As much as Hop is playing leader here, he shares Yamatoâs sentiment. Heâd rather not fight anything - Pokemon battles are entirely different than duking it out with nearly indestructible monsters - but he canât just ignore the possibility that he might have to just because he doesnât want to. Heâs not really sure where to go or what to do, either; thereâs a vague idea, but Hop doesnât have an exact plan. How did Lee always make leadinâ look so easyâŚ?
Hop nods in acknowledgement, eyes never looking away from their front. âArmed, huh? Like, with a gun?â Hop has a gun, though itâs a harmless one; it might come in handy later if either of them get hurt. âEven if itâs slow movinâ, still would be good to know what weâre up against.â Maybe Mr. Yamato isnât specifying on purpose, and maybe heâs not; but Hop decides to act like the leader he currently is and explain first.
âAs fer me,â he starts, holding up a finger, âthereâs another me who came from a portrait, unarmed thankfully. Ya donât need to be worried âbout mixinâ us up, either; heâs wearinâ a tournament uniform - mostly in white. Anâ then,â he raises a second finger, âthereâs a⌠a statue of my big bro. Unarmed too, butâŚâ He lowers his hand and crosses his arms. âHeâs real tall and strong; a fast runner, too. Heâs the one we should really be worryinâ about.â
Of course, itâs not like those are the only ones after him; the entire gallery seems to be after anyone within sight. â⌠I dunno how âm gonna deal with Leeâs statue right now, but weâre headed to get my frame. Pick up some stuff along the way too, like some paint thinner, maybe a chiselâŚâ Itâs more of a mutter to himself, but he speaks up again, this time directed at the other.
âYour turn, Mr. Yamato. Whatâs the slow thing?â
Thereâs a part of Yamato that feels guilty for not taking the lead here. Back home, heâs IDOLiSH7â˛s leader, after all, and thereâs a part of him that definitely feels heâs gotta help protect this kid, even if heâs obviously going to do fine on his own. But heâs so out of his element, all he can do is follow and hope for the best.
He just hopes that when it comes down to it, he can be the adult in the situation and act accordingly.
âA statue and a painting, huh...â The statue does seem pretty worrisome. Yamato doesnât really want to take a punch from a thing made of solid rock.
When Hop turns the question to him, Yamato hesitates, and then curses himself for doing so. Heâs trying to be more open, he really is, and he knows that it this world thereâs no scandals following him, no mass media that could want to find some scoop on his private life. And the kid did just explain his own situation, he owes it to him to go into a bit more detail.
â...Itâs a portrait of my father. Heâs armed with a katana, dressed straight out of some samurai film.â Yamato sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. âThe old manâs mostly just stalking after me. I never let him get close enough, but who knows whatâll happen if we end up corned by him. Hiding doesnât work either. Itâs like he knows where I am.â
âAlong with the statue of your brother, heâs probably he other one we need to be on the lookout for.â