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[flyingsolos]

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soon after the BGs lay out their plan for taking on the storm

[purrtagonist]

[like a good friend, he gives Rion a day or so of space to cool down. but with the danger of their newest mission lying ahead of them, there's no way he can't say something to her-- no matter how small that something may be-- before they're shipped off to conquer this force of nature]

[he finds her in the underground tunnels, which may be vast and cavernous but still aren't that great for flying. and yet, that's exactly what she's doing. he really shouldn't be surprised. and in a way, he isn't]

[he doesn't say anything when he first spots her, but he does stand nearby, easily within view, as he waits for her to descend back to the ground]

[flyingsolos]

[ her practice here is less expansive than El Minha; she's focused more on keeping herself up in the air with steady wing beats than zooming around. But she's obviously been at it for awhile, from the strain in her expression.

... Which quickly becomes blank once she straightens from her landing crouch and sees him. ]

[purrtagonist]

[ah. . . that's one way to start things off. Akira's shoulders stiffens, back straightening as he lifts a hand to greet her]

Hey, Rion.

[a pause]

How is practice going. . .?

[flyingsolos]

...

[ Rion also tenses up for a minute-- but then she lowers her head and bows. Just slightly. ]

I'm sorry. I overreacted.

[purrtagonist]

[. . . WHAT NO, OH MY GOD. HOW DID SHE BEAT HIM TO APOLOGIZING]

Ri-- what? No, I was-- that. . . that's my line?

[flyingsolos]

I'm not the one who got punched in the face.

[ Just saying. ]

[purrtagonist]

You're also not the one who made a bad joke.

[rubs the back of his neck sheepishly, shifting from one foot to the next]

I'm sorry about that. It was pretty disrespectful.

[flyingsolos]

... You didn't know. I didn't talk about it, and I'm pretty sure you'll never do it again.

[ So she shifts a bit, then extends one hand out to him. ]

So you're forgiven. Friends?

[purrtagonist]

[oh. this is a lot easier than he feared it’d be. his shoulders relax, and with the faintest of smiles ghosting across his features, he takes her hand]

I’d be offended if we weren’t.

[he squeezes her fingers gently]

I should’ve known, though. I— well, Ann is a model, but I’ve heard the things people say about her.

[flyingsolos]

We were actually commiserating about it earlier. [ and she squeezes back. ]

What can I say? Not everyone looks at us and sees anything past that. I'm kind of used to it by now.

[purrtagonist]

[just. frowns!! disapprovingly! although in a way, he gets it. nobody looked past his criminal record, after all]

Doesn’t mean that it doesn’t suck. Or that people aren’t jerks.

[flyingsolos]

Or all of the above.

But there's nothing better than making people like that eat their words when they realize how hard we really work. So those people who say I'm a slut, or whatever... I hope they'll become fans one day. I hope those kinds of people realize Ann's really amazing, too.

[purrtagonist]

[Akira's expression softens a little bit before he responds, voice quiet]

You don't need their approval. Neither of you do. You're both incredible the way you are.

[but. . .]

Even so, I hope they come to realize that fact, too.

[flyingsolos]

... I'll do what I can. I want to show everyone just how strong an idol can be, and I can't do that if I let myself get knocked down by what people say or my own doubts.

[ ... ]

Though I guess saying that after I hit you and stomped out sounds a little hollow, huh?

[purrtagonist]

Eh. I deserved it.

[he doesn't sound even remotely bothered]

[flyingsolos]

[ To that, she just flaps a hand. ]

It won't happen again!

[ she also doesn't sound remotely bothered, but this is largely because Kou didn't let her brood. ]

[purrtagonist]

[only one hand, because he's still. holding. her other hand]

It won't happen again here, either.

[so they are peachy!]

[flyingsolos]

Just one question.

[ beyond "Akira, why are you still holding my hand", which she... does not actually ask. ]

You must've woken up when I dozed off. Why didn't you wake me up?

[ Given some sassy comment about her sleeping on the job? Etc. ]

[purrtagonist]

Huh?

[blinks at her a few times, clearly having not expected that question. but his answer is pretty simple]

I was still tired.

[. . . which is not at all the whole of it, but it's what she's getting right now]

[flyingsolos]

... Young man--

[ And she does her best to look and sound absolutely affronted, even though it's also remarkably clear she's trying to suppress her amusement. ]

Breaking the forty-five minute rule is absolutely a violation. Witnessing an idol's sleeping face is even worse! What do you have to say for yourself?

[purrtagonist]

[oh]

[my god]

[his mouth twitches, but he's also well-practiced in the art of maintaining a blase expression. the lenses of his glasses suddenly flash opaque]

I plead not guilty, your honor.

[flyingsolos]

...

[ With her free hand, she starts with holding up all five fingers, then lowers one. ]

Pulling a sneak attack when I thought you were sleeping. [ Two more fingers. ] The two I just mentioned. [ Her thumb goes down, leaving just her index finger. ] Lying about it.

[ And with her remaining finger, she lightly taps his forehead, then drops her hand. ]

And making me fall for you.

Still sticking with that plea, Akira?

[purrtagonist]

[everything about this is as expected]

[except that second to last line]

[that is--]





Huh?

[completely and utterly unexpected, to the point of where it completely knocks him off of his game. a rare sight for Akira Kurusu, leader of the Phantom Thieves, and yet. . . here we are]

[flyingsolos]

[ And here they stand, hands still clasped in what was probably a handshake at some point. Rion glances down at them, then carefully gives her hand a tug with a tired smile. From that reaction, that was one hell of an unexpected reply, and after that, he'll probably want his hand back. ]

I like you, Akira. A lot.

... I was going to wait until we got back to say it, but in the end, planning every last detail isn't really my style. Sorry.

[purrtagonist]

[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]