overworker | Week 2, Day 2 -- Minato

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Week 2, Day 2 -- Minato

[In taking inventory of all the new areas available to them and mapping it out, Towa is happy that making her way into the pantry allows her to run into Minato. The events of their arrival worried everyone, including her. And she'd been meaning to have a talk with him. At least she can say it seems like he's still making sure to eat well if he'd come here.]

Minato... how are you feeling? If you're hungry, I'd be happy to make something.

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[He eats...honestly an alarming amount considering he's pretty small. Where on earth does he put it??? So. That is one less thing to worry about, with him.]

Herschel-san. I'm fine. Could eat... [She said she'd be happy to, so...no reason to say no.]

I know there are probably a lot of other people you've had to listen fuss over you so I'll try not to do it as well. At least not too much.

[She chuckles softly.]

What would you like to eat? I'll do my best to make whatever it is you'd like. We do owe you our thanks as well. Even though it worried us all... you did help us out. I'm very grateful for that.

Hands are healed now.....not sure why everyone's fussing at all.

[Seriously, he doesn't get it. Sure his bones are still glass but they're not broken anymore. Shrug!!!!]

Uhh....probably don't have ingredients for Japanese dishes here... Make whatever you like best?

It's not that strange you know. You're one of us. Even if we haven't known each other very long... no one wants to see something bad happen to you. I think if it were one of us, you'd want to do everything in your power to prevent that too. But that's just my opinion...

[She nods and starts digging. There's a wide variety here, so there's a lot of options. But as she digs, there's something on her mind that she hasn't been able to shake. In the end, she decides to ask despite her hesitation.]

...Minato. What do you think about yourself.

...but they're healed now.

[The trouble is over, so why keep fussing??]

--Huh? [Utter confusion, in response to her question. It's something like what you might get if you asked a dog what it thought of the bar exam. Perhaps a little less extreme, but not by much. Because it's not that Minato thinks of himself as a bad person.

It's that he almost never thinks of himself at all.]

Uhh.... How do you mean...?

But there was the risk that they might not be. I'll be honest, at the time I was really scared that maybe it would be something we couldn't fix. Even though I have my ARCUS unit back, I can't use my artes here to heal people like I can back home.

[Yes, that's exactly what she was worried about.]

...I'm worried that you don't give yourself the proper amount of consideration, nearly as much as you do other people.

It just... reminds me of someone. He never means to worry people, and we know that-- but no one can stop worrying about him. Because we know he won't remember to worry about himself when he needs to.

Had no idea they were glass...didn't think it would be that bad.

[That's all he can say. He knew his hands were fragile, but...he didn't know. He didn't know. He can't say it would've stopped him, but he might've at least spared the others the trouble of tending to him.

Towa isn't...wrong, exactly, except about the 'proper amount' part. It's even on his profile. Dislikes: being selfish. But....unfortunately, on those occasions Minato has to think about himself, it's usually not positive. Not always negative, mind, but lately? He certainly leans that way.]

Shouldn't worry about me. Waste of time and energy.

I had a feeling that was the case. That wasn't the first terrifying surprise I've had to witness, so I suppose I was a little better prepared than others, but... it was still a shock.

[Towa shakes her head firmly.]

It's not a waste at all. You're one of us-- so when you're reckless, we're going to worry about you. And it's not because we don't trust you, or think that you're capable of certain things... it's because you're our friend.

We have to look out for each other. There are a lot of things each of us are capable of, but there are some things we can only do together as a team, right?

I'm....sorry. [That she had to see that. That it's not the first she's seen.

And then she throws him off again.]

"Friend"...? Really? [He's not sure he dares to hope.] But I'm- I'm not--

...

...will probably only cause more trouble...

It's okay, really. You don't have to apologize.

[To her, she doesn't really see it as a bother or anything. And she was the one who wanted to go out of her way to find him and talk a little.]

Of course!

[Well, she can't say that she expected him to change even if she explained. It never changed Rean after all, and he had a lot of people telling him. But she wouldn't have wanted that exactly either. As long as he's aware of it, that's enough. After all, it's part of what she likes about them anyway.]

It's true, sometimes friends do cause you trouble. Even I can't promise you that at some point I won't cause trouble for you or the others.

But things like that seem pretty small in the grand scheme of things when you consider everything else that friends do for one another, right?

[But.....she's still talking about this, but she's missed something fundamental. As happy as it makes Minato to be called a friend, it also makes guilt rise like bile in his throat, and he looks away.]

Herschel-san..... Shouldn't want someone like me for a friend. I-I'm not-- ... Deserve better. All of you do.

You may believe that, but I don't think that's true at all. I don't think there's a single person here who does.

I know it's not always easy to see the good things about yourself. I feel like that sometimes too. But if you can't see it yourself then you should try looking at it from someone else's perspective. We see it, even if you can't right now.

It's not-- that...

[Even setting aside his failures. Even disregarding his past. Even ignoring what has almost certainly already come to pass, and his role in it.]

Herschel-san..... I'm-- ....Not the kind of person people can care about.

[He is unlovable. It's just fact.

This is how the world works.]

That's not true!

[That's a statement that she simply cannot accept.]

I won't speak for anyone else but I care. And if even one person can, then you can't really say that, can you?

[Towa is such a kind person, who cares about everyone she meets. So of course she cares in that sense, as one person to another. But it's not because he's Minato, he knows better than that.

He smiles, but it isn't happy.]

It's alright, Herschel-san. Used to it, so you don't need to...

Not a bad thing. Just the way things are.

[At least, that's what he's learned to believe.]

I understand that you may believe that right now... but I can't accept that.

[After a moment, Towa has a thought. She reaches up and undoes the ribbon that's been in her hair since they arrived here.]

Here.

[She wraps the ribbon around his right hand gently and ties it at his wrist. The next time he thinks about doing something stupid with his hands, he'd have to see it.]

You're the only "you" that we have. And I think that's special. It's okay if you don't believe me right now. But I want you to see with your own eyes that we don't feel that way at all. Hold on to that for me until then, okay? It's important-- so take good care of it.

[He's stunned and silent for a long moment. They're near strangers. Why is she trusting him with something important to her? There's a stir of emotion he hasn't felt in a long time - it's only small, too small for him to put a name to, but it's there.]

Towa-chan...

[He isn't sure what to say, and the change of address just slips out. His eyes widen when he realizes, and-] I'm sorry!

[The change of address catches her off guard-- but in a very good way. When the moment of shock wears off, it's replaced by a bright smile.]

Please, there's no need to apologize. It would make me happy if you called me by my first name.

It- It would?

[He always finds it surprising when someone wants the familiarity. He's so used to not being wanted, to being the creepy kid on the sidelines.]

A....alright. Towa-chan.

Of course!

[Towa wouldn't lie, even about something minor like that. She can't help but think it feels like some progress was made-- like he let her in just a little, past some of the walls. ]

It feels like... even if it's just a little bit, you see me as a friend too. So I couldn't be happier.

[His expression crumples slightly for a moment, almost pained. Towa wouldn't want him as a friend if she knew the truth... How could anyone?

But then his expression evens out and it's back to unreadable neutral.]

Tell me....about your world?

[She saw that. But she's pushed enough-- in time she hopes he'll talk to her about it. Until then, she'll just have to be patient.]

Alright then. Let's see... Zemuria is made up of a great many number of nations. The Province of North Ambria, the Principality of Remiferia, the Nord Highlands, Ored State, Crossbell State, the Calvard Republic, Leman State, the Holy City of Arteria, the Kingdom of Liberl and finally, the Empire of Erebonia.

The Book of Genesis says the humanity was once able to freely use a form of magic known as arts-- but now, we can only use them with the assistance of mechanical devices known as orbments. Orbal energy is used to power almost everything as well, everything from lights to appliances.

Your world has magic... [He sounds a little impressed. Maybe he shouldn't be surprised, but still.] Sounds really different from Earth.

Those all the countries in your world, or just in a part of it? Think Earth has around two hundred...ten's way less complicated.

It seems like most of the places that people come from aren't really like Erebonia. But it's been interesting to share stories. The world really is a lot bigger than it seems, huh.

[Towa shakes her head with a smile.]

That's just the continent of Zemuria. There are others, but... these are the ones we interact with the most.

Especially considering multiple worlds. Really is a lot out there.

....from a country called Japan. Island nation, volcanic archipelago. Nearest countries have to be Korea, a peninsula, and China, the mainland. Lot of dealings with the United States of America, though, halfway around the world.

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Week 2, Day 2 -- Minato

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