realpolitik | Makoto Tachibana | Makoto Kikuchi

So do you always make him lunch?

[ ... Makoto what kind of amazing friend are you? ]

When I get the chance, sure. It isn't all too difficult to make one or three more lunches when I already have the ingredients out for my siblings'.

[downplay it like the mother hen you are.]

It can never hurt to do what you can, I figure.

[He's distracted by finally digging in himself, so he doesn't really notice that Makoto-chan seems to be the objects of some hushed whispering at the edge of the park.]

No, that's seriously amazing... I'm not much of a cook and I'm usually in such a hurry that I usually just end up buying at the convenience... store..

[ and here she trails off, because after months of increasing popularity among the female population, Makoto knows exactly how it feels to be under intense scrutiny.

Meaning she blanches and reaches to tug a hat down that... isn't there. Maybe if she ducks down, tries to make herself look smaller. Don't make eye contact, don't make eye contact... ]

[That's a shame, he can't help but think. After all, even Haru cooks his own dinners. A homemade meal can really boost your spirits--

At least, that's what he'd say, but he notices how she trails off, and it's a bit odd coming from such an exuberant girl.]

...Is something wrong?

[Unfortunately, he is not an idol and thus even less used to the scrutiny of intense fangirls. Forgive his naivete.]

J-just... um, actually, just continue eating! It's too good of a lunch to end so early, but in my case, I really shouldn't stay.

[ and she's still not quite looking at those girls, but they're definitely looking at her. And getting a little louder in confirming that yes, that boyish-looking person sitting with that other boy is most certainly famous. ]

[How odd--he'd been sure she was enjoying the lunch...

And then he figures it out. Or, well, less that he figures it out and more that it makes itself clear for him, as those girls, having decided this was definitely the famous idol, make a mad rush for them.

Oh dear.]

--!

[He's a bit too busy trying to save the food to be able to really contribute to the conversation now.

Oh god where did they all come from]

Wait a sec--!! H-hold on! I'm really honored that you're so excited, but you really shouldn't step on th--!

[ ... and that's all Makoto can really get out, before she's flat-out crowded and nearly bowled over by a shrieking mass of fangirly intent.

Having fans is a wonderful feeling for any idol, but when they're yelling things like "my darling prince!" and "oh, Makoto-kun, you're looking as boyishly cool as ever, please take a picture with me!" it isn't exactly heartening.

She at least manages to look over her shoulder to call (more like wail) ]

Makoto-kun, I'm sorry!! You should probably go where your food will be safe!

[Oh the fangirly intent. It is strong, with this one, and Makoto can't really think of any moment when he's seen so many fangirls in one place, doing their fangirl thing. And the subject of their fangirling...

Is their prince, Makoto-chan.

Something seems a little off about this picture. And they'd thought they had had it rough, but with only girly names but very definitely male appearances, it's clear that it's not so bad after all.

Still, he manages to gather up most of the food, if not in a very attractive mess of once quite pretty food now stuffed into the tupperwares. And then he stands up and--oh yes, he's very tall, at least there's that. So while he is polite as he carefully moves aside some of the fangirls to get back to Makoto's side, there's really not a lot you can do to deny a six foot swimmer when he wants to get somewhere.]

Excuse me.

[And yet, he's still polite enough--

Regardless, when he gets to Makoto, he has the container of food tucked under an arm and grins at her sheepishly. At least they're both in the thick of things now.

And to the screeching girls around them, though it might not do a whole lot of good:]

Do you mind? Only we were in the middle of something...

[ ... that's the distinct opposite of moving away, but while there's more than a little chagrin in Makoto's expression when she glaces his way, there's definite gratitude as well. How many guys (besides the Producer) would even try to brave the masses, just to try and settle things down? Women were scary creatures, after all.

... And ones clearly reluctant to listen, because once he speaks up, they're all giving him calculating looks with varying levels of interest and/or irritation.

And then come the offended noises and the protests of "A boy like you couldn't possibly understand Makoto-kun's charms!" and "Makoto-kun, don't tell me you're dating him?!" ]

Wh-- it's not like that at all! But he is right, so if you ladies could just-- waaah!

[ they could just bowl her over too, yes. ]

I-it's not like that at all!

[w-whoops. How awkward-- but when she is nearly bowled over, he does at least catch her under an arm.

Of course, Makoto-chan is short and Makoto-kun is freakishly tall, so by pulling her up he might temporarily pull her right off her feet, but hey, at least she's not falling, right--]

Makoto-chan was just kind enough to help me finish my lunch.

[Why are you still trying to reason with them, Makoto--]

[and then the flat look, and oh, there might be some hidden bite beneath the calmness of this Makoto, oops.]

Though it seems a little rude of you to say I can't understand her charms when you insist on acting like she's a guy.

[Just sayin', man.

This Makoto apparently missed the memo.]

[ yeah, leaving the ground temporarily is vastly preferable to tipping over completely. Truthfully, the more startling thing is what Makoto-kun says next.

Not that she can answer over the chorus of incensed yelling this seems to inspire among her fans, whether it's coming from a cute guy or not. So she has to wait a few minutes before she can raise her voice loud enough to be heard and not loud enough to disturb the... admittedly already disturbed peace of the park. ]

You know, princesses, I can't stand to see you all looking so upset over a friend of mine. But I also don't like my friend being insulted, either. So, while I appreciate all of your support, let's keep it positive, okay?

[ this at least manages to get them subside, somewhat sullenly, as she shoots Makoto an apologetic smile. ]

But right now, I've got to go work even harder to be worthy of such enthusiastic fans, so wish me luck!!

[ which basically means run, Makoto because she's already grasping his wrist and bolting. ]

[Makoto-chan really is good at this.

That's all he has the time to think before she's whipping out that line, grabbing his wrist, and running. So Makoto does all he can do, and follows, stumbling only out of surprise the first few steps and following quickly as soon as he has his feet under him again.

Thankfully, while running is not his sport of choices, they do run to stay in shape for swimming, so it isn't too difficult to keep up with her. (She really is very athletic, isn't she? If she went to their school, he'd ask her to join the swim team--)

But for now, with the container of food under one arm and the other wrist still held tightly by his new friend, Makoto says the obvious thing:]

I'm sorry for making more trouble for you!

[...or maybe that's kind of weird to say in the middle of something like this.]

No, that's... [ she says it automatically before she slows, giving her surroundings a quick once-over and deciding it's safe enough to release him. Her smile's a little pained, but that's nothing new. ]

I should be the one apologizing. This sort of thing kind of happens to me a lot, so I'm used to it, but your food got messed up, didn't it?

[ and there goes her smile as her shoulders slump. ] And you even got yelled at...

[Phew. He breathes out a sigh of relief at the apparent quiet--but then her smile fades away, and that's worrisome. She's been absolutely full of energy and spunk this whole time...

So what can he do but smile?]

We still got to eat most of it, so that's not so bad, unless you're still hungry. In which case, I'm sure it's still edible--

[and yeah he got yelled at but hey, it wasn't half as scary as Ama-chan at her worst... So he doesn't consider that too important. More important is if Makoto is still hungry, which is why he's smiling at her and offering the container of food that he salvaged.]

[ ... maybe it's just that Makoto, for all of her masculine traits, just doesn't understand boys. Or maybe it's just this boy in particular that has her confused. But she's pretty sure most boys wouldn't be smiling in a case like this. Or, in Hokuto's case, he would have been right in the thick of it, flirting away, but he was an idol too.

But here Makoto was, smiling. Was he just that kind of person?

She slowly shakes her head, gently nudging his hand back; anything left ought to be for him, since she'd done most of the eating anyway-- another reminder of her failing femininity (or some unknown resemblance to Takane). ]

I'm fine, but... you really don't have to force yourself! If you're mad or weirded out, that's perfectly understandable!

I can't imagine what I'd be mad about...

[He ponders this as he takes the food back, clasping the lid back over it and tucking it back under his arm again. And it's pretty obvious that he means that completely. He really can't think of what would make him angry in this sort of situation.

So he smiles and shrugs sheepishly, because--]

It isn't even the weirdest situation I've found myself in, so...really, it's fine. Don't worry too much about it.

[The only way to survive in Makoto's position is to adopt a live and let live attitude, honestly, but he doesn't find it's any hardship to reassure Makoto-chan. Her concern for him really is touching.]

Should I ask what the weirdest one was?

[ but she says it with a smile, almost helpless, because it's becoming apparent to her that yes, he really is a nice guy. ]

... But I really am sorry you had to get caught up in that. I'll wear a hat next time for sure!

[ next time, she says, like they're destined for another shenanigan-filled run-in. ]

Eheh...Probably not.

[We went to our old abandoned school to try to dig up a trophy we won when we were children but found our old friend there who had morphed into a jerk and Haru and he stripped--

...Probably not.

He does look interested at that, tilting his head a little.]

Does a hat really make that much of a difference?

If I keep my head down! For some reason, sometimes it can make things worse...

[...oh Makoto. He just sighs good-naturedly, smiling.]

I can imagine so. You have a lot of energy and spirit, so it's hard to imagine just a hat covering that up.

It's more the whole... boyish thing than anything. I'm pretty sure that's it.

...Why don't you dress girlier if you don't want people to mistake you as a boy?

[He can't help but ask, really.]

[ she at least tries to hold her smile for a little longer this time, though it inevitably slides in the direction of her gaze when she lowers it. ]

... My dad wanted a boy, so when I was born, he decided to do the next best thing and raised me like one. I'm not allowed to own skirts or dresses, unless I hide them really well, and because of the way I talk and act, I've wound up wearing the suits and the pants for every photoshoot. I'm the only girl during the talk shows with the male idols.

[ she pauses now, then scuffs one foot against the pavement. ]

It's not that I don't want to dress girlier, but even when I try, everyone just says it doesn't suit me at all. The fans, even my best friend... they prefer this.

... So at least like this, I'm making someone happy.

[...that...strikes him as very, very sad. So he smiles a little at her, if a little sad. He can't help but feel for her a bit, even if he doesn't know what it's like. It reminds him a little of Haru, honestly--giving up what you love for the sake of making everyone else happy...

That never ends good for anyone.]

But not yourself...

[And he laughs sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head.]

Hey...I might not know much about idoling, but surely when you're wearing something you really love, you shine even brighter?

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