entranceway | voice;

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voice;

[Souji's been feeling reflective lately, thinking over some things. It's elicited a question that he himself isn't sure he can answer. He wants to find out if others can, so, after some deliberation about whether or not it's a good idea, he takes to the network to ask.]

If you were able to change something in your life at home, what would it be?

[He's not sure he'll even get any answers. It's kind of a personal question. But he's hoping that some people will respond, if only to help him think through things himself.]

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[This type of question can't be answered just over the network like this. Minato went back to the room to find Souji.

When he saw him there, he smiled a little. This was something that they had to talk through together.]

This isn't a trick question, right?

[Souji's sitting at the desk. The bunny is on the surface in front of him and he's scritching her head between her ears. He looks over at Minato when he comes in.]

No. I'm serious.

[Minato went over to the desk too to be closer to Souji.]

Nothing.

[That's the answer he would give. Or was it the answer he was supposed to give? He still wasn't sure. Maybe he was just tricking himself.]

Are you sure?

[Souji understood the reasoning. Things wouldn't have turned out as they had if they changed things. But that didn't mean there weren't regrets about things.]

One change has a ripple effect.

[Or so Minato had thought, at least.]

What about you?

[He knew that, too.]

I don't know. There are a few things...

Mn, like what?

[Minato pulled up another chair to sit near Souji.]

Making sure Nanako wasn't hurt.

[That's been a big one for him.]

[Minato nodded, holding onto Souji's hand. He wanted Souji to tell him more, anything else he'd wanted to change.]

And Adachi.

[He couldn't even pin down what he'd change there. Figuring things out sooner? Somehow changing him, making him a better person? He didn't know.]

[Minato nodded. He understood what Souji meant, giving his hand a squeeze.]

I try to imagine sometimes what it'd be like if they were on our side.

[Souji nodded, understanding who Minato meant.]

How do you think it would have gone?

It's not their fault. Maybe their lives would've been more peaceful.

[And not so miserable.]

[Souji nodded.]

What else?

[Minato wondered too.]

We could've been friends.

They could have been saved.

[Minato's story's end would have remained the same.]

[It would've been nice, at least. Life wasn't fair, but sometimes more so for others.]

Do you think he could have been too?

I don't think he'd have wanted to be.

It seems like he had a choice. The others didn't.

[Souji nodded, but then stopped to think it over. Did Adachi have a choice but to be the way he was? And did Strega not have the choice to not kill or fight? Being angry at injustice wasn't necessarily a call to action.

Really, were the two situations even comparable? Maybe more than he'd thought.]

I wonder if it's even worth it to think about it.

[He wasn't trying to shut down the conversation. It was an honest thought.]

It's just to think about if we could change something.

[Since that's what Souji had asked.]

[Souji nodded.]

I mean...am I wasting my time? Thinking about it.

[Minato shook his head.]

It's a good way to think about how you would've handled yourself differently.

[In case similar situations to any varying degree happened again in the future.]

[Souji nodded, then listed sideways to rest against Minato.]

I really wish I could change how things turned out. But I don't think they could have turned out any other way.

[Minato leaned his head against Souji's.]

Me too. It's how it is like it was meant to be.

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