Takes place after Vol 7, Part 5. Where the previous chapter was written before Part 6, this was written after. so that one was my imagining what could happen after they entered the elevator; and this is what i imagine toriko's actual "inconsequential" talks about satsuki were like. this chapter does not lead into the other.
"So, like I said…"
Toriko began, apropos of nothing in my memory.
"I'm not mad at you, Sorawo… But I am…maybe."
Glad we cleared that up.
"It's just…I did love Satsuki."
Mmm, shots.
"I guess you knew that? But then why are you always so… about her?"
Was there supposed to be a word there?
I was barely listening. Toriko and I had come up to the hotel's lounge about forty minutes before. We scored window seats, ordered cocktails, and it all went downhill from there. It was Satsuki this, and Satsuki that. Honestly, if she asked me, I couldn't tell Toriko what she'd said five minutes ago; it all felt the same and I cared about none of it. Didn't she know that by now?
"Sorawo, I askeddd you a question."
We both had pretty good tolerances for alcohol but, complementing the cocktails with shots—Toriko's idea—we got sloshed fast. Not to mention the four glasses of wine we each had at dinner. Toriko might have been swaying in her seat or it was my vision wobbling. She definitely was wearing her jacket on her front, though, arms now through the sleeves. Well, maybe she was just chilly.
Anyway, whatever she asked me, I'm sure if I just stay quiet long enough, she'll let it go and go on talking by herself… I had tried at first to steer the conversation to something we could both talk about, but no go, so now I just shut up and kept drinking.
"See? We're supposed to be friends, accomplishes, all of it, but… You don't know anything, Sorawo; you're not even listening… I knew…from the start, you didn't care about Satsuki.. Even Kozkra agreed you were like, creepily cold—and fine, fine, I never cared, Sorawo, but mAyBe I do a little and is that wrong?"
Yes, it is, Toriko, because she's a sneaky murderer. Wow, this view, though. How is it so good when we're only four floors up…pretty niceee.
"We care about each other? So it… I wish, a little… Ughh! It felt like I was special to Satsuki; like even if she wasn't interested in something I was, she would be, for me…"
Huh? That psycho? Great, I'm sure you two had great fun gabbing about all sorts of things while she manipulated you and the rest of her harem of high school girls. I want more foie gras.
"You know? Do you know what I'm saying? Hey, So-ra-wo."
"Yeah, yeah. Do you like this?" I poked the glass containing a gin-sherry-vermouth combination.
Toriko didn't so much as look at it. Well, look who cares about the other's interests now, Toriko?
Ignoring my question, she went on, "I know it. You're thinking, She's talking about Satsuki again! Yes, I am, and it's not wrong!"
Her voice was getting pitchy so I glanced at her face but, seeing the passion there, for Uruma-sama, I looked away again and took another drink.
"And if you're not gonna reply, I'm going to keep talking! Maybe something will sink in! You think?"
"Mmmm."
"I know—you think she's dangerous—I know—she is dangerous. I was there too, I told you, I saw, I already know!"
Yeah, let's test it. What did she say four sentences ago? ….Nope, not a clue. Good. I don't need to hear Uruma Satsuki propaganda. Keep talking, Toriko.
"But it's reasonable for me to…to struggle with it all. Maybe this is news to you! Sorawo doesn't know other people! She is not interested. Cool, cool. But I know you're interested in me, Sorawo, and me is interested in Satsuki!"
Hang in there, Nishina. Your Japanese is slipping. Also, wow, I feel like you've said this already. Nope, just tune it out…
"I try not to compare you two…like I said."
Goddamn! Thanks! Also, try not to? Yeah, I don't know a lot about other people but I know enough not to go around murdering and mutilating them…
"And you know, probably, hopefully, that I kind of like how you're disinterested in other people sometimes! Because I get you more to myself….well, but I still want you to broaden your equators a little bit…"
I snorted sidecar into my nose when I laughed and consequently suffered.
"I think you deserved that… What was I…" She plucked the drink from my hand and finished it. "Mm. …Huh? I dunno. …You don't get it, Sorawo… I'm saying...how can I, how could anyone, think of someone they loved so easily like...what she did.. I get it, intellectually, but you know..."
And on, and on. It wasn't so bad. It's not like I blamed Toriko…but I wasn't going to hear her out either; I was way, way past that. Speaking of things that are way, way away….my apartment. Why. At least I'm wearing sneakers…
"…and I even booked us a room, too. Surprise…"
"Whuh? What'd you say?"
"I reserved a room here! At the hotel." She rested her forehead on the palm of her hand.
"Whoa-ho. Smart! Thanks! I'll pay you my share later… You wanna go?"
"Yeah, let's go…"
