[She'd tried, anyway. Getting to know everyone personally, finding out what was happening in their lives, how she could help -- if she could help -- that had seemed like the best way to go about it back then. It's not like anyone had given her a guidebook on how to be a leader; she could only watch Mitsuru and Akihiko and try not to disappoint them. Try to be someone Yukari could rely on, try to be someone Junpei would follow. Each new team member added another layer of complexity to who she was as their leader, and all she could do was keep trying to be whoever they needed, even if they didn't know they needed someone at all.
Minato's quiet stoicism may have been better, in some situations. Maybe. She doesn't know that any more than he'd know if she'd have been better. They could both only do their best.
Her fingers tighten lightly against his back as she hums. In the past, she'd have said it was fine. Kept up the idea that she was able to move through all the hardship without being touched by it. But is that what Minato really needs...? She doesn't think so.]
It was. [she agrees with a huffs of a little humorless laugh, because yeah. That's an understatement!] But... it was worth it. Spending that time with everyone. That year was the first time I really had a reason to do anything.
[Almost immediately, she laughs again, though there's still not a lot of humor in it.] Sorry. That's weird to say, huh?
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[She'd tried, anyway. Getting to know everyone personally, finding out what was happening in their lives, how she could help -- if she could help -- that had seemed like the best way to go about it back then. It's not like anyone had given her a guidebook on how to be a leader; she could only watch Mitsuru and Akihiko and try not to disappoint them. Try to be someone Yukari could rely on, try to be someone Junpei would follow. Each new team member added another layer of complexity to who she was as their leader, and all she could do was keep trying to be whoever they needed, even if they didn't know they needed someone at all.
Minato's quiet stoicism may have been better, in some situations. Maybe. She doesn't know that any more than he'd know if she'd have been better. They could both only do their best.
Her fingers tighten lightly against his back as she hums. In the past, she'd have said it was fine. Kept up the idea that she was able to move through all the hardship without being touched by it. But is that what Minato really needs...? She doesn't think so.]
It was. [she agrees with a huffs of a little humorless laugh, because yeah. That's an understatement!] But... it was worth it. Spending that time with everyone. That year was the first time I really had a reason to do anything.
[Almost immediately, she laughs again, though there's still not a lot of humor in it.] Sorry. That's weird to say, huh?