hunter

[soba]

Comments

[soba]

I'm fine.

[ the answer is automatic. ]

... our parents got conned into a huge debt, and they killed themselves to get out of it. So my brother joined a gang. And he... stole a lot of money from them, in order to pay the debt back and save our family's soba shop. What you saw is what happened after.

[ he knows hunter is probably curious, so. ]

[counterclocked]

[After a moment, sympathy clear in his expression.]

So, what you said yesterday about not being the same after you've killed someone...

[...]

I'm so sorry, man.

[soba]

... well, life goes on.

[ no matter what happens, life has to go on, one way or another.

whether you want it to or not. ]

[counterclocked]

That doesn't really make it okay, though, does it...?

[He has to wonder, though:]

Was your brother okay?

[soba]

[ he's quiet for a moment ]

He joined a different gang after. An opposing one. He works a lot with them now.

[counterclocked]

Well, that's... I mean, I'm not trying to be judgmental or anything, really, but that's not exactly great. You're not involved in anything like that, right?

[frowning!!]

[soba]

... I'm not in a gang or anything, or directly involved with that kind of thing.

But, you know my profile says drug dealer, right?

[counterclocked]

...Yeah. I guess I just thought - I mean, the profiles can be a little bit misleading.

[...]

You know that you don't have to do that, right?

[soba]

... like I said, I need money.

And there aren't really many options to make that much doing something legal, you know.

[counterclocked]

They really didn't leave you alone even after your parents...?

[He trails off, but they both know what he means, so. After a moment, he sighs.]

Man, that's - really rough. I have no idea if I was in that situation. I'm sorry.

[soba]

[ he shrugs. ]

It's just... life now. I know I shouldn't say you get used to it, but you do.

[counterclocked]

...Yeah. I get what you mean. I mean, I'm obviously not in the same situation, but—

[How many times has he been surprised he's not more panicked, more desperate than he is as things continue to get worse? But... Life really does just go on, no matter what happens.]

You'll be able to stop after you make enough, though, right?

[soba]

Hopefully. The plan is to eventually be able to settle down without having to watch our backs all the time.

[ ah. ]

Well, I'm not in that much danger personally. He covered for me, so no one should know about my involvement in that.