July 30th 2022, 6:25 PM

Literally like a day after we had our dinner with my mom, Naoko and Kagami gave us our paychecks. And when I tell you it was a lot, it was a LOT. I doubt I’ll be seeing money like that even if we get bumped up to living wage and forming an official team. I mean, still planning on working for the Yokai Organization for the foreseeable future, but still.

Anyway, Minato isn’t himself. Like, after the dinner he doesn’t feel up to doing much. Which is fair, considering his parents, but still. I feel bad for him. Earlier today I actually ended up texting Kagami.

After some back and forth.

Okay, that’s an understatement.

After A LOT of back and forth we decided that Kagami and Naoko would also come with us, and Kagami would drive. She’s the only one that can drive out of the four of us. I’d think Naoko might know as well, but, you know.

Minato and I exited our respective houses to enter Kagami's car, which was a tiny, beat up little thing. Hers is called a Honda N-box, I've seen a few but I didn't really know the name of them so that's kinda interesting. Anyway, we got into the back, which was just two tiny seats, though Minato and I luckily still had enough space so we weren't squished together. Kagami sat in the front and Naoko was in the shotgun seat. Kagami turned around and waved her hand rapidly, Naoko also turned back but just waved softly. Naoko as expected was in her human form, being in a car in her tenko form would just cause a lot of problems.

If there was much more going on in the car I would describe it but not much was going on to be honest. I think the elephant in the room... okay, well, I guess it's more of a car was really lingering over us, so we just felt awkward talking about literally anything else so that's that. Minato just silently listened to some music, with his eyes closed as if he were taking a nap while in the car. So that was kind of an awkward thirty minutes, but oh well I guess!

After the thirty minute ride though it was so worth it to step out and see Minato smile. He doesn't do it enough and I wish he did. He has such a genuine and beautiful smile. Not in a crush way or anything though.

"Wait, did you buy tickets?" Minato asked.

"Yeah, yeah! Don't worry about it." Kagami said.

Minato nodded. We all began to head towards the entrance.

Quite a lot happened today that I don't know if I can truly summarize well, but we had a fun time. We saw a lot of cool stuff at the museum. I totally understand why he likes museums now though. We saw a lot of history, as expected. And the festival was fun too! Kagami apparently spent like thirty thousand yen on stuff at the festival. Which, oops, I apologized but she said it was fine.

I think what stuck out to me today was while we were just walking around the festival, Minato had won a whole bunch of random plushies, and we got ice cream and food so he was carrying that.

"So... Did you have fun?" Naoko said.

"Yeah," Minato gave a slight smile.

"I'm glad!" Kagami chimed in.

"Sorry for making you drive around a lot today and do all this for me." Minato mumbled.

"Oh it's no problem at all! After everything lately you deserve it." Kagami said.

Minato swiveled his head around. "What are you talking about?"

"Kagami, don't-" Naoko mumbled.

"No, I'll say it. After your jerk parents you should be able to have fun without worrying about them and their... whatever they've been doing."

I glanced over at Minato, then Kagami and Naoko. Naoko mumbled to Kagami to shush, while Minato looked kinda uncomfortable.

"And Kei," Minato matched his walking pace to mine, looking me in the eyes with upturned eyebrows. "I'm sorry for not really being myself. I think I finally realized that it doesn't matter what anyone does, my parents will just be weird like that. I always had the slightest sliver of hope that maybe they'd change, or hell, maybe I'd finally get foster parents or something. I don't know, I think at this point I don't really want to leave town though."

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I felt my heart squeeze. This is the most vulnerable Minato has been to me since I got to Japan! "It's okay. You never really saw it much but I was very upset after my move to Japan. My parents only gave me a few days' notice of our move. In a matter of like four or so days, I had to say goodbye to everything I'd ever known, change schools, and go to a new country. Okay, well, that's not even close to what you've gone through your whole life, but uh, you know."

"It's okay." Minato averted my gaze and bit his lower lip. "I'm not really used to having people genuinely care about me. You're my... best friend. I don't want to drive you away or anything."

Tears pricked my eyes. "You're my best friend too! And you're not driving me, or anyone away. I promise. You're just going through a hard time, and that's okay." I wrapped my arms around Minato for a hug instinctively, though as I'm writing this all out I realize I really should've asked first. Stupid me! He did hug me back though, and didn't push me away immediately, so at least he was receptive to it.

We pulled away, while Naoko and Kagami were still whisper-arguing. Minato and I glanced at each other, and then them.

"Guys, it's fine," Minato sighed.

"Really?" Naoko said.

Minato nodded.

"Oh, okay."

As we made our way back to the car, Hotene came to mind. "So wait, you've always said your friendship with Hotene is of convenience, right?"

Minato nodded.

"Do you think you could make that into a genuine friendship?"

Minato shrugged. "I'm open to the possibility, but if it never goes beyond convenience I honestly don't care. I mean, I don't ever want her getting hurt, and I doubt she wants the same for me, but, you know. She still has her Ainu friend group, and that's always been her main friend group."

"Is there anything I could do so it's not just a friendship out of convenience?"

"I don't have suggestions but I mean, if you manage to make our friendship feel more genuine that'd be awesome. But if it doesn't work out then honestly I'd be fine with that too really."

"Okay."

We got into the car finally. Kagami lingered in the seat for a second, staring ahead.

"Kagami? What are you doing?" Naoko asked.

"It's not fair you have shitty parents. And you said nothing or nobody seems to change that, right?"

Minato upturned an eyebrow as he looked at me, then back at Kagami. "Yeah, why?"

"I want to try to be the parent you've never had. Make you food, take you to and from school, all of it."

Naoko glared at Kagami. "Kagami, I know you mean well, but what if we get in trouble with the organization for that?"

Kagami huffed, bringing her voice to a whisper. "If I get in trouble for helping out with a child who has neglectful parents, then maybe the organization isn't as good as it seems."

"That's not what I mean! Hanging around kids too much for non-work purposes? I mean, today might've gone too far but I wanted it to be just a one time thing. But if you're around Minato, what will the organization think?"

Minato rolled his eyes. "If you have to argue about my living situation, can you at least do it while I'm not in the car please?"

Naoko and Kagami's eyes shifted to look back at Minato.

"You're right, I apologize. Let's head back to your homes," Naoko said as she sat back in her chair.

I wanted to chat more with Minato, but overhearing Kagami and Naoko's conversation made me hesitant to start up any conversations, so I just relaxed. I snuck a look at Minato and he seemed more content and happy, much more so than he had these past few weeks. That's a good sign! I'm glad things seem to be looking up for him. I guess I need to see if I can make Hotene and Minato's relationship NOT out of convenience now, I really like Hotene and I don't want to lose her as a friend.

Anyway, one last thing before I forget, one last story from today.

So when we get to our street and our respective houses, obviously, we unbuckle our seatbelts and get ready to leave.

"Thanks guys for today, I really needed it. And it was fun," Minato said.

"Of course!" I smiled.

Naoko and Kagami nodded.

"Next time we talk though, we're getting back to business," Naoko said.

"Ugh, I get we have work but please!" Kagami groaned. "Anyway, bye!"

"Bye, mom." Minato said.

We froze in place. Kagami's mouth began to curve upwards, as Minato's eyes widened.

"Sorry, I meant Kagami. Anyway, bye." Minato leaped out of the car and bolted towards his house.

Kagami looked at me, who was still in the car. "Do you think he meant that?"

I hesitated. Up until that day she didn't seem much like a mother figure to Minato, but today she seemed to dote on him. As I'm writing this entry out I'm wondering what happened for this to suddenly, like, jump out or whatever.

"I wish I could say for sure but I really have no idea. I'll ask. Anyway, see you later." I waved as I opened the door and walked inside my house. I bolted up the stairs and wrote in my diary, which is what I've done for the rest of the day, except to break to chat with my parents and eat dinner. And now it's 7:30. Well, that's all for now, diary!