entranceway | 5th Social Link ▫ Video + Action

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5th Social Link ▫ Video + Action

[Winter was now over and spring had just started. Minato kind of missed the snow, but at least the weather was cool and comfortable instead of being too cold. For a change of pace as he wandered outside, now that the space event was over, he decided to head to the Checkerboard Hills. He hadn't been there often. It was time to check it out again.

That is, if checking it out meant doing a once-over on the checkered patterns from dark to light, then ending up laying in one of the darker square patches, his comm device off to the side as he looked up at the sky.

It's spring here and spring at home. School would be starting again, if he were there and time progressed.

Were these questions even fair? Did he have too much time on his hands, playing around with or thinking about 'what if' in a place that may make him forget his existence here at all?]

..... Would you rather be dead at home or alive here?

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[Minato thought that was a good choice. He nodded his approval.]

Where will we be living? What will we be doing?

[He wanted to see if he could picture it. Maybe it would make it more true.]

Let's live in Tokyo. There's a lot to do there and a lot of good schools.

[He paused, doing the math in his head.]

Our age difference will change, won't it? If you'll stay the same age you were then, and depending on how long it takes...

[Tokyo. Tokyo was big enough that they could live somewhere where he didn't have to go. Or Souji didn't have to go. That would work.

He paused too, tilting his head a bit and thinking about it.]

Are you worried about it?

[If he didn't age where he was and then came back to the world, then what? He'd be 17 still and the rest of the world was years ahead of him. Should he be worried? It wasn't going to be easy to explain, that was for sure.]

Not really worried.

[He was silent for a moment as he groped for the right word.]

Uneasy.

Uneasy? Why?

[Minato reached for Souji's hand. He didn't mean to make him feel like this.]

[Souji held onto Minato's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.]

It's so uncertain. I know it will happen, but I don't want it to take a long time.

[He didn't want to make Minato wait.]

I don't think it will. I can wait.

[Minato also gave Souji's hand a squeeze back. He wasn't worried. Souji would find him.]

[Minato would have to wait--he had no choice, and it made Souji's chest ache.]

I'll come.

I know.

[Minato had to say that out loud to reassure Souji. He believed Souji and believed in Souji too. But he did want to go on to other things if he could, something happier, perhaps? He rested his head on Souji's shoulder.]

We'll live together. Are you still going to be a teacher?

I think so. But I hope I'm still in school when I find you.

[If not in high school, then college.]

Me too. I want to go to the same school as you.

[Wear the same uniform as Souji? For once? It was his chance to be closer to Souji not just at home, but outside too, at school.]

I hope we can.

[He chuckled.]

Then I'll be your senpai.

[Minato thought he could never get enough of that laugh. It was cute and made him happy too.]

Give me time to catch up, and I'll walk beside you.

[He didn't know Souji was following him the first time, and Souji wouldn't remember that Minato needed to follow too. But in the future, they could finally be side by side like they were here.]

[Souji nodded. That was where he wanted Minato, though it's too sappy even for him to say so out loud. This scene is already so diabetic.]

You believe in me.

[Instant diabetes! Minato smiled again, turning his head now to kiss Souji's cheek.]

You gave me something to believe in too.

[The idea that he could actually live again? He hadn't even dreamed of it until meeting Souji.]

I'm glad you're going to let me.

[Minato had a strong sense of duty when it came to his choice.]

Would I be able to stop you?

[Souji was the one who was coming after him. Minato really couldn't go anywhere, really. It wasn't exactly Minato's decision, but he didn't mind going along with it as long as Souji didn't end up hurt.]

[Souji shook his head and was silent for a moment.]

...I don't want to force you to do anything when you might not remember this.

I'm not letting you save me, Souji.

[Again, Minato really had no say in this when neither of them might remember once they were home. Souji might not even save him in the worst case scenario.]

It's your decision. I'm in your hands.

[After a moment, Souji nodded.]

I understand.

Souji.

[Minato gave Souji's hand a squeeze.]

I'm sorry. It's your decision to save me or not. But... I'd want you to.

[He hadn't been clear. He would like to be saved. But it was up to Souji if he wanted to follow through or not. He couldn't decide for Souji, nor did he want to pressure him either way.]

I want to.

[That had been made clear already, but somehow each time he said it out loud it felt more like it would become reality.]

I will. No matter what.

[Despite all the evidence indicating that no one leaving Wonderland remembered it, he was determined somehow to break that rule.]

[Minato leaned a little more into Souji and smiled. Being saved? He never admitted it out loud before that he wanted that. The more he thought about it, the more he thought he wanted it. He did. Living again? He wanted that.]

I'd want to see my friends. Meet all of yours. I want to do everything I want.

[He wanted to do things like graduate from high school, go to university, become a doctor. But he wanted to do stuff like drive a car, pay taxes, vote, and then other stupid stuff like going to a pachinko parlor or drink (legally), everything that he could imagine.]

You will.

[Souji looked at the sky for a minute.]

I want to meet your friends.

[He'd met a couple of them briefly in Wonderland, but that wouldn't be the same.]

They'd like you.

[Minato would love it if Souji could meet them. They should know him and the rest of the IT. If only they had all met sooner or could meet.]

They'd think you were way more mature than me.

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