The teen’s tense shift in demeanor didn’t go unnoticed, though Ragna initially assumed it was due to what he had revealed. Ragna never liked talking much about his past, given the painful memories associated with it. There was a point where that pain of loss was a major defining trait of his very soul… And while that may still ring true to some degree, the Reaper now simply wants to keep moving forward. Dwelling on the past for too long won’t do much good anymore. But it’s only fair for Naoto to have a good understanding of what lead to Ragna becoming who he is now, given how unusually connected the two seem to be.
The follow up question first came off as odd. The “other Naoto’s” name… It didn’t seem like something worth thinking much about at first; why would the name be any different? Yet as if on instinct, the swordsman tried to recall the flashing memories of his other self, homing in on anything relating to Naoto…
It’s true that their dopplegangers did indeed have some sort of bond formed in that fabricated life. The boy would be a frequent visitor of his restaurant, with some occasions having the pair talk on and on whenever the chef was free… He recalled the youth being somewhat important compared to the average citizen, but the exact details are rather fuzzy… Yet as he tries to think back on any chance the boy’s name came up, his footsteps once again come to a stop.
Naoto… Kurogane? That should be his name, and yet… Kurogane sounds like a completely unrelated concept in the fabricated reality of the copies. That family name had nothing to do with the boy. So if Kurogane had nothing to do with Naoto in that scenario… does that imply that he went by a different name? Was whatever name he used in that reality an alibi? Or maybe… the current name is in itself the lie.
“… It’s pretty fuzzy. Anytime I think back on your name, I draw a blank on the family name… I’m sure the other ‘me’ knew it, but when I try to remember it… Nothing.”
There it was. He couldn’t act surprised. With what Ragna had just told him, Naoto had to know that his implications were going to be met with an air of hostility. After all, what exactly was he implying? Years of torture and pain, all brought about by a person who could possibly be related to him? He wouldn’t be shocked if Ragna lost his temper right there and tried to attack him.
That was why he wasn’t going to beat around the bush here. Whatever the truth was, Naoto needed to set the record straight. Even if he didn’t know who ‘Yuki Terumi’ was, he knew who he was. And even if what he was ended up being an heir who lost everything he once had...
“Who knows? Maybe the people in charged wanted me to tell you myself. I guess it doesn’t matter either way...”
He refused to simply allow his old family name to be dragged through the mud by a monster like that. Not after all it had already suffered.
“--’Kurogane’ was my mom’s family name. I took it after she died.” His voice was solemn, with a weight to it that he’d never spoken with in front of the Grim Reaper. “My original name, and the name of my clan... Was ‘Naoto Terumi’. I was the heir--the one who was supposed to lead the family into the coming years. That was before... ‘things’ happened.”
“I don’t have a damn clue who this ‘Yuki Terumi’ is. And I could never understand how badly this guy’s screwed up your life. But... If he had anything to do with my family... With me, in whatever twisted, multiversal-bullshit-way there is...”
He looked directly at the Grim Reaper.
“I’m sorry. And if this asshole ever shows up again, you can bet your ass I’ll be the first one there to tear him a new one. Consider that a promise from this punk.”
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