[Listen... sometimes you're just minding your own business, living your best (second) life, when it slams into you from out of nowhere that you have this big, huge crush on your teammate.
(It's not out of nowhere, he knows. It's... Ritsuka, and her bright grins, the way she teases but with affection, the way it feels like she sees right through him...)
Minato isn't terribly used to being the one to confess first. A privilege (citation needed) of being so passive previously, before he learned to start really wanting things for himself is that things just sort of happened to him, rather than him driving things. Maybe... that makes this all the more meaningful. Maybe that's why he has to say something. For one of the first times, he really and truly wants something for himself.
Even if Ritsuka isn't interested and turns him down, he's still grateful to her for inspiring that in him. And so he finds himself looking for her, poking around the common area and any of her usual haunts hopefully.]
[ Of course she's in the kitchen. Ritsuka still isn't much for cooking, unless someone (usually Minato, let's be honest, because she acquiesces to him more than anyone else on the team) asks, but she is a master (ha!) of snack plates. She is in the middle of composing one when he wanders in, and she immediately looks up, flashing him a smile. ]
Minato-kun, hi. Want some?
[ It's cheese and apples. She is cutting them into bunny slices. ]
[ Listen................ that is a tried and true way of dealing with things. Ritsuka would also be stalling if she thought she had any chance in confessing anything, but she has ruled it out as a possibility, and so is just trying to do her best with what she has. ]
Lucky for you, they're easy to make! So if you want more, I'll make more.
[That, too, is something that just kind of makes his heart do small little flipflops... he shouldn't be surprised, he supposes, but--he's really, really weak to Ritsuka's easy generosity, and the way that she's always so willing to do things for him.
He's quiet for a moment longer, finishing off his apple slice, before he just smiles a little to himself, dipping his head.]
... Thanks. I appreciate that.
[A beat. Stop stalling, Minato.]
Actually, I was looking for you in particular. Do you have a minute?
I'm starting to realize that I'm... really, really bad at this...? But, um... listen...
... I'm not really expecting anything in particular. I guess I just--wanted to say that up front. Because I know that our circumstances are really complicated and, um...
[Most people don't want to date someone who's already dead?! On top of all of what Ritsuka's been going through...!]
... Anyway. I... really like you a lot. I just--wanted to...tell you, I guess...?
[Has he succeeded at "worst confession scene" yet?]
[ He. HE MEANS AS FRIENDS, RIGHT, THAT IS WHAT HE MEANS, RIGHT, FRIENDS, AND JUST FRI
Unfortunately for the both of them in this moment, the person that she point-blank told that she was stupid about this kind of thing, self-trained into a willful sort of blindness even when it's blatantly in her face. She knows what she would like him to mean, but it's not that, right? He's just being a nice friend because he knows she's been having a hard time, right?! ]
She has told many people she has no poker face, and it's evident here too, as she goes from confused to thoughtful to shocked, and it's a good thing that she isn't actually holding anything right now, because that would have gone crashing straight to the floor.
[ Sorry, Minato, you did not ask for or probably expect this, but she slumps onto the counter, burying her face in her hands, and makes a long, high-pitched noise before she thunks her forehead against the counter. ]
Minato-kun... if this is just a dare or something, I'm gonna... I'm gonna be SO mad at you. So mad. I will kick your ass.
[ What is more unbelievable, right now? The fact that this confession happened, or that Minato would be playing a practical joke? Neither seem at all plausible, and yet! Here they are!! ]
[Oh jeeze. It's not like he was expecting her reaction to be great or anything, considering the stress she's been under, but this is... this is worse than he anticipated, and he winces a little when her forehead thunks against that solid surface.
Her distress helps kind of... steady him emotionally, honestly; all of his nerves and worries and concerns end up compartmentalized in favor of his concern for her instead, and he reaches over to tentatively rest a hand on her shoulder.]
Ritsuka... You know I'd never do that. I'm being completely honest.
[... Should he tell her all the ways he likes her? He could. They'd be here awhile though and that might be overdoing it for her.
Should he... give her some space?]
... Sorry, I don't have a lot of experience with this sort of thing. Is... there anything I can do to make you feel better...?
I don't either?! I don't know how you're supposed to--
[ That's the thing, isn't it? Most people, Ritsuka could dismiss a confession like that as--the heat of the moment, confusion, distraction, projection, any number of things. But the thing with Minato is that she does trust him to be honest with her; no matter how wildly unrealistic it is to hear him say that, she has almost no choice but to believe in.
That doesn't actually make processing it any easier. ]
--this sort of thing doesn't happen to me?
[ ...well, sometimes you just have to cope by whining. No one says these things to Ritsuka! She's not that kind of girl! All that internal small bird screaming is just intensifying inside of her right now. ]
[ But it's still whiny, because sometimes you have to be dragged kicking and screaming into nice things. Even things that you like, that you wrote off long ago as impossibilities.
When he settles next to her, though, she twists, contorting enough to press her head against his side. Ahhhhhhhhh, ]
I never get the things I really want. So obviously, something like this isn't happening, and I'm going to wake up and have to go outside to either punch something or drown myself in the ocean.
[And he wraps an arm around her shoulders willingly, comfortably holding her close. If Ritsuka isn't going to flee, and if she's grumbling things like "the things I really want", then... it's probably fine? She's probably not going to be like "please get out, I don't ever want to talk to you again" (not that she ever would've).]
Please don't do either of those things. It's not a dream, but even so, I'd really rather you not. Especially the drowning in the ocean bit.
There's lots of other stuff I'd rather do, given the choice.
[ She freezes up for a second, then just leans into it without any other protest. Regardless of anything else, Ritsuka is a person who likes physical contact, even when it usually surprises me. A few more seconds, and she lifts her head enough to peer up at him. ]
...it feels like dreaming, though.
[ Her voice is small, and after another pause, she goes on: ]
[It's comfortable like this, he can't help but think--comfortable, and something he'd like to do so much more in the future, given the choice. The way that she freezes up and then settles into it only convinces him more.
He wants to be able to reassure her, until she no longer feels that way when being close and leaning against him.]
I really, really do.
I really like you, Fujimaru Ritsuka. In a romantic way, not just a friendship way.
[ She's whining now, but it's partly performative as she thunks her forehead against his shoulder. This is unfair? This is unfair!! She's always been the one who has gotten away with being the overly sincere one--it's weird and unfair that it gets turned on her. Someone arrest this man right away. ]
How do you just say things like that...
[ But even as she's complaining, she crowds a little closer, one arm tentatively winding around his waist in turn. She's gonna do it, she's gonna hug a boy and it will actually Mean Something. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. ]
Minato patiently allows her to initiate, but once it's clear she's going in for the hug, he'll properly wrap his other arm around her for a good and proper hug.
And he has to chuckle at that, soft and a little breathless, as if he also can't believe how this is turning out.]
I have to... you wouldn't understand me otherwise, right...?
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realpolitik2022-07-31 01:53 pm
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(It's not out of nowhere, he knows. It's... Ritsuka, and her bright grins, the way she teases but with affection, the way it feels like she sees right through him...)
Minato isn't terribly used to being the one to confess first. A privilege (citation needed) of being so passive previously, before he learned to start really wanting things for himself is that things just sort of happened to him, rather than him driving things. Maybe... that makes this all the more meaningful. Maybe that's why he has to say something. For one of the first times, he really and truly wants something for himself.
Even if Ritsuka isn't interested and turns him down, he's still grateful to her for inspiring that in him. And so he finds himself looking for her, poking around the common area and any of her usual haunts hopefully.]
Ritsuka...?
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Minato-kun, hi. Want some?
[ It's cheese and apples. She is cutting them into bunny slices. ]
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Anyway, Minato is immediately derailed from what he was coming here to ask in favor of the cute bunny apples.]
Oh... yeah, if you don't mind me stealing some of your snacks. They're super cute.
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[ She nudges the plate over to him, beaming. ]
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[ALMOST. But not quite because Minato will eat anything at any time.
So he contentedly steals some of the apples to crunch through. It's so peaceful he doesn't want to interrupt yet.
(Or maybe he's just stalling.)]
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Lucky for you, they're easy to make! So if you want more, I'll make more.
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He's quiet for a moment longer, finishing off his apple slice, before he just smiles a little to himself, dipping his head.]
... Thanks. I appreciate that.
[A beat. Stop stalling, Minato.]
Actually, I was looking for you in particular. Do you have a minute?
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[ She blinks at that, putting down the paring knife she'd been using. ]
For you, always. What's up?
1/3
Well... you see, it's just...
2/3
"I'm super, duper into you!"--that's the most OOC dialogue option choice he has from the list!
"Hey I know you've been going through a lot of stuff but how about a date?"--fingerguns required, and it's still terrible.
......... hm. He's really bad at this.]
3/3
I'm starting to realize that I'm... really, really bad at this...? But, um... listen...
... I'm not really expecting anything in particular. I guess I just--wanted to say that up front. Because I know that our circumstances are really complicated and, um...
[Most people don't want to date someone who's already dead?! On top of all of what Ritsuka's been going through...!]
... Anyway. I... really like you a lot. I just--wanted to...tell you, I guess...?
[Has he succeeded at "worst confession scene" yet?]
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I like you too??
[ He. HE MEANS AS FRIENDS, RIGHT, THAT IS WHAT HE MEANS, RIGHT, FRIENDS, AND JUST FRI
Unfortunately for the both of them in this moment, the person that she point-blank told that she was stupid about this kind of thing, self-trained into a willful sort of blindness even when it's blatantly in her face. She knows what she would like him to mean, but it's not that, right? He's just being a nice friend because he knows she's been having a hard time, right?! ]
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He blinks. And then... he snorts quietly, covering up the noise with a hand.]
I--yeah, I should've seen that coming. I absolutely should've known better.
[He's relaxed a little now, though. Thank you for fixing the mood, Ritsuka.]
I meant... more than just as friends. It's okay if you don't feel the same. I just wanted to be honest with you.
1/3
[ Please hold, that little hamster wheel in her brain is turning, turning, turning-- ]
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She has told many people she has no poker face, and it's evident here too, as she goes from confused to thoughtful to shocked, and it's a good thing that she isn't actually holding anything right now, because that would have gone crashing straight to the floor.
? ?? ??? ???? ]
DONE
Minato-kun... if this is just a dare or something, I'm gonna... I'm gonna be SO mad at you. So mad. I will kick your ass.
[ What is more unbelievable, right now? The fact that this confession happened, or that Minato would be playing a practical joke? Neither seem at all plausible, and yet! Here they are!! ]
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Her distress helps kind of... steady him emotionally, honestly; all of his nerves and worries and concerns end up compartmentalized in favor of his concern for her instead, and he reaches over to tentatively rest a hand on her shoulder.]
Ritsuka... You know I'd never do that. I'm being completely honest.
[... Should he tell her all the ways he likes her? He could. They'd be here awhile though and that might be overdoing it for her.
Should he... give her some space?]
... Sorry, I don't have a lot of experience with this sort of thing. Is... there anything I can do to make you feel better...?
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[ That's the thing, isn't it? Most people, Ritsuka could dismiss a confession like that as--the heat of the moment, confusion, distraction, projection, any number of things. But the thing with Minato is that she does trust him to be honest with her; no matter how wildly unrealistic it is to hear him say that, she has almost no choice but to believe in.
That doesn't actually make processing it any easier. ]
--this sort of thing doesn't happen to me?
[ ...well, sometimes you just have to cope by whining. No one says these things to Ritsuka! She's not that kind of girl! All that internal small bird screaming is just intensifying inside of her right now. ]
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His expression softens at that, and he leans against the counter next to her, just... smiling a little to himself.]
This sort of thing... right here, right now... it's only happening because it's you. That's how I feel.
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[ But it's still whiny, because sometimes you have to be dragged kicking and screaming into nice things. Even things that you like, that you wrote off long ago as impossibilities.
When he settles next to her, though, she twists, contorting enough to press her head against his side. Ahhhhhhhhh, ]
I never get the things I really want. So obviously, something like this isn't happening, and I'm going to wake up and have to go outside to either punch something or drown myself in the ocean.
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Please don't do either of those things. It's not a dream, but even so, I'd really rather you not. Especially the drowning in the ocean bit.
There's lots of other stuff I'd rather do, given the choice.
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...it feels like dreaming, though.
[ Her voice is small, and after another pause, she goes on: ]
Do you really...?
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He wants to be able to reassure her, until she no longer feels that way when being close and leaning against him.]
I really, really do.
I really like you, Fujimaru Ritsuka. In a romantic way, not just a friendship way.
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[ She's whining now, but it's partly performative as she thunks her forehead against his shoulder. This is unfair? This is unfair!! She's always been the one who has gotten away with being the overly sincere one--it's weird and unfair that it gets turned on her. Someone arrest this man right away. ]
How do you just say things like that...
[ But even as she's complaining, she crowds a little closer, one arm tentatively winding around his waist in turn. She's gonna do it, she's gonna hug a boy and it will actually Mean Something. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. ]
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Minato patiently allows her to initiate, but once it's clear she's going in for the hug, he'll properly wrap his other arm around her for a good and proper hug.
And he has to chuckle at that, soft and a little breathless, as if he also can't believe how this is turning out.]
I have to... you wouldn't understand me otherwise, right...?
[He teases very gently!!]
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guess who lost this notif
let's blame dw
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