013 » i never said i was the best thing for you

[yanatsu]

NEW YEAR'S EVE PARTY.

• Well, we're rich brats, aren't we? Someone's parents have thrown a New Year's Eve party!
• A fancy one. With wine and shit. Way too stuffy for a bunch of college undergrads.
• But all your friends from Seikou High School are here, so why not have some fun?

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[yanatsu]

[leadingloser]

[when was the last time he set his phone to silent? it's not nearly as liberating as he thought it'd be, and his fingers itch for something to hold — so he settles for two cylindrical wine glasses and an uncorked bottle of mascallan 1946]

[as soon as he sees a shock of blonde, the ends of his mouth lift and he's thrusting a glass into the chest of an old friend] Don't tell me that you plan on being the designated driver tonight of all nights, Atsuro.

[yanatsu]

[atsuro shrugs one-shouldered, his other hand caught up in surreptitious loosening of his navy blue tie — silk, brand-name, with all the stylish and frivolous trappings of his french mother. for all his surly exterior, though, he doesn't seem displeased to see souji, and if anything, the twitch of his lips might be a smile.]

No... no, it's just... if you'd hear my dad say it, the only alcohol worth imbibing is good old-fashioned Japanese sake. So, you know. I don't drink in public.

[leadingloser]

Right. I forgot how much of a hoot your old man is.

[sometimes, souji barely recognizes atsuro; it's hard to tell if he's talking to a close friend or a close associate. irregardless, his own smile further widens into a grin, and he keeps the glass pressed in the place below atsuro's sternum] If you're not going to drink in public, just walk around with a filled glass in hand. As long as you don't stay stationary, no one will bother hunting you down and asking about college, the state of your grades, whether or not you're dating someone...

[yanatsu]

[never one to refuse pressure from his friends, atsuro gives in and takes the glass from souji's hands after another moment, though it's hard to miss the way his eyes slide over to his father beforehand, as if to make sure the old dojo master isn't looking in his direction.]

You sound entirely too familiar with this. [and, holding the cup out so souji can fill it:] University sucks, but my grades are fine, and... and I can't get a girlfriend to save my life, but what else is new?

Et tu, Souji?

[ishibiya]

[like a war veteran with a thousand-yard stare of sorts, hibiya looks entirely too awake for this, and that's when you know that the stars are out of alignment and the apocalypse might come a little sooner than initially preordained. he catches sight of atsuro, does a quick double take, then steps over and pauses, blinking.]

Atsuyan? The hell happened to you?

[he's holding a glass of clear liquid with bubbles and lord knows hibiya should never be allowed near vodka or an alcoholic beverage of any kind but. it's a party, so it wouldn't be that strange if he's drinking, right?]

[yanatsu]

[it takes atsuro a rather long time to find hibiya in the crowd, but that's not exactly a surprise — hibiya's always been good at disappearing, blending into the background, losing himself in pursuits that are decidedly not grounded. still, the dojo heir manages eventually, even though it takes him nearly bowling over what might be a member of the prime minister's cabinet to do it — and he calls out to one of his oldest friends:]

Hibiya! I was looking for y —

[then hibiya's surprised utterance cuts him off, and he pauses.] Huh? What do you mean? What happened to me?

[ishibiya]

[he just. looks up a bit at atsuro. stares incredulously. blinks again. then, looking extremely solemn:]

Dude, how much did you grow? It's literally been like. A few months. Tops.

[okay, that's probably an exaggeration, but still. he rubs his eyes a bit, then looks at atsuro again, blinking. THEN, RATHER SUSPICIOUSLY:]

What was the brand of drink you guys almost wrecked my setup with in high school? What did you almost beat some random guy over in the cafeteria for when we were first years?

[yanatsu]

[the look of concern on atsuro's face is most certainly only reserved for hibiya — for one thing, he's only this gentle with their resident sleepyhead, and for another, only hibiya ever gives him this much cause for concern.]

H-How would I remember the brand — look, there were a lot of people I almost beat up when we were first-years!

Did you hit your head again? I had my first growth spurt, um... third year of high school, and I'm pretty sure I haven't grown any since then. I mean, maybe I've gotten wider, but not any taller...

[leadingloser]

[horizumi]

[guess who's drunk]

SOUJI! There you are, there you are! Y'see... my pal... I've been lookin' for you. I've got words for you... do you wanna hear my words? Please, please hear my words. They are for you.

[aaaand he won't stop patting souji's shoulder because since when does izumi believe in personal space anyways?]

[leadingloser]

[first, he makes sure that there's a sizable distance between him and izumi, unwilling to endure anymore incessant patting. second, he smiles. scarily pleasant.]

Give them to someone else, Izumi. Like Atsuro. Give them to Atsuro.

[horizumi]

Why you gotta be so mean?! These are words that are meant for you, you, and only you. Right now. In this very moment. This place in time and space right now is just— wait no— time and space itself exists solely for us! Right here, right now, in this moment!

[he gets closer to souji with every word he speaks until both hands are now on the other's shoulders with a gentle squeeze and the biggest grin is plastered on his bright red face.]

[his breath smells like black out drunk grapes on prom night, and perhaps a hint of cheese to someone with a perceptive nose.]

My words, Souji, let me tell you them.

[leadingloser]

[in a voice so low, it almost sounds like a growl:] Izumi, stop being gay in front of my parents.

[wrenching himself out izumi's grip, souji makes a big show of throwing his head back and laughing, as if he'd been told the funniest punchline. he claps a hand on his friend's shoulder] Yeah, yeah. Tell me about it. Those Psychology majors are nuts, but that's exactly why you don't tell them about your collection of Meiru figurines on the first date, you dumbass. [the entire time, his hand had remained on izumi's shoulder, squeezing with each word] Hey, are you thirsty? You look thirsty. Let's get you some water, alright?

[ishibiya]

[and in a single fluid motion, hibiya practically materializes next to souji, taking up a position to his side at a very specific angle just as a guy passes by calling his name. of course, with this positioning, souji is conveniently blocking the guy's line of sight to hibiya. then, without any further ado:]

...Souji. 'Sup.

[a beat.]

You wouldn't happen to know where the nearest restroom is, right? [he's totally not asking this because he wants to hide in there, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.]

[leadingloser]

[hands full and completely distracted, souji's back suddenly straightens when he hears hibiya. he'd been texting something to someone with one hand — not exactly an unusual sight — all the while holding an empty wine glass in the other]

...hey. Uh, yeah. [gives hibiya a once-over before returning his gaze to his phone, his thumb tapping rapidly on the screen, probably finishing a text]

You take the stairs down from the floor, because the elevator leads to hell. Then, you should keep making a right until you encounter this wall-wide window, and there should be a zipline hanging from the top. You'll take that to the next building, which is infested is infested with zombies, so you'll have to sprint to the roof, where you will either starve to death or wait for rescue. If a helicopter happens to pass by, they'll probably drop you off in front Izumi's place. From there, you can just piss on his front porch.

[ishibiya]

[just. here, have one of hibiya's more dead-looking stares, except souji probably won't even see it because he's focusing on his cellphone. which reminds hibiya, actually, that he could probably just hide out somewhere and play mobile apps on his phone until the party ends...]

Well. I guess I don't have to worry about pissing on Izumi's front porch of all places, because I'll probably die during the sprint to the roof.

Souji, if I go down in this zombie apocalypse, I'm taking you down with me for crappy directions.

[hibiya leans against the wall nearby to let souji continue texting in peace, though he does spare a curious glance in the general direction of his cellphone.]

ur friendly neighborhood otaku

[horizumi]

[yanatsu]

You know that party back in freshman year of high school?

[he is just. quite suddenly behind izumi. broad-shouldered and long-legged and looking distinctly unimpressed.]

You did fucking put glitter on my dick, didn't you, you sick fuck.

[horizumi]

[izumi jumps a little but not because he is startled by the menacing presence looming behind him, but rather the voice of mister puberty.]

[because seriously he's not getting over this anytime soon in the foreseeable future.]

I-I-I told you, didn't I?! I did no such thing! I had zero interest in dicks that weren't my own back then! Besides t-this was years ago, Atsuro! Just let it go!

[yanatsu]

[in the voice of an all-knowing and wrathful god:]

Back then?

[ishibiya]

Yo, Izumi.

[so for once hibiya seems to be smiling widely, except. is that a twitch at the corner of his mouth. and also a twitch at his eyebrow.]

I hate to bring this up here, but. About that limited edition release of the new Shooting☆Star dating sim you borrowed from me two months ago. The one you said you'd return last week.

Where. Is it?

[horizumi]

[izumi smiles brightly at the sight of hibiya, the most understanding of his high school buddies in these very important dating sim manners, but it quickly fades and izumi is gaping helplessly now]

I... w-well you see... I just... I don't...

[then, in a quiet voice] I-I can't get Sayu-chan to date me... P-Please! Hibiya! Give me more time! I will win her affections and then I shall be done with it!

[ishibiya]

[in a voice full of awe:] Dude, her route was the first one I cleared.

Look, Izumi, do you need help. Is that what this is. I could write up a walkthrough for you if you want.

[almost reassuringly, he presses his untouched glass into izumi's hands because at least it'll give him something to drink and a way to hide his gaping mouth while he recovers from the depression of failing to romance sayu.]

[ishibiya]