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“.. you must become fully aware, keiji shinogi.”
keiji glanced over at alice, eyebrow raised questioningly. alice appeared serious, as his usual condescending smirk was replaced with a thin frown.
“oh?”
alice scoffed, kicking at the rug near his foot. it didn’t move. he made eye contact with keiji. “tch. you know exactly what i mean.”
keiji’s hand made its way to his neck, an unconscious habit. his dull, grey eyes averted from alice’s intense pink ones, no longer keeping the other’s gaze.
“can’t say i do, alice.” he replied, leaning into the couch further.
perhaps if he sunk into the cushions deep enough it would consume him whole (wasn’t that how it happened in that one show..?); as much as he would’ve liked them to, they didn’t. keiji was still there and alice was as well, keeping his stare.
there was a brief moment of silence. keiji could still feel alice’s eyes on him.
“.. hmph.” alice suddenly chuckled a little.
“did this predicament affect you this poorly?”
he spoke in an almost teasing tone, one that keiji was curious to hear more of (could he?) .
“surely you have been through worse before, right?”
alice asked, gripping his shirt (an odd habit he had developed at some point) .
another moment went by.
“.. you were not even there, keiji shinogi.”
his voice seemed smaller, softer (compared to how he typically was anyway) .
“why has it affected you like this? shouldn’t you have these thoughts about those from the second main game?”
alice was right, keiji should. but he doesn’t, really. not these. not this specific type (did alice know? keiji kind of wanted him to) . this was the only one he could stand, funnily enough (he acknowledged it, but at the same time gave it no thought) .
the two didn’t interact much, only having a few conversations between them. keiji sorta wished they had more discussions, even if it were about trivial matters.
ridding his mind of these needless thoughts, keiji opted not to answer alice, remaining silent.
of course, this resulted in bubbling anger. With rising irritation, alice got up from where he sat and stomped over to keiji. he inhaled with his teeth barred, eyes narrowed.
“keiji shinogi.”
having no other choice, keiji made eye contact with alice. the man stood above the other, hand clutching his striped attire. alice’s gaudy hair was strewn from where it normally would be (though he still managed to look quite nice) .
“hm?”
keiji responded, looking up at alice; tired (the dark circles under his eyes further proving that) .
alice appeared exasperated, but.. in a way, pained as well.
right when alice opened his mouth, he paused. then closed it. the glowered expression present on his features did not leave.
“... think what you wish. however, you will have to face it in due time.”
keiji didn’t say anything in return, merely blinking slowly. his face remained unchanged.
(keiji liked to keep quiet about his issues, huh?)
then, alice laughed. the noise of his signature cackle filled the room. a sound keiji nearly grew accustomed to. nearly.
“just accept it, keiji shinogi.”
alice started, moving his hand over his fist, as he watched keiji closely.
“i am aware you are.. stubborn. but, listen to what i have to say.”
alice’s mouth quirked down into a frown once again as he stared into the other’s eyes. then, he spoke.
“im dead.”