shaft | school: otome

[ In response, Otome looks both concerned and a little... well. Bittersweet. ]

Yes and no. I did die-- myself, and so many people precious to me who had fought beside me. I couldn't do anything for any of them.

But things were reset. It's-- it's just another thing I ended up remembering, eventually.

... That's a terrible thing to experience. Even if it was undone.

[ Genuinely. He's going to take one of her hands and squeeze it. ]

Yes, it's... something I hoped I would never have in common with anyone.

[ She pauses, then squeezes his hand in return. ]

That's why-- I want to try to save you. I don't know what that will look like, if that's possible, or if doing so means I wouldn't be able to help you go back to your own world.

But I... please, let me try?

[ Her fingers are trembling a bit. ]

[ He genuinely doesn't know what to do. Claude is— used to fighting his own battles, keeping his secrets, shouldering everything that comes with being alive alone. There are people who cared for him—Judith, Hilda, Nader—but they relied on him. He was their leader and general, and it was his role to take care of them.

Even though, he thinks that they probably would've wanted to return the favour, if he'd ever given them a chance.

Here, he's no one special. And Otome is leagues stronger than him. ]

I... okay, I won't stop you. [ ... ] Thank you.