[ Yu lifts his head, something about the set of his stance sharp, focused, unhappy, his gaze still on the mirrors like he can break them with a look alone. With a short sigh through his nose, he unwinds his arm from around Minato's shoulders once the other boy is composed again.
The apology draws his attention back to his friend, and though his brow creases, he doesn't comment on it. He only nods, turning to go--
--when something flashes across the mirrors. Against his better judgment, Yu pauses reflexively, hesitating. As soon as the words Big bro... where are you? echo into the room, his face wipes of expression. He'll stay very still as the memory plays out, his eyes half-lidded. As much as he tries to hide his reaction, he just can't be impervious to watching his little sister die all over again. His hands curl spasmodically into fists. ]
[Minato turns to look at the mirror without thinking when he sees how Yu's reacting to it, snapping to attention and staring at the shard almost immediately after Yu's already looking at it.
Big...bro? Yu's never mentioned having either a little sister or a cousin who might call him one and he gasps softly fearing the worst, taking a step backwards.
He's unable to look away too, too caught up in the starkness of the hospital walls and sight of the little girl to recall in time that those images don't stay forever. It's already too late to do so by the time the fleeting image is replaced with the screech of tires against concrete followed by the appearance of a little boy dressed in a suit and shorts staring vacantly at what appears to be a car. He's on his knees with his hands hanging limply by his side and the rest of it is mercifully cut off when Minato gets a hold of himself and looks downwards, making an unhappy sound as he does so.
There's an uncomfortable pause between that sound and the question he asks next. He would have preferred to just leave, but it didn't sit well with him to not even want to know if someone so important to Yu was doing okay now.]
[ His answer is firm. They won't talk here, not after another memory played again before either of them could move. With a slight shake of his head, he simply moves back towards the doors. He won't say another word until they've wrenched them back open and gotten safely outside. He knows his own life, and he knows what darkness it holds. If the mirrors could play another memory of his, he feels he knows what they would show, and he doesn't want to have to get into explaining more than he has to already.
Once they're outside - safer, for relative values of the word - he'll sigh, some of his hard edges eroding. ]
... Nanako.
[ The expression on his face is breathtakingly tender. ]
She's alright. I found out the next morning that she made it through. These days, she's doing just fine.
[Minato's quiet the entire time as they make their way back outside and away from the mirrors, half-lost in the mire of his own memories.
He's just as quiet when Yu finally tells him what's happened to the little girl in his memories, his tender expression telling of the feelings he holds for her.]
...I see. [It's something that should have been relieving to Minato and he does have a ghost of a smile flickering on his lips yet his head is bowed downwards and his shoulders slack, bangs entirely obscuring one of his eyes.
Nanako. The screeching of tires against concrete...
She's alright. A bloodied and limp hand hanging out of a broken window, against the green sky and dancing flames...
I found out the next morning that she made it through. There was no next morning for them...
These days, she's doing just fine. And there won't be one for him when this is all over.
He's not sad, jealous, bitter or angry- he only feels a void where such emotions might have existed even as he opens his mouth to speak, having felt it quiver before this.]
I'm glad to hear that, Yu-san. [For all the sincerity conveyed in his words Minato's still looking away and standing still.]
Even when he witnessed such horrible memories himself. Yu feels a rush of something he can't and doesn't want to put a name to, stepping in close again. This time, though, he doesn't immediately reach out to touch his friend, like before. Just ducks his chin, searching for that elusive gaze. ]
[Minato knows Yu means well when he steps close. He knows that Yu only wants to help, to understand and to empathize...
Yet he turns away, going completely still. This isn't anything to be pitied, nor is it anything that can be comforted away.]
I'm fine. [He's happy for Nanako and happy for Yu; that didn't mean he had to pretend being happy for himself.] Those were my parents...they died a long time ago. [There's a strangely rehearsed quality to his words, almost as if that's all he can say. It's sadly true in a sense in how his past is obscured, taken away by the accident.
Minato takes a step away, straightening himself a little. There's no use reminiscing about what he can't change and he knows it.]
[ Yu doesn't follow when Minato turns, and steps away; merely watches, his brow settled low. There isn't any pity in him, because he knows it would feel cloying. Still... there is something awful in seeing someone you care about in pain, and knowing there's nothing you can do. ]
I'm sorry, [ he says, gentle; whether for pressing the issue, for Minato's parents' death, for the fact that he was forced to relive that moment... for some combination therein, it's not clear. ] Come on. Let's head back. There's no reason to stay here.
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The apology draws his attention back to his friend, and though his brow creases, he doesn't comment on it. He only nods, turning to go--
--when something flashes across the mirrors. Against his better judgment, Yu pauses reflexively, hesitating. As soon as the words Big bro... where are you? echo into the room, his face wipes of expression. He'll stay very still as the memory plays out, his eyes half-lidded. As much as he tries to hide his reaction, he just can't be impervious to watching his little sister die all over again. His hands curl spasmodically into fists. ]
no subject
Big...bro? Yu's never mentioned having either a little sister or a cousin who might call him one and he gasps softly fearing the worst, taking a step backwards.
He's unable to look away too, too caught up in the starkness of the hospital walls and sight of the little girl to recall in time that those images don't stay forever. It's already too late to do so by the time the fleeting image is replaced with the screech of tires against concrete followed by the appearance of a little boy dressed in a suit and shorts staring vacantly at what appears to be a car. He's on his knees with his hands hanging limply by his side and the rest of it is mercifully cut off when Minato gets a hold of himself and looks downwards, making an unhappy sound as he does so.
There's an uncomfortable pause between that sound and the question he asks next. He would have preferred to just leave, but it didn't sit well with him to not even want to know if someone so important to Yu was doing okay now.]
...That girl. What happened to her?
no subject
[ His answer is firm. They won't talk here, not after another memory played again before either of them could move. With a slight shake of his head, he simply moves back towards the doors. He won't say another word until they've wrenched them back open and gotten safely outside. He knows his own life, and he knows what darkness it holds. If the mirrors could play another memory of his, he feels he knows what they would show, and he doesn't want to have to get into explaining more than he has to already.
Once they're outside - safer, for relative values of the word - he'll sigh, some of his hard edges eroding. ]
... Nanako.
[ The expression on his face is breathtakingly tender. ]
She's alright. I found out the next morning that she made it through. These days, she's doing just fine.
no subject
He's just as quiet when Yu finally tells him what's happened to the little girl in his memories, his tender expression telling of the feelings he holds for her.]
...I see. [It's something that should have been relieving to Minato and he does have a ghost of a smile flickering on his lips yet his head is bowed downwards and his shoulders slack, bangs entirely obscuring one of his eyes.
Nanako.
The screeching of tires against concrete...
She's alright.
A bloodied and limp hand hanging out of a broken window, against the green sky and dancing flames...
I found out the next morning that she made it through.
There was no next morning for them...
These days, she's doing just fine.
And there won't be one for him when this is all over.
He's not sad, jealous, bitter or angry- he only feels a void where such emotions might have existed even as he opens his mouth to speak, having felt it quiver before this.]
I'm glad to hear that, Yu-san. [For all the sincerity conveyed in his words Minato's still looking away and standing still.]
no subject
[ He's smiling...
Even when he witnessed such horrible memories himself. Yu feels a rush of something he can't and doesn't want to put a name to, stepping in close again. This time, though, he doesn't immediately reach out to touch his friend, like before. Just ducks his chin, searching for that elusive gaze. ]
Minato-san... please rely on me.
[ Don't keep carrying all your burdens alone. ]
no subject
Yet he turns away, going completely still. This isn't anything to be pitied, nor is it anything that can be comforted away.]
I'm fine. [He's happy for Nanako and happy for Yu; that didn't mean he had to pretend being happy for himself.] Those were my parents...they died a long time ago. [There's a strangely rehearsed quality to his words, almost as if that's all he can say. It's sadly true in a sense in how his past is obscured, taken away by the accident.
Minato takes a step away, straightening himself a little. There's no use reminiscing about what he can't change and he knows it.]
no subject
I'm sorry, [ he says, gentle; whether for pressing the issue, for Minato's parents' death, for the fact that he was forced to relive that moment... for some combination therein, it's not clear. ] Come on. Let's head back. There's no reason to stay here.