[Yeah. Her lips quirk up again into another humorless smile as she looks back out over town, exhaling a quiet sigh of her own. It's still weird, knowing there's someone who went through all the shit that she did, the same struggles, the same fate, but in some ways, it's nice knowing that she's not the only one.
Akinari had raged against that in the beginning, hadn't he? Feeling like he was the only one who'd been suffering, who knew what he was going through. Maybe she's lucky to have someone beside her who'd gone through the exact same thing. Or maybe they're both unlucky.]
...I still get tired like that sometimes, [she admits quietly, her fingers clutching the stone behind her even as her face remains impassive.] Really late at night.
[ If asked, Minato thinks they're neither. They're neither lucky nor unlucky. They simply were.
Humans are too small for the universe to bless or to curse.
There's nothing wrong with being tired late at night. It's expected. But if Kotone's comparing her late night exhaustion to that spring day, it's not the ordinary sort of sleepiness. Minato gazes out at the rest of the snow-blanketed town. If this is where they'd ended up after closing their eyes, where would they land next? ]
But you've opened your eyes again every morning.
[ It's not intended to be any reassurance. To Minato, it's a simple statement of fact.
Nevertheless, he's perceptive in ways that others might not. Though his gaze is still fixed on the town, he addresses Kotone again: ]
[Just a shot of injected cheer into that simple assertion, because she had woken up, again and again. No matter how bad it had gotten, she'd managed to wake up and get out of bed and keep living, day after day after day.
One hand comes away from the bench to press into her jacket above her heart, because yeah. Of course he'd get it immediately, whether it's because it's something he fears, too, or because he's just that perceptive. There's a wry, resigned quirk to her smile now as she just nods again.]
Today makes almost a year since I woke up here, [she says simply, her fingernails curling to lightly grip her jacket.] So... maybe! "You'll get one year," and all.
[Her parchment doesn't say anything like the contract she'd signed with Pharos back then, but it's hard not to draw the parallel on a day like today.]
[ The similarities diverge there. He doesn't fear that unknown. If that's the hand he's dealt, there's no use railing against it or running from it. ]
Mm. Maybe.
[ He tucks his hands into his pockets. Maybe he should have brought gloves. ]
You don't know for sure though -- I think.
[ Perhaps she'd been given a different declaration compared to the one he'd received? But that's not how contracts work. Both parties need to be on the same page.
On the other hand, if she's right...
There's another reason why he'd stuck his hands in his pockets. It's quickly clear once he pulls one of them out of his coat, fingers clutching a pen and a piece of folded paper. He holds them out to Kotone. ]
But if you're right, here -- write your name on this and whatever else you want. I'll keep it with me.
[She hasn't talked about it with many people. Dying. Of the people who are left, only Scott and Akira know the truth of it. Shinji knows a little, but not the circumstances nor her feelings about it.
If Minato had asked that same question a year ago, she'd have just smiled and shrugged, because she had accepted it. It was a fact, immutable and unchangeable, and even if she faced the same choice now as she had then, she'd make the same decision without hesitation.
But that acceptance had been of an end. Not this continuation where she had to keep living, beyond the Promised Day, no matter how tired she got or how much none of it seemed to matter, she had to keep going. It's like he'd said about wanting to rest -- she'd said that to Dazai once, a long time ago. She's not afraid of dying. But she doesn't want to leave everyone behind again, either.]
Nobody ever knows for sure. I always tell Scott we gotta live our lives to the fullest every day 'cause we don't know what will happen tomorrow.
[But he holds out a piece of paper, and for a long moment, she just stares down at it. It's a weighted gesture, full of promise -- that even if he forgets her, even if she dies or disappears, there's some physical piece of her left behind. Finally, there's a hint of warmth in her smile as she reaches out and takes the pen and paper, as carefully as if they were something precious.]
[ No one knows what the future holds. It's even more unclear in this strange new world. ]
No regrets.
[ And -- there it is, a little warmth returning to Kotone's smile as she accepts the pen and paper. Upon hearing her question though, Minato frowns and shakes his head. ]
Maybe I should have. But... I think I believed everyone would remember even without the reminder.
[ He glances down at the paper, thoughtful. ]
It doesn't hurt to write things down though, just in case.
[ Speaking of jotting things down... Minato reaches into his pockets again, even though he knows the action is futile. Of course there's nothing in his pockets for Kotone to write on, but he ends up looking anyways. ]
Oh. ...I didn't bring a writing board...
[ Or even a piece of cardboard would have worked. Whoops. ]
...you can use my back if you need.
[ It's probably the most he's said so far to Kotone, but he can't really help it. She has a way of making others feel comfortable, even for him. ]
[It's a quiet question as she keeps her gaze on the paper a moment longer. Everyone else had forgotten. She'd wanted to believe they'd all come, but it was hard, spending that time here for months thinking everyone had forgotten. That she'd died before getting to see everyone one last time. Ken had said everyone had come to the roof in the end, but considering they hadn't been there before she'd woken up here, well... maybe she'd already been gone.
In spite of the seriousness, though, she can't help but laugh a little. It's just such a silly offer, breaking through the heavy mood with an ease she envies. Even if he didn't bring a writing board or anything, it's the thought that counts, the simple action inexplicitly lightening her feelings. Besides -- she reaches into her jacket with her free hand and produces a small notebook and a pen of her own, waving it gently as proof. Her notebook is covered with a handmade jacket she'd sewn herself months and months ago, and the notebook is clearly well-worn from constant use, but for the moment-]
I'll use your back, but only if you write something for me, too.
[Sure, she could rip a piece of paper out and let him use her back while she used the notebook as a makeshift writing board, but he'd already offered. The silliness is part of the point.]
[ Did they? He doesn't know for sure. Minato falls silent, turning Kotone's question over and over in his head. Eventually, he offers her a noncommittal shrug. ]
...I don't know. Sorry.
[ It's more of a polite apology as opposed to him feeling guilty about his inability to provide a definite answer. ]
I think they did though. They must have.
[ He doesn't have a shred of evidence that all met on the rooftop. ]
I trust that they did.
[ He didn't have the opportunity to see them all one last time, but... if they ultimately recalled their promise, that was enough for Minato. Easy acceptance, that's how it's always been.
Minato glances down at the notebook clutched in Kotone's hands. Looks like he didn't need to offer himself as a flat surface after all. Based on Kotone's statement though, there won't be any take-backsies.
The notebook's well-worn and well-loved, probably a treasure trove of reminders and observations Kotone made of the world. And now, she's asking him to add something to it? They'd barely known each other for a week, but maybe that doesn't matter to her.
Minato shifts, turning his back to Kotone before glancing over his shoulder to check that this works for her. ]
[...He believes in his team a lot, huh? It's funny, in a way, how certain he is when it's something she'd been dwelling on for months until Ken had arrived. Maybe that's one of the differences between them; she'd always felt the need to be there with every single one of her teammates, learning about them, putting herself in their business, elbowing her way in to get to know them. He seems a lot more passive, in that respect.
In a way, she kind of envies him. Maybe he was a better leader than she was because of it. But she just nods, smiling a little at his assertion, because yeah. They must have. Her team came for her, so they must have come for him. And really, it was never about either of them, anyway, but rather, keeping the promise they'd all made to each other.
Anyway, she just turns, setting the paper on his back without hesitation with a bit of a huff of a laugh. If he'd said they'd barely known each other for a week, she'd have countered that it goes both ways. She wants to keep a piece of him with her, too.]
I dunno what I should write! [she says with another laugh, tapping the pen lightly against the paper (and also his back).] I'm not really good at like... talking about myself.
[ Minato exhales, long and drawn out. A wisp of mist materializes from between his lips. Though there are differences between the two of them, perhaps the similarities still ran deep. ]
...yeah, me neither.
[ It's not that he'd actively avoided talking about himself. He didn't see the point in doing so. There was never a need, given that he'd simply taken on the identity of whatever the other person either wanted or needed. ...maybe he'd never really figured out who he was, but that hadn't been important to him.
He hums a bit as he feels Kotone tapping the pen lightly against the paper and his back. It's probably no good telling Kotone to think about how she'd introduce herself for a job interview. If she's anything like him, she might not have thought that far into the future, or she might not have thought she'd ever make it that far. ]
It doesn't have to be that deep.
[ He has to resist the urge to shrug, just in case any movements ended up making Kotone's pen slip. ]
...what's your favorite color? Or your favorite food?
[With the question, she starts to write instead of answering herself, pink, red, orange, yellow and a little smiley face next to them. Then she goes back and adds her name to the top of the page, and then underneath she starts writing I like eating anything as long as I'm with a friend with another smiley face next to that, too. Sure, she could write beef bowl, or takoyaki, or ramen, but that's not really it, is it? Those foods were more delicious if she could share them with somebody.
Tease Scott Summers, that's an important note, in case she's gone. Check on your senpai, that's another good one. Don't forget your friends want to see you. Talk to them! and another smiley face.
Another beat of hesitation, and then she writes Live every day to the fullest, Minato! with a little heart next to it.]
[ That's easy. Or at least, the first question is. ]
Blue.
[ He can't tell what Kotone's writing, but he can feel the movements of her pen. There's a lot of them; she's writing way more than he anticipated. It's not a bad thing though. It's good to have plenty of notes from a friend. It means there'll be lots of things to remember about her, to remind him of her if she does disappear.
As for the second question, Minato wrinkles his nose a bit in thought. ]
...I don't know. I guess I like all food?
[ If it's edible, he'll put it in his mouth. He'll eat anything, whether or not he's with a friend.
He feels her pen stop but continues to stay put. ...yeah, it definitely feels like she's written a lot. ]
[She taps the pen gently against his back, considering if there's anything else she wants to write. That seems to just about cover it, right? Nobody's life can be summed up in favorite colors or favorite foods, but if there's one thing she's learned, one thing she could pass on to someone else, maybe it would be--
p.s. Don't forget to lean on your friends, too! They'll be happy if you do.
Yeah, that's enough! She drops the pen over his shoulder onto his lap and folds up the piece of paper, taking her time to fold it into a cute little envelope.]
If you like all food, you're probably easy to cook for, right? [finally resuming their spoken conversation, she drops the little envelope over his shoulder, too. Here you go!] Did Aragaki-senpai ever cook for you?
[ The pen tumbles into his lap, followed by the little folded envelope. It flutters onto his knee, where Minato takes it in hand and slides it into his pocket before the winter winds accidentally carry it away. With pen in his right hand, he holds his left hand out to Kotone in a tacit request for her notebook. ]
I guess so.
[ While it's true that he'll eat anything, there are some things that even he would hesitate to put in his mouth. It was never an issue when it came to Shinjiro's cooking though. Everything their senpai whipped up tasted incredible. ]
Sometimes, yeah. ...but mostly for Koromaru.
[ There'd been the occasional meal that Shinjiro whipped up for everyone, but Shinjiro had done so to feed SEES as a whole. It's not like he'd ever cooked anything for him in particular. ]
I didn't really ask him to make anything for me.
[ Maybe he should have. Maybe it would have been an opportunity to get to know Shinjiro better. ]
[She sets the notebook in his hand easily enough, though she doesn't give him quite the same courtesy of privacy that he'd given her; she drapes her arms around his shoulders and rests her chin on them, not overtly watching him write, but not purposefully looking away, either.
But it's nice to know that Shinjiro in every situation is the same. A big gruff moron with a heart of gold and a soft spot for Koromaru. It makes her laugh a little as she closes her eyes and nods.]
Yeah, he made stuff for Koro-chan all the time. I was once able to nag him into making food for a little party for everybody though... it was really nice.
[The end of September, when everything had still seemed like it was going to all work out and everything would be fine. Shinji had griped about it at the time, but after it was all over... it was clear to see how important it had been to him. She understands it better now than she had back then.
Digging her chin into Minato's shoulder, she adds,] You should try asking him now. I bet he'll do it if you ask.
[ Minato takes both pen and notebook in hand, blinking a bit owlishly when Kotone props her chin on his shoulder. He glances at her out of the corner of his eye. The physical contact isn't unpleasant, merely unexpected.
He opens the notebook and flips to a fresh page. ]
I could.
[ "Could" implying that it's something he's not quite prepared to turn into action.
Somehow, he's not surprised that Kotone persuaded him into making food to hold a small party for SEES. Although Minato's only known her for a month, she doesn't hide her upbeat disposition. She's the sort that wriggles into others' lives whether they like it or not. After all, isn't that what she'd done with him?
And it's not that his own version of SEES hadn't been close with one another. It was inevitable, given the terrible things they'd all been through together, but one year was far too little time to get to know another person.
It takes Minato a moment before he starts writing. Now that he's the one being put on the spot, he's not quite sure what he should write. Perhaps he could start with what he'd recommended to Kotone?
So he starts writing. "Blue." "Takoyaki at the strip mall."
[She hums at him, a thoroughly unimpressed sound, but doesn't push it. Either he'll do it, or he won't -- she can't make anybody do anything they don't want to. She can set up situations to shove them out of their comfort zone, but that's about it.
Anyway, she peers over his shoulder to see what he's written first -- favorite color and favorite food, okay.] Maybe a message for somebody? It doesn't have to be for me.
[Like, she can read it and deliver it to somebody else on his behalf, if he wants. She's certain he must have made friends already, if he's a Wildcard like her. Yu and Akira certainly hadn't had any trouble in that respect.]
Did you take your Velvet Room attendant for takoyaki? The lady working there gave Theo an octopus cell phone charm when we went.
[ Listen, favorite color and favorite food are important pieces of information. What is man, if not a container for all of their favorite things?
Still, Kotone's suggestion gives him pause. A message? She's already peering over his shoulder, so it's not like whatever he writes for her will be of any surprise. Minato taps the back of the pen against his knee, running through all the different options in his head. He doesn't think he's made any friends just yet. Instead, in true Wildcard fashion, he's left considering who might benefit the most from a message.
Finally, he lifts the pen again and scrawls out a few words:
Living is not breathing, but doing.
And then he's clicking the back of the pen, tacitly announcing that's all he thinks needs to be said. ]
You can give that to whomever you think needs it.
[ He trusts her judgment before nodding in response to Kotone's question. ]
Yeah. Elizabeth. ...I don't think she got an octopus cell phone charm though. Maybe it's because the lady working there had to count all the coins Elizabeth used to pay for the takoyaki.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[Yeah. Her lips quirk up again into another humorless smile as she looks back out over town, exhaling a quiet sigh of her own. It's still weird, knowing there's someone who went through all the shit that she did, the same struggles, the same fate, but in some ways, it's nice knowing that she's not the only one.
Akinari had raged against that in the beginning, hadn't he? Feeling like he was the only one who'd been suffering, who knew what he was going through. Maybe she's lucky to have someone beside her who'd gone through the exact same thing. Or maybe they're both unlucky.]
...I still get tired like that sometimes, [she admits quietly, her fingers clutching the stone behind her even as her face remains impassive.] Really late at night.
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Humans are too small for the universe to bless or to curse.
There's nothing wrong with being tired late at night. It's expected. But if Kotone's comparing her late night exhaustion to that spring day, it's not the ordinary sort of sleepiness. Minato gazes out at the rest of the snow-blanketed town. If this is where they'd ended up after closing their eyes, where would they land next? ]
But you've opened your eyes again every morning.
[ It's not intended to be any reassurance. To Minato, it's a simple statement of fact.
Nevertheless, he's perceptive in ways that others might not. Though his gaze is still fixed on the town, he addresses Kotone again: ]
...are you worried it'll happen again?
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[Just a shot of injected cheer into that simple assertion, because she had woken up, again and again. No matter how bad it had gotten, she'd managed to wake up and get out of bed and keep living, day after day after day.
One hand comes away from the bench to press into her jacket above her heart, because yeah. Of course he'd get it immediately, whether it's because it's something he fears, too, or because he's just that perceptive. There's a wry, resigned quirk to her smile now as she just nods again.]
Today makes almost a year since I woke up here, [she says simply, her fingernails curling to lightly grip her jacket.] So... maybe! "You'll get one year," and all.
[Her parchment doesn't say anything like the contract she'd signed with Pharos back then, but it's hard not to draw the parallel on a day like today.]
the kotone social link.....
Mm. Maybe.
[ He tucks his hands into his pockets. Maybe he should have brought gloves. ]
You don't know for sure though -- I think.
[ Perhaps she'd been given a different declaration compared to the one he'd received? But that's not how contracts work. Both parties need to be on the same page.
On the other hand, if she's right...
There's another reason why he'd stuck his hands in his pockets. It's quickly clear once he pulls one of them out of his coat, fingers clutching a pen and a piece of folded paper. He holds them out to Kotone. ]
But if you're right, here -- write your name on this and whatever else you want. I'll keep it with me.
fool arcana 2........
If Minato had asked that same question a year ago, she'd have just smiled and shrugged, because she had accepted it. It was a fact, immutable and unchangeable, and even if she faced the same choice now as she had then, she'd make the same decision without hesitation.
But that acceptance had been of an end. Not this continuation where she had to keep living, beyond the Promised Day, no matter how tired she got or how much none of it seemed to matter, she had to keep going. It's like he'd said about wanting to rest -- she'd said that to Dazai once, a long time ago. She's not afraid of dying. But she doesn't want to leave everyone behind again, either.]
Nobody ever knows for sure. I always tell Scott we gotta live our lives to the fullest every day 'cause we don't know what will happen tomorrow.
[But he holds out a piece of paper, and for a long moment, she just stares down at it. It's a weighted gesture, full of promise -- that even if he forgets her, even if she dies or disappears, there's some physical piece of her left behind. Finally, there's a hint of warmth in her smile as she reaches out and takes the pen and paper, as carefully as if they were something precious.]
Did you do this? With your team?
it's what they deserve
[ No one knows what the future holds. It's even more unclear in this strange new world. ]
No regrets.
[ And -- there it is, a little warmth returning to Kotone's smile as she accepts the pen and paper. Upon hearing her question though, Minato frowns and shakes his head. ]
Maybe I should have. But... I think I believed everyone would remember even without the reminder.
[ He glances down at the paper, thoughtful. ]
It doesn't hurt to write things down though, just in case.
[ Speaking of jotting things down... Minato reaches into his pockets again, even though he knows the action is futile. Of course there's nothing in his pockets for Kotone to write on, but he ends up looking anyways. ]
Oh. ...I didn't bring a writing board...
[ Or even a piece of cardboard would have worked. Whoops. ]
...you can use my back if you need.
[ It's probably the most he's said so far to Kotone, but he can't really help it. She has a way of making others feel comfortable, even for him. ]
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[It's a quiet question as she keeps her gaze on the paper a moment longer. Everyone else had forgotten. She'd wanted to believe they'd all come, but it was hard, spending that time here for months thinking everyone had forgotten. That she'd died before getting to see everyone one last time. Ken had said everyone had come to the roof in the end, but considering they hadn't been there before she'd woken up here, well... maybe she'd already been gone.
In spite of the seriousness, though, she can't help but laugh a little. It's just such a silly offer, breaking through the heavy mood with an ease she envies. Even if he didn't bring a writing board or anything, it's the thought that counts, the simple action inexplicitly lightening her feelings. Besides -- she reaches into her jacket with her free hand and produces a small notebook and a pen of her own, waving it gently as proof. Her notebook is covered with a handmade jacket she'd sewn herself months and months ago, and the notebook is clearly well-worn from constant use, but for the moment-]
I'll use your back, but only if you write something for me, too.
[Sure, she could rip a piece of paper out and let him use her back while she used the notebook as a makeshift writing board, but he'd already offered. The silliness is part of the point.]
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...I don't know. Sorry.
[ It's more of a polite apology as opposed to him feeling guilty about his inability to provide a definite answer. ]
I think they did though. They must have.
[ He doesn't have a shred of evidence that all met on the rooftop. ]
I trust that they did.
[ He didn't have the opportunity to see them all one last time, but... if they ultimately recalled their promise, that was enough for Minato. Easy acceptance, that's how it's always been.
Minato glances down at the notebook clutched in Kotone's hands. Looks like he didn't need to offer himself as a flat surface after all. Based on Kotone's statement though, there won't be any take-backsies.
The notebook's well-worn and well-loved, probably a treasure trove of reminders and observations Kotone made of the world. And now, she's asking him to add something to it? They'd barely known each other for a week, but maybe that doesn't matter to her.
Minato shifts, turning his back to Kotone before glancing over his shoulder to check that this works for her. ]
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In a way, she kind of envies him. Maybe he was a better leader than she was because of it. But she just nods, smiling a little at his assertion, because yeah. They must have. Her team came for her, so they must have come for him. And really, it was never about either of them, anyway, but rather, keeping the promise they'd all made to each other.
Anyway, she just turns, setting the paper on his back without hesitation with a bit of a huff of a laugh. If he'd said they'd barely known each other for a week, she'd have countered that it goes both ways. She wants to keep a piece of him with her, too.]
I dunno what I should write! [she says with another laugh, tapping the pen lightly against the paper (and also his back).] I'm not really good at like... talking about myself.
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...yeah, me neither.
[ It's not that he'd actively avoided talking about himself. He didn't see the point in doing so. There was never a need, given that he'd simply taken on the identity of whatever the other person either wanted or needed. ...maybe he'd never really figured out who he was, but that hadn't been important to him.
He hums a bit as he feels Kotone tapping the pen lightly against the paper and his back. It's probably no good telling Kotone to think about how she'd introduce herself for a job interview. If she's anything like him, she might not have thought that far into the future, or she might not have thought she'd ever make it that far. ]
It doesn't have to be that deep.
[ He has to resist the urge to shrug, just in case any movements ended up making Kotone's pen slip. ]
...what's your favorite color? Or your favorite food?
[ Nothing wrong with starting on the mundane. ]
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[With the question, she starts to write instead of answering herself, pink, red, orange, yellow and a little smiley face next to them. Then she goes back and adds her name to the top of the page, and then underneath she starts writing I like eating anything as long as I'm with a friend with another smiley face next to that, too. Sure, she could write beef bowl, or takoyaki, or ramen, but that's not really it, is it? Those foods were more delicious if she could share them with somebody.
Tease Scott Summers, that's an important note, in case she's gone. Check on your senpai, that's another good one. Don't forget your friends want to see you. Talk to them! and another smiley face.
Another beat of hesitation, and then she writes Live every day to the fullest, Minato! with a little heart next to it.]
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Blue.
[ He can't tell what Kotone's writing, but he can feel the movements of her pen. There's a lot of them; she's writing way more than he anticipated. It's not a bad thing though. It's good to have plenty of notes from a friend. It means there'll be lots of things to remember about her, to remind him of her if she does disappear.
As for the second question, Minato wrinkles his nose a bit in thought. ]
...I don't know. I guess I like all food?
[ If it's edible, he'll put it in his mouth. He'll eat anything, whether or not he's with a friend.
He feels her pen stop but continues to stay put. ...yeah, it definitely feels like she's written a lot. ]
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p.s. Don't forget to lean on your friends, too! They'll be happy if you do.
Yeah, that's enough! She drops the pen over his shoulder onto his lap and folds up the piece of paper, taking her time to fold it into a cute little envelope.]
If you like all food, you're probably easy to cook for, right? [finally resuming their spoken conversation, she drops the little envelope over his shoulder, too. Here you go!] Did Aragaki-senpai ever cook for you?
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I guess so.
[ While it's true that he'll eat anything, there are some things that even he would hesitate to put in his mouth. It was never an issue when it came to Shinjiro's cooking though. Everything their senpai whipped up tasted incredible. ]
Sometimes, yeah. ...but mostly for Koromaru.
[ There'd been the occasional meal that Shinjiro whipped up for everyone, but Shinjiro had done so to feed SEES as a whole. It's not like he'd ever cooked anything for him in particular. ]
I didn't really ask him to make anything for me.
[ Maybe he should have. Maybe it would have been an opportunity to get to know Shinjiro better. ]
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But it's nice to know that Shinjiro in every situation is the same. A big gruff moron with a heart of gold and a soft spot for Koromaru. It makes her laugh a little as she closes her eyes and nods.]
Yeah, he made stuff for Koro-chan all the time. I was once able to nag him into making food for a little party for everybody though... it was really nice.
[The end of September, when everything had still seemed like it was going to all work out and everything would be fine. Shinji had griped about it at the time, but after it was all over... it was clear to see how important it had been to him. She understands it better now than she had back then.
Digging her chin into Minato's shoulder, she adds,] You should try asking him now. I bet he'll do it if you ask.
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He opens the notebook and flips to a fresh page. ]
I could.
[ "Could" implying that it's something he's not quite prepared to turn into action.
Somehow, he's not surprised that Kotone persuaded him into making food to hold a small party for SEES. Although Minato's only known her for a month, she doesn't hide her upbeat disposition. She's the sort that wriggles into others' lives whether they like it or not. After all, isn't that what she'd done with him?
And it's not that his own version of SEES hadn't been close with one another. It was inevitable, given the terrible things they'd all been through together, but one year was far too little time to get to know another person.
It takes Minato a moment before he starts writing. Now that he's the one being put on the spot, he's not quite sure what he should write. Perhaps he could start with what he'd recommended to Kotone?
So he starts writing. "Blue." "Takoyaki at the strip mall."
He frowns as his pen stops moving. ]
...what else?
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Anyway, she peers over his shoulder to see what he's written first -- favorite color and favorite food, okay.] Maybe a message for somebody? It doesn't have to be for me.
[Like, she can read it and deliver it to somebody else on his behalf, if he wants. She's certain he must have made friends already, if he's a Wildcard like her. Yu and Akira certainly hadn't had any trouble in that respect.]
Did you take your Velvet Room attendant for takoyaki? The lady working there gave Theo an octopus cell phone charm when we went.
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Still, Kotone's suggestion gives him pause. A message? She's already peering over his shoulder, so it's not like whatever he writes for her will be of any surprise. Minato taps the back of the pen against his knee, running through all the different options in his head. He doesn't think he's made any friends just yet. Instead, in true Wildcard fashion, he's left considering who might benefit the most from a message.
Finally, he lifts the pen again and scrawls out a few words:
Living is not breathing, but doing.
And then he's clicking the back of the pen, tacitly announcing that's all he thinks needs to be said. ]
You can give that to whomever you think needs it.
[ He trusts her judgment before nodding in response to Kotone's question. ]
Yeah. Elizabeth. ...I don't think she got an octopus cell phone charm though. Maybe it's because the lady working there had to count all the coins Elizabeth used to pay for the takoyaki.