lunchtime.

Kousuke Nitou Gets turned on by danger Città Alveare

[timetrippinride-blog]

Ryoutaro felt some relief when Kousuke didn’t react negatively to the usage of his first name. Honestly, he wasn’t sure why he’d been so worried in the first place. Kousuke had used his first name – without honorifics, even – the moment they first met. He was just that kind of person; friendly almost to a fault.

It was part of the reason why Ryoutaro liked him so much, despite how difficult it was keeping up with him half the time.

Case in point: Before he knew what was happening, Kousuke had grabbed him by the wrist and started dragging him to the water’s edge, and Ryoutaro barely had enough time to slip his t-shirt off and toss it aside. He was wearing swim trunks, too – gray ones, with little white cartoon mice on them – but they had really only been for show. As much as he’d been looking forward to visiting the beach, Ryoutaro had no intention of going swimming.

“K-Kousuke-san, I– Could you slow down please, I’m, I don’t really–” It wasn’t that Ryoutaro didn’t know how to swim, on the contrary. He just hadn’t had very good experiences with beaches. Too much opportunity for things to go wrong – which they did. Every time.

If things didn’t go wrong this time, it would be a miracle.

[beastchimera-blog1]

     There was one thing that Kousuke Nitou did best. That was, simply put, never goddamn listening to anything anyone ever goddamn said to him. Even people who he obviously cared for, like Ryoutarou, were practically discarded to the wind, never to be listened to again. 

     Such was the case right now. In fact, he didn’t even hear Ryoutarou call out to him---like he completely blocked all sounds but the sweet lapping of the waves. He only stopped right before the actually touched the water, grinning like a mad doctor, looking between the cool water and Ryoutarou a few times. 

     Kousuke grinned even wider, if one could believe that, as he waded in to about his waist, tugging Ryoutarou along with him. He plopped the inner tube into the water, holding it steady before, in one swift motion, ducking under the water, grabbing Ryoutarou by the legs and hoisting him almost completely out of the water---only to set him gently down (very, very carefully) inside the inner tube. 

     “Ally-oop! Here ya go, Ryoutarou!” he exclaimed, running a hand through his now wet hair. “I thought you might try to say you couldn’t swim, so I fixed the problem. Don’t say it! Don’t say it! Yes, I got the red one because it reminded me of Momo-chan!” He pushed on the inner tube, moving out further in the water as the waves bobbed them up and down. 

[timetrippinride-blog]

Miraculously, the bottle was big enough to fit Momotaros in; if Ryoutaro didn’t know better, he’d think Kousuke had brought it specifically for the Imagin. Momotaros’ screams (now punctuated with very… colorful language, all directed at Kousuke) could still be heard, muffled behind the glass. Ryoutaro had been far too shocked to intervene, and while he felt some pity for Momotaros right now, he couldn’t help but crack a smile and put a hand over his mouth to stifle his laughter.

“Pfft–Thank you for your concern, Kousuke-san. I’m, I’m sure Momotaros really… really appreciates it.”

[beastchimera-blog1]

     Kousuke turned to Ryoutarou, still looking very proud of what he had done. Truly, he had saved the day... Right? He didn’t think otherwise. Hands on his hips, he nodded. 

     “He better appreciate it! Now we can all have a fun time at the beach, right?”

     He turned to the little beach towel he had set up for himself, complete with an umbrella opened up and a bunch of inflatable toys, including a large killer whale. He had brought a bag, too, but most of it was empty, contents splayed out either on the towel or sticking in the sand next to everything. Kousuke, who was, honestly, just dressed in bright orange swim trunks with little white pawprints on them, started slipping off his flip-flops. 

     “Don’t say it---” He paused, mid-shoe. “Hoh?” Glancing back at Ryoutarou, he furrowed his brow curiously. “You called me Kousuke!” A beat, then a wide grin. “We really are best of friends now, Ryoutarou. You won’t get rid of me easily now!” 

     He grabbed Ryoutarou by wrist gently, leaned down to pick up one of the inner tubes, then started a mad dash for the water, trying to drag Ryoutarou along. 

     “C’mon, c’mon! Let’s celebrate!”

[timetrippinride-blog]

Ryoutaro blinked a couple times, somewhat taken aback by Kousuke’s compliment. “O-Oh, uh… thank you? You– uh.”

He watched, utterly flabbergasted, as Kousuke began shoveling Momotaros into a bottle. Save him…? What was he going on about? Why did he think he needed to “save” Momotaros? “Um, Kousuke-san…?”

“Wh– H-Hey, stop that! Get yer hands offa me, ya freak!” Momotaros cried, throwing punches at the wizard in an attempt to get him to stop touching him – an attempt that was rather pathetically ineffective, as the Imagin’s fists merely broke apart and scattered sand everywhere whenever they connected.

[beastchimera-blog1]

     Kousuke grew frustrated, mouth agape at the sand spilling every time Momotaros tried to hit him. He seemed... genuinely upset, a grave look of concern deeply creasing his brows and forehead. 

     “Momo-chan! Please!” he shouted, catching a handful of sand as Momotaros landed another hit. “You have to get in... You’ll get all mixed up if you don’t get in!” His voice strained, he huffed, determined more than ever. Kousuke poured the sand from his hand into the bottle, going for more of Momotaros. 

     After what seemed like forever (it wasn’t really that long, honestly), Kouskue struggled to find much more of Momotaros in the stark white grains of the unnatural beach. The bottle was filled almost to the brim with sand, with just a few inches of leeway. Standing back up, Kousuke heaved a great sigh of what seemed to be relief. 

     “Phew... No need to thank me, Momo-chan.” Grinning wildly, he corked the bottle, setting it on a nearby table. 

[timetrippinride-blog]

Ryoutaro nearly jumped – well, okay, he definitely did jump – when he heard his name being called out very suddenly and very loudly.

There was no mistaking that voice.

“Shaddap! We heard ya tha first time, damnit!” Momotaros called back, just as loudly (if not louder) as he materialized next to Ryoutaro. The young man had already taken off, though, making a beeline straight for Kousuke. He’d been looking for the KRC’s bonfire anyway, but seeing Kousuke there too brought a smile to his face (though he winced a little as he drew closer and the man still hadn’t lowered his voice).

“It’s nice to see you, too, Kousuke-san.” He paused. Ryoutaro felt like they had grown closer lately (… in a manner of speaking), but he’d never used Kousuke’s first name out loud before. Should he have asked first?

[beastchimera-blog1]

     Oh, Momo-chan was here, too? Wait... Momo-chan was made of sand!! Wouldn’t he get... lost, or something?! The beach was made of sand, too! Kousuke thought fast, grabbing a somewhat large glass and emptying its contents. 

     But the wince Ryoutarou gave made him pause, and Kousuke did lower his voice. In fact, up until that point, he had been yelling his head off about Ryoutarou to come here and that he was gonna help Momo, and other assorted things that didn’t make a lick of sense. 

     “Oh,” he said, much, much quieter, though still audible, “I have to be quiet so I don’t scare him, right... You look nice, Ryoutarou!” Although it was an exclamation, the phrase was a “normal” level that a “normal” person would use. “I wasn’t sure if you’d c---OH!! Right!! Momo-chan!” 

     Kousuke remembered that Momotaros was, in fact, in super, dire, inconceivable danger. He gripped the bottle tight and crouched down, picking up the sand that Momotaros was made of and trying to shove every last grain into the bottle. “Don’t say it, Momo-chan! I’ll save you from getting lost!”

[anythingooos]

beastchimera

[anythingooos]

     After having done some scouting for a shop that sold marshmallows, chocolates and graham crackers, Eiji began to work together a fire. Simple enough given that he had done so once or twice before.. or more like a lot, but before long would a roaring flame quickly be lit. 

       He would sit on the sands in a rather colorful pair of boxers, ripping open into everything as he enjoyed himself on the beaches with his soon to be s’mores and all that, rubbing his hands together. 

“ I wonder how long its been since I’ve done this.. ah, right, last week. “ Quickly placing a few of the soft marshmallows on sticks and propping them up would he carefully watch them before they burned.

[beastchimera-blog1]

     The sun was going down, and the main bonfire hadn’t been set up yet. But Kousuke, of course, was still starved. He had eaten literally every day, and although no normal person would be able to eat anymore, he was certain he could stuff his face even more. 

     But he was tired of using the grill... Thankfully, the familiar smell of roasting marshmallows filled his nose and took over his senses. Soon, Kousuke found his legs moving of their own accord, until he stood next to a man in super bright boxers (honestly, Kousuke was a little jealous) who had started a fire. 

     “Whoh!!” he exclaimed, before, without asking, plopping himself next to the man’s fire. “Have’t had s’mores in so long! Don’t say it---you’d be honored to share with me!” He grinned warmly at the man, seeing nothing wrong with how forward he was. “I’m Kousuke Nitou! Let’s eat up!” 

[beastchimera-blog1]

     Kousuke was, much to everyone’s surprise, a really wonderful cook. He was even better with a grill, since he often camped outside and used a fire anyway. Close enough, right? The mayonnaise was optional, though, even though he did try to force it on everyone. 

     These feelings of small disappointment when people didn’t take the condiment were fleeting, however, especially when he spotted his favorite person in the world. 

     “Ryoutarou!!” he yelled. Quite loudly. Maybe even shrieked. He only got louder. “Ryoutarou! Ryoutarou!! Over here!! Ryoutarou!! It’s me!!” 

[beastchimera-blog1]

Mistaken Identity // Kousuke & Ankh

[tajadoruu]

His whole schedule was rather erratic, but between the things that occupied Ankh’s day, he always found time to stop for some ice cream. He didn’t like to feel overly predictable, always stopping for ice cream, but… well, his fondness for the treat far outweighed any self-consciousness over it. He’d gone eight hundred years not able to taste, damn it, and he was going to make up for those eight hundred years if it killed him. Or the detective.

A hitch in what was becoming a routine for Ankh was never a pleasant occurrence. And today, he found one in the form of a lunatic shouting at him about some kind of crisis. And more pressingly, standing between him and the ice cream vendor.

The stranger was entreating him to… eat with him? All in all, the strangely dressed man was completely incoherent. And as far as Ankh was concerned, he was little more than a walking, talking roadblock between him and his ice cream.

Ankh gave the man one glance-over before responding, mouth twisted downward in distaste. 

“No thanks.” Then, he grasped the man’s wrists and wrenched his hands off of his shoulders. What was it with all the people he was meeting lately touching him? “Don’t touch me.” He growled, just for emphasis.

He took a step to the side, intending to step around the stranger and continue on with his morning.

[beastchimera-blog1]

     Kousuke groaned (really loudly at that, very exasperated) and sidestepped backwards, cutting the potential phantom off again. He really, really needed this --- he really did. If Chimera was right (hopefully he was, because if he was sensing a magical presence and it wasn’t a Phantom but something else, he really was in some deeper shit), then he couldn’t let this man get away. 

     He really had all the makings of a Phantom, though. He seemed gruff and angry. Phantoms, in his experience, were usually like that. Right? Right. 

     Anyway, Kousuke took two steps backward and one step to the right, cutting the man off again. Despite him just having been pulled away, Kousuke grabbed the man’s shoulders again. 

     “Please! Just hear me out!” 

     How was this done again, ahh... 

     “I’ve always really admired you from the shadows!” That sounded deceptive. He had never seen this man before in his life. It felt a little dirty to use such tactics, but he was getting desperate. “So I think you should really come eat with me. I know a good restaurant. So don’t say it! Don’t say it! You’re flattered that I’ve asked you and you’re really wanting to go!” Still keeping a hold on the man, he bowed his head and some of his upper body. 

     “So please, come with me!”

[timetrippinride-blog]

“… You what?” That was not the response Ryoutaro was expecting. And yet, Kousuke seems to be sincere. Does Kousuke even realize what he’d just said? What it sounded like? Because to Ryoutaro, it sure sounds awfully close to something like a confession.

But, he realizes, Kousuke probably doesn’t mean it like that; he can’t have. They were only just starting to get to know one another, and while he does like Kousuke, too… it wasn’t any sort of romantic feeling.

(Whether or not he is capable of romantic feelings, that’s something Ryoutaro wonders to himself.)

Kousuke is just being overly-friendly again, nothing more. Ryoutaro considers rejecting him outright – because, if he is capable of romantic feelings, he’d prefer to save his first kiss for someone he actually holds those feelings for – but the thought of disappointing Kousuke like that… He looks so eager to kiss him, and Ryoutaro just knows he’ll feel bad if he makes Kousuke upset, no matter how silly the reason.

He supposes that a simple, platonic kiss wouldn’t hurt, right? It wasn’t as though such a thing is a completely foreign idea to Ryoutaro. Still, the thought of it makes him nervous, and he refuses to meet Kousuke’s gaze as he responds.

“Erm… I-I don’t know… Kissing seems too intimate a thing to do between friends, you know?” He pauses. “But… I guess, as long as it isn’t on the, the lips a-and is strictly platonic…”

[beastchimera-blog1]

     Kousuke, of course, never hears himself talk, and that moment was really no exception. He doesn’t even notice Ryoutaro’s momentary confusion, but his expression does drop a little with Ryoutaro looks away---only for it to brighten up again at the confirmation that the kiss was A-OK, even with conditions. 

     “Say no more!! We’re friends!” he said. “Friends can do the kissy kissy stuff, too, y’know.” Or, at the very least, he thought so. Kousuke did notice that not a lot of people thought the same way, which kind of made for not only some boring situations, but also some grave misunderstandings. 

     But, he was communicating with Ryoutaro, so everything would go smoothly. 

     He shifted once more, as if he couldn’t sit still. Although he had just taken it, he let go of one of Ryoutaro’s hands, and nodding a small nod to himself (complete with a quiet “okay”), took the other hand in both of his. He spread Ryoutaro’s fingers out, then guided the hand up, where, in one swift motion, pressed the back of it Ryoutaro’s lips---and pressed his own to Ryoutaro’s open palm. 

     It was a little bit of a weird sort of kiss... but he did like it. Giddy as ever, he pulled back, interlacing the just-kissed hand’s fingers with his own again. 

     “Aa~ah! Maybe I should’ve gone for the cheek...”

[timetrippinride-blog]

『 M-Momo-chan!? 』 Momotaros cries, utterly offended at the diminutive (despite Ibuki using the exact same nickname for him). Ryoutaro ignores him, far too interested in what else Kousuke is saying to pay the Imagin any mind.

“My hope… I guess my hope would be my friends, too,” Ryoutaro says, once Kousuke is finished talking. His gaze drifts down to his lap, and he begins to fiddle with the frayed edge of his scarf absentmindedly.

“And… my sister, too. She’s always been there…” He lifts his gaze back to Kousuke. “Yeah. I think I get what you mean. I… thank you.” His eyes light up considerably when Kousuke offers to teach him to fight. “W-Would you really? I do try to work with Momotaros, but it’s difficult sometimes… I just, I wish I could do more. Could you really teach me how to fight…?”

[beastchimera-blog1]

     “Hooh, a sister?” He blinked in surprise, but still smiled. “I’m an only child, but I wish I had a sister! Or a brother. Aa~ah, how fun that would be!” He had turned away to stare off around them, but, just in the nick of time, he caught how bright Ryoutaro seemed at his offer. 

     Kousuke decided, right then and there, that he wanted to see Ryoutaro’s eyes so, so bright like they were now all the time.

     “Don’t say it! Don’t say any more, Ryoutaro,” he said, and although it was phrased as his usual interruptions, he waited until he was sure Ryoutaro was done speaking. “Of course I’ll teach y’how to fight! I think I’m pretty good---no, amazing, after all, so it should be a piece of cake!”

[timetrippinride-blog]

“Wh-What? You… want to kiss me? Now?” Though he has many questions and protests running through his mind now, the first one that he brings into words is: “… Why me?”

[beastchimera-blog1]

     Kousuke shifted, scooting the chair even closer---close enough that their knees touched. He took Ryoutaro’s other hand in the matching one of his own, slipping his fingers in between Ryoutaro’s. Although he made to move a little closer, he didn’t just yet, keeping their now entwined hands in their laps. 

     “Well, I like ya!” he said, pretty matter-of-factly. “We’re friends, after all! You’re sweet and kind and real nice to talk to, too. I don’t see why not you, actually.” 

[timetrippinride-blog]

Ryoutaro almost drops his phone in surprise as Kousuke appears seemingly out of nowhere, catching him off-guard. He blinks owlishly at the man as Kousuke foregoes all greetings and instead takes his hand in his own – for reasons that become slightly more apparent once he opens his mouth.

“You mean National Kissing Day?” Ryoutaro says, then pauses. “Wait, there’s a cuddle version too? Really?”

[beastchimera-blog1]

     “Yes!” His own pause. “I think. I’m not sure if it’s national or somethin’ like that but I just make it my own day.” Kousuke beamed before scooting the chair a little closer. “It’s really fun, though! It’s comin’ up in a few months so be sure to be there!” 

     He still held Ryoutaro’s hand in both of his, holding it somewhat close to his chest. “Anyway, anyway, anyway! Say no more, Ryoutaro... It’s time to celebrate! C’mon, let’s kiss!’ 

[timetrippinride-blog]

“You think so…?” Ryoutaro smiles, laughing a little at Kousuke’s miming. He still thinks Beast is way more interesting than Den-O (and he can hear Momotaros protesting angrily in his head at that)… but it makes him a little bit happy, hearing Kousuke say all those things.

He holds the Dolphi ring carefully, gently, as he examines it, before handing it back to Kousuke. “There’s, um… there’s something else I wanted to ask,” Ryoutaro says, hesitating for a moment before pressing on, “Um, I-I wanted to know… Since you seem pretty capable… Could you give me some advice? About being a… Kamen Rider, I mean. But only if you want to! I just… Momotaros can’t always be there to help me, and I want to be stronger…”

[beastchimera-blog1]

     “Yes!” He nodded enthusiastically. “I haven’t seen too much of it... but I love the whole thing, really. You’re really cool!” And truthfully, he really did think Den-O was super cool. He hadn’t seen many of the other Riders’ suits (but if this meeting was an indication of anything, it was that there were a lot of Riders here), but he could probably name at least one thing he liked about every suit (unless it had something to do with, say, a tire). 

     Kousuke listened to Ryoutaro’s question with complete eagerness, and when he finished, Kousuke huffed a little. “That’s it? I thought it was somethin’ much worse! But say no more, I got it, I got it.” He rolled his shoulders, leaning his back against the wall, looking at the Dolphi ring in his hands intently. “Advice... Advice... Okay, so, uh... You’ll get scared a lot! But you can’t give in. Just remember who your hope is! Or... what your hope is. But my hope is my friends!” He nodded to himself, pursing his lips. “And don’t ever think of yourself as not-strong! You can be strong in your own ways, and instead of workin’ on your own all the time, work with Momo-chan! Like a, uh... What’s the word... Symbolic...” 

     Kousuke furrowed his brows. “Sym... Symbiotic! Yeah!” He turned to Ryoutaro again, clapping his hands, ring still in between them. “I can show you how to fight, too, if you want!”

[timetrippinride-blog]

“National kissing day…?” A strange thing to celebrate – but also kind of sweet, in its own way. It occurs to Ryoutaro, suddenly, that he’s never kissed anyone before – or has had any desire to, for that matter. While he realizes how strange that must seem to most people, it’s never really bothered him.

Still, as he scrolls through notifications and Hive City news, keeping to himself in this small café (he really misses the Milk Dipper), he idly wonders what being kissed would feel like. 

[beastchimera-blog1]

     Kousuke picked this café by chance, not realizing Ryoutaro also frequented it. He really wasn’t paying much attention to the news surrounding today---all he knew was that it was kissing day, and he did like affection. Before he could make it to the counter, he saw Ryoutaro off in the corner, and he hurried over to him, sliding to a stop and dipping into the chair next to him. 

     “Ryoutaro!!” he exclaimed, taking the other man’s hand in his own. Lovingly, as if he were dating him, Kousuke looked into his eyes. “Do you know what today is?! My favorite day!! Only second to the cuddle version!”

[watarukurenai]

[ ✥ ]—— “Eh–!” Before he can say anything, there will be lips pressed on his own. Wataru’s eyes nearly bulge out of their sockets in pure shock, and when the moment ends, his hands immediately cover his lower face.

      “Wh– What was that for?!” he asks, clearly distressed by the sudden gesture, especially because he’d never been kissed like this before. This was sudden and distress quickly takes over him.

[beastchimera-blog1]

     Kousuke didn’t let go of Wataru’s shoulders; instead, he shook the other man a little. “It was a kiss! For kissing day! Right, right?” he explained, thinking that this... rather terrible explanation would suffice. “Y’looked a little lonely and we’re friends, right?”

[watarukurenai]

[ ✥ ]—— “K… Kissing day? There’s even a holiday about that?” He’s genuinely stunned by the amount of, um… affections that has appeared tonight. Kivat was already gone getting involved without waiting for him. “I’m not sure how to feel about this.”

[beastchimera-blog1]

     “You feel like this!” he shouted, grabbing the man by the shoulders. He didn’t even pause before he puckered up and smooched the other right on the lips, very fleeting and chaste. “Mwah!” 

[timetrippinride-blog]

Lost Luck [CLOSED]

[timetrippinride-blog]

Ryoutaro took a couple slow, deep breaths. He considered nodding, reassuring Kousuke that he was fine – but that was a lie, and Ryoutaro didn’t want to lie to him. Instead, he said nothing and kept his head down.

Even if Kousuke had been his usual blithe self, his mere presence would have been more than enough to comfort him, at least a little bit. Yet, the great care the man was taking to make him comfortable – speaking in low, quiet tones, a far cry from his usual self – it was… It was touching, really.

His hands felt warm in Kousuke’s; he almost didn’t want him to let go.

Ryoutaro was still silent, even as he was led to a tent. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a trail of sand slither away behind the tent; mentally, he thanked Momotaros, before following Kousuke inside. He was even further relieved to find that the tent was empty, and he wanted to thank Kousuke, too… but he couldn’t bring himself to speak. Still silent, he sat down on the cot that Kousuke had indicated to.

He shook his head a little when Kousuke spoke again, drawing the blanket tighter around his shoulders. Ryoutaro was afraid he’d be asked that; he knew his behaviour right now was probably worrying. He just… where would he start? Did Kousuke even know who Urataros was? Sure, he might be sympathetic anyway, but even then…

Swallowing the lump in his throat, Ryoutaro attempted to find his voice again. “I-I… I’d rather just… I’m kind of tired right now…” he finally said – though it was more of a mumble, really.

[beastchimera-blog1]

     He stayed silent, listening to Ryoutaro, waiting as patient as ever in case Ryoutaro wanted to say something more. He didn’t, and Kousuke folded his hands in between his legs, leaning his elbows on his knees, gaze dropping to the ground below. 

     After a short while, without pulling his head back up, he said, “That’s fine.” He stood, breathing out a short sigh, and knelt down next to Ryoutaro, so that he could see him eye to eye. With a sweet smile, he nodded. 

     “You don’t have to tell me at all, even later, if you don’t want to,” he explained oh so quietly. He tentatively raised a hand, then placed it gently on Ryoutaro’s shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. He stayed like that for a moment or two before he sucked in some air through his teeth, standing back up. He didn’t remove his hand from Ryoutaro’s shoulder. 

     Kousuke squeezed it once more, then blinked, pulling his hand away then, to cross the tent. He shuffled around in that box again, pulling out a pillow. Smacking it a few times to make sure the dust and bugs were gone (and they really were, he checked it very closely), he placed it on the one end of the cot Ryoutaro was on. 

     “Why don’t you get some rest?” he suggested. “I’ll be here.” Then, after a second, he added: “You’re safe, Ryoutaro.”

[oracleabuser]

♦ n e w  f i l e? [ kousuke ]

[oracleabuser]

Instinctively, the girl flinched as he scooted closer to her. Oh, how she had thought of doing the same as quickly as she could, but she was frozen in place. Fuuka should’ve learned, honestly, that she should run in these situations rather than fix herself to this position.

She could only watch him as he slowly put his hands up like he were responding to a police command, and she calmed her breathing. Maybe this person was a friend of his…. His manner of speaking and just the slow motions made it seem like that to her.

Maybe she could ask if he knew that man. That way, she could send him a message thanking him for that day. Just this simple thought, repeated multiple times helped calm the schoolgirl down a bit.

“Th-th-thank you…. I-I… I think I-I’ll be fine….” Although still a little panicked, her condition did lessen, as shown from her breathing, which had quieted. She was still tense, however, and it would take a little more to get her to relax.

[beastchimera-blog1]

     Kousuke, remarkably, quieted down, too, in order to let her take some deep breaths. He rolled his shoulders back, sitting up a little straighter, resting his hands on his oustretched legs. He never lost that smile. 

     When it looked like her breathing had finally calmed down, he clapped his hands together. “Ah, good, good!” he exclaimed, though he realized he had been kind of loud, so he raised his own index finger to his lips and shushed... himself? “Sorry, sorry.” 

     He grunted as he stood up, hands on his waist. The sun shining behind him gave off the effect of, from the girl’s point of view on the ground, a halo, rung brightly around his head. 

     “You sure, huh? Wait, don’t say it!” He held up a hand, pivoting on one heel to face the opposite way. He squinted in the sun, realized this was a bad idea, and turned back around. “You’d like a little more time! That’s fine, fine! I understand!” 

     Kousuke bent down to grab at his spilled fish, shoving them back into the paper bags and looking at them remorsefully. He’d have to buy more... and he really was getting hungry. His stomach even growled, and he rubbed at it with one hand, clicking his tongue. 

     “Oh!” Another glance down at the girl. His smile returned. “To make it up for makin’ you cry, I’ll cook you some dinner! Say no more! You’d love to attend! C’mon!” He stretched out a hand down toward her, other hand on his knee, as he waited patiently.