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[Nanami was looking for Hinata, a serious expressi in on her face and a small frown. once she finds him she does her best impression of a glare, though nowhere near as harsh as a proper one.]

Hinata kun.

[She didn't even correct herself to his first name.]

There is something in a bit concerned about.

Hm? [ Hinata doesn't even bother correcting her, either; he doesn't seem to be as concerned as she certainly is, and he is most definitely not afraid, either. This might be important. ] What is it?

Did Komaeda kun recently try and talk to you about anything that was bothering him?

[She wasn't quite sure how to put it, and this seemed like the best way to try and start.]

[ Hinata immediately relaxes, taking a deep breath out. So that's what she wanted to talk about, of all things. ]

Ah, he briefly mentioned something during the party last month, but... we didn't talk about it too long. It wasn't the right time to, not for the both of us.

[ While he thinks that talking things out is better than bottling it in, he was dealing with the lingering pains that he was burying deep by recalling a death of someone else entirely different from who Komaeda spoke to him about. He... didn't want to shut Komaeda down like that, but.

If he didn't, it would have gotten worse.

Just like that time. His fingers curl into a tight fist, slightly shaky before he stops himself, uncurling them. ]

Why do you ask?

[She quickly frowns, this would seem like the wrong answer was given.]

Because he felt it was something to not talk about at all, that he was wrong for trying. Komaeda kun doesn't easily speak up about how he is feeling, didn't we already learn this? It's important to l8sten to him when he tries to talk to us.

[A lot of things might have been avoided in the past if they had listened.]

And something like that... if he's trying to open up, he needs to be allowed to. It can't be shut in.

Edited 2017-08-12 03:35 (UTC)

[ His eyes flicker red, looking at Nanami with something a little more serious, as if he could honestly care less about certain things. ]

Did you think that I was going to simply just have it be ignored for all of time? It isn't as if I wouldn't listen to him when it was needed. But opening a topic like death when I'm still reeling from visiting someone's memorial isn't going to be good for either of us. So don't tell me that I'm not allowing that.

I can't talk about murder, about death... not when I'm thinking about the death of someone I love just moments ago.

[ His own emotions that he's lodged so deeply into the back of his mind that he almost forgot existed. ]

Ah-- [ However, Hinata realizes what he said and looks away from Nanami, guiltily, the red in his eyes immediately fading away as they turn into its usual green. ] Sorry. I didn't mean to lash out. I just... I don't want to make a mistake when I don't have a clear head to help him.

Even if just listening might be enough. I don't want a repeat of what happened before.

Thats the thing, its different for everyone, when its right for him to talk isnt necessarily the same for when you might want to. But we should try and listen. And perhaps if you are also suffering the loss of a loved one you could talk together. There is never a perfect time, you simply must go with opportunities.

I know that. [ There's an insistence in his words, as if he doesn't need to be told this. He doesn't. He knows already. ] But I can't talk about my own loss. Not when it stares me in the face every now and again.

[ Like right now, for instance. ]

Being able to listen to him means that I have to be able to respond back. That I have the chance to talk to him properly. As I was, then, I couldn't. Not while everyone was there, not while- [ not while you were there. ] I can't... be a bad host to everyone, it isn't fair to their feelings, either.

I wanted to talk to him about it properly, but...

[ Lost opportunities. ] "There's a time and place for everything, but not now."

[ It seems that he's quoting something, a phrase that Nanami might recognize that he's pulling from, in fact. ]

Besides, I feel like it wouldn't be fair to him, either, if I listened to him in the state I was in. I'd be listening... but not listening. I don't want to do that to him. I care about him so much, after all. I want to help him. I want to be by his side forever.

I can't-- [ His voice cracks like tiles and there's something about his demeanor that seems almost fragile. ] I can't just be useless to him. I can't let my own hurt get in the way of that. After all, I'm not just "Hinata Hajime".

Hinata kun, perhaps at that moment being a host was not important. And being able to reply isn't important, simply listening is, or letting him talk. You don't have to have an answer, you don't need something to say. You don't need to solve it, or have anything meaningful to contribute. All you need to do is hear him when he is trying to speak.

[She recognized what he said, but she didn't find it relatable to this situation particularly.]

And, sharing how you feel as well.

Perhaps.

[ His tone is clipped slightly, eyes slightly narrowed in what seems to be slight frustration. He doesn't say anything else at first. ]

Is that all?

Edited 2017-08-12 06:22 (UTC)

[She can't help but sigh softly, if that was how it was going to be, that's how it was going to be.]

If that's what you want....

[ There's a tenseness in his voice as he speaks a single word, one that holds so much meaning behind it. ]

Sorry. [ He doesn't mean to be so frustrated, but in the end... he is. This wasn't something that needed meddling in. While he might talk to Komaeda about it later, it's still. It's a scar on the both of them that was left opened. Different scars for different reasons. But there, nevertheless. ] I... should get going. I have work to do. If you need me, you know how to contact me.

[ It's a lame excuse to escape from talking anymore, from spilling his guts open. But he needs to get away from this before he hurts himself even more. ]

[She nods slowly, but there's one last thing she needs to say, she needs to make sure it's understood.]

There is nothing good about keeping things to yourself, and I won't force you, or anyone, but please remember, that when you feel like voicing them, there is someone who can listen. Both you and Komaeda kun, need to not fear that.

[They didn't have to talk right away, but it was important to make them understand that they didn't need to bottle it up either.]

Hello?

[The image of a shy girl will appear to him. She seems very nervous but is smiling. She's holding a sketchbook in her hands.]

Y-You're Hinata Hajime right? My name is Naminé, and your friend Naegi said I should contact you about an interview f-for the art teacher position.

[He might recognize her as the one who drew his portrait!]

Oh, I remember you. [ He's definitely fond of the drawing that he got from her, so there's no reason why he'd forget. ] Would you like to meet up in that case, then? I'm free right now, unless you'd prefer a different time and date.

Oh it's you!

[As his image comes in, she does recognize him. She had no idea at the time who he was; maybe this would work in her favor.]

I-I'm free now! Is there somewhere you'd like to meet?

You can meet me in my office. I'll send a location over, then.

[ Which he does, with a little map, in fact, it's labeled with a star. ]

[Naminé writes it down quickly.]

I'll see you soon.

[She closes the connection and heads out. Naminé follows the map to the location, and when she arrives, she knocks on the door.]

Hinata? It's me, Naminé.

Hold on a second, I got it--

[ Of course he has the door; when he opens it, there's a bit of awkwardness in his tone as he's holding thread and needle in his hands, smiling a bit awkwardly. ]

Sorry about that... I was trying to make a little something while I was waiting, but come on in. Don't worry, this isn't going to be too formal. I have a seat set up so feel free to sit wherever you like.

[ There is, in fact, a small seating area to the left of her with a desk that has some coloring utensils and paper. ]

[Naminé nods with a smile.] That's alright. [She follows him in and sets her things down carefully. Her eyes naturally drift over to the supplies he has.]

Do you mind if I ask what you were working on?

It's a little early for it, but a scarf. I wanted to start preparing for winter fashions. Anyway... for the interview, all I'm going to ask you to do is show me how you would teach someone who doesn't know how to draw. That's it.

Not a bad idea; especially if you're making it yourself.

[Naminé nods and takes a seat in front of the supplies.]

Do you mind if I give the lesson to you then? Or did you have someone else in mind?

Yeah. I've been working on these kinds of things for a while.

[ But that's not really important, is it? ] It'd be easier to just teach me so I can judge it.

That's fine with me.

[She's nervous but doing her best to keep it in. She wants to come off as professional after all.]

My drawing style isn't very formal. I mostly want to encourage creativity and open mindedness. [She hands him a sketchbook she's already filled in.] I think to start it'd be best to keep it simple, yes?

[ Hinata nods, almost quiet. ]

That makes sense. So for something simple, what would we do?

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Before the wedding, maybe, or at some point.

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