text (un: natsume.t)

[mingling]

It's a little weird, right?

Comments

[mingling]

[There are a few specific reasons as to why he finds it so weird, but... notably...]

Doesn't it mean that that many people didn't want to be where they were?

[Of course, he feels awkward about asking it immediately, to the point of regret.]

No, I mean
The way they explained it

[yokunaru]

[Ah, so that's what's bothering him. Not too surprising.]

It does. When I asked the people leading the orientation, they said the portal seems to sense when someone feels like they don't belong somewhere or they need a new home. That's how we all ended up here.

Not sure if you've heard yet, but there's a way to return home if you think the portal was wrong.

[mingling]

[It's not that Natsume doesn't want to go home—being away from it makes his nerves feel frost-bitten—but feeling like he belongs there is... a markedly different story.

And who is he to say when a mistake like that has been made?]

So what if someone doesn't belong here, either?

[yokunaru]

I'm not sure... I've been trying to do some research on this portal when I can, but a lot of it's really confusing.

I haven't heard of anyone being sent to another universe if they don't like it here either, though.

[mingling]

["Liking it" vs. "belonging"... It's unsettling in a familiar way, at least to Natsume. Regardless,]

I didn't really believe in this sort of thing before.

[yokunaru]

I didn't really either.

The world I came from didn't have magic or portals or anything like this, except in books and movies. It was a huge shock at first.

[mingling]

Do the people here come from a lot of different places?
Worlds, I mean

["Places" feels... easier to use?]

[yokunaru]

I think so. I've heard a lot about other worlds since I got here.

Sometimes people from the same world can end up here together, too.

[mingling]

I see. I don't know what that must be like.

I hope I don't see anyone from home here.

[yokunaru]

You could always ask around. Most people here seem willing to talk about where they came from.

Why not?

[mingling]

That sounds nice. [Meaning, he doesn't intend to ask or pry.]

If I saw them here, it would mean they didn't think they belonged at home, either. It's good for them to be where they are.

[yokunaru]

[This Yuuri can understand in a way.]

You have a point. I hope your friends are doing well back in your world.

[mingling]

Probably
So it's good

We'll just do things the way they are now

[yokunaru]

Taking things as they come is probably the best way to get used to being here.

Was there anything else you wanted to know about this place?

[mingling]

[Natsume is trying to piece together a coherent, meaningful question, but all he really has running through his mind is an AAARRRGGHHH of frustration.

...]

What's the most useful thing you learned about it?