For a moment, the conversation became quieter.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeAP2a24tf
Elias had been thinking about everything Rei had said about Ayanokoji—the way he treated people, the way he hid his emotions, and the possibility that beneath all that calculation was someone who simply didn't know how to live any other way.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQlSpzohNX
He stared at his phone before finally typing.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFDuNhHzGP
"That's a heavy way to look at a character. But I think you're right. There's a difference between being in control and being free."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaGs02dJPW
He paused.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ns9lL1IbL
There was something about Rei's perspective that continued to surprise him.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvFdxPkJiW
She had a way of looking through people—not just at what they showed, but at what might be hidden underneath.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBsO4Tin1V
Elias typed another message.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUxZY316Md
"You have a way of seeing through people, Rei. It's impressive."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfe01gSOtJN
He stopped.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1d1bSmwnr
Then he added:
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCB2LuEx6f
"And a little intimidating."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYQmAkSGSy
He stared at the words for a moment before deleting them.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbRXqSH1sd
Too much.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOeMFPHgRI4
He wasn't ready to say that.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfG5xehCxv8
Not yet.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcse9YPZR20
Instead, he returned to the topic they'd been discussing.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkEIkRO1ap
"So, if you were in a position like Ayanokoji's—where every move had to be calculated and every emotion was a potential liability—would you choose to keep the mask on, or would you eventually let someone see what was underneath?"
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0yqGx1G9e
For a while, there was no answer.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHw0EEzmJKC
Then Rei finally replied.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18btaHWBCi
She admitted that, at first, she would probably keep the mask on.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAgv3IQsVr
Trust wasn't something she would give away easily, especially after learning that people could use emotions against you.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAc6uxde288
But if she ever found someone who stayed even after seeing her flaws—not just her strengths—then maybe she would finally let the mask fall.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ghLv5zp3c
Because a mask could protect you.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTlgkPYkVx
But if you wore it forever, eventually you might forget who you really were.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdqu3PZwrl
Elias read the message.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKf0zVgQdmn
And for the first time that night, he stopped typing.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVayfMomDRa
He placed his phone down on his lap and stared at the ceiling.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7p6uC4i6r
The apartment suddenly felt different.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Sbog7Biws
Not empty.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBT51tu320
Just... filled with the weight of what she had said.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWuOG4yVAS
"If I found someone who stayed even after seeing my flaws."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlyI4httIB
The words stayed with him.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMS9LEMl2n
He thought about the way he presented himself to the world—the composed smile, the effortless charm, the calm confidence.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqD76lsQRp
Was it a mask?
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZn2YDGoJpy
Not exactly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0ENJiuxRw
But perhaps it was still a choice.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpv3smzxDaW
A way of moving through a world that often seemed determined to take more than it gave.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCp6iT8RkU
Elias picked up his phone again.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lBuotltX4
His fingers were steady.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrJUsJgO9x
But his heart wasn't.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGpyK1MEhY
"That sounds like a very brave way to live," he typed. "To be willing to let the mask fall."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasmediAonY
He hesitated.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHoFVGB5Wg
He knew he should stop there.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRxh2aQ40i
He knew he should leave the conversation alone.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAlDIC5dV9
But he didn't.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvn6z5ybrr
"Most people never even get the chance to take the mask off. They just wear it until it becomes part of their face. To actually be willing to let someone see what's underneath—that takes more than just trust. It takes courage."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsW7t1trxKB
Elias stared at the screen.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkKt83SRna
Then, before his own composure could convince him otherwise, he typed something more personal.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NwyjdG9ds
"I think I'd like to see yours, Rei. Not because I want to find your flaws, but because I'm curious about who you are when you're not protecting yourself from the world."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrNxt2nSUx
He pressed send.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqAYpkMcOt
The moment the message disappeared, Elias immediately regretted how honest it sounded.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRl8I8CNudI
He placed the phone down and leaned back, closing his eyes.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVCCaRSzoK
Then came a short reply.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvXOvDpxjm
"Oh."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL44xWlgSU8
Elias opened his eyes.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOy8pBnRfGI
He stared at that single word.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhQk9Uc2Xf
His stomach dropped.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRJgqCmGS3
He could practically feel the awkwardness spreading through the silence between them.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AOsE3Pgs7
He had pushed too far.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTJpZs6NNk
The conversation had been deep, thoughtful, philosophical.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqh5ZKYd5Bo
And suddenly, he'd turned it into something personal.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxpkBRqhuJ
Something vulnerable.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYfKt7chLK
Elias rubbed the back of his neck and stared at the ceiling.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZmgmPlYTf
"I apologize," he finally typed. "That was a lot. I didn't mean to make things uncomfortable."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHIIrdzCis
He paused.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQ5bw2nwXk
Then he carefully redirected the conversation.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcd6TnQVkdG
"Let's go back to the anime. I'm still stuck on Ayanokoji's relationship with Horikita. Do you think he actually respects her, or is she just another tool for his goals?"
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgN63FZyg3
Rei answered honestly.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YWQdW4A4p
She thought it was both.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4Gl06bNfM
At first, Ayanokoji had probably seen Horikita as a useful tool—someone capable, intelligent, and easy enough to guide.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchYyM1qh86
But as time passed, Rei believed something had changed.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUa2SFYTwxN
He had begun to respect her growth.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPE1HyVslN
He still manipulated situations, of course. But if Horikita were nothing more than a tool, he wouldn't spend so much time helping her become stronger.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgSEz0Jse5
He wanted her to stand on her own.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxg6je2vIY
He didn't want her to depend on him forever.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9y8MzdUIt
Elias read her reply.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnVu1W9MGB
And slowly, the tension in his chest began to disappear.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBZulr3w0K
The pivot had worked.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD511BxUg90
She hadn't run away from the conversation.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA57CCefyE
She had simply brought it back to safer ground.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzo37HQcIE
Elias leaned his head against the sofa, the blue light of his phone illuminating his face.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsxsRwNfgb
"It reminds me of what you said earlier," he continued. "About trust not being something you give away easily."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0neT9wa7Pq
He thought for a moment.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOrQM8kx4P
"He doesn't give her his trust all at once. He earns it by showing her he's willing to step back and let her lead."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TggY0I3dt
Rei immediately understood what he meant.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyAoddEtpn
"Exactly. That's why I find Ayanokoji so interesting."
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdN1bSGpP1
She explained that a teacher gives answers, but Ayanokoji creates situations where people are forced to find those answers themselves.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAidna74FSO
Horikita's growth wasn't accidental.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4J5Lm1Aem
He quietly pushed her toward becoming someone who wouldn't need him forever.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOHw1ZabL2
And in a strange way, Rei believed that was probably the closest thing Ayanokoji had to caring.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtKyH74OtI
Elias let out a quiet breath.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LrsBBgWxn
Her words had a way of cutting through the noise and stripping a character down to their core.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UV4GIVfoG
"That's almost beautiful, in its own twisted way," he thought.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFcbJnqYb1
Then Rei continued.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlsYN5b1ZV
She didn't believe Ayanokoji was truly happy.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡib6Tp7JccP
He was successful because that's what he'd been trained to become.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJU2TkY4aY
But happiness was something else entirely.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIroommOQI3
He had grown up believing that trust was weakness and emotions were liabilities.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20ueLJerZk
So even when people genuinely cared about him, he kept them at a distance.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWedBbqU0sV
Deep down, Rei believed he probably wanted a normal life.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbaqw7dg8Xo
He simply didn't know how to live one.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27U9JMmyd8
That, she thought, was the tragedy of his character.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR45Vfyrq4x
He could win almost every battle.
19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz17Il4LGwy
And yet, he was never truly free.19Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NZGPSBg9J
然後按「加至主畫面」