[judging by the way his grip tightens on her fingers when she tugs, nope. he does not want his hand back just yet. so here they stand, hands still clasped in an ex-handshake, Akira having just come to terms with how he feels about Rion a day or so prior, with unresolved feelings for. . . someone else]
[THE DAYS OF OUR TEENAGE ROMANCE LIVES]
I-- [but even so. . . he doesn't want to let go. her hand is warm in his, and he finds that he likes it]
You. . . have great dramatic timing.
[considering the VERY DANGEROUS MISSION that is to take place in just a matter of days]
[ And oh, she can just imagine the look Kou would be giving her if she'd said that to him, but for all their similarities, Kou and Akira are also two very different people.
But now her hand's being held captive, so her great 0.5 second plan of confessing, reassuring him that there was no pressure to answer immediately, and confidently striding off had already failed in Stage Two.
Rion probably should have expected this.
She has no actual comment to the mission itself, because as far as she's concerned, she's going to go in there, help keep people safe, and return without being zapped alive. Thinking otherwise isn't really an option. ]
[it's funny, because he's standing here gripping her hand and refusing to let it go, while simultaneously not being sure how he should proceed. he isn't used to being on this side of a confession (in all of his other relationships, he had made the first move), so it's a bit. overwhelming? although not in a bad way. and the unresolved feelings, however fruitless he believes they are, are a bit. . .]
[. . .]
How long?
[part of him is stalling. part of him really wants to know]
[ And she'll answer him honestly. Maybe it's not the answer he's looking for. Maybe he's not looking for any particular answer. But Rion can't do much else right now except be sincere. She's the one who said something, after all. If nothing else, she has to see it through. ]
I don't think I seriously realized it until that summer festival we had, but... it probably started around El Minha. That's about as much of an answer as I can give you.
[he asked the question, but he doesn't sound terribly surprised about her answer. he remembers that comment she made about asking her to dinner when he meant it]
[. . .]
It was probably the other day for me. Right after you punched me.
[there is also the fact that he literally cannot take her to dinner on Struxta because ALL THEY HAVE TO EAT IS GRAY STUFF, but it's fine. she gets his meaning, even if he's being coy with words]
[he'll tell her why. maybe not this instant, but he will. she'll deserve to know either way, regardless of what he does. for now. . .]
[. . . there's something sweet about what she says that makes his heart skip a beat in his chest. which, he thinks, is the very first time he's been cognizant of that happening while around her. sheesh]
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[THE DAYS OF OUR TEENAGE ROMANCE LIVES]
I-- [but even so. . . he doesn't want to let go. her hand is warm in his, and he finds that he likes it]
You. . . have great dramatic timing.
[considering the VERY DANGEROUS MISSION that is to take place in just a matter of days]
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[ And oh, she can just imagine the look Kou would be giving her if she'd said that to him, but for all their similarities, Kou and Akira are also two very different people.
But now her hand's being held captive, so her great 0.5 second plan of confessing, reassuring him that there was no pressure to answer immediately, and confidently striding off had already failed in Stage Two.
Rion probably should have expected this.
She has no actual comment to the mission itself, because as far as she's concerned, she's going to go in there, help keep people safe, and return without being zapped alive. Thinking otherwise isn't really an option. ]
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[it's funny, because he's standing here gripping her hand and refusing to let it go, while simultaneously not being sure how he should proceed. he isn't used to being on this side of a confession (in all of his other relationships, he had made the first move), so it's a bit. overwhelming? although not in a bad way. and the unresolved feelings, however fruitless he believes they are, are a bit. . .]
[. . .]
How long?
[part of him is stalling. part of him really wants to know]
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[ And she'll answer him honestly. Maybe it's not the answer he's looking for. Maybe he's not looking for any particular answer. But Rion can't do much else right now except be sincere. She's the one who said something, after all. If nothing else, she has to see it through. ]
I don't think I seriously realized it until that summer festival we had, but... it probably started around El Minha. That's about as much of an answer as I can give you.
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[he asked the question, but he doesn't sound terribly surprised about her answer. he remembers that comment she made about asking her to dinner when he meant it]
[. . .]
It was probably the other day for me. Right after you punched me.
[buddy]
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... So then, you really are a masochist!
[ Not the thing to take away from that, Rion. ]
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[so anyway he's letting go of her hand and walking away now]
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[ romance is alive. ]
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[fortunately at no point was he ever going to leave, so as soon as she calls out his name, he pivots on his heel to return to her]
Why was that the first thing that popped into your head?
[. . . reaches for her hand again]
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You're just going to distract me if you hold my hand again, and you were the one who just said that this just started for you after I punched...
... You...
[ Wait. ]
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[waits patiently for her to get it]
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[ She's just hiding her reddening face in her palms. And, muffled-- ]
That was so casual, hold on--
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[just]
[p-presses his hand against his mouth and laughs, light and breathless]
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I want to take you to dinner.
[ah]
[except then something a little conflicted cuts through that fondness]
But I can't do that just yet.
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Rion slowly lowers her hands, taking a deeper breath. The look on his face... well, she won't ask. Instead, she nods. ]
It's fine. If there's something you need to do, go for it. The only thing I was planning to do was tell you. I wasn't expecting anything else.
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[he'll tell her why. maybe not this instant, but he will. she'll deserve to know either way, regardless of what he does. for now. . .]
. . .
I can't believe you beat me to it.
[sheepish]
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But that's a topic for another time. Instead, Rion just grins. ]
You said it yourself, I've liked you longer. Did you think I was the type who'd wait?
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[and yet!1 you drag your feet, you get beaten to the punch, Joker]
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You're just going to have to accept that I was faster this time.
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Dang.
I need to step up my game.
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[ he's already dangerous. ]
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Oh.
[huh. . .]
Thanks.
[his gratitude is actually pretty sincere]
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[ confessing is incredibly nervewracking, even for her. Not that she'll say that. ]
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[she doesn't have to say it for him to get it. after all, he has been in her position before]
. . . but I'm glad. Ah, I mean. . . I'm glad you said something.
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Though I really thought you would've figured it out, even if I didn't. I don't just offer my shoulder to any random friend, you know?
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