entranceway | video/action;

Entry tags:

video/action;

[Souji is, surprise surprise, in the di-- Actually, this time he's in the kitchen. For a change of pace. He's got the device propped up on something so that he can talk at it hands free. Sitting in front of him is a piece of the rainbowiest rainbow cake a person could possibly make.]

Today is my sixth anniversary.

[He nudges the cake a little toward the camera.]

So I made cake. There's plenty of it, so I'll leave it here in the kitchen in case any one wants to have some.

[With a smile that seems quite tired, he shifts the cake to one side, and glances after it. With his gaze still cast away from the camera, he asks:]

How long have you been here? Do you want to go home? [He looks back at the camera again, his expression more thoughtful than tired now.] I'm kind of...doubting myself in that regard.

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[Six whole years. It was too long of a time to be away from home. But the only time that Minato could be with Souji was with here. For now, at least.

He smiled though as he continued to hug Souji from behind.]

... See, I told you no one would notice.

Only because of my master camera work.

[Or because Minato is significantly shorter than Souji or something. Minato slowly let go of Souji and peered around him.]

Let's have cake.

[Said with a smile but with a slight tinge of seriousness. Six years really wasn't to be taken lightly and Minato knew that it was something they had to address. At some point.]

[Souji nodded and moved to cut a second piece of his horrendously colorful cake. He hands it to Minato, then finds a stool to sit on at the counter while they eat.]

Tell me if you like it.

[Minato quietly thanked Souji and seated himself on a stool too. He tried some of the cake, a blue part first or as much blue as possible.]

It's good.

[Minato hadn't doubted that it wouldn't be. But time to cut to the chase.]

... You don't want to go home?

I don't know.

[Souji gets a bit of icing and sprinkles on his fork and turns it over in his hand, looking at it.]

I've lived here longer than I've lived anywhere in my life.

[True. Souji had time to actually settle in and get used to being in one place for so long.]

It's like you know you should be home, but whether you want to be is up for debate?

[Souji nodded and ate that icing on his fork finally.]

I'm not sure where I'm going at home. Here, I know what to expect.

[Minato for his part poked a few holes in the frosting with his fork tines.]

But you have time to think about it while you're here.

True. [He'd normally point out that he won't remember it when he's home, but he can't say that to Minato. Not considering what he's promised him.] I have given it some thought, but I usually get kind of discouraged.

[He feels like he's talking a lot. But he's trying not to shut Minato out.]

Why? What are you thinking about?

[Minato appreciated that Souji was telling him all of this. He ate a little more of the cake now.]

What I'm going to do with myself. [He lets out a slow breath.] I've already done the most important thing I'll ever do in my life and--

[He looks over at Minato, his brow furrowing.]

Well. One of two most important things.

[Minato nodded once, acknowledging what Souji was saying to him, especially that last part. He appreciated that.]

What have you thought of already?

[Souji had to have thought of something or had some ideas.]

Well, I'll finish high school. And go to college.

[Those seem like givens.]

[Minato ate the rest of his cake and nodded.]

Is that what you want to do?

It's what's expected.

[He realizes that doesn't answer the question, though.]

I think I want to do those things. Or at least it's what I think I should do.

[But that was different from actually wanting to do it.]

And then what after that?

[He shook his head. He didn't know.]

...It's hard to even imagine going to school without the others.

[Minato tried to picture it, the opposite way though, the others not having Souji there. It was easier for him to think of it that way.]

Why can't you stay in Inaba?

It was agreed that I'd only be there a year while my parents were away.

[He had to keep up his side of the agreement, even if the reasons he'd made it were no longer valid.]

When you're 20, you can move out?

[He'd be an adult and could make his own decisions.]

[Souji nodded. He could probably move out even before then, depending on where he wanted to go to college.]

I'm kind of looking forward to that.

Plan for it. If you've been abandoned, you have a right to abandon them back.

[It was only fair. Now that Souji was old enough to do so, he should.]

... Did you want more cake?

[Minato wanted to continue this conversation away from the kitchen.]

[Souji was going to respond to that statement, but the question stopped him. He looked at the crumbs on his plate and shook his head.]

I'll cover the rest up.

[He should make sure it was kept fresh for anyone who wanted some.]

[Minato nodded and then left the kitchen with Souji once the cake was taken care of.]

Do you agree?

[He waited for Souji to respond since even Minato thought it was harsh.]

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