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[fujimaru]

It's Ritsuka! I've either fallen asleep or couldn't find my phone in time, so leave a message.

[ text / action / etc]

Comments

[fujimaru]

I'm always hoping for the best, Minato-kun.

[ But at the feeling of contriteness, she squeezes his hand again. It's all right. There's no real way to avoid this grief, and she doesn't want to forget Roman, either. ]

I think... he'd probably tell me it was. He was kind of a coward sometimes, but I think--I know that in the end, he did want to do the right thing.

[messianic]

Yeah... I didn't know him, but...

Well... I think anyone you respect as much as you respect him would think it was worth it too. That's just how I feel.

[fujimaru]

[ There's a pause as she takes that in, and then she squeezes his hand harder in a flood of sudden gratitude. ]

...Thanks, Minato-kun. I hope--I think you must be right.

[messianic]

[ Aw... he smiles a little at that, feeling only soft affection in response. ]

Those are just my impressions, that's all. It's nothing you need to thank me for.

[fujimaru]

It still means a lot to hear. You know how it is.

[messianic]

Yeah... I do.

[ he rubs the back of his neck a moment with his free hand, before he just shrugs, and flops back against the bed again. ]

I'd like to hear more about him sometime... I like it when you talk about him.

[fujimaru]

You do?

[ That, too, is a complicated feeling, but not a bad one: a sort of tentative hope and a little confusion. There's only been two people she's ever felt like she could talk about Roman--and one has been dead at home for over a year, and the other... isn't here. ]

I'd like to. Eventually.

[messianic]

[ In contrast to her complicated feelings in response, Minato's feelings are simple--a peaceful sort of contentedness, sincerity and warmth. ]

I do. There's no rush, of course... I want you to take your time and only talk about him when you're comfortable.

It's just... you light up when you do, you know...? In a special sort of way.

[ In a way that shows just how special he was, in so many ways. ]

[fujimaru]

I--do?

[ That startles her a little. Not even in a bad way, but clearly not something she expected; it's not as if she's spoken about Roman that much, or that often, in the years since the Grand Order. ]

...huh. I had no idea.

[messianic]

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.

[fujimaru]

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.

[messianic]

[ 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?

[fujimaru]

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.

[messianic]

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

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

[fujimaru]

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.

[messianic]

... 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.

[fujimaru]

...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.

[messianic]

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. ]

[fujimaru]

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.

[messianic]

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.

[fujimaru]

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.

[messianic]

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.

[fujimaru]

[ 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.

[messianic]

[ 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.

[fujimaru]

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.