pullmeoutalive | It never rains in California

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It never rains in California

[ the weather had been nice on her end, when her last job of the day had wrapped up. And Makoto still had a good chunk of day left over, so after a call home to let her mother know where she'd be, and a text to her fellow Makoto to make sure it was okay, she'd hopped the train.

... And then it had started to rain.

A lot.

Luckily, she has a baseball cap this time, which helps, although once she's off the platform (and subsequent bus) and out in the weather, there's little hope for the rest of her staying dry in this downpour. Then the question became... where was she even supposed to find Makoto? Swimming practice couldn't happen, unless they had an indoor pool... should she ask around town? Was it that tiny of one? Or maybe she should just cave and call him. ]

I probably should... this weather isn't exactly making it easy to spot anyone.

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[....oh. When she puts it like that... He gives her the most sheepish look but caves because he can't stand her looking so sad.]

...Alright, alright. If you insist. I'll bring you back a towel or two and pull out some clothes for you, okay?

[And he still feels terrible, making her wait, but...well, it's better for her to be wet and cheerful than dry and looking that sad, he thinks.]

[ and that's really all it takes. Makoto brightens instantly, giving him a victory sign. ]

Got it! Go get warm, Makoto-kun!

[ and in the meantime, she'll (surprisingly shyly) ask whoever's around for an extra towel for kitten drying. ]

[...he still feels guilty, but at least she's cheerful.

And it's probably the fastest shower of his life, though he does linger a bit to get warm. It only takes him five minutes though, and then he's scrambling to dry off and get dressed again, which takes another three. Thus he clatters downstairs around eight minutes after he ran up, hair damp but otherwise looking significantly dryer and less miserable.

And in his arms he has a big fluffy towel for Makoto to use and a big hoodie as well.]

Ah...here, Makoto-chan. Your turn to get warm.

[And he's going to just. Catch his breath.]

Did you run...?

[ seriously, how fast had he been going?

But she gets it, and he'd humored her, so she shifts to set the kitten down and takes the towel and the hoodie. With one this big, it should work. So with that in mind, she reaches up to touch his hair and gives him a quick smile. ]

Don't forget to towel off your hair, too. Okay?

[ and then she's off, bounding up the stairs. ]

[he couldn't help it, okay. But he just chuckles at that quietly, nodding.]

I will.

[He's touched by her concern and her insistent want to take care of him, odd as it is for him to experience, and so he can't help the smile that lingers even after she's gone.

Which is why he's cheerful and smiling even after he cleans up their dripped mess in the front area, before crouching in front of the kitten and shaking his head ruefully.]

What are we going to do with you?

[ good question. It's one Makoto's pondering too-- and she only takes seven minutes in the shower herself, because as much as she'd been determined not to show it, chilled skin and soaked hair weren't comfortable feelings.

She feels a lot better once she's out, though, and it shows.

... She's also kind of dwarfed in his hoodie, but considering that's all she has that's dry, it's probably a good thing that it's so large. And also a little embarrassing. ]

Thanks again, for letting me borrow everything. [ the grand appearance of Kikuchi Makoto, live and in your sweatshirt! ]

[He looks up from where he's been given the kitten a bowl of water and--momentarily has nothing to say.

The sight of Makoto standing there, dwarfed in his own hoodie is...kind of ridiculously adorable, and despite himself, he can't help that brief pause.

And then he blushes, both from the sight and because of that momentary lapse.]

It was no problem. [AHEM RIGHT] Thank you for helping me find the kitten. I'm sorry for dragging you around in the rain when you finally got to come visit.

[ the sight of his blush makes her blush, because apparently blushing is contagious when you're wearing someone else's shirt and he seems to be doing it at the very sight of you.

But blushing will eventually go away (she hopes), so she only smiles and trots closer until she can crouch (carefully) beside him. ]

The weather's hardly your fault! And I got to see Makoto-kun's cool side when he rescued a kitten, so I don't mind at all!

[This is such an awkward moment, both of them blushing at each other--

But at least her eternal cheer hasn't changed. He just smiles with a quiet 'heh', because oh wow he didn't think he had a cool side--]

Without your help, I wouldn't have been able to save him, so... I guess we can share that title.

[Of ~cool~

But right, more important things--]

Your clothes are in the dryer, so they should be dry in an hour or so. In the meantime, can I get you anything?

A tour! This is my first time seeing your house, after all!

[...how is she so cute.

And so he nods.]

Of course. Come this way, then--

[And he'll gesture to where they almost are already.]

Here we have the kitchen...And this way is the dining room.

[ she's not, this is natural energetic friend behavior, gosh Makoto!!

But she'll follow along amiably, after pausing to give the kitten a few swift pats. ]

There's... three kids total, right? I bet dinners get really lively.

[He chuckles, leading the way through the dining hall.]

They can be...thankfully, Ren and Ren listen pretty well, when they aren't bickering.

[He does love them, after all. And onwards through the house...! Parents and little kids' rooms and--]

And over here is my room.

[ ... oh. Makoto has read enough manga to know that going into a boy's room seems to be the Final Threshold, of sorts. But that was completely different when said boy was a friend, and was only showing her around, like she'd asked.

So she shouldn't be flustered at all! ]

Pardon the intrusion...

[ even though he's right here. ]

[And suddenly she's a bit less full of energy, and he's not sure what brought that on, but he does look at her curiously, pushing open the door.

Of course, his room is nothing special; it's pretty clean, with a few swimming medals of various sorts hanging around, along with some pictures of his friends. What there is, sitting there scattered along the floor, is his video games.

And he sighs.]

Really, now... they should at least pick up after themselves if they want to play...

[ it's hard to explain a maiden's heart to a boy, so she doesn't bother trying, instead giving the room an inquisitive examination. The medals are greeted with an impressed blink, the photos a softer smile.

The video games... ]

So you play them? That sounds like fun!

[He glances at her thoughtfully. He hadn't thought that there was really anyone who hadn't played a video game this day and age, but the way she says it--]

Ah, sometimes, yeah. My little siblings enjoy them too.

[...]

Do you not get to play video games?

I've done it a couple of times, with the twins-- ah, Futami Ami and Mami, they're idols too.

[ a pause, and then there's that it's embarrassing but what can you do smile. ]

But my dad doesn't think much of them and says they're not manly at all, so I don't play them at home. Even arcade games are kind of hard...

[....ah. That seems...a little sad.

But Makoto just gives her a smile, because she looks like she needs one.]

Well, if you want to play, I have them here...I don't know about what's manly or not, but at least they're fun...?

I don't care if they're manly or not! [ with a huff, because if anything can make her grumpy (besides Iori), it's just thinking of her dad. ] Like you said, if it's fun, it's fine!

[...aw. And he blinks at her, and then tilts his head.]

Do you want to play, then? We still have some time until everything is dry anyway.

... I might be really bad, though. But I think I'm a pretty fast learner, so if you're up to it--!

[ look at her, trying not to be too excited. ]

[He chuckles, nodding and moving to turn on the system.]

I'm more than happy to wait until you've learned how to play. I'm sure this'll be fun.

[He's not super competitive, okay, he knows how to deal with people who aren't great at playing.]

Of course!

[ and true to her word, Makoto will definitely be attentive. And at least she won't lose and/or die as much after several highly determined attempts. ]

[And she's definitely competing with him by the time they get into the game.

Makoto's not that competitive, but he has to try to win when he sees how determined she is.

So cue some very attentive playing...!]

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