fujimaru | Reverie Inbox

Yeah, you do.

[ A tiny smile, and Minato shrugs a bit. ]

I think it's just... because you really cared about him, right? That shines through.

He...

[ She's quiet for a moment, then smiles wistfully. ]

I think he was maybe the first person I ever had a crush on? But even more than that--he was always kind of goofy, but he tried really hard. I didn't even know how much he put into helping me until he was gone.

[ That gets a small smile out of Minato in response, soft and fond. ]

... That makes sense to me. He was your Sun, after all... right?

One of them, yeah.

[ She takes a deep breath, holding it for a few beats and then letting it out slowly. ]

In spite of everything, I admired him a lot.

"In spite of everything", huh...? He sounds admirable to me in a lot of ways, so...

[ he doesn't think that's so strange. ]

He was. He was a really, really admirable guy.

But he was also kind of oblivious and bad at reading the mood. He got petty and distracted by little things.

But he also gave more than anyone else I know, to make sure I could succeed.

... Well... if he didn't have some flaws, he wouldn't be human, right?

[ that's just how it is, and it's endearing. That humanity... he thinks that's precious too. ]

I wish I could've met him too... but I'm glad I was able to see him through your memory. I'm lucky I could.

...there are a lot of people I wish he could meet. There are so many people I know now, that I didn't when he was around--I think he'd like some of them. People here, people at home... I still think about that. A lot.

Hmmm... to be honest, hearing you talk about him like that... I don't know, I like the sound of it. It feels like you're keeping him alive, in a way. When you think things like "I wish he could've met this person", or "this reminds me of him", or "he would've liked this"... that's how it feels to me.

[ at least, he'd really like it if his friends back home thought of him like that sometimes. ]

Do you think so? That would be nice.

[ She smiles a little at that, quietly wistful. ]

That's how it is with most Servants, you know? The versions I summon... they exist because their legends survive. Maybe people don't remember the actual person--but their stories. They live on because humanity remembers them.

I don't want to be a hero like that, myself, but... it'd be nice to be remembered.

Right... that's exactly it. You're remembering him, and in more ways than just... grief and regrets.

[ she is a hero, of course, and knows it--but he gets not wanting to be remembered as some grand person. But... to be remembered by friends... ]

I think... I hope--that all of our friends here will always remember us in the exact same way. That... there'll be things that remind them of us, or people they would've wanted us to meet.

That's all I want, really.

[ The subject of what happens after they leave is kind of a tender spot for her, but it's the sort of thing that she is willing to swallow. She might have had some hopes and wishes, but she's practical enough to know it was never going to happen. ]

As long as people remember me fondly sometimes, I'll be content with that.

Yeah... me too.

[ he gets it. No matter how many times Akira tells him that he wants to find a way, Minato knows... their futures are what they are. ]

It's nice to think about, to be honest.

[ Listen, she'd just be happy to know that Akira is so determined. Minato deserves nice things he can have, even when this dream ends. ]

Yeah. As long as there's someone who can say--I knew her, I remember her... I'd like that.

[ sometimes you just can't accept the future to be anything but what you know it has to be... he figures Ritsuka would understand the better than most. ]

Yeah... it feels pretty lucky to have that, honestly. And--even more than that, we'll have so many people in so many different worlds who feel that way.

Yeah. Even if I wish--

[ No. She pauses at that, then laughs a little, shaking her head. ]

Well, it doesn't matter what I wish. I'm not unhappy with what I've gotten to have, here.

[ ... hm. ]

... Is it okay if I ask? Maybe... maybe it doesn't matter. But... I'd still like to hear it.

If you're okay with sharing.

...

[ She's quiet for a long time, mulling it over, and then she lets out a breath that isn't exactly a laugh, shrugging. ]

I guess--I just wish that someone would be willing to come help me. But that's not something I can ask for. Not with the way things are--it has to be the other person's decision. I can ask for a lot of things, Minato-kun, but I can't ask for that.

[ ... he wishes he could offer. With all of his heart and soul--but the Seal needs that very soul to remain intact, and so there's only one place he can go after this. The yearning is palpable, but tempered by resignation to a different fate that he's already chosen. ]

... I understand.

[ softly, a little sadly, but with fondness. He can't be that for her, but... he can still hope that someday, someone will. He respects this about her, though--that she understands just how important it is that it's their choice. ]

For a choice that monumental... it'd have to be their choice. ... Maybe someone will surprise you, here.

Maybe... I'm not holding my breath.

[ She'd entertained the hope for maybe a day--but she knows better. It's not something that she can ask for, or resent if no one asks her in turn. There is a chance that she'll survive everything and succeed... but there's a greater chance that she won't. There are no expectations. ]

But if people remember me now and then, I'd be more than happy for that.

I can promise... at the very least, that I'll always remember you.

[ for whatever consciousness he's allowed. In a way, he thinks that means she'll be remembered for a very, very long time. ]

You're way too Ritsuka to forget.

What's that supposed to mean?

[ She laughs aoutright at that, giving him a little nudge with her elbow. ]

It's not like I'm the same as any other Ritsuka out there! Even the spelling's different from the most standard.

Right, that's exactly what I mean.

[ a solemn nod, even though he takes the elbow without trying to dodge. ]

You're so aggressively yourself that now... there will always be things that make me go "Ah, that's just like Ritsuka", you know?

That just makes me sound like I'm impressive or something.

[ She elbows him again, then just leaves her arm there, because what else is she supposed to do? ]

[ serenely: ]

You are. You're impressive in a way only you can be.

[ since her arm is there, he'll go ahead and just link their arms at the elbows casually. comfy. ]

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fujimaru - 2022-12-02 05:45 (UTC) - Expand