pishirogane | prismatica

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Hm...

[Taking a bowl for herself, she took a moment to swirl around the contents, scowling faintly.]

Not in all cases. Some people who have attempted to flirt with me in the past did not have those intentions.

[He nodded, jaw set. That's right! The number of letters she received, the whispers, the people who hung around waiting for the opportunity. How suffocating must that have been?]

Oh yeah, I remember that. It got bad sometimes.

[Suffocating indeed. Enough that he... But he paused, bit his lip, and decided to come clean.]

I'd sometimes jus' walk up n' say hi and people at school would haul ass outta there 'cause they were afraid of me.

That's... that was why. I kinda... did that on purpose.

It did... Perhaps if I gave them a chance, but people only ever approach me because they were interested in what I did and not me.

[She sighed; she wasn't a stepping stone for people.]

Hm... I thought it was an odd coincidence when you did that. I didn't say it then, but I appreciated when you interrupted.

[He nodded.]

Ain't a problem. A lotta those people were seriously over-the-top! Was it as bad in the city?

[He sat back and ate. He'd only briefly been in a big city and had gotten his fair share of looks and the occasional flirt- the latter of which he'd only realize later, same as ever- but to live in it day by day and be a face that'd be in magazines and on TV...]

I would say it's the same. Appearing on live television before was intentional; I try to avoid the media otherwise.

[A spoonful of soup and a light blow to cool it down, she sipped.]

When I came to Inaba back then, it was only through rumors that my presence was known until the interview. Meanwhile, I recall I formally introduced myself to everyone while investigating Rise-san.

[He remembered his heart racing even then, a tumultuous cloud of emotions boiling away in his head as he juggled having friends again, people who tolerated being around him... that was all before he still battled the way this mysterious 'boy' made his stomach twist into knots.]

...I'm sorry I was an awkward pile of crap. I mean, STILL AM! But... y'know...!

You don't have to apologize. If anything, I should. I did suddenly come upon you with little explanation as to why...

[She took another spoonful of soup, considering... but then...]

For as intimidating as you appear, reflecting on your reaction now, it was cute.

[That's soup down the windpipe. He masked the cough with his sleeve.]

C-... c-cute!?

[A rare word from her, but one of the best words he'd ever heard. The smile was incredibly touched.]

...I was cute?

[Aha, got the reaction she was hoping for.]

Quite. If only you could see yourself when you become flustered.

[Which means she would have to sneak a photo.]

[He raised his bowl of soup to cover his face.]

Y-you too, y'know...! You've got me beat, for sure!

Nooo... I'm sure you do.

[Like, right now. She even took the photo fast enough to show him hiding behind his bowl and completely flustered.]

Noooooo! Ahh, I guess I deserved that after the selfie, huh?

[He lowered the bowl and chuckled.]

Mhmhm... Yes.

[But he doesn't have to worry. This photo was for her.]

[He shook his head fondly and drained the rest of the bowl. It left him in a delightfully warm, buzzy sort of feeling right down to his toes. Kanji curiously looked the bowl over before he set it away.]

Hmh... whole lotta mirin in the stock, I think. Heads up. It feels like it's hitting. Tasty, though!

Mirin? Oh my... well, I suppose these are private rooms. I'm sure they expect people to...

[She trailed, not saying because they had already done that... ahem.]

'Course they do! Prismals. ...But I can handle some booze, so a little bit's no big bother.

[He took up chopsticks and a couple of plates.]

Fish time. S'good for keepin' alcohol at bay. I'll split it.

They could engage without alcohol... Perhaps there are other underlying issues...

[People were actually in love here, right? Not just in love with the idea of love? It was a concerning thought.]

... Yes, please.

[He neatly divvied it up, but found what she'd said to be curious as he handed her a plate and chopsticks.]

Get drunk enough and you're feelin' loose enough to try anything, y'think? Maybe that's why the prismals are so... like they are, but I don't usually smell alcohol on 'em. Mostly.

No... not that. I'm wondering if how genuine the feeling are affects Chroma production. Love and lust are two separate feelings after all... similarly, a want to do it versus a need to do it wouldn't make for a good experience either.

Ohhhh...

[He brought a hand to his chin.]

So it's less a lifestyle and more a kinda indulging thing just to make Chroma?

It makes me feel more sorry for 'em than I already do. Doin' it's so... personal. Turn it into a chore, and it just...

Possibly.

It loses the weight. It's similar to how violence over saturates our own world; it's terrible, but normal... expected despite attempted restraint.

[He sighed, a wordless agreement. He wasn't sure if he should pity the prismals, but he knew he no longer felt anger toward them. They fed him, gave him a roof over their heads, opened their city to him... if only the world could be opened further.

But three bites into his fish, Kanji paused. Mildly distracted, he had a faraway look as those gears were turning...]

Man, is it ...s'it hot in here?

[She was still slowly working on her soup so she had to send a questioning eye to Kanji.]

It doesn't feel like it. Perhaps you should remove your jacket?

Mmh... m-maybe.

[He shouldered it off and made short work of it. He usually got hot pretty easily, so it was likely finally feeling the after-effects of a quickie and being kind of caught.

But Kanji soon sighed and tugged the collar of his shirt.]

Y-ya think there's a thermostat for this place?

[She was confused. What suddenly had him overheated? Or perhaps the mirin was stronger than he anticipated? And if that was the case then oh no, she should stop eating the soup... but it might be too little too late.]

[Setting it down, the picked up a little fish.]

I can check.

[Or was it the fish? Something about that bite seemed off...]