perfectmatch | week three

[. . . a small laugh as he lifts his gaze towards hers again, a smile appearing on his features]

I was really good at it, too.

[it was strange, how naturally lying to others had come to him. he doesn't think about that too deeply, but if he did. . .? he might start questioning the kind of person he is]

[ . . .

It's not an unfamiliar story. Sorcerers fight curses. Curses are born from negative human emotions. Negative human emotions... are fed by circumstances like this. The inherent cruelty of society. Despair. Bitterness. Often, when they investigate such cases, it tends to go back to a simple story of how someone's life was made irrevocably difficult.

So... she understands. Her features soften with sympathy as she finally picks up her glass to take a sip of beer again. ]

Life really can be unfair like that, huh? Just one mistake can set the course for the rest of your life. It just takes one thing to go wrong for the dominoes to fall...

So then, your reason for wanting to continue?

[he goes for another piece of karaage, though he doesn't eat it just yet, merely holding it between his chopsticks as he talks. her first commentary needs no response; nothing beyond an affirming noise. as to her question. . .]

[. . .]

I work with a group of confidence men who swindle rich assholes. The sleaziest of the sleaze that society has to offer. I've taken down gangs in Los Angeles, yakuza in Tokyo and Shanghai, and even an art appraiser who was taking advantage of a woman's affections to steal her money.

[. . .]

. . . this doesn't mean I think what I'm doing is right. But it gives me purpose.

[ taking a loooooooong sip of beer... ]

[ And then sets her glass back down, because she need her hands to gesticulate. ]

...So, you were a young delinquent with a really challenging situation at home, and became a con man after being unable to find a job because of something minor, but you take down the rich scumbags that the world would be better off without. Take down entire gangs. Yakuza, even.

[ . . . ]

Hehe. What you're doing might not be right, sure, but it is pretty impressive, actually. Actually, if there's any right way to be a confidence man, I think you've found it.

Besides, you're not the only one who's been a bit of a cheater in life.

[ she leans over, holding a hand up to the side of her mouth, just in case some of the crew are slowly starting to return. ]

I faked my eligibility for licensure. I wanted to become a doctor as soon as I could, so.~ Don't tell anyone, alright?

[somehow. . . that's all that it takes. any remaining tension he may have had from his honesty melts away with her smile, features easing into one of his own. he will never be able to believe that what he is doing is right. lying and cheating and stealing gaining someone's trust only to stab them in the back will never feel right in his heart]

[but. . .]

[. . . it is kind of fun]

-- haha! Seriously? [naturally, there is not a single ounce of judgment in his response. if anything, he sounds impressed!] Who would I even tell? Your secret's safe with me.

. . . it's way more important that you're in a position to help whoever you can, anyway. How you got there doesn't matter.

[ God, Edamura... Shoko is nodding emphatically because— he gets it!! ]

Exactly. Why would I waste my time for years fulfilling all those requirements when I could already perform my duties since I was in high school? This way I could become a doctor at twenty, instead of twenty-nine or something.

[ Shoko... might actually be a genius tbh. In any case, she rises enough to be able to lean over the low table and rest her hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze if he lets her. ]

Anyway, thanks for telling me, Makoto.

[ah. . . something fond appears in his gaze when he feels her hand settle on his shoulder. instead of stiffening in instinctive fight or flight, he reaches out to rest his fingers against her knuckles. soft and warm]

Thanks. . . for letting me tell you.

[and then]

[casually]

I pretended to be a doctor for a confidence scheme once.

[PRIMLY]

And I'm pretty proud of that one.

[ She draws away after another moment, settling back onto her spot. But teasingly, ]

With that youthful face of yours? How did anyone fall for that? Heh.

[simply!]

Because I am just that good.

week three | dates

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