Yoshiko Tsushima (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
trappingheart) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
soundoftheseas2017-05-27 01:25 pm
trappingheart) wrote in soundoftheseas2017-05-27 01:25 pm
YOHAMARU CATCHALL
the loves of my life tbh
the loves of my life tbh
Hanamaru has been dropping hints that she's mad. Pretty obvious ones, actually. Like she didn't smile when Yoshiko told her good morning, and stuck by Riko's side at lunch time, and has been periodically shooting glares in Yoshiko's way just in case she happens to catch them. Everyone but Yoshiko has already asked her what the matter is, and that's only been making Maru more mad.
They have library duty after school today, and while that's usually one of the high points of Maru's week, being alone with Yoshiko right now, in that sort of atmosphere... as soon as they set foot in the library, it's already stifling.
She could bring it up herself. That would make it quicker, probably-- Yoshiko has always been bad at cluing on to this stuff. That would be the more mature thing to do, Maru is aware, but instead all she does is point down the library and say:
"Well, I'm gonna go sort the books over there, okay?"
They have library duty after school today, and while that's usually one of the high points of Maru's week, being alone with Yoshiko right now, in that sort of atmosphere... as soon as they set foot in the library, it's already stifling.
She could bring it up herself. That would make it quicker, probably-- Yoshiko has always been bad at cluing on to this stuff. That would be the more mature thing to do, Maru is aware, but instead all she does is point down the library and say:
"Well, I'm gonna go sort the books over there, okay?"
It's only really stifling because Hanamaru is making it stifling, isn't it? Yoshiko may be pretty bad at cluing in on when something's wrong, but all throughout lunchtime, she's been thinking about what the problem could be; her girlfriend's been a bit grumpy ever since last evening, but usually when she's short with her like this, it's just a matter of her being a little bit...hangry, they call it? That, or it tends to just resolve itself with a bit of time. In their near-year together as a couple, she can't think of a time when her silent treatment has gone on for this long, and it is pretty bothersome...
Playing it off like she doesn't catch onto it seems to be making it worse, though. If Zuramaru had some kind of an issue, Yoshiko thinks to herself, she would probably be upfront with it; she has no reason not to be, after all. But she hasn't laughed at any of her gags, or even said more than a few words to her all day, no reaction at all aside from the occasional look...maybe she just doesn't want to talk about whatever's bothering her?
As for the death glares, Maru makes that face pretty often, so that's par for the course. But when Maru steps foot in the library and immediately tries to duck her again, Yoshiko comes to a realization that this may be worse than she had assumed...
"Zuramaru, you never start all the way in the back...we always come in and do the mythology stuff together, don't we?"
It's often a bit frustrating, but Yoshiko has a bit of a selective obliviousness--
"You've been like this all day. ...Are you not feeling well?"
That's not it, and Yoshiko knows it; she's seen Maru sick before, and she's definitely not like this; probably the opposite, if anything. But she doesn't really know how to approach the topic that Maru is upset otherwise, just because a situation like this is such foreign territory...
Playing it off like she doesn't catch onto it seems to be making it worse, though. If Zuramaru had some kind of an issue, Yoshiko thinks to herself, she would probably be upfront with it; she has no reason not to be, after all. But she hasn't laughed at any of her gags, or even said more than a few words to her all day, no reaction at all aside from the occasional look...maybe she just doesn't want to talk about whatever's bothering her?
As for the death glares, Maru makes that face pretty often, so that's par for the course. But when Maru steps foot in the library and immediately tries to duck her again, Yoshiko comes to a realization that this may be worse than she had assumed...
"Zuramaru, you never start all the way in the back...we always come in and do the mythology stuff together, don't we?"
It's often a bit frustrating, but Yoshiko has a bit of a selective obliviousness--
"You've been like this all day. ...Are you not feeling well?"
That's not it, and Yoshiko knows it; she's seen Maru sick before, and she's definitely not like this; probably the opposite, if anything. But she doesn't really know how to approach the topic that Maru is upset otherwise, just because a situation like this is such foreign territory...
Whatever relief Maru may have felt at Yoshiko noticing poofs the next second at that completely off-mark guess. Really, Yoshiko-chan? Is that the best you could come up with...?!
But she smiles, that very particular narrow-eyed Hanamaru smile that foretells the looming end of her patience just beyond the horizon.
"Maru is feeling just fine, zura."
But she smiles, that very particular narrow-eyed Hanamaru smile that foretells the looming end of her patience just beyond the horizon.
"Maru is feeling just fine, zura."
...For all of her fallen angel talk, it's obvious who the truly frightening one between them is here. Yoshiko just gulps and starts to feel the sweat trickle down the back of her neck.
Yeah, there's something up here.
"That's...Are you sure? I mean, you've been a little..."
Short? Quiet? Filled with murderous intent? How does she even approach this? She's definitely been avoiding her, but not really avoiding her; thinking about something, but not something she'll tell her outright? And she doesn't want to make a mountain out of a molehill, so to speak, but...
Well, if it's really nothing, maybe it's just a mood, but if it isn't, maybe she should be more direct about it? Yoshiko's at a total loss here, and unfortunately, her impulse when she's at a loss is--
"Kukuku, that must be it, then! If you truly aren't feeling ill, it must surely be the work of a malignant and invisible demon, feeding upon your radiant smile and threatening to drain your life energy by the minute! It, er, must be a sneaky one, to do it in such a way that you haven't been noticing...it was probably drawn to your calm and tender aura. So...I can perform the exorcism post-haste, of course. G-getting rid of it will be simple work for a powerful fallen angel of my caliber, naturally..."
It's clear that she's struggling, from the way her hands start to fidget a little, even as she covers her face with that ridiculous pose. That's...probably the wrong thing to do in this situation, isn't it--
Yeah, there's something up here.
"That's...Are you sure? I mean, you've been a little..."
Short? Quiet? Filled with murderous intent? How does she even approach this? She's definitely been avoiding her, but not really avoiding her; thinking about something, but not something she'll tell her outright? And she doesn't want to make a mountain out of a molehill, so to speak, but...
Well, if it's really nothing, maybe it's just a mood, but if it isn't, maybe she should be more direct about it? Yoshiko's at a total loss here, and unfortunately, her impulse when she's at a loss is--
"Kukuku, that must be it, then! If you truly aren't feeling ill, it must surely be the work of a malignant and invisible demon, feeding upon your radiant smile and threatening to drain your life energy by the minute! It, er, must be a sneaky one, to do it in such a way that you haven't been noticing...it was probably drawn to your calm and tender aura. So...I can perform the exorcism post-haste, of course. G-getting rid of it will be simple work for a powerful fallen angel of my caliber, naturally..."
It's clear that she's struggling, from the way her hands start to fidget a little, even as she covers her face with that ridiculous pose. That's...probably the wrong thing to do in this situation, isn't it--
The growing twitch under Maru's left eye should be a solid indicator that this not a path Yoshiko wants to be heading down, yet she keeps going on and on anyway, and by the time she's finished Maru is shaking with frustration like the first rumbles of a volcanic eruption. All she can do is stare at her for a second, fists clenched by her sides -- before reaching for the shelf beside her and throwing a magazine at Yoshiko's head.
"I've had enough of this, zura! I don't wanna listen to that fallen angel talk for the rest of my life!"
... Of course, the magazine's thin and a softcover, so it flutters to the floor before making any actual contact. This does not help quell Maru's anger one bit, so she swiftly reaches for the next one on the shelf and throws that at Yoshiko too, harder this time.
"I've had enough of this, zura! I don't wanna listen to that fallen angel talk for the rest of my life!"
... Of course, the magazine's thin and a softcover, so it flutters to the floor before making any actual contact. This does not help quell Maru's anger one bit, so she swiftly reaches for the next one on the shelf and throws that at Yoshiko too, harder this time.
Edited 2017-05-27 19:32 (UTC)
Well, thankfully it's just a softcover, so even though the second magazine hits Yoshiko's face with a crack like a whip (she doesn't even get the chance to flinch), it doesn't hurt nearly as much as the words do. Sure, it probably wasn't the right time or the place, she'll be the first to admit that, but...
"H-hey! Zuramaru, I was just trying to cheer you up, y-you don't have to throw things at me! What the hell?!"
Her shrill cries echo through the empty library halls, but she hardly cares enough to watch her volume.
"If you don't want to hear it, then...then just tell me what's going on already!"
"H-hey! Zuramaru, I was just trying to cheer you up, y-you don't have to throw things at me! What the hell?!"
Her shrill cries echo through the empty library halls, but she hardly cares enough to watch her volume.
"If you don't want to hear it, then...then just tell me what's going on already!"
"Fine!" Hanamaru bristles in return, "If you're too thickheaded to figure it out on your own, then--"
... and then she freezes, slack-jawed wide-eyed, indignation overtaken by a look of dread. Sure enough, behind Yoshiko's back, there stands the school librarian -- glasses glinting, the glare of disapproval on her face sharper than a thousand needles.
"Eh... erm..." Hanamaru clears her throat nervously, and then quickly catches herself and takes an apologetic bow. "S-sorry about this, ma'am, we'll pick this up right away! And we'll keep quiet from now on...!"
The librarian waits until the magazines are placed neatly back in place, then gives a stern nod of approval before heading back to her station at the front of library. Maru heaves out a sigh. She has great respect for this woman; in part due her vast knowledge in literature, and in part because she's older and shorter than her own grandma but still, when angered, manages to be one of the most intimidating forces on the surface of the Earth.
... But she and Yoshiko still have much left to talk about, and there's no way she can just hold it in until the end of the day.
She shuffles in place, a bit awkward after her outburst, and says-- "Let's go outside for a bit, then."
... and then she freezes, slack-jawed wide-eyed, indignation overtaken by a look of dread. Sure enough, behind Yoshiko's back, there stands the school librarian -- glasses glinting, the glare of disapproval on her face sharper than a thousand needles.
"Eh... erm..." Hanamaru clears her throat nervously, and then quickly catches herself and takes an apologetic bow. "S-sorry about this, ma'am, we'll pick this up right away! And we'll keep quiet from now on...!"
The librarian waits until the magazines are placed neatly back in place, then gives a stern nod of approval before heading back to her station at the front of library. Maru heaves out a sigh. She has great respect for this woman; in part due her vast knowledge in literature, and in part because she's older and shorter than her own grandma but still, when angered, manages to be one of the most intimidating forces on the surface of the Earth.
... But she and Yoshiko still have much left to talk about, and there's no way she can just hold it in until the end of the day.
She shuffles in place, a bit awkward after her outburst, and says-- "Let's go outside for a bit, then."
Yoshiko doesn't quite catch why Maru's anger suddenly gives way, but when she can feel the ice-cold stare of a third party behind her, she can't help but tense up and quickly turn around, giving a stiff bow in return, bending so hard at the waist that she almost feels like she's going to snap. She couldn't give a damn about the old lady, naturally, nice as she is, but the last thing she wants is to get Hanamaru in trouble in her favorite place, even if she is upset with her for some reason...
Hanamaru seems to have the situation with the librarian settled, but on Yoshiko's end, she can't help but mutter an apology to her, for making her explode; there's a big red mark across the front of her face from where the magazine hit her, and it still stings, but she still whispers a quick "I'm sorry" as she bends over to pick up the magazine that nailed her.
She just nods at Maru's request to go outside, hesitant to say anything more at the risk of setting her off again. At least if they aren't in the library anymore, if they head outside to the lawn for a bit, they won't have to worry about getting in trouble. Still, to think it was this serious...no matter how hard she wracks her brain, though, she can't think of a reason why Maru is that upset. What changed between yesterday and today..?
Hanamaru seems to have the situation with the librarian settled, but on Yoshiko's end, she can't help but mutter an apology to her, for making her explode; there's a big red mark across the front of her face from where the magazine hit her, and it still stings, but she still whispers a quick "I'm sorry" as she bends over to pick up the magazine that nailed her.
She just nods at Maru's request to go outside, hesitant to say anything more at the risk of setting her off again. At least if they aren't in the library anymore, if they head outside to the lawn for a bit, they won't have to worry about getting in trouble. Still, to think it was this serious...no matter how hard she wracks her brain, though, she can't think of a reason why Maru is that upset. What changed between yesterday and today..?
With another apologetic bow and a 'be right back' to the librarian, the two of them head out into the schoolyard. It's pretty abandoned by now, their fellow students divided between their various chores and clubs. Maru considers a moment, and then settles down atop her chosen patch of grass, beneath the comfortable shade of a tall cherry tree.
The weather's nice. Warm, even as the sun begins to slink away, dyeing the sky a blend of orange and purple. Maru wishes she could enjoy it a little more, without the uneasy weight rolling in her stomach.
She draws her knees to her chest, resting her chin between them.
"You know," she mumbles, "I wonder if you're really serious about Maru..."
The weather's nice. Warm, even as the sun begins to slink away, dyeing the sky a blend of orange and purple. Maru wishes she could enjoy it a little more, without the uneasy weight rolling in her stomach.
She draws her knees to her chest, resting her chin between them.
"You know," she mumbles, "I wonder if you're really serious about Maru..."
Yoshiko just follows her with her arms crossed as she ponders the situation, but when Hanamaru plops down on the grass, Yoshiko hesitantly takes a seat next to her. She can't bring herself to focus on the sunset in front of them, or even on the bright petals of the cherry tree above them; if she did, she might remember having climbed one like this, over a year ago, falling from the top of the branch onto the hard pavement beneath before locking eyes with Hanamaru for the first time in years. But instead, Yoshiko's focus is entirely on poor Maru, even as she recoils into herself.
Still, Maru's worry is an unexpected one; Yoshiko doesn't quite know why Hanamaru is so concerned with that, all of a sudden, but the response is immediate, and Yoshiko instinctively reaches her hand out on the grass between them, her way of closing the distance.
"What the heck are you talking about?" Her voice practically cracks from the surprise. "Of course I'm serious about you, Zuramaru! We wouldn't have been together for this long if I wasn't! What made you think that, all of a sudden?"
Still, Maru's worry is an unexpected one; Yoshiko doesn't quite know why Hanamaru is so concerned with that, all of a sudden, but the response is immediate, and Yoshiko instinctively reaches her hand out on the grass between them, her way of closing the distance.
"What the heck are you talking about?" Her voice practically cracks from the surprise. "Of course I'm serious about you, Zuramaru! We wouldn't have been together for this long if I wasn't! What made you think that, all of a sudden?"
Edited 2017-05-27 20:42 (UTC)
Maru starts, caught off-guard by the abrupt intensity of her reaction. The unease trickles away, just a bit, and her shoulders hunch up self-consciously. It's hard to stay mad at Yoshiko when she's so earnest, but she can't stomp down her feelings so easily, either...
"... You really didn't notice? I was really excited about you coming to dinner with my family yesterday. Look, I even told you to dress up nice, didn't I?"
"... You really didn't notice? I was really excited about you coming to dinner with my family yesterday. Look, I even told you to dress up nice, didn't I?"
"Huh? Why are you bringing that up, all of a sudden?"
She knows what she's talking about, of course, it was only yesterday.
"And I did dress up nice, I wore the most normal thing in my closet and everything! I thought it went really well! Your family was really nice, and I don't think they, like, noticed anything. I tried not to make it obvious that we were, y'know, a thing..."
After all, Yoshiko hasn't told her family, either. Not because she's embarrassed about it or anything; it's more of a lack of contact issue, than anything. Still, in Maru's case, with her family running a shrine and all, the issue is a little more sensitive, so she tried not to be so openly affectionate. And yeah, there was one little mishap, but...
"They even played off my stupid joke better than I thought, all things considered. Even though it was a little humiliating, they didn't seem to mind it, I didn't think...and other than that, I thought it was nice. A little formal, of course, so it was kinda stiff, but I think they liked me, didn't they? Unless they were, like, talking about me behind my back or something..."
She knows what she's talking about, of course, it was only yesterday.
"And I did dress up nice, I wore the most normal thing in my closet and everything! I thought it went really well! Your family was really nice, and I don't think they, like, noticed anything. I tried not to make it obvious that we were, y'know, a thing..."
After all, Yoshiko hasn't told her family, either. Not because she's embarrassed about it or anything; it's more of a lack of contact issue, than anything. Still, in Maru's case, with her family running a shrine and all, the issue is a little more sensitive, so she tried not to be so openly affectionate. And yeah, there was one little mishap, but...
"They even played off my stupid joke better than I thought, all things considered. Even though it was a little humiliating, they didn't seem to mind it, I didn't think...and other than that, I thought it was nice. A little formal, of course, so it was kinda stiff, but I think they liked me, didn't they? Unless they were, like, talking about me behind my back or something..."
Whatever's remained of Hanamaru's indignation tapers off into weariness the more Yoshiko explains -- save for a single spike in tension, shoulders squaring up, when she talks about hiding their relationship like it was an accomplishment.
"Yoshiko-chan," she begins, slouching forward with a sigh. What stings most is the realization Yoshiko was doing her best, only with the completely opposite intent in mind-- she wasn't oblivious, she was deliberately trying to keep it a secret...
"Nobody was talking behind your back. Everyone liked you, and your clothes were nice. I just..."
She buries her face deeper between her knees.
"I wanted to tell them."
"Yoshiko-chan," she begins, slouching forward with a sigh. What stings most is the realization Yoshiko was doing her best, only with the completely opposite intent in mind-- she wasn't oblivious, she was deliberately trying to keep it a secret...
"Nobody was talking behind your back. Everyone liked you, and your clothes were nice. I just..."
She buries her face deeper between her knees.
"I wanted to tell them."
"Huh? If I didn't dress badly, and your family liked me, then why are you--"
...Oh. Oh no, she's such an idiot, of course she wanted to tell them...
"Z-Zuramaru, I didn't...I never meant to make it seem like I wasn't serious about you, of course! You...I mean, you told me that you hadn't said anything to your family yet, s-so I didn't want to surprise them or anything...I tried to just act natural and not give it away, because I thought you wanted to keep it a secret! It wasn't because I'm not happy to be your girlfriend or anything, p-please don't misunderstand!"
Oh shoot, she really dropped the ball here, didn't she...how could she have not picked up on that? The whole family was there, it would've been the perfect place to announce it...
"Why didn't you tell me?! I would've been extra careful if you said you wanted to tell everyone we were a couple!"
...Oh. Oh no, she's such an idiot, of course she wanted to tell them...
"Z-Zuramaru, I didn't...I never meant to make it seem like I wasn't serious about you, of course! You...I mean, you told me that you hadn't said anything to your family yet, s-so I didn't want to surprise them or anything...I tried to just act natural and not give it away, because I thought you wanted to keep it a secret! It wasn't because I'm not happy to be your girlfriend or anything, p-please don't misunderstand!"
Oh shoot, she really dropped the ball here, didn't she...how could she have not picked up on that? The whole family was there, it would've been the perfect place to announce it...
"Why didn't you tell me?! I would've been extra careful if you said you wanted to tell everyone we were a couple!"
Maru watches the ground, tapping her toes together to a dull, sheepish rhythm. Yoshiko's right-- it would've been smarter to, and maybe then this whole mess wouldn't have happened, but...
"I guess... I just thought it was gonna happen, you know? It didn't seem that difficult in my head... but then I got more nervous than I expected, and kept waiting for the right opportunity to say it, and when it did turn up-- well..."
A sigh at the recollection; when Maru had wanted to say girlfriend, Yoshiko said little demon, and any chance they had of making it a serious conversation went flying right out the window.
"I mean, fallen angel or not, I know you can't read my mind, Yoshiko-chan. But when you brushed it off as a joke, it kind of hurt... I thought you'd be happy to tell them, too."
"I guess... I just thought it was gonna happen, you know? It didn't seem that difficult in my head... but then I got more nervous than I expected, and kept waiting for the right opportunity to say it, and when it did turn up-- well..."
A sigh at the recollection; when Maru had wanted to say girlfriend, Yoshiko said little demon, and any chance they had of making it a serious conversation went flying right out the window.
"I mean, fallen angel or not, I know you can't read my mind, Yoshiko-chan. But when you brushed it off as a joke, it kind of hurt... I thought you'd be happy to tell them, too."
"R, right..."
So that's what this is about, then...it's true, even if she had wanted to say anything after a joke like that, there was no way in Hell that she'd be able to talk about it. Hanamaru's whole reason for wanting to have that dinner with her family was completely and utterly crushed at that moment, so it's no wonder she was upset for the rest of the night. Yoshiko had just assumed she was tired after a long evening, but the reality of the situation was that the dinner itself was the complete opposite of what Maru had intended, even when Yoshiko had been so bold as to consider it a success...
It might be presumptuous of her, to touch her while she's mad, but she puts a hand on top of Hanamaru's knee.
"Zu...Hanamaru. You know the last thing I want to do is hurt you."
But she sure did a bang-up job of that, between yesterday's fiasco and everything that happened today...
"If I had known you wanted to tell them, I would've been happy to go through it with you, of course. Your family couldn't have been nicer, especially to someone like me."
She was more nervous than Hanamaru was, at first. They had done a good job of putting her at ease, though...
"...If anything, I thought you were keeping it a secret for so long because you were embarrassed to tell them about me, or because you didn't know how they'd react. ...So I kind of just blurted the first thing that came to mind, there, and you know how that goes. I'm really sorry. I should have known what you were trying to do...I didn't mean to ruin your chance."
And who knows when Maru will get that chance again? It's not often the whole family has dinner together like that, between their shrine obligations and shifting schedules, so it'll probably be a while before they get that setting back...
So that's what this is about, then...it's true, even if she had wanted to say anything after a joke like that, there was no way in Hell that she'd be able to talk about it. Hanamaru's whole reason for wanting to have that dinner with her family was completely and utterly crushed at that moment, so it's no wonder she was upset for the rest of the night. Yoshiko had just assumed she was tired after a long evening, but the reality of the situation was that the dinner itself was the complete opposite of what Maru had intended, even when Yoshiko had been so bold as to consider it a success...
It might be presumptuous of her, to touch her while she's mad, but she puts a hand on top of Hanamaru's knee.
"Zu...Hanamaru. You know the last thing I want to do is hurt you."
But she sure did a bang-up job of that, between yesterday's fiasco and everything that happened today...
"If I had known you wanted to tell them, I would've been happy to go through it with you, of course. Your family couldn't have been nicer, especially to someone like me."
She was more nervous than Hanamaru was, at first. They had done a good job of putting her at ease, though...
"...If anything, I thought you were keeping it a secret for so long because you were embarrassed to tell them about me, or because you didn't know how they'd react. ...So I kind of just blurted the first thing that came to mind, there, and you know how that goes. I'm really sorry. I should have known what you were trying to do...I didn't mean to ruin your chance."
And who knows when Maru will get that chance again? It's not often the whole family has dinner together like that, between their shrine obligations and shifting schedules, so it'll probably be a while before they get that setting back...
Hanamaru tilts her head sideways, peering cautiously over at Yoshiko. It's not often that she hears her voice go soft like that, or that she calls her properly by name, and it makes her heart beat a little faster.
She reaches her hand over, wrapping her pinky over Yoshiko's forefinger.
"So... you really wouldn't mind telling them? For sure?"
She reaches her hand over, wrapping her pinky over Yoshiko's forefinger.
"So... you really wouldn't mind telling them? For sure?"
"Why would I have a problem with it? It's been nearly a year now. If you think it's time to tell them, I'll be right there with you when you do. In normal clothes, holding your hand just like this."
She looks so cute, peeking out from between her knees like this...even though the moment was so tense before this, Yoshiko tries her best to give her a reassuring smile.
"...Maybe give my face a little bit of time to heal, so they don't think you're dating a samurai, but..."
She looks so cute, peeking out from between her knees like this...even though the moment was so tense before this, Yoshiko tries her best to give her a reassuring smile.
"...Maybe give my face a little bit of time to heal, so they don't think you're dating a samurai, but..."
And Maru returns the smile, gentle and soft, only for the corners of her mouth to twitch unevenly upwards at that last comment.
"Ee-heh-heehh... I didn't think something like that would leave a mark..."
She lowers her knees at last, turning to face Yoshiko full-on.
"I'm sorry. I'll kiss it better, okay?"
And leaning forward, she presses her lips to the bridge of her nose.
"Ee-heh-heehh... I didn't think something like that would leave a mark..."
She lowers her knees at last, turning to face Yoshiko full-on.
"I'm sorry. I'll kiss it better, okay?"
And leaning forward, she presses her lips to the bridge of her nose.
"Well, you did kind of throw it at me pretty hard..."
Though she'll take the kiss, for sure, her pale face turning cherry red when she does. But when Hanamaru faces her gaze, Yoshiko looks down...
"...Hey, did you mean what you said, earlier? About the fallen angel stuff? If it really bothers you, I'll stop it for you. I promise. I know the last time I tried it didn't go so well, but..."
Before, the only thing at stake was her reputation, and Hanamaru is far, far more important to her than that could ever be.
"If it's for you, I know I can do it. I've never heard you get that upset before, so, do you think I should?"
Though she'll take the kiss, for sure, her pale face turning cherry red when she does. But when Hanamaru faces her gaze, Yoshiko looks down...
"...Hey, did you mean what you said, earlier? About the fallen angel stuff? If it really bothers you, I'll stop it for you. I promise. I know the last time I tried it didn't go so well, but..."
Before, the only thing at stake was her reputation, and Hanamaru is far, far more important to her than that could ever be.
"If it's for you, I know I can do it. I've never heard you get that upset before, so, do you think I should?"
"Ah!" Maru jumps, paling. The words had completely slipped her mind until this very moment, and she regrets them immediately. She waves her hands before her frantically, as if to bat the very memory of it away. "No, no, that was just 'cause of the timing--!"
Ah, but that's not the greatest reassurance either, is it... she stops and takes a deep breath.
"... I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking when I said that. It was a really cruel thing to say, wasn't it..." Her back snaps upright then, new resolve in her eyes: "But, um, Yoshiko-chan wouldn't be Yoshiko-chan without it, and I love Yoshiko-chan! So you don't have to change at all!"
That felt like a better thing to say, at least to Maru, but she seals it with a quick kiss to Yoshiko's lips just to be sure.
"Okay?"
Ah, but that's not the greatest reassurance either, is it... she stops and takes a deep breath.
"... I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking when I said that. It was a really cruel thing to say, wasn't it..." Her back snaps upright then, new resolve in her eyes: "But, um, Yoshiko-chan wouldn't be Yoshiko-chan without it, and I love Yoshiko-chan! So you don't have to change at all!"
That felt like a better thing to say, at least to Maru, but she seals it with a quick kiss to Yoshiko's lips just to be sure.
"Okay?"
"N-no, no, Zuramaru, don't beat yourself up over it." She's quick to reassure her, gripping at her hands the instant they start flying. "You don't have to apologize to me, it was my fault for not being able to get the atmosphere."
Her reaction makes sense, after all; it was just a bad thing to say, in that circumstance.
"It just feels like sometimes it's nothing but trouble, is all. So I wonder..."
But Hanamaru is quick to give her a quick kiss to diffuse the situation, and the second Maru's lips leave hers, Yoshiko's hand darts to her face as she gives her most devilish laugh--
"Ah, but of course, trouble is bound to follow someone as malevolent as I am, wherever I may go. Such is the curse of a devil on earth, and that is simply the price one must pay for dating one! But never fear, my most favorite of all little demons! Should you ever need my unholy aid, you know you need only say the word!"
She's easy enough to please, is the takeaway here.
"...And that means no silent treatment, either! Seriously, to think you went off to go have lunch with Riri! I had no one to share my cream buns with..."
Her reaction makes sense, after all; it was just a bad thing to say, in that circumstance.
"It just feels like sometimes it's nothing but trouble, is all. So I wonder..."
But Hanamaru is quick to give her a quick kiss to diffuse the situation, and the second Maru's lips leave hers, Yoshiko's hand darts to her face as she gives her most devilish laugh--
"Ah, but of course, trouble is bound to follow someone as malevolent as I am, wherever I may go. Such is the curse of a devil on earth, and that is simply the price one must pay for dating one! But never fear, my most favorite of all little demons! Should you ever need my unholy aid, you know you need only say the word!"
She's easy enough to please, is the takeaway here.
"...And that means no silent treatment, either! Seriously, to think you went off to go have lunch with Riri! I had no one to share my cream buns with..."
"Ehh, you had cream buns today?!" A kneejerk reaction. Missing the point a bit, though. "-- Sorry. I'm not used to being angry with you. I think I just needed to stew in it for a bit, maybe..."
Leaving Yoshiko in the dark and expecting her to work it out by herself was no good either, though. She's sure she's made her feel really bad today, when they could've had this conversation as early as last night...
Maru's face falls with guilt, and then she tilts her head up, touching foreheads with Yoshiko.
"But if something like this happens again, I'll definitely talk to you about my feelings properly." And she raises a pinky: "Promise!"
Leaving Yoshiko in the dark and expecting her to work it out by herself was no good either, though. She's sure she's made her feel really bad today, when they could've had this conversation as early as last night...
Maru's face falls with guilt, and then she tilts her head up, touching foreheads with Yoshiko.
"But if something like this happens again, I'll definitely talk to you about my feelings properly." And she raises a pinky: "Promise!"
"I still have some leftover at home. I'll bring them in tomorrow, if you're okay with having lunch with me again. It was lonely without you."
She's not used to having Hanamaru angry with her, either, but she's glad that, at least, the day went by with the whole thing out of their systems.
"Honestly, to have gone this long without you getting upset like that is a bit of an accomplishment in my book, but at least now I know for the future not to say something silly when you're mad."
She rubs their noses together, in a bit of an eskimo kiss--
"I'll make sure to be more direct with you, too, when I notice something's wrong. We could have got this settled a lot faster if I just asked you what was up."
She hooks her pinky around Maru's, though, and she can't keep the grin off her face.
"It's a promise from me, too. You know I love you, right?"
She's not used to having Hanamaru angry with her, either, but she's glad that, at least, the day went by with the whole thing out of their systems.
"Honestly, to have gone this long without you getting upset like that is a bit of an accomplishment in my book, but at least now I know for the future not to say something silly when you're mad."
She rubs their noses together, in a bit of an eskimo kiss--
"I'll make sure to be more direct with you, too, when I notice something's wrong. We could have got this settled a lot faster if I just asked you what was up."
She hooks her pinky around Maru's, though, and she can't keep the grin off her face.
"It's a promise from me, too. You know I love you, right?"
Maru beams as she lifts their joint hands, feeling her heart skip a beat. "Yeah!"
She's already breathing easier, the mess of knots in her stomach coming untangled. She'd gladly let this precious moment linger, except--
"Ah, we should really get back before Ms. Librarian gets mad... I really don't want to make her angry twice in one day, zura."
Maru goes to get up, but then pauses. It occurs to her she's not quite content to leave things with this. "Right, there's still one thing left unresolved!"
Reaching into her schoolbag, she produces the latest book she's been reading. It's a small, softcovervcollection of contemporary haiku, which she shoves into Yoshiko's hands with a smile. "Please throw this at Maru's face!"
She's already breathing easier, the mess of knots in her stomach coming untangled. She'd gladly let this precious moment linger, except--
"Ah, we should really get back before Ms. Librarian gets mad... I really don't want to make her angry twice in one day, zura."
Maru goes to get up, but then pauses. It occurs to her she's not quite content to leave things with this. "Right, there's still one thing left unresolved!"
Reaching into her schoolbag, she produces the latest book she's been reading. It's a small, softcovervcollection of contemporary haiku, which she shoves into Yoshiko's hands with a smile. "Please throw this at Maru's face!"
Edited 2017-05-28 07:09 (UTC)
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