[he's pouting]

I don't need to be checked on.

I'd agree had you contacted me instead of brooding alone.

[gOD KYOUKO]

Fine. You've seen me, I'm fine, congratulations. What else do you want?

...Talk to me.

[zoro just. stops. considers. runs a hand through his hair and then raises the coffee to her.]

This coffee's weak. They say how old the pot was when you went in for it?

[that's not what she meant zoro]

...About the things you held back, Ryouta.

That's pretty broad, Kyouko.

[but. fine. even he can appreciate that he's being a bit too difficult]

... I didn't hide anything from you. Nothing you needed to know.

But you weren't telling these things to anyone else, either...

No one else needed to know either.

I know that much, at least. But for some reason I don't think drinking alone is as good a solution to dealing with the fallout that...at the very least, drinking in company.

[hm.]

So. What? Are we supposed to get drunk and I'm supposed to complain to you about Baren? That what you're expecting?

Not really. I don't get drunk very often. [ she's only recently legal but even now... ]

...What I'm expecting is to lightly scold you for not talking to me. And to tell you that the next time you're going to brood, at least call me over. And...I suppose I also should stick to that agreement as well...?

[he takes a moment to think.]

... You know I'm crap at comfort.

[meaning she doesn't have to share if she doesn't want to. If it makes her uncomfortable.]

I'm not asking for comfort. What happened back then happened, and it can't be changed now. The fact that I likely died doesn't bother me, considering the alternatives.

[that gets him to sit up, a bit more alert.]

"Likely died"? When'd that happen? Who did it? Are they here?

[zoro will kill them.]

No. It was part of a "school killing game"...though this was after my graduation.

[but how?? can you graduate??? and still be in school???]

I'm lost.

...To put it very simply, "graduation" in terms of the killing game meant leaving that school either a killer or a survivor...I think.

Or both.

[killing is a way of survival and all that. a grim outlook, but a true one in the right circumstances. he sips his coffee.]

How'd you almost die?

I'm not certain it was "almost". There was a second killing game - a third? Well, whichever - and there were certain rules in place...do you recall that bracelet I had during your dream the other month?

Yeah. Didn't like it. Think I'm starting to like it even less now.

[he crosses his arms as best the coffee will allow.]

To cut out a lot of world-building, one of the basic rules of that game was that you could not violate the "action" on your bracelet, or you would be lethally injected immediately upon doing so. I...chose to violate my action.

[zoro jerks upright, jaw set. he's lucky he catches himself squeezing the coffee before he spills it out over the furniture.]

Did you know that's what it was back when I saw you?

I knew the basics. I didn't realize I chose to violate the action, though I guessed I might.

This gonna have to be something we talk about?