You could hear me? Hm, maybe it’s because I used to talk to you while you were dreaming.
You do remember that, right? I must’ve freaked you out a number of times. [Chuckling to himself, he ruffles the other’s hair slightly, grinning ear to ear. He was glad to hear he was okay… sometimes, Ryoji got worried about him. Worried that one day, he’d just up and disappear, for the world’s sake. Minato was such a humble guy, he made him feel like a little kid sometimes.]
[Then again, it wasn’t really far from the truth.]
So you haven’t been sleeping well…? Ah, that’s tough, ‘specially for someone like you, who’s always sleeping in class. Is something bothering you?
[A small part of Ryoji wondered if he was the one bothering him. He was pretty sure someone in the right mind wouldn’t want to be around someone who nearly ended the world, and took their life. Then again, Minato had said that he forgave him, since it wasn’t entirely his fault. But…Minato was a sweet-talker. He told people what they wanted to hear sometimes, so he couldn’t help but be a little bit self-conscious.]
What exactly are you worried about? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking. Because, I can understand if you don’t want to tell anyone, especially if the source of the problem is the one—
I mean, not that I suspect you’re mad at me or anything!
[Oh, Ryoji. Awful liar, as well as an awful person at keeping their thoughts in their head, instead of out. Truth be told, his heart was always on his sleeve, always speaking before thinking…it was a bad habit. Not like it was anything he could fix, of course.]
Anyways, I’m sorry you’re having trouble sleeping and all. [He recovered from his fault rather quickly, shaking his head and keeping his eyes averted on the water.] Sometimes, life gets a little too crazy, and your mind can’t keep up with it.
[Pretty smart advice from someone as new to the world as he was.]
So take a rest if you need to, right? Doesn’t look like we’re going to be leaving this place anytime soon, so you should let your worries go.
[With a confident smile, he looks towards the other male, sheepishly scratching the back of his head. Man, he was a huge goof sometimes - always trying to get everyone to smile. As much of a ladies-guy he was, he was really sweet once you got to know him. Ryoji was painfully nice, always wishing the best for everyone, but often getting thrown off tangent with half-guessed assumptions and confused looks. It was difficult being human.]
You talked to me while I was dreaming? [ Amused, Minato daintily moved the tufts of hair that Ryoji mussed up back into place, blinking several times in thought. He slowly filed through the cobweb covered memories from his past life. ]
Right, I remember you speaking to me. . .just as I was regaining consciousness.
[ Pharos` voice had mixed in with his dreams, causing him to wondering who exactly was calling out to him in the midst of an illusion in his head. Minato often had strange dreams, located in the strangest of locations that often made zero sense or hardly related to what had happened during the day.
It became routine to see the boy a week before the full moon, sitting on his bed or standing eerily close to him the moment he opened his eyes, face to face with piercing electric blue eyes. ]
Hey, I didn`t always sleep in class.
[ He groused, stretching the truth that indeed, he often had moments in which his attention span crashed, leaving him spaced out completely, paying zero attention to the relevance of difficult math or obscure Japanese history. How on earth did he end up having such high test scores again? Being under Mitsuru`s watchful eye coupled with her academic suicide standards probably contributed to that. ]
You`d be tired too if you had to run around a gigantic tower for an hour.
[ He nearly laughed at how he was cautious about mentioning the dark hour, still reminded of when they thought Ryoji was normal and had nothing to do with the shadows.
Tartarus. It sounded a lot more simplistic than it was.
Delving farther and farther into an endless abyss that drained your stamina. Time after time he would have to point a gun to his head, a gateway straight to his brain, the cold click of a trigger clearing his mind, reminding him that any moment now, he could die. . .
such a morbid process banished his thoughts and enabled his persona to come forth. ]
I`m not sure what it is that`s bothering me. . .probably something really stupid. [ He gracefully smacked his palm against his face, dragging his fingers against his skin in a harsh motion to pull his lower eyelids from his eyeballs for a split second. The dark circles underneath his eyes had become more opaque than before. ]
Mad at you? [ Innocently, glossy silver eyes peered up at his companion. ] Do I have a reason to be? Unless there`s something you`re not telling me, of course. . .
[ As tired as the quiet teenager could be, he was never one to miss out on the opportunity to quip, even at the most desolate or demure of moments. ]
Don`t sweat it, it`s not your fault. [ A tight, minute smile curved at the edges of his lips, feeling pretty pleased with himself that he had gotten such a positive reaction out of the previously worried Ryoji. A furrowed brow and pout never suited Ryoji. Well, maybe the pout, but never the stressed out look. It reminded him too much of December. A smile suited him best; he was relieved when his friend smiled with such bright intensity. ]
You worry too much. I can`t think of a time you`ve bothered me around here, Ryoji.
[ Stuck here. . . ]
Yeah, we`re probably not leaving here any time soon. . .maybe that is what`s bothering me.
[ He feebly attempted to mirror the confident smile on Ryoji`s face. How could he be so cheerful? They really were opposites. ]
I`ve been so bugged about being stuck here, but then I realize the moment it`s all over, I`ll be dead again, won`t I?
[ Pause. Wait, that`s not what the savior of man kind should say. ]
Not that I wouldn`t mind being the seal again as it means protective all of man kind. Maybe I`m being selfish, but I had missed living.
[ In essence, he would lose everything again. ]
Then again, I would still be with you, technically, so. . . [ Trailing off, he smiled faintly, taking on a slightly distant look. ]
That counts for something, right?