08; video

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji is sitting in a tea room, stringing a key on a blue string. Once it's on there safely, he puts the string around his neck and tucks it under his shirt.

Then he picks up the device to address the network.]

Have many people been to the beach today?

Comments

[video | private]

[jivitadana]

[Wow, that key is kind of... way familiar.]

... You found that?

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji also smiles a little.]

No. We were all passengers.

[jivitadana]

[Minato clipped the Key to the end of his lanyard, having it hang next to his mp3 player. He'd get a blue string like Souji had his on later. He didn't need to have anyone besides Souji and maybe one other person asking him about some mysterious key.

He held onto the key though, the metal eventually turning warm in his hand. After glancing out over the ocean, he smiled again.]

I like that our paths aren't exactly parallel.

[Because in some way, if they had been, then the two of them, though traveling in the same direction, would never have met. But somehow the trajectory of their paths intersected and crossed each other, even if only at one point.]

... I'm glad it's you that's moving forward.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji looks over at him, not sure what to say for a moment. Then he looks out at the ocean and there's some sadness in his voice.]

...I wish it could be together.

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded once, still looking out over at the sea. This was where Souji made that promise to him. Maybe it was best that they had all their conversations like this out here.

It had to have turned out this way. Minato wasn't sure why or how. There had to be a reason he ended up ascending in some elevator and Souji always pressed forward in a vehicle. There had to be a reason why they had both been given back their Keys. There had to be a reason why they were both so alike despite the number of difference between them.

Minato let go of the Key in his hand and reached to take one of Souji's hands in his own.]

... It will be. I'll always be with you.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji closes his eyes for a moment, focusing on that one point of contact, that warmth against the cold of the air, the undeniable presence of another human being beside him, linked to him with an unbreakable bond.

He nods and opens his eyes again.]

I'll be with you, too.

[jivitadana]

[Minato had believed that. Even if they forgot all of this when they returned home, he still wanted to hold onto that thought, this feeling, the wish that where Minato ended up or returned to, he wouldn't be truly alone.

Minato held on a little longer before very carefully letting go of Souji's hand.]

... Then that's my promise to you.

[Because if and since he couldn't do anything else, then all Minato wanted or could ask for was for Souji to never be alone.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji holds up one hand with his pinkie extended.]

I'll hold you to it.

[jivitadana]

[Minato smiled, then gave Souji a nod. He linked his pinkie with Souji's. Of course Souji would hold him to it. And he could, most likely. Not that Minato would want to break the promise at all, but this place was complicated

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji nods. If nothing else, if there's never the opportunity to walk side by side, he hopes he can always stand in Minato's shadow.]

Are you hungry?

[jivitadana]

[Minato smiled a little again, letting the Key drop against him. He nodded slightly. He could worry about things like that later on his own time. For now, really, he should just be focused on the friendships he had at present. He might not have a chance to have them otherwise either.]

... Are you?

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji nods.]

Should we go to the kitchen?

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded too, turning toward the Mansion so they could walk back.]

Sure.

[Ah, but the kitchen meant making something for themselves. But Minato wasn't going to suggest going somewhere else, like maybe the dining room. He was fine with going to the kitchen.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji feels like cooking, that's all. You just relax, Minato, and let your kouhai take care of it.]

[jivitadana]

[Yes, Minato realizes this, but you know how incredibly or ridiculously เกรงใจ he is, or the whole not wanting to take advantage of Souji's kindness type of thing.

And isn't Minato the senpai? He should be the one taking care of Souji. Plus you'd think after being practically ignored for like ten years, Minato would be able to cook or fend for himself that way. I suppose if he needed anything, that's what having money thrown at him is for.

But anyway. This is a little bit different, having someone cook for him. It really only happened once or twice after that night from so long ago, and the second time Souji had been the one to do it with the curry he made. He looked at the snow on the ground and the multiple sets of footprints coming and going.]

I should learn how to cook.

[Hey, cutting out bullets from someone, no problem. But cooking is way different.]

[eatsyourscience]

I can teach you.