[21 Inches]

[not_kotani]

You know, in this case, the whole 'no news is good news' thing doesn't cut it. When the hell are the people in charge here planning to bother telling the relatives of the missing kids anything, it's been days and no news at all, just empty bunks.

Hope Toshiro is okay...Damn, and now this...no, I can't put this off anymore...

[Note to Koizumi: Passed

Comments

[not_oizumi]

[A note passed back to Otani: during dinner]

[A few inkblots]

Okay, I'll meet you there.

Action

[not_kotani]

[After reading the note and tucking it into his pocket, Otani quickly finished his food and left the mess hall, heading straight for the lake. Yes it was a good few hours early but he wasn't going to risk losing his nerve by sitting in his cabin, too freaked out to do anything else.]

Action

[not_oizumi]

[After a few nerve-wrecking days, waiting for Otani to reply, the time has finally come. She left her cabin and headed to the meeting place.]

Action

[not_kotani]

[She'd find him easily, he was sitting on the small wooden dock, staring at the water in silence, trying to rehearse what to say in his head.]

Re: Action

[not_oizumi]

[As she approached the place, she saw him. She could do this. Taking a deep breath, she came closer.]

Hey.

Action

[not_kotani]

[He turned to look at the girl blankly for a moment, before gesturing for her to sit next to him.]

There's...a couple of things I need to tell you.

Re: Action

[not_oizumi]

[She sits besides him and turns to him.]

Okay.

Action

[not_kotani]

Okay, first off, I'm sorry for, you know, not taking you seriously. It's just...well considering the number of times youve smacked me around I didn't think you'd ever...you know...like me that way...

[Yes this is awkward, and no he can't say love, that's too scary to comprehend right now, but she deserved that apology at least.]

Action

[not_oizumi]

Yeah, well, I never thought I'd fancy you, so I guess it makes us even.

Action

[not_kotani]

Yeah, I still don't get why you'd wanna date a midget like me...

[He shook his head right after saying that, now what not the time to ask that, it would just be harder if he did!]

But that's not important right now...

Action

[not_oizumi]

[She knew it wasn't a question, but she still answered.]

Because you can be sweet when you want to.

But you're right, it's not important right now.

Action

[not_kotani]

No, it isn't.

[Choosing to ignore going further into that matter, he sighed. This was going to hurt, sadly he imagined it wouldn't be him getting the worst of it..]

Look, Koizumi...I'll admit we've kind of become friends the last year or so, you're certainly not the pain in the neck I thought you were way back in first year. Despite what you think, I'm sure any guy would be lucky to have you...

...I just...don't think I'm that guy.

[He stopped a moment to swallow a lump in his throat before continuing, forcing himself not to look away.]

I just, well I don't wanna lie to you or string you along, cause like I said, we're friends, and I hope we can still be friends. However I just don't think we'd work, you could do way better than me, so...I'm sorry.

Action 1/?

[not_oizumi]

[She heard the words, but it took her a few moments to process what they meant.]

2/?

[not_oizumi]

[Then, she just stared.]

3/?

[not_oizumi]

[He said no. He rejected her. These things kept going through her head over and over.]

4/?

[not_oizumi]