[Log] Hiyoshi and An's Adventure in Handsomeland [Closed]
Who:Hiyoshi and An
When:Monday, May 31st 2010 7pm
Where:Breizh café in shinjuku
Summary:Somehow, Hiyoshi wanted to prove he was handsome, following An calling him 'cute'. Contains 50% of Hiyoshi blushing, 35% of An being cute and saying wise things, 10% puppies and 5% aliens.
Warning/Rating: PG-13 (alien talk may scare young kids!)
Player Comments:No autographs, wait until I am famous!
Comments/Crits Allowed: Yessir
The teenager had been standing in the later afternoon-early evening fading sunlight for a short while now, glancing here and there with piercing hazel eyes. Sometime he would tug on his pale beige shirt's collar, or straighten his burgundy suit. There was a very faint smell of shoewax, probably because he had just done it while riding on the train or while he stopped by his appartment.
He resisted the urge to check the time or look around. It would make him look impatient, and he was all but that, wasn't he?
Inside the cafe, there was a happy bustle of conversation, but the place still seem quiet compared to teh other establishments around.
Shifting the bag on her shoulder An let out a small yawn, covering her mouth while doing so, it sure had been a long day, first school then off to her part-time job and now to her "date" with Hiyoshi. She was rather surprised and amused when he asked her to come today but she was almost sure that he had no idea that he had pretty much asked her on a date.
Looking around the area she spotted the cafe that Hiyoshi had told her they would meet and made her way over and walked in. The bell at the top of the door gave a small jingle and An looked around slowly as she took off her jacket. He had to be dressed in his uniform like she was but when she spotted what looked like to be Hiyoshi in a suit. she walked towards Hiyoshi , making sure it really was him..." Hiyoshi-san?"
Who said it was a date? It wasn't even. It was nothing but a dare... right? Right. She wondered if he could be handsome, and he would show her. It never registered in his mind that it could be interpreted as a date, really.
Oh, there she was. He had spotted her by the window and head reached down to claim the black messenger-style bag he always dragged around with him that contained his belongings, taking a whole half-second to straighten his dark red tie. He noticed the slight hesitation in the girl's voice and looked over with an unhidden grin. That sounded nice to his ears somehow. "Indeed, 'Hiyoshi-san' it is." he signaled to the awating waitress that they would be two people so she could lead them to an appropriate table. "I should have acted like you had the wrong person, it might have been more entertaining."
So it was him, An wondered if the suit he was wearing was to some how show that he was handsome or something, An held back a laugh, Hiyoshi really did try hard. " You look like you just came from work." Though the suit did look nice on him...She smiled, " Sorry to burst your bubble but I do remember your voice so even if you tried it wouldn't have worked."
"...from work, huh?" he did not seem overly troubled that his attempt had failed. Maybe he did not consider it a failure yet? Nothing in his attitude or otherwise seemed to change as he slid -or perhaps something like a graceful spin, a twist and a coincidencial slipping- into the chair. "So then, my voice is unforgettable, is it?" he mused. As if it was a second thought, he motionned for the waitress to wait, ordering himself a tea in a quiet tone only she would have heard.
"Well, that's not Hyouteis uniform...I don't know you that well, maybe you work in some office." That was very unlikely though considering they were just high school students, working in a office sounds like a job for a older person. Taking her own seat in front of him, she set her bag down and sniffed," It's not that, I'm just good at remembering people." An had a very good memory and he was part of the tennis circuit , kinda hard to forget your teams rivals. As Hiyoshi finished ordering, she gave her own order of a cup of coffee with some milk, she did just get off of work so she really needed some caffeine.
"You requested something handsome, and I do not think Hyotei's, or any school's uniform fits that bill. As far as working in an office, I must say it sounds like something I had not thought of. It might indeed be time for me to consider a part-time job should what I have in mind fail to work out." he cocked his head. "Having a good memory is a nice thing, yes, particularly for those that socialize a lot." which Hiyoshi wasn't a part of.
This time she couldn't hold back and laughed, " If it makes you happy, I think you look nice, but really, HIyoshi-san..You try to hard." An didn't mean it in a bad way at all, " You should have just come as you normally do, and you would have proven your point." Hiyoshi was rather amusing to her, he was odd, but amusing. Once she stopped laughing she grinned, " It is and it's good for remembering all that stuff they teach us at school."
"Oh. I see." he blinked. Somehow, it did not seem to have crushed him to hear that, or that she was laughing. He knew she wasn't laughing at him, but at the fact he had entirely tried too hard. "Though if I came as I am every day, it might have meant that nothing special was needed." he frowned thoughtfully.
Gears were turning in his head. Did she mean he was handsome as he was, and that was all he needed? ... no, it couldn't be so easy.
"Right, things like history and geography where there's all these names of people and places." he nodded. "There is a limit to how much the brain can sponge up to, isn't there?"
Their orders arrived, one cup of coffee, along with a small teapot and a cup.
An hoped she didn't make him feel down because of what she said, but she was being honest, " Hiyoshi-san, that would have been just fine," She paused for a moment thoughtfully, " I personally think anyone can be handsome not just through there appearance but by the way they act as well. I wouldn't think some immature guy our age is handsome even if hes pleasing to the eyes."
Seeing her coffee arrived she grabbed the spoon that came with it and added a few spoonfuls of sugar to it. She liked her coffee sweet, " Mmm, I think there is, but the best way to remember things is to study early and go from there you can't cram mounds of information in a day."
"Ah, r-really?" he blinked at her. So then, it wasn't a matter of outside appearance at all, as he had thought at first. It was only a part of it, and the most important. "Understood, I will wear rags next time." he grinned, but it was gone as he raised the small teapot to pour some of the liquid in his cup.
"Hm, I never really worried about studying, but things seemed just fine if I listened well in class." it did not mean he didn't study at all, but he could trust his brain to remember important information he would have picked up without re-reading his notes if he needed to. "It is slightly harder if the teacher is boring though. that's when I just go ahead and read the textbook myself."
She shook her head , " Don't go to the other extreme just dress normally...So you're planning on asking me on another date?" An made sure to ask him that, she was curious to know if he knew this was a date. It would amuse her even more if he didn't know it was. Taking a sip from her cup she smiled, it tasted really good and oh so warm, " Well not everyone is like that, some people find it much easier to re-read things over and over again, I'm like you though but I do make sure to re-read and quiz myself." An was actually a good student she just found she had trouble with subjects like math and science.
"Because I look like I could stand to dress in rags?" he either hid a sneeze or kept himself from laughing. He probably hadn't been serious there, but it was always hard to tell with him.
"...date?" he blinked slowly. "....another?" he blinked again, confused, and decided to step to the next point, waiting a short while for the tea to cool.
"Not everyone's brain works the same way. There are similarities though, but some will retain knowledge better from actually reading rather than simply hearing. It can be fascinating once one looks into it." and he might indeed have read a bit on the subject.
She rolled her eyes and sipped on her coffee more , " Maybe rags are the in thing now." An watched his reaction and smiled softly. Hiyoshi really didn't know." Don't change the subject. Didn't you know asking a girl to meet you somewhere like this is a date?"
" Well no...no two people are the same, everyone's different."
"I wasn't changing the subject, just... I..." wait, this is a date? is that was she is saying? " ...Oh." Well then, some things made sense. "I see. And?" he inquired with a blink, taking a brief sip from his tea.
Oh, score! They had Oolong here.
"To many people this is considered a date, it doesn't have to be if you don't want it to be....But in your entry it sure sounded like one."She shrugged and looked up at him, " I was just saying that's all, I'm guessing you've never been on one then."
"I survived worse." he grinned. Oh, yes he did in those last weeks. "I don't mind anyone else's interpretation." apparently, he was harder to shake in person than through a computer. "I have never been on a date before, no. I assume this is my first, then?" he looked over again with his ever-slightly glaring eyes. "It does fit the description."
Survived worse? Seemed like dates could possible be dangerous, it made her laugh and smile, " You know, You should smile like that more often , it suits you much more then that grumpy face you have on most of the time." In some way it reminded her of Zaizen, he didn't look grump just indifferent, but he at least did smile more often. An gave a nod, " Guess it is, hopefully it'll be a good one for you. Dates can be fun."
"W-what? That wasn'ta smile! A smile is.. ah.. like Ohtori, or Fuji-san from Seigaku, they smile all the time. It wasn't a smile at all, it was a grin. Grin." yes he had to insist. "It's nothing like a smile." somehow, he seemed to have a thing against smiling. Cue more tea-drinking. "I ah.. w-well it was a compliment, right? I-I mean coming from you and all, so.. uhm.. thanks." he blurted out.
" That's the closest thing to a smile I've seen from you, so until you show me a real smile, I'm calling that a smile." An for one, smiled very much, smiling was good for you but she didn't force it when she didn't want to. An coudln't help but smile, Hiyoshi was being silly, " Yes, it is a compliment. Your welcome. Don't you ever get compliments?" She asked drinking from her cup.
"You'll never see a real one, so I guess you might as well, then." he nodded, apparently not arguing with that point. Other people smile enough without him needing to it, right? And no he was not being silly! "Yes, well, no, I mean.. somewhat. W-why?"
" You shouldn't say that, everyone can smile. That's whats makes us human." Smiling was essential to living , smiling showed people that you were happy.At least that's what An thought. " Why I complimented you? I just felt like it, I can stop if you want. "
"Well, I said it." so that was that! Why should he smile anyway, it was nothing that special after all, teh world didn't need to know if he was happy. "Ah n-no you can continue!" who was he to refuse compliments? "Ah~ no wait that makes me sound pretty vain after all if I say that, so, uh..." he fidgeted, fishing for the most appropriate answer, eyes darting all over the place as if he could find it written somewhere. "AUGH! Just do what you want!" he slammed his palm into his forehead with a sigh. This was so difficult!
An let it go, who was she to tell him what to do, she wasn't going to force him to do anything. An leaned back and blinked, Hiyoshi looked pretty frustrated, Moving her hand up, she took his hand away from his forehead and set it down without letting it go, " Hey..you don't need to over think it, everyone likes getting compliments even me, so don't worry about it. If I feel like complimenting you I will, ok?" She said this seriously.
Did he really look that frustrated? It might be enhanced just because it was him. He stared at her, unblinking for a long time. Somehow, she reminded him of Ohtori, because they both always said things that were so damn nice to hear, and exactly what he needed to hear. "A-allright." he muttered, aware that he was most likely blushing fiercely, not exactly used to any of this close physical contact thing yet. Yes, even someone just holding his hand like that. "You, uhm... can let go..."
The way he stared at her slightly unnerved her, had she said the wrong thing? but not long after that thought she heard him and let out a sigh of relief, poor guy was blushing to probably because she was holding his hand, she smiled and let go, " Sorry...If I made you feel uncomfortable.."
He shook his head, silent for a minute as he sipped on his tea, apparently needing some time to work out the proper words. "I'm probably the one making most people uncomfortable." at least he admitted it. "That's why I rarely go anywhere, unless it's for matches. It looks like I hate the world or something but... somehow I never minded." he paused and looked down at his tea. "I'm not exactly the sociable type." not out of courts, no.
An also took a moment to think things over, she had a hard time believing him, " I thought I was the one making you feel uncomfortable , I'm fine, just thought I messed up or something." Looking down at her cup and back at him she gave him a half smile, " I thought you were pretty sociable.. you talk with lots of people, you even came here, you shouldn't think so lowly of yourself, I think your a great person with a big heart, you really helped me out last time. "
"Ah.. that time, right." he did it for the cute puppies and kitties, but he wasn't going to say that. "W-well, thanks. I mean I try, sometimes, but I... don't talk much usually." unless it's with Ohtori or someone he's having an argument with. "Either way I... ah...." wait no, he can't exactly say he's -happy- she told him all that, right? "It's a good thing to hear."
" I think you talk plenty, you just need someone to talk to you..You do post alot, if you were really that antisocial I doubt you'd even use it." She ruffled his hair in a playful manner, if he could relax just a little she was sure Hiyoshi would be just fine . "I'm glad you did." She said with a grin taking her hand away, he was probably going get mad if she did that for to long.
He can't remember if anyone ever ruffled his hair, let alone touch him as often as she just did in under two minutes. Well, a few people did ruffle his hair yes, but it was not exactly with teh asme intent or force, he could call it half-tearing, really. The freed hand went to busy itself promptly, and he scratched the back of his neck.
What she had told him made sense, after all. Girls probably have something special that makes them understand stuff he can't even begin giving a damn about, and things he thinks are now normal for him. "It's just.... easier to write than talk, somehow." he wasn't sure why, but that was how it worked for him. "I didn't think I was a 'great person' though. I mean I just... helped a little."
Is that blush gone now? Drats, it's still sticking around. He's more used to hearing compliments like 'good game' or something.
It was understandable from his part, at least for her, she would rather talk to the person face to face, because sometimes, things aren't interpreted the way you wanted them to be. it was easier to hide behind a screen that's for sure. " Guess you should just practice talking then, you'll get good at it." She said with a grin, "You helped alot, you went to the shelter and helped take the animals to the park and you even dressed up as that silly dog. So you helped plenty and thats the end of it." She grabbed her cup and finished what remained in it, " When a girl says something, you should try listening her, she might be right."
"Yesm'am. Listening." he nodeed and grinned. "I did more talking tonight than I did the whole last month... because the yelling matches against idiot senpaitachi don't count." no, they do not count in any way. He poured more tea into his cup while looking around discreetly.
"My parents raised me that way, but I don't mind... being helpful, that is. I wasn't about to let you people take care of this humongous load of cages. I have to say I -almost- left the guy struggle with the saint bernard. It was funny, but after a while I thought someone -me in that case- should get that dog moving, else we woulda been there all day." he took a sip from his cup and looked pleased for half a second, if anyone managed to catch that.
Oh yes, gloriously tastier second cup. The taste is perfect now that the tea bag soaked longer. The afforementionned bag is promptly removed thereafter. "Sorry again about not helping after. Good thing I didn't, I was planning to elope with the leftovers... Oh, did they find a home after all in the following weeks..?"
She laughed lightly, "Good. Like I said, you just need someone to get you going." She remembered that, there were some big dogs, but as he said having him around helped, " Yeah, he was rather big...But really , it's fine! You came early and everything, so don't apologize." She paused and thought before giving a nod, " Mhmmm, now we got a few more, and hopefully I'll be able to take that puppy home with me soon." Just thinking about it made her happy, her parents had liked the idea and were just as anxious to have him home.
Get him going? ...oh right. "If I hadn't helped back then, I probably wouldn't have had anything to say." he sipped more tea to hide that sheepish grin. He wasn,t even conscious that he had apologized and she picked that up. "Oh right, it's almost been two weeks since that little guy arrived already?" has it? Time flew by quite quickly. He was pretty sure it had been a week since that, at least.
" I'm sure we could have found something else to talk about, but then again the only reason you're here again is because I called you cute from dressing up as a dog, and you wanted to prove that you could be handsome." Funny how something like that made them be here. She grinned happily, " I get to take him home on Friday, if no one comes to claim him that is.. I'm really excited!"
"Ah.. y-yeah, that..." he coughed lightly. She called him cute. He wasn't cute. He wasn't sure he pulled out handsome either, she said he tried too hard earlier, right? So complicated! "Friday, huh? That's the best day for good things." he nodded.
An shook her head with a smile, "Just so things are clear, you are handsome,Hiyoshi-san" She never exactly said to him directly so it was better this way, maybe this would make him happy. " And it's a good way to start the weekend, I'll have it to take care of him and get him a least a little used to his new home."
Good thing he wasn't drinking tea. He would have choked on it. "I--ah.. d-do you read minds?" he wasn't happy, but he wasn't mad either, just blushing quite brightly, akin to a traffic light.
Do Not Cross.
It isn't that he was incapable of feeling happy, really. "I-- ah... t-thankyou." he bowed his head, perhaps hoping the blood would flow elsewhere this way, or something...
An tried not to laugh at his blush, he really was red and it was kinda cute, she wouldn't tell him this, she let out a small laugh anyways, "Your face kinda told me so, I'll try not to read it next time. " She said in between her laugh and sticking out her tongue, " Your welcome."
"Can I really be read like an open book? That easily?" he had to ask. Maybe it was just some girl thing, right? Some weird special power... or something. He isn't a girl so he doesn't know! How does it work? "...or did I fall asleep on my phone without noticing and the keyboard imprinted itself on my face?"
" I just took a guess really, I wanted to make sure you knew that way you know, coming here wasn't a waste of time." An was just good at noticing small things like that, She sniffed was he trying to be funny? " Well I don't think, you are kinda blushing though."
"The guess was right on target." he murmured, staring at his cup of tea, then groaning. "I know I'm blushing..." he wasn't angry, and he wasn't even sure he was annoyed. In fact he wasn't sure what he was feeling anymore. It was strange. "Anyway, it's..." he had looked up at her again, and ended up forgetting what he was going to say in favor of staring.
Not at her, but beyond her, at the windows. "....say, do you have a specific time you have to be home for?"
"It kind of goes with the color of your tie." Alright, she wouldn't tease him anymore, she didn't want him to explode either. Looking at her watch she blinked, was it that time already!? " I kinda do, and I should probably get going anyways, it's already dark, " An particularly didn't like walking by herself after dark, not after the incident in London, but she would since she had to.
"...it.. does? It makes me more handsome you think?" he bit his lip, because maybe, maybe he would have smiled then. "Either way I.. ah.. Sorry that I kept you so long." he motionned for the bill, finishing his tea. "You can finish your coffee." he shook his head. "It won't get much darker than that anyway." right around that point, he looked more like some guard dog, that glare back in his hazel eyes. "I'm walking you home." a glare that was once again directed at the world in general and some faraway idiots he wished he could have broken the bones of.
What could she say to that? " Well I think the tie looks handsome on you." An wasn't about to say cute, even if she really wanted to, "Ah, no, it's ok, I finished anys, plus it was bound to get dark anyways." And she was kinda thankful Hiyoshi said he'd walk her home, She gave him a smile, " Thanks, I really appreciate it."
The bill came promptly, and somehow with the quite sudden and intense shift in demeanor, he now seemed impervious to blushing. He excused himself and slid out of his chair briefly. Going to the registrer and taking care of the bill was a short affair and he was back at the table before a full two minutes had gone by. "Shall we head out?" Yes he paid for her, so what? It was more simple and quicker that way, there was no special meaning!
Once he left, she got her things together and checked her phone for any messages, happy there was none, An was sure to get on in a short while. Once she say Hiyoshi she got up and nodded, " Yeah, though I do owe you for the coffee." She doubt he was going to let her pay him back, men were like that.
"I heard something about someone owing me..." he frowned thoughtfully, holding the door for her to get out. "Sure must have been my imagination. I don't think anyone owes me anything. Nosiree..." No, he was not letting her pay him back. No way.
She rolled her eyes and walked out, waiting for him to come by her side before starting to walk in the direction of her home, just as she thought, she'd make him something to eat, he did live by himself after all, that was the least she could do, " Are you sure its ok? Because if your apartments the opposite way, I could just walk by myself."
"Of course it's okay." because he said so. "I'm not letting you walk alone this late. If I offered it's because I want to do it" he shrugged, "Even if my apartment was all the way in Kamakura, I'd walk you home." that settled that...?
She looked up at the taller boy and smiled, " See, I told you you're a good person." There was still loads of people walking around but once she got closer to home it'd probably be just the two of them.
"..y-yeah." he murmured, glancing to the side. He did not blush though. "A dog..." he paused. "...it's a good thing, if you get it. It'll feel safer to walk around with it...."
" I won't be able to take him all over the place and besides hes just a puppy right now.." Looking at the size of its paws she could tell already that he was going to be a big dog, they'd probably need a bigger dog house since the one they have isn't all that big, " If I get him, You want to come see him?"
He blinked at that. oh, hey who was he to say no? "I... can?" He did love animals. Not that anyone knew if they weren't in the elite exclusive Hyotei-goers. "Ah... anytime that suits you then. I will hopefully be free." No one says no to puppies. except Chinen-senpai.
That kinda made her happy, " Maybe next weekend?" She still needed to get supplies , but she had to wait, it was annoying but An couldn't really do anything about it, there were rules she had to follow.
"Next weekend...." he hummed thoughtfully, going over his mental agenda. "Ah, I have Itsuki-san coming... Sunday afternoon may be good, not exactly sure what our plans were, aside from kicking some butts on the court on saturday..."
"Mmmm,ok. you could always tell me later if you can or not." She wasn't going to insist, he'd come if he could. Walking a few more blocks they turned the corner and made there way into a quiet neighborhood.
"I will as soon as I know my schedule for the day." he nodded, letting her lead the way by half a step since she knew where she was going. Brown eyes slid over the scenery from one side to another to asess his surroundings and the immediate safety of his companion foremost and himself. He did appear quite alert, a hairsbreadth away from being on the prowl..
From time to time she would turn back to look at him, watching him amused as he very much looked like that dog he dressed up as not to long ago, Turning back, she let out a yawn because really, it had been a long day, " Aren't you tired, you said you had practice today and everything."
"Tired?" he repeated, eyes shifting to her, looking mildly puzzled. "How can I be? Wouldn't it look bad if your bodyguard was all droopy-eyed and wishing he was in bed instead?" he grinned. "After all, I got a lot to keep myself awake for."
Now she was the confused one, " Bodyguard? When did you become that,it's not like someones going to pop out of a bush and attack us." Either he was paranoid or she wasn't that aware of her surroundings but they were in her neighborhood and she doubted anything bad would happen.
He cocked his head. "Don't tell me you forgot?" what, was Hiyoshi the paranoid one? "Aliens, of course." he said, as if it was as common as a stray cat.
An stopped dead in her tracks....Was he serious?" You're joking right?" She knew he believed in them but that believing?
"..." he held her gaze a full ten seconds until that grin surfaced again. "I most likely am... unless I missed a UFO somewhere." he looked up again, searching the sky. "Maybe it's not the right time for their 'watch live humans' trips." he mused.She raised and eyebrow and continued to walk , she wouldn't even bother with that, it was alittle to odd for her taste, some people believed in big foot and shiny vampires he just happened to believe in aliens .
"Ah. I know that look. Shishido-senpai gives me it all the time." the grin was more of a smirk now, but schooled itself back into his usual expression. "Sorry, I wasn't really serious. The only thing I know is, if we're on earth and can live and explore space and whatnot, maybe other planets have.. people too, and maybe these other people do exploration. I mean, if they're intelligent enough to get curious about what surrounds them." he said in a quieter tone. "I uh.. should probably stop though." sometimes, it seemed to be the only subject he could talk about, but it was mainly because he felt uncomfortable revealing too much about himself if he went into other things. What would he look like gushing about how cute An's hopeful new pet is, and asking if he can hug it?
" Can't help it when you tell me something like that, Hiyoshi-san." She laughed once he said he wasn't serious and shook her head, " I guess so, that's the only thing I believe in, there has to be other people like us out there, not exactly the same as us but you know what I mean.. It's ok if you like talking about aliens, I guess..Other people talk about clothes or sports, you happen to talk about other life forms."
"Not really. Most often I don't talk." he shrugged. "I just listen, or think about things to myself." he wasn't even sure himself why he was talking so much either. Probably nervousness, or the afct he wasn't sure how to act around a girl. He had seldome spent any time with them.
" I see, well you talked plenty today." Looking up she noticed the faint porch light of her house not to far away. " We're almost there."
"Eh? Already? That's good then. You probably still have homework and studying I kept you from." he scratched the back of his neck. "I didn't think we would spend so long in that café, actually."
" I guess we walked really fast." The finally stopped in front of her house and she gave him a smile, " it's ok, we just had fun talking, so I'm not surprised the time flew by." Leaning up she placed a light kiss on his cheek, " Thanks for the date, I really enjoyed it." And with that she was walking up the steps and unlocking her door, waving a goodbye at him before closing the door behind her.
"More like, we teleported." or something like that. "Good to know you enjoyed it." he nodded and blinked as she leaned in. Since it was dark outside it was hard to see, but he did again blush. "Ah, y-yes.. date." if she called it that, he might as well."Thank you too." After he was sure she was home and as safe as she could be, he started to make his way back to his own appartment.
When:Monday, May 31st 2010 7pm
Where:Breizh café in shinjuku
Summary:Somehow, Hiyoshi wanted to prove he was handsome, following An calling him 'cute'. Contains 50% of Hiyoshi blushing, 35% of An being cute and saying wise things, 10% puppies and 5% aliens.
Warning/Rating: PG-13 (alien talk may scare young kids!)
Player Comments:No autographs, wait until I am famous!
Comments/Crits Allowed: Yessir
The teenager had been standing in the later afternoon-early evening fading sunlight for a short while now, glancing here and there with piercing hazel eyes. Sometime he would tug on his pale beige shirt's collar, or straighten his burgundy suit. There was a very faint smell of shoewax, probably because he had just done it while riding on the train or while he stopped by his appartment.
He resisted the urge to check the time or look around. It would make him look impatient, and he was all but that, wasn't he?
Inside the cafe, there was a happy bustle of conversation, but the place still seem quiet compared to teh other establishments around.
Shifting the bag on her shoulder An let out a small yawn, covering her mouth while doing so, it sure had been a long day, first school then off to her part-time job and now to her "date" with Hiyoshi. She was rather surprised and amused when he asked her to come today but she was almost sure that he had no idea that he had pretty much asked her on a date.
Looking around the area she spotted the cafe that Hiyoshi had told her they would meet and made her way over and walked in. The bell at the top of the door gave a small jingle and An looked around slowly as she took off her jacket. He had to be dressed in his uniform like she was but when she spotted what looked like to be Hiyoshi in a suit. she walked towards Hiyoshi , making sure it really was him..." Hiyoshi-san?"
Who said it was a date? It wasn't even. It was nothing but a dare... right? Right. She wondered if he could be handsome, and he would show her. It never registered in his mind that it could be interpreted as a date, really.
Oh, there she was. He had spotted her by the window and head reached down to claim the black messenger-style bag he always dragged around with him that contained his belongings, taking a whole half-second to straighten his dark red tie. He noticed the slight hesitation in the girl's voice and looked over with an unhidden grin. That sounded nice to his ears somehow. "Indeed, 'Hiyoshi-san' it is." he signaled to the awating waitress that they would be two people so she could lead them to an appropriate table. "I should have acted like you had the wrong person, it might have been more entertaining."
So it was him, An wondered if the suit he was wearing was to some how show that he was handsome or something, An held back a laugh, Hiyoshi really did try hard. " You look like you just came from work." Though the suit did look nice on him...She smiled, " Sorry to burst your bubble but I do remember your voice so even if you tried it wouldn't have worked."
"...from work, huh?" he did not seem overly troubled that his attempt had failed. Maybe he did not consider it a failure yet? Nothing in his attitude or otherwise seemed to change as he slid -or perhaps something like a graceful spin, a twist and a coincidencial slipping- into the chair. "So then, my voice is unforgettable, is it?" he mused. As if it was a second thought, he motionned for the waitress to wait, ordering himself a tea in a quiet tone only she would have heard.
"Well, that's not Hyouteis uniform...I don't know you that well, maybe you work in some office." That was very unlikely though considering they were just high school students, working in a office sounds like a job for a older person. Taking her own seat in front of him, she set her bag down and sniffed," It's not that, I'm just good at remembering people." An had a very good memory and he was part of the tennis circuit , kinda hard to forget your teams rivals. As Hiyoshi finished ordering, she gave her own order of a cup of coffee with some milk, she did just get off of work so she really needed some caffeine.
"You requested something handsome, and I do not think Hyotei's, or any school's uniform fits that bill. As far as working in an office, I must say it sounds like something I had not thought of. It might indeed be time for me to consider a part-time job should what I have in mind fail to work out." he cocked his head. "Having a good memory is a nice thing, yes, particularly for those that socialize a lot." which Hiyoshi wasn't a part of.
This time she couldn't hold back and laughed, " If it makes you happy, I think you look nice, but really, HIyoshi-san..You try to hard." An didn't mean it in a bad way at all, " You should have just come as you normally do, and you would have proven your point." Hiyoshi was rather amusing to her, he was odd, but amusing. Once she stopped laughing she grinned, " It is and it's good for remembering all that stuff they teach us at school."
"Oh. I see." he blinked. Somehow, it did not seem to have crushed him to hear that, or that she was laughing. He knew she wasn't laughing at him, but at the fact he had entirely tried too hard. "Though if I came as I am every day, it might have meant that nothing special was needed." he frowned thoughtfully.
Gears were turning in his head. Did she mean he was handsome as he was, and that was all he needed? ... no, it couldn't be so easy.
"Right, things like history and geography where there's all these names of people and places." he nodded. "There is a limit to how much the brain can sponge up to, isn't there?"
Their orders arrived, one cup of coffee, along with a small teapot and a cup.
An hoped she didn't make him feel down because of what she said, but she was being honest, " Hiyoshi-san, that would have been just fine," She paused for a moment thoughtfully, " I personally think anyone can be handsome not just through there appearance but by the way they act as well. I wouldn't think some immature guy our age is handsome even if hes pleasing to the eyes."
Seeing her coffee arrived she grabbed the spoon that came with it and added a few spoonfuls of sugar to it. She liked her coffee sweet, " Mmm, I think there is, but the best way to remember things is to study early and go from there you can't cram mounds of information in a day."
"Ah, r-really?" he blinked at her. So then, it wasn't a matter of outside appearance at all, as he had thought at first. It was only a part of it, and the most important. "Understood, I will wear rags next time." he grinned, but it was gone as he raised the small teapot to pour some of the liquid in his cup.
"Hm, I never really worried about studying, but things seemed just fine if I listened well in class." it did not mean he didn't study at all, but he could trust his brain to remember important information he would have picked up without re-reading his notes if he needed to. "It is slightly harder if the teacher is boring though. that's when I just go ahead and read the textbook myself."
She shook her head , " Don't go to the other extreme just dress normally...So you're planning on asking me on another date?" An made sure to ask him that, she was curious to know if he knew this was a date. It would amuse her even more if he didn't know it was. Taking a sip from her cup she smiled, it tasted really good and oh so warm, " Well not everyone is like that, some people find it much easier to re-read things over and over again, I'm like you though but I do make sure to re-read and quiz myself." An was actually a good student she just found she had trouble with subjects like math and science.
"Because I look like I could stand to dress in rags?" he either hid a sneeze or kept himself from laughing. He probably hadn't been serious there, but it was always hard to tell with him.
"...date?" he blinked slowly. "....another?" he blinked again, confused, and decided to step to the next point, waiting a short while for the tea to cool.
"Not everyone's brain works the same way. There are similarities though, but some will retain knowledge better from actually reading rather than simply hearing. It can be fascinating once one looks into it." and he might indeed have read a bit on the subject.
She rolled her eyes and sipped on her coffee more , " Maybe rags are the in thing now." An watched his reaction and smiled softly. Hiyoshi really didn't know." Don't change the subject. Didn't you know asking a girl to meet you somewhere like this is a date?"
" Well no...no two people are the same, everyone's different."
"I wasn't changing the subject, just... I..." wait, this is a date? is that was she is saying? " ...Oh." Well then, some things made sense. "I see. And?" he inquired with a blink, taking a brief sip from his tea.
Oh, score! They had Oolong here.
"To many people this is considered a date, it doesn't have to be if you don't want it to be....But in your entry it sure sounded like one."She shrugged and looked up at him, " I was just saying that's all, I'm guessing you've never been on one then."
"I survived worse." he grinned. Oh, yes he did in those last weeks. "I don't mind anyone else's interpretation." apparently, he was harder to shake in person than through a computer. "I have never been on a date before, no. I assume this is my first, then?" he looked over again with his ever-slightly glaring eyes. "It does fit the description."
Survived worse? Seemed like dates could possible be dangerous, it made her laugh and smile, " You know, You should smile like that more often , it suits you much more then that grumpy face you have on most of the time." In some way it reminded her of Zaizen, he didn't look grump just indifferent, but he at least did smile more often. An gave a nod, " Guess it is, hopefully it'll be a good one for you. Dates can be fun."
"W-what? That wasn'ta smile! A smile is.. ah.. like Ohtori, or Fuji-san from Seigaku, they smile all the time. It wasn't a smile at all, it was a grin. Grin." yes he had to insist. "It's nothing like a smile." somehow, he seemed to have a thing against smiling. Cue more tea-drinking. "I ah.. w-well it was a compliment, right? I-I mean coming from you and all, so.. uhm.. thanks." he blurted out.
" That's the closest thing to a smile I've seen from you, so until you show me a real smile, I'm calling that a smile." An for one, smiled very much, smiling was good for you but she didn't force it when she didn't want to. An coudln't help but smile, Hiyoshi was being silly, " Yes, it is a compliment. Your welcome. Don't you ever get compliments?" She asked drinking from her cup.
"You'll never see a real one, so I guess you might as well, then." he nodded, apparently not arguing with that point. Other people smile enough without him needing to it, right? And no he was not being silly! "Yes, well, no, I mean.. somewhat. W-why?"
" You shouldn't say that, everyone can smile. That's whats makes us human." Smiling was essential to living , smiling showed people that you were happy.At least that's what An thought. " Why I complimented you? I just felt like it, I can stop if you want. "
"Well, I said it." so that was that! Why should he smile anyway, it was nothing that special after all, teh world didn't need to know if he was happy. "Ah n-no you can continue!" who was he to refuse compliments? "Ah~ no wait that makes me sound pretty vain after all if I say that, so, uh..." he fidgeted, fishing for the most appropriate answer, eyes darting all over the place as if he could find it written somewhere. "AUGH! Just do what you want!" he slammed his palm into his forehead with a sigh. This was so difficult!
An let it go, who was she to tell him what to do, she wasn't going to force him to do anything. An leaned back and blinked, Hiyoshi looked pretty frustrated, Moving her hand up, she took his hand away from his forehead and set it down without letting it go, " Hey..you don't need to over think it, everyone likes getting compliments even me, so don't worry about it. If I feel like complimenting you I will, ok?" She said this seriously.
Did he really look that frustrated? It might be enhanced just because it was him. He stared at her, unblinking for a long time. Somehow, she reminded him of Ohtori, because they both always said things that were so damn nice to hear, and exactly what he needed to hear. "A-allright." he muttered, aware that he was most likely blushing fiercely, not exactly used to any of this close physical contact thing yet. Yes, even someone just holding his hand like that. "You, uhm... can let go..."
The way he stared at her slightly unnerved her, had she said the wrong thing? but not long after that thought she heard him and let out a sigh of relief, poor guy was blushing to probably because she was holding his hand, she smiled and let go, " Sorry...If I made you feel uncomfortable.."
He shook his head, silent for a minute as he sipped on his tea, apparently needing some time to work out the proper words. "I'm probably the one making most people uncomfortable." at least he admitted it. "That's why I rarely go anywhere, unless it's for matches. It looks like I hate the world or something but... somehow I never minded." he paused and looked down at his tea. "I'm not exactly the sociable type." not out of courts, no.
An also took a moment to think things over, she had a hard time believing him, " I thought I was the one making you feel uncomfortable , I'm fine, just thought I messed up or something." Looking down at her cup and back at him she gave him a half smile, " I thought you were pretty sociable.. you talk with lots of people, you even came here, you shouldn't think so lowly of yourself, I think your a great person with a big heart, you really helped me out last time. "
"Ah.. that time, right." he did it for the cute puppies and kitties, but he wasn't going to say that. "W-well, thanks. I mean I try, sometimes, but I... don't talk much usually." unless it's with Ohtori or someone he's having an argument with. "Either way I... ah...." wait no, he can't exactly say he's -happy- she told him all that, right? "It's a good thing to hear."
" I think you talk plenty, you just need someone to talk to you..You do post alot, if you were really that antisocial I doubt you'd even use it." She ruffled his hair in a playful manner, if he could relax just a little she was sure Hiyoshi would be just fine . "I'm glad you did." She said with a grin taking her hand away, he was probably going get mad if she did that for to long.
He can't remember if anyone ever ruffled his hair, let alone touch him as often as she just did in under two minutes. Well, a few people did ruffle his hair yes, but it was not exactly with teh asme intent or force, he could call it half-tearing, really. The freed hand went to busy itself promptly, and he scratched the back of his neck.
What she had told him made sense, after all. Girls probably have something special that makes them understand stuff he can't even begin giving a damn about, and things he thinks are now normal for him. "It's just.... easier to write than talk, somehow." he wasn't sure why, but that was how it worked for him. "I didn't think I was a 'great person' though. I mean I just... helped a little."
Is that blush gone now? Drats, it's still sticking around. He's more used to hearing compliments like 'good game' or something.
It was understandable from his part, at least for her, she would rather talk to the person face to face, because sometimes, things aren't interpreted the way you wanted them to be. it was easier to hide behind a screen that's for sure. " Guess you should just practice talking then, you'll get good at it." She said with a grin, "You helped alot, you went to the shelter and helped take the animals to the park and you even dressed up as that silly dog. So you helped plenty and thats the end of it." She grabbed her cup and finished what remained in it, " When a girl says something, you should try listening her, she might be right."
"Yesm'am. Listening." he nodeed and grinned. "I did more talking tonight than I did the whole last month... because the yelling matches against idiot senpaitachi don't count." no, they do not count in any way. He poured more tea into his cup while looking around discreetly.
"My parents raised me that way, but I don't mind... being helpful, that is. I wasn't about to let you people take care of this humongous load of cages. I have to say I -almost- left the guy struggle with the saint bernard. It was funny, but after a while I thought someone -me in that case- should get that dog moving, else we woulda been there all day." he took a sip from his cup and looked pleased for half a second, if anyone managed to catch that.
Oh yes, gloriously tastier second cup. The taste is perfect now that the tea bag soaked longer. The afforementionned bag is promptly removed thereafter. "Sorry again about not helping after. Good thing I didn't, I was planning to elope with the leftovers... Oh, did they find a home after all in the following weeks..?"
She laughed lightly, "Good. Like I said, you just need someone to get you going." She remembered that, there were some big dogs, but as he said having him around helped, " Yeah, he was rather big...But really , it's fine! You came early and everything, so don't apologize." She paused and thought before giving a nod, " Mhmmm, now we got a few more, and hopefully I'll be able to take that puppy home with me soon." Just thinking about it made her happy, her parents had liked the idea and were just as anxious to have him home.
Get him going? ...oh right. "If I hadn't helped back then, I probably wouldn't have had anything to say." he sipped more tea to hide that sheepish grin. He wasn,t even conscious that he had apologized and she picked that up. "Oh right, it's almost been two weeks since that little guy arrived already?" has it? Time flew by quite quickly. He was pretty sure it had been a week since that, at least.
" I'm sure we could have found something else to talk about, but then again the only reason you're here again is because I called you cute from dressing up as a dog, and you wanted to prove that you could be handsome." Funny how something like that made them be here. She grinned happily, " I get to take him home on Friday, if no one comes to claim him that is.. I'm really excited!"
"Ah.. y-yeah, that..." he coughed lightly. She called him cute. He wasn't cute. He wasn't sure he pulled out handsome either, she said he tried too hard earlier, right? So complicated! "Friday, huh? That's the best day for good things." he nodded.
An shook her head with a smile, "Just so things are clear, you are handsome,Hiyoshi-san" She never exactly said to him directly so it was better this way, maybe this would make him happy. " And it's a good way to start the weekend, I'll have it to take care of him and get him a least a little used to his new home."
Good thing he wasn't drinking tea. He would have choked on it. "I--ah.. d-do you read minds?" he wasn't happy, but he wasn't mad either, just blushing quite brightly, akin to a traffic light.
Do Not Cross.
It isn't that he was incapable of feeling happy, really. "I-- ah... t-thankyou." he bowed his head, perhaps hoping the blood would flow elsewhere this way, or something...
An tried not to laugh at his blush, he really was red and it was kinda cute, she wouldn't tell him this, she let out a small laugh anyways, "Your face kinda told me so, I'll try not to read it next time. " She said in between her laugh and sticking out her tongue, " Your welcome."
"Can I really be read like an open book? That easily?" he had to ask. Maybe it was just some girl thing, right? Some weird special power... or something. He isn't a girl so he doesn't know! How does it work? "...or did I fall asleep on my phone without noticing and the keyboard imprinted itself on my face?"
" I just took a guess really, I wanted to make sure you knew that way you know, coming here wasn't a waste of time." An was just good at noticing small things like that, She sniffed was he trying to be funny? " Well I don't think, you are kinda blushing though."
"The guess was right on target." he murmured, staring at his cup of tea, then groaning. "I know I'm blushing..." he wasn't angry, and he wasn't even sure he was annoyed. In fact he wasn't sure what he was feeling anymore. It was strange. "Anyway, it's..." he had looked up at her again, and ended up forgetting what he was going to say in favor of staring.
Not at her, but beyond her, at the windows. "....say, do you have a specific time you have to be home for?"
"It kind of goes with the color of your tie." Alright, she wouldn't tease him anymore, she didn't want him to explode either. Looking at her watch she blinked, was it that time already!? " I kinda do, and I should probably get going anyways, it's already dark, " An particularly didn't like walking by herself after dark, not after the incident in London, but she would since she had to.
"...it.. does? It makes me more handsome you think?" he bit his lip, because maybe, maybe he would have smiled then. "Either way I.. ah.. Sorry that I kept you so long." he motionned for the bill, finishing his tea. "You can finish your coffee." he shook his head. "It won't get much darker than that anyway." right around that point, he looked more like some guard dog, that glare back in his hazel eyes. "I'm walking you home." a glare that was once again directed at the world in general and some faraway idiots he wished he could have broken the bones of.
What could she say to that? " Well I think the tie looks handsome on you." An wasn't about to say cute, even if she really wanted to, "Ah, no, it's ok, I finished anys, plus it was bound to get dark anyways." And she was kinda thankful Hiyoshi said he'd walk her home, She gave him a smile, " Thanks, I really appreciate it."
The bill came promptly, and somehow with the quite sudden and intense shift in demeanor, he now seemed impervious to blushing. He excused himself and slid out of his chair briefly. Going to the registrer and taking care of the bill was a short affair and he was back at the table before a full two minutes had gone by. "Shall we head out?" Yes he paid for her, so what? It was more simple and quicker that way, there was no special meaning!
Once he left, she got her things together and checked her phone for any messages, happy there was none, An was sure to get on in a short while. Once she say Hiyoshi she got up and nodded, " Yeah, though I do owe you for the coffee." She doubt he was going to let her pay him back, men were like that.
"I heard something about someone owing me..." he frowned thoughtfully, holding the door for her to get out. "Sure must have been my imagination. I don't think anyone owes me anything. Nosiree..." No, he was not letting her pay him back. No way.
She rolled her eyes and walked out, waiting for him to come by her side before starting to walk in the direction of her home, just as she thought, she'd make him something to eat, he did live by himself after all, that was the least she could do, " Are you sure its ok? Because if your apartments the opposite way, I could just walk by myself."
"Of course it's okay." because he said so. "I'm not letting you walk alone this late. If I offered it's because I want to do it" he shrugged, "Even if my apartment was all the way in Kamakura, I'd walk you home." that settled that...?
She looked up at the taller boy and smiled, " See, I told you you're a good person." There was still loads of people walking around but once she got closer to home it'd probably be just the two of them.
"..y-yeah." he murmured, glancing to the side. He did not blush though. "A dog..." he paused. "...it's a good thing, if you get it. It'll feel safer to walk around with it...."
" I won't be able to take him all over the place and besides hes just a puppy right now.." Looking at the size of its paws she could tell already that he was going to be a big dog, they'd probably need a bigger dog house since the one they have isn't all that big, " If I get him, You want to come see him?"
He blinked at that. oh, hey who was he to say no? "I... can?" He did love animals. Not that anyone knew if they weren't in the elite exclusive Hyotei-goers. "Ah... anytime that suits you then. I will hopefully be free." No one says no to puppies. except Chinen-senpai.
That kinda made her happy, " Maybe next weekend?" She still needed to get supplies , but she had to wait, it was annoying but An couldn't really do anything about it, there were rules she had to follow.
"Next weekend...." he hummed thoughtfully, going over his mental agenda. "Ah, I have Itsuki-san coming... Sunday afternoon may be good, not exactly sure what our plans were, aside from kicking some butts on the court on saturday..."
"Mmmm,ok. you could always tell me later if you can or not." She wasn't going to insist, he'd come if he could. Walking a few more blocks they turned the corner and made there way into a quiet neighborhood.
"I will as soon as I know my schedule for the day." he nodded, letting her lead the way by half a step since she knew where she was going. Brown eyes slid over the scenery from one side to another to asess his surroundings and the immediate safety of his companion foremost and himself. He did appear quite alert, a hairsbreadth away from being on the prowl..
From time to time she would turn back to look at him, watching him amused as he very much looked like that dog he dressed up as not to long ago, Turning back, she let out a yawn because really, it had been a long day, " Aren't you tired, you said you had practice today and everything."
"Tired?" he repeated, eyes shifting to her, looking mildly puzzled. "How can I be? Wouldn't it look bad if your bodyguard was all droopy-eyed and wishing he was in bed instead?" he grinned. "After all, I got a lot to keep myself awake for."
Now she was the confused one, " Bodyguard? When did you become that,it's not like someones going to pop out of a bush and attack us." Either he was paranoid or she wasn't that aware of her surroundings but they were in her neighborhood and she doubted anything bad would happen.
He cocked his head. "Don't tell me you forgot?" what, was Hiyoshi the paranoid one? "Aliens, of course." he said, as if it was as common as a stray cat.
An stopped dead in her tracks....Was he serious?" You're joking right?" She knew he believed in them but that believing?
"..." he held her gaze a full ten seconds until that grin surfaced again. "I most likely am... unless I missed a UFO somewhere." he looked up again, searching the sky. "Maybe it's not the right time for their 'watch live humans' trips." he mused.She raised and eyebrow and continued to walk , she wouldn't even bother with that, it was alittle to odd for her taste, some people believed in big foot and shiny vampires he just happened to believe in aliens .
"Ah. I know that look. Shishido-senpai gives me it all the time." the grin was more of a smirk now, but schooled itself back into his usual expression. "Sorry, I wasn't really serious. The only thing I know is, if we're on earth and can live and explore space and whatnot, maybe other planets have.. people too, and maybe these other people do exploration. I mean, if they're intelligent enough to get curious about what surrounds them." he said in a quieter tone. "I uh.. should probably stop though." sometimes, it seemed to be the only subject he could talk about, but it was mainly because he felt uncomfortable revealing too much about himself if he went into other things. What would he look like gushing about how cute An's hopeful new pet is, and asking if he can hug it?
" Can't help it when you tell me something like that, Hiyoshi-san." She laughed once he said he wasn't serious and shook her head, " I guess so, that's the only thing I believe in, there has to be other people like us out there, not exactly the same as us but you know what I mean.. It's ok if you like talking about aliens, I guess..Other people talk about clothes or sports, you happen to talk about other life forms."
"Not really. Most often I don't talk." he shrugged. "I just listen, or think about things to myself." he wasn't even sure himself why he was talking so much either. Probably nervousness, or the afct he wasn't sure how to act around a girl. He had seldome spent any time with them.
" I see, well you talked plenty today." Looking up she noticed the faint porch light of her house not to far away. " We're almost there."
"Eh? Already? That's good then. You probably still have homework and studying I kept you from." he scratched the back of his neck. "I didn't think we would spend so long in that café, actually."
" I guess we walked really fast." The finally stopped in front of her house and she gave him a smile, " it's ok, we just had fun talking, so I'm not surprised the time flew by." Leaning up she placed a light kiss on his cheek, " Thanks for the date, I really enjoyed it." And with that she was walking up the steps and unlocking her door, waving a goodbye at him before closing the door behind her.
"More like, we teleported." or something like that. "Good to know you enjoyed it." he nodded and blinked as she leaned in. Since it was dark outside it was hard to see, but he did again blush. "Ah, y-yes.. date." if she called it that, he might as well."Thank you too." After he was sure she was home and as safe as she could be, he started to make his way back to his own appartment.