[ There's something else at play, in addition to the train. The train is - no, he can't be sure if it's trying to repeat past glory days or simply following a set program, devoid of a crew, or any number of other possible interpretations. There's not enough details yet.
--And yet Ken knows. This might not be the thing the Voidtrecker Express has summoned him to do. But this...this is the thing...
"Ichijouji-kun, it's such a shame."
The teacher looks up from his career sheet, takes a deep breath. His disappointment hits Ken like a wave, but Ken presses his elbows against his sides and stands firm, as if his body, and not just his high-collared high-school uniform, has been starched.
"We'd all been rooting for you, you know. You were the pride of our school. Peaking before you even hit middle school - "
He tosses the paper to the desk, as if he can't stand to glance at the words "Police detective" written in the number-one career choice slot. Beneath it, the other students' sheets are stacked neatly: "Company CEO." "Doctor." "Programmer." "Stock market trader."
"You could have made something of yourself."
"I'm grateful for the school's faith in me." Ken bows. This is where he would have apologized, once - where he has apologized, every time he's stood in one of these offices, having one of these conversations.
His elementary school principal had been hurt. His middle school principal had been derisive, thinking he could goad the boy genius into caring about his grades again, drag him back into the limelight.
Now he's just a disappointment. Eight years....Eight years of being normal, and everyone's still dazzled by a star burning itself out. Yet the sky once the flames had cleared now seems, to Ken, so much more beautiful. It's peaceful. It's serene.
Just because it happens every day doesn't mean the sunrise isn't exceptional.
"But this is the person I have to be." ]
Anything spreading darkness to other worlds needs to be stopped.
HEADCANON AND SPOILERS
[ There's something else at play, in addition to the train. The train is - no, he can't be sure if it's trying to repeat past glory days or simply following a set program, devoid of a crew, or any number of other possible interpretations. There's not enough details yet.
--And yet Ken knows. This might not be the thing the Voidtrecker Express has summoned him to do. But this...this is the thing...
"Ichijouji-kun, it's such a shame."
The teacher looks up from his career sheet, takes a deep breath. His disappointment hits Ken like a wave, but Ken presses his elbows against his sides and stands firm, as if his body, and not just his high-collared high-school uniform, has been starched.
"We'd all been rooting for you, you know. You were the pride of our school. Peaking before you even hit middle school - "
He tosses the paper to the desk, as if he can't stand to glance at the words "Police detective" written in the number-one career choice slot. Beneath it, the other students' sheets are stacked neatly: "Company CEO." "Doctor." "Programmer." "Stock market trader."
"You could have made something of yourself."
"I'm grateful for the school's faith in me." Ken bows. This is where he would have apologized, once - where he has apologized, every time he's stood in one of these offices, having one of these conversations.
His elementary school principal had been hurt. His middle school principal had been derisive, thinking he could goad the boy genius into caring about his grades again, drag him back into the limelight.
Now he's just a disappointment. Eight years....Eight years of being normal, and everyone's still dazzled by a star burning itself out. Yet the sky once the flames had cleared now seems, to Ken, so much more beautiful. It's peaceful. It's serene.
Just because it happens every day doesn't mean the sunrise isn't exceptional.
"But this is the person I have to be." ]
Anything spreading darkness to other worlds needs to be stopped.