[ What Yu doesn't do is reach for Minato, as has become sort of customary in recent times. Taking him by the hand, or by the wrist, or leaning into him... it's still a new thing, but a new kind of normal. Right now, though, Yu doesn't get close. He maintains a perfectly normal kind of distance.
His eyes search Minato's face, noting how tired his friend looks. There's a drag on his own soul, an ache he still feels, but he doesn't show it physically. The only people who know he's been pushing himself at all are Rise and Dipper, because they live with him.
Finally, he just nods. ]
Yeah. I feel a lot better than I was. How about you?
[Minato's come to expect being touched, and there's a fleeting look of confusion in his eyes when Yu just looks at him. It's gone in the next moment as he blinks blankly, wondering about his own feelings.]
[ Let it not be said that he doesn't want to, especially when his heart gives a small tumble at those words. Yu's expression shifts slightly into something wry and a little regretful, and he shakes his head. ]
... Dipper came home. [ There's no point in being coy. He's well aware Minato figured it out, even though nothing was ever stated about what happened. ] We talked some things out. That helped. Actually, I was worried about you, too.
[It's because of the mirrors, isn't it? Minato smiles, wan underneath the sunlight- he's already spoken to Dipper and he's happy to see that things are looking a little brighter.]
I'm just tired. Dipper came to see me yesterday, actually...we talked about a lot of things too, and I'm glad that he's back.
[ That, and the masks. Minato's mask had affected him strongly, Yu had noticed - it would have been more difficult not to notice - and seeing his friend that way while they were out there... it had been worrisome. Minato's smile now, even if it is wan, is like a balm. A real smile flickers across his face. ]
Yeah. He's strong. It'll take time, but he'll be alright. [ A beat, and Yu glances off to one side, his expression clouding again. ] Though... did he mention what's been happening?
A little. [Yu and Dipper must have talked after all, and he must know exactly why Dipper sought Minato out in the first place.]
He was a little panicked, but he should be fine. [Pause.] He's very brave. [And he looks strangely fidgety after saying that, as if there's something he wants to mention but lacks the courage to.]
He is. [ Yu says it gravely, but with a note of pride and a softness in his eyes. He grips his wrist, curling the fingers of his still-free hand in and out. He's quiet for a moment, thinking, but instead of continuing, he takes notice of Minato's mood and lifts his head slightly. ]
[His look is met with a blank stare, one that Yu must be very used to by now. Minato's quiet and unusually tight-lipped too, thinking to himself that he might be overthinking matters before saying what's on his mind.]
Is something wrong? You haven't touched me since we saw each other. [It's an extremely awkward thing to ask, but to Minato's credit he shows no signs of flailing or being flustered.]
[ It's all he manages. What a forward thing to say... as if that alone weren't enough, it's right on the money, too, in more ways than one. Yu's eyes widen slightly as he stares down at his friend, utterly taken back, clearly unprepared for the shift this conversation has just taken.
And then, somewhat to his own horror, he goes red in the face. He can feel it, the heat rising along his cheekbones, and this -- this isn't really the kind of thing that happens to him. His hands break apart, fingers fanning out almost spasmodically, but the motion is too controlled to qualify. All it really comes down to is that, for someone normally so controlled --
well, he's flustered enough for the both of them.
Really, it's not an extreme reaction. In any other person it would be quite understated - a small shift, a reddening of the cheeks, and that's all. But on someone already as understated as Yu, it's all as loud and showy as a shout, if you know what to look for. ]
It's nothing like that, [ he tries, sounding unconvincing even to himself, though he isn't intending to lie around it or anything like that. He pauses, and tries again. ] I...
[ Another pause, and Yu dips his chin, though he doesn't look away. ] I just wasn't sure if it was alright.
[ Something about the set of his shoulders, the way his head is tilted... incredibly, this is Yu Narukami being shy. ]
[Minato takes in this random and sudden display of shyness the way he handles almost everything else, staring curiously at Yu and seemingly being oblivious to how much his friend is reacting to an off-hand remark (Not that he doesn't think it's true).]
Why would it not be alright, Yu-san? You seemed pretty sure of yourself before. [Yet he seems unsure of himself the way he looks shifts his gaze after asking- what if Yu was acting this way because of him?]
[ Yu's expression shifts slightly. It's minor, subtle, the way many things about him are, but it's just enough to make the look on his face unreadable. Minato looks away, but Yu doesn't, his gaze lingering on the other's face.
Why would it not be alright... that's encouraging to hear, but even so... maybe he is overthinking this? But...
Quietly, carefully: ]
Is it okay that I do those things? After all, I never asked.
[ Minato never responds when he does... his friend had said before he wasn't sure of his feelings, back during prom, but then had said yes to the date... more than anything, Yu is just confused, and still isn't sure if he's pushing this or not. ]
[So it's his lack of reaction that's an issue...or so Minato thinks, head tilted in Yu's direction. There's simply so much he doesn't want to share about why he's unsure about his feelings that he feels it unfair to want to accept Yu, but it's just as unfair leaving his friend hanging like this.]
You don't need to ask. It's fine with me...I just didn't know how to respond. [He had dated many girls before this, but far and beyond Yu being a guy he simply doesn't know if he could accept dating someone who might expect to continue the relationship if they should return to their world.]
[ He shouldn't feel this way, he thinks. It's only been about three months since they met. But the strange connection between them had always made him feel as if they'd known each other already... as if there was some inexplicable resonance there, a warmth beneath his skin he couldn't explain whenever Minato looked at him. Of course, that had changed into real feelings, his own feelings, something that makes his heart double-tap in moments like this.
With his reasons for holding back removed, Yu glances away, over the park - making sure they're alone, as he'd not do this with an audience - before stepping forward. Still, he's not forward about it. Asking fingers find Minato's forearms and barely press, warm, and his gaze is searching. ]
[Minato's self-aware enough to know he's never quite been good at expressing himself or talking about his feelings, but a tiny smile is what will greet Yu's gaze when he looks for a response, a reaction to holding his friend once more.]
I would, Yu-san. [Yet in the end he wants Yu to be happy too and if they somehow end up being together...perhaps this too could be said to be fate.]
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His eyes search Minato's face, noting how tired his friend looks. There's a drag on his own soul, an ache he still feels, but he doesn't show it physically. The only people who know he's been pushing himself at all are Rise and Dipper, because they live with him.
Finally, he just nods. ]
Yeah. I feel a lot better than I was. How about you?
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I'm fine. [...] I was worried about you.
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... Dipper came home. [ There's no point in being coy. He's well aware Minato figured it out, even though nothing was ever stated about what happened. ] We talked some things out. That helped. Actually, I was worried about you, too.
[ The mirrors... ]
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I'm just tired. Dipper came to see me yesterday, actually...we talked about a lot of things too, and I'm glad that he's back.
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Yeah. He's strong. It'll take time, but he'll be alright. [ A beat, and Yu glances off to one side, his expression clouding again. ] Though... did he mention what's been happening?
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He was a little panicked, but he should be fine. [Pause.] He's very brave. [And he looks strangely fidgety after saying that, as if there's something he wants to mention but lacks the courage to.]
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Is something the matter?
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Is something wrong? You haven't touched me since we saw each other. [It's an extremely awkward thing to ask, but to Minato's credit he shows no signs of flailing or being flustered.]
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[ It's all he manages. What a forward thing to say... as if that alone weren't enough, it's right on the money, too, in more ways than one. Yu's eyes widen slightly as he stares down at his friend, utterly taken back, clearly unprepared for the shift this conversation has just taken.
And then, somewhat to his own horror, he goes red in the face. He can feel it, the heat rising along his cheekbones, and this -- this isn't really the kind of thing that happens to him. His hands break apart, fingers fanning out almost spasmodically, but the motion is too controlled to qualify. All it really comes down to is that, for someone normally so controlled --
well, he's flustered enough for the both of them.
Really, it's not an extreme reaction. In any other person it would be quite understated - a small shift, a reddening of the cheeks, and that's all. But on someone already as understated as Yu, it's all as loud and showy as a shout, if you know what to look for. ]
It's nothing like that, [ he tries, sounding unconvincing even to himself, though he isn't intending to lie around it or anything like that. He pauses, and tries again. ] I...
[ Another pause, and Yu dips his chin, though he doesn't look away. ] I just wasn't sure if it was alright.
[ Something about the set of his shoulders, the way his head is tilted... incredibly, this is Yu Narukami being shy. ]
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Why would it not be alright, Yu-san? You seemed pretty sure of yourself before. [Yet he seems unsure of himself the way he looks shifts his gaze after asking- what if Yu was acting this way because of him?]
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Why would it not be alright... that's encouraging to hear, but even so... maybe he is overthinking this? But...
Quietly, carefully: ]
Is it okay that I do those things? After all, I never asked.
[ Minato never responds when he does... his friend had said before he wasn't sure of his feelings, back during prom, but then had said yes to the date... more than anything, Yu is just confused, and still isn't sure if he's pushing this or not. ]
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You don't need to ask. It's fine with me...I just didn't know how to respond. [He had dated many girls before this, but far and beyond Yu being a guy he simply doesn't know if he could accept dating someone who might expect to continue the relationship if they should return to their world.]
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[ He shouldn't feel this way, he thinks. It's only been about three months since they met. But the strange connection between them had always made him feel as if they'd known each other already... as if there was some inexplicable resonance there, a warmth beneath his skin he couldn't explain whenever Minato looked at him. Of course, that had changed into real feelings, his own feelings, something that makes his heart double-tap in moments like this.
With his reasons for holding back removed, Yu glances away, over the park - making sure they're alone, as he'd not do this with an audience - before stepping forward. Still, he's not forward about it. Asking fingers find Minato's forearms and barely press, warm, and his gaze is searching. ]
... would you go on another date with me?
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I would, Yu-san. [Yet in the end he wants Yu to be happy too and if they somehow end up being together...perhaps this too could be said to be fate.]