text/video; un: hinatahajime

[hopefragment]

hey, did that pet directory ever get made? there are at least four hamsters running around the observation deck. so far they're staying kind of close to me, but if they're yours, please come get them.

[Briefly, a video feed turns on. There sure are three hamsters sitting in front of Hajime, almost posing for the camera. The camera pans to show Hajime's incredulous, perpetually tired face, showing one hamster asleep on his shoulder.]

Whoa-! Wait, wait!!

[The camera pans back quickly to the three hamsters, except now they're all running for him. He lets out a yelp and the video feed turns off.]

Comments

[hopefragment]

[His response doesn't come until sometime later.]

i found their owner. he's a little eccentric, but i think he cares about them.

[mapsio]

Oh, that's wonderful. I'm glad they at least have their owner back now. I bet it was a touching reunion.

[hopefragment]

it was... something, alright

his name's gundam tanaka. he's a hope's peak student, so i'm sure they're in good hands

[mapsio]

Oh, oh!
Does this mean you have located one of your friends?

[hopefragment]

sort of? i'm not really sure

i mean, he seems to know me, but i've never met this guy in my life. he has a pretty unique aura around him, so there's no way i'd forget meeting somebody like that

[mapsio]

Oh, dear... did you lose your memory of him?

[hopefragment]

i don't think so. i think if anything... maybe i'm supposed to meet him in the future?

i don't really get it. he seemed to think i was like him. he kept acting like i was his classmate, when that's impossible. there's no way i'm a super high school level, so...

i don't know. it's weird and makes my head hurt, but at least he has his hamsters

[mapsio]

What is a super high school level?

I'm glad he has his hamsters too, in that case.

[hopefragment]

right... i keep forgetting it's not something that anyone else is familiar with

it's the title given to students who are part of hope's peak academy's main course, the people who get scouted for having a particular talent. it means they're the top of their field at the high school level, the very best at what they do.

and i'm the furthest thing from that, so i really don't understand how he would mistake me for a classmate. it's kind of frustrating, you know?

[mapsio]

But does that title really make or break your life? Sure it is nice to be best at that thing, but is it worth it to be known for only that one thing?

I'm sorry, Hajime-san. I suppose I still don't really understand... or see why that should even matter. I think you're really great the way you are now.

[hopefragment]

it does

if you graduate from hope's peak, you're set for life. those people... they really are like celebrities or super heroes. nanami said i have the greater freedom by not having a talent, but... it never felt that way, back home.

[...It takes a couple seconds for him to continue, because wow. That's one of the nicest things anyone's ever said to him? A few more seconds, because he doesn't know what to say.]

thanks, haru. you're really kind, you know that?

[mapsio]

That is what the they tell you there, I'm sure of it. Your friend may be right, maybe she felt the burden the world put on her.

... I think you will make it on your own. You don't need something like that defining you.

[She really tries.]

Anything for my friends.

[hopefragment]

[There's a part of him that wants to argue. To remind her that she doesn't know what it's like for normal people at home, how their lives don't matter to anybody in positions of authority, how two Reserve Course students could die in less than a week, and have it shoved under the rug.

But he doesn't. It's... nice to think that it might be true. That someone like Haru really does think he's fine the way he is brings a warmth right to the center of his chest. Don't fear normalcy is what Tengan had said, right?]

oh, yeah. speaking of talented people... i did tell that guy to come see you. i think he's worried the fabricator food won't be good enough for his hamsters.

he talks like he's some kind of netherworld god or something, but i'm pretty sure i'm right in saying he's a chuunibyou. i've thought that about a lot of people and been proven wrong, but there's no way there's a literal "overlord of ice" or whatever where i'm from.

[mapsio]

Oh! I'm glad you are sending him my way then. I think I have a few things I can spare to his hamsters. To keep them fed of course. I am hoping that I can find some lettuce to grow, that would be even better!

[hopefragment]

oh, really? that's good. i honestly don't really know what hamsters eat, so i'm glad you'll be able to help him out

[Is he glad...? By all rights, he should hate this guy. And it would be a lie to say he's not bitter, confused, and angry about the whole thing. But... he hasn't personally done anything to Hajime. Not really.]

thanks again, haru. just... let me know how it goes