pullmeoutalive | I disturb my town;

[ she misses the question, but from the panicked look on his face, it's about time to intervene--

Which is why she grabs his hand and tows him towards the door, calling over her shoulder ]

We'll be right back, but I think he needs some air!

[ and the roof happens to have plenty of that. ]

Look after the twins for just a few minutes, okay?

[ she'll apologize for dragging him out later. ]

[It's such a relief to be out of there and no longer being interrogated that it takes Makoto a moment to realize that Makoto-chan has him by the hand and now that he's realized just how hard he's fallen that's...

Well, it's hard to not blush a little.

Thankfully, by the time they do make it to the roof, he's calmed himself down quite a bit, though he still looks a little frazzled.

That's a lot for a guy to realize, okay.]

[ he's redder than usual, and he still doesn't look as though he's his usual gently composed self. She releases his hand, only to continue staring up at him with a whole lot of concern darkening her eyes. ]

I'm sorry... they can get a little overwhelming, especially if you're still not feeling well. Is your cold still sticking around?

Ah, no, I'm fine.

[He rubs the back of his head, and he thinks he's probably never been so sheepish in his life, but well...]

They certainly are a lively bunch.

They're always like that, especially around someone new. But you're a great guy, so I'm sure they'll all love you!

[ even Yukiho. ]

...You really think so...?

[...she certainly isn't making this easy on him, is she...

But ultimately, he thinks...it'd probably be best for him to be honest. At least so she understands--because he just can't be duplicitous, especially not to her.]

...They asked me if I was your boyfriend. And I...really didn't want to say 'no', honestly, but I'm aware that could make some trouble for you, so I'll go clear things up with them right away if you want me to.

[Makoto that's the worst semi-confession in the history of confessions. I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE TROUBLE FOR YOU BUT I LIKE YOU.]

I'm sorry they were--

[ she starts automatically, but then he continues, and she's left standing there, mouth dropping open and staying there for a few very long seconds. ]

[ this wasn't how romantic confessions were supposed to go, were they? He'd said it so softly and naturally, but typically, wasn't it supposed to be a grand affair with sparkles and bubbles and flowers and the heroine should have been expecting it, or at least overjoyed that her feelings had been returned. But about Makoto, did she...?

But the longer she thinks about it, the more she realizes: those romantic moments and heart-pounding points of intimacy she should have experienced, hadn't those actually sort of happened? But she hadn't taken them into enough consideration, because ultimately, no matter what had happened with Makoto, it had still felt natural. It explains the happiness that had welled up whenever she'd gotten to see or talk to him, how inexplicably alarmed she'd been when she'd heard he was sick and how she'd left without a second thought just to help him. Typical things for a friend to do, and Makoto cherished all of her friends, but there had been another layer to it that she hadn't thought to examine, for all of her dreaming.

He was amazing. And she'd fallen for him without even realizing it. ]

[ and finally, softly-- ]

I'm... not exactly princess material, Makoto-kun. You know that, right?

[ I'm not the ideal but you really want someone like me? goes unsaid. ]

[He responds automatically, because more important than anything is reassuring her--]

You're the most amazing princess I've ever met--

[...

...And then it strikes him that nowhere in that had been a denial of his feelings. There had been no request for him to go clear things up with her friends. In fact...if he wasn't mistaken, that was, in fact, a sign that she reciprocated them.

So he blinks, staring at her for a moment, and then...he smiles, gently, and just feels so relieved. He's really not entirely sure what he's doing here, but...well, Makoto-chan is absolutely amazing, and from what he understands, she agreed that he was amazing too and that they could be amazing together and that was more than good enough for him.

So he nods firmly, growing a bit more certain, though his smile is as gentle as ever.]

Without a doubt.

[ he thinks she's a princess. He thinks she's amazing. And he likes her, and suddenly she really, truly understands what the producer was trying to convey earlier. Because he was the one she'd told.

"But if someday a person arrives who really treats me like a girl, then for now I'm fine like this."

And... ]

Here you are...

[ she says it a little unsteadily, and she's all too aware that she's a mess, with her eyes probably still red from her earlier crying period and that scrape on her cheek, but he really is right here, in front of her. Her prince. ]

Makoto-kun, I... [ and she has to take a deep breath, but she does look at him directly. ] This might be forward, but I really like you!

[He doesn't really know what she means by that statement--here he is, certainly, but...

But he supposes it doesn't really matter right now, does it? Because she's looking at him like that, and even with her red eyes and the bruise on her cheek Makoto still thinks that she looks like a princess.

But all he can do is sigh at that, quite a lot of relief there despite everything (and it's kind of amusing that he supposes Makoto-chan was the one to most successfully confess first, but she was the most impressive princess after all). And he smiles at her, because he's so very happy that he wants to convey that, even if he's not sure that just a single smile is enough.]

Thank goodness... [So he meets her eyes with his relieved smile and nods.] I really like you too, Makoto-chan.

[...and he's really euphoric as it sinks in, so his next words are more than a little excitable--]

I...would be really honored if I could take you out on a date sometime!

[Funny, how with that off his shoulders, the words come much more easily...but then again, maybe he's wanted this for longer than he realizes. He wouldn't be surprised.]

[ this whole smiling thing sure is contagious, although Makoto's redder than she's ever been in her whole life. Her cheeks will probably hurt tomorrow, and not from the earlier fight.

... Especially when he blurts out things like that so eagerly, and she responds before she can even think about trying to respond in a cool, dignified manner. ]

I'd love to! I mean, be taken out-- w-with you! B-because we're... together now, right?

[ JUST TO MAKE SURE but she's still having a hard time believing this is happening and that this amazing boy is this willing to be her boyfriend--

Her heart. ]

[It's okay, he's also having a lot of trouble believing this is really happening. It is really all too easy to think that maybe he's dreaming, since this all is going well--but maybe he'd be more suave in a dream, because he's still grinning in the most ridiculous way, and she seems to be stammering a bit too, which is a relief.

At least it's not just him.

But, well...it's amazing to feel his heart soar when she asks that. Together...ha, he wasn't lying when he avoided saying no downstairs, and that feels amazing.

So he smiles brightly and is firm as he responds--]

Absolutely--if you want to be, I definitely want to be. [it's a lot easier to be firm when the other person has already confessed too though, good work, Makoto]

We'll go on a great date, I promise! [somehow. when he figures it out BUT HE WILL.]

[ and here she is, in awe that he can say it so easily. If only she knew.

But she doesn't, and probably even if she did, it wouldn't make him any less endearing. ]

Of course! [ but there's that spunk. ] I'll do my best to make sure it's amazing, too!

[ and all of this is before she releases a breath, pushing back her bangs with a soft, sheepish smile. ]

I just can't believe this is really happening... I didn't know any of this would happen today, honestly.

[And he can't help but be a little sheepish at that. Yeah, this...definitely wasn't what they'd had planned for the day, but he supposes the shock of the other idols all assuming so and then putting his thought process that way and--

He's sheepish too, but definitely looks pleased.]

Me neither...I'm still amazed you said yes. [ha...Makoto-chan is the amazing one, after all. Just to think...]

But I'm glad it turned out this way. Though I'm still happy to just meet your friends today too!

[They don't have to completely derail their plans.]

Didn't I tell you that you didn't give yourself enough credit?

[ but she nods-- just before she offers her hand. It's not like they haven't held hands before (rather, she'd usually just grabbed his and dragged him somewhere), but there's a different feel to it now. ]

But I'll share you today. They're probably all still doting on your brother and sister, too.

[There's...definitely a lot of significance in that hand. And it still feels odd to him, for someone else to offer their hand to him first, but maybe that's one of the reasons why Makoto has swept him so far off his feet.

Because she always does things he isn't expecting, all because she really, really cares, and he just takes that hand in his own and smiles at her, nodding.]

Ran and Ren will happily soak up the attention, I think. I would really like to meet your friends, though. Especially since they've taken such good care of you.

[...or the other way around, maybe. Probably. Ah Makoto-chan.]

[ she's still beaming when she gives his hand a squeeze and sets off back down the stairs-- maybe significantly slower this time, either because she's trying to figure out a way to word this news without getting him bombarded by idols again or because she's just enjoying the moment. Maybe both. ]

Brace yourself. [ is all she says before she opens the office door with her free hand-- and it looks as though everyone except for Ryuuguu Komachi and Ritsuko are back, which means there are a lot of heads swiveling toward them. ]

Eheh... sorry for running off so suddenly.

[...oh dear. And all he can do is brace himself, mentally trying to prepare for this craziness and physically trying to not step back.

Even though it's tempting when all of those heads turn towards them.

Very tempting.

Oh god.]

[ it probably won't help that they're all clamoring at the same time, although half of it is making sure he didn't collapse or something and Kotori's still waving that first-aid kit and--

She holds up her hand, the other still firmly clasping Makoto's. ]

Before any of that, I've-- we've got something to tell you. Guys, this is Tachibana Makoto-kun. [ and before they can do more than murmur about the name similarity-- ] And he's my... my boyfriend.

[ that last part comes out way more shyly than she'd intended, but this is new, so bear with her. ]

[She's braver than he is at this point, so he really has no room to judge, and wouldn't even if he did. Because she just proclaimed to all of her friends that he's her boyfriend and that's just...

Well, he's certainly somewhere between heart exploding with joy and hyperventilating, but he settles on just smiling sheepishly, because he really is happy.

It would be hard to disguise that.]

It's nice to meet you all.

[HE'LL TRY TO BE POLITE and at least sneak that in before things explode.

aha...ha...]

[ she's already red, but that doesn't change when the idols surge towards them, full of questions and congratulations. How had they met? So he was Makoto's prince? Who had confessed first? And all sorts of questions until the producer steps in to settle them all down. ]

S-sorry, they're just excited...

[A-ah...he's lucky that the producer stops them, because he was definitely overwhelmed--but he just squeezes Makoto's hand quietly, taking a deep breath when they have the chance to breathe.]

It's fine.

I...suppose I'm glad they're so excited?

[Awkward as it feels to say but YAY APPROVAL?]

... I am too. They're my family, so it's nice to know they like you.

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