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[ mineo's new fear for his neck is so real

but after a few seconds of deliberation, he'll sit. this is uncomfortable. ]

[it's very uncomfortable and mineo actually has to finish drinking his water to figure out what he wants to say. confess his sincere feelings, huh.... it's unfortunate that he thinks they're pretty complicated.]

You know, you still haven't agreed to call me your partner. And I think part of it is because I answered your question wrong... but I do think we're partners.

You piss me off a lot, and it's weird because I don't think there's anyone around who annoys me as much as you do. But I'm also pretty sure that you make fun of me on purpose and that's part of your hobbies. It's a pain but - [ . . . ] Not so much of a pain that I don't like hanging out with you, even if you hate talking about yourself.

I guess I still wanna try to remember everything you do say. Like a puzzle even though I'm no good at puzzles. And I decided a while back that I trust you, so that means knowing that even though you're probably lying to me about some things or there's more stuff you don't want to tell me -

... I'm sort of okay with that. I'll be pissed sometimes but... I trust that you won't betray me, or if you ever do - then you probably have a really good reason for it, and you don't actually want to. I've decided that... it's still worth it, to work with you, knowing that.

And I'm kind of pissed that you're here - I don't want you to be in danger - but... I think I also work harder and do better because you're around. So... thanks, for that. [for the validation, for the acceptance, and for lighting a fire under his ass.

he pauses like that's the end of it and - maybe it should be? but there's something that nags at him and gets him to just say:]

You keep talking like you’re gonna go away soon - like you’re headed somewhere that you don’t want anybody to follow you... And I just want you to know that I think that’s bullshit, and I’m gonna keep trying to reach you. [a beat] Not in a stalkery way! But -

[ . . . . he runs a hand through his hair.]

… sometimes it gets really tiring to see someone you care about isolate themselves when they don’t have to. You know what I’m talking about, right?

[because for all the times that mineo tried to brush off takeru’s harsh words before they got here - that was his way of reaching out. even if mineo was too blind to see it at the time, he’s decided he doesn’t want to be blind now.]

So... even if I’m sure it’s annoying, and you'll probably get mad because you're way smarter than me, I’m gonna stubbornly keep being right here. Because that's what partners do.

[ takeru knew this would give him hives, and he was right.

because it's definitely uncomfortable to just sit here and listen to all of this, to hear mineo say something while knowing the why to his questions but still refusing to give that answer out. takeru has always known that he's guarded, but to be told again and again while here, it makes him pause.

... not to be less so, but he worries that the recent events have made more cracks show that he's comfortable with. ]

Okay. [ okay. he taps a finger against his chin. ] Is that it?

[ it's probably not the response that mineo wants to hear.

but takeru isn't sure what response to give; it's supposed to be sincere feelings, but he still was hoping it would be less... well. less sincere. ]

Mm... probably.... I just don't want to be struck by lightning for not going along with it.

[to be honest. and it seems like he's not really disappointed by takeru's lack of response - he kind of expected that too. his shoulders might slump just a little, but he doesn't show any of it on his face.

but.]

... are you gonna be okay?

[given that he's aware that takeru has a tendency to be very forthcoming about how he feels!

.... at least, until it feels like it matters. and then mineo's done the work of sifting through the asshole stuff but even that took months of getting used to. but who knows, maybe there's someone that takeru gets along with here that it'd be easier to be sincere with.]

[ ...

he has definitely been unsure as to what to do with this. takeru isn't sure just walking up to someone and telling them how little they mean to him because they don't talk will count? like, it probably wouldn't, but ]

Did you want me to say something back to you?

Oh.

[he looks surprised like that didn't actually cross his mind? so he wasn't really fishing for anything at least....]

... would that be easiest for you?

[he doesn't want to make takeru feel obligated either. he just knew for himself this was probably the only thing that would actually count given that he's very open about his feelings to literally everyone else. there's nothing to confess.

(some part of him seems surprised that takeru thinks he has anything to confess here either)]

Not really. I'd prefer not to do it all.

[ has he been seriously considering just facing whatever the punishment is? yes. ]

I don't particularly want to get close to anyone here.

Accept bonding with me already, we've been friends for months. We just don't like saying it because you're a tsundere and I respond to aggression with aggression.

[please be more patient or understanding about this]

... nothing you say will change anything between us if you don't want it to?

[their dynamic is pretty.

well.

set.

he thinks that friendship surviving through spontaneous drunk makeouts is proof of that!]

What? Don't say something like that with such a straight face. I swear to god you just want me to puke.

[well]

I do see why you're struggling with this task, yeah.

I just don't know what they'll count or not.

You don't wanna just say what you think? Or I guess what you think but don't want to admit....

[mineo is too fucking honest for this task to matter to him]

Gonna be honest, I feel like whatever they'll make you do for not doing it will just be ironic and cruel anyway.

I think I'm honest enough about what I think to people, so that wouldn't count as a confession, would it?

[ confession implies it's something new.

and everything that would be new is the shit he wouldn't want to say. like... right now.... ]

Nah, it'd probably have to be something you don't already feel like saying for it to be - uh, a sincere confession?

[was that the words they used.

. . . . . . ]

You really don't wanna say anything to me that much?

I don't want to deal with people who will only drag me down. I'm busy, and life is too short to spend it with people who will just be useless in the long run.

[ ... ]

You know what really pissed me off about you? The fact that there was something there, but you just wasted it. I knew that Yanagi wouldn't have brought you on if you were as bad as the impression you were giving. And I kept waiting for you to show off what he saw, and you just never did for so long.

[ . . . . wow, even the sincerity is a little painful. but mineo just hopes this counts for the task? he looks away for a second because - yeah. he did waste his own potential. he mucked around until he was judged for it. there's something familiar in takeru's words and he tries not to show the sting.]

... yeah.

You put up with me the most out of everybody.

[ there are a few other things.

takeru isn't sure just how much mineo realizes how things don't match up for them. partly because takeru hasn't actually shared that much about what was happening with him right before they were brought here; even the memory that mineo had witnessed was vague enough that while he probably suspected something, it wasn't really a confirmation.

but mineo flat out said that ichika was working on his case with him. except he wasn't, from takeru's point of view. and it makes him thinks about how mineo has been so insistent that they're going to go back home together.

where, exactly, are they going to go? ]

You have probably given me an ulcer.

[sometimes there are things you realize but you are so determined that everything will work out in the end that you don't question it terribly.

but he doesn't realize that's what's on takeru's mind. so instead mineo just drinks more of his water and accepts this at least to start.]

Also probably true.

[ . . . . but - ]

I think you're repeating yourself though.

[none of this feels new. and he's not really saying it to dig for takeru to say anything nice, he just - .... doesn't know if it'd count.]

I'm still debating if I want to say the rest.

[ see? that's honest. ]

[oh]

Okay.

[that is surprisingly honest

mineo will vibe and let takeru think about it?]

[ ... ]

You don't think. That MRI stunt was reckless and stupid, and you have no idea what that machine could have done to you. You seem to be freakishly okay with talking with serial killers, so when your head ends up in a toilet, don't be surprised later.

But I guess... sometimes... you need to be able to jump into a situation without thinking. If you get too caught in your own head, then you'll mass an opportunity that would have only been available if you acted.

[ . . . . . takeru is. trying. this is taking so long to get anywhere but he's really trying. mineo pretty much explained his thoughts about the MRI earlier so this just feels like a parrot but...]

... Ah....

[he'll. let takeru do his best?]

[ he just

gives mineo the most frustrated look ]

I think you're doing pretty good?

[he's trying to be encouraging

that said.

mineo is book dumb and people smart so - ]

But I can tell you're holding something back.

I gave you a compliment, you absolute moron.

[ he sighs. ]

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