13TH DAY - [Video]

[babel_hacker]

[One moment, he was with them. A momentary break after their latest victory, “he” conquered Babel’s trial and became King of Bel. They’re about to depart the building for “him” to declare war.

Only for Atsuro to found himself in a startling familiar city: Prospero.

Just like that, he remembered. His time spent in this city, trying to unravel the mysteries, helping everyone with what he can do, fighting off Shadows, facing his own Shadow and insecurities... facing Madoka’s confessions and reciprocating it. Talking with Naoya when “his” departure was no longer a stinging pain. Just dulled.

Atsuro checked the phone for the date. If he remembered correctly, he’s been gone for about a week. A week away from this city for a week in something akin to ‘hell’, a place filled with desperation and people driven to survival at any cost. It’s almost funny...but Atsuro’s still mentally tired to laugh at it.

Scrolling through the contact list, almost frantically, for people he knows here. He sighed in relief, not knowing he’s holding his breath, when he saw their names.

He took his time to control himself, so any signs of his tiredness wouldn’t show. But it may slip out.]

Hey, everyone. Atsuro here... Sorry for disappearing on you guys but…I’m back.

Soooo, what did I miss, guy? I know I got like, a week's worth of class notes and homework to catch up! And I hope my boss will let me come back... And I'll get back to working on the database as soon as I can!

[Private to Naoya]
[Unlike his earlier video, he's more serious.] ...Naoya, I'm back from the lockdown.

Comments

[Action]

[crouching_sin]

I see.

[Better than could be expected. He knew there were many possible outcomes, so he wanted to make sure nothing of the sort happened. With different worlds here, there was the possibility they were both from parallel ones - but it seemed that worry wasn't needed here.]

You finally caught up, then. Any other questions?

[Action]

[babel_hacker]

[Atsuro's quiet, thinking of what to ask. But there's something that's on his mind and it's still relatively 'fresh'.]

...What's Abel?

[After conquering Babel's trial, Naoya mentioned that name. Before that, the angels brought the name up as well.]

[Action]

[crouching_sin]

[... He's quiet for a long moment. How to approach this... of course he'd pick up on that. He's always been perceptive.]

[Well. Half of the truth wouldn't hurt in this case.]

A Bel. What else? But he died long ago.

[Action]

[babel_hacker]

But you and the angels called him that. [But why?] Is it...related to why he's a part of the war?

[Action]

[crouching_sin]

[... Mm. Tricky. He knows this is going to take a bit of creative speech. But Atsuro is way too perceptive for a simple lie.]

Abel is - was, I suppose, but now is again - the Bel of the human world. Now that he's taken that role, he naturally gets that title.

[Action]

[babel_hacker]

[That would make sense...and Naoya never really lied before.]

So everyone's calling him that, now that he's the king.

[Not sure what to feel about that. It kind of...help further the distance, or something.]

[Action]

[crouching_sin]

Yes.

[The tea kettle starts whistling, and Naoya bustles over to pour some tea for Atsuro.]

[Action]

[babel_hacker]

[With a 'thanks' for the tea, Atsuro looks at Naoya.]

There won't be any other problems?

[Action]

[crouching_sin]

There will always be problems. What matters is how you work around them.

[Action]

[babel_hacker]

Like dealing with the angels. [Since...they are going to fight against them and God.] ...After we're finally out of the lockdown.