[text]

[risetocaesar]

[Really, local media? Really?]

Why would anyone write something like that? Who cares about that kind of thing, anyway? Shouldn't the media be focusing on something more important? Something that actually matters?

... and are there really people out there looking at my-- watching me run?

Cut it out.

Comments

[voice]

[risetocaesar]

Yeah, I'm thinking about changing the route up, at least.

7:30's perfect. We'll walk down to the river together?

[voice]

[themortalhalf]

[There's an unseen, verbal nod.]

Works well enough.

[A brief, almost contemplative pause.]

You still run with Minato?

[voice]

[risetocaesar]

Yeah, a few mornings a week. We usually have breakfast afterwards.

[It's the closest thing to a relationship he has. 8D]

Plus it makes it easier to keep an eye on him. But I'll be running by myself tomorrow. Why?

[ voice — locked ]

[themortalhalf]

[ He pauses then, because he probably shouldn't should care who anyone hangs out with in their spare time—it ain't any of his goddamn business—but the delay and the inner debate are brief.

He does lock out the post, however. Not like she needs to see this, anyway. Or anyone.]

You should ask Minako to run with you sometime.

Might even persuade of few of those fans of yours to take their eyes off your ass.

[ voice — locked ]

[risetocaesar]

Do you think she'd like to?

[Admittedly, he really has been wanting to spend more time with Minako. Even though it's no one's fault, he feels bad about the fact that they have difference memories. He talked about it with Mitsuru some while they were Christmas shopping, about how it must have been difficult for both of the Arisato siblings, not to mention Miki, to see versions of their friends who didn't remember them.

Thinking about all of this timeline stuff really gave him a headache.]

Alright, then. I'll ask her if she'd like to go with me sometime.

[ voice — locked ]

[themortalhalf]

She'd go running with you sometimes. [Willingly. You didn't get up that goddamn early if you didn't enjoy something.] And you're still Aki the last time I checked.

[ voice — locked ]

[risetocaesar]

I've felt nervous, you know. I want to get to know her better, but I can't forget the look that was on her face when we first came here and I didn't recognize her. I'm still Aki to you, but... will she see things that way?

[ voice — locked ]

[themortalhalf]

[Yeah, he can imagine that, though it isn't something he'd care to.]

That's a stupid thing to be nervous about.

[Though it's not, in the end. He gets it. It's hard. And maybe there always will be something of a divide there—a disconnect that tears a jagged line through things if you look hard enough. But Aki's still Aki—he's sure that will win out when the pros and cons of things are tallied. And he doubts Minako will hold the fact he can't remember her against him. They had all forgotten her in the end. And so will he, eventually, if he's not as dead as he's been told.]

[ voice — locked ]

[risetocaesar]

You think it's stupid?

[His voice takes on an injured tone -- this is clearly something that's been bothering him for some time. For shame, Shinji.]

[ voice — locked ]

[themortalhalf]

[He recognizes that tone of voice easy enough. He holds back a sigh.]

More like there's no sense worrying about it. She's not like that.

[ voice — locked ]

[risetocaesar]

... all right, then. I'll take your word for it on that.

[ voice — locked ]

[themortalhalf]

Don't just take my word for it.

[Go and find out for yourself.

But he pauses then, briefly.]

...Does the timeline thing bother you that much?

[ voice — locked ]

[risetocaesar]

A little? Obviously, I'm not complaining... without the different timelines, I would never had had the chance to see Miki again. Or you. And I'd never have met Minako.

It's just hard to get my head around it, sometimes.