[VIDEO] ☠ Death is always adorable.

[derparcana]

[ The feed turns on, and a teenage boy with a long yellow scarf, suspenders, and black hair shows up. He seems pensive, and appears to be holding a plush of a certain Frost in his arms. ]

First things first. Ladies, it's your lucky day: Ryoji Mochizuki has arrived, and he has a totally free schedule. Nice to meet you. I'll be happy if you can all

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[lunateclock]

[Minato is strolling along--mourning his lack of MP3 player once again, making a mental note to try to find another--when he spies...a rather concerning sight.

He blinks, and hurries over.]

Ryoji-kun?

[derparcana]

M-Minato-kun.

[ Short; curt. To the point. He looks like he's... been crying. ]

[lunateclock]

[And oh, he can tell. That connection? It's not just one way. He steps closer, placing a hand on Ryoji's shoulder and tilting his head forward to look into his face.]

...What happened?

[derparcana]

... Minato-kun...

[ Just... he is so sad. ]

He didn't listen to me.

[lunateclock]

[...something that shook Ryoji up this much, huh...?

...]

Come on. Let's sit down.

[A gentle tug/nudge towards a bench against the wall of the cafe, where they will both be able to sit. C'mon, bro, we need to talk.]

[derparcana]

[ Quietly following. He's... pretty hurt. ]

He... doesn't cherish life. Just like everyone else. It's so sad...

[lunateclock]

[They sit on the bench, and then Minato sighs, turning to look Ryoji over. The obvious question--'who'?--rests on he tip of his tongue, but...he supposes there are more important questions to be asked.

...It can't hurt to repeat himself.]

What happened?

[derparcana]

[ Just... clinging now, bff. ;; ]

I... I can't change it.

[ S-sob. ]

I'm just a contradiction. I can't stop people from... being that way. Why... can't I help people, instead of hurt them?

[lunateclock]

[He still isn't sure what happened, but from what he's piecing together...he doesn't like it.

He doesn't move away, instead allowing Ryoji to cling.

Hm.]

...There isn't anything stopping you from helping people, Ryoji-kun. Just like there isn't anything forcing you to hurt people.

[...Death doesn't hurt people, bff. >: It's the end, not the lead-up.]

[derparcana]

[ ... ]

I will kill you. I will kill everyone you care about, just like I...

[ His voice lowers to something of a quiet sob. ] Just like I killed Yukari's father, and everyone else in that lab.

[lunateclock]

[...He can't say it isn't true. It very well might be that Ryoji will kill them all.

And yet--]

Not by choice.

[...]

So what will you do with the time you have in which you can make choices for yourself?

[derparcana]

... I... I want you to listen to me very carefully. I don't know what Haruka-chan has told you, but her timeline isn't ours.

[ Ryoji silently backs off, but keeps his hands on Minato's shoulders, expression serious. ]

I want you to decide. I don't know... if I'll change here or not, Minato. I don't know. But once that happens, I'll be unable to take human form, and unable to stop myself.

I will kill you. And anyone else.

Think about this carefully. Are you sure letting me live now, when you can stop this, is the best decision?

[lunateclock]

[He is silent in response for a long moment, silent and unflinching and his expression is solemn but strong.]

...I had already made my decision before meeting Haruka-san.

[...More or less, anyway. But now? ...Now he knows.]

I...am not going to kill you, Ryoji.

No matter what happens in the future, I know that is a choice I can make without regrets.

[derparcana]

... I think we need to talk somewhere else.

[ C'mon, bro. You following? Back to the dorms. ]

[lunateclock]

[...That's concerning.

Still, what can he do but follow, hands in his pockets, expression solemn, set.

He's not changing his mind, no matter what Ryoji does.]

[derparcana]

[ And once they are both in Minato's room... he shuts the door behind him. And sighs. ]

... You're so stubborn... are you sure this is your decision?