IC CONTACT | TEXT / VOICE / VIDEO / ACTION | box_network

[pitythefool]

"Hey there! You've reached Tohru Adachi of the Inaba Pol - ahaha, sorry. Old habit. I'm unfortunately unavailable to take your call right now, but if you leave a message, I'll get back to you as soon as possible. If it's an emergency, well... hopefully it's nothing too major. Thanks! Seeya."

Comments

[pitythefool]

[Nothing. If not for Adachi, there wouldn't be a goddamned thing keeping Ichigo in check. Which, as you could imagine, does wonders for his ego.]

You really mean that...?

[There's no doubt in his mind that Ichigo's made plenty of enemies in town, especially after what happened with the quarantine, but if the party was any indication, ichigo's still not entirely without friends. Nakama like Inoue and family like Kon. People who accept him out of obligation, Adachi figures. Because they've known each other for so long that they wouldn't dare abandon him now, no matter what sorts of atrocities he may have committed here in the Box.

Just like...

...God. Kids really do give him the creeps.

Not this one, though. Because he's different from the others. Because as much as Ichigo likes playing "hero," it doesn't sound like he thinks it's all cracked up to be. For "one who protects," he really doesn't spend too much time focusing on number one, now does he? But so long as he's not focused on himself, perhaps more of his attention could be shifted in Adachi's direction. After all, it sounds like his bonds with the others have only gotten him so far.]

...Thanks, Ichigo. That means a lot. [A beat and a cleared throat.] Listen, so long as we're stuck here, it's probably gonna be like this for a while. Shitty, I mean. So I can't exactly sugarcoat things and say tomorrow's gonna be a new day, because who knows what's gonna happen tomorrow? I mean, it's not like I can predict the future or anything...

Anyway. I guess what I'm trying to say here is that no matter what happens...

[Time, then, for Adachi to take this one step further.]

I'll be counting on you, too. You know that, right?

[bladeisme]

I do.

[He means it from the bottom of his heart. He trusts Adachi, leans on him because he's so dependable and would leap to defend him if needed. Hell, he'd easily die for Adachi, even though death was something impermanent here.

But although he looks solemn through most of the detective's little speech, he practically lights up at the last part.]

Yes. I won't let you down, Adachi.

[Some of that normal determination creeps back into his voice, and it's plain that he's just so eager to be someone that the older man counts on. That was friendship, plan and simple - having each other's backs, forming a bond that could not be broken. He'd felt only like a burden, these past few months - only asking for Adachi's help or advice, and never giving anything in return. So if he could be of some help, no matter how small...

He gives a tired, not entirely there smile. It's still stained by his utter depair, his emptiness, but he manages to give something despite how he feels. Trying his best, over and over, to the point of tearing himself apart in order to make the people he loves feel more at ease.

He doesn't ever consider himself number one, in the end. And that's alright...isn't it?]