[Carefully, he takes the note the look it over. His face softens at the brows and the lips, but he does smile wryly at the words.]
Kanesada-san is a young sword, but he very wise. His former master, Hijikata-sama, was an amazing man. He's right; you shouldn't lose your smile even in the darkest times. [He offers Junpei the letter back.] We will meet him again when this is finished. Don't lose hope.
You can win the war even if you lose a few battles. I know that from experience, Junpei-san.
[He tries for a reassuring smile.]
I will admit... I am scared. To be corrupted... It's... [He shakes his head, the smile faltering.] A corrupted treasure is so dishonorable. But more than that, to be... to understand what the swords corrupted by the Revisionists feel... I don't want to know. I don't want that to happen to any of us.
He did tell me he was the youngest out of all of you. And I'm trying not to but...some days are harder than others. [A shrug. He'll pocket the letter away even as he takes a sip of his sake.] I don't like losing even though I know it's inevitable. I know we have to make some sacrifices and some casualties will occur. But getting everyone else on board with that...that's the other problem.
I'm glad he was spared, too. But I think we're all scared even if we aren't saying it. ["And the worst part is we wouldn't even know until it's way too late."] ...even if it doesn't feel like it, we're getting better. I'm not going to let anything happen to you or your brother if I can help it.
[He offers Junpei a small smile. It really does look like Hizamaru is placing a lot of trust into Junpei. No pressure.]
We'll see all of our friends again. I promise, Junpei-san. For now, please try not to worry so much about considering them lost. We only have to figure out how to get to them. We'll be okay. With you, and Nightwing-san, and Kagachi-san, and elder brother.
Hah. Thanks...[No pressure. But with Hizamaru, it feels more like just...belief. It's comfortable enough.] They're all very good people, but you've been helping us out a lot, too. I don't know if we'd be this far without you.
[After all, Hizamaru's the one who told him about hearing from Prompto, and also he's Hige's memory. That alone is a big task.]
Sometimes this is exactly what I need. [Sometimes he just needs to exist to know he really exists. But he takes another sip.]
...though, I'd like your help on something. Your brother is helping Dick find the roles, but there's one we all seem to be struggling with the most. Did you know Nikkari has a partner?
[His face falls gently in surprise. It doesn't look as if he's aware of anything, but more... shocked there's a double.]
Nikkari-san...? There are two who are able to speak to the ones on the other side...?
[He looks absolutely bittersweet for a moment, only to sort of reel himself back in. Right. Business and stuff. Even if they are meant to be chilling.]
Izuminokami's role was the first one in the list, and I'm still learning about it. That's why it's still blank. [Even though Junpei, in the future, finds out about it later.] But see these numbers? They're the amount of people who have roles. If you add them, they add up to thirteen. That's why we know there are two who are able to, probably, speak to the ones on the other side.
[Tilting his head, he leans enough to see the face of the paper. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense until Junpei shows him the backside, and then his eyes light up in recognition.]
This is amazing, Junpei-san. You're incredible.
[The words don't mean anything to him in the sense he understands them, but he does reach out and brush his fingers by the word "doxxer."] Kanesada-san told me what you said this means. [Doxxing.]
There's so many of them. [He smiles just a tad, not about the situation, but about them having such good information.] I'm glad there are two. I hope we can find the other one.
Well, I had some help. [But he grins a little in spite of that.] But yeah, I did. His first note mentioned doxxing and that was how I made the connection with this puzzle. How the two are linked together.
The other Booty Caller has been really hard to find. I don't know if any of us know who they are right now, but we have to keep looking. Izuminokami's role is going to change to someone else, too. And there's another Sugar Daddy missing. Otherwise everybody else is accounted for. We know the roles move, so if we can keep an eye on those people and find all thirteen...I dunno. Maybe something will happen.
[He shakes his head, as it's only a suggestion he's tossing out.] I know you can find them. I'll help if I can, Junpei-san, but... elder brother is very good at speaking with others.
I think he'll help you better with this, so please trust him in his endeavors.
I don't need someone better. I need someone willing, and I think that's both of you. I trust you both a lot, so...[He looks away for a moment.] You be the keeper and he'll be the scout. That's how I see it.
He's done well on his own as it is. I'm impressed. But you've given me more information about other things, like the notes you've received and things like that.
[Junpei is trying so very hard to reassure Hizamaru, and I support him. However, Hizamaru has said all of this in earnest without any kind of self-deprecation. He one hundred believes he has his own strengths, but the things his brother is good at isn't one of them. It's fine? He thinks it's fine.]
I will do that then, Junpei-san.
[It'd be rude of him to refuse after Junpei went through so much effort to convince him.]
Elder brother and I get along well. Really. We work better together than we do apart.
I know you do. And even though I would love to see what you can do separately I'm not going to be the one to tell you not to do what's best. [Shrug! So like. He gets it. But also. Please.]
You need each other. So try to be honest with each other, too. Okay?
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Kanesada-san is a young sword, but he very wise. His former master, Hijikata-sama, was an amazing man. He's right; you shouldn't lose your smile even in the darkest times. [He offers Junpei the letter back.] We will meet him again when this is finished. Don't lose hope.
You can win the war even if you lose a few battles. I know that from experience, Junpei-san.
[He tries for a reassuring smile.]
I will admit... I am scared. To be corrupted... It's... [He shakes his head, the smile faltering.] A corrupted treasure is so dishonorable. But more than that, to be... to understand what the swords corrupted by the Revisionists feel... I don't want to know. I don't want that to happen to any of us.
I'm at least glad Kanesada-san was spared that.
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I'm glad he was spared, too. But I think we're all scared even if we aren't saying it. ["And the worst part is we wouldn't even know until it's way too late."] ...even if it doesn't feel like it, we're getting better. I'm not going to let anything happen to you or your brother if I can help it.
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[He offers Junpei a small smile. It really does look like Hizamaru is placing a lot of trust into Junpei. No pressure.]
We'll see all of our friends again. I promise, Junpei-san. For now, please try not to worry so much about considering them lost. We only have to figure out how to get to them. We'll be okay. With you, and Nightwing-san, and Kagachi-san, and elder brother.
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[After all, Hizamaru's the one who told him about hearing from Prompto, and also he's Hige's memory. That alone is a big task.]
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I'm always willing to help you and the others, Junpei-san. Whatever you need. Even if it's only...
[He raises his glass a tad, pointedly. Just chilling. He doesn't mind.]
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Sometimes this is exactly what I need. [Sometimes he just needs to exist to know he really exists. But he takes another sip.]
...though, I'd like your help on something. Your brother is helping Dick find the roles, but there's one we all seem to be struggling with the most. Did you know Nikkari has a partner?
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Nikkari-san...? There are two who are able to speak to the ones on the other side...?
[He looks absolutely bittersweet for a moment, only to sort of reel himself back in. Right. Business and stuff. Even if they are meant to be chilling.]
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C------: 1
--------: 1
-u--- ----y: 2
---t- ------: 2
----b------: 3
-----r: 4]
So, I started looking at some of the other hints he had received, plus information I had from Escha and some others.
[He flips the paper over to show him the completed puzzle.
C------: 1
Honeypot: 1
Sugar Daddy: 2
Booty Caller: 2
Cockblocker: 3
Doxxer: 4]
Izuminokami's role was the first one in the list, and I'm still learning about it. That's why it's still blank. [Even though Junpei, in the future, finds out about it later.] But see these numbers? They're the amount of people who have roles. If you add them, they add up to thirteen. That's why we know there are two who are able to, probably, speak to the ones on the other side.
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This is amazing, Junpei-san. You're incredible.
[The words don't mean anything to him in the sense he understands them, but he does reach out and brush his fingers by the word "doxxer."] Kanesada-san told me what you said this means. [Doxxing.]
There's so many of them. [He smiles just a tad, not about the situation, but about them having such good information.] I'm glad there are two. I hope we can find the other one.
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The other Booty Caller has been really hard to find. I don't know if any of us know who they are right now, but we have to keep looking. Izuminokami's role is going to change to someone else, too. And there's another Sugar Daddy missing. Otherwise everybody else is accounted for. We know the roles move, so if we can keep an eye on those people and find all thirteen...I dunno. Maybe something will happen.
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[He shakes his head, as it's only a suggestion he's tossing out.] I know you can find them. I'll help if I can, Junpei-san, but... elder brother is very good at speaking with others.
I think he'll help you better with this, so please trust him in his endeavors.
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He's done well on his own as it is. I'm impressed. But you've given me more information about other things, like the notes you've received and things like that.
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I will do that then, Junpei-san.
[It'd be rude of him to refuse after Junpei went through so much effort to convince him.]
Elder brother and I get along well. Really. We work better together than we do apart.
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You need each other. So try to be honest with each other, too. Okay?