[He says that a little quickly, because he doesn't have to think about it at all. He doesn't want to do anything to make someone like Haru distrust him, whatever it takes. She's been hurt by enough people she's trusted, he doesn't want to make that hurt worse.]
And... I do.
[There's a beat of hesitation, a pause where he does have to think about that answer. Because he does trust her, he just... can't talk about the Project just yet. He just isn't ready.]
I mean, you're trusting me to move plants in your garden. As long as I don't mess that up, I should be good, right?
[He cracks a small smile, clearly meaning it as a joke.]
[Well, now that they've established they both trust each other, with conditions, Hajime can freely return his attention to moving the plants. A little more nervously, what with the reminder that plants are important to her, but it's fine. He can't let her down.]
You said... you used to keep a garden at school, right? [he says after a few moments of silence.] Do you miss it?
[Either the garden, or school itself. Or Earth in general, really.]
I miss it more than I thought I would. At first... it was sort of an obligation. But it turned into my happy place. The place I could go and no one would come after me or judge me or talk behind my back.
[She is the daughter of a wealthy company CEO, so, no matter what she does? Her Father and their family wealth is always part of the equation. Haru has many separate issues that don't revolve around her Father... and she has never been this open about them to a stranger.
[He nods, lips twisting into a sad smile. He understands the need to have somewhere to go to be alone, where he couldn't overhear the people whispering about him.]
Me?
[Hajime sounds almost surprised to have the question turned back to him, and he frowns, looking down at the pots as he pats more dirt around one of them. What does he miss about school?]
Um... well, there was a fountain on the school grounds that I could see the Main Course from. Nanami would meet up with me after school so we could play video games together there. If she wasn't trying to drag me to an arcade, that is.
[Dear memories, bittersweet memories. That same fountain where they'd met is the same place he'd said goodbye to her. The same place he'd been too much of a coward to tell her what he was planning to do, because he knew he'd lose his resolve if he tried.
He's quiet a few seconds longer before realizing that Haru was still speaking, and it takes him a second to catch up.]
What? Oh, that's... yeah. It was the same for me, until Nanami came along.
...Do you like video games, Haru? We should play sometime.
[His lips curve into a smile as he nods. If she never really got to hang out with friends after school, then... it's not a bad idea to show her what his afternoons were usually like, right? And maybe she'll even have fun doing it.]
I can show you how to play Gala Omega... it's the only game I have right now. Mishima and I are working to try to bring games to the communicators. I mean, we can't only be focusing on survival stuff, right? We'd go crazy without fun stuff to do.
[Her lips turn up into a smile for probably the first or second time in this conversation. Talking about her Father often makes her gloomy. But Hinata was very diligent about turning the conversation into something much more positive.]
We do need something to do besides survival, I can agree with that.
Maybe if we keep looking around we may find a second system? I would definitely not put it past this place. I found a few of my own belongings in weird places.
[Her mask, which she won't mention here. Was found hanging off of a coffee machine. The stuff for her garden was scattered all around the ship. It really is wild how much this place holds.]
Maybe... the weird thing is, I'd walked by that fabricator in the cafeteria every day, and I'm sure I'd have noticed it if it were there the whole time. You know?
[Satisfied with that particular plant, he sits back, looking over the garden for what to work on next.]
Maybe you're right, and I just haven't found it yet. Could be anywhere, like...
[Hm, there's a big enough pot. He moves over and picks it up suddenly, as if he truly expects a second Nantendo Game Girl to be hiding underneath the plants.]
Damn, I really thought it'd be there...
[He gives her a wry smile. Please smile back at his dumb antics while he carefully sets the pot back down.]
At that point we must ask ourselves... is there someone else on this ship that we don't know about? Someone who is specifically hoarding our things and dolling them out to us when they think it a worthy time?
[The theory is a little out there. But who is to say that it isn't true?
She laughs when he picks up the pot, looking for the second game system.]
[Oh, she laughed... even better. That's all he can ever ask for when he's hanging out with any of his friends; just making them laugh is enough, especially when circumstances on this station are anything but normal. He grins at the sound of her laughter and just drops down to sit on the floor.]
I guess I'll just have to keep trying, yeah. Like that one video game protagonist who smashes pots for treasure.
[Was there an underlying threat there? Maybe. Haru probably isn't a person that Hinata wants to piss off on any day of the week. She's fiercer than she appears to be in most respects.]
I'll even help you look, if you are that desperate.
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[He says that a little quickly, because he doesn't have to think about it at all. He doesn't want to do anything to make someone like Haru distrust him, whatever it takes. She's been hurt by enough people she's trusted, he doesn't want to make that hurt worse.]
And... I do.
[There's a beat of hesitation, a pause where he does have to think about that answer. Because he does trust her, he just... can't talk about the Project just yet. He just isn't ready.]
I mean, you're trusting me to move plants in your garden. As long as I don't mess that up, I should be good, right?
[He cracks a small smile, clearly meaning it as a joke.]
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[And when Haru promises? She means it. She would only ever break a promise if she were put in a position where she had to.
But she doesn't want to think about that right now.]
Plants are very important to me, Hajime-san. You are lucky I am letting you handle them. Just continue being delicate with them.
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You said... you used to keep a garden at school, right? [he says after a few moments of silence.] Do you miss it?
[Either the garden, or school itself. Or Earth in general, really.]
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[She is the daughter of a wealthy company CEO, so, no matter what she does? Her Father and their family wealth is always part of the equation. Haru has many separate issues that don't revolve around her Father... and she has never been this open about them to a stranger.
But they trust each other, right?]
What do you miss about your school, Hajime-san?
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Me?
[Hajime sounds almost surprised to have the question turned back to him, and he frowns, looking down at the pots as he pats more dirt around one of them. What does he miss about school?]
Um... well, there was a fountain on the school grounds that I could see the Main Course from. Nanami would meet up with me after school so we could play video games together there. If she wasn't trying to drag me to an arcade, that is.
[It was always games...]
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[It sounds like it might be that way anyways. There isn't anything wrong with that. The roof is to her like the fountain is to Hinata.]
I never really went out and did anything with other kids my age after school. So the garden was it for me.
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[Dear memories, bittersweet memories. That same fountain where they'd met is the same place he'd said goodbye to her. The same place he'd been too much of a coward to tell her what he was planning to do, because he knew he'd lose his resolve if he tried.
He's quiet a few seconds longer before realizing that Haru was still speaking, and it takes him a second to catch up.]
What? Oh, that's... yeah. It was the same for me, until Nanami came along.
...Do you like video games, Haru? We should play sometime.
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[She hums in thought. The rainy afternoons spent in Leblanc's attic were where she gained her first knowledge of video games.]
I'm not very good at them, but I wouldn't be against playing with you!
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I can show you how to play Gala Omega... it's the only game I have right now. Mishima and I are working to try to bring games to the communicators. I mean, we can't only be focusing on survival stuff, right? We'd go crazy without fun stuff to do.
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[Her lips turn up into a smile for probably the first or second time in this conversation. Talking about her Father often makes her gloomy. But Hinata was very diligent about turning the conversation into something much more positive.]
We do need something to do besides survival, I can agree with that.
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[He huffs a humorless laugh, shaking his head with wry resignation.]
Maybe I'll find another console in the cafeteria sometime. The first one was pretty inexplicable, so what's one more thing?
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[Her mask, which she won't mention here. Was found hanging off of a coffee machine. The stuff for her garden was scattered all around the ship. It really is wild how much this place holds.]
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[Satisfied with that particular plant, he sits back, looking over the garden for what to work on next.]
Maybe you're right, and I just haven't found it yet. Could be anywhere, like...
[Hm, there's a big enough pot. He moves over and picks it up suddenly, as if he truly expects a second Nantendo Game Girl to be hiding underneath the plants.]
Damn, I really thought it'd be there...
[He gives her a wry smile. Please smile back at his dumb antics while he carefully sets the pot back down.]
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[The theory is a little out there. But who is to say that it isn't true?
She laughs when he picks up the pot, looking for the second game system.]
Try again another day? You might find it then?
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I guess I'll just have to keep trying, yeah. Like that one video game protagonist who smashes pots for treasure.
[Legend of... what was it again?]
...Oh, uh, I won't smash these ones, though!
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[Was there an underlying threat there? Maybe. Haru probably isn't a person that Hinata wants to piss off on any day of the week. She's fiercer than she appears to be in most respects.]
I'll even help you look, if you are that desperate.