Peace Treaty
"…"
Not for the first time, he found himself at a loss for words. Miwa was really willing to go so far? Despite having caught a glimpse of who Alcor really was that night? What he was?
"The word for you is…"pushy", no? …But I suppose I cannot fault you for it."
Especially because that pushiness just meant that Miwa cared, and it was so obvious that even Alcor could see it.
"I do not want to endanger you needlessly a second time… You are but an innocent victim in all of this."
"…But perhaps there is some truth in what you say."
Sooner or later, people were going to start questioning. People, like Aichi, were going to start looking for him, to start sticking their noses into this business, and wind up getting themselves hurt as well.
Either way, the will to protest had all but vanished now. Miwa’s argument was solid and grounded…
"…If you insist… I will accept your offer, then…"
…He was used to bottling it up, but…it would be nice to talk to someone about this. He had never had anyone. Alcor looked up again.
"…But Kai Toshiki will be cross with me if I let any harm befall you."
It was his own roundabout way of telling Miwa to be extra wary.
"Hey, when you deal with the people I do, you've got to be pushy to get anywhere. Otherwise, it's like talking to a brick wall". And Alcor was just such case; their interactions might have been limited, but true to character, Miwa could read him well, no matter how hard he worked to obscure the pages within.
"When there's trouble, there's always innocent victims. You're one yourself, aren't you? You never asked to get caught; this didn't happen by choice. And backing off isn't something I'm good at once it's been established there's someone in need of help - and right now, that's you".
He'd come with all guns blazing in the form of whatever argument could be constructed to counter any opposition fortified by whoever was seated opposite - be it Alcor, Kai, anyone who had been prepared to throw themselves under the bus just to keep him out of the line of fire. But standing back safely was never Miwa's style, not when there was a friend who needed a helping hand.
"Good to hear; I'm open to listen to whatever you need, whenever you need. And no backing out, got it? I can be sneaky the situation calls for it.
And don't you worry about Kai, he can't have any problem with you if I came along by choice".
Not that it was going to be anything but an inredibly bumpy ride, though he was prepared. Whatever the risk, for the sake of keeping someone important to Aichi happy, someone that matters to numerous friends, and to Miwa himself. "Now, what do you say to having some food? You must be starving".
