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yeah of course
what's up?

Can you come to the observatory? The other side of where people live.

sure i'm on my way

[No point asking if anything is wrong over text when he's just going to see the other boy in a few minutes, anyway. Instead he asks,]

want anything from the kitchen? i'm passing by it if you want coffee or cocoa or something

I'm fine, but thank you.

ok

[If Komaeda doesn't want anything, Hinata doesn't bother to get anything for himself, either. If Komaeda decides he wants something later, they can go get it.

For now, Hinata just knocks on the doorframe of the observatory to announce his presence and looks around for the other boy so he can join him.]

Hey. What's up?

I'm glad you came.

[It wasn't that he was ignoring the question, but that the answer to the question would have to wait for a bit.]

It's sort of like an aquarium in here, isn't it?

Have you ever been to an aquarium before?

[Komaeda was sitting near the glass and peering out into the depths.]

It is.

[He takes a seat near the other boy and follows his gaze out the window, a certain tense set to his shoulders easing somewhat as he looks out at the ocean currents. It's something he doesn't think he can get tired of, trying to predict the movement of the water.

But he just nods and offers a one-shouldered shrug, glancing sidelong to the other.]

Yeah, once or twice when I was a kid. I think it might have been a class trip or something. Have you...?

I went to one once when I was little. There was an accident and one of the tanks cracked. It flooded the aquarium and it was closed for the day.

[He paused a moment to look down.]

A lot of fish died and there was excessive damage. The place was closed for a long time afterwards and I never went to one again....

[He looked back up out into the ocean.]

But, I've seen pictures and videos. Singapore has an amazing one!

Being here reminds me of the ones that have the tunnels that you can go through and feel like you're inside the tank.

Sorry.

[He hums quietly, still keeping most of his attention on the other boy. It's the answer he expected, honestly, and he just nods, accepting it as yet another one of the outlandish tragedies that dogged the other boy's steps.]

When we find our way back home... if it's still standing, we could try to visit.

[He... kind of doubts it? An aquarium seems like the kind of place that would end up destroyed by someone trying to release all the sea animals, or worse.]

Maybe URSULA has some archives of other planets' versions of aquariums, too. You should check with her, I'm sure she'd be happy to help.

I don't think it's really needed. We sort of live in a planet sized aquarium now.

[That's basically what it was like living here.]

But to think that Hinata kun would offer to go to one with me, it's almost too much.

[Those places were rated as top date spots after all.]

Ah... but I guess I should... get to the point. I've realized there's something that I should probably say.

[But it was a little awkward to say it now, but he couldn't get to his point if he didn't.]

I wanted to say... I'm sorry. For having shown you something distressing.... I should probably apologize to Souda kun as well. I never thought about it until I saw a recreation of my own description.

You can't think I'd leave everyone else out of a trip like that, do you? They'd never forgive me if we didn't all go together.

[In disguise, probably. And they'd probably get scolded something fierce by a tour guide. But hey, in an ideal world where the aquariums still exist, it's nice to think about.

His smile fades at the other's serious tone, though, and he pulls his gaze away from the ocean outside to instead focus his full attention on him. He's not trying to read him more than what's become normal for him, just quietly observing.]

...I accept your apology.

[First things first. Though he's... honestly not sure just which distressing thing Komaeda's referring to. There's quite a few-! But the main one, and arguably the worst one he'd seen firsthand, was his assisted suicide.]

But... it's really not needed. Just... don't do something like that again, okay?

I thought perhaps I should though... and I was told I definitely should.

[And he wasn't planning on doing anything like it again. He couldn't see there being a need, though you never knew.]

And... if I don't apologize properly, I don't have a right to ask something of you.

Though now it seems a little silly, because thinking of that entire thing seems like the answer to my request will be obvious.

[He was already trying to convince himself to back out, but, he really didn't have a choice. Hadn't he decided to go through with this? He really would be a worthless coward if he didn't at least finish what he started.]

[You don't have to apologize just to ask something of me.

He just exhales through his nose and nods. If Komaeda had thought he had to apologize, then all he could do right now is accept it. It seems a little late, especially from Hinata's perspective, but he appreciates the thought behind it.]

You can ask me anything. I might not do it, but you can ask.

[The corner of his mouth quirks up at the attempted bit of humor, trying to defuse what could become an awkward situation before it even begins.]

[Well, he only had just realized how disturbing his dead body might be, so... better late than never?]

Well.... I....

[He took a deep breath, gathering his determination, making the entire thing far more of a deal than it really needed to be.]

Can I... can we... would it be alright to be friends?

[Because asking someone to be your friend is such a big deal.]

[He's quiet, letting Komaeda take his time to say whatever it is he's building up to. An almost fervent wish jolts through his mind, a hope that this isn't going to be a love confession. He already got one of those from Roxy?? He can't even imagine getting one from Komaeda.

So when Komaeda asks his question, Hinata can't help but sigh with a bit of relief.]

Is that it...? Yeah, of course.

[It's a little demeaning to treat what had obviously been a struggle for the other boy to ask with such ease, but that's just who he is.]

It's all I've wanted since I met you.

[And he turns, holding out his hand. Let's shake hands and confirm our friendship, or something.]

[He already did his love confession, he wasn't going to do that again any time soon.]

Really? I've wanted to be friends with you since we met as well. There was always something special about you, like on some level we were similar. I feel like we can get along well.

[Instead of taking Hinata's hand like a regular person would, he took the offered hand with both of his drawing it up.]

It's really alright?

[He might actually get it this time--!

But he laughs a little quietly and with some embarrassment when Komaeda takes his hand in both of his, just shaking his head. It's... a relief to know that Komaeda still wants to be friends with him, even after everything that had happened. Everything that Komaeda still couldn't remember and hadn't wanted to be told.

If Komaeda were willing to ask something like this of him... then it meant that Komaeda was doing far better than he had been in the past. Right?]

Hah, you're exaggerating, but... yeah, it's really alright. I'm really happy that we can be friends.

[One would hope with all those Talents.

It was a rather safe environment, there were good people here, no one was telling them to kill each other, and he felt rather hopeful that this was the right place to be. Relatively speaking he was doing rather well.]

I'm not at all! I could feel it when I first saw you. And then... and then you were the only one to talk to me, really. It was like a fated encounter. So I'm glad this wasn't a bad luck situation.

I wouldn't call it something like that, either...

[But then again, he doesn't exactly want to encourage him to continue thinking in terms of good luck and bad luck, either.

Maybe let him have his hand back, though? This isn't the firm bro handshake he was intending.]

And I know that you'll be able to make a lot more friends here, if you try.

[It doesn't seem like he'll let go any time soon, Hinata may have to tug a bit to get him to notice he's held on for too long.]

There are people who have said they're my friends, and I feel like we're friendly and definitely can be friends, are friends but....

This was more important.

[This was different. Hinata was the Most important. But then, this was a settlement, not that he was going to say that.]

But it is true, I have met a lot of people. Ichonose san, Jake kun, Kanaya san... they're all very sweet and kind people. Even Karkat kun who I recently spoke with was rather interesting.

Edited 2016-11-03 02:12 (UTC)

I'm glad.

[O...kay then. Hinata just tugs his hand a little, trying to pull it out of Komaeda's grip so he can reclaim it. He's sliding right back up the Weird scale again, but at least this is the harmless kind of weird and not the "set off bombs in the base" weird.]

I don't know Kanaya as well, but Jake and Ichinose... they're really incredible. I'm glad you can spend time with them.

[Purposefully no comment on Karkat.]

[With a bit of a blink he lets go of Hinata's hand.]

They really are.

[He tilted his head as if remembering something.]

Oh, I spoke with Ursula and went through the medical texts in the library. There's a bit of a problem though.

[Hinata immediately goes still, any words of praise he might have offered at the fact that Komaeda had gone out of his way to consult URSULA catching in his throat at the word problem.]

What's the problem?

[And all at once, he's very, very serious, meeting Komaeda's eyes with an intense stare. It's at times like these that he seems very different from the Hinata who lacked confidence.]

[It was times like these he wondered if Hinata was going to be extra difficult. That sort of intensity would probably cause health problems one day.]

A medical professional is needed, or Ursula needs to be upgraded for medical procedures. Though, it seems they've cured a lot of things. The human life span now is incredibly long. It's quite interesting! It's like people are practically immortal now.

I remember reading about something like that in the past. It's why I was so certain there had to be a solution.

[Hajime Ichinose would scold him if she saw him like this, but he can't quite help it as his brain shifts into overdrive to work out the possible solutions. He brings a hand to his chin in a half-conscious attempt to focus his thoughts.]

Upgrading URSULA... it's not something I could do on my own, but with Roxy's help, I'm certain we can solve it.

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