awashlogs | [ july catch-all ]

Magic. [Does she sound convinced as she drops the apple in his hand? Not at all.]

There’s someone else on the forum who said they had magic and even they couldn’t get through being shot in the head. Though if it’s protection against that, it’s kind of specific, isn’t it?

[Then again, Kaoru could survive a shot in the head just by deflecting it. Maybe Minato was like that.]

[He takes a bite of the apple, shaking his head.]

It's not like I'd be able to heal myself if I was shot through the head. That's a bit...much.

[Crunch munch. This is a good apple, honestly, even if it's a mess now.]

But I do have protection against being shot, most of the time. It's not a sureproof thing [It depends on what Persona he has equipped] but when I have time to prepare like this? I'll definitely be fine.

[Trying to take all that information in is what is a bit much to her. So is this magic?]

....What kind of world did you say you come from again?

[He’s never said it, but she has the suspicion it’s not the normal world she first assumed it to be.]

... A pretty normal one? Earth, Japan--uh, Iwatodai, if you've ever been there?

[YEAH....

A normal Earth except sometimes, insane things totally happen.]

[That... sounds normal? She’s never heard of an Iwatodai but it could just be a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere? Geography isn’t her strong suit and she’s always been a city girl.]

And being able to survive a shot is... something everyone can do?

[Because that’s not something people can do even in her world. Evidenced by the fact that Hyoubu is off telling everyone his sad backstory about how his supervisor shot him in the head to anyone who shows even the slightest willingness to listen.]

That's...

[Well.

No.

So his world is pretty normal, but--he's not, not really.]

Not exactly. It's just a few people. [He tucks his hands into his pockets, shaking his head.] I have an ability that's called a Persona. There are a few others here with it too, but generally speaking, it's pretty unusual back home.

I guess it's kind of a secret back home, too, but...

[There's no reason not to tell Shiho, honestly.]

[Normally she likes secrets. Especially if she forced them out of people because she has terrible hobbies. But this one earns him a worried look.]

.....If it’s a secret then should you really be telling me? [For one, she hasn’t always been completely honest with him either.]

[He just shrugs a little at that, expression unconcerned. Her worry over it is kind of endearing, in that she seems to want to protect his secrets, but--]

It's not like it's a secret here, right? Back home, magic was strange and unheard of, and people wouldn't understand our Personas at all. But here... it feels like most everyone has some strange ability or magic or power.

In that case, I think it's fine that the people I trust know what I can do.

[Shiho doesn’t know what to say to something like that. He trusts her.

But he’s a minority as far as she’s concerned. People don’t trust psychometers, that was just a fact of life. Yet here he is saying this all so nonchalantly. The more she thinks about it, the more embarrassed she’s getting.

And the more aware she is that she hasn’t exactly been honest with him.]

Even if... I haven’t really been honest with you about something that’s... kind of important?

Even then.

[Minato knows she's hiding something from him, after all--she hadn't shared her punishment with him before, and he'd known that there was something odd to that too. But... it's fine, right?

He believes in that strongly.]

I think... that even if you had some big secret, I still know who Sannomiya-san is. So... whether you tell more or not, it won't change my opinion of you. You're still my friend, and you're still someone I trust.

[Her secrets don't change that. He's sure she has a good reason for keeping them--but he's also sure that they wouldn't be anything that would change his mind on her.]

Even if I have a dark personality? And bad interests?

[But she’s wavering on this even as she says it. Some part of her hopes (and kind of believes) that maybe what he says could be true.]

If... If you regret it after...

[Minato hums quietly at that, a peacefully acknowledging noise. He doesn't think Shiho really has either of those things, but even so:]

Yes, even then. I won't regret it, after.

[He'll meet her eyes firmly if she'll let him, and add:]

I've decided to live my life without regrets. I don't think trusting you is going to be one of the first.

[Shiho is only able to meet his eyes for about 3.1 seconds before that’s just too much directness and too much trust from him and she has to look away.

But she appreciates it nonetheless in her own way, taking what he says to heart and making the decision that maybe she could trust him too. Even though she can’t say something like “it won’t” because who knows when it comes to people and perceptions of psychometers. The last thing she wants to do is make him feel pressured into accepting who she is at any point in time. If he does regret it, she wants him to know it’s not his fault. If he doesn’t, she wants him to know how much she appreciates it.

She finally looks back at him again, meeting his eyes as firmly as she can and willing him not to see the fact that she’s turned red.]

...don’t say I didn’t warn you but..... thank you.

[He seems pretty content to wait patiently for Shiho to come to a decision--and that seems to be a good one to him. If nothing else, he thinks she believes him more than she did before, and honestly? That's all he could ask for.

So he definitely does not call out the fact that she is bright red here (he knows what would get him punched, thanks), and instead he just nods with a small smile.]

You really don't have to thank me for this, but... you're welcome.

[He won't deny her earnest thanks, not when he imagines it doesn't really come naturally to her at all. He won't linger, either--he's pretty sure that they've said what needs to be said in this moment.]

I guess we've successfully completed the quest, huh? We'll have to wait and see what sort of reward we get.

[He gets a quick nod as she rallies and tries her best to pretend like this is all normal and she isn’t embarrassed at all. (Probably without much success, she thinks. But he doesn’t say anything about that either which is nice.)]

Seems that way unless you want me to shoot something else off your head. [But the apple is gone and finished so probably not?]

...With the way things have gone, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was gloves. [After all they have hats, sweaters and socks now. The logical next step would be gloves to get the whole set.]

[Minato's nose wrinkles a little at that, even as he shakes his head.]

It's too hot for gloves, I think... hopefully they'll think of something more season-appropriate.

[hmm...]

Like watermelon. That would be a nice summer treat. [For shooting fruit off of someone's head.]

[If he could balance a watermelon on his head, she would actually be really impressed.]

Watermelon, huh. That would be pretty nice. We could even take it to the beach and have everyone take turns trying to hit it. [Which is a game she’s played before.

Though it’s not as much fun if they start off with her since she can figure out exactly where the watermelon is using psychometry.]

[Don't expect too much of his skills here.]

Right? Doesn't it sound fun?

[The best... it'd be a better bonding activity than spam mail.]

And we could all eat it after...well, if the color for it is restored and all, otherwise it's probably not worth it. Even for the summer memories.

It does. [But never tell Okuyasu that a watermelon is more fun than the Money Goose.]

Especially because we can eat it after if things work out and we can find a watermelon with colour. Though we might want to get a second one, I think. You know, I thought I only missed the taste of pizza.

[But now here she is missing the taste of watermelon, too. Still, she’s smiling as she says it meaning it more to tease him than anything.]

[Keep it a secret, be a bro, Shiho.]

So we can plant watermelons...? Yeah, that'd be nice. [Awash, why won't you give them these things...!!]

It's funny though, right? The things you don't expect that you'd miss. There was this stand outside of the strip mall that sold really cheap and odd takoyaki, and I even miss that now.

[Don’t worry, she’s got you, Minato.]

They can’t be that hard to grow, right? [Don’t ask her though she has no idea how to grow things.]

Yeah, it is kind of. Cheap, odd takoyaki, huh? Now I’m curious. [What is it that makes it odd?]

What I miss most is the stuff Minamoto-san would make us out of leftovers. He’s our supervisor but he was really good at cooking.

[They don't know what it's made out of... that's what makes it odd.]

I mean, not for our experts, anyway. Thank goodness there are a bunch of people here who can grow and garden.

[That's a relief for the sad saps like him who have no idea how that stuff works.]

... Is that right, though...? He must be a good supervisor, if he made you guys meals.

All I know how to do is weed. [Though if she does know a lot about seeds themselves thanks to psychometry. Growing things is too much work though.]

It wasn’t really his job though. I think he’s just naturally a person who does stuff like that. Kind of like a grandma. [The kind that is constantly trying to make sure you’ve eaten enough and never fails to slip a nutritious snack into your pocket before you go to school.
But even with a description like that, the look in her eyes is fond when she speaks of him.]

[Oh my god... it's a very evocative image, at least?]

Hm... I know what you mean, I think. I've known some people like that.

And I think that's what makes him good at what he does, right? If someone goes above and beyond their job to look after you guys...

[Well.]

That makes me happy to hear, honestly.

[Don't let me tag when I'm not awake enough to read what I write...

It makes her happy to hear him say something like that. Minamoto has always been precious to her and his kindness is definitely third only to Aoi and Kaoru in her mind.]

It does. And you're being embarrassing again.

[She tries not to smile but it's there in her expression anyways as she takes a step in the direction they're supposed to be going.]

....We're going back, right? I walked you back last time so I guess it's your turn again this time?

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