𝓵𝓪𝓫𝔂𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓱𝓾𝓶 ❀ 𝓲𝓷𝓫𝓸𝔁

[girlybruiser]

ＩＮＢＯＸ 𝕥𝕖𝕩𝕥 💬 ✦ 𝕒𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠 📞 ✦ 𝕧𝕚𝕕𝕖𝕠 📹 ✦ 𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 🎬 𝕔𝕠𝕕𝕖 𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕥

Comments

[petsthedog]

[Whatever he thought she was going to say, it wasn't that. If he looked like he'd been slapped before he rallied earlier, this time his expression crumbles entirely in shock. It doesn't smooth out into something neutral this time, either. He'd almost look angry if his eyes weren't so pained, immediately making her point for her.]

Don't do that.

[Sharp, almost desperate.]

Nothing happened to me. Nobody ... even knows, aside from the people who were there when it happened. It was covered up, so I got away clean.

[He phrases it in the crassest way he can think of, as though to kick her sympathy out from under her, make her think better of it before it can properly take root, but his choice of words immediately betrays him. He didn't say that he covered it up, after all.]

[girlybruiser]

[ Shinji still manages to startle Haru and she inches away instinctively.

Her hand grips her purse strap, staring up at him with widened eyes, uncertain what reaction lies in wait if she says something that might upset him further. ]

... I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to overstep.

[ It isn't her place. Hearing secondhand from the others doesn't mean it's her problem to fix, even if she's worried about Ken.

Shinjiro's choice of words is odd, but maybe she needs to back off for now.

Boys have a different method of handling their emotions, after all. ]

Um, I can walk the rest of the way. Thank you for escorting me this far.

[petsthedog]

[He doesn't expect the apology. He expects it to become a fight, like it always does -- with Aki, with Qifrey, with Dolph Laserhawk.

Haru tightens her grip on her purse, stares at him with wide eyes and tries to excuse herself, and Shinjiro ... on the one hand, it's probably for the best if she does avoid him -- it's not as though he's really someone worth getting to know in the first place -- and yet. He is embarrassed, a touch, at drawing that reaction without trying to intimidate anybody. Did she think he was going to hit her or something...? Just for saying something kinder than he deserved?

He closes his eyes and breathes, just for a moment. His tone quiets, the agitation dropping out of it, though there's a distinct awkwardness that lingers.]

Shit. No, I uh ... oughta be the one apologizing, I think. Didn't mean to freak you out.

[He doesn't turn to go just yet, though.]

There anyone nearby that can pick you up? It's gettin' dark soon.

[He doesn't want to insist on taking her the rest of the way, if she's uncomfortable. But he doesn't like the idea of leaving her be when those thugs are still roaming around, either.]

[girlybruiser]

[ Unfortunately for Haru, she has the added experience of getting stabbed the last time she attempted sympathy for someone fresh on her mind. ]

Huh? Oh...

[ He's taking awful care to ensure she won't be left alone to fend for herself. Haru does appreciate it, though it simply adds another layer of mystery to Aragaki Shinjiro.

She's certain she could ask Akihiko, but some things are best left to hear directly from Shinjiro. ]

Thank you for the concern, but I can manage the rest of the way. I was simply taken off guard before.

[ Next time, she fires first, she guesses. ]

wrapt!

[petsthedog]

...Alright.

[He doesn't like it, but there's nothing more he can say, here. Can't even pretend to just so happen to need to go this direction, under the circumstances. Hopefully she's right and everything will be fine.]

See ya 'round, then, Okumura. Watch out for yourself.

[He turns, raising a hand in a farewell as he goes. It isn't long before he disappears into the distance, under the cover of the falling twilight.]