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]

[ Kikuchi Makoto, the girliest of girls. ]

-- H-huh? [ wait weren't they talking about basketball? Nice, safe, non-flustering-- ]

[ex_doubly406]

It's what I think every time I watch a match, so that has to mean we're connected somehow, right?

[It means you're a basketball idiot Kise. He's even winking, someone please stop him from being so embarrassing.]

[jitensha]

Ah, like a fated feeling?? We did kind of end up connecting better that way!

[ NO GUYS IT'S BECAUSE YOU LIKE BASKETBALL. ]

[ex_doubly406]

I think so too, and... What do they call it... Ah, like fate strings, except this one is orange!

[THIS IDIOT.]

[jitensha]

I'd be okay if it was a little bit red...

[ex_doubly406]

[... Oh.]

Orange's not too far off from red.

[jitensha]

It's the next one before red, I guess.

[ex_doubly406]

That, and I think I like the orange ones better than the red ones.

[Kise what are you saying to the girl you're dating.]

[jitensha]

[ oh, Kise, sometimes you still hurt. ]

Well, you really love basketball, so I'm not surprised! [ half the time she's still trying to grasp the fact that he asked her out regardless, especially after everything. ]

[ex_doubly406]

You think so?

[Sorry he's still in the phase where he doesn't even know just how much he likes it.]

But I think basketball strings are better because I got to get to know you, and meet people like Kurokocchi and Aominecchi.

[jitensha]

[ she smiles, tilting her chin up to look at the ceiling. ]

Maybe it's just me, but you can really come to love something when it means you've met some important people to you-- like Tetsuya and Daiki. [ so informal, Makoto. ] And your team's probably a part of it, too. Every time I watch you guys, I get to see you fighting hard and it really looks like it's everything at that moment. At the very least, you throw yourself into it.

Which is good! I never thought about fated strings being orange before, but if it's you, doesn't it make sense?

1/2

[ex_doubly406]

[As usual, she surprises him once again. Though, maybe he likes that part of her too.]

You're really something, Makocchi; that just makes me want to try harder. [He pauses, smiling a little.] If that's how it looks to everyone else, I'm kind of glad.

[Resting his head on his hand he looks out the window, eyes starting to settle into something far off.] I wonder if there's a court near here...

[ex_doubly406]

But before that, when did you get so close to Kurokocchi and Aominecchi? Did you leave me out and go hang out with them?

[jitensha]

[ she watches him with a fond smile, though she snaps to attention when he speaks up again. ]

I wouldn't do that! I've run into them a few times in that area, but...

[ex_doubly406]

In the area, huh. That has a nice ring to it.

[...]

I want to be in the area too!

[SOB SOB though he probably goes over to 765 Pro way too much as it is.]

[jitensha]

But you're at a really good school! And I'm sure no one minds visiting you!

[ and she definitely doesn't mind the trip. ]

[ex_doubly406]

You're the only one who visits me though.

[jitensha]

-- Really??

[ but wait isn't he always acting so eager and puppy-like with Kuroko and-- ]

[ex_doubly406]

[It's exactly because he acts all eager and puppy-like that no one visits him-- I mean]

You didn't know? I take the train after school to visit them.

[jitensha]

I guess as long as you're seeing each other...

[ she looks a little unhappy, though. Why wouldn't they come see him? ]

[ex_doubly406]

[Because he's annoying Oh Makoto, don't look sad he can take care of himself!]

Aaaah, you don't need to make that face, it's because I make time for it! Uh, that's right, I never told you about last time I went to Seirin, did I? There was a poster of Ryuuguu Komachi at Maji Burger, and--

[He's trying very hard to distract her...]

1/2

[jitensha]

[ ... yes, he is, and maybe for once, she knows what he's doing, but he's trying so hard, so she can try too!! ]

...

[ after she plays with his hand a little. ]

Even if I'm the only one, I'll still be there.

[jitensha]

But Iori'll be happy to hear about that poster! I mean, they're incredibly popular anyway, but--

[ex_doubly406]

[He looks down, mild confusion settling over his features as he looks down at her fingers locking into his. She doesn't need to comfort him over something like this; he likes going over.

But she's as nice as ever, and he can't let that go without something for her to take back.]

That's Makocchi for you. [He brings her hand up to his lips, though he stops short of kissing it.] You can tell Iori-chan that she looked cute for me. Ami-chan too, and let Azusa-san know she doesn't need to go on a diet.

[With the way he's looking at her you'd think he was telling her all about how lovely she is, not asking her to tell other girls how good they look.]

[jitensha]

[ and it probably says something that Makoto is so very accustomed to hearing about how pretty and adorable the other idols look - when she's not assuring them herself - that she doesn't even appear to be bothered by the request.

They're her friends, after all. Even though she'd like to reach their popularity one day, she still wants the best for them, so she nods and offers her brightest smile. She at least gets to enjoy Kise's expression. ]

You can count on me! Hearing they've got Ryota-kun supporting them should be great news.