messianic | IC

[It's pretty obvious, but not in a bad way.]

I like blackberries a lot too. I guess if you really want to bring them, we can share.

I really want to. I'll grab them really quick and head over!

[They're not the best substitute for warm comfort food, but they're the best he has to offer right now.

Izuku gathers up the berries into a bowl and then hurries over to Bluo. Knock knock!]

[knock knock nobody's home--

No, I'm kidding, Minato opens the door pretty promptly.]

Midoriya-kun...come in.

[Welcome welcome... he's not very energetic, but he never really is, so.]

Hey. [Not very discreetly, he gives Minato a once over, brows drawing together in concern.]

I brought them. [Smiling sheepishly, he holds out the bowl once he's stepped inside.]

[It's okay, Izuku... probably. But he accepts the bowl with a blink--and bows his head quietly in thanks.]

Thank you... let's eat them together, okay?

[He'll just move on over to the kitchen where they have some actual useful chairs for sitting in.]

Yeah. Let's do that. [And following him into the kitchen now! Izuku draws out one of the chairs and slips into it.]

How are you feeling?

[If they had merely been acquaintances, Izuku might have let things go. "She wouldn't go without telling me"--that implies that they're closer than Izuku first thought.]

... I'm sad, of course.

[Minato sits as well, idly reaching for one of the blackberries, though he stares at it instead of eating it.]

And I'll miss her, though I can't say I'm unhappy she's not here.

[So long as she really went home, anyway...]

She has a lot to do back home, after all.

[Izuku takes one of the berries, too, and rolls it around in his palm. He's quiet as he tries to think of something to say--there's a lot of thoughts running through his head right now.]

It sounds like you two were close... [He glances up at Minato now.] Why didn't you say anything when you realized she was gone?

[He just blinks quietly at that, expression a little bemused despite himself.]

... Why didn't I...

[Why would he have?]

I let Ichinose-san know that she was gone so that he would know for his records. [???]

[Izuku shakes his head.]

I mean... you said you were sad about her going home. Did you just...sort of keep that to yourself or did you talk to sensei while you were reporting this to him?

[???

The puzzlement keeps happening, mostly because he really doesn't understand what Izuku's asking at all.

He's fine.]

Why would I tell Ichinose-san that? It wasn't really relevant to his post or what he was trying to do. It's just.... how I feel about Mitsuru-senpai being gone, that's all.

[Is he really fine, though?? Izuku stares at him for a moment, taking in the puzzled look and those words before something clicks.]

Arisato-kun...how you feel is really important, too, you know. [Now Izuku's lips tug downward into a frown.] You're the one who said it to me last time... that you want to know how I feel and what I'm thinking about. Because we're friends. That applies to you, too, you know? What if I want to know when you're feeling sad because of something like this, or if something else is bothering you, too?

[Then, his shoulders slump a little.] Friends are supposed to be there for each other when they're down, right? I...want to help you, too.

[... Minato's definitely blinking back in blank bemusement.

That's... not what he was expecting at all, really; while he knows logically what Izuku is saying is true, it's...

Huh.]

... I guess that... makes sense. [His brow furrows a little bit as he thinks about it, before finally... he just shakes his head, expression faintly tired.]

Sorry, Midoriya-kun. I know you're right, it's just... [He's not used to it at all.] I didn't even think about it. But... thank you. Honestly--I really appreciate it.

[Both his words, and just the fact that Izuku cared enough to want to check up on him just from a small detail like that--it's incredibly warming.]

You're a good friend--your classmates are really lucky to have you.

[Those words, that expression. Izuku takes notice of them all, and the conclusion he draws is one that he doesn't really like, but seems to be on par with that he'd realized earlier.]

I admit, I was a little upset at first. [Izuku nothing, if not straight forward when he's trying to get a point across. His voice is as gentle as ever, though.] It made me really happy when you said that we were friends last time, that you wanted to hear what I had to say. So, when it felt like maybe you didn't mean it, that you were just saying it to get me to talk...

[Izuku shakes his head, just a touch sheepishly. Maybe he's gotten a little too selfish. Just a year ago, he would've been happy just having any kind of attention from a potential friend like Minato. And now, he's upset because Minato won't confide in him, and even confronting him about it? It's something he needs to think about.

Even though Izuku doubts his own motivates now, the point he wants to make to Minato is still valid.]

A-anyway, I realized just now that's not what happened. [He pauses.] Arisato-kun... has no one offered to listen to you before?

[... Ah, well. He can see why that would be upsetting; he hadn't even thought about it, but--]

... Sorry, Midoriya-kun. I can...definitely understand how that would come across. And I really am sorry for making you feel that way.

[A brief breath in, and:]

it's not...that nobody's ever offered, but I guess I'm not used to it still. It's...

[...Well, he's used to listening to everyone else's problems.]

I don't usually have a lot of problems, that's all.

N-no! You don't have to apologize, Arisato-kun. [Izuku waves his hands frantically, emphatically.] I was the one who jumped to the wrong conclusion... that's my fault, not yours.

[And hm... Izuku supposes that makes sense. But they're in this town now, and that means there will be plenty to talk about, if things continue as they are.]

Well... the offer's open, just like I said earlier. [Izuku leans in toward Minato, expression open and earnest.] If you feel like you need to talk about something, I'm always willing to listen.

[The offer's open, huh...? It makes him ease a little, expression gentle but grateful.

In all honesty?]

... I appreciate it. You really are a good friend, Midoriya-kun.

[In so many ways. He's luck to have ended up with a friend this good, in a place like this.]

I'll remember that. I promise.

I'm... [Izuku draws back bashfully, cheeks pinking up a little.] I'm just doing what any friend would, I think.

[But his expression brightens, and on a whim, Izuku decides to stick his right pinky out and offer it to Minato.]

Promise? [It might be a little silly, yes, but Izuku's smiling as he does this anyway.]

[Minato won't argue it, at least.

He reaches out, hooking pinkies with Izuku quietly, a small smile on his face in response.]

I promise.

[Pinky swear.]

And that's what makes you such a good friend, you know. You think that's just how friendship should be.

[But to Minato, he's pretty sure Izuku is going above and beyond.]

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