the lake, and other places, so that I can help you. If you can't go there, I want to find what there is, and see it, and if it can stop the Fog God forever, then you can use it! ...And then everyone will be happy again.
[And then the important people will go home. Like Shun should have. Like Yuuto should have. Like Yuugo, Serena, Gongenzaka, Reiji-]
I don't know where to start, but I have goggles that can see in the dark now. So I'll find a place, and look. And I'll keep looking, until we don't have to look any more.
[Reira wipes their eyes, still leaning against the console. The notebook is still clutched in their arms, and the sounds are still muted in their ears. But even so, their words are resolute. This is...]
I promise.
[Tell them who 'He' was, that 'stubborn' being who still has 'juice' left. They will track them down, and find them, just as they once searched for and unearthed information for the soldiers in their world.
Tell them nothing, and they will move regardless.
They will no longer wait.]