[No, Makoto reaches out and takes Ibuki's hand, giving it a squeeze.]
It's not okay.
[At least Ibuki's class just... went off somewhere where no one could worry. It's only reasonable that the world would be concered about Ibuki and her class after everything that happened, but all the same... they never should have been put in that position, and while Makoto is typically not the sort of person to wish death on someone, it's almost a little relieving to know that that person is dead. It's not okay what Ibuki and them did, but she can understand all of the other factors that went with it.
She pauses when she realizes what she said, after everything, and elaborates.]
I mean, it's okay here, just not okay there. You know what I mean, right? At... least you have this place, even if it's kinda... [Well, it's a lot of different things, and most of her descriptors aren't good.]
I just don't understand how someone could... just do that kind of thing to so many people. What the hell.
Mmm, Ibuki likes this place. Even the bad parts aren't... that bad, compared to back there. A-actually, Teruteru-chan might've made all his Ultimate Despair food out of...
[... Well, there's only one logical ending to that. And it has her pausing for a second.
But she shakes her head again, trying to get the thought out of her brain - Before she leaps back off the bench onto her paws, holding tight to Makoto's hand before taking it in both of hers.]
It doesn't matter why she did it. Right? It doesn't matter, now that Ibuki's not there anymore! What matters is what she can do here and now. And right here and right now...
Ibuki wants you to know that she's really excited to someday be your friend.
Having people here who listen to what I say and take me seriously... is really, really new. And it's even newer to have someone who wants to learn from me, so... It's really important that you know how excited I am for that, okay?
To someday really, really be your friend.
[... She's talking like they're not. Or even haven't been, despite the things Ibuki's done, like inviting her wholeheartedly into her club and buying her a brand new guitar...]
["Teruteru might've made all his Ultimate Despair food out of... Honestly, Ibuki doesn't even need to finish that. There is a logical end to it, and Makoto doesn't want to hear it because she can fill in the blank well enough herself.]
It does matter, though. She still did it to you, y'know? Even if things are different here, that doesn't change what happened in the past...
[But then she listens to how Ibuki is talking, like they weren't friends already, like... what? It's like she's already assumed that Makoto's decided to just not be her friend anymore, or change her stance on things for whatever reason. She's not going to change her stance on trusting Ibuki, nor is she going to change her stance on them being friends. She's determined for that. Ibuki opened up to her, after all.
Ibuki may have done bad things but that doesn't necessarily make her a bad person. She obviously regrets and wants to do better. Things are different, right? So it's... not fine, but Makoto can appreciate the effort put forth by them to be better and do better and that goes a long way in the end.
It's still kind of hard to wrap her mind around the scale of the problem, she's never thought of anything on that scale that wasn't just performing on the world stage.]
Oi, don't talk like we aren't friends, Ibuki-chan. You're acting like I've already made my mind up that we aren't friends now! We are. Even if you didn't do good things, you're trying to be better and do better. If I weren't your friend, I wouldn't have sat here and listened.
[Oh, no, it's not that. Sure, Ibuki wouldn't have blamed her for deciding they need to get closer before they could really be friends. But no, this runs a little... deeper than that.
In fact, she looks at her for a moment with a bit of surprise, still holding her hand with both of hers.]
... We're already friends? Even though we've only known each other a li'l while? We're already friends? Really?
[See this look? This face of surprise at being called friends? This is the face of a woman with trust issues deeper than the Grand Canyon, Makoto.
[Hooboy Ibuki, there is so much to unpack about you and she's not even sure where to start. But she's fine with the work and trying to understand. She's determined to be Ibuki's friend, and this ain't gonna stop her.]
Well, we only met like, a month ago... Aren't people usually still strangers by now?
[That's said as she finally lets go of Makoto's hand - In favor of bringing her own up in front of her, shyly pushing a couple fingertips together.
Yeah, there's a lot behind all that hair, but hey. If Makoto's willing to try and unpack it, she'll have a pretty loyal friend for life! Just ask Sonia.]
[She stares a bit more, eyes wide and shocked. She's very clearly touched, but...
She's not actually sure what to say to that, either. The last time someone so wholeheartedly jumped into friendship with her was... Well, Lucas. And before that, it was Hajime. So she can't help getting a niggling feeling about this - maybe... Makoto's serious? Maybe she really, really wants to be Ibuki's friend, and maybe... Maybe, if Makoto really trusts her... and Ibuki can trust her just as much, then maybe...
Uwaaaahh!! Even after Ibuki brought you out here just to tell you about her troubled and sordid past!? Makoto-chan really is the nicest...!!! I owe you ten - no, twenty! No, fifty times over!! Ibuki's in your debt...!!
[Said as she goes ahead and grabs Makoto's hand again, shaking her arm with the motion and comically large tears just pour down her cheeks. It's... it's really hard to tell if these are serious tears or not.]
[Okay wow she was not expecting that but she is going to roll with this.]
Ibuki-chan, you don't gotta be in my debt or anything! Just be you, and that's fine!
[You know, the you that's good and not the you that's the Ultimate Despair, but even then she'd try to slap her out of it regardless of whether that's an actual solution or not.]
[Maybe don't plan on any Ultimate Despair slappings, they might like it --
But the tears instantly stop - pretty easily proving they were crocodile tears, likely just to try and lighten the mood? - as does her shaking of Makoto's arm.]
Well, that's too easy! Ibuki is always Ibuki! As Ibuki as possible!
Are you sure you don't want Ibuki's debt? This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, you know! Go ahead, you can ask for anything! There's no wrong answers!
[What... could she even think Makoto would want -]
... Except for some reason, that response gets Ibuki to pause, her face going a little... Hard to read. The smile's not gone, but it's certainly not big and full.
Because, well.]
...
But what if Ibuki reserves the vocalist spot for you in her band?
[That gets a laugh from Ibuki, and a dismissive wave of her hand.]
No, no! No no no... Ibuki's thing isn't vocals, she just does vocals on the side! Ibuki can do anything a group needs, if they're hurting for it! Vocals, drums, keyboard, guitar, even mixing and mastering and special effects up on stage! No, no, see, Ibuki's thing is the guitar.
[... Y'know, the thing she's teaching her how to do --]
Vocals can be your thing! Once you're ready, that is.
I still don't think I'm much much of a metal singer, though... unless that's what you mean by "once you're ready?"
[It dawns on Makoto that this entire conversation is just whiplash, but it's happening and she's here, and there's talk of being a vocalist in Ibuki's band?? Hmm.]
I didn't even realize you could do so much, Ibuki-chan! That's amazing!
[It may be whiplash to Makoto, but Ibuki's... just like this. Plus, the band thing? That's a really, really big show of trust from her. Of course, that's why she's saying she'll reserve the spot. As nice as this is, and as wonderful as Makoto has been, Ibuki's still not completely sold that she won't just...
Cut ties with her, someday. It's happened before, even though she thought they were all tight-knit... Case in point:]
Well, yeah! You gotta be able to do anything for your band! And... it's good to be able to do all that as a solo artist, too. Once you go solo, no one's gonna pop up and offer to play the drums or sing backup, y'know? Either you gotta go looking real hard for someone who'll help you out and stick by your side even when things get rocky, or...
[She shrugs.]
You just do it yourself! But, uh... a word of advice from someone who's been in the biz for a while... Since you sound like you're still an idol back where you come from...
It's hard. I was a solo idol and my agency wasn't really big at first... I didn't even get my break until some others did. It's a lot of work because there are so many other people trying to make their dreams come true, too.
[There were some twinges of jealousy back then, but Makoto soldiered on. They were her friends, and she knew it'd come for her too eventually. And it did.]
My agency did a lot together and they were all my friends, but we all had our own things to do. It was a lot for Producer to manage unless we were all lucky enough to be in the same movie or drama or song. It's more fun to do things with people you like anyway.
W-wait, wait, wait - you were a solo artist back home, too? I thought idols mostly do groups... was Ibuki mistaken?
[...
She's gonna go ahead and plop herself back on the bench next to Makoto, crossing her arms as she does.]
Does that mean you got stuck in the same world as Ibuki? Vying for gigs where you could, ending up having to plan out all your pyrotechnics and costumes yourself, maybe even having to play or sing over a recording just 'cause you're all alone on stage... the works?
It wasn't quite that far—! Ritsuko-san and Producer helped us, but there were still a lot of auditions that I failed, and I'd get lucky to just perform in coffee shops sometimes. It's not easy!! And it's kinda lonely when you have to be by yourself, especially since it's happier with other people.
[She sighs, leaning back against the bench.]
The people you perform with, they don't put you on a pedestal like your fans do. I love my fans, but it's different having someone right there with you.
i keep coming back to this icon when she's being serious, ugh
[Said as she leans against the bench herself, tail curling up to sit in her lap.]
Ibuki really misses it, being up on stage with a gaggle of friends you feel like you can trust no matter what, through thick and thin... But she's not sure how many people she can trust enough, here. I've got my synth guy and I love the dude to itty bitty bits... but that's it.
A full-on band feels so far out of Ibuki's reach... and performing feels even farther.
[Yeeeaaah, unfortunately... She scrunches up her face, and gives Makoto a shake of her head "no". Enough so that her earrings jingle with the motion.]
Mm-mm, no, I haven't... did Ibuki really end up missing out on a good metal band getting huge or something? Ahhhh, that's like adding insult to injury, knowing all the good bands and good music Ibuki made herself miss out on...
[The world ended long before they would have came to be, in Ibuki's world... So no, there's really no chance she'd have heard of them.
Especially since, after her band split, she kind of washed her hands of agencies and idol groups, digging more into overseas music than anything else.]
Ahhh, that's too bad... I think you would've liked them. They're mostly a metal group, but they had cute girls sang like idols even though everything was metal. I had most of their songs!
[Thankfully, Makoto is deep in that sector of the field and most idols are big on supporting other idols so she can introduce Ibuki to this.]
... Like, crossing the streams? Metal backup and idol vocals? Ahhh, that sounds like it could be... kind of fun...
[It's clear she's not really... sold on the idea, but it's probably something she'd have to listen to, first. After all, her own music is very, very different.
But at the same time...]
... Um. Did... Did Ibuki ever tell you what her band did before we split and she went solo?
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It's not okay.
[At least Ibuki's class just... went off somewhere where no one could worry. It's only reasonable that the world would be concered about Ibuki and her class after everything that happened, but all the same... they never should have been put in that position, and while Makoto is typically not the sort of person to wish death on someone, it's almost a little relieving to know that that person is dead. It's not okay what Ibuki and them did, but she can understand all of the other factors that went with it.
She pauses when she realizes what she said, after everything, and elaborates.]
I mean, it's okay here, just not okay there. You know what I mean, right? At... least you have this place, even if it's kinda... [Well, it's a lot of different things, and most of her descriptors aren't good.]
I just don't understand how someone could... just do that kind of thing to so many people. What the hell.
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A-actually, Teruteru-chan might've made all his Ultimate Despair food out of...
[...
Well, there's only one logical ending to that. And it has her pausing for a second.
But she shakes her head again, trying to get the thought out of her brain -
Before she leaps back off the bench onto her paws, holding tight to Makoto's hand before taking it in both of hers.]
It doesn't matter why she did it. Right? It doesn't matter, now that Ibuki's not there anymore!
What matters is what she can do here and now. And right here and right now...
Ibuki wants you to know that she's really excited to someday be your friend.
Having people here who listen to what I say and take me seriously... is really, really new.
And it's even newer to have someone who wants to learn from me, so...
It's really important that you know how excited I am for that, okay?
To someday really, really be your friend.
[... She's talking like they're not. Or even haven't been, despite the things Ibuki's done, like inviting her wholeheartedly into her club and buying her a brand new guitar...]
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It does matter, though. She still did it to you, y'know? Even if things are different here, that doesn't change what happened in the past...
[But then she listens to how Ibuki is talking, like they weren't friends already, like... what? It's like she's already assumed that Makoto's decided to just not be her friend anymore, or change her stance on things for whatever reason. She's not going to change her stance on trusting Ibuki, nor is she going to change her stance on them being friends. She's determined for that. Ibuki opened up to her, after all.
Ibuki may have done bad things but that doesn't necessarily make her a bad person. She obviously regrets and wants to do better. Things are different, right? So it's... not fine, but Makoto can appreciate the effort put forth by them to be better and do better and that goes a long way in the end.
It's still kind of hard to wrap her mind around the scale of the problem, she's never thought of anything on that scale that wasn't just performing on the world stage.]
Oi, don't talk like we aren't friends, Ibuki-chan. You're acting like I've already made my mind up that we aren't friends now! We are. Even if you didn't do good things, you're trying to be better and do better. If I weren't your friend, I wouldn't have sat here and listened.
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But no, this runs a little... deeper than that.
In fact, she looks at her for a moment with a bit of surprise, still holding her hand with both of hers.]
... We're already friends?
Even though we've only known each other a li'l while? We're already friends?
Really?
[See this look? This face of surprise at being called friends?
This is the face of a woman with trust issues deeper than the Grand Canyon, Makoto.
(You can thank her old band for that.)]
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[Hooboy Ibuki, there is so much to unpack about you and she's not even sure where to start. But she's fine with the work and trying to understand. She's determined to be Ibuki's friend, and this ain't gonna stop her.]
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Aren't people usually still strangers by now?
[That's said as she finally lets go of Makoto's hand -
In favor of bringing her own up in front of her, shyly pushing a couple fingertips together.
Yeah, there's a lot behind all that hair, but hey. If Makoto's willing to try and unpack it, she'll have a pretty loyal friend for life!
Just ask Sonia.]
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[She sounds sure of what she's saying.]
It just means we're new friends, not strangers. If you were still a stranger I wouldn't be here talking to you either, Ibuki-chan.
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[She stares a bit more, eyes wide and shocked. She's very clearly touched, but...
She's not actually sure what to say to that, either. The last time someone so wholeheartedly jumped into friendship with her was...
Well, Lucas. And before that, it was Hajime.
So she can't help getting a niggling feeling about this - maybe... Makoto's serious? Maybe she really, really wants to be Ibuki's friend, and maybe...
Maybe, if Makoto really trusts her... and Ibuki can trust her just as much, then maybe...
Maybe...]
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[Maybe she might just burst into tears.]
Uwaaaahh!! Even after Ibuki brought you out here just to tell you about her troubled and sordid past!?
Makoto-chan really is the nicest...!!!
I owe you ten - no, twenty! No, fifty times over!!
Ibuki's in your debt...!!
[Said as she goes ahead and grabs Makoto's hand again, shaking her arm with the motion and comically large tears just pour down her cheeks.
It's... it's really hard to tell if these are serious tears or not.]
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Ibuki-chan, you don't gotta be in my debt or anything! Just be you, and that's fine!
[You know, the you that's good and not the you that's the Ultimate Despair, but even then she'd try to slap her out of it regardless of whether that's an actual solution or not.]
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But the tears instantly stop - pretty easily proving they were crocodile tears, likely just to try and lighten the mood? - as does her shaking of Makoto's arm.]
Well, that's too easy! Ibuki is always Ibuki!
As Ibuki as possible!
Are you sure you don't want Ibuki's debt? This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance, you know!
Go ahead, you can ask for anything!
There's no wrong answers!
[What... could she even think Makoto would want -]
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[Her tone is serious.... and somewhat chiding, but almost playfully so. If Ibuki's gonna insist on debt, then she can at least do this.]
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... Except for some reason, that response gets Ibuki to pause, her face going a little...
Hard to read.
The smile's not gone, but it's certainly not big and full.
Because, well.]
...
But what if Ibuki reserves the vocalist spot for you in her band?
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[She's surprised Ibuki would say that, in all honesty, considering that it is her thing.]
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No, no! No no no... Ibuki's thing isn't vocals, she just does vocals on the side!
Ibuki can do anything a group needs, if they're hurting for it! Vocals, drums, keyboard, guitar, even mixing and mastering and special effects up on stage!
No, no, see, Ibuki's thing is the guitar.
[... Y'know, the thing she's teaching her how to do --]
Vocals can be your thing!
Once you're ready, that is.
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[It dawns on Makoto that this entire conversation is just whiplash, but it's happening and she's here, and there's talk of being a vocalist in Ibuki's band?? Hmm.]
I didn't even realize you could do so much, Ibuki-chan! That's amazing!
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That's a really, really big show of trust from her. Of course, that's why she's saying she'll reserve the spot.
As nice as this is, and as wonderful as Makoto has been, Ibuki's still not completely sold that she won't just...
Cut ties with her, someday. It's happened before, even though she thought they were all tight-knit...
Case in point:]
Well, yeah! You gotta be able to do anything for your band! And... it's good to be able to do all that as a solo artist, too.
Once you go solo, no one's gonna pop up and offer to play the drums or sing backup, y'know?
Either you gotta go looking real hard for someone who'll help you out and stick by your side even when things get rocky, or...
[She shrugs.]
You just do it yourself!
But, uh... a word of advice from someone who's been in the biz for a while...
Since you sound like you're still an idol back where you come from...
Don't try and hit it big on your own.
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[There were some twinges of jealousy back then, but Makoto soldiered on. They were her friends, and she knew it'd come for her too eventually. And it did.]
My agency did a lot together and they were all my friends, but we all had our own things to do. It was a lot for Producer to manage unless we were all lucky enough to be in the same movie or drama or song. It's more fun to do things with people you like anyway.
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I thought idols mostly do groups... was Ibuki mistaken?
[...
She's gonna go ahead and plop herself back on the bench next to Makoto, crossing her arms as she does.]
Does that mean you got stuck in the same world as Ibuki?
Vying for gigs where you could, ending up having to plan out all your pyrotechnics and costumes yourself, maybe even having to play or sing over a recording just 'cause you're all alone on stage... the works?
So... you get how lonely that is, right?
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[She sighs, leaning back against the bench.]
The people you perform with, they don't put you on a pedestal like your fans do. I love my fans, but it's different having someone right there with you.
i keep coming back to this icon when she's being serious, ugh
[Said as she leans against the bench herself, tail curling up to sit in her lap.]
Ibuki really misses it, being up on stage with a gaggle of friends you feel like you can trust no matter what, through thick and thin...
But she's not sure how many people she can trust enough, here. I've got my synth guy and I love the dude to itty bitty bits... but that's it.
A full-on band feels so far out of Ibuki's reach... and performing feels even farther.
but it's a good icon
It doesn't have to be. Ibuki-chan, I know our worlds are different, but before... everything happened, did you ever hear of a group called Babymetal?
[Just in case there were some similar things between worlds or something.]
but it's one of the only serious ones i haaaaave
She scrunches up her face, and gives Makoto a shake of her head "no". Enough so that her earrings jingle with the motion.]
Mm-mm, no, I haven't... did Ibuki really end up missing out on a good metal band getting huge or something?
Ahhhh, that's like adding insult to injury, knowing all the good bands and good music Ibuki made herself miss out on...
[The world ended long before they would have came to be, in Ibuki's world...
So no, there's really no chance she'd have heard of them.
Especially since, after her band split, she kind of washed her hands of agencies and idol groups, digging more into overseas music than anything else.]
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[Thankfully, Makoto is deep in that sector of the field and most idols are big on supporting other idols so she can introduce Ibuki to this.]
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[Hang on, the gears are turning in her head -]
... Like, crossing the streams? Metal backup and idol vocals?
Ahhh, that sounds like it could be... kind of fun...
[It's clear she's not really... sold on the idea, but it's probably something she'd have to listen to, first.
After all, her own music is very, very different.
But at the same time...]
... Um. Did...
Did Ibuki ever tell you what her band did before we split and she went solo?
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