004 ☆ Video

[fiveminutefail]

[Kotetsu can be seen, sitting at what looks like a coffee table. He’s without a shirt, and bandages are wrapped here and there obscuring defined, tanned muscles along his chest and arms. His normally well kempt hair is disheveled.

He appears to have just woken up from a long, forced nap.

Damn this place. He lifts a small object from the table.

Comments

[forgetsyounot]

...Are you all right...sir?

[It's...PRETTY OBVIOUSLY not her business, but...Shirley can't help but be curious anyway. It's gotten her into trouble, in the past, but it doesn't seem to be stopping her here.]

[fiveminutefail]

[He could never blame her for being curious, since he's literally the exact same way.]

I'm all right, Miss. I just wanted to give him his present before he left.

[He pauses.] I really think he would've liked this one!

[forgetsyounot]

...I'm sorry. They always say it's the thought that counts.

[She frowns. She assumes he means he "woke up" or went back to his own world...but she hasn't really been here long enough to realize that this is a normal thing.]

What...what was it, if you don't mind me asking?

[fiveminutefail]

Yeah, you're right...

[That brightens him up a bit, and his frown turns into a fond sort of smile when he next speaks.

He's talking about someone he cares about, and that's enough to cheer him up.]

It's a toy robot. He had one back home that his parents gave him, and it was very special to him. He didn't have one here, so I thought he'd like one for his birthday.

[forgetsyounot]

That sounds so cute.

[The frown turns into a bit of a smile, then. She's glad to have helped him cheer up, at least a little bit!]

Maybe you should hold onto it for him. Do you think he'll be back some day?

[fiveminutefail]

[He scratches at the back of his head almost bashfully.]

I'd like to think so! [He smiles and shrugs.] He might. I'll keep this safe for him, and I'll try my best to stay here incase he does.

[forgetsyounot]

...that's the spirit!

[Hmm, though she's not exactly sure she should be encouraging people to stay in this dream-like trance. Oh well, though...

It's not like she can take back her words.]

Ah...my name is Shirley by the way. I should have mentioned earlier before asking you questions like that...

[fiveminutefail]

Oh, no worries! My name's Kotetsu T. Kaburagi, but you can just call me Kotetsu.

[He tips his hat a little in greeting, grinning warmly.] Nice to meet you, Shirley.

[forgetsyounot]

It's nice to meet you, too.

[Phew! She looks a bit relieved that he doesn't seem to take offense to how nosy she's been.]

Have you been living here long, Kotetsu?

[fiveminutefail]

[They can be super nosy together.]

Maybe four months... it's hard to keep track sometimes!

[His partner kept track for the both of them, but Kotetsu never really asked for updates.]

And yourself? I don't think I've seen you around here before.

[forgetsyounot]

[Her shoulders lift into a slight shrug. Because she hasn't seen him around, either.]

...I guess it's been almost a month now.

[It's not much, compared to him, or Lulu, or even Kallen. Though she admittedly hasn't been keeping very good track, either. Her fingers bend, as if she's counting--]

It's almost hard to believe.

[fiveminutefail]

I'm sure you'll be able to go home soon.

[He tries his hand at a smile. He wants to comfort her, reassure her.]

My partner found a way home, so there's still hope.

[Little does he know...]

[forgetsyounot]

[Awww. His smile is so warm, and she can't help but give him one in return. Small as they are, his words do kind of give her hope--even if she wouldn't want to leave, without her friends.

...Without Lulu.]

Maybe so. But I...maybe I wouldn't mind staying a little while longer.

[She chuckles very faintly, even if she doesn't know how long 'a little while' will be.]