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No matter how many times Jack annoys her, or other numas, or ‘accidentally’ ruins a plan, Bachikin can never hold a true grudge against him.
She’s realized this, a long time ago. She can never forget what he’s done for her– for them in the past.
During that final battle, when she had tripped off of her own castle’s platform, he could have easily left her to die and nobody would have blamed him. She had caused so many horrible things, even if that was not her ‘true self’, Bachikin had still done it.
If he had not rushed over to the edge of the platform, Bachikin would have only become another set of news. He and the others would have been regarded as saviors; heroes; and nobody would’ve questioned it.
If he had not kneeled down in panic, gripping Bachikin’s hand in his own, given her that ridiculous and yet heart-wrenching speech, Bachikin doesn’t think anybody would have ever regarded her in a positive light ever again. Because they didn’t know about the chocolates or the manipulation.
If he had not pulled her up, all on his own, promising her a second chance at life with everyone, all she would’ve been remembered as is the numa that Daeru used and threw away like a broken doll.
She knows from personal experience that Jack can try. Try to be a kinder person– not just laze about and push away his responsibilities.
She’s seen it, more recently, with that fight against Vanitas and Adukin. The way he spoke to her when she was inside that machine felt incredibly familiar. As if she was back on that platform, wearing that stupid coat with the only difference being that she and Adu switched places. She could only watch as Adukin struggled against Kirimi’s code. It reminded her of when she had tried to struggle against Daeru.
Bachikin knows that Jack is the only reason she lived past that day. Because, deep down, he is kind.
Because of Jack, she can look at Otsukin and see the potion master he is instead of how he used to kneel down whenever he was ordered. She can look at Koritora, and make fun of his ramen obsession instead of his clipped nods, afraid that she would kill him with a simple bullet from her handgun.
Because of Jack, she can look at Uie’s works, no matter how odd they may be, and not have her first thought be that they had died once, because of her. She can laugh at Axez’ constant house renovations because of certain somebodies instead of remembering how his blood contrasted against the black floor.
And Bachikin is, and will always be grateful to him for this. Because he, even unintentionally, gave her somebody she can confide in anything with. Who gets it in a way the others never will, because his hands are also stained with that scent of murder that will never go away.
Jack is a very kind numa at heart, she decides. But he is the same one who almost refused to help in defeating Catastrophe because he didn’t feel like it. The only reason he actually tried was because of Adukin, back then.
Bachikin filters out these thoughts as she stretches her arms high and walks off to get lunch.