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[ It isn't as if he hadn't noticed something was wrong. He'd actually been considering asking Akashi, or at least bringing it up to him, but he had the feeling that Akashi would already know. It likely wasn't his business. Still, Hinasaki was easily one of the kinder people to him so he was a little concerned.

Make that a solid concerned when she's knocking on his door looking like she's about to tell him the mob is after her. He furrows his brows slightly, not standing in the doorway for more than a few seconds before moving to let her in. ]

Hinasaki?

Ah-- [She looks a bit startled, like she hadn't actually expected him to answer, and then relieved] You're here. Oh. Good. [But she still hesitates, looking uncertain, before she takes the silent invitation to walk in, clasping her hands together tightly in front of her.]

Sorry, I just... My apartment's been too quiet, and I... [Distracted, again, her gaze wanders around the room to see what's changed since last she's been here.]

I wanted to see if you've been settling in well. [That's at least partially true.]

[ He can't fault her for thinking it's too quiet. He's been having the same feeling- even asked Akashi about music here to try to fill the strange ring of silence. Though he appreciated it back home, here it felt too long. He was used to noise from the time he left the house until the time he got home. That reason was people, and if it was the same for Hinasaki, he could understand why she might decide to come visit someone.

Why him, he's less sure of since he doesn't see himself as particularly friendly. But he closes the door behind her once she's in. ]

I'm fine. I've started a job at the clinic.

[ There are a few knicknacks around the house- more things that Midorima has collected. Kuroko is going to have to call him on hoarding soon or this apartment is going to start filling up with former and potential lucky items once he starts having more money to spend on them. ]

Sit down.

[ He's going to go make some tea and he guesses get that snack he bought for later out of the cabinet and pretend he just decided he didn't want it anymore. ]

[She takes a seat, eyeing the items curiously before turning a curious look to him.] The clinic? Do you have an interest in medicine? [or... nursing? Taking care of people??

She can’t really see Midorima with good bedside manner...

She taps her nails lightly against the table, anxious] Am I interrupting anything? I mean—you’re not busy, are you?

A medical doctor would be my back-up career choice.

[ In case something happens and he injures himself, right? You have to have back-up plans. Midorima is just the only person in the world who sees being a doctor as a back-up to professional basketball. ]

I haven't graduated high school, I'm going to be assisting as a clerk.

[ He also considered teaching piano, but given his demeanor and the fact that he doesn't actually have a piano here to teach it on, it didn't seem practical. ]

I'm fine. [ He brings the tea and snack bread over- it's just a sweet bread of some kind, nothing fancy. But it looked good. ] I bought this for myself but by the time I got home it didn't look appetizing. Take it or it's going in the trash.

[She laughs a little] I think it's nice, then you can see how you'll really do in that sort of setting and if it's good for you or if you like it.

[She looks surprised by the bread, the corner of her mouth curling in a little smile.] Well... Maybe we can split it. I don't know if I'll be able to eat it all, I'm not that hungry.

[She stares at the bread a moment and then asks quietly] Kuroko-san is still around, isn't he? You've seen him recently?

This morning before he left. Why do you ask?

[ He's not going to argue about the bread. She can take it or leave it, he's done his part to try to cheer her up about whatever's going on. ]

[Her shoulders visibly relax at that and she exhales slowly, slumping back a little in her seat. She tears off a piece of the bread to nibble on, not answering the question right away.]

I just... Sometimes, people disappear from here, to go back home. Sometimes they come back. Sometimes...they don't. [She falls quiet again, staring at a fixed point on the table.]

...Ouma-kun-- Ah... You wouldn't know who that is probably... We came here at the same time. We were close. He was like the annoying little brother I never had. [THe corner of her mouth turns up in an amused little smirk before it slips away again]

...He disappeared. I thought... I thought he'd just gone home for a little while, like I did before, but it's been too long. He won't be back. Maybe when more new arrivals happen, but--

[She falls quiet again, nibbling on another piece of bread.] I wanted to see if anyone else had left me, I suppose. Two more of my friends disappeared too, so I wanted to check...

[ Midorima listens quietly. For all of the callous things he says, he's actually quite a good listener. He maintains eye contact and allows her to finish her thoughts. It's unfortunate that while he is a good listener, this is one topic he doesn't know what to say about regardless. There are a lot of things he has insights on, or might be able to better help her with, but in the end he can see how she might feel a little helpless right now. He feels as helpless to say something to her as she does losing her friends.

But he tries, anyway, because the weight of those two burdens are far, far greater than any amount of helplessness could excuse. ]

Kuroko only seems like he disappears. We are both are a lot more tenacious than to appear and disappear from some place so quickly after our arrival.

[ He knows that likely has nothing to do with it, but it's the most assuring he can really do for her. ]

[That makes her laugh a little, actually, though she's pretty sure Midorima didn't mean it as an actual joke.]

I just don't... I don't know. It hurts, losing people. I never had anyone to lose before, so I keep thinking... [She trails off and sighs.] I want to be around people, but at the same time I keep thinking it'd be better to cut everyone off again. It's a lot easier when you're on your own.

It's easier, but it's limited.

[ Midorima feels like Kuroko should be the one having this talk with her. He's much better at this sort of thing, especially when it comes to insisting that you shouldn't cut yourself off from others. ]

What is the point to being alone?

What's the point of having people? [She counters, but she looks more amused than like she's actually trying to debate.]

If you don't bond with people, you don't have the weight of those bonds holding you down. You don't have to rely on anyone but yourself--the one person you can count on to not let you down. When people leave, it doesn't hurt. WHen you expect people to hurt you and use you an leave you, it doesn't hurt when they inevitably do, because you already knew it was coming...

[Miu smiles, tired, and shrugs] ...Something like that, I guess...

[ He's really, really bad at this. Honestly, he's considering just contacting Kuroko and having him talk to her. So he's going to state the obvious: ]

If you already know the difference, it's too late to return to how things were. It doesn't get better, and you'll realize you've been an idiot for trying to step backward.

[ Nailed it. ]

[Think of it as practice, Midorima, for when your sister grows up.

Miu doesn't take offense though, resting her elbow on the table and her chin in her hand. There's a soft huffing noise of amusement]

Well... You're not wrong, I guess. It's harder to go back now that things have changed so much. But still... [She's quiet a moment.] I guess I'm too selfish to really let anyone go now. [Miu trails off and sighs]

Sorry, Midorima-san. For imposing on you like this, I mean. [She smiles softly] I'm really glad you're still here.

At Shutoku, I've been limited to three selfish acts a day that I can use for anything I want. I am not a man who will tell you to be selfish. But you do need others willing to put up with you, or you'll run out of selfish requests to make.

[ Midorima glanced to the door briefly, gaze a little distant. ]

Besides, there is someone who would want you to be selfish with him who is still around.

[Miu makes that soft 'ah' noise again an she smiles despite herself. Akashi, of course; she'd been thinking about him too when she'd been mullin over her decision on this.]

You're right. And I don't think he'd let me pull away even if I wanted to. [Because he'd probably be able to tell right away it wasn't something she actually wanted either.]

Midorima-san, you're better at this than I honestly thought you'd be.

It would be annoying to have to deal with finding out how he reacts to a break-up because of such a stupid reason, that's all.

[ Obviously?? ]

[Afraid someone might get shanked, Midorima?

She smiles a bit wider.]

Don't worry. I don't intend to break his heart. [She rests both elbows on the table and cups her chin in both hands, expression going soft and fond.] I'm pretty sure I love him too much to do that.

[GROSS.]

Aha. You're a really good friend, Midorima-san. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone.

[ He neither knows nor wants to find out, so how about no one dumps Akashi. Not a question. ]

Shut up, Hinasaki.

[ There are two options here: demand something to give her an excuse to stay or send her away for her crimes. ]

Do you have the shogi board yet? If you're going to encroach on my space, you should at least not waste my time.

[Is this the new 'shut up, takao'? He'd be so... proud??

She totally sees this abrupt conversation change for what it is, but she goes with it anyhow.]

I do, actually. It's back in my place. [She glances around their apartment. Her's is...much more furnished.] Do you want to come over? [Or should she bring it over here and play on a rickety table?]

[ Don't give him a reason to say it and he won't say it!! ]

It will be less annoying for us to relocate than to move the whole board.

[ So yes, he wants to sit on your couch. Folding chairs are not made for big dudes. ]

[She's trying not to laugh really, but she stands up and takes a deep breath]

Alright, let's go. If you have a request, I'll make you something to eat. To pay you back for all this, I mean. It's only fair.

[Fair is fair, after all.]

Anything as long as there's no natto in it.

[ He hates. He'll eat a lot of things though, even if he actually prefers sweeter foods sometimes.

But he's gonna follow her now back to her apartment. ]

Ew. [She says it in a tone like she's not sure why that's something that'd have to be brought up anyhow. Why would she put natto in anything?? Gross!!

She's not entirely fond of being given free reign though, there's too many choices. But whatever, she'll figure out...something...

Her apartment is neat and clean, for the most part, though there's some books and scripts left lying around the living room. But it's furnished! Nicely, in fact, and not like a couple of hobo basketball players are living there... Miu gestures to the couch.]

Go ahead and make yourself at home. The board's in my room. [She smiles briefly at him before disappearing into the back for her room. What emerges seconds later is not Miu, however, but a rather large maine coon-looking cat.

Godspeed, midorima, she might've forgotten to mention her cat to you.]

[ What the hell is that thing. It's like a cat but worse? ]

empatheias ic contact

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