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[Meanwhile, Ichiro is thinking about that fact A Lot.

The days before Valentines were always busy for Yamada Odd Jobs: I need a dozen roses. I want to find this plush from my girlfriend's childhood. Things like that. So even if Ichiro hasn't thought about it in regards to himself since school, there's no way he can forget the day itself.

That leaves Ichiro staring at the text for a solid ten minutes, mind going in all different directions. Because surely Jyushi is the type to want to do something on that day. But he also said thats just when he's available. What kind of important thing could Jyushi have to say to him on Valentines Day?!

It takes a couple hours for Ichiro to finally return to the text. Sorry, Juice.]

i can do the 14th. just tell me where.

[Sent. Followed by:]

is everything ok?

[Ichiro is surely busy so Jyushi doesn't think much about it. Although he is nervous as he awaits Ichiro's text, wishing he hadn't put all of this off so much. But he had been afraid and he knows it. Maybe it was a little cowardly, holding off so long to talk about something important, but Jyushi just hadn't know what to do.

But after Hitoya had run into Ichiro after being in Jyushi's body, he thought he needed to do it now more than ever.]

Everything's okay! Somewhere private might be good, though. Can I come over to your place? Or we can find somewhere else! I just don't want anybody to overhear us.

[Jyushi, you're not helping matters.]

[Wh. What is he supposed to think of this. Jyushi is clearly leading up to a confession, right? Is this going to turn into a date?? No, no, Ichiro reminds himself to not get ahead of himself. Sure they've been hanging out, and they've kissed... and they woke up together that one time?... but it's impossible to know what Jyushi's thinking over text.

Hhgh. At least he has time to think about how he would respond to a confession. Just in case that's what this is. Which it might be. He thinks.]

my place is small but it's as private as it gets, so there's probably best

[Right now, Jyushi's so stuck in what's going on with him that he has absolutely no idea what poor Ichiro is going through.]

All I ask for is privacy! I just don't want anybody to overhear us.

[?!]

definitely my place then.

[And then all Ichiro can do is wait. Thankfully, he's able to keep himself distracted (talking to folks on the network and making cooking plans helps) and calm down enough to think a little more rationally about all this.

So when the 14th comes around, Ichiro has his answer should he need it and is as chill as usual when he lets Jyushi into his little inn room.]

Hey. Come in.

[Chill, but still awkward. Whoops. But Jyushi is welcome to sit or do whatever he wants in the room.]

[Seeing Ichiro is overwhelming. There's still something about him that Jyushi finds himself instantly attracted to and he still doesn't know what it is. So when he sees him, there's a moment that he feels shy. Wow, he's going into his place alone.

And on Valentines. Hitoya pointed that out to him but Jyushi's going to believe Ichiro read nothing into it! It isn't like there's anything going on despite what Hitoya believes. But as Jyushi comes in, taking a seat, he takes a deep sigh.]

There's a lot to talk about and I've been putting it off. Which isn't fair to either of us and I'm sorry for that. [Jyushi still isn't helping Ichiro's ideas.]

[He really, really isn't! The confusion is clear on Ichiro's face.]

Uh, what? [He shakes his head.] Sorry, but I have no idea what you're talking about. I think...

[But he's gotta hear it from Jyushi first before he goes and makes an idiot of himself! He wants to hear him out anyway. With the way he's acting and how he texted him, this is really important to Jyushi.]

[Jyushi nods, standing and bowing. He has to do this right!]

Ichiro-san! I'm sorry! You've been so nice to me, since the beginning, and it's so good to spend time with you. Talking to you is nice and easy! [This definitely sound like the preface to a confession alright.]

I realized a month ago we were from the same world. I'm also competing in the DRB! [That's part one of this whirlwind of drama.] Originally I thought maybe I should bury my feelings but Hitoya-san said that I shouldn't. I admit, even though we're from rival factions, I wondered if maybe...maybe I should act on...[Ah, he's starting to ramble. He needs to just get it out. He needs to just say it!

So he bows once again.] I think I'm harboring romantic interest in you but I'm part of Bad Ass Temple and our leader is Harai Kuko! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! [It should be noted he is bowing each time he is saying sorry.]

[Well, it's a confession for sure but nothing could have prepared Ichiro for this sort of confession.

At least these pieces are starting to fit together, like a puzzle he didn't even know he was working on. Something about Hitoya had been beginning to feel familiar the more time Ichiro spent with him. Or rather, he gave off this subtle vibe that he knew more than he was letting on. Then Jyushi, being so attached to him, would be the same of course. His singing is so strong, too, it would be a shame for him to not participate in the DRB.

Then Kuko... Kuko. Ichiro feels like the air's been punched out of his lungs. After the first DRB, Jakurai had mentioned Kuko sniffing around, watching, but that had been it. He never knew what his former friend was up to after that - making his own team, apparently.

And dating someone from another group would definitely be messy but not impossible. Especially here in Avalon where there were no divisions and no DRB. But with Kuko involved... Had he finally told someone what Ichiro had done to make him leave so suddenly? Jyushi?]

Kuko, huh? [He's trying so hard to keep an even expression.] I haven't heard his name in a while.

So he told you about us? [He winces. Us. That sounds so personal and vulnerable to his own ears. He needs to correct it.] About Naughty Busters?

[Jyushi can tell this isn't easy news to hear for Ichiro. From what he did know, which was very little, Kuko and Ichiro had been very close. Then one day, no more. He knew this news wouldn't be easy for Ichiro but Jyushi knew he had to share it.]

Um, no. I didn't hear it from Kuko-san. I heard about your former team only recently while I was here. [And that sounds bad so he's quick to add:] But Kuko-san doesn't talk about himself at all! I don't know very much about him other than what there is right now, with our team. I met when I went to his father's temple for spiritual training and one thing led to another so now he trains me but really he doesn't talk much about himself at all and...[Okay, he's rambling again. This isn't going to help Ichiro any and Jyushi knows that. He needs to calm down. So he sighs, taking a breath so he can continue.]

Hitoya-san knows him better. They've known each other since Kuko was younger and I think he'd have a lot more information on this situation. He'd like to talk to you. [Ah, wait. Add onto that, Jyushi!] About Kuko-san! Not about my romantic interest because that's selfish and this is more important! I...I...[This is going terribly and Jyushi is trying not to tear up. He feels awful. He knows this wasn't easy for Ichiro and Jyushi wishes it were just as simple as a love confession. Instead it's...this with a love confession on the side. Embarrassing.]

Forget about what I just said, please! [Bowing again because please ignore how much of a trainwreck he's being...except wait. Clarify, Jyushi!] About my feelings about you, not Kuko-san!

[Why is he doing so badly?!]

That guy never shuts up. How - [Kuko doesn't talk about him. That leads Ichiro to two conclusions: one, that Kuko must really... really want nothing more to do with him if he's not even willing to talk a little bit about his past to his teammate. Because Ichiro knows, too, how Kuko sees his teams as family. You don't keep secrets from your family (ignore the hypocrisy of that thought, though).

And two, one of two adults here is giving out his personal info without his permission. Not that he spends a lot of time thinking about this one, as his mind is still revolving around Kuko, Kuko, Kuko -

Ichiro clenches his fist. Reign it in. Calm down. If not for his sake, then Jyushi's. He's innocent in this.]

There's nothing to talk about. With Hitoya-san. It's in the past and if he doesn't talk about it, then it's done. [Though he doesn't look happy admitting that. Maybe it's better he doesn't know the reason if it's really that bad.] We have nothing to do with each other anymore.

[At least Ichiro is uh... not acknowledging the love confession part of this yet?]

[Oh no. Jyushi can see how unhappy he is and he's all but ready to cry. He knew this wouldn't be easy but he'd hoped it'd be better than this. He understands why Ichiro is upset, he has every reason to be, but he was still hoping this would be going easier.]

This is why Hitoya-san wants to talk to you! It's not just about you and me but...Kuko-san is also our family. What happened between you two is your business but well, you seem like--no, you are a good person. Hitoya-san says he doesn't think all of this adds up, he told me himself that this doesn't seem like Kuko-san but I can't say because we just formed the team and I...

I think talking to Hitoya-san might help. He's always been a big help to me. I can't force you and I won't. But I also can't stop him either.

[It wouldn't be great if Jyushi started crying, but at least it would provide Ichiro an excuse to stop talking about this. As cowardly as that would be.

Jyushi says the magic word though. Family. Ichiro had even thought it himself just before, but hearing the other boy say it really makes it stick. They're a family too and... He's been thinking about this purely from his own perspective. What he did wrong. His feelings.

And while talking about it will be difficult, and maybe even pointless when he doesn't have any more answers than he did back then, maybe he and Hitoya can figure some things out. It's the least he can do.

Ichiro brushes his hair back.] Right. I'll think about it. I'll message him. [Later. When he's had more time to process this.

And...]

Is he okay? Kuko? Is he happy?

[Oh. That question hits Jyushi right to the core. Ichiro had really cared about Kuko and it shows. Somebody wouldn't say that, ask that, if they didn't care. What happened between these two? Jyushi has no idea but it doesn't seem like Ichiro could have ever done something wrong. But Jyushi also knows that he shouldn't make assumptions. People can surprise you. Still, Ichiro cares about Kuko and there is that much. Despite whatever happened.

So Jyushi nods.]

I think so. But there's a lot about Kuko-san that I don't know. There's stuff he kind of keeps to himself and I can't say I know a lot about him at all. I just know the Kuko now, who is trying his hardest to make a good team. I think he likes being our leader and is really happy to be doing this.

[Jyushi bows once more.]

I'm very sorry for not talking about this until now. I found out last month but...I was scared to tell you something I knew wouldn't make you happy. I didn't want to hurt you. That's still no excuse, though. Everybody deserves the truth.

[That's something that Jyushi believes in wholeheartedly. It had never been his intention to hide things from Ichiro but he knows that's what he inadvertently did.

He stands straight and looks Ichiro in the eye.]

I should go now. I know I told you a lot that you need to be able to take in. Um. I'll leave you alone for the time being. There's no pressure to talk to me soon or ever again. Hitoya-san probably won't wait very long. If you make him wait too long he'll say something like "Young brats thinking they can make an adult wait". But he means well and he's a good person who helps people every day. I hope he can help you.

Edited 2022-02-11 18:44 (UTC)

[Ichiro hears everything Jyushi's saying, but one thing sticks out to him that he has to immediately address.]

Don't - Don't be stupid! I'll talk to you again. I'm not going to just stop talking to a friend like that, and I'm not going to forget what you said!

[There's even a part of Ichiro that doesn't want Jyushi to leave. Because be left alone with this hurt may not be the best idea. But he's absolutely right. He needs to think about this and his feelings and he probably wont be the best of company why he does so. Plus, he thinks Jyushi needs some time to himself too.

He can hear it in his voice: how difficult it must have been to carry this information around and then to be able to tell him. Ichiro hopes Jyushi knows just how strong he really is.]

But yeah... you're right. I need some time to take this all in.

[Ichiro says they're still friends after this and Jyushi knows he has to take comfort in that. If this is what Ichiro says then he will believe in him. Besides, he knows Ichiro wouldn't do that. Jyushi knows that much about the other even if they've only spent time with each other for a few months.

He nods, smiling softly.]

Okay. When you want to talk, you can reach out. No matter how long, the bridge won't be burned, okay?

[Ichiro practically sags with relief. This entire conversation has been rough but that, at least, is reassuring. He can't lose someone else.

He offers a small smile back.]

Right. Thanks, Jyushi.

[Really.]

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