paraboxical | dorki dorki catch-all;

[It's really pleasant to get to go to school festivals outside of Gekkoukan high. Field trips aren't all too common, especially not trips that take them a fair distance from Iwatodai, so ultimately, it's exciting.

Well, for other people, at least. Minato seems to be as calm as always, hands tucked into his pockets, though his headphones are off and hanging around his neck in acknowledgement of the atmosphere. After all, he has no desire to shut anyone out, especially not in a place like this.

And so he wanders the festival, clearly at ease, relaxed but interested. That said, he's certainly not expecting to meet anyone today, at least not in any particular sense of social linking; everyone is pretty distracted being with their friends, and that's only natural--

And then there's a kid surrounded by empty food cartons and that's interesting enough that Minato pauses, tilting his head. ... huh. Should he say hello?]

[So many empty food cartons.

Takane had gone ahead to get a practice round in before they opened up the booth again and well, Haruka was supposed to follow right at her heels after tossing away their food... but then some people were really energetically waving around some signs and advertising their booth and they still had money leftover...

And the process just kept on repeating itself.

So he's in the middle of munching his way through another plate of mochi when someone - a visitor?! - seems to take notice of him. Haruka has heard enough about being a good host and friendly to people who visit their school so he's going to wave energetically!]

Hello! Welcome to the school!

[except mochi is really chewy so it comes out more like

Hmmm! Hehmm hm heh hooh!]

[Wow, look at that energy. He's seriously impressed by it, even if he can't understand a word that the other boy is saying. Instead, he blinks placidly for a moment and then shrugs inwardly and steps closer. He can at least understand the wave, and he lifts a hand from his pocket to return the gesture.]

Hello. [presuming that's...what he said...] Do you go to this school?

[also...food cartons..... wow all of that food looks so delicious NO MINATO FOCUS ON THE SOCIAL LINK]

Definitely!

[But what comes out is a solid: Mmph!

But then Haruka is also giving a thumbs-up so hopefully that helps a little bit with that translation. He tries to hurry his chewing though and eventually manages to get through the mochi. Yes, good. SUCCESS.]

And you're visiting, right? I said 'welcome' earlier but I guess it might've not really come out...

[what with the food in his mouth and all.....]

[Yeah he...definitely didn't catch that. But there's the thumbs up and that's positive enough, and then there's some actual, understandable words. Ah, of course.

Minato just bows his head at that, smiling faintly.]

Thank you for the welcome. It's nice to be here.

I don't usually get to see other schools' festivals, but yours seems very energetic.

[He really enjoys that about it--but then, he's Minato. He'll always love to see signs of life and people enjoying themselves.]

[Haruka actually laughs a little bit at that, nodding along in agreement.]

I've never been to any other festival besides ours, so maybe that's why I can say this one is my favorite? It's exciting every year to get to see all the ideas that people come up with.

I really hope you enjoy yourself! That's the most important part of things like this, I think.

[All he really wants is an environment where people can be happy too. So if this stranger is able to enjoy himself, that makes Haruka's day just a bit better!]

[.....cute. Aw. This guy...what a zeal for life he has. Minato simply nods in agreement with that, looking around to inspect the festival still bustling around them before he finally moves to take a seat, nodding (and his hands still tucked into his pockets).]

I think you're right. Still, from what I saw, everyone seems to be having a great time here.

[He asked about you, Minato, not "everyone".]

That's the goal...!

[But when he moves to sit, Haruka tilts his head.]

Are you taking a breather then? Did you go to all the food booths already? You should try the yakitori if you pass by...! It was so good!

[Haruka don't start drooling]

[...... ahhh that sounds so tasty. Minato's stomach grumbles at the thought, and he has the grace to look faintly embarrassed, at least.]

No, I haven't eaten yet. I was just interested in talking with you more.

[IT'S TRUE, TOO he passed up food to social link, such a protag.]

[ . . . OH.

Oh!!

That's so disconcerting!!!

Haruka sits up at that, alarmed and confused-]

Wh-What? Me?

[...w-what

Why that alarmed and confused reaction...

Minato just blinks, and then he tilts his head slightly.]

Sure. You were nice enough to welcome me, so I wanted to get to know you better. Is something wrong?

Well, no, but....

[Ahh, what does he do... He's not really capable of doing much so he can't help this visitor have a good time aside from telling him where the really good food is!

He wants to be a good host but it's hard when he knows his own limitations...]

You should try to enjoy the festival though! Everyone worked really hard to have fun booths for everyone to see. Don't you want to see them?

[Ohhh is that the problem here. Minato just shrugs at that, easily and calmly. He's not really bothered, because--]

Of course I do. And I'll see them. I still have time, after all.

[As per usual, he's not in any hurry; it isn't as if he has all the time in the world, and he knows that, but he's pretty good at scheduling and prioritizing.]

I'm sorry, I should have introduced myself. I'm Arisato Minato. It's nice to meet you. [he's not leaving.]

Well, that's true... The Student Council presentation doesn't start for another thirty minutes and this is the busiest time for the food stalls so most of the game booths are pretty empty...

[Despite what Haruka thinks of his own abilities to act as a host, it's kind of a fact that he pretty much has the entirety of the schedule for the entire festival memorized.]

But it's definitely okay! I probably should've introduced myself even earlier... I'm Kokonose Haruka. It's really nice to meet you, too!

[Wow Haruka, that's impressive. Minato blinks once at that load of information.]

Ah... You know quite a lot about this festival, don't you, Kokonose-san?

[he's really impressed by your apparent memorization of the schedule!]

Well...

[He laughs a little sheepishly as he shrugs. There's really no helping it-]

I've always been really excited about today...! I didn't expect to be putting on a booth so I looked at the schedule a lot to see what everyone else was doing....

[..... that's cute, except that there's something that does stick out to him, and he has to ask about it, thoughtfully.]

You didn't...? Why's that, if you don't mind me asking?

[Wow Minato, just keep asking the difficult questions. Haruka tilts his head slightly at that before chuckling quietly as he recalls the fast pace of the past week.]

My class can be described as "Special Needs", I suppose? So it only consists of me and my classmate. Even if I wanted to do something, we wouldn't have been able to pull it together, I thought, so....

But instead we only found out a week ago that our teacher bragged to the principal that we were going to put on something really special so we had to scramble a bit after that. [And he perks up considerably.] But it's been really fun! I'm really glad it turned out this way.

[Oh...oops. Stumbling into the heavy stuff right away. "Special Needs", though...there are a lot of reasons that could be there for that, but, well... Minato won't pry too much more.]

I see... that sounds like a lot of work. But it's impressive that you managed to pull a whole booth together with just the three of you.

What did you end up doing?

I wanted to do a shooting game...! And well, it would've been hard to put together normally but Takane had the really good idea of just making it into a simulator that our teacher designed.

[And he's looking perfectly pleased as he talks about it. He thinks that it ended up really well and though they had a bit of a strange morning, it looked like everyone who played it had fun so....]

You should stop by our booth when you have the time, Arisato-san! I really hope that you'll like it.

[...shooting games, huh... He's not particularly good at video games, and especially not shooting ones, but it's not like he'd ever say no, especially to a face like that.]

That sounds really fun. [It does, too; despite his passive tone and expression, he really does mean it.]

I definitely want to see what you managed to put together, so I'll have to go see it next.

[That's that; he nods, satisfied.]

[Oh no, you've made him so very happy.]

Really? That's great! It's inside, so if you walk through the hallways, I'll be outside to greet people. Takane's already gone ahead to get a practice round in and she'll be your opponent.

[But well, before that-]

You don't have to go right away though... We're not completely set up again just yet. You should eat something first if you haven't had a chance to yet, Arisato-san.

[A-aw... he's so easily happy. That's sweet.

As for Minato, he simply nods at that, because surely Haruka knows best. And food sounds delicious, so--]

What food would you recommend, Kokonose-san?

[really, that's only natural--he'll ask the expert. Especially the expert who has clearly tasted everything.]

[He's a lot more likely to be happy than upset at... just about every single possible moment-

So he's going to blink. And think very seriously because not only is he supposed to be a good host that makes sure that MInato has a good time, but it's also about food!

Food is serious business.]

That depends... What kind of taste do you prefer, Arisato-san? Is there something in particular you're craving?

[Food is very serious business, so Minato can understand that. Though at the same time...it's not like he is going to make Haruka's life easier by having things like preferences.]

No, not exactly. Honestly, I'll eat just about anything. It all sounds pretty good to me.

[absolutely useless input]

Really...? I understand liking everything [because trust him, he likes everything] but nothing in particular, huh...?

Hm. Well here - [offering Minato so mochi!] Let's share this before we go around. My teacher actually left Takane and I a lot of money for food so we can get as much as we want...!

[haruka are you seriously thinking of eating more]

[This is clearly a teen after his own heart. BRING ON THE FOOD--though he blinks at that once, momentarily surprised.]

That was generous of him. But shouldn't you save that for yourself and your friend?

[though yeah he'll take some of the mochi. Mmmm mochi.]

Well... there was a lot... And for some reason Takane thinks she needs to watch her figure.

[A shrug. It confuses him because she seems perfectly healthy in terms of body weight! So he's going to nibble at some mochi, not stuffing it all in his mouth because they had communication issues last time he did that-]

So I think that if I can share it some with you, Arisato-san, that'd be okay too.

[.........he's not touching that with a ten foot pole because he knows Yukari Takeba.]

...Thank you, then. If you're sure, I'd really appreciate it. The food smells delicious here.

[and he hasn't eaten yet like a loser.]

[Haruka is just going to smile brightly in response!]

No problem! I promise that all of it is really, really good. I've had a bunch of it already but a second helping sounds great!

[so, so chipper and also maybe salivating a little already at the thought of food]

[WELL THAT ENERGY is hard to say no to. So he just nods simply, looking a touch more excited than he did before. But really. Mmmm food.]

In that case, let's get some food. That sounds like a great plan.

Where should we start?

[Hmmm. Haruka's actually going to gather up all the empty containers of food that were around him before standing.]

Hmmm, well the takoyaki stand is over here and you can start off with a small serving of that to taste before moving on to the more filling foods. There's yakisoba and ramen and some places are even selling hamburgers and hot dogs...

[getting a little starry-eyed don't mind him]

[...wow.... This is even more intensive than he was expecting, but honestly--well, Minato is amused.]

I'm fine with starting with takoyaki and seeing where we can go from there.

You're really fond of food, aren't you?

[Haruka is just going to nod happily and start leading the way!]

I really enjoy eating! Food is delicious, so it's just really easy, you know?

Mm, I can definitely understand that. Eating is really pleasant, isn't it?

[And he follows, hands tucked into his pockets, posture easy.]

It's a nice bonding experience with friends, too.

[He's just going to laugh a little bit, because he can't help but notice-]

You really like spending time with other people, don't you, Arisato-san?

That's really nice of you!

[...well. He can't deny it. Instead, he tilts his head, looking thoughtful.]

...People are pretty great, aren't they? I can't help but like getting to know them.

[including Haruka, now, since NEW SOCIAL LINK]

[Haruka nods eagerly enough at that. Because-]

They're really fun... Everyone always has such great stories and ideas. It makes me happy to hear of all the things they get to do or want to do!

[So now he has to ask, since they're on the topic of getting to know people.]

Are you visiting from another school then, Arisato-san? I don't think I've seen that uniform before. What year are you?

[Exactly... He simply nods quietly, because--]

I feel the same way.

[but oh...asking him about him, right. He can do this.]

I'm a first year student at Gekkoukan High. It's in Port Island. What about you? [He knows the school, obviously, but year--]

Oh... I'm a first year too! [wow this is exciting] Does Gekkoukan High put on a school fair too, Arisato-san?

Maybe I could visit since you were kind enough to come to ours...!

Is that so...?

[Same age, whoa. That's a good thing, he thinks. It's nice to meet more people his age--though at that, he has to admit:]

I don't know. I only recently transferred there. I could ask Mitsuru-senpai and let you know, though.

That'd be great! I think it'd be really fun to visit a friend's school...

[Because they're instant friends obviously. But then he's tilting his head.]

You're a transfer student then?

I am. I transferred earlier this year.

[It's said placidly as always, though it's not the easiest topic in the world as to why. Still, it's not like he has anything to hide.

Still, he moves on to the next subject happily.]

I'd enjoy seeing you there. If you do ever come around for a school event, I hope you'll let me treat you in return.

dorki dorki catch-all;

meeting;

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