[Closed] Proposals in Flowers

[pishirogane]

Who: ziobrawler and pishirogane
What: The Talk... about a year in the making.
When: Some time after the Pony!Event conclusion
Where: Astronomy Deck (There would be one, right?)
Warnings: Two teens who flail at romance, what else?

Comments

[pishirogane]

... Well, his words more or less sent Naoto blank screening mentally. She had prepared to tell him that she wasn't right for him; he needed someone that wasn't so blind to emotion, but he had basically said what Polly thought he might. Except for the dungeon part. S-She had really made him think he was gay? Naoto didn't mean for that to happen... and he was still much more interesting than most guy.

The parallel was very evident now; he wasn't the considered the normal boy at home and she wasn't considered the normal girl. Why did everyone else see them as wrong when they - maybe only her - had considered themselves both just fine.

And then Naoto blinked, remembering that she was still standing here, in the observatory, with Kanji. The most interesting shade of red bloomed over her face. Quickly, she willed the blush away and regathered her thoughts.

"... You twisted what I was about to say. I... assumed that I couldn't be of any interest to any boy and... every time you avoided trying to speak to me that maybe you even hated being around me. Personally, I don't understand why anyone sees anything wrong with your skills in Inaba. Logically, it makes sense and... I believe more guys could stand to be like you."

Shifting, she tried to make herself a little more comfortable, but... was it supposed to feel this strange? Was this how he felt constantly from afar? It was terrible, but now they were speaking, this was going to get out.

"... You... really don't mind if I continue dressing this way?"

[ziobrawler]

Kanji's eyes widened at Naoto's admission. Sure, he knew that feeling all too well of understanding the opposite gender so little that connecting with them seemed impossible. But for her to think he hated her? He shook his head, blushing deeply at her final remark.

"Well I ain't too sure about that part. But I'm sorry if I made you think I hated you being around. Sure, you made me face a lot of questions about myself I'd sooner not think about, but if it hadn't been you then it would've been someone, eventually. And you...you're smart, way smarter than I'll ever be. You got goals and even now we're stuck here on this ship I know damn well you'll get wherever you want to be because that's who you are."

If anything, in fact, he often felt she should hate being around him but clearly she felt otherwise or they wouldn't be here now, would they?

At her final question, he frowned a little. "Why would I mind?"

[pishirogane]

"That's... true."

If she didn't come along, someone would. Someone would've made Kanji question himself and make him finally accept who he was. With a faint smile, she shook her head, "Don't be ridiculous. You have goals too, Kanji-kun even if you haven't realized them yet." Though, he probably did.

At his last question, she hung her head, "I... well, everyone usually wants me to dress more femininely. Yosuke-senpai suggested it too as did a few others..."

[ziobrawler]

He shrugged. "Maybe. But I ain't got your focus and I'm not sure I know anyone who does. You had shit figured out way before I even stopped to think about that sort of thing."

As Naoto mentioned what others had said, Kanji scowled. "Everyone needs to learn to mind their own damn business. What's it to them if you keep dressing the way you do? Ain't like you're hurting anyone."

And Yosuke sure as hell was going to pay for making that suggestion just as soon as Kanji could get his hands on him.

[pishirogane]

"I only had it figured out because of my Grampa and Souji-sen... pai..." Who didn't remember her. He was calling her Shirogane-kun.

Naoto stared at him, nodding slowly as he finished speaking. He really didn't care... That made her happy even if she didn't show it. "Yes... We're not hurting anyone..."

[ziobrawler]

Kanji caught the hesitance, moving to place a gentle, reassuring hand on her shoulder. If she pushed him away that was fine, but he wasn't going to let this confusion stop him from being a friend to her. Not after what he'd heard from Yosuke. Of course, it hadn't quite flagged for him that Souji was so far behind in their timeline.

"Hey, did something happen with you guys? Anything I can help with?"

He nodded at her final comment, uncertain as to what the sudden "we" referred to. He remained quiet, waiting for her to continue.

[pishirogane]

"... It's more... what hasn't happened between us." She wasn't pushing his hand from her shoulder; she did need some semblance of support. "... The Souji-senpai that has arrived doesn't know me. His timeline isn't past my dungeon..."

So none of this was his fault. Naoto would like to have someone to blame, but it wasn't possible. They were getting off topic...

[ziobrawler]

Kanji raised an eyebrow, but knew better than to question. Of course Naoto was sure; when wasn't she? And while that didn't affect him all too much, he could understand why it would hurt to have Souji "forget" her.

"Well then he'll just have to get to know you again. Gotta be easier the second time...right?"

[pishirogane]

"It might be, but I'm unsure how to approach him on the matter."

Naoto hesitated when it came to speaking about personal matters. Sure, she set the clues down before the Investigation Team to save her, but having her shadow blurt out her secrets was not part of the plan. Had nothing more been said, Naoto knew she would've resumed being recluse. She frowned and her small fingers took hold of Kanji's sleeve. None of this would be happening if they didn't save her.

[ziobrawler]

Kanji pulled her into a hug, barely giving her chance to resist. Initially he had failed to reconcile the fact of Souji's timeline with the fact that it meant he didn't know the truth about Naoto; now that the dots had connected he realised just what she was concerned about. Just as he'd been concerned over talking about his dungeon, only at least he didn't have the knowledge that she should have already known.

"Well, I ain't the best at this kind of thing. But if there's anything I can do to help, anything at all, you let me know, okay?"

[pishirogane]

Resistance was the first thought to bubble due to contact being foreign, but Naoto willed herself to stop and accept it. She even allowed her head to drop and rest against him as awkward as it was.

"I will..." At least, she might; her communication skills with everyone was incredibly poor and seemed to be getting worse instead of better. At least, that was from her own personal observations.

"... I'm sorry. I... I think we've gotten off-topic."

[ziobrawler]

Kanji simply held her, quiet reassurance that he wasn't going anywhere. He was hardly an expert in expressing his emotions in a healthy manner but this combined with Yosuke's words had made him more determined than ever not to let her down. He didn't have the solution, not yet, but he was determined to keep going until he found one.

"Hey, it's okay. If this is botherin' you, better that you tell me so we can try and fix it. I just want you to be okay."

[pishirogane]

She doesn't want to hear him say that, but at the same time, it makes her happy. It shouldn't; inevitably, he was going to disappear and leave her alone again. After he finally told her... and she knew she felt the same back... Everyone disappeared and she was always left alone.

Naoto's hold on Kanji tightened and she nodded weakly.

"... Thank you."

[ziobrawler]

Kanji continued to just hold her, steady support even as his mind was falling over itself trying to figure out what this meant, if it even meant anything and where things went from here. None of that was important right this second - Naoto came first, as she always had, even if that meant he had to wonder a little longer.

[pishirogane]

In his hold, Naoto gradually calmed down. Minutes probably passed and neither of them had noticed. Even if they disappeared, they would come back eventually. They would never leave her alone for long... at least, that's what she hoped.

... Ah, her face turned red. They were quite close. Well, now was a better time than never.

"K-Kanji-kun, it's... quite possible that... I feel the same."

[ziobrawler]

Kanji blinked, unable to move as he allowed her words to sink in. She...had she really just said that? And did that really mean that she...?

Eventually he pulled back, searching for some trace that he'd misunderstood. She wouldn't mislead him but surely she couldn't have meant...could she?

"Uh, it is? I mean, you do? I mean, uh..."

He trailed off. Even as he hoped this would be the outcome, he was a little stunned to hear that maybe it would be.