7th Social Link ▫ [Text + Audio]

[jivitadana]

[That nightmare was... different. Not new, as the stuff of nightmares was something Minato was used to. But different. He had been taking a nap at his desk while working on testing something. Something had been bothering him for a long while already, and it would be a way to distract him from thinking about the dream. The nightmare was the sign of something to come. Like those event announcements. He would just be prepared for it whenever it came.

Thus once he was ready again, he began writing, solving this math problem, then the next math problem and others like it.]

...

[Done. Answers checked out. But what about something... simple?]

42 - 17 = ______
...

........ What's forty-two minus seventeen?

.....

[Blank. How could he not know this? Something had to be wrong. (And it isn't cheating to ask the network!)]

Comments

Audio; | Private

[eatsyourscience]

No--

I mean, me too.

[Their first fight? If that's a fight for them, it's a relief.]

Audio; | Private

[jivitadana]

[Minato was quiet for a little longer. He would normally say that Souji didn't have to apologize, but he accepted it as Souji had his apology.]

Where are you?

Audio; | Private

[eatsyourscience]

I'm in the tea room near the stairs on your floor.

[He'd moved closer to Minato as they'd talked and settled there, close enough to come quickly if Minato needed him to.]

Audio; | Private -> Action

[jivitadana]

[That was close, closer than Minato had thought.

Minato picked up his device and then left his room to go find Souji.]

Action

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji was waiting, but he didn't turn off his device until Minato joined him.]

How are you?

[It's a bit lame as a start, considering their conversation was beyond that point already, but he feels like starting over a bit isn't out of the question, considering how things started to tank for while there.]

Action

[jivitadana]

Okay. You?

[Minato sat down across the table from Souji, thinking about the conversation too and how it went, like what Souji was doing.]

Action

[eatsyourscience]

I was a little alarmed.

[Maybe that was why he'd jumped to conclusions so easily.]

Action

[jivitadana]

[So was Minato. He nodded a little.]

I'm sorry I scared you.

Action

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji shook his head.]

We'll make it work even so.

[Without the ability to subtract, that is.]

Action

[jivitadana]

[Minato knew they would. He just didn't expect to lose something like that of all things.]

Now I'll never be able to finish medical school.

[Minato was partially teasing, but also maybe, just maybe, ever so slightly pouting about it.]

Action

[eatsyourscience]

Wonderland Medical School is pretty competitive, after all.

Action

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded, very serious about this.]

Mn, I know. I'll flunk out and then never achieve my dreams.

Action

[eatsyourscience]

I'll help you cheat on the tests.

Action

[jivitadana]

I don't think the medical board would consider that ethical.

Action

[eatsyourscience]

Well, if you want to be a goodie-goodie.

[He mock rolls his eyes.]

Action

[jivitadana]

Two shoes.

[Minato smiled a little again.]

How will I take care of you or anyone properly if I don't finish medical school?

Action

[eatsyourscience]

Taking care of me would probably involve culinary school more than medical school.

Action

[jivitadana]

[Ooh, ouch, Minato didn't know if that was a hint or not.]

If just to stop you from eating things that aren't food. But since you do eat things that aren't food, I need medical school, don't I?

Action

[eatsyourscience]

[...]

Are you sure you don't want me to help you cheat?

[It might matter, if that's the case.]

Action

[jivitadana]

[Minato had to think about that. He smiled.]

If you'd like to, then okay. I'll go to both medical school and culinary school for you.

Action

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji smiled to himself and thought up two bowls of ice cream for them, their respective favorites, and pushed them both toward the center of the table so they could share.]