getting_better

[ That's a long story he doesn't think makes easy conversation. ]

Uhhh the short version is, my team was disavowed by my government and they condemned us as criminals so we ran and hid.

[ 'Me being the more wanted one since I know stuff' Too much stuff even by CIA standards. ]

[They really do have a lot in common, huh...]

...Yeah, that's... kind of what happened to us, too. Except we didn't really run, we made a video and called them all out and told them to bring it. Ah, but with our faces blurred out though. I mean, getting to return to being a civilian afterwards would be nice.

[If that asshole Gilliam doesn't mess it all up with his giant eyebrows and his hair that never fits in the frame, that is.]

[ Small world. ]

That was a good idea.

[ Then something just occurred to him. The Japanese government found him the moment he rolled into Tokyo seven odd years ago, but the US never so much as even sent a scout to confirm his sighting. He knows they have spies in Japan, he's not a greenhorn, so why didn't they find him? 'Something to ponder later' he thinks. ]

I take it your friend Kaoru is also of the same situation? [ A beat. ] Actually, what's her full name? I met a Kaoru here on the same day I met you, and I'm wondering if it's just a coincidence.

[Shiho had known through his own admission that he was definitely well-traveled but a part of her had never thought that it could be because he was running away. Still... she couldn't help but think that perhaps his world isn't dissimilar to hers. Many governments had all been bought at this point by Black Phantom and Gilliam and even before then there was always at least one person willing to do terrible things in the name of "the greater good" whether it was using cloned child espers as soldiers, or eliminating a powerful esper if they so much as suspected they could defect to another country. But that's something to think of later, especially because she was supposed to be on a date.]

We left together with Aoi-chan. [Because there's no way any one out of the three of them would leave the others behind.] ...And you probably have. She's about my age, has bright red hair. Her full name is Kaoru Akashi.

[ 'Ah' ]

So it was her.

[ Very small world. ]

Akashi-san...She has a very bold personality, huh?

[ He says with funny and slightly embarrassed smile as he recalls how they first met. ]

She certainly knows how to leave an impression.

[That's usually the kind of impression Kaoru leaves on people and Shiho is laughing when she sees it.]

That's one way of putting it. Kaoru-chan is a force of nature.

[But her expression is fond as she says it because no matter how embarrassing and silly Kaoru may be, Shiho loves her all the same.]

A 'force of nature' she says.

[ Unforgettable and impactful. She's not wrong in that sense. And then he remembered how friends tend to influence each other if they've been around each other long enough, and given she's known her for a very long time- ]

You, uhhh, you aren't going to suddenly hold my arm and say you're robbing me or something like that, right?

[ He actually won't mind, honestly, but how is supposed to answer if she asked him to leave his wallet or dignity, or worse? ]

Am I?

[She... reaches out to hold his arm then, gazing up at him with cheerful mischief... before she bursts out into laughter.]

Hm, but that's not my role in our friend group, so: no.

[Kaoru is the one who says "your wallet or your dignity", Shiho is the one who says "wallet! Take his wallet!" and Aoi would say "dignity can't be exchanged for cold, hard cash".]

Oh. That's great.

[ There's light playful sarcasm in his voice. The implication of her words don't escape him. She has a role in that, what it is he'll maybe find out one day. Good thing he has a secret weapon. He doesn't carry a wallet. ]

Good to know you two have your roles all figured out.

[Shiho can't help laughing when he says that, burying her face against his shoulder for a moment before looking up at him.]

Of course. We've known each other for so many years so we've got practice. [And it's very hard to deny them, especially when all three of them were together.]

But~ I'll protect you. So it'll be fine.

Edited 2020-06-21 03:20 (UTC)

[ That laughter is best song he's heard in a while. ]|

Will you now? I feel safer already.

[ It looks like there'll never be a dull moment with her if she can gags like that. ]

Tell me, will the protecting start before or after you girls have taken my wallet?

[ He can play that game too though. ]

Hm, well... you don't carry a wallet though, do you?

[Besides, Kaoru and Aoi would never hurt him so there really doesn't need to be much protecting in the first place?]

That...well, no not anymore.

[ He lost it in the flood. ]

Does that mean the joke would be on you girls since I don't have a wallet?

[ He is, however, already on her 'prank back' list so. ]

I could find it for you, if you want. [And she probably could, she's good at this type of thing thanks to her psychometry.]

Then after I do, we could try it all again~

[Then he'd definitely, definitely want to protect it, right?]

[ Hold up. ]

Hold on. So you're telling me you'll go look for my missing wallet, return it to me, then proceed to rob me all for the sake of a gag?

[ . . . ]

Your dedication to this joke is astounding.

[ Damn and he thought he was dedicated to silly jokes. He better up his game. ]

[That earns him a bright peal of laughter at the very idea that Shiho "I'm sleeping in until 12pm" Sannomiya could be that dedicated to a joke.]

Well, that and I thought you'd want it back?

Well, ain't that's sweet of you.

[ But the wallet just contained a few crumpled yen, some fake ID's, an expired gym membership card, and ice cream parlor stamp card with eight stamps. Two more visits and he gets a free scoop.

So nothing of value really outside of the stamp card.

All of his money are in offshore accounts and lifetime storage vaults all across his world under fake names with expansive profiles. He could buy five star hotel and still have enough money to rent out a whole ski resort. The perks of being a government black ops agent, too bad he's a criminal. ]

Hey, I'm plenty sweet when it's for someone I want to be sweet towards.

[And that definitely includes him. Hope he enjoys getting that ice cream parlor stamp card back, then!

Her own money is stored in a trust by the government... probably no longer accessible now that she's a criminal but then again it wasn't difficult for a psychometer to make more money.]

Oh? Then I must be really lucky then.

[ This is nice. A beautiful girl on his arm, making jokes while strolling through the woods. He knows there'll be many more times like this but it still feels a little unbelievable. But there she is, her smile and voice, her eyes reminding him that this wasn't a dream. It makes him smile, it makes him laugh like a child. ]

Sorry, I didn't mean to laugh. I just...heh! I can't stop for some reason.

Of course~

[But she's also lucky too, to have him smiling with her, letting her hold onto his arm. And he's happy about it, that bubble of happiness so infectious that she can't help laughing too.]

Because you're happy, right? It's okay to laugh when you're happy. I like it.

Thanks for the assurance!

[ It's a fantastic feeling but one he knows he'll get used to with time, only because he knows that things between them will also get better. ]

Actually, my face is starting to cramp a little from all this smiling. Not that I can really stop it though!

[ He says with a small laugh as he rubs his cheek. ]

[She's giggling again, curling her arm just a bit tighter around his.]

Oh no~ Should I massage it for you?

[Her free hand comes up to rub at the side of his cheek, as if that would actually help and isn't just because she wants to touch him.]

O-Oi!

[ He's laughing even as one side of his face gets pushed in. ]

Y-You just want to push my cheek in, don't you?

[ It's silly, childish, and just what he needs more of in his life. ]

Nope, I just wanted to touch you.

[She laughs, then gently lets go to lean up and press a kiss to his cheek instead.]

Did it work?

[ He took a breath and blushed. Jeez, this girl is too cute. ]

...Maybe.

[ Yes it did. His face muscles are still straining from smiling but he's forgotten about it because of that kiss. He might be egging her on for another.]

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