entranceway

Why does it make you uncomfortable?

[Because—]

. . .

[Adachi pauses as if trying to quickly come up with some snappy comeback to derail this train of thought, but nothing comes. Nothing sounds quite right and it's all his fucking fault and his damn uncle and things were so much easier before and—

He shrugs lamely.]

[Souji considers pressing the issue, but eventually decides against it. He shrugs, too.]

Okay.

[And he goes back to cleaning up.]

[Excellent.

He goes back to his beer, finishing it off quietly.]

Can you let me know if you go through the door?

I don't really care about that stuff.

Yeah. But if you do. I want to know what it's about.

[He glances down, then reaches into his pocket to pull out the key and turns it over in his hand idly.]

Do you think it's anything interesting? Or just a waste of our time?

I guess it depends on your point of view. I think it would be something interesting, though, if the Queen doesn't want us to see it.

And you wanna see it?

I can't. I don't have my key.

. . . So! You really want me to use mine, huh?

I won't ask you for details.

Huhhhh.

[A smile creeps across his face, as if something is slowly occurring to him.]

....What is it.

[That is not Souji's favorite Adachi-face.]

Say, if you came along with me and I showed you the door, you'd really owe me big time, wouldn't you?

...What would you want in return?

I don't know yet, buuuuut . . . well, I'm perfectly willing to say you owe me one and leave it at that!

[Wow, this is sounding as unfortunate as if he'd decided to confront Adachi alone about that letter and he'd somehow managed to get blackmailed by the guy.

You know, some weird alternate world like that.

Anyway, Souji is cautious, but he does want to give Adachi the benefit of the doubt.]

...If I'm going to owe you one, I want to go through the door with you.

I think that's fair, sure.

[Not that he knew what he'd do or want, but he didn't have to know that. It was always nice to have an ace up his sleeve, something for a rainy day. It was just a bit of fun — harmless. Probably.]

[Souji doesn't think Adachi would ask him to do anything terrible. He'll trust the guy.]

When?

When, huh . . . I don't really know. Whenever?

Now?

Yeah, sure. Why not? I've got nothing better to do.

[Plus I just fed you.

Souji nods and moves toward the door. Adventure tiiiiiime.]

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