"Mm, that's nice..." Eisuke Hondou, sitting beside him, heard that and let out a long sigh with his chin propped on his hand. "I've been looking for my sister for years, and I don't even know where she is now or how she's doing. I've considered the worst possibility too, so... maybe when I come across something that seems plausible but uncertain, I don't reject the possibility that it could be real..."
"I understand. You're more worried that if it really is just an illusion, your hopes will be dashed again, right?" Tangze picked up where he left off. "That's only human nature. Still, I think it may also have something to do with how each person views life and death."
Swirling his glass, Tangze looked as though he had fallen into recollection and began to explain slowly.
"No one wants to face separation through life and death. Losing someone important is an incredibly painful thing, that's true. To ease that pain, choosing to accept it or refusing to face it are both understandable. But the living still have to go on living. As long as you're alive, there are some things you're destined to be unable to avoid... My views differ from many people's."
When Tangze said this, he did not use any acting or deliberately emotional tone.
He simply explained it calmly, sharing his thoughts with the mindset of someone who had seen many things and lived far longer than a mere dozen or so years.
"Death itself cannot be avoided. Accidents and disasters often come sooner than expected. Deep down, I would always rather prepare for the worst first, then allow for any hope. There is nothing more absolute than death itself, so naturally, there is not much left to fear."
"...Oh, right, you mentioned this last