Audience: Mineo Enomoto

[probe]

Comments

[probe]

You guys did a good job, though! It really did look like it could have been her. I guess that's really what the person who did it wanted, huh?

[...]

Sorry we couldn't, um, help. Hands off for indulgences!

[sengokus]

[ . . . . ]

Why?

Why does it have to be hands off, when you all know who did it?

[probe]

It just wouldn't count for indulgences at all if we helped that way. There might not have even been something like this if it wasn't for Greed!

They thought if people did start going on a rampage, you all really should have a way to find out what happened!

[sengokus]

[ . . . . he shakes his head.]

How does any of this count for indulgences? No one wanted to be there for nine hours.

I agree - that we should be able to find out what's going on when violence happens but are you seriously trying to tell me that we earn points and make progress in the race by participating in that? Some people didn't even participate.

[probe]

Well, it all depends on what you guys do during the process. Like not voting for me! You have the opportunity to convict someone, but you just don't take it.

[please don't sound enthusiastic, someone is dead and someone is dying unnecessarily]

You guys agreed, right? Sorry about the fine print! Everyone can participate, or they don't have to at all! Guess some just don't want what they came for badly enough.

[sengokus]

[ . . . . . he just

laughs bitterly]

So - what? I got points, I got further in the race, because I did all that fucking work to point fingers at Beauregard-san and was still too coward to put in a vote for her?

Seriously?

[probe]

You know what I think the problem is here?

[they really... don't sound condescending at all? they sound terribly earnest.]

You really spend so much time worrying about doing what's wrong or right, you just don't do at all! I hear it all the time back home! "Wish I still had more time, I'd do it differently!"

Even if you would have chosen right, or wrong--you'd still have chosen, right? Maybe that's what matters! You mortals really don't live long enough to be squandering it, let me tell you!

[sengokus]

[ . . . . . he shakes his head at that]

I can't do that.

Not me - because when I'm wrong and press ahead even when I'm wrong, I can ruin someone's life.

[probe]

Well, that sounds terrible, sure. But how are you going to know you're wrong if you don't ever press ahead?

[sengokus]

[ . . . ]

Isn't it safer though.... if I don't?

[ . . . . he looks back down at the kitchen counter]

Someone said - I'm just an idiot with a one-track mind, for whatever it is that I've got in my sights. And that was supposed to be a good thing about me.

.... but I've seen how doing that makes me blind to how I can hurt the people around me. So isn't it safer if I just... stay where I am? So people don't have to deal with -

With me?

[probe]

You got scolded for having a one-track mind, too? Wow, we have something else in common!

I don't see why it's such a bad thing to be focused on something! But... I guess we both could take a little time to stop and look around, huh? At everything else?

You're way too hard on yourself, Mineo! You're going to end up dying from, like, loneliness or something! Plenty of people don't want to deal with me either! Even my brother, I think! I can't ever seem to make him happy about anything I do, and then he just--poof!--goes right back to his job. He doesn't even ask how I am sometimes!

It's a work in progress! Maybe you should sleep on it!

[sengokus]

[ . . . the idea of dying from loneliness seems to stick with him a little, and he glances away at the mention of it, like he doesn't want to face that maybe he already did. that after the betrayal of his friend, he ended up so alone that he couldn't even see the people trying to reach out to him.]

... I think I still can't be totally okay with all of you - not until I figure out what's going on here.

But -

I don't hate you. [he looks up until sloth's hood, and seems to be sincere even if he's still unhappy] And all the reasons I'm mad don't have to do with you as a person, or your personality.

I think we'd get along way better if we didn't have to deal with... the rest of this.

[probe]

Yeah. I hear that all the time at work, too! What's all bothering you? You can tell me!

I listen all the time! Everyone should have a chance to say their piece.

[sengokus]

[ . . . . he just sighs at that, running a hand through his hair.]

... does the punishment of the vote have to be death - or in general, some dangerous situation?

No way of changing that?

[probe]

I don't think so. Every one dies sometime, remember? Guilty parties have to go! Well, if you say they're guilty. I know you guys can do it next time, though.

Keep trying!

[sengokus]

[ . . . . ]

But how come we're put in charge of deciding when someone dies? Is that the trial system Greed-san set up? Or what?

[probe]

[i found it gomen]

Yeah. Dying is, like... the natural order of things, you know! For a lot of people! If no one dies, nothing moves forward. Everything is idle!

[sengokus]

I know that but.... can't people just pass away - naturally? Old age? Stuff like that?

Everyone here is young and able - or you know, immortal and able. Why do they have to die? What's even the point?

[probe]

Wow, do I have news for you! People die all the time! Not even naturally! I can still count how many have died from just dying! Like just standing there and dying? So few!

I don't make those rules, though. How people die, I mean. Plenty of people who die don't want to die, too! Then they try to un-die!

[sengokus]

[ . . . .

this is such a difficult conversation to have when you are, in fact, a dead man]

... is that possible?

To - un-die?

[probe]

Well, it depends on how much want you have to un-die, I guess! Heroes try it all the time, and if they aren't doing it for themselves, they're doing it for someone they love! Not many of them succeed, though.

How about you? Would you die to bring someone else back? You know, take their place?

[sengokus]

.... I don't know. Maybe not yet. [because takeru is still alive] Hopefully not ever.

[ . . . he just runs a hand through his hair]

I mean... I'm trying to un-die right now, technically. But if it were between me and someone who actually has a future....

[ . . . ]

But I still wanna avoid having to make that choice.

[probe]

You never know. Maybe you don't have to even switch places at all! Sometimes, after a long and hard try, you can just, like, walk right out!

Um, Mineo...?

Does it really bother you that much? You know, dying?

[sengokus]

... Yeah.

[and he nods]

I came here because I don't wanna die - and maybe you've already heard it before. that I regret how my life went, and the reasons why I died. Because I was too much of a coward, and too lame to look at the truth.

So if I can avoid dying... that's my wish. I can try to solve my case with my own two hands when I'm back - but even having another chance if good enough for me.

[probe]

We're just going to have to keep you from dying then, huh! Talk to me later, okay!

[they wave a hand at mineo like they're trying to placate him.]

You're doing fine, you know! Keep indulging! Things will definitely work out like they are meant to!