thenearshore | 008

[He knows Makoto’s giving him some privacy and he appreciates that. Their quiet walk through the world is strangely comforting despite the lingering troubles that are no doubt plaguing both of them. Sousuke doesn’t think Makoto’s all that settled in either, especially remembering him admitting he felt uncomfortable with his new role much earlier in the day. But everything information-wise is hearsay and speculation; no one’s bothered to give them much of a run down.

Guess he should have expected that question after such a lead in.]

Everything you told me, what I just told you now. [He slides his arms down and lets them hang as he walks. Well, it’s not like Makoto’s going to be impervious to this. And he deserves to know; his shinki deserves to know.]

Listen. I don’t know if this is true, but someone threatened to make me his shinki. [His expression darkens and he glances over to Makoto again, wanting him to see his face, see that he’s being serious about this.] Against my will.

[Guilt starts to well up inside Makoto again when Sousuke mentions that someone threatened to make him a shinki against his will. Even if he hadn't forced Haru to become his shinki because he didn't voice his opinion against it, it's not like he had given him much of a choice.

That was bad. He had probably done a bad thing.]

That...I think that's true...

[Makoto doesn't look at Sousuke directly. He couldn't. Those eyes of his were intense and he felt so small.]

To tell you the truth, Sousuke...

When I made Haru my shinki, I panicked. I didn't really...give him an option.

[Sousuke’s eyes sharpen as he notices the guilt welling up inside the other boy’s eyes. The way he voices it, the way his face looks… The shinki ices up somewhat as Makoto answers. Maybe somehow he’d been looking, hoping, that Makoto might counter that disturbing piece of knowledge. Apparently he’d been a fool to hope for that.

Though he doesn’t suppose Makoto had a choice or knowledge about it either.]

I see.

[It’s somewhat a finalizing tone, harder and quiet. The averted gaze doesn’t help the issue between them either. You can’t even look at me. Is that really what a god should be feeling? The shinki’s name floats by without much sticking power; he’s focused more on Makoto’s words.]

What in world were you panicked about?

[He sounds half-incredulous, half curious. Makoto’s a god; he doesn’t have to worry about fading out of existence if no one claims him.]

I was told that I was assigned a shinki...he was there so...

I wasn't entirely sure of anything, so I just sort of...made him my shinki.

[That lie left a nasty taste in his mouth. He's not much of a liar. The most he's lied is when saying "I'm fine" when he didn't want to burden anyone else with his own issues. But he's not a liar, so when he blatantly lied, it made him feel worse.

What could he say?

He's actually my best friend since my living childhood, so I was worried about him, so I snatched him up before he could get hurt. That was out of the question. That would reveal that he knows things about his shinki that his shinki doesn't know and that he just knows things in general. That would be dangerous, especially for Sousuke.

So lying is the only option and he hated it.]

[Sousuke frowns at the information.]

You don’t know if he’s even your assigned shinki?

[Being told you’re assigned a shinki and then just… making someone your shinki because they’re there? Honestly, he’s not attacking or criticizing Makoto, but he’s confused as to how this all even happens. Nor does he think Makoto knows much beyond him either. But if Makoto’s randomly able to make just anyone his shinki, assigned or not, it drums up worry in Sousuke about how other—less scrupulous—gods are going to abuse that power.

Considering Schuldid had already threatened to make Sousuke his shinki against his will, now a threat Sousuke has to take a lot more seriously, he’s having second thoughts about trying to find whatever god’s been “assigned” to be his master. There’s another thought forming in his head, like a fish poking above the surface for a second, and he slams it right back down. No. He isn’t to the point of even considering asking that question.]

Do you know who assigned you or was it some random voice?

[Makoto shakes his head at the question. He could have been his assigned shinki, but he isn't one hundred percent sure.

He looks back up at Sousuke, still feeling guilty, but needing to look at him while he speaks.]

There are gods that are higher ranked than I am. I don't really know who they are, I didn't see them clearly.

[That definitely isn't a lie. He just remembers silhouettes, voices, and a whirlwind of information that rushed by him and left him in a daze. It's unsettling that mysterious and faceless people had so much control over what's happening with everything. He doesn't like it, but there isn't anything he can do about it at the moment.]

Higher than you?

[Even if it makes no sense, it also… does. If they really have been brought here as replacements or backups, there’d be people above them. Even the gods are brought here and instructed, so obviously there have to be people above them. It just… makes things seem kind of shady in his opinion.

Sousuke shakes his head lightly.]

Don’t try to answer that.

[Makoto’s done what he can to help him understand. He’d woken up, probably like Sousuke, though he had the benefit of getting told a few things. Things he’d already related to Sousuke earlier in the day. Grilling him for more information beyond that is both pointless and, honestly, kind of rude.]

I’m sure we’ll learn more as time goes on.

[Makoto couldn't have answered it even if he did try.

He nods slowly and somberly. He feels bad about a lot of things that he might have been able to help or maybe he wouldn't have been able to help them at all. It's an unsettling powerlessness that one wouldn't think would come with suddenly becoming a god of all things.]

Yeah...

I'm really sorry that I couldn't explain more.

[He rubs the back of his head, his fingertips combing through his messy brown hair and smiles sheepishly.]

But we'll be able to figure things out. Somehow in someway, I'll let you know if I find out more things. We've already run into each other twice, so it's possible to run into each other again, right?

[Sousuke dips his head in quiet acceptance of all of it. But at the apology, he merely closes his eyes, dismissing the attempt.]

You told me what you could.

[That’s really all they have to go on right now. Whatever they’ve been told and can glean, whatever they can speculate and try to figure out. He glances to the side when he hears scuffing hair, a brow arching at the sheepish little smile. Hn, he wonders if Makoto normally shows that smile to everyone.]

Aa. Maybe the next time we meet will have better circumstances.

[The first time being when Sousuke’d not been in a great mood and this time right after everything caught fire. After a few moments, he quietly adds something else as he averts his gaze.]

...I’m still not praying to you.

[Makoto pauses in his sheepish mannerisms at the added declaration. His expression makes a quick shift into a laugh.]

Hahaha! Feel free not to...!

[It felt nice to laugh. He hadn't been able to laugh easily in the face of the predicament he'd been tossed haphazardly into.]

[That's going to stick between them for a long time. Sousuke snorts softly at the other boy's laughter, but it's nice to hear it. Especially after he's put him through a rough patch with all of this.]

Aa.

[Hopefully that'll stay that way, though who knows what's going to happen in this place. A small sigh and he rubs at the back of his neck. Whatever. There's nothing else but to go forward.]

If I find out more, I'll tell you.

008 | OVERFLOW

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