omaru | ( empatheias ) ic inbox.

I guess you're right.

[ Although, her experience in Towa City showed her that while everyone was in the same situation, some people weren't necessarily as kind as others. ]

I'm an optimist, I admit.

[So he's wrong sometimes.]

Now, what's your favorite tea? I'll put some on for you.

There's nothing wrong with that. I'm like a reformed optimist myself, I guess you could say...

[ She used to be super optimistic, but after the Tragedy struck, she found herself quickly succumbing to despair because she felt it was easier that way. It was only after meeting Touko and having her encourage her that she started to have hope again. ]

Oh, just green tea is fine, thanks.

[Green tea it is. The water's hot, so he pours two teacups' worth and starts steeping the tea.]

Being an optimist is one of the most difficult things you can be, I think.

Tell me about it. Geez, I don't know how my brother can do it all the time...

[ She's fallen into despair more times that she'd like to admit. ]

...But I guess that's not too surprising from someone considered to be the Ultimate Hope.

That's an interesting title. How do you get to be the Ultimate Hope?

[Is it a contest prize, or...?]

Um, he defeated the mastermind behind that Tragedy I was telling you about...and ever since then, people started calling him the Ultimate Hope...?

[ That's as far as she knows, anyway. She wasn't around to witness it in person, and she's only ever heard of her brother's accomplishments through other people, so it's pure speculation on her part. It's a little hard to believe, even to this day, considering that her brother never used to be as inspiring as he was when she last talked to him. He was just as normal as she was and had the worst luck ever, so for him to all of a sudden be considered a hero...it was definitely shocking. ]

...Well, something like that, anyway.

Ah, so it's one of those titles you get by becoming a legend.

[He had one himself, sort of. Not nearly that pleasant of a title.]

Must be a bit stressful for you. Do people compare the two of you often?

[ Oh, do they. ]

Yeah, but I'm not nearly regarded as highly as he is.

[ Usually people wonder how is she related to him, given how...boring she is compared to him. ]

[He can imagine.]

That doesn't mean you aren't as worthwhile as he is, you know. Just that you're less famous.

Yeah, I wouldn't want to be as famous as he is, anyways...

[ His fame hasn't necessarily been a good thing for either of them. ]

Wouldn't either. A quiet, peaceful life is much better suited to me than living in the spotlight.

Too much attention is a little embarrassing...

Couldn't agree more.

Think the tea's done steeping.

[He passes her her teacup - enjoy.]

Oh, thanks.

[ She takes the teacup and blows on the tea to cool it down a little before sipping from it. ]

So, um...tell me more about your world, Cherryblod-san. I know you said you lived underwater and that you have a wife and a daughter, but I don't know much more about your world other than that.

Where to begin... [He reflects for a moment, trying to decide how to sum up his world.] I live in Deepsea Town, the capital of the Sea Kingdom. We're not creative with names, I know. It's full of sea creatures of every kind - crustaceans, sharks and dolphins, mermaids, practically any animal you might be able to name, as well as a wonderful witch. Normally, it's a peaceful place.

Our immediate neighbor is the Tosatsu Kingdom, an island full of rabbits. We were recently in conflict with them and the demon mercenaries they hired - it's a long story - but we've settled that misunderstanding since.

Besides animal people, witches and sorcerers, and angels and demons, most of the population of my world is human, I believe. Haven't seen one in quite a while, but they don't come down underwater too often, for obvious reasons.

That's so cool that you get to live in a world like that! [ It sounds like a world straight out of a manga, in Komaru's eyes, the dream. ] All we have are humans in our world...the closest thing to magical I've ever seen was giant robots, but that's more technological enhancement than anything...

[ Advancement. That was the word she was going for. ]

I've not encountered many robots. Certainly no giant ones. Your world sounds like it might be the more interesting one to me.

[Anyone would feel that way about worlds that aren't their own, or at least he assumes so.]

My world is definitely less normal than you'd expect it to be...

[ First, she was a simple middle schooler, and now she's a high school protagonist. How times change. ]

Is there really such a thing as a 'normal' world?

I mean, my brother's and my world was pretty normal until the Tragedy struck...

[ If a little bit unlucky because of him. ]

But to someone who's used to every species under the sun, a world of just humans seems weird.

Well, to a human, a world full of different species seems weird, too!

[ She huffs indignantly, but it's evident that she's just joking. ]

Luckily for you, I'm the most normal shrimp that you could possibly meet.

[...he's really not.]

Well, you're also the only shrimp I've met so far.

[ Live shrimp, that is. ]

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