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[flyingsolos]

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[flyingsolos]

Pass. If I have it my way, he's not going to know anything about this.

[ He can just think Rion was tired!! And went to bed!!! And did not whine about being a shitty friend to a guy whose hair looks like it could eat him alive on a humid day!!! ]

[purrtagonist]

[jiiiiiii]

Why? Because he'll feel guilty that his emotional distance made you feel like a bad friend?

[he sees many problems, here]

[flyingsolos]

... I mean, you're not wrong,but there's a thing called tact.

[purrtagonist]

Then let's phrase it more tactfully.

"I'm worried about you. Please don't feel bad that I am; I worry because I care and because I want to help. I'm here for you, please remember that, and let me know if there is anything I can do."

[he lays it out so bluntly and simply]

[flyingsolos]

[ He sure does, and Rion stares at him with wide eyes and a look on her face suggesting that she's somehow been blindsided.

That was definitely blunt, but that's exactly how she feels, isn't it? ]

That's not... exactly tactful either, but I get your point.

[purrtagonist]

[a huff, and he turns his gaze towards her again with yet another shrug]

Well. Maybe that level of bluntness is just how I've always been.

[no point in beating around the bush. . .!]

You know your friend better than I do. I believe you'll figure out the right way to approach him.

[flyingsolos]

Other than it probably makes you a terrible flirt... [ Rion's own huff is half-laugh, and she stretches her legs in front of her.

After a moment, she smiles at him, a little softer. ]

That might not be such a bad thing. Thanks, Kurusu-kun.

[purrtagonist]

An awful flirt. Absolutely the worst.

[he says with a straight face, which melts pretty easily when she thanks him]

Anytime. Sorry for prying into your business, though.

[flyingsolos]

It's fine... you were the one who said you'd leave if I told you to. I'm pretty sure you weren't lying.

[ So in the end, it had been her choice to say something about all of this. ]

[purrtagonist]

I've never really liked lying.

[it's a necessity for survival sometimes, but. Akira learned pretty quickly in Tokyo that he's at his best when he's staying truest to himself]

[flyingsolos]

Yeah, well...

[ Rion trails off in the time it takes to ease in a slower breath, hold it, release it. She doubts many people enjoy lying. At least not the people who cared enough to check on someone they hardly knew. She knows how she had felt when Kou had told her he'd liked who he really was.

And, briefly, she wonders about how Shiori had felt, living a ten-year lie. ]

I don't like lying, either.

[ But showing who she really is to the rest of the public isn't an easy habit to break. ]

[purrtagonist]

That makes us two perfectly round peas in a pod.

[Akira hops to his feet, linking his hands together and stretching by lifting his arms over his head. and then he reaches up into the orange tree, grabbing the lowest branch he can to yank it down a bit (without breaking it)]

[all so he can pluck an orange from the tip of said branch. mmmm, fruit]

[flyingsolos]

[ She'll watch him, a tad tiredly-- if just because emotional stuff is kind of draining and she's been gently shoving this down since she came to this temple. ]

Okay, but I call the cuter pea.

[ Rion, why are you like this. ]

[purrtagonist]

[he plops down onto the ground next to her again, picking at the orange to peel it. he'll probably share some slices with her, because why not?]

I don't think I'm cute enough to claim the cuter pea even if I wanted to. You can have it.

[flyingsolos]

[ Akira is a Good Boy, probably. ]

Mm. [ a considering glance. ]

Well, you're not bad-looking. [ Just not cuter than she is, apparently. ]

[purrtagonist]

[and, without missing a beat, and without an ounce of fluster]

Oh. Thanks.

[and then he offers her an orange slice]

It must be true if it's coming from the owner of the cuter pea.

[flyingsolos]

[ She'll gamely accept and pop it into her mouth. It's no apple, but it'll do. ]

I told you, I don't like lying. If you did something with your hair, you might even be cuter.

[purrtagonist]

[a pause]

[he pats the top of his head, frowning]

What's wrong with my hair?

[it's loosely curly and unkempt]

[flyingsolos]

... At first I thought it was just messy because you fell out of a tree, but either you really liked that style or it hasn't seen a comb and thirty minutes of brushing in months.

[purrtagonist]

[h-hey]

I brush it every single morning. It isn't that messy. . .

[flyingsolos]

[ This? This is the world's most dubious stare. ]

[purrtagonist]

[and he gives her this dubious look in return, before he stuffs an orange slice into his mouth and chews on it slowly. all while not breaking eye contact]

[flyingsolos]

It's pretty messy.

[ Also not breaking eye contact. ]

[purrtagonist]

I like it the way that it is.

[he won't change it!!]

[flyingsolos]

Yeah, I can tell. As long as it isn't actually getting tangled, I guess...

[ but it's so messy-looking!! ]