'Discomfort? Sure. Forgiveness? Its yours.' [Banto]

Banto hadn't known what the crowd of girls was about, even as Shyon growled and rushed forward into the crowd to meet someone. Banto waited behind, making himself as tall as possible to see over all the girls. He stopped to stare at the golden hair of one individual, and near him, the deep crimson red hair of another. He knew them both, it had been ten years, but Banto knew, and he quickly ducked down below the crowd, making sure neither Art or Marzzi saw him here. He didn't know if they hated him or not, or anything. He'd never seen them again after the incident with Havok. Banto wasn't even sure if they knew he was alright, but he was sure Art at least would have asked Yume as some point. He'd felt guilty about promising to never see them again, and ridiculous as it felt, even as a young man Banto still felt like he wasn't allowed to see them. His eyes were also darting around to make sure another boy with light hair wasn't around, Banto didn't know if he could stay here if Havok was attending the Festival too. He swallowed hard, deciding to find somewhere to sit down and wait for Shyon instead of stand awkwardly. There was just enough room on a bench, which turned into a lot of room as everyone sitting down left as Banto approached. Older people, probably some of the ones who knew him. At least Banto had the bench to himself now. He sat down, and watched the sea of girls, waiting for Shyon to come back. He caught the shadow of someone coming up to him, flinching as they spoke. "She does... and, a part of me hopes the other two don't. I'm sure I've caused their lives enough grief for being a part of it already, it would be nice to know they've moved on from... what happened." Banto didn't realise he was explaining this out loud to presumably a stranger, until she gave her name, and then his. Banto turned to look up to the young woman, watched her try to look confident and fail. He instinctively shuffled along the bench to give her space, "Sky?" He asked, trying to remember, then wincing. "I don't remember you... which means you know the old me, right?" Banto sighed, "I'm sorry... I can tell I... scare you a little, whatever I did, I'm sorry."

"It isn't." Banto answered, gazing over to the others. "They were probably my only friends growing up but... what happened that day, it made me want to never see them again. I didn't hate them, I just... feared what happened would happen again. Now I look back and just... wish I could have at least seen them once more. I'm sure they'd spent these years thinking it was their fault." Banto explained. He never did much good, not for his friends, or anyone around him. He dreaded to see a day where thanks to him, Shyon suffered. It was bad enough that Banto was expecting that to happen one day between them, but perhaps he'd just grown pessimistic over the years stuck inside, condemned for living. Banto looked the woman up and down, chuckling awkwardly. "Why was I such a... monster?" He asked, mostly to himself. "Everyone seems to have suffered one way or another by the old me."
He wished he could remember, at least what he did to Sky, and if Art was her brother, then surely there was a history between them that Banto didn't know, that Art refused to tell him when they were once friends. "Maybe it's because our soul doesn't change when we're reborn. There's a risk of us still being the same, and perhaps everyone expects me to start another war one day." Banto sighed, giving Sky a small smile. "Nothing to be sorry for, it's my fault those memories are there. Whatever they are... You know, despite knowing that everyone hates me, I don't know all that much about my old self, other than the fact that I started the war, destroyed Shiro and killed... a lot of people."

Note: Havok didn't come to the festival, even after Art practically begged him to. As this point, Havok has to be monitored constantly: Muzzled if he gets aggressive, and a device around his neck that will stun him if he attacks. Sky agreed to let this happen after years of Havok getting worse. It can be noted that Banto wasn't the last person Havok attacked, over the last 18 years Havok had gotten worse and worse. And the negative effect on him is that he believes he's not allowed to go out anymore. (Sound familiar? )

Banto might go over there, or Shyon might bring him over. Or Art or Marzzi might see him. He knew today was a chance to finally talk to them again, despite the idea that he was still supposed to be avoiding them. It was just nerves, remembering last time, remembering years spent assuming they might not like him anymore, that kept Banto rooted to the bench for the moment. He twitched when a hand was on his shoulder, glancing towards Sky, watching her carefully as the discomfort slowly faded, if only a little. He had no reason to blame her for feeling uncomfortable around him, even less so when she explained how she knew him, and what Banto had done as a Human. He was shocked, it was worse than he thought. Banto swallowed, nodding slowly, feeling the urge to leave and hide, but knew Sky was keeping him down to prevent that very response. "Does Art even remember the old me then? Even after all that, he still wanted to make friends with me... and Havok, I guess... I get it now why he would have wanted me dead." Banto mumbled, before looking to Sky, "He's not here, is he?" He asked, trying and failing to not look too nervous.  
Banto had to take a few breaths, nod along to Sky's reassurance before he felt the chill to his skin calm down. "That's if they'll let me prove it. I think some people would rather see me gone rather than risk seeing a better me." He explained, sighing heavily, "But I have to try, I guess?" He asked, looking directly to Sky now. "I still think I need your forgiveness. Perhaps somethings I did turned out for the best, but I doubt the life I gave you was pleasant. In fact I know I made it a nightmare, I can tell you still carry scars, and I just wish there was a way to get rid of them, or do a good deed for you in this life, that might make up a little for the bad ones?"

Banto smiled a little. Art did seem attached to Marzzi and Banto. The prince could have had anyone as his friends, but he chose them, and now Banto could guess why. Give him whatever title as a egotistical and 'charming' prince, Banto knew Art was genuine and kind to his core. Making friends with his enemies, that was his code, and perhaps one day he'd take that code with him to rule with. The smile faded back down, thinking on Havok. Banto chuckled drily, "Whatever I did to save him back when I was a Human, it's made him hate me. I could tell, yes I know I was young and scared at the time, but... I could tell he was scared too, of me. It would be rather typical if it was my fault your brother is turning violent once more." Banto replied, the last few words muttered. Banto glanced as Sky got up, urging him to follow with the hand she held out. He looked at it, then to her, waiting until she'd finished speaking. "All right." He mumbled, taking her hand, getting himself onto his feet, nervously glancing around a bit more. "There's a sea of people to get through first... and I know my friend, she might have killed Art by now." Banto joked, chuckling, then glancing over the crowds to confirm that Art was in fact still alive, and unharmed. He smiled, looking over to his old friend, ducking down before Art could turn and see him. Banto swallowed, "I'll be dead you know, if Art doesn't want to know me, and his dad finds out I've upset his son."