[ Awkward or not, the announcement does its job. Motochika looks up from his phone to meet the gaze of the person before him. ] Yeah. I'm--
[ And then he really looks at him, and has to stop himself.
Motochika was meek in his youth. Gentle and reserved, completely unlike the behemoth of a man he is now. He wasn't necessarily disliked as a child - there were a fair share of bullies, sure, but he remembers some of his classmates befriending him solely because he "wasn't like the other boys" - but he never put himself out there, either.
Until he met a certain boy. Someone with a spirit as soft as his, but went above and beyond to defend him from the meaner kids. Like a moth to a flame Motochika gravitated toward him, sticking by his side every moment that he could.
He... greatly admired him, honestly. For that inner strength that shone so brightly through his loyalty to the few people who he called his friends. The image of his back to him, arms shielding him protectively is burned into his memory even to this day. Because of him, Motochika wanted to become strong, too. Wanted to be able to protect others, like his friend always protected him - and he did. He's strong in heart, body, and spirit, and it's more than partly because of him.
Though they parted ways before the end of elementary school, there's no mistaking it. This is that boy. His precious childhood friend. It's- ]
no subject
[ And then he really looks at him, and has to stop himself.
Motochika was meek in his youth. Gentle and reserved, completely unlike the behemoth of a man he is now. He wasn't necessarily disliked as a child - there were a fair share of bullies, sure, but he remembers some of his classmates befriending him solely because he "wasn't like the other boys" - but he never put himself out there, either.
Until he met a certain boy. Someone with a spirit as soft as his, but went above and beyond to defend him from the meaner kids. Like a moth to a flame Motochika gravitated toward him, sticking by his side every moment that he could.
He... greatly admired him, honestly. For that inner strength that shone so brightly through his loyalty to the few people who he called his friends. The image of his back to him, arms shielding him protectively is burned into his memory even to this day. Because of him, Motochika wanted to become strong, too. Wanted to be able to protect others, like his friend always protected him - and he did. He's strong in heart, body, and spirit, and it's more than partly because of him.
Though they parted ways before the end of elementary school, there's no mistaking it. This is that boy. His precious childhood friend. It's- ]
... Mitsunari? Is that you?