Model Idol Combi: Hair

[jitensha]

[ it's rare that she can garner enough time away from a packed schedule and her own school hours to drop by Kaijou, but even if it's just a practice match, Makoto likes to faithfully attend what she can. She's always liked basketball, so growing closer to Kise had only made that fondness stronger. It's fun to watch them get into the game, and it's fun to lose herself cheering for them.

But it's warmer today than it's been all week, and with the hat crammed over her head to hide her identity (she so optimistically felt), it was doing little to cool her head off. Strands were starting to stick to her neck.

... In a sense, it's a happy realization, that her hair was growing longer by the day, but for now, it was a little bit troubling. Still, she waits until the court's cleared out, enough of Kise's squealing crowd dissipating to allow her to sweep her hat off and try to salvage her hair.

It's a shame she can't see what she's doing. ]

Comments

[jitensha]

--!

[ and here she was thinking (more like hoping) he'd forgotten it. Almost guiltily, her eyes slide away, and she won't even reach for the spoon yet. ]

You'll laugh.

[ex_doubly406]

Eh? Why? [He's trying to entice her with the spoon so that she'll look at him...] Makocchi, I promise I won't laugh! Please?

[jitensha]

[ she remains stubbornly sequestered in her seat-- for a few more minutes, and then her gaze shifts, down to her lap. ]

It's really nothing... [ but it's a weak attempt at pacifying the situation, and she knows it. ] It was just, when you were talking about me being on your mind for a year, instead of just a week, like usual...

I don't know, I-- [ there's a helpless laugh now. ] I just got sad just thinking about if I didn't see you for a whole year! I took it too seriously, that's all.

[ex_doubly406]

[Oh.

Unsure, he sets aside the spoon for now, ice cream the last thing on his mind. He hadn't meant anything by it when he'd said it, but he should've realized that she'd take it seriously.

She took a lot of things seriously.

Mustering up what he hopes is a comforting expression, his hand inches across the table searching for Makoto's hand to hold.]

I wouldn't have laughed at that. Actually, I'm really touched you'd miss me so much.

[jitensha]

[ it's the touch of his hand that finally lifts her gaze, and

Oh.

He really isn't laughing.

She musters a nod, wraps her fingers around his for a better hold, and this is still kind of embarrassing, but if it's not bothering him, she thinks maybe this is okay. ]

Of course I would. A year's a long time.

[ex_doubly406]

[He doesn't even need to think about his hand curling around hers.]

Well, I can't disagree, a lot happens in one year. But we'd get through it if we had to!

[He gives her a bright smile, optimistic and cheerful as always.]

[jitensha]

[ that smile always gets to her, tugging an answering one out before she even realizes it. Odd, that there'd been a time when she hadn't even known if he'd want to see her again. ]

Right! I think we're both pretty good at persevering!

[ex_doubly406]

Right? [He gives her hand a squeeze.] So there's no question who'll win out.

[jitensha]

... Thanks, Ryota-kun. [ Makoto still looks sheepish, but that faintly worried cloud from earlier is long gone. ] It might have been stupid to worry about it in the first place, but I'm glad you listened.

[ex_doubly406]

It's what a good boyfriend does! [She looks much better, so obviously this is a good place for a subject change.] Ah, our ice cream's melting, what a waste.

[jitensha]

-- Aaah!! I totally forgot!

[ ICE CREAM SALVATION GOOOO. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[He immediately scoops up a big spoonful for her.]

It's not completely gone, here!

[jitensha]

Did you get enough? You hardly touched it...

[ as she accepts it anyway. ]

[ex_doubly406]

Yep, I'm already full from the okonomiyaki.

[Really, he's not hungry. Also it's more fun to see her enjoying it so much.]

[jitensha]

If you're sure...

[ but she scrapes the remnants of the ice cream, that which hasn't quite melted, and holds out the spoon anyway. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[It'd be more troublesome to reject it, so he takes the spoon with a thanks.

Though swallowing, he realizes that this means their date is over now.]

... Makocchi, did you have fun?

[jitensha]

[ where did that-- oh. ]

I had a lot of fun! It was a lot more than I expected, so I'm really grateful for it.

[ex_doubly406]

I see.

[And that's all he wanted to hear. It's simple and plain, but it feels better than long-winded gushing about how amazing it was.]

That's good, then my plan was a success! I guess this should last us for a week, but don't you think it's still way too long? So make sure you text me, okay?

[jitensha]

You've got it!

[ and she salutes, flashing him a grin. ] But don't forget to text me back when you've got the time!

[ex_doubly406]

Who do you think you're talking to? I'll even text you during practice!

[jitensha]

Kasamatsu-san might not like that.

[ex_doubly406]

Only during breaks, I do work hard you know.

[At least he's not talking about how he misses all her calls when he's playing basketball.]

[jitensha]

I know! It's really admirable!

[ stop being so earnest, Makoto.

Not like she minds, since she can usually figure out when he's busy. ]

[ex_doubly406]

[It's when she's really earnest that she gets him though. Like right now.

Though it's not from his team, it's still nice to hear.]

Thanks. Well, come watch us when you can, Makocchi. We'll win the whole thing this year.

[jitensha]

I'd like to make it to everything, but the work's been piling up lately... I'll definitely come to as many matches as I can, though! Even if I'm a little late!!

[ don't think she won't. ]