SUNDAY; BEGINNING

[justonezero]

[By the time Minato locates him again, Yoshi can be found curled up in a corner of the resort... taking a nap? This is quite possibly unsurprising, given how winded he was just making the journey over. Shut-ins, or at least up until recently, do not make for very good athletes.

So, here is the garbage bunny. He'll probably stir if approached, but for now he is snoozing away. Zzzzzzz.]

Comments

[messianic]

[This is 100% why Minato wanted to go check on Yoshi, honestly. After the way he was in the woods... it didn't feel right at all to leave him on his own, even in a hotel.

It takes...time...to find him curled up in a corner, but eventually:]

Ah... Nanase-kun...

[HM.]

At least sleep somewhere comfortable...

[justonezero]

Mm?

[And sure enough, he blinks sleepily, rousing enough to sit up a bit.]

Where...?

[...? This isn't his bed.]

[messianic]

[... That's even more concerning.]

Nanase-kun... do you remember falling asleep out here?

[justonezero]

[He yawns, stretching a bit, and-

Ah! His expression becomes alert again.]

That's right! I fell asleep after walking everywhere!

[Oops.]

[messianic]

[Oh my god...]

Mm... I'm starting to think that someone should walk you to your room at night.

Here, let me help you up.

[Quietly, he offers Yoshi a hand.]

[justonezero]

Huh? Is that really necessary?

[But he'll accept the hand up!]

Walking around and talking to people is just exhausting...

[messianic]

I'm just a little concerned. This place seems like it's a bit of a mess, so...

[...]

It'll be better if you can make it to your room at night.

[justonezero]

-? That's a scarily ominous thing to say!

[Yoshi what part of this entire situation isn't ominous.]

[messianic]

Sorry if I'm alarming you.

[Softly.]

But I do want you to be safe. I know you're probably still adjusting to being out and around people this much again.

[justonezero]

Yeah... It's really draining to talk to people besides my big bro.

[Funny how that works.]

Feels like I've gotten even worse at talking to people, too. [Eheheh...]

[messianic]

That's why I want to help out however I can.

[...]

Is that okay...? Or am I being overbearing?

[justonezero]

You're okay! Besides, I think I probably need to like... build up my stamina?

[Even he realizes this is pretty pathetic...]

[messianic]

I... think that might be true. But it'll take time.

[It's okay, Yoshi...!!]

And that's okay, I think.

[justonezero]

If I can at least get back to bed on my own, I'll take that!

[Let's just set the lowest of bars.]

Anyway, was there anything you needed from me?

[He's happy to help if Minato needs it!]

[messianic]

[...Yoshi...]

No... I came to check on you. I think that's my question for you, actually.

[justonezero]

I think I'll be okay! I did a lot of walking today, but that's just because I went around the whole resort.

Definitely not doing that again!

[messianic]

[... Well.]

You did make it all the way through. That's pretty impressive.

[justonezero]

[He laughs a little, a mix of embarrassed and proud...

And then he seems to remember something!]

Oh, right! There was something funny about the numbers here, too!

[messianic]

[... Oh?]

There is? What did you find out...?

[justonezero]

According to the numbers, the inside of this place is like... really big? Like, so big it's impossible.

It's like there's infinite space inside.

[messianic]

[... .. ....]

I'm sorry, what?

[He understood the words as they were being said, but as a whole?

What?]

[justonezero]

Right? Even though I can see it myself, I can hardly believe it...

[He's not sure what to make of it either!]

[messianic]

... I'll have to think about that for awhile. But...thank you for sharing that with me, Nanase-kun.

[justonezero]

I'm pretty much useless, but this is a really dangerous place for everyone, right?

[He's pretty oblivious in many ways, but not that oblivious.]

I want to help however I can, so just tell me if you need me to do something and I'll do it for sure!

[messianic]

[Honey...]

Hey...are you aware of how you come across to others?

[...]

I mean that in a positive way, not a negative one. You've already told me the nicknames you've heard before, but...right now, do you know how you seem to me?

[justonezero]

Huh? Umm... I guess I don't really know!

[He likes Minato, but whether or not that's a two way street, he hasn't the faintest. All he knows is that he wants to help everyone he can, as much as he can.]

[messianic]

[He just thinks it's so sad that Yoshi's internalized all of these bad things when...]

I see... someone who's a little out of his depth, but is still trying very, very earnestly to help everyone he possibly can. Someone who's trying to use his own skills and talents for everyone's sakes here. Someone who's willing to push himself to do everything he can, no matter how exhausting it is.

[...And then, a small smile.]

To me, you're looking pretty impressive, Nanase-kun.

1/3

[justonezero]

2/3

[justonezero]

3/3

[justonezero]

[AH.

He definitely looks flustered now. He has no idea how to handle words like this!]

I-isn't that incredibly high praise for garbage like me?

[messianic]

No, it's not.

[Peacefully and quietly:]

Because no matter what you say other people have called you, that's what I've seen from you in the time I've known you.

All I'm saying is what I honestly think.

[justonezero]

[He's so incredibly flustered, his face remains bright red. Wh-whoa...]

Th-that's... probably the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me.

[Literally. He can't remember anything that comes even close.]

[messianic]

... Mm, well... it's just something I thought you deserved to know.

Come on--I'll walk you to your room. Which one is yours...?

[justonezero]

[He's still kind of quiet, trying to digest it all.

Ever since he got here, things have been going so unexpectedly - scarily, in a lot of ways, but also...]

Um, 107!

[He'll go ahead and follow close behind Minato, at least! Congrats on the duckling.]

[messianic]

[Welcome, new duckling.]

Okay, that means you're over here...

[Peering at the room numbers as they go...!!]

I'm on the other side of the resort, past the reception.

[justonezero]

Yeah, it was...

[Hang on while he looks that up again.]

136... That's close to the ski equipment, right? Not going to be shopping there, but it's easy to remember!

[messianic]

Yes, that's right.

[And, peacefully:]

You can come by at any time if you need anything, okay?

[justonezero]

Right! And you can come and ask me for anything too!

[He'll do everything in his power to make it happen!!]

[messianic]

[That is not something Minato is inclined to do, because he's Minato and also Yoshi is kind of sad and pathetic, but it doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate the offer anyway.]

Mm, thank you. I'll remember that, Nanase-kun.

[Aha...]

Here we are. Next time, try to make it back to your bed, okay?

[justonezero]

[He opens up the room with a smile - even from here, Minato can probably see that it has a warm and cozy air to it, with two cute plushies sitting on the bed.]

I'll do my best, since you asked!