genessia | 6th Chapter | Action [Closed]

Entry tags:

6th Chapter | Action [Closed]

[Narrative]

[Maybe he had taken the long route on purpose, and getting lost was an excuse for him not to go. Mikoshiba isn't that self-aware, and he's mostly trying not to go hide at the laundromat or some random corner like he's tempted to do. He remembers the sudden lack of emotions Kashima displayed, and how the whole thing was Pretty Much His Fault. The awkward silences and tears after weren't worth the ego boost he had attempted getting by trying to take on too much at once. If he's serious about protecting his friends, then the lessons are necessary. Besides, every video game protagonist starts off as a level 1.]

[He tells himself that, and he's so engrossed with his own thoughts while trying to pay attention to street signs and ignore the overload of adrenaline, that he doesn't realize he passes by the shrine, and doesn't notice Yui, his own eyes locked onto the ground.]

[/Narrative]

[Action]

[He's tired and sweating, and he'll probably hurt tomorrow. Other than the fact that he's blushing (which could as easily be due to his embarrassment as physical exertion), it's hard to tell he even did anything remotely athletic at all. His hair remains perfect, and the sweat...just isn't that visible at the moment. But he feels it and tells himself it's worth it. He steps outside of the training center and takes a sip from the bottle of water he bought when he notices.]

[There's a sense of wrongness, of not being alone. He's experienced this feeling countless times before, and whenever he has there would be a new published chapter from Nozaki's manga with an embarrassing situation that strangely mirrored his own. Figuring it was just a very unlikely, repetitive coincidence, he'd just shrug it off. But this is different. He doesn't want any of his friends to know, and not just because of insecurities, but because he wants to impress them later. Or something. He freezes, like a shy, innocent forest deer, his eyes bugging out as he frantically glances around for the source of his paranoia.]

Nozaki? Are you being weird again?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Yui always had a tendency to act a little more like the people around her, to fit in just a tiny bit more and want to bond with them in that sense. Which is probably part of why she decided not to speak up when she saw Mikoto looking so intently, why she followed him and then kept quiet until he was done. The other part was that she knew he'd be embarrassed if she saw him, but..

Well, she wasn't a stealthy ninja. She was just Yui and, while good with a sword herself, she was more of a face-to-face fighter when it came down to it. When Mikoto obviously notices, she comes out with her hands up, still in her gear, though with her sword tied to her waist. ]

It's just me! I saw you and I didn't want you to be nervous, don't worry.

[Mikoto jumps a little, holding his gym bag defensively. He hadn't actually thought anyone would come out. He becomes even more flustered when he realizes it's someone he knows. Time to think of an excuse.]

You...saw me? I-I mean...there wasn't anything to see! I was just...running an errand for someone else here who I happen to know. It's perfectly normal!

[Which is why he's wearing workout clothes. Nervous, he wipes his forehead, a knuckles white from gripping his water bottle as if it's his lifeline.]

[Then he notices her gear and starts to feel paranoid. He just finished doing something no one knows about, and now he's alone with Yui, who's armed with a sword....]

Are you the yandere?

Edited 2015-12-07 04:07 (UTC)

[ She shakes her head, holding up her hands defensively. ]

I'm not a "yandere" or whatever! You walked by the shrine while I was finishing up and I went to catch up with you and saw you practicing. I wish you would've told me so I could help, Mikoto-senpai.

[ The last part is said with a firmness that's almost like scolding for not telling her.. ]

[Just like that, most of the tension is gone. He bows his head and he looks kind of upset.]

I didn't want help. I'm your senpai! So I was going to impress you...

Don't tell the others! They'll probably be stupid and overreact. And I'm not good at it yet.

I am impressed. [ Her voice seems very earnest about it. ] Working that hard is important and not everyone can do that. Even though I'm eons behind Takeru-san and he was much better than me, I still worked hard with him. There's no reason to be embarrassed by it if you're trying and getting better.

Edited 2015-12-21 22:09 (UTC)

[He blushes. Yui has opened up to him. Their friendship is stronger now. Maybe he can be more open to her.]

I just started, so I don't know much. Video games make it look so easy. But I won't quit. I have to do this for my friends.

Yui-san, if you still want to...please train with me!

[ She smiles. ]

A lot of things look easier when you aren't the one doing them. Are you trying to become stronger so you can protect them?

[ She nods, more than fine with agreeing, especially for a reason like that. As long as it isn't actually just to look cool anyway.. ]

Yeah...I want to protect my friends in case something bad ever happens again. And I'd like to fight with my friends who are already strong.

[His eyes constantly dart to anywhere but her, his hands twisting the hem of his shirt, but he finally meets her eyes once he's done.]

Edited (WRONG icon) 2016-01-03 10:10 (UTC)

That's really brave of you, Mikoto-senpai.

[ There there, Mikoto. It's a good thing, don't be so embarrassed. ]

Even people like us without powers or anything can try to do what we can.

[And just like that his face lights up, flowers swirl around them and the world is filled with stars because his ego is happy again.]

R-really?! You really think it's brave!

I don't want powers anyway. [Maybe he KIND of does but.]

I'll be able to protect you as your senpai without them. [Eventually.]

[ She gives him a little smile. There was actually something she wanted to ask him about, but she's not really sure how to bring it up.. ]

It looks like you're all done for today though. Have you had any dinner yet?

No, have you?

[He gazes at his gym bag.]

I am kind of hungry after working out.

Not yet.. What do you think sounds good?

[ Yui starts walking toward the more restaurant-y areas. ]

I could go for anything... What do you like to eat, Yui-san? [He wants to do something nice for her for being understanding and offering to help him.]

I'm fine with anything... but I've been missing food from home lately. Maybe we can find a traditional Japanese restaurant somewhere? Anything but corn will do. We have that with pretty much every meal..

[ Anubis likes corn so much but god there's so much.. ]

Corn...? [He looks at her strangely. Corn isn't romantic at all.] We can probably find something like that. I think I've seen a restaurant like that nearby before.

Yes, it's Anubis-san's favorite food. He's been living with me since we got here. Loki-san and I can even understand him for the most part now... [ Ah, she brought up Loki. She trails off a little. ] I guess I'll be cooking meat and sweets more often soon too, since we're going to get a place together. Loki-san, Anubis-san, and I are going to move in together I think. I've been looking at places in Fayren, anyway. --Ah, that's.. this isn't a prank this time, I promise.

[His eyes widen, then narrow. He looks to the side, muttering almost like it's a retort.] That's okay, I live with my boyfriend too.

He's not..

[ Instead of deflecting like normal this time, Yui just looks a little melancholy. ]

If I talk to you about something, will you promise not to get upset or tell Loki-san?

[Her expression sets off some alarms, and he no longer cares about trying to embarrass her.]

I promise, Yui-san. What's wrong?

[ She walks quietly for a couple of seconds, trying to figure out how to say it. ]

For a few seconds when we were doing that prank for his birthday.. that part with the confession toward me, he didn't tell me about that. I wouldn't have thought anything about it, since Loki-san loves doing pranks but..

[ Yui's hand holds over her chest, clenched slightly. ] It hurt, and I can't stop thinking about why. I can't even tell him because he'd just say that he knew he got me since it's obvious he just decided to turn it around on me.. he always likes teasing me, after all. Of course I'm not going to believe something like that, but.. it doesn't mean I can forget it so easily either. That's why that prank escalated so quickly, I panicked and just tried to turn it back onto you before he started laughing at me. I.. didn't think I could handle hearing him laugh at me for believing that. I'm sorry.

[ She looks up at Mikoshiba, uncertainty apparent on her face. ] We've been trying to act normally since, but.. it doesn't feel normal anymore to me. I don't know what to do.

...It wouldn't have hurt at all if it didn't matter to you for some reason. It's hard to go back to the way things were when something awkward like that happens. [Which is kind of the only reason anyone in the Manga House even ended up together.]

Do you like him?

...Maybe.

[ She wasn't sure. It hurt to admit that even more than it had hurt when she refused. ] For a moment, when I thought he might mean it, I felt really happy. I don't think I could've handled it if he started laughing at me for believing him, though. Besides.. If Balder-san came here, I don't want to come between them again. They're good friends and I don't want anyone to have to worry about something happening again because of me. Apollon-san is the only one I know has fallen in love with a human, too, and that...

[ She knows she's just scared. Part of her still wants to try to ask despite all that, but there are so many reasons she knows she shouldn't bring it up. ]

Thanks for listening, Mikoto-senpai. I'm sorry I'm not as exciting about this as you're probably expecting.. [ She tried to joke at the end of it, trying to show him she was still okay. ]

[He blushes when Yui admits she felt happy. Who the hell knows why. Maybe it makes him happy.] Yui-san, you can care for more person. Just because they're best friends doesn't mean you're getting in the way. Besides, aren't things better with them than they were at the beginning? From what Loki-san told me, I think Balder-san will understand.

I kind of think that if I hadn't been so enthusiastic about you being a couple, this wouldn't have happened... So I'm sorry. [He smiles a little sadly before brightening up.] Loki-san likes to joke around, but if he goes too far, you should tell him. He cares about you--I don't know how, but I'm sure your feelings matter to him.

Balder-san is.. [ Well.. it was somewhat public during the fear thing. She's still not sure what happened. ] Balder-san can't control himself sometimes. I thought we managed to get it under control, but after what happened in Fayren I don't know. Loki-san and I were only barely getting along once and he thought that he was trying to steal me away. Loki-san was hurt protecting me and trying to calm Balder-san down.

[ She shakes her head, smiling. ] Balder-san is really a kind person and it's not his fault. But if he gets like that, Loki-san feels like he has to take responsibility even if it gets him hurt or he believes he has to stop Balder-san no matter what. I care for them both too much to let that happen to them... and I can't put that burden on Loki-san, even if I want to be a little selfish when he says things like that. Usually I don't have a problem telling him he's gone too far, but I didn't want to ruin his birthday and I didn't expect to actually want it to be real.

[ She sighs in frustration, then slumps her shoulders a little. ]

Even if I like him, I don't know what to do.

Edited 2016-01-09 05:47 (UTC)

[Yeah, he didn't see that but Balder is totally a yandere.] What happened in Fayren? But Balder-san is a god. He's not used to humans. It doesn't mean he'll always react like that when you're around Loki-san.

Balder-san isn't here right now. [He narrows his eyes. Was another god here?] Unless he is? [Because he has to meet him and find out if he thinks he'd be cute with Yui if he's here. But he can think about that later.]

[He feels bad for Yui. He really does. He can't imagine being in her position--he'd be crushed. He bites his lip, looking thoughtful.]

How about we get back at him with our own prank?

Around Halloween, he appeared... but he was already out of control. Loki-san and I had to figure out a way to contain him. He's gone already..

[ Having a yandere is so much fun Mikorin don't you want to be in this position. :| ]

Balder-san is the God of Light, so all living beings are attracted to him naturally. His mother even made a pact with the universe and all of its creatures so he couldn't be harmed by anything but his own clumsiness. [ And mistletoe, but that's no one's business but Balder, Loki, Thor, and hers. ] Even the rain won't fall on him. Apparently that I just treat him like a normal person is unusual... He agreed to slow down a little after the first incident, but I can't imagine what would happen if he came back and suddenly I saw Loki-san and I together.

[ And then Yui backtracks a little- ] N-Not that we would be together, this is just hypothetical.. Loki-san didn't even like humans for the longest time, I doubt he'd want to really be together. He's the one who tried to bound Tsukito-san and I together to try to make us kiss, or steal a slipper just so he can be the star, plus the whole prank thing was just that-- that's not things you do with someone you like in such a way.

[ Yui looks around, trying to see if she can spot the restaurant they're heading to curiously. ]

He might actually like that.. what did you have in mind?

[He makes a shocked sound, expression crestfallen.] I missed it?

[He thinks he does but realistically he wouldn't be able to handle it.]

He's clumsy? [He didn't expect that. That surprises him a little.] He sounds like Loki-san's opposite. It's not like you'd be going to Balder-san with Loki-san holding your hand and your mouth... on his. [He barely gets the last part out, his face as red as his hair, steaming with embarrassment at his description.] You...you can let him know slowly.

[He raises his eyebrows, expression bemused. Sure, Yui.] True, but that was all in the past. He's changed and so have you. So has how you two see eachother.

[Across the street, there's a small traditional Japanese restaurant!]

Well we...we can pretend we're dating. If I can get Mayu to be okay with it. [He's just trying to get Loki to get jealous enough to do something. And if it doesn't work at least things will be less awkward between them. Maybe.]

Edited 2016-01-09 06:51 (UTC)

I'm glad you did, it was dangerous. You could've been seriously hurt. Loki-san didn't even want Anubis-san or I nearby.

[ For once, Yui's face matches Mikorin's in terms of how red they are. Don't talk about kissing so easily! So much so that she's just going to try to pretend he didn't even say that. ]

H-How I see him, maybe, but that prank wasn't that far in the past. Loki-san always just does what he wants, he would've said something by now if he was interested.

I.. don't think that would work, even if Mayu-san agreed. Loki-san isn't as gullible as you are, Mikoto-senpai...

Getting hurt would have been worth the experience! [He's very passionate about Yui's love life or lack of one okay.]

[He buries his face in his hands. He wishes she would say something to make it less awkward. Why did he say that?]

I don't know if he would... It's true he likes pranks, but that doesn't mean his feelings haven't changed.

Hah?! Who's gullible?! I'm not gullible, I just...didn't want to disappoint you as your senpai!

[ Her lack of one is becoming complicated. ] I suppose he hasn't said anything to you about it..? His feelings, I mean.

You agreed to be my man of honor after I panicked and said we were getting married, Mikoto-senpai..

...You should probably ask him about it, but I think he cares about you. Since it's Loki-san, you need to remember he probably isn't used to caring about a lot of other people. But he knows how to prank people, so that might be why he pranks you so much.

I...I didn't want to let you down!

He likes pranks, but he did that before he even knew me.

Anyway, [ She doesn't seem to buy that. ] I don't think Loki-san would believe you and I were dating..

I still think you should talk to him...

Maybe not. You're not a very convincing actor. [He's just trying to get under her skin now for calling him gullible. But they're at the restaurant! So he lets them in.]

I will, but it doesn't hurt to have a friend ask first. It's not like I'm asking you to confess for me or anything, just to ask man-to-man. My friends back home used to do that all the time, though I never had anyone to ask about.. [ Mikoto has made it into the 'girlfriends' category. Success(?) ]

I don't think I really am either, but you were the one who suggested it.. [ Yui keeps following Mikoto, looking around and peeking at a menu while they're seated. ]

Edited 2016-01-09 08:07 (UTC)

[His face gets a pink tint to it. He's happy Yui trusts him that much. He's completely oblivious to being in the 'girlfriends' category. But it's hard to refuse his friend when she needs his help. He frowns deeply and avoids her eyes.] Actually...he might have already said something...

I thought it might make you feel better. [He's concentrating on his menu now too. Really hard. As if that can somehow help him avoid telling Yui more about Loki.]

Really? What did he say?

[ She's so glad that Mikorin's a terrible fibber, really. She's definitely not concentrating on her menu. ]

I-it was...

[He's no longer looking at his menu anymore, but his knuckle are white from gripping it so hard.]

He kind of let the idea that you two have a "love life" slip. And he said he-- that his feelings about you changed.

[ She's not so sure about this the second that Mikoshiba says that Loki said they had a love life. That would imply that one actually existed, and she's pretty sure that Loki was playing a prank on him. ]

That sounds like he was just messing with you, Mikoto-senpai..

...

[He frowns and puts his menu down.]

No he wasn't. When Loki-san is pranking someone, he tends to smile more and you can hear it in his voice. He's happier. Loki-san was defensive and on edge when I asked him about his feelings toward you. It was nothing like his other pranks. He might be a good actor, but he's not that good an actor.

[ Mikoshiba's definitely right about how Loki is when he's pranking someone. Yui quiets down after that, then lets herself fall forward on the table, her head turned to the side. ]

Why wouldn't he say something to me?

Because you're the person he likes. He's probably nervous too.

[He's an expert on feeling anxious around crushes.]

[ The idea of Loki being nervous somehow is something she's having trouble imagining. He's always so confident and does whatever he wants, when he wants, and won't do anything he doesn't want to.

Then again, if he had really meant it during that prank... Yui can see how he might've thought she was avoiding the topic too. ]

...Do you think he was really confessing, in the middle of all that?

[Someone is waiting for him when he gets home.

It's not Mayu.

Well, Mayu is probably waiting, but that's not who is waiting by the front door when Mikoshiba gets home. It's Kashima, and she's frowning, and she looks at least eighty percent like a nervous mother waiting for her kid past curfew, arms crossed when he walks in the front door.]

Mikoshiba! You said you were going to be home way earlier than this!

[It's not a becoming look to have your cheeks puffed up like this, Kashima...]

[Mikorin knows that look.]

[Except he doesn't he is the perfect son.]

[It does catch him off guard though. He was hoping no one would notice his absence.]

I...

[He really doesn't know what to say to this but he doesn't want Kashima mad at him. It scares him and reminds him of before.]

I'm sorry? I...was just called in to do some emergency modeling because one of the others was sick!

[The lie feels awful, but he's doing this for his friends.]

Edited 2015-12-07 05:32 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

6th Chapter | Action [Closed]

no subject

no subject

I'M SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG YUI JUST WENT ON VACATION FOR LIKE TWO WEEKS.

NO IT'S OKAY NO RUSH DID SHE HAVE A GOOD VACATION

SI.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

[Action, late in the day when he gets home]

[Action]