As Bronya and I walked out the alley, I was completely spotless as I carried the girl that Asakura Miyuki had assaulted in my arms.
I told you it wouldn't take long.
All it took was 5 minutes.
...
Not five minutes in the way that you're thinking. I can actually go for a lot longer than that.
Those who know...
Sneaking a glance at Bronya, she could barely hide the guilt that appeared in her eyes.
Was it because her organisation was behind this? Though, shouldn't she be used to this if she was helping them do these things?
That... is an interesting contradiction.
"Subject Gojo... did you not feel anything about killing that girl just now?" Bronya suddenly asked.
"I dunno. Should I feel anything?" I answered.
It was a cold reply, but it was another facade I needed to keep up to trick Bronya.
Bronya accepted the response gracefully. "The Bronya understands. Subject Gojo is... efficient."
"I suppose."
That was my reply, but I doubted myself a little at this time.
Did I really care much about Miyuki's situation?
Truly, it was tragic. I should honestly be feeling a lot worse about the situation.
Thing was, I couldn't make myself feel for her. I don't know why.
I didn't like what happened. That's for sure. But in the end, I didn't feel much other than the concern a human normally has for another.
"I should get her to the hospital." I said absentmindedly. Bronya gave a hum in response as she nodded.
"The Bronya shall inform Subject Kiana and Mei."
As Bronya walked off, I looked at her back for a moment.
It seemed like our little emotionless girl was a bit more emotional than I thought.
And I suppose that I was a bit more detached that I thought.
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Sitting at home, I sat on my couch as I pondered.
The girl I sent to the hospital was fine. I paid the nurses a bit of hush money to avoid questions since I wasn't really in the mood to yap with them.
I'm sure that I've adapted my mentality before. It's not easy to grind without getting lazy otherwise. Also, I wouldn't be able to train while going through all that self-mutilation without it.
However, as a side effect, did the adaptation affect my thinking to make me more...
Cold?
I don't know what to think about that. While I'm sure that empathy hasn't been removed, it's a little more muted than I remember it being in my past life.
I guess that's the type of mindset needed to fight.
Not complaining though. I'm personally just kinda curious.
It was a honestly a purely beneficial adaptation all things considered. I don't need to have a sudden breakdown the moment I kill someone.
"Oi."
I blinked and turned my head. Kiana was sitting across the room, kicking her legs off the side of the couch.
"When did you get in?" I asked casually.
"What do you mean? You let me in, dummy." Kiana said as she put down the comic book that was in her hands.
A Homu comic.
"Oh. Must have forgotten."
Kiana squinted at me when I said that. "Are you ok? Look at you, just sitting there. Not even joking around anymore."
"Eh, I just feel like having a bit of peace and quiet for a moment." I brushed her off, but I didn't forget to add a rib at the end. "Something that doesn't happen often when you're around."
She was not amused despite my attempt at goading her. "You don't sound ok. You usually don't need me to remind you to be annoying." she muttered.
"Ah... so that's how Kiana sees me too." I sighed.
A small smile appeared on her face. "Yea, you're pretty annoying, idiot. Are you going crazy thinking about all sorts of weird stuff again?"
"It's not weird stuff!" I defended myself. "It's called having a philosophical debate."
"A philosophical debate with yourself?"
"Should I do it with you instead?"
Kiana's smile froze on her face for a moment. "I... would be okay with it I guess?" Kiana scratched the back of her head. "Ju-just don't talk about weird stuff ok! You know I don't really know any of that nerdy stuff!"
For a moment, I pondered whether I should do what I always do. Deflect Kiana's question with jokes and something else.
But today, for some reason, I felt that it would be better to humour her?
What is wrong with me today haha.
"Hey! Don't suddenly go quiet on me! You're making it awkward for me too y'know?!" Kiana shouted out. Her body was very honest compared to her mouth however as she shifted over to the sofa that I was on instead. "If you're not going to speak up, I'll just play a game or something..."
"Well" I began, "I guess it's something about human nature y'know?"
"What do you mean?"
I looked at my fingernails. "I'm just not very sure whether I'm feeling what a normal person should when I take a life y'know. "
"Don't you feel guilty for taking her life?" Kiana asked. Her eyes were like clear mirrors as I looked into them. Not judging, just curious.
Like a close friend would listen to another.
"Meh, not really."
"Maybe... maybe you're just overthinking it then?"
What?
I raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious?"
"Serious!" A goofy smile appeared on her face. "Back then, when I was travelling to look for my dad, sometimes I'd think about lots of weird things too. It made me feel pretty bad!"
"How did you stop that then?" I leaned slightly closer in.
"I just stopped thinking hehe."
...
...
"Hey! Don't look at me like that! I'm not joking around!" Kiana explained quickly. "I just stopped thinking about it!"
Looking at her with a deadpan, I said, "I don't think that I can just turn off my brain like that Kiana."
"Well... you better not! I'm relying on you to think for me now!"
"So I'm like your external brain?"
"I like the sound of that!" Kiana giggled, " But you gotta stop overthinking. You need to go out and touch some grass a bit. It'll help!"
At that, I looked up towards the ceiling for a bit as I dwelled in my thoughts(Yea yea, I'm thinking again. Bite me.)
Kiana...
Her solution... was surprisingly simple. And not going to lie, I did know that doing this would help.
Knowing it doesn't mean I would've done anything about it though.
A smile appeared on my face. As an adult in my previous life already, it's not easy to have such a simplistic mindset.
I'll admit, it's one place where I'm lacking compared to Kiana.
Though I do think that thinking a lot is still important, I can't deny that Kiana's advice made sense.
Giving her a soft punch on the shoulder, I said. "Y'know what? I think you're right."
"I'm right?" Kiana blinked before she reacted. "Yea! Of course I'm right!"
I put my hands on her shoulders as I pushed her up.
"In that case, let's go eat something nice! My treat."
"Whaaaaaat??!!! You're the best, Gojo!!"
(A/N: How is the chapter? Please give powerstones and comment!!
I hope that the chapter didn't become to angsty. I just wanted to do some character development for MC.
About relationships, I dunno if I'm doing harem or not yet. But I'll say it now, no matter what, Kiana will be in.
Best girl.）