FIFTY SEVEN [VOICE POST; JAPANESE]

[superficialness]

.. Why do I even care..? Why do I keep..

H-haha.. this is so dumb. I can't .. help but get involved, but what good does it do...

I don't understand how people... can.. support someone.. like him.

[ as his voice becomes more strained, there are some muffled sounds, as if Keigo is shifting the communicator away from himself ]

Renji... [ hff ] Why

Comments

[VOICE, JAPANESE]

[panoplied]

[long pause]

Who'd you talk to?

[COMMENT LOG]

[panoplied]

[Ichigo is getting a little anxious about the entire situation, but he manages to keep it off his face for now] ... Considering where we are, it would be surprising if you were happy all the time.

[he scoffs a little at Keigo's statement] Being emotionally backward doesn't make you any stronger. [he reaches up and rubs his forehead] You'd rather lie and pretend you're ok?

[COMMENT LOG]

[superficialness]

[ Keigo laughs at that, but again, it doesn't have much humor to it ] No.. I.. I guess not...

... Well.. crying about everything doesn't, either. [ he glances over at Ichigo, then down again, thinking ] Um.. well.. I don't.. know.. I guess not, but.. [ he sighs, reaching up to rub at his face ] It... I don't know.

[COMMENT LOG]

[panoplied]

.... [he grunts] Well, no, I don't really want you to cry all the time, or anything, either.. [Ichigo frowns and scratches his neck absently]

[he grimaces] I guess either way isn't very good.

[COMMENT LOG]

[superficialness]

... I.. don't really like it much myself.. haha.. it hurts my chest and my face gets all red and I probably look like a girl or maybe even sound like one.. and who really wants to deal with a guy who cries all the time? I'm not five or anything so.. [ he breathes deep; the rambling seemed to stave off whatever aforementioned tears that were waiting, at least for a moment ]

... Mmn.. n-no... [ he grimaces as well, biting down on his lip ]

[COMMENT LOG]

[panoplied]

..... [Ichigo actually has to chuckle a little] You don't sound or look like a girl when you cry, idiot. Your tears are very manly. [and really, if a girl sounded like Keigo when they cried, there was something wrong]

[COMMENT LOG]

[superficialness]

[ Ichigo's chuckling makes Keigo blink and look up slightly, a small smile pulling at his lips in spite of himself ] ...haha.. m-manly, huh? [ he picks his head up a bit more and looks directly at Ichigo ] You've been hanging around me a bit too much, I think...

[COMMENT LOG]

[panoplied]

[Ichigo rolls his eyes and snorts] I guess you're rubbing off on me. That can't be good. Soon I'll be lusting after some guy named Loto. [he sighs in fake exasperation]

[COMMENT LOG]

[superficialness]

[ that actually gets a pout from Keigo ] H-hey! Loto's a hot piece of warrior ass! [ he stops, looking a bit perturbed ] Wow, I can't believe I said that.

[COMMENT LOG]

[panoplied]

[he stares at Keigo for a moment before chuckling again] Yeah, didn't think I'd hear something like that out of your mouth.

[he sobers up a little] But really... I wouldn't change a thing about you.

[COMMENT LOG]

[superficialness]

[ Keigo huffs ] Yeah, maybe you're rubbing off on me, too.

[ but likewise, he sobers up as well, looking down a bit ] .... Is that so? Not even how loud and annoying I am?

[COMMENT LOG]

[panoplied]

Huh? [he honestly looks confused] How do you figure?

[he blinks at the question before smirking slightly] Nah, I think it's growing on me.

[COMMENT LOG]

[superficialness]

[ Keigo smirks a little, still looking down, and replies as seriously as he can manage ] Your gayness, I mean.

[ his smirk turns into a softer smile and he looks up at Ichigo, almost shyly ] ... Yeah?

[COMMENT LOG]

[panoplied]

.... [he scowls slightly] Tch'. You were catching that before I came into the picture, idiot.

[his smirk softens a little too] Yeah. It would really mess me up if you stopped now.

[COMMENT LOG]

[superficialness]

[ Keigo scoffs ] Yeah, yeah, whatever, neee..

[ he laughs quietly, a faint redness on his face ] ... Well, okay.. I wouldn't want to mess you up..

[COMMENT LOG]

[panoplied]

[he's a little surprised by the blushing, but it turns his smirk into a small smile] That's good. I'd be pretty upset if you did.