86―エイティシックス―Ep.6 ―明けねばこそ夜は永く― Quotes

“Raiden forcibly cheered himself up by thinking about finding Shin and smacking him senseless.”
― Asato Asato, 86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 6: Darkest Before the Dawn

“consider it human nature for people to sacrifice others to save themselves. But it’s also human nature to fight to protect one’s home and the people they hold dear.”
― Asato Asato, 86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 6: Darkest Before the Dawn

“Even if the world you see isn’t beautiful… Even if the human world is cruel… If you can still have hope in spite of that…”
― Asato Asato, 86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 6: Darkest Before the Dawn

“humankind built a large tower to reach God’s seat in the heavens. This ambition incurred God’s wrath, who then placed a curse upon humankind, forcing them to speak in different tongues. This caused the creation of multiple languages and became the source of human conflict.”
― Asato Asato, 86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 6: Darkest Before the Dawn

“I don't want to die.

That thought suddenly and intensely crossed his mind. It surged up in him with an almost instinctual intensity.

I don't want to die. I don't want to die. Because if I die, I'd call for her. I'd call her name in the end. And if I become a Legion, I'd keep doing it forever, until I break. ”
― Asato Asato, 86―エイティシックス―Ep.6 ―明けねばこそ夜は永く―

“Shin was on the front lines, and in the middle of fighting a Dinosauria. He d likely left the fighting to Raiden, Theo, and his other squad members so he could focus on providing reconnaissance for Shiden... But still, he was right in front of the enemy. One wrong step, and he'd have been killed.

And yet she could sense Shin tightening his lips. He seemed oddly displeased, in an uncharacteristic show of emotion compared with his usual, indifferent self. He then parted his lips to speak, making no effort to hide that emotion.

"No."

It was the same voice she'd heard in the Revich Citadel Base, but this time, it felt firmer than before. Lena furrowed her brows.

"That's an order, Captain."

"I refuse."

"Shin.""

"I refuse that order. Are you even one to talk like that, Lena?"

Lena realized that, at some point, she'd been set as the sole target o Shin's Resonance. And that he didn't call her by her rank, as was necessary in the middle of an operation...but by her nickname.

"You were the one who ordered me to return safely. So wait for me. We can't complete that objective if we don't have anywhere to return to. So let us return...Lena."

And at that moment, Shin was filled with something like indecision. Like hesitation. Like doubt... No. Pressed by an even stronger emotion, he fell silent. And with that emotion constricting his throat, he finally said those words, as if painfully coughing them out.

"Please don't leave me."

He sounded like he was imploring her. Like a child squatting on a mountain of corpses in the center of the battlefield, reaching out for a hand of light he could just barely make out. As if trying to grasp this hand that could disappear at any given moment.

"I'll come back, for sure. So don't leave me behind. Don't tell me not to protect you when you're in danger... I don't want you-you, of all people-to order me to abandon you."

"Shin... ”
― Asato Asato, 86―エイティシックス―Ep.6 ―明けねばこそ夜は永く―

“I can't lose her. I can't lose Lena, not here. Even if she's acting of her own accord, I can't let her die selfishly like this.”
― Asato Asato, 86―エイティシックス―Ep.6 ―明けねばこそ夜は永く―

“ “I’m sorry.”

"Yes, I'm afraid you won't get away without a scolding this time, Captain... What happened? This isn't like you."

"Ah, Your Majesty. I already gave him a talking-to about that, so don't chew him out too much."

Shiden butted in on their exchange, but Lena ignored her. Being looking down upon left a bad taste in Shin's mouth, so he rose from the bed and put on his uniform's top.

"My mind wandered... and I lost focus. It won't happen again."

'Lost focus'...?"

Lena hesitated for a moment but eventually decided she needed to reprimand him as a commanding officer this time. She raised her fair eyebrows and spoke to him with a slightly severe gaze.

"This is because of whatever's been bothering you lately, isn't it? That's why you tripped up. Am I wrong?"

"…….”

"I told you it'd be a problem if it ends up influencing the operation. I asked you to resolve this by attending further counseling sessions, or by consulting with me if you can't work this out on your own... I'll listen to you, no matter what you have to say. That's my duty... And that's what I want. You look like something's hounding you, like you're being pushed against the wall... Everyone's worried about you. And so am I.... What's wrong, Shin?"

As she spoke, her grimace gradually softened, and she simply looked up at him earnestly with her argent eyes... But Shin averted her gaze.

He couldn't tell her he was a harmful factor to the world she desired. That he was still headed for death instead of the future she wished for. That he didn't belong at her side right now, and that even though he wanted to change this, he didn't know how.

He didn't want her, of all people, to know about the emptiness eating away at him from the inside.

"Nothing."

Lena grimaced anxiously.

"You can't say that when you're making that face. Telling someone might make you feel better—"

"There's nothing."

"You're lying... You always say that, but you weren't fine, were you?

If you're in pain, I wouldn't mind lending you an ear... No, I want you to tell me. I, um, want to support you, and...

Shin grew irritated at their unproductive exchange and lashed out in a severe tone.

"There's nothing... It has nothing to do with you, and I have nothing to tell you."

And only then did he realize what he had said. Lena's large eyes widened, seemingly frozen on him. And then they moistened, as if a crack had run through those alabaster depths.

"...Why do you say that?"

Her voice contained a chill he'd never heard before.

"You say there's nothing, but it's obvious from your face that something's wrong. You look like you're in pain, like you're in agony, but you never say anything. Don't you want to talk to me...? Am I really that unreliable? Am I really not good enough to help you? Aren't we...?"

Tears spilled from her eyes and ran down her white cheeks. One after another. Shin looked on with shock as her tears flowed freely like water breaching a dam. He knew he had to say something, but his mind was reeling, and he failed to come up with anything.

And as Shin remained speechless, Lena's expression crumbled in front of him.

"Aren't we fighting together..?"

Her question reverberated out like a scream for an answer, Lena turned around and ran”
― Asato Asato, 86―エイティシックス―Ep.6 ―明けねばこそ夜は永く―

“ Is there anything you'd like to do once this war is over?

Lena had asked him this several times already, and Shin still couldn't muster an answer. Not because he didn't have one— he did—but he couldn't bring himself to speak of it.
I want to show you the sea.

But that was a wish he'd made on his own, and he could no longer share it with Lena.

He'd realized all it would do was hurt her. If he tried to be by her side as he was now, he would only cause her pain. He couldn't walk alongside her.

And that was why he couldn't give his true answer. He didn't want to grab hold of the hand she was extending toward him. Lena's wish, her desire for everyone to achieve happiness, was one he couldn't grant. He would only weigh her down.

So I won't wish to show you the sea. Never again.”
― Asato Asato, 86―エイティシックス―Ep.6 ―明けねばこそ夜は永く―

“Well, Shiden is on my side, so don’t expect any honest answers out of her,” Lena scoffed. Shin’s smile deepened. “So you’re saying you did do something.”
― Asato Asato, 86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 6: Darkest Before the Dawn

“Svetlana, who was lovingly patting the head of a dog resting atop the lap of her dress. No, not a dog’s head—a dog’s skull.”
― Asato Asato, 86—EIGHTY-SIX, Vol. 6: Darkest Before the Dawn