#this all feels super duper OOC for kotaro now even for an AU lol

[kotaromita]

Kotaro visibly recoils at that. Their friendly expression quickly distorts to one of betrayal. They seem harrowed at the implication that the person they looked up to the most had turned to the other side. They were humans. What sense was there in letting themselves be discarded in their own society? What future did they have as musicians when their audience didn't even have the hearts to be pierced by it? When the performers on stage may even be masquerading husks too? Living in a world where everything that makes humans human was being meaninglessly replicated?

But...Akito. It was Akito, right? Akito wouldn't give up unless there was a good reason to be convinced. And An too. An, who held music in the highest regard of all of them. He steps towards Mizuki like someone taking a tentative step towards a stray animal, unsure of its ferocity or lack thereof. "I'd like to see one, then."

...i feel like i know you from somewhere.

(@kitty-amia-official)

Kotaro flinches despite how calmly Mizuki speaks. He was way too close to the inner-city to feel comfortable being recognized by someone. He usually didn't dare draw this close, but after his conversation with that AI his curiosity was eating away at him. He just had to know if An was okay.

"Me? I—" He turns towards Mizuki before straightening his back. "You! You—You're An's friend, aren't you?" he asks, urgent but tentative.