[it's happened time and time again for souji—stumbling upon saitou in some unexpected place and playing this game again. this would be the fourth time (twice in haven, and now two here in cerealia) where they meet again.
it's for that reason that souji isn't nearly as surprised as he could be, but all the same, it also leaves him skeptical. he doesn't have much faith that any of those times—not even the fact that up until a few weeks ago, they'd been sharing a room—would be recalled. there's an expectation of starting fresh again, of having to explain himself and things, of having to clue saitou in to some of the hardships he's faced in the last year. they're things that have changed him and colored his worldview, and things that aren't easy to speak of, so the thought of doing it again... well, it's nothing short of a hassle.
of course, he can't confirm any of that until he makes his approach, and souji will. he'll do so with the same familiar and comfortable way he always has, intent on playing it down regardless of the outcome. it'll be easier for both of them to sort everything out that way, and it spares needless dramatics.
...until his approach is met with a hard "no." maybe that's not so bad though, because it forces souji to push aside some of those daunting thoughts and more naturally react as he always has.]
That's a pretty rude way to say hello, Hajime-kun.
phase iii;
it's for that reason that souji isn't nearly as surprised as he could be, but all the same, it also leaves him skeptical. he doesn't have much faith that any of those times—not even the fact that up until a few weeks ago, they'd been sharing a room—would be recalled. there's an expectation of starting fresh again, of having to explain himself and things, of having to clue saitou in to some of the hardships he's faced in the last year. they're things that have changed him and colored his worldview, and things that aren't easy to speak of, so the thought of doing it again... well, it's nothing short of a hassle.
of course, he can't confirm any of that until he makes his approach, and souji will. he'll do so with the same familiar and comfortable way he always has, intent on playing it down regardless of the outcome. it'll be easier for both of them to sort everything out that way, and it spares needless dramatics.
...until his approach is met with a hard "no." maybe that's not so bad though, because it forces souji to push aside some of those daunting thoughts and more naturally react as he always has.]
That's a pretty rude way to say hello, Hajime-kun.