awashlogs | [closed-ish?] behold: a catchall post

[While waiting for Minato, Ochako gathers up all of the dresses she's found and stacks them neatly on her bed. There aren't many—three, to be exact—but they're the best ones she's seen. And yes, they're all long, grey, and ugly, but Ochako is sure that Minato will be able to help her fix that. She believes in him.

Which is why as soon as she hears that knock, she flies right down the stairs and excitedly throws open the door. Hello, Minato! You may be preternaturally calm, but it's okay. Ochako is clearly happy enough for both of you.]

Minato-kun! Thank you again for coming over!

[She might believe a little too much in what he can do, especially without a sewing machine, but...he's at least found needle and thread, and that's better than nothing.

So...!

Here comes Ochako, fierce and excited as ever, and Minato is... as calm as ever, blinking slowly.]

Hey. Good to see you again, Ochako-san.

[It's like the meeting of two people on very different wavelengths every time, but somehow it works...]

I'm glad I can help. Will you show me what you'd like to fix up?

[They make a wonderfully balanced team. She pivots toward the stairs, gesturing for Minato to follow her.]

Of course! They're all in my room, so come on.

[And up the stairs they go, zipping right past Momo's closed door to enter Ochako's wide open one. Her room is quite cheerful, thanks in part to the garish red and pink wallpaper; a few things are stacked messily on top of her desk, and her bed could be made up a bit more carefully, but everything else is obviously very neat and clean. A normal girl's room for a normal girl.]

So... these are the only ones I've found that are even close to normal. [She gestures toward the small pile on the bed, grimacing slightly.] They're all too long, though. It's hard to walk in them without tripping.

[Up the staiiiiirs-- and. Wow. Her room really is so bright. Somehow, it managed to suit her perfectly, and he wonders a bit if that's how the color it had ended up happening. Or was that the color it always had? He can't help but wonder.

For now, though?

He's gonna focus on the clothes. Huh...]

Fixing the hems won't be hard, honestly... [That shouldn't take him more than an evening or two, especially with how little is otherwise going on here. But...]

Is that all you want changed on them? I could probably fix some more things, if you want me to.

[More things than just the length! She glances back down at the (very ugly) dresses, humming quietly to herself as she thinks.]

Could you add belt loops? I did find an old belt that might work. And, um... the sleeves are a little long, so maybe you can shorten them, too? Tighten them around the wrist? [That should be enough, but then she shoots him a sheepish look.] I'm sorry, Minato-kun! I'm already asking for a lot! But it's been very cold, so do you think that we might be able to make a cloak, too? I'll help you as much as I can.

[A cloak is easier than a jacket, right? That's what she's thinking, anyway. Less sewing...]

[Ochako is a good and considerate girl in every possible way. Minato hums softly, tugging at the dress's sleeves for a moment before he nods.]

Yeah, I can do that, I think. You don't have to apologize, really.

[It's fine, Ochako, it's fine!!!]

None of that should be too difficult, I think, so it's fine. [A cloak is just fabric adjusted the right way anyway, right? He can probably repurpose some of the more hideous clothes he's seen into fabric for that.]

Besides, it's kind of nice to have a project to work on here.

[Hearing that it's not an impossible task allows her to relax the slightest bit. Ochako still feels like she's asking for, well... a lot, but sometimes asking for help is an absolute necessity. Plus these dresses are just too impractical for such an active girl. How did people run in these outfits...]

It does get boring, doesn't it? Training can be fun, and I'm getting really good at fishing, but sometimes I wish I had something new to do. [Something fun.] Maybe I can catch some fish for you, though? To pay you back?

[Okuyasu's fish buck economy might actually be a Thing after all...]

[Honestly, that should be a Thing, because Minato is into that.

...! Food that isn't berries or whatever he can scavenge for? He knows he can cook fish, so--]

Actually, that'd be really great, if you don't mind.

[Foooood.]

I didn't realize you've been learning how to fish. That's impressive, Ochako-san.

[Oh no! Praise! She sheepishly looks away, because c'mon, man, this was supposed to be a Minato-praising session...]

It's nothing special. Yaomomo made a net, and... well, she's been working so hard. Catching fish for her is the least that I can do. And it's the least that I can do for you, too! [A pause as she thinks, and then:] Minato-kun, what have you been eating here?

[...Well.]

Mostly whatever I can get my hands on... it doesn't feel right asking people for food when they're in the same boat. There are cans of soup and things in some buildings [Though admittedly not a lot] and berries and plants and things...

[Aka he's in need of that fish. Please give him some form of protein.]

... I hope we can grow rice or something soon, though. [He misses!! Classic meals!!]

[Ochako pulls a face at the mention of canned food. Everything tastes like dirt, yes, but somehow dirt from a can tastes even worse. It's a mental thing. But jeez, Minato, now she's feeling extra bad for you.]

I would have brought you lots of fish if I knew that! They're not hard to catch. [When you have a Momo™ brand net, that is.] We can even go fishing together one day, if you want. I want rice, too, but...

[No, there's not even a "but" to that sentence. Ochako, a fellow rice aficionado, just sighs.]

Actually, I really hope that we find rice. It would be easy to make for everyone.

[Two sad teens cry about rice: the thread.]

[Oh my god, Ochako... he suddenly feels like he's being super duper taken care of here.

It's not a bad feeling, honestly, but--]

I'd like it if we could go together. I feel like I should probably try to learn as much as I can while I'm here too.

[And then he won't feel like Ochako is bringing him fish without him doing anything in return.]

But yeah... exactly. It's really good for a lot of different types of meals, too, so it'd be useful.

[Japanese teens miss Japan, news at 11.]

[Friends take care of each other? Isn't that a common thing? It is for Ochako, anyway, and that's why she sees nothing wrong with giving him fish. Heck, she'd be willing to give him fish on a weekly basis in exchange for just one fresh outfit. #Priorities.

But fishing is even better with company, and so she eagerly nods along with that first sentence.]

I'll teach you everything I know! I'm not an expert, but you'll be able to catch fish in no time. [Maybe she should go find another net for him, too? Hmm. Decisions, decisions.] When are you free?

[She just can't focus on rice right now. She can't! It's too painful!]

[Friends do take care of each other, but keep some of your fish for yourself, Ochako...!! But. Well. This is definitely looking a bit better for him already.

Fish. He can very happily live off of fish.][Really, he does.] For the most part, I'm just checking in on everyone, so I'm pretty free. Maybe in the next couple of days you can show me?

Sure! We'll have a lot of fun, and who knows? Maybe we'll catch enough fish to give to everyone.

["Everyone" literally meaning everyone, of course. There may be a handful of people she hasn't met yet, but she cares about every single person in this town! It's nice to know that Minato cares, as well, and so she offers him a warm smile.]

How are your friends holding up? Is everyone okay?

[sometimes html eats half of your tag and it's incredibly cruel I'M SORRY.]

It'd be nice to be able to cook a bit more for everyone. There are some people I'm worried aren't really eating right, but maybe with a proper meal they'll cave.

[So it's a good idea by him.

And with that question... hmmm... Ochako is trustworthy. She's a good soul and a good friend, and someone he can trust to harass the living daylights out of someone who's not taking care of themselves like he's trying to do, right...?]

... I'm worried about Midoriya-kun too, but I know you're already on top of that one. I don't think Ichinose-san is sleeping right, and he's probably barely eating. Kyrie-san needs to get out and meet more people instead of isolating himself in a place like this... [Vriska is still a statue, but he'll refrain from the ones that can't actually be resolved; it's too depressing.] ...and I think Akechi-kun is lonely. [WELL THEN.]

So I'm a little worried about them.

[Oh, boy. Ochako will come back to the meal idea—because yes, Minato, some people aren't eating right, how strange—but for now she hurriedly gestures for him to take a seat in the nearby desk chair. She's going to scoot her dresses to the side and sit right down on her bed, frowning worriedly as she takes in that list of names.]

Todoroki-kun and I are both keeping an eye on Deku-kun, so I think that he'll be okay. I've only met Akechi-kun once, and Kyrie-san has Caramia-san, but Guren-san— ["—has a demon in his sword and that's troubling" isn't the proper way to end that sentence, so she takes a second to think of a nicer way to word that.] I've been worried about him, too, but I didn't know if there was something really wrong or if I was just being silly. And I wasn't sure how to talk to him about it, either. He seems like the type of person who... keeps things to himself.

[It's a diplomatic way of saying, "He doesn't want other people to think that he's weak," but Ochako has a feeling that Minato understands. So she'll just press on!]

Maybe you and I can both try talking to him? And to everyone else you mentioned. If we put our heads together, Minato-kun, I'm sure that we can help lots of people! It's much better than working alone, don't you think?

[She smiles encouragingly at him, knowing that he told her all of that for this very reason, but... sometimes it helps for someone to say it out loud! And clearly Minato has been shouldering this heavy burden alone for quite some time, so maybe knowing that she's more than willing to help him will... help him? Just a little bit?]

[Minato's nodding along quietly, expression contemplative. He worries about the same things with Guren, so he definitely understands.

Of course, he'll never look at caring for his friends as a burden, but he also agrees with her--it's much better for all of them to have more support than just what he himself can provide. It'd be awfully arrogant to think that he alone can give enough, right?]

Definitely. [A simple nod, and Minato tucks his hands into his pockets, expression contemplative.]

I'm glad you've seen the same things from Ichinose-san... he's going to be a little tough, I think.

[To get to take care of himself!!]

But I feel better knowing that you're keeping an eye on all of them too.

[Sit, Minato, sit. Ochako's already tucking her legs underneath her, trying to get comfortable for this mini planning session, but her smile stays in place as she listens to him talk; in fact, thanks to that bit, it actually widens. It's nice to know that he trusts her.]

I feel the same way. You're a good person, Minato-kun, and I know that you're doing your best to help them. [A quick nod of her head, because yes, she definitely does know that, before she moves on to the weightier topic.] So what do you think that Guren-san needs the most right now? I haven't talked to him in a while.

[He's sitting...!! Slowly he also sits, legs crossed and hands...still in his pockets. Why? Who knows. It's what he does.

(He doesn't really see himself as a good person for looking out for the people around him--he's an average person, if nothing else--but he's pretty aware that arguing that with Ochako will go nowhere.)]

What Ichinose-san needs most...

[Hm...!!]

Rest. He needs to rest. [He needs to eat, too, but what Minato's most worried about is--] He takes all of our well-being onto his shoulders, and he doesn't really sleep until he absolutely has to... I'm worried he's running himself into the ground.

[That's definitely something she agrees with, but... dang! You can't just force someone to rest, and she knows this very, very well. Reminding Deku to catch a few hours of sleep here and there can be an adventure of patience and perseverance. Reminding Guren to sleep might be something else entirely, though.]

Who is his closest friend here? He's always busy helping other people, but there has to be someone he trusts. And that person should be the one to talk to him, because— [She pauses for a moment, once again trying to think of the best way to word this.] Guren-san seems like a proud person. I don't want to embarrass him, or make him feel guilty about worrying everyone, because that wouldn't help at all.

[Dealing with him is a little like dealing with Bakugou, actually? He just isn't as rough on the outside, and he's also, you know. Much, much nicer.]

[That's a great question. Minato has no idea who Guren is closest to here; it's not really something they've talked about. Maybe something to bring up at some point...

Still, grim as it sounds, he has to admit:]

I think...he trusts all of us. But not enough to listen to us, or open up to us. Not like that.

[After all, Guren had told him flat out that he'll never, ever say he's anything but fine.]

So if there's someone here who could get him to change his mind... I don't know who it is. [Maybe Dextera, but Minato doesn't know they're that close.]

I agree, though. I want him to rest, but not just to make us feel better, you know? [Dealing with people is never an exact science, after all.] It won't really be very restful sleep if he does it like that...

[closed-ish?] behold: a catchall post

MINATO - 4/13ish

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these suffixes, tho!!! good lord...

these polite japanese kids..............

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