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

[action]

[panatipata]

[After catching a glimpse of this feed on the network, the mirror rushed, albeit as quietly as he could, to the tea rooms on each floor until he finally saw Souji in one of them.

He glanced up and down the hallway to see if anyone was watching him, and he instead hid behind the door to watch Souji instead. It should have been easy to tell the difference between the real one and the mirror, and it was, but still, it was someone new, or at least someone he hadn't actually met in person. Being cautious was a good idea to start.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Which Souji this is becomes readily apparent when he starts folding a crane out of a napkin.]

[panatipata]

[Even from where he had been hiding, Minato could see the crane come to life. But spying did come at some price since the door was his only line of defense to help keep him hidden, yet it wouldn't stop any sound from reaching anyone's ears.

The mirror brought his hand up and sneezed. He knew he should've gotten some kind of scarf from a closet since it was cold. He gasped and hid behind the door again, scolding himself and then thinking that someone might be talking about him.]

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji looks up and sets the finished crane down on the table.]

Hello?

[panatipata]

[Minato gasped again and hid again, but was rather disappointed that he had been noticed at all, even if he had wanted to be noticed. It was confusing. Whenever it came to Souji, things were confusing.

It took him a moment or two before he stepped inside but stayed close to the door and hadn't dared look up at the only other occupant of the room. His shoes were fascinating, why hadn't he noticed before? Or he had, but now was another good time to notice again.]

I... I'm sorry, Seta-san.

[And now he felt like running away, but he didn't.]

[eatsyourscience]

[That this is Minato's mirror is clear enough. Souji turns to face him but doesn't stand up since he's kind of tall and imposing.]

Just Seta's fine. Or Souji.

[panatipata]

[Hanging out by the door felt safe. He could make a quick escape if he had to. The mirror brushed some of his bangs away from his face and frowned slightly.]

You don't... [... Know me. But the mirror stopped himself from finishing that thought.]

I don't really understand why you'd prefer that instead since I don't know if you don't personally like it, or if you don't want me to have to trouble myself over it or something like that.

[eatsyourscience]

It's a little of both. "San" feels like you're holding me at a distance.

[He smiles a little.]

Besides, you'd be my senpai, right?

[panatipata]

[Immediately the question that formed in the mirror's mind was that why shouldn't he hold him at a distance? It wasn't as though he knew him, this was the first time they were meeting. Technically. But the mirror held his tongue. He had used the honorific before but was told to use the given name instead, but it was so weird calling someone by his own name.

Minato tilted his head a little and then shook it. Still confused.]

Not... really, I guess, since when you kind of only exist for a few months, you don't really get that sort of status, I don't think.

... It's kind of... It's not me, so... It's kind of hard to explain.

[eatsyourscience]

If you'd rather use an honorific it's okay. It's okay if you don't want to, too.

[panatipata]

[Having a choice hadn't made it any better, but the mirror did appreciate it. He tilted his head again.]

I don't know yet what I want, but I can tell you what I want once I come up with some answer, just don't... hold your breath since I don't know when that will be either.

But if you're going to say that kind of thing, then what are you going to call me?

[eatsyourscience]

What do you want to be called?

[panatipata]

[Minato frowned.]

You can call me whatever you want, but I kind of use his name, I guess, since that's the only thing I really know. It's really not all that practical and is confusing... but I've been using it for now and probably will until I disappear.

You shouldn't have to worry about honorifics or anything either, I mean, I don't... think... I don't really think those kinds of things count for me.

[eatsyourscience]

Minato-kun?

[The -kun is less honorific, more familiar. And it's use would differentiate the two Minatos, at least in speech.]

[panatipata]

[Minato blinked at Souji, and then tilted his head again, remembering that he had heard being called that before by other people, but it really hadn't been referring to him. It would be the first time anyone has actually called him that.

He moved a little closer to Souji and was very close to sitting on the floor next to him since it felt right, but he hadn't since he hesitated. It was very weird to be standing while Souji was sitting, but he couldn't explain why.]

Is... is that really okay with you? Um, I don't mind, I think I kind of like it, but you don't have to if you don't want to. Only if it's okay with you, then it's okay with me.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji smiles a little and nods. Then he nods to the other seat at the table.]

Do you want to sit with me?