entranceway | video/action;

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[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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[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.]

[Souji frowned to himself.]

I don't think of it that way. As abandonment.

Mn, they gave you what you needed, not what you wanted.

[Minato hurt on Souji's behalf, even if he shouldn't have. It was just a sensitive subject for him.]

When you go back, you'll have to face that again.

[Souji nods. He knows that and he's not looking forward to it. But he can't speak badly of his parents, either.]

It won't be that different.

[Different from his year in Inaba. But not at all different from the rest of his life.]

[Minato led them outside of the mansion. He wanted at first to go to the lake, but headed to the ocean instead.]

Do you see why I worry about your future now?

[Souji walked alongside Minato, his eyes on the sky in the distance. He nodded in response to that question.]

I understand.

[It wasn't necessarily an unreasonable worry.]

[Minato held onto Souji's hand.]

Did you want me to worry?

I don't ever want you to worry.

[Worry was a source of stress and Souji wanted things to be easy and calm for Minato.]

I know. But I want you to be happy, and if it means leaving your parents, you should.

[They left Souji. Why couldn't Souji just leave them either?]

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