"Why is it... that you've stayed with me for this long?"
The situation was like one of those dramatic scenes in anime, in which this was a major turning point. Asher may have been treading on thin ice before, but this is a Goddamn piece of paper he is walking on over a pool of lava. Hell, Kanna probably would think the same. However, this wasn't the reason why Asher was silent. He was trying to think of a response. Why... Why did I stay with her...? His mind repeated the question.
As if to fill in the lack of sound in the room, Kanna continued the interrogation. "I-it's not that I don't want you here. I... I really like working together with you. I'm proud... t-to be your partner, I mean. And, e-even if it was scary sometimes... I've had fun. Y-you've done more than just save my life... I-it's kind of embarrassing to say this, b-but... you gave me a reason to keep on living. It's just... I want to know your reasons."
His mind went into overdrive, still trying to find that one sentence, the key to that "good ending" with "this character" in those dating sims. It relieved him to know that Kanna wasn't inferring that the Winged Duo should go their separate ways, but she just wanted to know. Why, Asher, The Voice of Treason? Tell me. Tell her. His mind began taunting him. It was like in the Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. Two Ashers, one pushing and hurting the other. "Tell me Asher. Answer the damn question." The other Asher- The Voice of Treason form- taunted.
"On that day you found me, what was it that made you invite me to come with you after you confirmed that I was alright? And from that point onward, why was it that you always fought so hard and went to such an extent to protect me?" Kanna wasn't aware of his mental state, so she continued yet again. And this prompted for VoT to ask another "Why?"
"Was it because I looked helpless, and when you saw how scared I was, you felt too guilty to leave me, because you knew that I wasn't strong enough to survive on my own?
"Because you wanted someone to look over? Because there is strength in numbers, and Kanna Suzaku was just another 'indispensable' Fire Emblem character with great stat growths?"
Asher, at this point, wasn't staring at Kanna. He was staring off into space, as if in a trance. "N-no... I would never do that...."
"That's what I thought at first, but I realized after a while that you were relying on me, in at least some capacity. So it wasn't that, then, was it? Then why was it? That's what I've been wondering after all this time." Kanna became more... Brave, more confident. It was unlike her, but Asher mentally grinned that she was showing those two aspects of the human mind. However, he was still in that physical trance. Asher muttered, "I... I...
"T-to be honest, nobody's ever hung around me for so long before. I've tried to get people to notice me, or to like me, but... but nobody ever really seemed to see anything worthwhile in me until... u-until you showed up. That's why... why I was so happy that you saved me. Even though I thought you were looking down on me, I was satisfied. I felt like, for the first time in my life, I was a useful person, like somebody cared about me. And even if I could never reach up to that person's level, I was content... just to be able to stand in his shadow. B-but even though I couldn't be as good as you, t-that never stopped you. You said I was your friend, and were so nice to me, even though I couldn't ever hope to repay everything you've done for me. Y-you were the first person who noticed me, a-and even now that you've seen what I'm really like, you're still trying so hard to make me happy. W-why? What is it that makes me worth having as a friend?" That one key question concluded her rant. The rant that could be summarized in one of the words repeated multiple times. "Why?"
And thus, Alternate Asher's face became emotionless. They were facing each other in a grey room. There was nothing to stare at but each other. "Well? She's waiting. Why did you bother to stay with her? She's a nobody. Kanna Suzaku is an otaku, even beyond that; you can tell, too."
"B-bu-"
"Shut up. I'm not done." The alternate self interrupted. "She's one of the reasons why you are trapped in this hellhole. Can you really forgive her for that?"
"..."
"And another thing, you can also tell she has become attracted to you. If that night with her drunken state wasn't obvious, I don't know what is. It takes a retard like a DUMB. UGLY. LONELY. DESPERATE. WHORE like HER to-"
"Shut. Up." With each insult- which was emphasized, making the effect greater- Asher's alternate self made, the anger and rage inside Asher grew until he was just brimming with it.
"Hm?"
"I said..." Asher's eyes brightened into the icy blue color that Alternate Asher had. Ashes blew from his hair, revealing silver strands on his head. "Shut... The fuck.... Up!"
"..."
"Why do you do this to an innocent girl like her, huh? It wasn't her fault she was born the way she is!" Asher yelled at his clone. "She's as human and as infinitely valuable as me, Asher Damons of Sky-Strike Academy!
"Why, she's cute, lovable, and intelligent!" The settings around them changed back into the day The Voice of Treason and Canon met, when they became trapped, at the moment in which Kanna was practically hyperventalating, when Asher first came to her. "I went to her because I was concerned for her welfare! To me, she looked like she was about to die from a virtual heart attack! So of course I went to her!"
"Then why did you st-"
"Shut up. I'm not done yet." The alternate self crossed his arms and listened to Asher's ranting. "I stayed with her because... I wanted to make sure she was alright. At one point, I thought we'd make a great team, so I stayed with her."
"And the times you fought?"
"I wanted to help her out of that mental state, remind her that I don't take burdens that you regret, but responsibilities I can easily handle! Besides that fact, I enjoyed being with her. I had no reason to leave."
"Then at one point you gained strong enough stats and equipment to go solo. Why did you stay then, oh wise black belt?"
"Because..." Asher paused, then saw his alternate self smile. "Because..."
"I love you."
Asher muttered to the clone, who turned to ashes blown away in a few seconds. The setting followed, and revealed the same room he is in now with the probably shocked Kanna. "It's... True... I love you."
All this time, he inched closer and closer to her. Asher's retarded brain just didn't register it until now. Asher was defensive of her, not afraid to be her knight in shining armour. Asher treated her better and better and more and more like a loved one, which wasn't even necessary for a best friend. Hell, he even enjoyed the night sleeping under the drunken version of Kanna!
It's from the fact that Asher protected her that he became so attracted to her. He got to know Kanna Suzaku, and had differing opinions about her hen compared to Kanna's self image. Asher isn't care how much damage he had to take as Kanna's shield. Seeing her was worth it.
That is, after all, the thoughts of one who loves another.
Unknowingly, Asher's legs carried him over to Kanna's nest of blankets and pillows. If it weren't for the unnecessary abundance, Asher would've hugged her. "I love you Kanna Suzaku. If I lost you, I wouldn't have my own reason to live..." The very thought of losing Canon was even more frightening than it should be. The terror was magnified a million times, and Asher didn't want that to come to real- or in this case, virtual- life. He didnt even hear her words after the speech.