It's hard for a dinosaur to fish. Katashi Hamada knows this, because he is a dinosaur, and he's trying to fish. Obviously, the most pressing question is: why is he trying to fish? Ha! No, the most puzzling aspect of his situation is the fact that he's a dinosaur, of course. The reason for his change in species is relatively simple, but Katashi hasn't bothered to figure out the logic behind it, mostly because there isn't any. As far as he's concerned, it would be foolish to worry about his shape, because nothing is about to change the fact that he's covered in scales, etc. Unfortunately, it becomes problematic when he has to do things that require hands (i.e. fishing). He's sitting by the river now, trying to untangle his line. It has snagged on his quills. What a pain in the ass. And speaking of which . . .
"Kat! Hey, Kat!"
He rolls his eyes as a yellow dinosaur with blue spots comes barreling down the hill behind him.
"Kat! Kat!"
"Don't call me Kat. I'm not a feline," he grumbles.
The dinosaur frowns and puts her paws on her hips.
"Well, it's not my fault you have a hard-to-pronounce name. Ack! It sounds like a sneeze."
Katashi finally manages to fix his fishing rod. He casts it clumsily, then waits. Because the pole is human-sized, he looks like he's holding a twig. The yellow dinosaur stares at him with vague interest.
"Are you trying to catch a fish?"
"No, I'm trying to catch a polar bear."
The dinosaur rolls her eyes.
"Ack! I'm just trying to make conversation. There's no need to be rude."
"Is there a reason you came here in the first place?" he asks neutrally.
"Yes. I need a babysitter."
"Find someone else. I have no experience."
"You sure?"
"Yes."
The dinosaur sighs, then rubs her temples.
"I've asked everyone on the island . . ."
Katashi does not reply. The yellow dinosaur, now aware that he will not assist her, is willing to ask real questions about his hobby.
"What kind of fish do you catch here?"
He shrugs.
"I don't know. I've never caught anything before. This is my first time."
"First time fishing?"
"First time fishing as a dinosaur."
She nods and stares out at the river. After a moment, she rubs her chin.
"You know, this would be a lot easier if you used your claws."
Katashi nods.
"Probably. I'm not trained in the art of hunting. I grew up in a fishing village, and we used rods."
"But you're a dinosaur."
"So?"
"Use your claws."
Katashi considers this.
"No, I don't think I will."
"You could buy fish at the market, if you're hungry."
"I'm doing this for fun."
"How is waiting for a million years fun?"
Katashi sighs.
"Robin, sometimes you have to listen to the silence in order to appreciate sound."
She cocks her head.
"Is that some kind of weird Korean philosophy or something?"
"I'm Japanese."
"Same thing. Anyway, what are you doing tonight?"
"Not babysitting."
She hums.
"No, I was asking because I need a date."
"Why?"
"Because I'm lonely."
"And everyone else was busy?"
"That's a strange assumption to make!" she retorts defensively, "What makes you think that you're the bottom of the barrel?"
"You hardly know me."
"I know you extremely well, thank you very much!"
"You thought I was Korean."
She crosses her arms.
"Fine. So maybe I asked, like, five or six other people, but it's not like you're terrible or anything."
Katashi smirks.
"Thank you, but I know you don't actually like me. There are plenty of other dinosaurs on this island."
"Maybe I should ask Yannick."
"Isn't he your ex husband?"
"Oh, right. I forgot."
Once again, they sit in silence. Katashi almost pities this flaxen, cheerful, somewhat racist dinosaur. He knows that she's trying her best to get along with everyone, but it must be difficult having eight children. Katashi would have liked to have had children at some point in his life. He isn't devastated that he didn't, but at the same time, it is an experience that would have been exciting to partake in. Of all the adventures a person can go through in their lifetime, having children is the most educational. It's a lifelong commitment, after all. It requires putting another person's needs first, which Katashi is certain he's capable of doing. In fact, it might be worth a shot. Not that he's ready to pick out curtains or anything, but if he were to help this poor dinosaur with her babysitting crisis, perhaps he could learn something in the process.
"I'll do it."
"You'll go out with me?"
"No, I'll babysit your kids."
Her face lights up.
"Oh, thank you! You don't know how much this means to me!"
"It's the least I can do."
She elbows him gratefully (and in a way that hurts a little).
"It's a good thing you didn't decide to use your white privilege. Eh? Eh?"
Hamada looks down at his pasty scales. He was wondering how long it would take her to point out the irony behind their current hues. Although Robin has a tendency to be rather blunt about the subject of race, her remarks carry with them a certain naïveté. If she were to make an offensive remark (which she had done many, many times), it was out of ignorance: a charming ignorance, like an old lady sprinkling racial slurs in her everyday conversation. Whatever she blurts out accidentally, Katashi is certain that there is no spite behind her remarks. It doesn't excuse anything, of course, but at least she isn't trying to be malevolent. But she could use a lesson in political correctness.
"You know, Robin, you ought to think before you speak," he mutters as he reels in his line.
"Henry says the same thing. He's Chinese, too."
Katashi tries his best to withhold from slapping his forehead.
"I'm Japanese, Robin, and there is a difference."
"Ack! How am I supposed to know that?"
Katashi shrugs.
"Most people just know it through osmosis . . . or common sense."
"Well, if you're so worried about it, why don't you teach me about your culture?"
Katashi laughs.
"Are you asking for my life story? Nobody wants to hear about that . . ."