[26]

[kaitopants]

[someone is feeling a bit better than he was a few days ago and has forgotten it was a certain someone else's birthday today]

Oi, Aoko. You busy?

Comments

[lafillebleue]

[He's forgotten. She knows he has. It's getting later and he hasn't even said a word. She's not sure if she should be irritated at him for this or not. Probably, considering they've known each other since they were little . . . But still. It's strange to be celebrating here, too, and the fact of her birthday doesn't feel quite real even to her.]

I'm getting the soda out of the sheets. Why?

[kaitopants]

Get soda out of the sheets later. Let's go get some ice cream.

[lafillebleue]

[Ice cream? Really? Did he remember?]

[There has to be a catch to this.]

Who's paying?

[kaitopants]

I am. I invited you, right?

AIM keeps eating me.

[lafillebleue]

[Well, he wasn't really the type to pull the switch on her, but . . .]

Okay.

Me too DX

[kaitopants]

Wanna go now?

Dooooooooom!!

[lafillebleue]

I'll be downstairs in a minute.

[And she is -- in a series of thumps that indicate she's coming down quite quickly. Thumpthumpthumpthumpthump!]

[kaitopants]

[He's already waiting by the door, one hand stuffed in the pocket of his jacket]

[lafillebleue]

[She watches his face to see if she can find a clue.]

Why are we going? Any special reason?

[kaitopants]

[His expression reveals nothing. Just a happy, slightly lopsided grin]

Why does there need to be a reason? [granted, he had one, but he would tell her that later]

[lafillebleue]

[Dang grin. While it still gives her some faint hope, it's still far less readable than she'd like.]

There should be a reason.

[But this is muttered, and likely not very audible. Instead, casually,]

Let's go, then.

[At least he's paying.]

[kaitopants]

[He reaches out and pushes the door open, not having picked up on her muttered phrase]

It's getting cold out, you should grab a jacket.

[lafillebleue]

I'll be okay.

[Stubborn, yes. But she's already out the door and doesn't want to go back in. Plus, whatever she gets will be one of those darn 50s jackets.]

[One more try.]

Really there's nothing special?

[kaitopants]

[He arches an eyebrow at her (he was lucky enough to have acquired his school uniform back, and that included the jacket, so he's wearing that and not bothering with the lame 50's fashion) but doesn't say anything as he follows her.

He grins as he hops down the steps of the front porch after her]

There might be. [though it's really not what she's thinking of]

[lafillebleue]

[Aoko is not good at being subtle. She brightens immediately, her eyes widening.]

So you did remember!

[kaitopants]

[His grin fades] Huh? Remember what?