[ 001 ] Video -- December 9th

[notstained]

[ Matako is sitting on the edge of her bed as the video begins, narrowing her eyes on the screen. Her tone is relatively calm, but holds a threatening edge to it. ]

I don't really care about you people and your war. It's not my problem if you got yourself mixed in with witches, kishin, Amanto or whatever.

[ There's a beat. ]But I guess if

Comments

[ video ]

[blue_wayfinder]

[...Shinsuke-sama? There was only one Shinsuke that Aqua knew of in Death City and that was...]

Are you a friend of Takasugi's?

[ video ]

[notstained]

[ ....another girl. Was Shinsuke starting a harem here or something?? ]

I don't have friends. It's much deeper than that.

[ video ]

[blue_wayfinder]

Family then?

[They...didn't look like they were related. But then again, blood had little to do with family.]

[ video ]

[notstained]

[ Well. It was close enough. But she's not going to disclose that to some stranger. ]

He's my leader. [ There's a pride in her voice. ]

[ video ]

[blue_wayfinder]

I see.

[Aqua's not sure what to think of her, really. But she seems to genuinely care about Takasugi, at least. Everything else...well, only time will tell. For the time being, she'll be polite.]

You saw him during the tour, right? [She remembered he had volunteered, and Matako already seemed to know that he was here...]

[ video ]

[notstained]

I did.

[ And that was enough about her. There were more important matters at hand. ]

Who are you?

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[blue_wayfinder]

That's good, then. [She's genuinely glad because she thinks Takasugi could use more friends here.]

My name is Aqua. I'm friends with Takasugi.

[ video ]

[notstained]

Define friends.

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[blue_wayfinder]

...I'm not sure I know how to explain it.

[She wasn't too bothered by the questions, after all, if someone she didn't know came up to her and told her they were Terra or Ven's friend she would be curious too.

...though she probably wouldn't have questioned them quite like this.

She thought about it for a moment.]

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[blue_wayfinder]

He's someone I care about. [Her voice and smile were warm when she speaks. But that's normal when you were talking about friends, right?] And I like spending time with him.

The bond we share, is one I'll always cherish.

[ video ]

[notstained]

[ This girl....

And by this point, Shinsuke and Bansai had already told her not to threaten anyone! Arghhh!

Matako just narrows her eyes slightly. She understands where Aqua is coming from very well. She understands the sentiment behind those words. And most of all, she understands the feeling that comes with them. ]

You have a thing for him.

[ video ]

[blue_wayfinder]

[That makes one of them, then.]

.............what? [A blank look. Then what she said finally clicked and Aqua's face went completely red.] No! That's not it at all. We're just friends.

[ video ]

[notstained]

Look. I'd know better than anyone. Maybe you're too stupid or clueless to get it.

[ She narrows her eyes. ]

But I have no intention of losing to the likes of you.

[ ......even though she tends to forget he's only like 16 here. ]

[ video ]

[blue_wayfinder]

I'm telling you: you're reading too much into this.

[If she's annoyed about being called stupid or clueless, she doesn't show it. Her self-control had always been nearly impeccable, and now was no exception.

But nearly wasn't quite the same as completely, and she couldn't stop the way she pursed her lips a little at the second statement.

So that meant that Matako was...]

[ video ]

[notstained]

And I'm telling you to get a clue! The sooner you do, the easier it'll be for you to get over.

[ video ]

[blue_wayfinder]

We're just friends. I'm sure I'd know if I were... [It's hard to believe her face can get redder but apparently it can.] I'd know. [She finished a little lamely.

And she would...right?]