truthstranger | EMPATHEIAS INBOX

What do detectives normally do, Saihara-chan? It'd be a little unfair of me to make you guess with no clues or time to figure it out.

I assumed that was why it was a guessing game... but if you want me to investigate all your friends, I can.

It won’t be that easy.

[ Mostly because he suspects Saihara would think he’d avoid Momota anyway. ]

Then you're really challenging me to do it?

Yup. I’ll even reward you if you get it right.

[ Because turning it into a bet/game will make it a little less uncomfortable, apparently. ]

Okay. I'll try my best, then... Maybe I'll learn some more things about you in the process.

Is that what you really want?

[ Maybe it’s like they’re going in circles, but it is still hard to believe when the memories he has are... conflicting of hearing stuff like this. ]

...Of course I do.

[ He blinks up at him, then lets his eyes avert towards the wall. You’d think that after almost a month this wouldn’t happen but... Hinasaki also told him she wasn’t going to leave and look what happened there. ]

[ His hand tightens around Ouma's. ]

Ouma-kun. I want to understand you and be here for you.

[ His hand spasms, kind of like he's torn between tugging it free and letting the hold happen. He wriggles back though, putting some space between them again and moving to flop onto his back instead. Even if he's pulling away, he smiles and it almost looks natural. The lip movement is, but there's definitely no way it reaches his eyes. ]

I know that, Saihara-chan, you don't have to say anything.

[ He sighs, not believing that Ouma believes him for a second, but he just gently releases his hand after a moment. ]

I'll prove it to you with actions, then.

[ He's slow when he pulls his hand back, wiping it on his leg as he realises how clammy it's got by being held for so long, wedged up between them both. ]

That'll be interesting to see.

[ He's already pushing himself to sit up now though, wiggling towards the end of the bed like he's about to bolt again. ]

[ Shuichi also sits up; probably they're done sleeping at this point, regardless. He can tell Ouma looks like he's ready to flee, but he pretends he doesn't. ]

Mm, do you want to grab some breakfast?

Nope. [ He casts a glance to the side of the bed, where he’d left the gift he’d brought for him: a framed photo of Akamatsu Kaede. It’s wrapped up, at least, so he won’t see it just yet. ] I’m gonna head off, Saihara-chan.

[ Because talking about what happened before is one thing, but he doesn’t want to go into detail on that either. ]

[ He gives Ouma a long look, but ultimately he made it much longer without Ouma shutting down than he would have expected, so he decides not to push it further for now. ]

...Alright. I'll be working at Kirigiri-san's today, if you end up wanting to stop by later.

[ He cants his head to the side, glancing back over his shoulder at him. He has no plans to go there later, if only because seeing Kirigiri while he’s in this state seems like a terrible idea. ]

Missing me already?

[ So naturally he deflects. There’s a pause once he’s pulled on his shoes. ]

Open that when I’ve left, Saihara-chan, okay?

Open...?

[ He glances around and notices the present for the first time. ]

Ah! I see. Okay. Thank you...

[ To be fair, he'd had his hands full up until that point with this useless piece of trash. ]

You don't have to. I got it as a reward for a task, and thought... you'd appreciate it.

[ His hand clenches at his side, but he gives Saihara a smile. ]

Then I should thank you even more for giving me something you worked hard for.

I wouldn't say that.

[ Does playing around in a river with Hinasaki count as working hard? It cost a lot to get to the other city to do the task, but they're both loaded it didn't matter that much. ]

Well, either way.

[ He just stares at him for a moment, then lets his eyes flicker towards the gift then towards the door. ]

Either way, you don't have to say anything. There isn't anyone else it's more fitting for. You'll... understand when you open it, Saihara-chan. Just wait until then until you decide to say anything else.

[ He's already heading out of the room once that's said though, heading towards the entrance of Saihara's apartment. ]

...Okay.

[ He sounds sort of tentative and puzzled, but he doesn't try to stop Ouma from leaving anymore, instead going over to pick up the present. ]

Have a good day...

Buh-bye! [ He waves over his shoulder, then Saihara will hear the door click. ]

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truthstranger - 2018-01-02 00:33 (UTC) - Expand