Ingenious!
ichinosekotomi Guest
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Post by ichinosekotomi on Jul 25, 2011 22:24:15 GMT -6
It looked like both Kichiro, and Ryou had found themselves a middle ground. He was willing to wait for a definite answer from the ambivalent young Fujibayashi. She, too was glad the ever-amiable Haru had the patience, after being given such an indefinite response to a question that must have been difficult for him, requiring an enormous amount of courage from the boy. Like Ryou, it gladdened Kotomi. Though in her case, the joy was, seeing two friends become closer. It brought a small, earnest smile to the girl genius' face. Truly, she was happy for them. Even if they were not a couple, at least some feelings were out in the open. Kotomi knew well the power of love. Her dear parents loved her so. She missed them almost as much as she loved them. She loved her friends too, and was glad to be with them.
"Oh. Yes. Let's go." Kotomi agreed cheerfully, glancing back at Kichiro, and then to Ryou. They did make for an interesting couple. Both seemed to share certain mannerisms and traits with one another. Namely their impressive ability to flare bright red in a split second. Kotomi pondered whether that was unhealthy for good blood flow or not until Ryou broke her out of her reverie by asking Haru to join them.
"Ryou-chan. Haru-kun. I'm very happy for you. Both of you." She happily chirped, clasping her hands together through her bento box. Like Ryou, the young girl felt a strong attachment to Kichiro. He, after all, was the one who had first helped her out of her literary fortress of solitude. Helped her take her first step into socializing with people. She owed him a great deal, and thought of no better way to do that than to be a good friend to the boy, and help him, should he have difficulties.
Following Ryou, who had seemed to take the lead in the trio, Kotomi found herself in the social deep end. A room full of strangers. A horde of unfamiliar faces. Had this event transpired mere months ago, it was very likely that she would have retreated back to the library. However, she was with Kichiro and Ryou, so it was fine. She could be brave with her friends. Scanning the room, she looked for a suitable place for the three to sit.
"How about there?" Kotomi asked, pointing to a relatively secluded trio of seats nearby.
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Post by Kichiro Haru on Jul 26, 2011 18:15:59 GMT -6
Well, while it may not have been the best situation to be in, it was what he was going to have to accept for now. There was no point trying to push Ryou into an answer, and he really didn’t have the personality to try that anyway (plus, Kyou served as a nice deterrent to any guy who tried to push things). At least her laugh told him that she was probably just as confused and unsure about all this as he was. Well, that was why she was saying no he guessed. Was there someone else she liked that he had to compete with? Whatever it was, it was Ryou’s personal issue, and he wouldn’t butt in; he’d let her make her choice on her own without any pressure from him. Right now though, seemed to be having an outside source of pressure…but at least he could handle getting lunch.
Following behind Ryou as Kotomi gleefully prepared to head for lunch, he found himself faced with yet another one of Kotomi’s unknowingly awkward phrases. While he felt glad his former crush seemed to be happy for him, it really wasn’t a situation you could say was ‘happy’. Now he felt like there was an expectation that the two of them would get together or something. The girl, the catalyst for him basically going into a confession for Ryou, was still unknowingly pushing them together, for better or for worse.
”T-thank you Kotomi but,” he began to lower his voice a little,”But do you think maybe we could just change the subject a little? I think it’s kind of awkward for Ryou and me right now to hear that…not that I don’t appreciate it of course.”
Since Ryou had taken the lead with leading the way to lunch, Haru pretty much hung in the back with Kotomi. It was a lot less awkward for him to be walking besides her than Ryou right now. Plus, they were about to enter a big crowd of strangers. Kotomi was barely used to being outside of the library, wasn’t she? So there was a chance these crowds might have been a bit too much for her. However, from the looks of it, she was adjusting rather quickly to it all. She even spotted a spot for them to sit. The problem being though…he didn’t have a lunch, and he didn’t think Ryou did either.
”Great. Uhm…do you think you could sit there and save the spot while Ryou and I get our food?”
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Post by Fujibayashi Ryou on Jul 26, 2011 23:13:38 GMT -6
The cafeteria seemed such a welcome place.
Compared to the deserted hallways of the library, and the stairways, and the places where it was just she and Haru and Kotomi...
It was strange, how one can be more distant from each other in a room full of people, than when one happened to be alone. Perhaps the noise and the chattering people were good distractions. It helped that the people that passed this way and that, carrying trays and breads and drinks, disguised the fact that Ryou was having a hard time looking at their male companion.
Kichiro-kun.
Haru-kun.
If she hadn't been feeling so... scrambled? confused? Ryou might've let out a giggle.
He didn't notice.
He didn't notice.
She chastised herself for paying attention to the littlest things... but at the very least she and Kotomi were at even terms now. Was she still comparing herself with Kotomi?
She almost hit a passing schoolmate, having been into her thoughts for a little too long. "Sorry. Excuse me." she squeaked. The girl, balancing a platter of food, quickly replied 'it's okay', though the rattled Fujibayashi wasn't able to acknowledge it.
Her state of being incredibly addled was a little worsened by an innocent Kotomi's words, and before she had stammered a bunch of not-too-thought-of replies Kichiro... Haru-kun had come into her rescue, speaking for the both of them. She was grateful, yet again.
Her lip trembled a bit. Let's see... when was the last time I fainted from incredibly addling events? Come on, just a little more, Ryou. You survived his bombshell... you can survive a lunch with him. And Kotomi-chan's good back-up...
She almost hit another guy again. "Sorry!" her voice rang. It was a boy this time, probably someone from the rugby club, tsk'ing rudely instead... again, the younger Fujibayashi was unable to pay heed. Luckily, the offended didn't seem to think taking it out on her was worth the time... (or he probably realized it was Fujibayashi Kyou's sister after he clicked his tongue. Whichever.)
"Uh... where we'll sit? Okay?" she said, addressing her friends, her head turning just a bit to see them, not totally comprehending... and then comprehending just a bit. Still not totally. Just the part where she'll be with Kichiro... Haru in getting food.
Could she handle that?
She wasn't sure.
Maybe she was overreacting.
She wasn't sure.
"Uh, Haru-kun, how about Kotomi-chan and I get the food?" she suggested, not meeting his eyes. She wondered if this escape statement was a little too obvious. Or if Haru would take it.
(Of course, if Ryou had been thinking clearly, she would know that Kotomi might be not that much help with getting food from the counter and paying for it... but as had been said, Ryou was incredibly addled.
And she wasn't sure!)
"What would you like?" she asked, not waiting for his agreement.
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ichinosekotomi Guest
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Post by ichinosekotomi on Aug 13, 2011 19:11:10 GMT -6
Kotomi observed. Kichiro was almost like a young puppy, following Ryou's lead, weaving in and out of the crowds. Ryou seemed like a clumsy person. What was it that the book called people like that? A... Klutz? Yes. Klutz, that was it. Ryou-chan was a little bit of a klutz. Hugging her arms close to her, making her body as small as possible, avoiding the gazes of her fellow students. She was uncomfortable being alone. Ryou and Kichiro were close by, so it didn't matter. As long as she could still see them.
They were her friends, so they wouldn't abandon her, which helped Kotomi ease her mind a little. She reserved the seat next to her by placing down her bag. Given how busy the cafeteria was, it was inevitable that someone would arrive.
"Excuse me, is someone sitting here?" A junior student asked, pointing to the seat on Kotomi's left, the one unoccupied by her bag after tapping her on the shoulder to catch the senior's attention. Kotomi, nervously cast her glance over to the absent duo of Fujibayashi and Kichiro. She turned her head.
"Oh. You're Ichinose Kotomi. Wow... I wish I could be as smart as you. So are you waiting here for someone, or is this seat free?" He asked, clutching a handful of curry bread. Kotomi, though uncomfortable around this stranger, was flattered. She didn't consider herself to be the genius everyone said she was. She just had a knack for remembering things, and an aptitude for learning. Kotomi shook her head.
"This seat is free. I am saving these two for my friends. They don't have their own food yet, so they asked me to save them seats." She responded, shuffling over to let the junior student sit down. Not everyone was a bully, and it seemed that Kotomi had some admirers even. That was something she was glad to know. But she still kept very wary, as people could feign innocence very easily. The same could be said for herself, and she was sure that both Ryou and Kichiro had their own demons. This junior seemed nice enough though, he clearly was a fan of Kotomi's reputation, and monkier of "The Genius Girl". Genius girl. Kotomi would rather people see her as another student, and not the brainbox they made her out to be. Just being a normal girl would be nice. Everyone that knew her, knew her as the intelligent daughter of scientists, and not the seventeen-year old she was.
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Post by Kichiro Haru on Aug 16, 2011 20:57:37 GMT -6
In the commotion of the lunch room, Ryou bumped into at least two people. Kichiro was succeeding better at dodging people, but he still felt bad he had rattled her up so much she couldn’t pay attention. However, he did give the rugby player a quick glare when he tsked at her. On the bright side, he wasn’t looking so at least the rugby player wouldn’t start anything because of that glare. There really was no need for him to be so rude to her when she apologized for bumping into him. Still, there wasn’t much they could do about it, so he would just have to get over it. At least the little girl she had bumped into first was more polite about it all.
As they debated on where to sit and such things, Kichiro noticed Kotomi had already went over and saved a seat for them to use. That just left getting lunches, but before he could go over and get himself in line, he heard Ryou asking if Kotomi and her could get the food instead. Well, he couldn’t blame her for wanting him to not be following her around everywhere; it’d give her room to think and possibly talk it over with Kotomi. At the least, it would be less awkward for her if he wasn’t hanging on right behind her in line where they would obviously be pushed together and left to their own devices for a few minutes. Still, he couldn’t help but be a little disappointed that she didn’t want to be with him anymore.
”I guess I can give you that much. Hey Ko-“
Before he could call out Kotomi’s name, however, he saw her sitting down with another student, a boy. Kotomi wasn’t freaking out or anything, and from the looks of it everything was going along fine with a conversation and everything. Stopping himself, he realized that he really couldn’t interrupt that moment. Kotomi needed to make more friends and socialize after all. This would be a good chance to see how Kotomi dealt with other people on her own, without any support at all. If she could get through just a few minutes by herself, then she would have made a major step in getting over her shyness. Still, that meant he would have to get lunch with Ryou. Great, make one girl feel uncomfortable and awkward, or ruin another one’s attempts to socialize and spread her wings….
”Uhm, I think Kotomi’s busy with a new friend now. I don’t think we should interrupt her so….”
Great, he didn’t know what to say now. He rattled his brain trying to think of something to say or a suggestion on how to make it all less awkward. About the only thing he could think of was just to purposefully let her go ahead, make some distance between them with other people, and then he got in line.
”So why don’t you just go ahead and get your food and I’ll keep an eye on Kotomi. I can get mine once you get back. Will that be a little less awkward?”
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Post by Fujibayashi Ryou on Aug 22, 2011 0:44:29 GMT -6
Things didn't seem to want to go her way today, but at least it didn't seem that fate was thoroughly ruthless. Perhaps she should have made up an excuse, gotten herself out of eating lunch with Kotomi and Haru, even though that would seem rather rude; that would have given her a bit of time to think, a while to recollect herself.
But it was not as if she did not want to be with them, although what she wanted to do with them... well, one of them, was becoming increasingly unclear.
If she hadn't been feeling specially constricted by the tricky turn of events, she would have found the slight sign of disappointment on Haru-kun's face amusing; perhaps there was something a little similar, besides appearances, between the two Fujibayashis.
While it was obvious that she wasn't sure whether she wanted the attention or not, it was somewhat intriguing, in a foreign sort of way, how her batchmate and friend seemed to appreciate her presence. She might have thought the same thought a while ago... she had found it hard keeping track, though she had an inkling that her inner mumblings were getting a little redundant... but it was strangely pleasant... or was it more pleasantly strange? to be in the receiving end of affection.
She envied Kotomi; even if perhaps Haru would have directed his feelings at her, she probably... would be able to handle it in a more graceful fashion, well... in much the same fashion as she handled all things, if her actions today were consistent with how she acted every day. She envied Kichiro, who had made his move, while she stood there, and in a similar fashion to a sport or a game, called a time out. She envied her sister, who would know (or would she?) how to handle a situation like this, or at least would be able to keep a stronger front. She berated herself; she shouldn't be comparing herself to others; after all, it was not to Fujibayashi Kyou that Kichiro Haru confessed, but... to... her...
"Uh...okay. Yes." she pronounced. Breathe, she told herself. Perhaps it would be impossible to act the same, but at the very least you should try not to fall apart. She was grateful for Haru's consideration, yet again, though his statement came off as a bit too clear, perhaps. She shouldn't be thinking too much about herself... there was still Haru-kun, and Kotomi, and making friends, and lunch... hopefully there would still be something tasty with what remained from the menu... after all, it wasn't always that she managed to buy her food, with her sister making their lunches more often than not.
"T-Thanks. I'll be back, Haru-kun." she said, with a half-sure smile. I should be able to handle this.
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ichinosekotomi Guest
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Post by ichinosekotomi on Aug 22, 2011 7:15:30 GMT -6
"Is it true that you've got the top grades in the entire country Ichinose-san?" The boy asked timidly, unsure of how to act in Kotomi's presence. It looked like she was being treated like some kind of divine sage, unworthy for mere mortals to think in her presence without insulting her intelligence. Kotomi however, was not thinking of herself in such grandiose terms. She was very much aware of her intelligence, supported by her daily knowledge, which she almost drank from the pages of the book, and processed, ready for recall at a moment's notice.
As for her fan, Kotomi was a fish out of water. She was trying hard to remember what Kichiro had told her. Was that not the point of coming out of the library, and into the cafeteria? To socialize with something that wasn't hard-bound and full of one-track knowledge. Well, here she was, doing her best to do just that. Catching a cursory glance at a watchful Haru, Kotomi was motivated to do better, for the sake of a good friend who was trying to help her with her people skills. Ryou too, had to be thanked for accompanying her. Kotomi was sure that because of her fortune-telling, the younger Fujibayashi had a lot of friends. It made Kotomi wonder how Ryou would cope if she started losing them, though that was dealing with a very unlikely scenario. The chances of something like what had happened to her, to happen to Ryou and her sister, was almost zero. So... Kotomi was grateful for her friends.
"Yes. That is correct. I studied very hard for the sake of my parents. All my teachers have praised me many times. Even the physicists say that I'm much cleverer than they are. I'm not sure if that's true, I don't think I'm as smart as some people claim." Kotomi finally responded, after several minutes of being locked in thought. Not because she knew not how to answer, but how to answer in a way that wouldn't make people scratch their heads and walk away. Kotomi glanced at Kichiro again, looking for some kind of silent praise, or affirmation she was doing well. So she waved cheerily at him with a smile.
"That's Kichiro Haru-kun. He is a very dear friend to me," she announced, pointing over to Ryou as well, "and that is Fujibayashi Ryou-chan, a friend of Kichiro-kun's and mine. I've been told her twin sister is a nice girl. I'd like to meet her someday."
The boy next to her giggled as he chewed on his own food. Something was amusing him. Was it something Kotomi had said? She didn't think anything she said was funny, as she had meant every word to be taken seriously. The boy finished chewing, and swallowed his food before elaborating on his bout of chuckling.
"You don't know the Fujjibayashi twins very well do you?" He asked rhetorically. Kotomi had immediately picked up on the boy's rhetoric question. Of course she didn't know them very well. She only knew one of them personally, and even then, they'd only just met not that long ago. Despite this, the boy continued.
"Fujibayashi Kyou is like a tornado inside an erupting volcano." He stated bluntly. Kotomi put a finger to her chin. Could a girl like Kyou, whom Kotomi had on good faith, from the girl's own sister that she was nice, really be that bad?
"So... Kyou-chan is full of hot air?" Kotomi asked confusedly, causing the male student to roar with laughter.
"Oh Ichinose-san... I had no idea you were that funny..." He cried, letting his laughter die down. He was getting a few strange looks, but Kotomi was sitting there, wearing her confounded poker face as usual.
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Post by Kichiro Haru on Aug 23, 2011 10:42:05 GMT -6
”All right, we’ll meet up at the table later then…”, Kichiro responded as Ryou went off to get her food. Now that he was more alone, he finally took a big breath and sighed. This had been probably one of the weirdest lunch breaks he had ever had. When he had run into Kotomi he had thought he would just have a nice lunch with a friend; instead he had confessed to one of his potential love interests and was now in an even more awkward limbo than he had been in before the confession. It was bad enough apparently he and Ryou couldn’t be around each other without blushing or just standing around feeling awkward and silent.
Looking over at Kotomi, he found himself being waved at with a smile. He returned it, figuring it best to not bother Kotomi with his own troubles so she could focus on her new friend instead of on him and Ryou (and maybe that way Kotomi wouldn’t accidentally reference their romance anymore). Awkward feelings for Ryou aside, he was glad to see Kotomi interacting with someone outside of her circle of one, now two friends. Just as he began to turn away, however, he heard a large roar of laughter coming from the direction of Kotomi. Turning around, he saw the male student had started laughing. Did Kotomi actually make a joke, or was he just laughing at something she had said in all seriousness as a joke? He would have to ask her about that later.
For now, he just made his way into the lunch line…
OOC: Beh, sorry for short post; just trying to move things along
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Post by Fujibayashi Ryou on Aug 29, 2011 10:48:02 GMT -6
It seems we will be at the mercy of Nick's NPCs, for this next round. Ugh, and it seems it's even shorter.She was coming back.
After the long line, though she surmised it must have been shorter than before, she had had plenty of time to recollect herself. She hadn't given too much thought on her choice of food; she had spent most of her time trying to calm herself down, and she was succeeding, at the very least partially. She'd steeled herself before she made her way to the table Kotomi had prepared for them.
It seemed Kichiro had gone and gotten his food even before she had returned; while in a more normal occasion she would have asked why, she wasn't feeling much up to it. Would it be okay to leave the childlike girl by herself? There was a boy with Kotomi, however, so she wasn't exactly alone, and she seemed to be handling it well... she didn't know if it was an acquaintance of Kichiro. I don't know everybody that he knows... there are things about him that I do not know.
She had on her hand her lunch; it was a pastry that she hadn't been able to eat for a while, a yakisoba pan. She missed her sister's cooking, even if it would probably be just for today, but she guessed she should enjoy the ephemeral change. Maybe she still had some time... to get herself ready, to be a little more sane in front of Haru-kun. Or else, she might forget to eat.
She approached the table. "I'm back, Kotomi-chan." She didn't know what to say to the stranger, so she chose to not say anything to him, though she politely nodded.
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ichinosekotomi Guest
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Post by ichinosekotomi on Sept 17, 2011 14:45:03 GMT -6
As her new found acquaintance guffawed merrily to himself, Kotomi, with a slightly titled, confused head, was doing a lot of mental head-scratching. She didn't formulate joke, yet this boy was laughing at her words. Was he laughing at her? No. He had already said that she was funny.
She must have indirectly told a joke, without even realizing it. Comedy, or rather, the concept of humor, being deathly silent when something funny was shown on television. She mostly watched nature shows, and kept a watchful eye, and ear out for any mentioning of something related to her parents' work. Maybe she could finish from where they left off. That would make them happy. Their own daughter, finishing their task.
"I'm back, Kotomi-chan."
Startled slightly, Kotomi creaked her tilted head to up see Ryou. Her confused look turned into a warm smile. She lifted her bag from the seat she was saving, and placed it at her feet. She warmly greeted the calm Ryou Fujibayashi,
"Ah, Ryou-chan. Welcome back. I saved this seat for you." Kotomi pointed out obviously. She turned her head to the male student beside her. Although he was a complete stranger, he seemed like a nice person. One nice enough to laugh at her joke, whatever it may have been.
"I do not know who he is, but we just met. I think I my have told a joke. You see we were speaking about Kyou-chan, and I arrived at this conclusion. If Kyou-chan really is a tornado inside of an active volcano like our kohai says, then she must be full of hot air." She explained, matter-of-factly. Eyes widening, the junior student scooped up his lunch, bowed once, and turned on his heels to leave.
"Forgive me Fujibayashi-senpai. Please don't tell your sister I said that..." He croaked, walking a little too hurriedly out of the cafeteria, just in case Kyou was nearby, hidden, ready to pounce at a moment's notice, or come thundering in like an angry rhino, ready to trample any miscreants into a fine paste. Kotomi was left bewildered by this display, and could only look to Ryou for support. Surely Kyou Fujibayashi was not a person from whom people would run away from after a joke was made about them?
"Oh... Did I... Do something wrong Ryou-chan? He left in an awful hurry..." Kotomi stated, feeling a little low that she had frightened off someone. Normally people would just ease their way out of the library (in the rare case they caught Kotomi's attention) as she discussed things well above their intelligence. It was a little disheartening for Kotomi, who could only blink her amethyst eyes which were narrowed sadly, and seemingly subdued of their normal bright color.
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Post by Fujibayashi Ryou on Oct 23, 2011 22:51:59 GMT -6
"Uhh..." Ryou said, not sure of how to react.
A joke, huh? If it had been somebody else who had told such... jokes, the younger Fujibayashi might have even considered them mean, even if her sister's temper warranted such depictions. It seemed that their underclassman had tried to portray her oneechan in a blunter manner than she and Haru-kun had done. And the result, combined with Kotomi's unique frame of mind, was... well, some might find it amusing, some might find it irritating, but Ryou surmised that it was merely one of several usual misunderstandings.
So it was that she, with an uncertain, but a determined expression, nodded at the nameless student fleeing, though he might have not noticed.
The difficulty right now was explaining the situation to Kotomi. She knew much, but it seemed, for simple things like this, she was a little out of touch... well, she should have seen this coming, but she had been a little distracted. She wondered how she should word it; how her sister had a rather infamous temper, how Kotomi's statement insinuated something entirely different, how all that added up to the boy escaping... Haru-kun probably would know more about how to handle this... but right now I'm unsure of how to handle myself... in front of him.
"...I guess... thank you for saving my seat, Kotomi-chan." she said, first. "I'm not sure I can explain, what just happened, to you..." she said, a little embarrassed. How had they described her sister to Kotomi, again? "Some people... well... are a bit scared of my sister... you see..."
And as she dilly-dallied, not really sure if the explanation she was making would clear up the question marks inside the genius's head, she guessed this would tide her from the awkwardness between her and Haru-kun, for a while... soon, he'd come back with his food, and then Kotomi could get hers, and then they'd explain, or try to explain just why that boy had scurried off... successfully or unsuccessfully... and she could choose not to think of the question that the boy had posed her, so abruptly, so spontaneously... for a while. End. Unless you guys want to say something more? Sorry if it's not that good of an ending.
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