Batsu Ichimonji

"I am fond of purple as well.... for some reason."

"Is there something about this clothing...? It almost seems like I've seen it somewhere."

"This looks nice on you, Kokoro."

A picture of Athena Asamiya, smiling

A picture of Yurika Kirishima, with a tearful expression.

💭("I don't know why you continue to sit in my thoughts..."

"It is much slower moving here, but no less.... solitary. I don't think she's anywhere around, or will be.

All that's here is my memories... but less of the things that make me hate my surroundings..."

Sitting in silence, his thoughts still seemed to be focused on the absence of someone...

Perhaps he really was indeed no longer among the living, and this was but another sign.

A picture of Karin Kanzuki.

Though it seemed as if he might touch the woman's nose, he did not do it. Instead, he kept his hands away, one coiled into a fist, as his eyes closed. He seemed as if he were restraining something angry...

"....I don't know what to say."

He just gave her a look, no words.

"Kokoro..."

He just seemed to linger on her face for a moment. Usually that meant a certain gesture was coming, but Batsu remained still. He was notoriously hard to read, but it seemed his armor was beginning to crack.

💭("This place... even the change of scenery doesn't restore that feeling I once had.

I may have to walk a different path now.")

"That's precisely it. The silence. The absence ... of many familiar faces. It almost makes me think that the end is near for me...."

"...Not long until this month is over."

"...I'm truly beginning to believe this is purgatory, Kokoro."

Sits down, and eats a rice ball, staring into space.

a picture of Yurika Kirishima looking somber

💭 "............."

"A tease.. all of it."

He would slowly turn to look in her direction.

"Maybe it really is the end..."

He took a moment to view a photo on his tablet. His eyes slowly blinked.

"Not only that... but I can't quite shake the feeling of impending Hell."

"It feels like purgatory."

💭 ("Sometimes, I wish more people thought like Leanne...")

"...And if yours are working, you should forget what you might have just seen."

"....Zaki?"

A picture of Yurika Kirishima smiling.

Moving through a photo album on his mobile phone, Batsu settled upon one image, placing his finger on the screen where the subject's nose was.

"That fool..."

He turned his eyes slowly to the direction of a sound he heard. His ears perked with interest, as if he were making sure he didn't hear what he thought...

Batsu fires off the "Nekketsu Kiaihou" technique

"...I'll burn that bridge, when I get to it."