mysteries | ic; a guy like me can't hold onto or let go of you

[ ... Hah?

He was the one leading this whole thing, so how come it suddenly feels like he's being propositioned here out of the blue? Sure, it's not like Itsuki has always had favorable reactions to this sort of stuff. He's been in fights multiple times, he's been nimble enough to flee from some of those situations, too.. but it's never been this sort of thing. Never someone offering-- well, that.

Itsuki's sure made people do stuff for him before, but why did she have to put it that way?! Calling it a slave just makes it sound weird!

But immediately backing down because of that would be way too much like showing weakness, so he opts for trying the middle road. Or at least keeping up the whole deal for another moment, even as something in his intestines is starting to curl up. ]

Why, would you do it if I asked?

[ Please just say no so he can bend this into something he's a little more in control of, okay... ]

Edited 2015-09-12 22:09 (UTC)

[She let out a searingly bright laugh, nearly doubling over a for a moment before looking up at him again.]

Of course not, what are you stupid? As if I'd do something like that over a loaf of bread.

[Her tone was light and cheerful for a few brief moments before she snapped back to her previous attitude. She watched his thoughts flicker across his face. Every new piece of information she saw seemed to please her. He was inexperienced, he had a stubborn sense of pride, and he thought that she was very pretty.

He wanted to get things back under his control. She was however open to that idea, but he'd have to try much harder than this.]

Besides, I said only if I didn't have any money.

[She said, flicking her hair to the side.] Unfortunately for you I remembered to bring my wallet with me. [She pushed the loaf of bread into his chest and looked him straight in the eyes. ]

I'll buy you a new loaf of bread, if that's really all you want.

[ There's something in his face that momentarily shifts at the question if he's stupid - as if he's already quickly taking it as an accusation, and the bridge of his nose wrinkles like he's about to start scowling in return. Really, she's ready to call him stupid that easily?

But then the bread is shoved into his arms and the only options he has are either dismissing her entirely or sucking it up and just letting her buy the bread. It feels like he's going to lose some of his pride in either situation - which certainly doesn't make that pouty feeling right under his skin go away.

What kind of frustrating girl... ]

.. fine.

[ If this is all he can get, then he's just going to scrape together what he can have. Even if it means that the last of his dignity is practically gone. He knows he doesn't have much of a choice here, even if it's still a little embarrassing.

He shifts the bread in his arms a little, the lollipop bobbing up and down in his mouth. ]

Then don't make weird suggestions in front of strangers next time and just buy it for me already.

[It seemed almost funny to her, that such a young, lively boy would be holding on so desperately to his pride. Manly resolve and firm tones didn't match almost girly demeanor and baby face. But that of course was the reason. Growing up like that probably made him feel the need to be "manly" even more.

She for one certainly did not mind his appearance. It seemed to her that she actually quite liked it. Another mystery that she would soon have to unravel.]

Must I remind you, that you were the one who suggested it. Suggested that some sort of "scary thing" might happen If i couldn't pay you back.

[she was ready to call him out, push his buttons and pull at his strings. It was hard not to when everything about him was so obvious.]

It's a shame though, to waste a perfectly good loaf of bread, [she said idly, not really following her own train of thought.] Well, move along now, where did you get this bread from? [With how he was acting, she was almost certain that he stole it. And now she was wondering how he'd get out of it. He'd be be really truly stupid if he tried to return to the place where he just committed a crime.]

[ At least Itsuki is not stupid. Maybe a little reckless and over the top and transparent as hell, yes, but he's not stupid - it takes more than that to get by with his way of living, after all. If he didn't have at least some common sense about him, he already would have gotten himself into some kind of trouble long ago that even connections wouldn't be able to save his ass from.

So he doesn't point her to the store he stole it from a few streets further. Instead he gestures at the bakery down the street. ]

There.

[ There's a small moment and then he manages to find a more nonchalant sort of mood (read: his zen place) again, and he stretches his arms up above him, still holding the loaf in one of them. ]

I don't feel like having more of this stuff though. Get me anpan. [ Because if he's actually going to eat that as opposed to feeding it to the ducks, he'd rather have something sweet, after all. ]

[He was interesting, so she didn't mind actually spending a little more time with him. She nodded and walked past him into the bakery, un sure if he would follow her immediately. Thankfully it wasn't too crowded, so she bought a loaf of anpan not even bothering on something for herself. She wasn't hungry, and there was no other reason to do so. Maybe if she felt the need to don her innocent college girl mask, but at that time she didn't.

She returned to him, a strange skip still in her step. She gave him a smile, holding the bread out of his reach at first.]

Kusatsu Kiyomi. [She said, her smile remaining before shifting into a grin.] That's my name, you can have this bread once you tell me yours. [she tilted her head to the side, dangling the pastry bag almost tauntingly from her hand.]

[ At least she's got the right idea. Itsuki's already in the middle of making a swipe for the bread, like he was operating under the assumption that he could just casually grab the bread now and be on his way, never to have to interact with this strange person ever again.

(Then again, there's a part of him that's still oddly intrigued by that weird mismatch in expressions she showed him for a moment before - but then there's the question whether finding out about that really is worth losing more face here.)

But she's halted that before he himself even could, and he stares at her for a moment with the kind of expression that's trying to make it obvious that he really!! didn't!! care about knowing her name to begin with.

It's not even a lie - he might be intrigued in her, yes, but putting names to it is making it weirdly personal. Itsuki doesn't do personal. ]

Kagami Itsuki.

[ He does answer all the same though, even with his real name. Not like he's got anything to lose from letting her know - what is she going to do with it, look him up in the phone book?

So don't mind him if he makes another swipe for that bread, okay, he's kept his end of the deal here for once. ]

Why, is it that interesting to know?

[She noticed that a small flare of emotion came up in her chest, learning his name was somehow satisfying. She decided to hold on to that feeling, along with all the others that this strange boy seemed to awaken in her.]

Itsuki-kun, then. [She finally put the bread back in his reach, now that he did hold up his end of the deal. She noted his resistance to giving his name at all, and so she naturally went to the option that would end up making him the most uncomfortable. Keep him on his toes, keep him from settling into any routine of normal interaction.

She nodded to the loaf that he still held in his other hand. She wasn't going to let him go so easily, while she still had unanswered questions. Questions about who he was, and why he was able to affect her this way. Without him even trying she found herself compelled forward.]

I really hope you aren't going to waste that bread though. I'm sure that some ducks might enjoy the treat.

Feeding ducks with it? What kinda guy would do that?

[ The reaction comes almost a little bit too quick - like a kneejerk sort of thing. Mostly since despite the fact that he knows it's a pretty ordinary suggestion to make, it lines up so well with what he was thinking himself that it's almost like she read his mind for a moment.

That's just paranoia though. Lots of people would suggest that, no big deal. Just deny it and get away, simple enough. ]

What I do or don't with it isn't any of your business.

[ And with that he's already turning around - without as much as a "goodbye" and starts walking to find some spot where she won't be able to see him feeding ducks - although he apparently isn't expecting that she could just follow him. ]

I think I implied that you strike me as the kind of guy who'd do that.

[She grinned to herself. There was no way she was done yet with him. She skipped after him, giddy with mischief. Her long hair bounced behind her, missing just the pigtails to complete the image.]

Well, you made it my business. I'm invested now. So, why not let me tag along?

[She wasn't even making sense anymore. It was strangely exhilarating, not being in total control of herself. Anything coul happen, always working towards a calculated goal got boring after a while.]

[ Seriously, what's up with this girl? Why is she suddenly saying that sort of stuff about him out of the blue, and then she's following him around like it's no one's business.. People usually just leave him alone - which makes him feel worse at times than he'd ever admit, but at least it meant not dealing with this sort of weird interest that he doesn't know how to handle. ]

Why are you invested?

[ So it means that a spiky shield automatically pops up in his words, like his only way of handling is to just reject it altogether so he doesn't have to handle it to begin with. ]

You follow around strangers on the street? What a weird hobby. [ Besides, how is he supposed to really go feed the ducks with her hot on his trail like that? It'd be a disaster. Not to mention only give her more fuel. ]

I'm mean, I'm literally invested. You basically made me pay money for bumping into you. Not that I mind, it was only 150 yen.

[Part of her wanted to reveal the true depth of her interest, but she didn't think that would garner any real results in her favor. If anything it would ensure that he would shove her away her more in embarrassment. She was stubborn by very nature, and always became extremely determined when she found something that she wanted. If her advances had truly been unwanted, she would have given up long ago. While she was not yet fully certain, her hunches always had a nack for being correct.]

Nah, I don't really have any hobbies.

[She walked in stride with him, which was only slightly difficult due to his long legs.] I guess you just seemed a little lonely to me. So I don't feel like leaving you alone yet.

Lonely?

[ He lets out a scoff. Sure, maybe he's laying it on a little bit thick here, but this is the number one thing he has to deny more than anything. It's not like it's entirely a lie, after all - there's so many people that are just so boring that he prefers just doing stuff by himself over dealing with them, but on the other hand, it's not like he's completely opposed to having company in general either.

Hell, maybe part of him that's hidden too deep beneath his tsun for even he himself to really realise it actually craves it. ]

No way. I like doing stuff by myself, it's less of a pain.

[ Without taking the lollipop out of the corner of his mouth, he takes a rough bite out of the anpan, like he doesn't even mind the flavors mixing. ]

Are you sure you aren't just the lonely one who wants company that desperately? [ Because why else would someone be even vaguely interested in him specifically, right? Besides, maybe she'll just go away if he insults her enough with his attitude. It's like killing two birds with one stone. ]

[He was probably right, but she at least didn't have a problem admitting she was lonely,(to herself at least. Outward signs of weakness could possibly mean death for her in most situations.) ]

You can keep telling yourself that if you want, but in reality, no one is better off on their own.

[She said this oddly cheerfully, There was no greater relive to her, than when she found out that she no longer had to be alone. Even now that she was a member of Botan, and did not exist to the outside world, she finally had people that could fight by her side. Perhaps she saw that similarity in this boy.]

And...If I was really so desperate for company, there are other avenues I could take besides following after a stubborn teenager.

[She stuck out her tongue playfully,] Besides that, I find you rather adorable.

[ Every protest to all the other parts of what she was saying die in his throat the moment he hears that final word. It doesn't even matter that she added the tongue to it - even without that, he would have had the same reaction, with his eyes going wide and his jaw dropping after he almost chokes on the anpan for a moment. Did she really just-- did she call him adorable?

What's up with this girl, seriously! Following him around, calling him cute.. if he didn't know better, he'd say it's almost like she's hitting on him. ]

Weird lying girl!

[ Because there's no way she could genuinely think that, right? And even if she did--

.. tsk. His cheeks light up a faint pink, and his gaze tears itself away from her like he's burnt himself on something. ]

If you're really following me around for that 150 yen, then forget it. I'm not paying you back. Ever.

[She expected a reaction like this, but what she didn't expect was how annoyed it made her. She had offered a bit of her genuine feelings and had just gotten them slapped back in her face. Over-all she couldn't blame him,]

Hey, I'm a lot of things, but I am certainly not a liar.

[She said, her tone dropping a bit. She stopped walking, and grabbed his arm, staring up at him. Despite her efforts, her face betraying more hurt than she wished. She didn't care about being called weird, that in fact was true. But for some reason she was quite sensitive about being called a liar. She had indeed spent most of her life lying for one reason or another, but for once she wasn't. She was being honest and she wanted to be treated as such. Because of that it was entirely possible that she was over-reacting, but there was little else she could do.]

I may not require you to pay me back, but I will ask for an apology for that.

[ It's an overreaction, yes. Although Itsuki has little to say when it comes to that stuff, since overreacting is sort of his thing to begin with. But that's not what he's complaining about now - in fact, he doesn't complain about this at all.

Mostly since it catches him off guard. He stares at Kiyomi like she just grew a second head when she suddenly grabs his arm and stares at him so intensely.

What was so wrong with what he just said?! He was just saying what he thought, right? Why is she getting so weirdly upset over nothing, geez..

.. Geez...

Something vaguely guilty shoots across his eyes before he can't hold her gaze anymore and instead averts his eyes. ]

What're you getting all worked up for.. [ But his tone is softer, more like a mumble, and it's at least obvious she's managed to kick him down a peg like that. It's more "grumpy child" than his usual cocky mode. ] You're so weird, seriously.. if you're serious, then don't say weird things.

[She frowned softly, but saw that he was backing down a little bit. It seemed like the closest thing she would get to an apology with him. He was somehow even cuter to her now, backing down a little so that his bark matched his bite.]

So what you're saying is you just don't want me to say it in a weird way? So what if I called you "Handsome", then?

[She let go of his arm, not needing to make him any more uncomfortable. She didn't want to upset him or alienate him, and so she had to know her limits. Spending most of her adult life in Europe had caused her to forget how shocking physical contact can be, especially from a stranger. (an attractive stranger if his light blush told her anything.)]

If you want to apologize to me, then let me go with you to feed the ducks.

[ He practically snaps back that arm anyway the moment she says handsome. In fact, he's even turning his head away fully, if not just to try and hide the blush that's only spreading further on his cheeks. What's up with this girl?! She can just say stuff like that and then get mad at him when he calls it a lie? She's being totally serious and hitting on him like this?

It's not like Itsuki can't easily deal with people, he's talked his way out of a lot.. but she's definitely got him cornered here and he doesn't know how to deal with it. No one's ever told him that genuinely.. tch. ]

I wasn't going to--

[ He starts a weak protest, but apparently he's already learned that he just can't win with some things when it comes to this girl, so he gives up, still looking away, and instead just starts walking like he expects her to follow him like that. ]

.. Just come along if you want to that badly for whatever reason.

[She gives him a gentle smile that she knew he didn't see. But even so, she was pleased. Pleased that he wasn't totally rejecting her, that he was at least allowing her to follow him. Her greatest assets had always been her sharp tongue and her looks, but it really was boring if she could just predict the outcome. She was in this for herself, in stead of just for using the other. So of course she would follow him, waiting smugly to be proven right.

She walked alongside him again, happy as can be. Occasionally glancing up at him. His face still red, not daring to look at her.]

With how you you reacted, I'd say that was the first time you've been complimented by a girl. I must say that I am glad to have done the honors.

That's since I usually don't bother to let them stick around to say stupid things.

[ S-stupid.. huff... It really is getting to him, and pretty obviously so, even though he's trying so hard to verbally shrug it off. He can't show any weakness like this, after all - who knows what she's even after? Such a completely unreadable girl..

They finally reach the spot he was thinking of before and Itsuki is already moving to sit down on the bench near the waterside - not like any normal person would, though, he's sitting on top of the back rest rather than on the actual seat itself.

At least she already knows what he's here for, so he tears a piece off the loaf (a little roughly, thanks to his tsun-grumpiness) and throws it onto the grass, watching ducks climbing out of the water everywhere to partake in the meal. ]

Ah so you're letting me stick around. Glad to know I'm not forcing your hand.

[It was clear to her that he spent most of his time making a life on his own. Perhaps he had been frequently abandoned, and thus had to tell himself that he chose to make them leave for whatever reason. To make it hurt less.

She followed him as he clearly knew where he wanted to go, and of course her original 'suggestion' had been true. She was glad that his stubbornness hadn't prevented them from coming here. It was a nice day, and this was a perfectly nice way to enjoy it. She sat down next to him, joining him in his slightly uncommon method of sitting.
Perhaps they appeared like a couple, despite his slightly strange clothes. She however was dressed casually, as her own uniform would only draw more attention.

She looked at him before tearing a small chunk of bread off of the loaf and tossing it over to where a few adolescent ducks lingered outside of the main flock. ] So, were just embarrassed, is that it? You think I'd make fun of a guy who likes to feed ducks? She glanced at him, and then back at the ducks. How can I blame you? They're so cute. The weirdest thing about it might just be insisting to do it alone.

[ .. well, at least she's not making fun of him.

Nor is she telling him to do anything differently - he hates that, too. There's plenty of people who would have told him to sit down properly on the bench, only caring about his appearance rather than about him. People are shallow like that, right? But even if she's really weird and really annoying, at least she's just letting him sit here like this (she's even joining him in it) and just letting him feed the ducks without making fun of him.

Not that there isn't still a part of him that fears it might be her true intentions in the end, so he isn't that quick to give in and let himself feel a little more comfortable. ]

I wasn't embarrassed.

[ He totally was. ]

There's just never been a girl weird enough to follow me here just for this. [ At least that's the truth - even if it's still just an argument to back up his tsun as he throws more bread at the dorks. He's even being surprisingly thoughtful with it, not aiming to hit them on the heads or anything. ]

Well, for one, you seem to make an obvious effort to make any interaction with you particularly unpleasant.

[She said as she tore off another small chunk of bread for the ducks. The fact that he kept calling her weird still didn't insult her. Especially since her "weirdness" seemed to be the fact that she was interested in him in the first place.]

If anyone knows about unpleasant social interactions, it's me. And so far talking to you hasn't even registered against all that I've had to deal with.

[It was intended to be a compliment, and she hoped it would register as such. The fact that he called her weird was still almost a compliment, because it meant that her honest self was shining through. Something she assumed she had forgotten how to be. She had become a master of becoming someone else, ever since her grandmother informed her that whatever she had once been was not a "proper lady". She was starting to remember how she had once been when she was young. Perhaps it was just immaturity, but at least it was something that came from within herself.]

Even though you've technically insulted me a couple times, your actions speak much louder than your words. [She gave him a small smile, not sure how convincing her words would be if she kept a straight face.]

[ She's seeing through him so quickly here. Although it's a mystery how much of Itsuki's attitude is something he consciously puts up and how much it's just something that's been ingrained into him at this point, it's still true - he has the kind of mindset where he wants to do everything by himself and do just about anything to be able to avoid having to involve himself with others.

No one's ever pointed it out like this though. That he's rude, sure, yes. But not that he's rude and they realise it's just something he's putting up - they're usually already too annoyed and gone at that point. (It's better that way, probably.) ]

What are you, some kind of psychologist? [ His tone is obviously laced with sarcasm, but it's just another defense mechanism. It's almost eerie how easily she can point these things out, but as he opens his mouth to say something else, glances at her and then sees that smile..

.. Geez, she's just doing that to manipulate him, right? Especially if she's already onto this much. No way that can be someone smiling at him so genuinely, because that's so..

So.. ugh.

There's a weird feeling in the pit of his stomach, and he tries to ignore it by throwing the pieces a little bit further, clenching them tightly in his hands.

He doesn't want her to leave just yet - that's the only part of the feeling Itsuki can identify right now. ]

I mean, saying all that stuff.. [ His tone is definitely pouty at this point, and he grumbles a little. ] If you think my actions are so much louder, than what're they saying, huh?

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