#┕━ ❛ ❀. in character »» ʀʏᴜᴛᴏ〡𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

[causalitylinked]

@badheart​​ — continued from here ;;

    When she finally turns, regarding him with what appeared to be a flabbergasted expression, his eyes would only widen just the subtlest bit; after all, Ryuto didn’t believe he said anything to potentially set Fang off. Why, as far as he was concerned, he had been perfectly civil with her, which made her reaction all the more unfathomable to him.

    “...Not particularly? After spotting you, my curiosity was simply piqued,” Ryuto then answers truthfully, because in all truthfulness, he simply felt like talking to her once he notices her checking out Yoshitoki Oima’s latest work. Of course, most would probably assume he would be snobby enough to believe manga wasn’t true literature, but contrary to popular belief, even he would resort to flipping through a Shonen Jump magazine every once in a while. “That was the intention, yes,” Ryuto soon goes on to nonchalantly nod.

    “I wanted to hear your thoughts regarding that manga; after all, it’s not often I would encounter women who seemingly like that particular genre,” he adds while failing to mention he did actually remember what happened between them. Ryuto just chooses not to hold a grudge over what happened because he figured the heat only served to exacerbate her mood back then... and though he did imply Fang lacked the intelligence he sought in his ideal girl, he still manages to entertain the notion he might have potentially judged her far too soon.

    Why, if nothing else, it wasn’t like he knew her all that well yet, so on the off chance she turns out to be way smarter than he had initially given her credit for, he was willing enough to apologize despite how shallow her attraction towards him was.

[causalitylinked]

@more-than-a-princess​ — continued from here ;;

     Honestly, her words came as such a relief, his brows would no longer remain drooped and sooner rather than later, he finally lets out the breath he was holding the whole entire time he awaited her answer. Thank goodness she said yes... though Ryuto had a feeling Sonia would be able to relate to his situation, it still never ceased to amaze him he had befriended someone who was not only in a similar station as him, but had a personality that didn’t drive him up the wall.

     “No, thank you for accepting my invitation,” he finally brings himself to shake his head. Sure enough, Ryuto then sighs once.Sonia goes on to add she knew what it was like having demanding parents. “I figured you of all people would understand... honestly, as much as I may not dislike my parents, it’s exhausting, constantly having to be their perfect, amicable son with both them and everyone else,” he later goes on to add. Frankly speaking, he rarely even had the opportunity to complain, for the adults in his life keep expecting him to always suck things up and do whatever it took to please them.

     “I’ll text you the address later, but you are expected to arrive by 4 PM while wearing a knee-high length dress and a pair of fancy footwear. Mind you, I would rather you put on whatever makes you most comfortable; only, that is sadly not my call to make, as my mother specifically forbade any ladiies from wearing skirts and as she likes to put it... ‘improper shoes’.” By that point, he couldn’t resist the urge to roll his eyes while telling her this. Granted, Ryuto himself was never a fashionable person, but still, he failed to fathom why it’s so important the people attending his party had to be dressed to the nines when it was something he himself never cared much about.

[causalitylinked]

TAG DUMP FOR RYUTO TSUKISHIMA FROM THE CALIGULA EFFECT 2.

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┕━ ❛ ❀. answered »» ʀʏᴜᴛᴏ〡𝘄𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱.

[causalitylinked]

    This time around, he'll turn, affixing her with a cold glare... for by this point, he was already running out of patience. "And how exactly is the way you treat others any better?" came his calm retort. Honestly, as far as Ryuto was concerned, Hana had no right to complain when she was every bit as terrible to him and while yes, he would hardly call himself a saint, that didn't exactly justify the things she did or said.

    "While yes, I may deign to not be unnecessarily rude whenever we're in the presence of your mother and Koji-san, I at least know better than to raise my voice at you, call you derogatory names, or humiliate you around them... yet can you yourself say the same? Furthermore, you're terribly mistaken if you think I'm only kind to you to make myself look better, for I only do so to make it seem at least one person actually likes you... which is truly more for your sake than mine, yet if you must spin the story around to make me out to be a backstabbing villain, then by all means, do so," Ryuto then adds... and it was true, because not once had he ever called her a 'bitch' to her face, let alone yell at her, regardless of whether or not people were around.

    Why, if nothing else, he was the only person to have ever truly stuck around despite how unpleasant she was, because deep down inside, he wanted to believe she wasn't a lost cause and that somewhere in that rib cage of hers, she had a heart... as small as it was. Ultimately, though, Ryuto would bring himself to emerge to his feet, because no matter how charitable he could be, even he had limits. "And just know that when there's finally no one else you can turn to, I won't be there to pick up the pieces. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll be returning home... since clearly, you value your own solitude more than you value your own relationships." And with that, he'll proceed to saunter his way out past the door. Unbeknownst to Hana, however, Ryuto would end up paying for the rooms they had rented out of sheer spite, only to later vanish into the night.

@mugunghwc

why, she wondered. why was she putting up with this in the first place? why even hang out with someone who would always talk down on her, as if she was a child while he was the ’ mature adult ’ who, at the same time, was capable of bringing up his neurodiversity as a way to justify his behaviour. “& because your brain is ’ wired differently ’, i should just accept what an asshole you could be? what have you done to try to understand by viewpoint, other than call me immature, or imply i’m being ableism?” certainly, not enough other than make wrongful assumptions based on body language alone, or chastise her for not meeting his high standards. where was this consideration when he took a jab at her job? but as always, she’d remain the villain of the story ; too tired to even argue at this point.

“when you act all nice to my mother, to my father & koji… is that also for my sake? because what you show to ‘em, isn’t what you show to me.” which made him a hypocrite in her eyes. “you wouldn’t dare to act the way you do with me, if koji was around.” always so diligent, always the good boy. hana was tired of his act, but her voice no longer held anger or frustration. if anything, it sounded as if she had given up for today. arguing with ryuto felt like arguing against the wall, because she was supposed to just accept he was different & leave it at that, while she’d remain being scrutinized over the way she felt—called immature or made to feel as less for having an issue with it.

her hand was brought up, waving it dismissively at him. “me & my nonsensical brain have no will power to continue this conversation, so why don’t you go on & call your driver? maybe if you pay him enough, he will kiss your feet since you’re oh-so mighty.” she never thought she’d think this way, but hana definitely sympathized with kobato for it.

[causalitylinked]

    The longer he proceeds to observe her with those same bored, light caramel-hued eyes of his, the more Ryuto managed to be convinced this woman truly was slow. Honestly, as much as he thinks conversations didn't always have to be particularly deep, they still managed to have so little in common together, he wonders if he would have been better off chatting up a waitress at some gaudy café or something.

    "...You only just managed to realize this now?" came his subsequent deadpan retort, laced with slight disbelief... and mere moments later, Ryuto then goes on to shake his head. "While I will at least acknowledge you seem a little smarter than Kobato, you make for a much duller conversation partner in comparison, that there would have been little point with centring ours around the intricacies of shogi," he goes on to bluntly remark. Honestly, judging from how Ryuto seemingly paid no mind to how hurtful his words were, it could be inferred that he either didn't care or didn't pay much heed to the effect they might potentially have on her. Regardless, it doesn't take long for him to gradually emerge up to his feet until he was no longer situated by the bench connected to what looked to be a stone picnic table.

    "Now, if you'll excuse me, Himari-san... I shall be taking my leave; after all, I still have some studying left to do back at home, and unlike some people, I don't have the time to entertain further meaningless prattle from absentminded women," he states so matter-of-factly, no annoyance at all could be detected from his tone. Why, if anything, the words he uttered sounded more colder and mechanical, to the point where most might reach the understandable conclusion he didn't have emotions.

"You're not wrong." She knew her limits, she knew where her skills laid, and she didn't like to pretend that she could exceed them. She was simple-minded and possessed a basic education, but she tried not to let that get to her while in the midst of a conversation.

Nothing ruined an interaction quite like a thirty-year-old woman bursting into tears.

A small, feeble smile toyed with her faintly painted lips. "I'll take it. At least you're being honest, which is more than I can get from some people."

Her feelings would recover. They always did, and it didn't make her less inclined to speak to him.

"Oh!" Oh. She stammered and gaped, but she recovered far quicker this time than any instance before. "Huh, that's. . . I never noticed."

It made sense when she considered that her attention usually focused on him rather than their surroundings. All of this new information, paired with the fact that they had only just met, was a smidgen overwhelming.

"I approached you to talk about shogi, and we didn't talk much about it at all. I'm so sorry!"

[causalitylinked]

    Naturally, Ryuto is quick to roll his eyes, because of course, Kobato would prefer giving another girl the time of day than him; still, it wasn't as if hearing that particularly earned his ire. Why, as harsh as it sounded, he frankly didn't care. It's just that since Kobato was within his company, Ryuto felt the need to shame him for making his lust so evident, because while Sonia might be able to pardon his skirt chasing tendencies, he was nowhere near kind enough to do so.

    "...Yes, yes. Tell me something I don't know," came his eventual dry retort, but before Kobato could think even to respond back, the waitress comes hurrying over with their orders. No sooner does she does make her way towards them, his chauffeur, as could be predicted, sports a huge grin along his lips... only, as time goes on, and it's made doubly apparent that Kaori was more so enamoured with Sonia than him, Ryuto would watch him subsequently deflate within his seat.

Of course, not long afterwards, he'll shoot Kobato a 'What did you expect?' look, before sending her off with a polite "Thank you very much, miss!" and an affable enough smile to express his appreciation for her service. This time around, though, it wasn't entirely insincere, because if nothing else, he liked that Kaori prevented Kobato from even getting a single word in, to the point where he can later tease him about it.

    "C'mon, Kobato, stop sulking already and go eat your food," Ryuto finally goes on to order while pouring tea from into his own cup. Truth be told, he was tempted to lightly kick his chauffeur's shin from underneath the table, but Sonia was around, so he opts not to. "Fine! Ugh... why is it that the ladies are never into me?" Kobato grumbles.

    Thankfully, though, Sonia's idle chatter distracts Ryuto from actually answering as he plops a few sugar cubes into his tea.

    "Rather than everyone being 'nice and friendly', Sonia-san, I'd claim that at least one of them is infatuated with you; therefore, it only stands to reason they would give you preferential treatment. You, however, are naïve, so I'm not surprised you have yet to ascertain Kaori-san's feelings are less platonic in nature," he states with voice remaining deadpan, prompting Kobato to nearly choke on his katsu sando.

    Sure enough, Ryuto then goes on to nod as he stirs his tea around, using a spoon; needless to say, it seemed he was very intentionally ignoring his chauffeur. "Indeed. Today has been most particularly trying," he sighs. "As for me, I am thankful you have chosen a peaceful, sophisticated place far removed from the typical decorum. Perhaps I'll have Kobato take me here next time... though, I doubt I could somehow coerce him to join me since I do not possess your quaint, feminine charms."

Now she was truly baffled. Sonia had not only decided to move on from his previous taunting, she'd wanted to try and accommodate him and his preferences, or rather a distaste, regarding crowds. Turning to face him, she gave Ryuto another one of her thin-lipped, patience being tested smiles. "It's not that I particularly enjoy being ordered around most of the time, but I was taking into consideration your aversion to crowds and noise, and thought you would be the best judge of what you would find comfortable."

She'd had half a mind to add that she wasn't opposed to letting him and Mr. Kobato find a table to themselves, either: if her company continued to upset him so, she would've been content to have her order for takeaway and make her way back to Hope's Peak Academy on her own. She'd tried to do a favor for him and, despite it all, continued to stick up for him whenever Mr. Kobato used that horrid nickname for him. Maybe, she thought as they finally selected a table, she should've stayed out of it and asked Kobato to simply take her home after the roadside funeral.

But Ryuto had looked so hollow, so beside himself, that she couldn't not offer her help. And now she'd be made to regret it. At least there was calming music, walls of used books, and sweets to temper the pain a bit. "He's a friend, Kazamatsuri-san," Sonia murmured, though her gut instinct was to agree with him: she wasn't quite sure why she made the effort sometimes either. Except for the idea of Ryuto having no friends who didn't desire something from him other than his company didn't sit well with her. "I am not one to leave a friend when they need help. Whether they realize it or not."

Taking her seat, she busied herself with reading over the nearest wall lined with books, taking note of what was newly shelved since the last time she'd visited, while Ryuto chided Mr. Kobato for his lustful gaze. Though the server in question, a curvy young woman with long, dark hair and a pretty smile, hadn't even seemed to notice Ryuto's driver staring at her. Instead, she carried their orders on a tray with eyes only for one person at the table.

"Sonia-san!" She beamed, setting down the drinks and food for the princess's dining partners before setting down her pot of tea, a teacup and saucer, and her dessert, with one smaller plate still remaining on the tray. "It's been weeks since you stopped in last! I was hoping you hadn't found somewhere new to read."

"No no, Kaori-san, I've just been busy with school and work," Sonia assured her with a smile. A pink tinge emerged over Kaori's cheeks, likely in relief. "But today was a good day to visit: this café has a calming presence."

"Good! Oh, that's great!" The young woman exclaimed, doing her best to hide her glee and failing miserably. "Because I was hoping you might enjoy a small slice of this new cake I've made. The boss says we can't sell it officially yet, but I can...well, hand it out to favorite customers. But I didn't think to bring any for your friends! I'm sorry."

None of the other tables, so far, had been offered free cake, but Sonia accepted it anyway and set it in the middle of the table to be shared. "We can share. Thank you, Kaori-san! I shall be sure to share with you my compliments when we have finished."

The pink tinge in her cheeks had turned into a bright crimson as the woman uttered her thanks and disappeared back into the kitchen. Sonia chuckled, pouring herself her first cup of tea from her pot. "That's Kaori-san, she's one of the servers and cooks here," Sonia explained as she mixed in her preferred amount of sugar and milk, "But she's in university now to become a professional pâtissier. Everyone is just so nice and friendly here! That's the best part, besides the books and the relaxing atmosphere."

It had, clearly, gone over Sonia's head that for one big reason, there was no chance in hell that Kobato Kazamatsuri would be getting anywhere with Kaori, even if he tried to chat her up. "Well, I think we've deserved sweets after a day like this one!" She decided, scooping up a bite of her own dessert onto her fork. "It's more exciting than the usual parties, though perhaps not in a good way. It almost makes me miss passed hors d'oeuvres and a coat check. Almost."

[causalitylinked]

    Naturally, Ryuto would respond back by saying that it was his pleasure to attend, when in reality, he couldn't exactly care less... not when his daughter was just one but many marriage candidates his parents had arranged for him. Still, he has no problem, maintaining that same pleasant smile he had practised emulating from a young age even long after Fujisaki-san trailed off to greet another associate.

    Setsuka, however, might not have been naive as he hoped, because the next thing he knew, she was asking him if he wanted to take a break... yet upon being far from the type to not seize a chance to not socialize any further than he has to, he'll soon proceed to nod.

    "Thank you. That would very much be appreciated," Ryuto finally brings himself to graciously utter. "Will you be coming by to visit me later, Setsuka-san?" he then questions. Of course, he secretly wishes she would say no, if only so he could enjoy reading in peace, but the last thing he wanted was to seem cold, so he'll make it sound like he might want alone time with her... hence why his voice had shifted into a more eager, hopeful tone.

“Tsukishima Ryuto…” She repeated. It’s a name Setsuka has heard of before from her father but with so much information overloading her brain at the moment from all the previous greetings. She’s having a hard time remembering all the little details she knows before this particular meeting. There is one important detail that he mentioned that caught her attention and which is pictures of herself have been shown to him. His compliment made her smile wryly before she said her thanks.

Usually, that meant an arrangement of some sort. Glancing up at her father, who in turn, greeted the young male and thanked him for his attendance. Another associate called over his attention as the older male politely excused himself, leaving Setsuka and Ryuto alone.

This is very awkward…

Setsuka has this feeling in her gut that this man before her is more than meets the eye. She’s been dealing with fake smiles for the majority of this evening and she wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case for him…

“Pardon me, Tsukishima-san, do you need a room for a moment to take a break in? I could have a staff member to escort you.” She smiled. It’s her way of saying if he wishes to leave right now then he’s more than welcomed to.

[causalitylinked]

     Naturally, upon hearing Sonia disagree, Ryuto could only wonder if her own parents left a lot to be desired; then again, he couldn't bring himself to be the least bit surprised, because it was actually quite common for parents hailing from high society to put on a good face to keep up appearances. To that end, it would hardly come as a shock should Queen Valentina and King Alexandre prove to be less pleasant than their social media coverage would suggest.

       Even so, he'll manage a sigh with gaze turning downcast, because of course, it would appear that way to her.

       "They are only proud of me because I had always been gifted enough to far exceed their expectations; in fact, I am inclined to believe that had I been born mediocre, I would be deemed a disgrace... unfit to lead the Tsukishima family," he states. Why, considering his mother and father had raised him to be an intellectual elite, Ryuto didn't doubt for one second that they would probably love him less, on the off chance he wasn't a genius.

       Honestly, he had even heard them talk smack about other children and compare them to him... saying things like 'oh, if only so and so could follow our son's example' and 'with how inferior they are, they should be glad to even be breathing in the same air as him'. Due to this, he would finally shake his head the same way Sonia had, just moments prior.

       "You merely remain ignorant because you haven't lived with them for as long as I have... but I personally knew them to judge other children for simply lacking talent. With that being the case, there can be no question I would have been unable to earn their love, should I prove to be every bit as unremarkable as those they openly criticized," came his blunt assessment.

       "And while I do acknowledge others in my position have it far worse than I do, that hardly warrants much envy since my parents can also be infuriating. You, however, have the fortune of not being privy to their vices," Ryuto then goes on to point out without even bothering to glance up even once. "What else is there to say about the photo... besides the fact that back then, I found their affection to be terribly suffocating?"

       Sure enough, he'll soon shoot her a tired stare when next she comments he was adorable. "Oh, not you too, Sonia-san... I already get that enough from my own mother and father."

Sonia grinned. It was terribly naïve of him, if he thought she’d listen should he try to shoo her away. For all the authority Ryuto had, his family name, his wealth, even his blunt personality did little to intimidate, much less deter her. She knew plenty of young women who, for lack of a better word, swooned in his presence. She simply wasn’t one of them. “I like to believe our friendship has enriched both of our lives,” She replied, his glare doing little to dampen her spirits as she turned the pages in the album.

“Then you should be far more clear on what 'amusing myself’ entails,” She further quipped. Still: he couldn’t be that upset and if he was, it had been his own staff who had given her the album to peruse. In fact, they’d seemed all too happy to do so: apparently, Ryuto hardly ever had guests, much less ones who possessed a sincere interest in who he was.  “And I’ll be the judge as to if your personal history is anything like the rest of the nobility back home. Even though you did enjoy the horror movie, I want to learn more about what you like too. That way neither one of us dominates the friendship: after all, my horror fascination tends to prove grating on others over time. I’d rather not have that happen to you.”

Naturally, Sonia didn’t find it to be snooping. Then again, she was used to photos of her family being shared and displayed nearly everywhere she went in a royal capacity, and in general whilst at home. Many of her own childhood photos were perfectly staged with the intent of being used in official biographies, documentaries, and press releases. She found the prospect of family albums far more fascinating: they were homemade, instead of being collected for official archives by someone with training just for that purpose. It was unlike what she held in her hands: she gazed down at the photo as Ryuto gave a succinct explanation. Not that she expected any different: he wasn’t the most talkative sort, even when in good spirits.

She couldn’t understand his reaction, how quickly he seemed to want to ignore the photo she’d inquired after. But she shook her head in return, looking down at the photo with warmth in her eyes. “You say your childhood was not special, or at least different from others of your socio-economic class,” She began, before holding the album up for him to see properly. Sonia wasn’t about to let him defer this particular moment to something unremarkable. “But I don’t agree: your parents are so happy, so proud of you, for this moment. Look how they interact with you, and the joy they cannot hide. I assure you, many others in your position would have parents who did not care, or were too busy to be present, or simply pretended to for the sake of the cameras.”

She was familiar with all of them, but not the  real, raw emotion Ryuto’s parents showed in regard to their son. They were actually proud of him: she didn’t have to guess at that. Even if the younger, adorable Ryuto looked less than amused: while his height had changed, some things hadn’t. He still wore that same look, particularly around her. Especially around her.

“I also want to know about this photo,” She continued, turning several pages and pointing to the picture she’d indicated. “Maybe you can tell me on the way to the party. After all, your staff was so kind and enthusiastic in seeking out this album for me to look through! You were an adorable child, Tsukishima-san.”

[causalitylinked]

    Within seconds, the corners of his lips would tug downwards into a frown, because from where he was sitting, it looked as though Hana's eyes were... watering. Honestly, had it not been for the fact his vision proved quite exceptional, that detail alone might have completely slipped his notice, but rather than guilt, he instead found himself more baffled than anything else, because it wasn't as if he understood what he had exactly said or done to make her this close to tears.

    "...You are aware that is a highly immature viewpoint, right?" Despite finally spewing those words, however, there was no evident anger or hatred lacing his tone... just the sort of patient calmness one would expect from an adult, conversing with a child. "And to begin with, I only use ever my disability as an explanation, not an excuse... yet in most cases, I try not to bring it up at all unless absolutely necessary, because I'm tired of constantly having to educate the ignorant. But I chose to disclose it to you while believing you would have enough discretion to understand my brain is wired differently from the average individual's and care enough to bother researching it for my sake. Clearly, though, I underestimated just how much you valued having me in your life."

    Sure enough, he'll finally bring himself to face forward while folding his palms across his lap... disappointed, yet not entirely surprised Hana still had difficulty realizing not everything he did was a slight against her; furthermore, Ryuto figured she probably wouldn't want him to witness her crying anyways, so this time around, he opts to not stare.

    "...What would doing something that unproductive even achieve? Besides, I still have yet to comprehend exactly what led us up to this point," came his eventual admittance. "Now, tell me... would you have preferred I was harsher to you around Koji-san?" Ryuto then questions. Honestly, he was asking more so out of genuine curiosity than to argue his point, because ultimately, he couldn't understand what Hana exactly wanted from him. Why, on one hand, he could be mean to her, causing her to be upset, and yet if he chose to be nice to her instead, she suddenly would take issue with that as well, so either way, it seemed like he couldn't win, no matter what.

    "Furthermore, what merits could there possibly be in deliberately phrasing my words to sound crueller when I no longer had the mental energy to argue with you? You take offence to me assuming things about you, and yet not once, have you used your own words, forcing me to attempt on picking apart your own nonsensical brain. If you have a mouth, then use it... after all, our ability to effectively communicate with each other is what makes us differ from other sentient lifeforms, does it not?"

why would he even decide to join her, when her mere existence seemed to trigger him? she couldn’t figure out what went through his head back then & now, nor was she sure if she wanted to. at this point, everything he said felt as an excuse, even if these issues were very real for him. it didn’t change how it made her feel, which was something that he tried to act mindful of, but did the opposite of that.

“so… you admit you act ’ differently ’ to try to ’ blend in ’ & be ’ normal ’, but expect me to pick on it & be fully aware? how exactly am i supposed to be mindful when i don’t have a clue.” & that remained one of her main frustrations: that he could never be at fault, even if he was at times. sometimes, hana felt as if she was talking to the wall because there were just things that he wouldn’t get, no matter how much or how hard, she tried to explain it to him. if they left it at that… well, she’d be able to get over it, but ryuto’s constant antagonising of her was what made her lash out. no matter how noble, even a wounded animal with its head down would bite if poked for too long. “i’m not a mind reader either, but that doesn’t erase the fact that you constantly do this: act like you’re oh-so good to me, so people think the best of you while i remain a bitch.” which, she was honestly fed up with. yes, hana could be a major bitch, but it was default for her to feel as if she didn’t have many people to lean on, even when she tried to be nice. ryuto only managed to make her feel inadequate, which was ironic coming from him. in people’s eyes, he was a well-behaved gentleman while she’d always be the brat… even when she genuinely tried to get along.

this visit to the karaoke bar was further proved of her attempt, which had failed in the end. her mood had been soured when he immediately changed his attitude before koji, always painting her in a bad light. her eyes narrowed in his direction, but her glare no longer held that fiery anger from before. if anything, she was exhausted. “guess that makes us both.” referring to finding him incomprehensible as well. “but i should be more mindful, while you can make assertions & state them as facts based on body language alone.” the hypocrisy still irked her, but hana didn’t feel it in her to fight any longer. she came here as a distraction after receiving nothing but silence from han, but in the end, she only felt worse—with ryuto truly making her feel as the villain each time. as if she was so displeasing, that that was the reason for han’s rejection.

her head was lowered down with her bangs partially hiding her eyes, which were beginning to sting. both palms were placed on either side, with fingers curled around the edge of her seat before a sigh escaped her lips. “must be nice to throw that card & expect people to treat you with more kindness.” while she continued to feel misunderstood or have her own feelings overlooked, because neurodivergent or not, ryuto wasn’t the only one masking his feelings at the cost of his mental health. “forget ‘bout our stupid bet. you can tell kobato to pick you up.”

[causalitylinked]

    "...Yes, but unlike you, I am a member of the intellectual elite; therefore, comparing yourself to me is simply redundant," Ryuto points out. Why, as arrogant as it might make him seem, he was just stating facts, for when it came to down to it, the difference between them was like night and day. Honestly, he's surprised Himari even wants to continue talking to him when he himself wasn't particularly sociable or someone who even enjoyed idle conversation, but regardless, he'll soon shake his head.

    "You needn't worry. Kobato bothers me all the time... yet between you both, I would say you are far less annoying," Ryuto admits, allowing his eyelids to briefly flutter shut as he clasps a hand around his neck. ...Then again, that probably didn't count for much considering it wasn't truly all that difficult to be more tolerable than Kobato. Ryuto, though, was bad at reassuring others, meaning that was probably the best Himari would ever get out of him.

    "For what it's worth, however... you are the only one I'm aware of that's actually recipient of his advances; furthermore, he has also effectively ceased accosting other women ever since two weeks ago, so if nothing else, I hypothesize you must be the reason he has stopped making sheep eyes at them," he later adds before dropping his hand back down along his lap. Granted, Ryuto didn't exactly have any actual evidence to conclude this was the legitimate case, yet considering he knew Kobato far longer than Himari, he was able to make an educated guess regarding why he suddenly halted his skirt-chasing habits.

For a flicker of a second, she was distracted by the secret compartment. She focused solely on the sound of the compartment opening, watched him stuff the bag of pieces away, then was snapped back to attention once it was closed.

"It's hard to see it when he talks like that to a lot of women." Her eyebrows scrunched together, and her gaze dipped downward. "Imagine someone you know praises you and every single shogi player he ever comes across. You start to wonder if it means anything when he says it to you if everyone is good. I'm afraid of finding out that he doesn't mean it, and that I've spent all this time spending thought space on something that was silly. . ."

"That's a better idea than what I usually do." She raised both hands, the backs of them turned towards Ryuto. Her knuckles were red, but the skin wasn't broken. Inside her sleeves, she had joined her hands, the subject prompting her habit of rubbing and pinching at her skin. "I got nervous, sorry. I thought I was bothering you."

[causalitylinked]

    "Of course he would; after all, this is Kobato we're talking about," Ryuto's quick to inform her before prying open his Shogi board and stuffing the Ziploc bag into the hidden compartment. Honestly, when it came to his chauffeur, he happened to be the most fickle man he ever met; therefore, it wasn't as if he could guarantee he would only ever have eyes for Himari. To that end, now was probably the best time for her to confess her feelings.

    Himari, though, didn't seem particularly convinced Kobato liked her back, which was enough to make him shoot a disbelieving stare her way. "You don't even realize he is infatuated with you? For someone who is already that old, Himari-san, you certainly are quite dense," Ryuto states. Why, he had honestly thought it fairly obvious Kobato was absolutely smitten for her, but perhaps she was way dumber than he had initially believed. "Then again, it's also true it might be nothing more than a mere case of puppy love on his part," came his eventual acknowledgement, and no sooner did he voice those words aloud, he would then fold his shogi board shut.

    Once Himari fired another query his way, however, Ryuto soon finds himself ceasing as if bringing himself to properly ruminate over how best to answer her.

    ...Only, after a few seconds had managed to pass, it doesn't take long for him to finally speak. "In truth, there has scarcely ever been a time where I felt nervous... but whenever I do find myself becoming stressed or overcome with emotions, I would personally take slow breaths from the diaphragm," came his eventual admittance. Of course, him being anxious proved rare, yet at the same time, he would be lying if he said he never feared failing. "What about you, Himari-san?" Ryuto then goes on to question. Naturally, he could already guess what her answer might be, but he still brings himself to ask anyways since he figured he could stand to be a bit more social and interested.

"No, I——!" She wanted to huff and vent a small portion of her frustrations, but she decided to shrink in on herself instead. She was fully capable of listening and retaining information, but her surprise had gotten the better of her. "You don't have to repeat yourself. I'm sorry, I just — I wasn't expecting to hear that."

She had learned to expect blunt opinions and sass from him, but she was given a fresh wave of surprise when he offered advice. At least, it sounded like advice to her.

"Would he do that?"

Himari didn't need to think on it long. She could picture it clearly in her head, but whether that was due to it being a possibility or because she was worried wasn't a concern she currently held.

"No, you're right. Even if he doesn't feel the same, it's better to say it and it it over with." And still her stomach churned with nerves. "I'm thirty-years-old, I shouldn't be nervous about this!"

A strange ( and probably stupid ) question arose just then.

"What do you do when you're nervous about something? Uhm, given you feel nervous at all." In the same second, she wondered if he were capable of anxiety. He seemed confident, but she never wanted to assume that a person's foremost behavior was all they possessed.

[causalitylinked]

    As Himari fumbled for words, Ryuto would gather up the pieces on the shogi board before folding it up and pushing it back through the case, because when it came down to it, she proved way too much of a distraction with all her chatter, that he figured he should simply devote all his attention to her rather than continue trying to multitask. The moment she finally voices aloud coherent words, however, he'll glance back towards her with a blank, deadpan stare.

    "You heard me. ...Or are your ears simply just there for decoration, to the point where I need to actually repeat myself again?" he questions in a cool, clipped tone. Honestly, so far, Himari seemed quite incredibly slow on the uptake, remaining patient with her was a challenge in of itself. Why, she was just so painfully average and unremarkable, Ryuto couldn't exactly bring himself to enjoy her company... yet because she was so deeply involved with Kobato, it couldn't be helped that for better or for worse, they would naturally become a part of each other's life.

    "Of course, I couldn't care less whether you end up dating Kobato or not... but seeing as though he would prattle on and on about how much he adores you, I would recommend you be transparent with your feelings as soon as possible; otherwise, he may end up riding off into the sunset alongside another woman, leaving you to stew in potential regret." No sooner does he tell her this, Ryuto would then begin pushing his shogi pieces into a labelled Ziploc bag.

"I know it doesn't make sense. I don't talk to people about that sort of thing, so I've never had to put how I feel into words." It was too invasive, she felt. Interjecting little bits of her life into conversations felt commandeering, and she didn't want anyone to get the impression that she thought highly of herself.

Even now, she felt silly talking about it. He was the one to bring rise to the subject, but she wouldn't have complained one iota if he decided then and there to drop it if he found it boring.

"But you must have the patience of a saint if you've kept him as your driver." She was on the verge of asking him why, but he blindsided her with a statement so blunt and sudden that she didn't know how to reply — or react.

She was silent, then she squeaked. She was silent again, her mouth opening and closing. A fish had more to say than she did, but she very much resembled one until — finally — she remembered what it meant to speak.

"He said what?"

[causalitylinked]

    "...You like him and yet you still have difficulty fathoming why? That sounds quite irrational, don't you think?" came Ryuto's nonchalant observation. Of course, it wasn't as though he ever experienced falling in love to really be able to relate to Himari's current smitten state, but as far as he was concerned, she seemed very... indecisive, to the point where he wondered if she was just the type to easily fall for other people without any particular rhyme or reason.

    ...Regardless, his expression was quick to grow pensive as he cups a palm over his head and stares off towards the door leading out through the library.

    "Well, there's certainly a lot Kobato can dismiss regarding women and it's often said he isn't just a clown but the whole circus... so as long as you have a sense of humour along with an endless amount of patience, I suppose he can make for entertaining company," he then acknowledges. "I, however, am often left unamused by his antics and wish he would cease being an incessant fool."

    As soon as he says this, Ryuto finally lets his palm fall back down along his side before turning back around to regard Himari once more. "Either way, it's a shame. Given how much he shamelessly gushes about how 'soft' and 'fluffy' you are, I imagine he would be devastated to learn you would simply wish to remain friends. Then again, perhaps Kobato is destined to die single."

The moment his eyes rose and his expression ( somehow ) flattened further, Himari clamped her lips shut. She was ' blessed ' with the ability to read emotions, but that didn't mean she had become proficient at hiding her own. It was the opposite, in fact. Her embarrassment was written across her face, as was her attempt to keep herself silent.

"I c—could always be this red," she offered. That wasn't true, and even saying the blatant lie made her visibly deflate. Ryuto's eye roll was the final straw, her shoulders slumping and her head dipping down. There was no shame because she didn't see why there should be, but she was struck with the smallest, sharpest jab of anxiety.

If it was obvious to someone she barely knew, then what did Kobato think?

"I. . . don't know." It wasn't meant to be a slight towards the one that made her little heart race. "I don't really think about it much because no one's asked me that before. I probably makes me sound even simpler, but I suppose I just do."

Her palms were pressed together, and those were pinched between her knees to keep her from fidgeting like she often did when she was nervous. "He don't mind that I'm awkward sometimes, and I guess he makes me laugh."

Both hands rose, and a laugh was forced from deep within her chest. "Not that it matters! He's been a good friend to me, and I hope I have been to him too. That's all I want."

[causalitylinked]

    In the end, Ryuto acknowledged Sonia would never answer his question before dutifully following her with Kobato trailing not too far behind him. Honestly, he couldn't help thinking she was behaving childishly when all he did was poke fun at her a little, but well, it couldn't be helped most women were irrational creatures; therefore, he supposed he would simply keep to himself until she deigned to speak to him again. Still, he did find it odd that despite making it apparent he didn't mind Kobato's nickname, she would keep acting offended for his sake... an action so unbelievably ludicrous, he almost had the nerve to laugh and accuse her of being in love with him.

    Why, were it not for the fact Kobato was around, Ryuto might have even mercilessly teased her, because if nothing else, he loved either reducing girls to tears or making them look embarrassed; in fact, it made for as fun a past-time as cross checking his answers. Knowing Sonia, though, she would have probably called him horrible for deriving such sadistic pleasure from tormenting not only her, but them. Still, it wasn't until she proceeds to address him does he end up quirking a brow.

    "Oh, so you suddenly no longer intend on giving me the cold shoulder and are leaving it up to my discretion, where we sit? For someone who detests being ordered around, you certainly enjoy me taking the lead," came Ryuto's dry, deadpan response, but before Sonia could even fire back a retort, he'll turn and walk briskly off towards a table situated by the far right corner, away from the vast, scenic window.

    "Tch... what a cheeky brat. I'm surprised you would go as far as to defend him, Nia-chan," Kobato would soon shake his head, and within seconds, he'll hasten after Ryuto while shooting her an apologetic grimace, as if saying 'I'm sorry he's such a pain in the ass'.

    Why, despite how petty it might have made him, his haughty young charge clearly didn't mind lowering him down to Sonia's level and acting cruel. Regardless, by the time they reached the table where Ryuto was already seated, his gaze would flicker exasperatedly over towards Kobato, who seemed quite captivated by a woman carrying a tray of baked goods and drinks over towards three other customers.

    "Hey, Kobato, would you mind not shamelessly ogling one of the waitresses here? The last thing I need is you ruining my appetite by mentally undressing her right before my own eyes," he tiredly states, causing his chauffeur to whip his head back around with a scowl. "Not so loud, twerpling! And it's not like that, okay? I was just admirin' her beauty; 'sides, I'd rather look at her than your own annoying mug."

Only at the prospect of a lover's quarrel did Sonia flinch, reacting to something more than just a single word response. The prospect itself was unpalatable: Ryuto not only mocked her, teased her, and enjoyed seeing her suffer, but she knew the sort of person he was. Whether he dismissed company, especially normal and common people, because he didn't want to be bothered, or requested she accompany him to some event or other to keep a multitude of young heiresses at bay, he was downright rude. On occasion it wasn't directed at her: at times, she'd be left unbothered while he pursued one lucky heiress or other, to do the precise thing Sonia refused from other young men in their social circles.

At least Mr. Kobato didn't press the issue further. He did his job and she did hers: pretending that Ryuto Tsukishima hadn't gone from needing her comfort and help to burrowing under her skin and lingering there in the span of an hour. She had to hope the tea would prove to be a suitable disinfectant. As the car pulled into the curbside parking space, a miracle that three were available to accommodate the limo, Sonia briefly regretted bringing them here. Well, Ryuto at least: even if this spot would suit him. She'd never questioned that: it was why the choice had been an easy one.

"I doubted you'd be able to enjoy eating or drinking anything if it had been noisy," She replied, looking up at him. Sonia wasn't surprised in the least: his focus wasn't the espresso machine behind the counter or even the pastry case, at least at first. It was the shelves upon shelves of books: of all sorts, all conditions too. For the briefest of moments, he looked like a child in a candy store for the first time, unsure of where to start while everything around him looked delicious. "The books range in condition, but their sales help fund schools for underprivileged children: patrons drop off their books and receive a discount on their food and drinks. Rather like the popular punch cards I've heard so much about here."

 Not that she was familiar with using them. Barring her own bookstore card: she took innate pleasure in visiting that store herself, stocking her basket with various recently-released novels and manga. So often it was delivered to her doorstep as discreetly as possible. Here, she could acquire them just like everyone else: from large, neatly arranged stacks or buried in narrow shelves. Still, the weight of the shopping bags and the process of hauling it all back to her dorm suite brought her a certain joy no one else seemed to understand.

"It's still unkind to call him 'twerpling,'" Sonia chided Mr. Kobato, seemingly forgetting for a moment that she was angry with the 'twerpling' in question. She led the way to the counter where a man, likely in his thirties and in need of a shave, greeted her with a grin. "Hey Sonia! You've brought friends today, that's new. You're usually reading alone."

"Yes, well, today necessitated special circumstances," She gave the owner a strained smile. It didn't fit alongside the pouring of water into pots, or silver gently clinking against the ceramic drinkware, or the artificial sounds of rustling leaves, birdsong, and gentle breezes. But the gentle scents of flowers and pine, alongside the food and drinks in question, would likely soothe her. They usually did: this was Sonia's haven for when things went terribly wrong.

She delivered the two orders Mr. Kobato and Ryuto had requested, before selecting a french vanilla chai and a miniature opera cake for herself: rectangular, with immaculate layers and a bit of edible gold dust on top. The casual setting was the facade for the elegance of the food and drink. Quality without the over-the-top luxury she often found herself in.

Sonia paid for everything, and after being assured her specific cup was clean and available to use, she took the receipt and faced the pair again. "Shall we take our seats? We may sit anywhere and they'll bring our orders out. Tsukishima-san, wherever is most comfortable for you."

[causalitylinked]

    In all honesty, Ryuto had only brought it up at all because he felt the need for a distraction and furthermore, as well intention-ed as Kobato might be, he didn't feel like entertaining his idle chit chat. To that end, he hoped to change the topic to drift further away from the earlier incident if at all possible, for knowing his chauffeur, he would probably mention how his windshield would be a 'bitch' to clean thanks to the bird he accidentally ran over... but it didn't seem like Sonia particularly wanted to respond back with more than one word; then again, he had ended up irritating her, so he could understand why.

    Still, he doesn't give her the satisfaction of sighing even while Kobato arches a brow at Sonia's forced smile. "...I see," came his nonchalant response, and by that point, he would resume staring out of the window rather disinterestedly. "Man, what is with you two? Did you guys have a lover's quarrel or something?" Kobato then questions, causing Ryuto to scoff.

    "...For the last time, Kobato, we are not 'lovers'. And if you truly want to know, why don't you ask her?" he shrugs with his voice subsequently growing deadpan. Normally, Ryuto would further insult him and call him daft, but for once, he lost much of his energy to really do so after forcing himself to be nice to Ishida, which had inevitably drained his spoons for socializing.

    Due to this, the car ride was mostly silent with Kobato side-eyeing them every once in a while; regardless, it doesn't take long for them to both step out of the limo and enter into a very quaint looking shop. One thing that immediately drew Ryuto's attention, though, was the bookshelves adorning the back, but either way, he finds himself trailing behind Sonia upon figuring he could always browse through them later.

    "Well, it isn't noisy. ...That much, I can tell." Sure enough, light caramel brown eyes settled upon the pastries on display. "Yeah, this seems like a place right up twerpling's ally," Kobato comments with both hands shoved through his pockets. "Do ya know what you will be getting? I might order a katsu sando and a Caffè latte."

    In response, Ryuto would immediately stroke his chin, using his thumb and forefinger. "Hm... aside from a cup of milk chamomile tea, I believe I am in the mood for some mochi donuts at the moment. What about you, Sonia-san?"

Gods, exactly what she didn't need: Ryuto refusing to visit the shop without her in tow. Sonia had expected Ms. Ishida to inquire after him every time she paid a visit, but she'd been certain that if he'd liked the items she'd gotten him, he could make his way back on his own. It was only the strict lesson she'd had as a child, 'royal ladies do not grind their teeth,' that kept Sonia from doing just that.

"You have your own financial accounts, a limousine with a driver, and are well-aware of the polite course of conduct for when Ms. Ishida sends you an invitation for a styling appointment in the post," She reminded him flatly as she brushed past him. It wasn't even his gloating, or not entirely at least, that nagged at her. It was for sheer duration of time he was enjoying reveling in it, her physical attraction to him. It wasn't exactly a new phenomenon for him, and Ryuto didn't lack perception: every event she'd attended, either officially as his guest or simply happened to be invited to, had been full of young women taken in by his looks, his family, his future plans.

She exhaled in a huff once they'd made it to the alley: the air wasn't fresh or otherwise revitalizing, but it expanded the amount of space she could put between them. For a moment at least, until he both caught up with her and they'd return to the car. A few cherished seconds until he needled her further, causing her to whirl around and face him just before she knocked upon the glass.

"Because you value having friends," She spat. "Or at least one friend who is both not in your employ and doesn't want, or need, anything from you besides your friendship in return. Because, whether you wish to admit it or not, you are a decent person, despite whatever," She waved her hand before her, up and down to gesture his full height, "is going on here right now. Even if, at present, you are strongly pushing me to reconsider that fact. Do not ever lump me in with the girls at fundraisers, and balls and galas, who lust after you and being the future matriarch of the Tsukishima family."

Her clipped words finished, she turned on her heel, knocked, and slid into the back of the limo with a cheerful smile for Kobato. He certainly wasn't at fault: he'd been nothing but kind to her since the day they met. "There's no need to worry, nothing amiss occurred," She told him, "though I'd concur on needing a drink right about now."

Unfortunately, where they were going didn't serve a drop of alcohol, which was what Sonia sorely needed at present. If just to deal with her friend, who was clearly only pretending to act like a friend at the moment as he inquired about the café. "Yes," She replied, keeping her words succinct and her smile tight-lipped as the car turned onto a quieter block. Of course she'd been: how could she suggest to take him there otherwise? After his traumatic experience earlier, the last thing she'd wanted to do was bring him somewhere that would overwhelm his senses.

Even if, as the limo pulled to a stop in front of a hand-carved wooden sign, depicting the shop's name surrounded by various branches, leaves, and flowers, she didn't feel quite so considerate now. She'd formed a plan and she'd see it through: she'd also be the first one out of the limo and to open the door for them both. Inside, it was mostly quiet, save for ambient instrumental music or the sounds of chirping birds or rustling trees. It made sense: the decorations inside were as close as they'd get to a forest in Tokyo: trees and other plants, both living and plastic, were artfully arranged around the space, with fresh flowers on every table and conversation levels kept to a minimum. More often than not, patrons studied or read: in the back of the shop, several bookshelves were neatly arranged with books to borrow or purchase, to be enjoyed alongside a cup of tea drunk from, for the regular customers anyway, a personalized mug that lived on racks behind the counter.

Cozy, with a sense of reconnecting with the outdoors: perhaps the second best thing to disappearing into a cabin outside of the city for a break from the hustle and noise. "They've got pastries, sandwiches, and cakes too," She advised the men quietly as she led the way to the counter. "I like to come here when I'm feeling alone. It may not look it, but it reminds me of home."

[causalitylinked]

    While silence lingers between them, Ryuto would pass the precious few seconds, moving around shogi pieces yet again... only to lift his gaze back up with a deadpan stare once Himari insists on not being in love with Kobato, which he did not believe even for one second. "...Funny. From the amount of colour suffusing your complexion, I would clearly argue otherwise," came his flippant remark, and by this point, he'll shake his head as if expressing disbelief.

    "Don't tell you are as daft as you're dense; after all, it's so obvious, I'm fairly surprised nobody has called you out on it yet." Honestly, Ryuto reckons it wouldn't even take a genius to figure out Himari had a thing for Kobato, so he sees no reason why he shouldn't be blunt about it. To that end, he'll roll his eyes, clearly remaining unconvinced about her denial.

    "Yes, yes, a very likely story," Ryuto sarcastically retorts before calmly assessing her, allowing his shogi board to temporarily go untouched.

    "What do you even like about him anyways?" he then asks. For once, however, Ryuto asks more so out of curiosity than judgmental bias, because with how absolutely cheesy his pickup lines were, a woman actually managing to fall for Kobato was like a miracle from God himself.

    Why, if nothing else, even he didn't manage to see it coming, considering he was accustomed to watching ladies pretty much reject his chauffeur left and right, to the point where it was pretty much a running gag he 'couldn't get bitches'. Himari, though, seemed to think he was the absolute bee's knees for some reason.

"He is, but he caught onto the basics pretty quickly." It was a habit of hers to interject with positivity, whether or not it was warranted. Her father wasn't there to hear himself be called an amateur, but she still felt compelled to compliment him despite him being miles away.

"Simpleminded. . ." She rolled the word 'round in her head, felt it settle in an empty pit somewhere at the bottom of her stomach. He wasn't wrong. Himari had learned to accept this fact during her school days, but it had been quite some time since someone last pointed it out.

She wouldn't say it aloud, but she didn't think it was her place to be brilliant. That was meant for other people. Her intelligence lay in the heart, which is why she didn't argue. She was too passive for that. Her pride came from knowing she had a firm grasp on her empathy and her common sense, which was still more than some people had.

Silence blanketed the small space.

A second passed, then two. Three, four, five.

Then it sank in.

The flush that he recalled seeing before returned in full, everything from the flower-print collar of her dress to her hairline turning a bright pink.

"W—Wait, what did you say?" She didn't need him to repeat himself, but she did need that second to process exactly what he had implied. "I'm not infatuated with him!"

Lying was an awful habit to pick up, not that she was skilled at it to begin with. Still, that didn't stop her from fumbling and trying to mask the fact that she may have found herself enamored. "I appreciate him, that's all."