[ That remark stops her cold. Solitary confinement? For a prank gone wrong? Who had told the teachers, though? It could have been anyone in her little group, she realizes--she had remarked that traps and pranks were Satoko's purview at least once. ]
I had no idea--we never saw each other because she was in the remedial class. I would never betray her that way, ever!
[ She feels deflated. Unhappy. Indignant. There's anger that of course, she has to be the one at fault here--that her good faith efforts don't count because of course Satoko is too childish and stubborn to be able to just accept Rika's hand when she offers it. There's also guilt. Loathing for herself. She could have done more. Could have made more of an effort. Could have been more upfront about defending her friend.
But she had assumed Satoko would always be there. Again. Ignored her. ]
I thought--
[ No. That was a different timeline, all of it blending together in her mind. Satoko hadn't learned to ask for help in the only loop that mattered. Her voice cracks a little with a tone of despair. ]
no subject
[ That remark stops her cold. Solitary confinement? For a prank gone wrong? Who had told the teachers, though? It could have been anyone in her little group, she realizes--she had remarked that traps and pranks were Satoko's purview at least once. ]
I had no idea--we never saw each other because she was in the remedial class. I would never betray her that way, ever!
[ She feels deflated. Unhappy. Indignant. There's anger that of course, she has to be the one at fault here--that her good faith efforts don't count because of course Satoko is too childish and stubborn to be able to just accept Rika's hand when she offers it. There's also guilt. Loathing for herself. She could have done more. Could have made more of an effort. Could have been more upfront about defending her friend.
But she had assumed Satoko would always be there. Again. Ignored her. ]
I thought--
[ No. That was a different timeline, all of it blending together in her mind. Satoko hadn't learned to ask for help in the only loop that mattered. Her voice cracks a little with a tone of despair. ]
Oh, Satoko...