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[ When Toki knocks, there isn't an answer. Instead, it takes a few more seconds for there to be a reply, but at Toki's side instead of in the medical room. Orien just came out of the crane room, closing the door behind him. Orien sees that Toki is in front of the medical room door and wonders... ]

Were you looking for me, Toki?

Yes!

[The crane room. That would have been his second choice.]

Are you busy? I just wanted to talk to you for a minute, because we... haven't.

We can talk. Did you want to sit down near the kotatsu? Or does it require you to stand?

[ Orien would much prefer the kotatsu because it's warm, but the decision is up to Toki. ]

[The question takes him off guard, because he can't imagine what they would talk about that requires standing. Maybe Orien thinks it's some medical thing.]

No, we can sit.

[And he'll head to the kotatsu. It might be a short conversation, it might be a longer one. Toki doesn't know at this point, so sitting is perhaps better anyway.]

Alright.

[ He says, and slithers over to the kotatsu. He would have reflexively nodded, but that's useless against a blind person.

He coils up on top of the kotatsu tableand waits for Toki. ]

I'm on the kotatsu table. What did you want to talk about?

[Toki's slower to get there and sitting where he wants to be. Since he knows where Orien is, he takes something out of his pocket and sets on the kotatsu table. It's a tiny conical New Year's hat; green and shiny.]

First! I made you something. It's ridiculous, I know, but like, it's cute, right?

[It was cute in his head. The hat is meant to fit pocket-sized Orien and is made from leftover wrapping paper. Toki doesn't know what color it is, or if the wrapping paper ended up inside-out and it's just a dull brown. There were no elastic things that Toki knew of; maybe Rei has hair ties or something, but Orien's hat will have to stay on some other way.]

Anyway, I wanted to... thank you.

[ Orien looks at the new year's hat, and honestly? He likes it, thinking this it's a rather endearing gift from Toki like the knitted tux for the wedding. He thought it would have been a shame to store it inside him, so it's in one of the drawers in the medical room. ]

I like it. Thank you, Toki. I am putting it on right now.

[ Orien turns into an appropriate size for the hat and gently takes it to place it on top of his head. He will make sure it stays on somehow. ]

I feel like a very celebratory snake.

[ All he needs now is one of those party blowers. ]

Also, what are you thanking me for? I don't recall doing anything recently that requires a thanks.

[It makes Toki happy to hear Orien enjoys his little gift, but his tone takes a more serious note when he answers.]

For... fixing me. I was... I've been thinking about things, like old conversations I had with people, like my roommate or... my friends... and-

[He pauses there to take a few breaths, so he doesn't cry.]

They always told me that I didn't... think right, and I... When I was in the hospital, I agreed about it eventually, you know, but I didn't... get it, even then. I just... I didn't make any sense sometimes and I know that now. It was very bad, and I didn't realize that, but I have... I can think back on it and understand now. So, I just...

[Now he's crying, but it was inevitable.]

Even if I'm sad sometimes because... I want- I want you to know that it was worth it.

[ Orien takes a tissue with his tail and lightly dabs at the corners of Toki's eyes so he can wipe the tears. It's really something when a patient comes back to tell him that how the surgery had affected them some time down the line. Even though he lives with Toki and had been watching over him, it feels nice to hear it directly from him. ]

I'm very glad to hear that. I truly am.

[ His voice sounds a little softer than the usual deadpan tone he uses. ]

I wanted to make it go right, but I was worried that I took invaluable life experiences from you from the outcome. I... wanted to make up for it, so hearing that... is really nice. Thank you.

[It's true there are some things now he won't ever experience, and some things he won't be able to do again. Toki's spent a lot of time reflecting on things like that over the last week.]

I think about it differently, because those invaluable experiences... I might not have been able to have anyway for different reasons, or I'd forget about them the next day. Would it really have been better?

[No, Toki doesn't think so.]

This wasn't your fault, Orien. At all. It was the vision. I know it was... And maybe, that was worth it too. If any information from it can help.

[ If Toki believes that it's for the better, Orien won't argue. He'd rather let him be happy anyway. ]

I remember it being discussed... hopefully someone could figure out the meaning as well.

[ After putting the wet tissue down, the tail reaches up as if to pet Toki's head gently. ]

You really changed, Toki. You're really moving forward. It's admirable.

Really!? You can tell!?

[Because Toki can tell, but a lot of it is internal for him. He hopes he's making more sense to people, and instilling confidence that he doesn't need to be watched all the time.]

Yes, I can tell that you've been trying very hard to improve. It may be hard with outside factors, but your motivation and willpower are strong. I think you'll do very well.

[ Though Orien watching over Toki was mostly because he's blind, but even he thinks that he's been getting around that pretty well. Putting cans in a microwave isn't something happened because Toki was blind though... ]

Thank you, Orien! Your support means a lot!

[There will be other incidents like the can in the microwave, but Toki will retain information once he actually learns things he should have already known. It's a process. He can think straight now for the most part, but he's still very stupid.]

[ As long as Toki can learn from his mistakes, Orien will continue to believe in him. ]

I'm glad. Know that you'll always have my support in your endeavors as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.

[Toki can't smile anymore after that. He used to be violent sometimes, and he's hurt people, and it's only right for Orien to expect him to do it again one day, on purpose or by accident. Even if Orien didn't know about his previous incidents. But Toki thinks he does somehow. Knows things, like Terry knows things.]

I wont hurt anyone.

[His assertion will likely be proven wrong as soon as the paranoia days set in.]

[ It's just the usual disclaimer, so Orien doesn't think too much on it. But he acts like that from time to time, sounding like he knows more than he does. ]

I trust you that you won't. You're a good person.

Okay. I should go now.

[Go where? He doesn't know; he just needs to leave and be by himself for a while. He'll go stand outside in the cold or something. Maybe he needs to start smoking again.]

Enjoy your hat~!

[It's hard to make quick exits now, but Toki's left the kotatsu in record time.]

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