[ this brick is still smarter than senri ]

[usogi]

Comments

[usogi]

[oh - ]

... um, I think you could, maybe? He wouldn't be super offended or anything... but I think he'd be happier if you went to see him too.

He's really nice, so I don't think you have anything to lose?

[nosediving]

I don't have a reason to refuse a meeting. Since you went through the trouble of delivering this rose, I will go and see him.

[usogi]

[uh.]

Like - right now?

[HE'S SO SERIOUS]

[nosediving]

[no, silly duckling.]

It's ill-mannered to keep a host waiting, but it wouldn't be good to walk out on someone. Was there something else you wanted to talk about?

[usogi]

... well, we could go back to the immortal thing.

[still wild]

If you wanna talk about it, anyway?

[nosediving]

There isn't much to say . . . After years of cultivating, I unlocked the necessary stage to achieve immortality.

[usogi]

[what]

Cultivating... what exactly?

[please

teach senri the secret to immortality]

[nosediving]

The life force inherent in all things. Specifically, the same energy that courses in my body.

[usogi]

.... oh. Yeah, of course.

[he doesn't get it all]

[nosediving]

[is this how senri felt when explaining wi-fi? he waves dismissively.]

It bears no importance here. I'm unable to draw upon that energy in the temple.

Nito Senri, what about you? This participant would like to know you better. What did you do before you accepted the invitation to participate in this contest?

[usogi]

Oh - yeah, of course!

[THANKS FOR GUIDING HIM BACK TO FAMILIAR TERRITORY, RAMEN MAN]

I was a student and a stage actor living in Tokyo - it's a suuuper big, awesome city where I come from. I went to school and kept performing on the side.

[nosediving]

[ah . . . does senri hail from a well-to-do household, he wonders.]

Then, you are a student of the arts?

[usogi]

[hE FUCKING WISHES]

I am! Acting is my specialty - I'm pretty good at it too.

[nosediving]

[he nods.]

I believe you. You obviously have the energy and passion for it.

[acting is not easy. it can take a lot out of someone to appear as the genuine article.]

[usogi]

[his eyes fucking sparkle]

You think so?

[nosediving]

This participant wouldn't lie about something like that.

[usogi]

Heh - thanks. I work really hard!

Maybe one day, if we can figure out how to make this world interdimensional world thing work, you can see one of my shows.

[nosediving]

You're saying that it might be possible to visit the worlds represented by the contest's participants? Can we really attain such a means of travel?

[usogi]

The gods brought us here, right? I'm optimistic!

I'm making a bunch of friends I'd like to see again after all.

[nosediving]

[he doesn't reply right away. several beats pass, like he's considering something deeply, before he starts off slowly.]

If there's indeed a way that we can continue to see each other after the contest, then . . . this participant would be honored to see you perform.

[usogi]

Then I promise - if we can figure it out, I'll save the best seats in the theater, just for you.

And I'll show you the wi-fi and everything.