pishirogane | prismatica

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...Yeah, true. We did kinda come with a whole shit ton of people and they're probably stockin' up.

[They could wait out the rush. But until then... he knelt down to change his shoes.]

Maybe we can get up to somethin' together until it all settles down. I feel bad havin' ya check things out from the sidelines!

[They were lucky this was already a vacation spot; otherwise, resources might be an issue.]

It's alright, I chose to be on the sidelines. Hm... We could go for a walk.

[He beamed.] Walkies!

[Then he froze, turned bright red, and settled down with a hand to the back of his head.]

I-I mean, uh... yeah. A walk sounds great.

[... Naoto tried to keep a straight face and she did really well, but there was a small curve to her lips at his exclamation.]

Sure, let's go for a walk.

[He nodded and offered a hand. Because why not be lewd while taking a walk through crystal forests?

The other itched behind the glove. That strange box from the Ware Wolf Shop was burning a hole in his pocket. Would... would soon be a good time to give her a present?]

[Laughing softly, she accepted his hand. This would be nice; and their friends would be spared some photos.]

[... Kanji seemed a little tense, but perhaps that was from his fall. If it remained ongoing, she'd ask then.]

[He could go ice skating, take on the obstacle course or even get stuck in a snow drift for a bit while his girlfriend took pictures, but it was all worth it if he could just take an easygoing walk with her.

The snow had been falling for some time now, bringing with it a muted atmosphere, a quiet world of glimmering trees and festivities the closer one drew to civilization. For now, the world settled into merrymaking, all thought of exploring the world put temporarily on hold.

It cleared his mind to focus, turn inward and gather a bit of power from the Sanguis blessing. A little warmth, maybe, to warm and dry his back of the slush and dry his undershirt all the while... pardon the fact that he's a grown man emitting a bit of steam from his collar.]

[Walking along, Naoto appreciated the quiet snowfall. It was one thing to be in the city, but sometimes, there's a relief getting away from it all. Lunatia, the holidays, the crowds, they're not out here - it's just herself and Kanji making a small trail for themselves away from other people.]

It'll be nice... when we finally return to Inaba.

[Inaba... how long'd it been since he heard the word spoken aloud? Everyone talked about going home and finding a way home, but nobody really talked about it.

Naoto had said 'when', not 'if'. That was pretty cool. He believed they'd return home someday, too.]

I feel that. Whatcha think's the first thing you'd do if ya woke up back in your own bed?

Hm...

[First thing when she woke up? She tilted her head, considering her answer.]

... I suppose I'd call my Grampa; just to inform him I'm alright. What about yourself?

[He rubbed the back of his head.]

Run downstairs and say hi to Ma.

[Then he grinned and looked back.]

...Probably demand she start teachin' me the way she dyes cloth. She always said I ain't 'ready', but I've fought aliens and have turned into a goddamn dragon-wolf!

I more than qualify!

Yes. You might be overqualified now...

[She laughed lightly and then looked on ahead. They weren't really on a trail it seemed, but she doubts they would get lost.]

... Do you think we might remember any of this?

[He wasn't in any hurry, it seemed, but had no real visual indication that he was lost. Either he wasn't paying attention, or just didn't need to.

With her question he turned his head. Souji had arrived recently and didn't remember anything about Prismatica. So it was entirely possible... yet-]

Honestly... I dunno. So I wrote a letter to myself, tucked away in my sewing kit.

[He smiled sheepishly.]

That's why, after checkin' on Ma downstairs, my next point on the list is 'take out phone, stop bein' a chickenshit and call Naoto'. If I remember everything, sure, that'll be easy.

If not...

[He looked ahead.]

Well, I just get to fall hard for ya all over again. ...Y'know, if... if you'd have me.

Hm... Very clever, Kanji-kun.

[Perhaps she would write a small note inside her notebook.]

[Quiet and listening along, she wondered. Would she have him? She'd be busy again, but if she didn't recall this place... It would've been a while since she'd heard from anyone again.]

... Perhaps add come meet me in the city. Or at least, be direct. I still can't believe I didn't notice.

[He laughed.]

I guess everybody was in on it but us! But you're right, lemme put 'Be Direct' and 'Go to the City' in big bold letters on the back of the letter when I get the chance.

That was my first time in the city, back then. Tatsumi Port Island is a close second. Ain't ever been anywhere super heavily lived-in since.

[He smiled at her.]

Show a country guy around, wouldja?

It seems that way.

[Why don't people make note of these things? She doesn't get it...]

Of course. I'll give you a tour.

Lookin' forward to it, Naoto.

[A tour through the city, bright lights and the hustle and bustle of people. Maybe he won't be stared at so strangely... he'd seen some interesting-looking people during his visit in passing. Folks may have thought he was born and raised, when deep down he wanted to sit at the flood plains and have a grilled steak.

Looking at the crystalline forest now, trees of so many shapes and sizes, Kanji wondered if they were always like this, or if something would have them change back to normal wood and leaves in time.]

...Hmmm... I might look for a little baby tree and take it home for a bonsai.

I'll try to figure out a way to avoid the worst of the crowds.

[She hummed, trying to think about the typical time schedules throughout the city. Depending when he visited, there might be more tourists. Perhaps he could find time after graduation and avoid summer time.]

[Inhaling, she slowly exhaled and pocketed her other hand.]

If that's possible. They might not allow that.

Wouldn't be surprised. I'm not up for bein' arrested for... poaching trees, or whatever.

[Is it poaching?? That involved killing, didn't it? Oh well. But as they walked, he took a breath and reached into his coat pocket. He'd been warned not to 'hem and haw' about this artifact, and hadn't they just been talking about him being more... forthcoming? He wasn't sure if that was the word, but-]

Uhm, so... hey, I- I got somethin' for ya, by the way. Sortuva pre-Firialia thing.

I'd help you out, but I'm not sure what I could do if they wanted to keep you for an evening still.

[They shouldn't be allowed to, but she couldn't be sure what they'd classify stealing a tree under. Depended if it was protected or not and if the rules had been posted somewhere quite visibly.]

Huh? You didn't have to.

[Heh, fair... if they wanted to hold him, what would a detective of a whole other planet's jurisdiction do? Still, it was sweet of her to offer, and he leaned to kiss her forehead.

He shrugged, then. The shopkeeper seemed to really want him to give this to her as soon as possible so as to not 'lose its chromatic effect', but after touching it and toying with it at home, he realized that wasn't the case.

Kanji turned to her and retrieved a small, velvet box from his coat. As he sank to a knee, he pried the box open and revealed a rather ornate ring dotted with small crystals that were, for the time being, dim. Once they sought a source of Chroma, they would give a soft gleam, and even shift in color.]

...Uhm... s-so...

[He was unusually calm about all of this.]

[She'd do her best, but it was a new world and, with all the places they ended up, changing laws. Still, she's happy to provide some reassurance that she wouldn't just be idle to him being arrested.]

[Tilting her head as she turned to face him, she noted his hand coming from his pocket. Her eyes were already growing seeing the box, but they were wide when he was down on a knee. Even she wasn't completely thick-headed to realize what this looked like, but here? Was this okay? He hadn't formally spoken to her Grandfather; and what about his mother. Shouldn't they have dinner together first?]

[... Wait, why was she suddenly traditional about this? But this was kind of a big deal. At least they were not in public; she would absolutely hate that. Now, if only she could get words out of her mouth despite her face taking a florescent shade of pink.]

P-Proposal...??

[She was turning bright pink. Okay, maybe she liked it. But the shopkeeper said to present it down on one knee to make it work, so... okay, he should just help her put it on, and-]

Pr-

[Proposal? Like a business proposal?]

Propo-

[His ears suddenly muted as his blood pressure spiked. Those years reading far too many shoujo manga in secret were suddenly bubbling up in his memory. Confessions, the sparkle of a gem, a young girl who tears up and declares 'yes!'

...He was gonna fuckin' kill the shopkeeper.

Kanji froze. Oh, no. Oh, shit. What does he do now? He can't just spout HAHAHA JUST JOKING and break this poor woman's heart! But this was too soon, too much, does- does he go through with it?

He felt dizzy. The forest was spinning, and he swayed where he knelt.]

I-I can explain...!!

[She almost doesn't hear the stutter because she's still bewildered, but when it clicked, she blinked. She mentally hoped he didn't think this was just how a person was expected to present a ring.]

[Who gave him that idea? Was it Yosuke? She wouldn't put it past him. Rise could've put him up to it too. One of his new friends? Did they know how Kanji took romantic advice??]

[But he said he could explain, but she doesn't think words would work fully . She opted to just nod silently and wait.]

[World... world, please stop swaying for a minute. He lowered his other knee and found balance, but later he'd find wet socks as well. He took a breath and explained, hoping he hadn't completely ruined everything.]

Th-the shopkeeper that pops up after the moons, he... he said to do as I did to make the rings work. They boost Chroma after m-moonlacing between people who wear the rings... I figure it'd- it'd help against everything wanting to steal our energy, r-right!? Maybe even mellow out the Iris part of ya if it gets to be too much!

[But his heart was pounding.]

I-I didn't mean to steer ya wrong, Naoto! I-it ain't that I don't wanna do- do, uh- d-do that, but it ain't like I've met your Gramps or we sat down with Ma or...!!

[Traditional, meet traditional. They were a pair of old souls.]

I wanna do it right!! But I think that Ware Wolf Shop guy was messin' with me...!