“ You know me better than anyone- you always have," he admits awkwardly, rubbing his index finger against the underside of his nose to avoid making eye contact. The floor was looking particularly riveting at present.
Nobimaru wasn't blind or unobservant- They both knew that he was passive, lazy... Any number of other unflattering descriptors that Ume didn't exactly enjoy admitting were pretty true to his character.
But Nobimaru also had been the only one to actually see 'potential' in a wash out like him. Even if his assessment of his kitsune abilities had been mere flattery, it was a pleasant lie.
Then being stared at grew so unbearable, he wouldn't be surprised if he just spontaneously burst into flames from the sheer mortification, alone.
"Welp, gotta go! I was expectin' a call from Kaede about drinks after work and stuff..." he trailed off into nervous laughter, quickly scuttling away like a disturbed cockroach.
[From Umetaro, obvs.]
Oh, Umetaro. Poor, silly Umetaro.
Was this some attempt at something heartfelt? Did Umetaro really think that it was possible, to share those kinds of feelings with a guy like him?
It was that naivete that drew him in in the first place. Umetaro wasn't cut out for this sort of thing; and that's why it never stopped being funny to throw him in and watch him scramble.
He simply takes a few long strides forward, cutting off his escape route with a smile.
"He hasn't called yet, has he?"