[It's not Minato if he's not occasionally making people question his mental state.]
You have friends, too, [he points out non-urgently, but intently.] I'm sure you have others, but as part of SEES, if you need anything, just ask. Even if it's something like hanging out... or making sure your brother has someone to protect him when things are dangerous.
[Since as far as Minato is aware, Tadashi isn't much of a combatant. (Not that he, at this point, thinks Hiro is either; he's just too experienced with Ken to use him as an example of needing protection.)]
[Hey, Minato the emotionally incompetent figured it out. He has confidence Hiro will get it eventually.]
Of course. [A moment of silence before Minato decides to give him some background that he'll probably need as a team member, even if he's keeping it unspecific for now.]
You should know... Everyone in SEES is alone. If we have any living family, they don't want to see us. So we all rely on each other. Even when we don't get along, we'll be there.
Ken-kun is, too, [Minato confesses, in a calculated push to see if Hiro and Ken could become friends. Ordinarily he'd never betray someone else's confidence... unless like now, when he thinks it could benefit them.]
We all had that problem at least at first, but he's from a few months before the rest of us. [He's not about to give too many details on that.]
... Ah. [That's easy to interpret, and although Minato doesn't know how he'd seen that memory, it saves him from having to awkwardly dance around the subject.
Gently,] He died protecting Ken. I was there. Ken-kun is from shortly after that time, so he's a little nervous about being part of the team, but I told him he'd never left it.
[With sad eyes,] Yes. When I told you not to be worried about my Persona... it's because some of them aren't easy to control. Shinjiro-san doesn't have Castor here, and he must be relieved.
It's not something he'd talk about. [Minato hesitates.] It's alright; it might be good for them, to see each other and work through things. A chance they don't have at home.
[Minato has hardly forgotten that Hiro knows about his own death-- that was their first conversation, after all-- and he withdraws, gaze inward-focused as it drifts down toward his feet.
Softly,] I'm glad I have it, too. And that I have the chance to meet all these people... like you.
[God, yes. Minato is fervently, actively grateful for every moment he has here; the trepidation in his soul at returning to Erebus is profound, a murky dark water lying in wait. Patient because that dread can never be erased. It's his fate to return.
That's not at all a fate Hiro needs to burden for him, even in part. Minato reaches out and ruffles his hair lightly. In a gentle tone,] I am. Thank you for that.
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microbrobotics) wrote2025-01-08 05:19 pm
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Right. I told him I'd explain to him about SEES. I can use that as an excuse. So... don't worry, Tadashi-san won't be alone.
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... Good. I mean, I'm here, and he has me, just ... He could use all the friends he can get right now.
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You have friends, too, [he points out non-urgently, but intently.] I'm sure you have others, but as part of SEES, if you need anything, just ask. Even if it's something like hanging out... or making sure your brother has someone to protect him when things are dangerous.
[Since as far as Minato is aware, Tadashi isn't much of a combatant. (Not that he, at this point, thinks Hiro is either; he's just too experienced with Ken to use him as an example of needing protection.)]
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... You sure that's okay?
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Of course. [A moment of silence before Minato decides to give him some background that he'll probably need as a team member, even if he's keeping it unspecific for now.]
You should know... Everyone in SEES is alone. If we have any living family, they don't want to see us. So we all rely on each other. Even when we don't get along, we'll be there.
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None at all?
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Fuuka's parents pressure her, but they care for her, [he says finally.]
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So we all look after each other.
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Guess I'm still getting used to the thought.
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We all had that problem at least at first, but he's from a few months before the rest of us. [He's not about to give too many details on that.]
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[ He's heard that name before, hasn't he? Who said that to him... ]
Does he know Shinjiro?
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[It could just be that he knows they know each other, but with Shinjiro and Ken, the likelihood is something else.]
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... I saw a memory of his. Shinjiro's, I mean. He ... ah ...
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Gently,] He died protecting Ken. I was there. Ken-kun is from shortly after that time, so he's a little nervous about being part of the team, but I told him he'd never left it.
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What ... happened? Did Shinjiro really kills his mom?
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[ Suddenly, the thought of having Personas doesn't seem quite so fun any more. ]
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It's not something he'd talk about. [Minato hesitates.] It's alright; it might be good for them, to see each other and work through things. A chance they don't have at home.
[Unconsciously echoing Hiro's own situation.]
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[ The comparison isn't lost on him. ]
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Softly,] I'm glad I have it, too. And that I have the chance to meet all these people... like you.
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That's not at all a fate Hiro needs to burden for him, even in part. Minato reaches out and ruffles his hair lightly. In a gentle tone,] I am. Thank you for that.
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