>>5879061>>5879081>>5879083>>5879086>>5879156>>5879157>>5879158“I don’t know what a party is.”
“You know what a party is, Otomo.”
“... Fair. What I mean to say is that I don’t know the details. All I know is ‘show up and have fun.’”
“That’s what a party is.”
You’re beginning to become frustrated. It’s less about not knowing what one is and your opinion that you aren’t the type of person who can have fun successfully. You have a pretty stoic personality. It doesn’t feel like your type of scenario at all. “I want to be able to party well. I don’t know how to do that.”
Hotaru walks up and takes a seat next to you. She soaks her clothed legs in the warm water next to you. Not a problem for her considering the ease at which she can shove water and fire around. “It sounds like you’re concerned about fitting in. I don’t see why, but I won’t argue with you about it. Instead of thinking about why you won’t be able to fit in, why not instead think about what steps you can take to get the scenario you want? Think about it like you would any mission. Define what goals are supposed to be achieved, then rig the necessary preconditions to achieve those goals, or at least have the pieces in place to make it easier. What are your goals?”
“... Have fun, fit in, make my friendships stronger.”
“Think of some games, get some clothes, and strategize how to get closer to your friends.”
“The only game I’m really aware of is ninja tag, but that’s for kids and we’re too advanced for that to be anything other than a more amusing version of training. Now that I think of it, I think the real problem is that I have no real connection to civilian life. All I know is being a ninja. I don’t know how to really function in any other context. I made Masami mad because I don’t know how to enjoy movies.”
Hotaru snorts “Yes, it’s apparent you don’t understand ‘movies’. From what I understand, your upbringing was living in the woods quietly with your mother, such as she was, and you didn’t get to experience actually living life until you joined the academy. So you’re worried that you’re maladapted and out of touch with the type of life normal people live. Is that accurate?”
You’d be lying if you said the crux of your problems didn’t always, ALWAYS lead back to that. “I suppose.”
Hotaru lets the sit for awhile, slowly swishing her legs around in the spring water. “Are you going to die tomorrow?”
“Uh…” That caught you off guard. “No?”
“Then it’s fine. You’re young. You’re still growing. Not done cooking yet. There will always be more experiences. You don’t have to stay the same forever.”
“The idea that I’ll learn more later doesn’t help me now.”
