13; video

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji's MIA since Sunday morning. He hadn't thought to warn anyone about where he was going, since it wasn't supposed to take this long.

Now, Souji's lying on his back on his futon, on top of the blanket and fully clothed. The device is on the floor to one side, capturing a very boring feed of Souji not moving.

At all.

Then he gasps, the sound strangled, his chest heaving like he's never breathed before. He opens his eyes and stares at the ceiling for a minute before sitting up, moving as though his whole body aches. One hand goes to his head and he sits there, disoriented for several minutes before getting up and walking out of frame.]

Comments

[action]

[jivitadana]

Sometimes.

[But Minato wasn't going to push his luck so far as to ask what it was exactly then.]

... Now I have to ask why you do it.

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

Talking about others is easier than talking about myself.

[action]

[jivitadana]

[Minato was quiet for a while, thinking about that. Talking to or with others might've also been easier. Hm. If that's the case...]

... Who are you?

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji blinks and sets his tea down. He already knows that answering that particular question is something he's going to avoid if at all possible, and he feels like he should apologize to Minato ahead of time.

Instead:]

You know who I am.

[action]

[jivitadana]

Do I?

[Minato took a sip of his tea.]

That's presumptuous of me.

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji sighs.]

Is this necessary?

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[jivitadana]

You can't tell me you're hiding yourself when you don't even know what that self is.

[Hadn't they finished saying how arrogant Minato is?]

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

[He feels like he's under attack, but tells himself to ignore it.]

I didn't say that I don't know.

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[jivitadana]

[Minato tipped his cup around the round bottom edge once.]

Then what are you trying to say?

[Stop throwing the ball in my court all the time, Souji.]

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[eatsyourscience]

...It's not that easy to answer.

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[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded. He knew that it was that way. He could wait for an answer.]

I know. ... I know you define yourself depending on who you're with.

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

I must be someone when I'm alone, too.

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[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded too. He smiled a little.]

You are.

[If you are, then I am too.]

You're more than what others aren't and what others expect of you.

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

Yeah...I know.

[action]

[jivitadana]

[But Minato couldn't tell Souji who he was. That was different from knowing who Souji was too.

He waited a moment, having his tea be refilled by the dining room before speaking again.]

... Can you tell me something about yourself?

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

Something you don't know already?

[Souji considers.]

I play the trumpet.

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[jivitadana]

[There are lots of things about Souji that Minato hadn't known either. But this was a start, and Minato smiled. As if Souji couldn't get any cooler than he already was.]

How long have you played?

[Thinking, thinking...]

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

I played the whole year I was in Inaba. And some before that.

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[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded, committing it to memory.]

When do you like to play?

[Since he never heard Souji play before.]

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

I haven't in awhile. I meant to go get a trumpet from the vendors, but I keep forgetting to.

[action]

[jivitadana]

I'd like to know when you do.

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji smiles.]

I'll do it soon.

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[jivitadana]

[If Minato could look a tiny bit excited, then he did.]

Thanks. I might need your help with something about it.

[action]

[eatsyourscience]

What's that?

[action]

[jivitadana]

[Minato made sure that no one else was in the room with them, mirrors notwithstanding.

He smiled a little, looking down into his tea, and then hummed the first few bars of Aria of the Soul.]