002 ♫ voice

[etudes]

Good day, everyone.

[ Kotomi's voice is.. practically the same as usual, aka very monotone and blank, no matter what she's speaking about. At least she's apparently social enough today to actually use the journal to make a post.. ]

I have two important questions to everyone. I couldn't find the answers in books, so I thought maybe someone else would be able to tell me instead.. I tried to look all over for books about it, but couldn't find anything. [ There's maybe the sliightest hint of disappointment in her tone at it. ]

The first would be any more information about "tsundere".. I heard it means someone acts tough and doesn't think they need anything more, but.. any more information would be nice, too.

[ This is clearly important. ]

And secondly, what kind of stories does everyone like..? [ totally not asking in relation to a certain someone, nope. ] I wonder if there's some sort of story that could be fun for everyone, no matter who reads it. Doesn't that sound like it'd be wonderful?

[ After that there's just.. a long pause.. apparently she forgot to turn off her journal after she was done in her obliviousness. ]

Comments

[emp3thy]

Because people are different.

[etudes]

Bullies are different from normal people, yes. They're really scary.. [ she's talking about them as if they're monsters, really. ]

[emp3thy]

They're people too, though. [she... really seems scared of bullies...] Maybe more insecure than most.

[etudes]

Bullies aren't people at all. They're mean and they hurt other people a whole lot.. I-I definitely don't want to meet any bullies.

[emp3thy]

[...]

Do you know why people bully each other?

[etudes]

[ there's a long pause, as if she's thinking about it. ]

Aren't bullies just born that way?

[emp3thy]

[....they're not monsters.]

There's different reasons, but usually... a bully wants to feel better about themselves.

[etudes]

[ they might as well be to her.. ]

... How could they feel better about themselves by bullying?

[emp3thy]

[he shrugs.] Being 'stronger' than someone.

[etudes]

But there are people who are stronger than others and who don't have to bully people for it.. .. Ikki-kun is strong too, and I've heard the same counts for Smoker-kun, and Rin-kun fights bullies..

[emp3thy]

[....]

Not everyone's so strong in here. [...he points to his heart.]

[etudes]

... In here? [ mimicking the gesture. ]

So there's a difference between being strong and being strong in there?

[emp3thy]

[he nods.] Mental strength is a lot different.

[etudes]

So then bullies aren't strong in here.. but they're strong on the outside.

... huh..

[emp3thy]

[nod.]

So if you stay strong, bullies can't really harm you.

[etudes]

But how can I tell whether I'm strong in there or not?

[emp3thy]

[well... that's hard.] Could you stand up to someone doing something you didn't like?

[etudes]

Like.. standing up to a bully, you mean?

I-I-- I could try.. [ but she's already sounding scared. ]

[emp3thy]

You don't have to right away.

[etudes]

But if I don't do it right away, then when am I supposed to do it..?

[emp3thy]

Just work at it until you're strong enough to try.

[etudes]

... I got it. I'll.. try my best, then.

[ ... ]

What's your name?

[emp3thy]

Minato Arisato.

[etudes]

It's very nice to meet you, Minato-kun.

My name is Kotomi Ichinose. You write Kotomi with three wonderful hiragana. I'm a senior from class A, and my hobby is reading. When referring to me, please call me 'Kotomi-chan'. [ it sounds like some sort of mechanized overly-practiced introduction. ]

[emp3thy]

...Okay, Kotomi-chan. [what's with that intro, really...]

'Minato' is one kanji. I like music and photography. And 'Minato-kun' is fine.