( inbox )

[antisocialable]

( audio | video | text )

Comments

[nuraridouman]

Of course. I'll pick you up.

[When the appointed time comes, Douman knocks on Sakura's door, feeling more self-conscious and stupid by the minute. The youkai is wearing a warm coat of the deepest wine red over his usual outfit and a dark purple scarf shot through with silver threads that he got as a present not too long ago.

When the door opens, he jolts.]

Sakura-kun. How have you been?

[antisocialable]

[ sakura is dressed plainly as always. in a white shirt and black slacks. he rarely wears anything else. ]

I'm okay? Why wouldn't I be?

[nuraridouman]

Yeah. Why?

[Ugh, stupid! Stupid! Just shoot him now, will you? Seems like he's the only one worried here.]

...Just grab your coat and let's go. It's cold out here.

[antisocialable]

[ a nonchalant shrug as sakura grabs his hoodie, slipping it on. ]

You don't have holidays plans? I thought you'd be doin' stuff.

[nuraridouman]

[He turns around and puts his mask back on.]

There is not much to do for me without my school around. I'm more surprised that you didn't have any other plans already.

[antisocialable]

[ sakura fidgets. ]

I have a dinner thing. With people. They invited me for some reason.

[nuraridouman]

[Douman's step falters for a second.]

Today?? But then why are you going eating with me now?

[antisocialable]

Cuz you asked.

Besides, I can still make it.

[nuraridouman]

....


I don't know what to think about that. [Ouch? Or Yay? He's getting pretty mixed signals on whether he's actually being wanted here or not.

His hand wanders to a coat pocket. No matter. What he wants to do won't take long.]

[antisocialable]

[ food is food. sakura can eat any time. ]

What're you even thinking about?

[nuraridouman]

You.

[said without any thought or filter]

[antisocialable]

[ sakura splutters, face going red. ]

W-What for?!

[nuraridouman]

Hm?

[He stops and brushes his mask to the side to get a better look at Sakura.]

What's wrong? You're suddenly acting strange.

[antisocialable]

You're the one acting strange!!

[nuraridouman]

Me!? What about me is acting strange!?

[antisocialable]

Yeah, you!!

Why are you suddenly thinking of me anyway!!

[nuraridouman]

Wh- I was thinking about how to give you your christmas present!

What were YOU thinking?!?

[antisocialable]

I wasn't — Wait, what.

[nuraridouman]

Ugh, great! Now I blurted the surprise out...

[Don't look at him, the tips of his ears are already burning up enough again! Douman quickly pulls his mask back on properly and hastens his steps.]

[antisocialable]

[ what. sakura ambles after him, easily catching up. ]

You got me a present?

[nuraridouman]

[Douman just huffs and pushes his hands into his pockets, squaring his shoulders.]

Yeah, so? It's not unusual to give the people you like a small something toward the end of the year. And it's also not like it's entirely not selfserving...

[antisocialable]

I didn't mean it was surprising because it's you.

It's just . . . surprising? I don't usually get presents.

[nuraridouman]

So? That's not my fault. Now that I'm here, you get one.

[So it's as he suspected. Now Douman is glad again that he decided to call.

Still, he'll stubbornly keep his eyes on the road and his hands in his pockets. Already because he doesn't know what to do with them anymore.]

I'm not good at all this personal business, so you will just have to deal with it. If you don't like it, you can give it back or give it to somebody else. [not that he wants him to, but he won't pout (much)]

[antisocialable]

[ oh. that's . . . really nice. it reminds him a little of makochi. for a moment, he can believe things can work out. that he can find a place, no matter where he goes.

that feeling fizzles quickly, but the gratitude remains.

so sakura reaches out to grab the edge of his sleeve, his cheeks red. ]

Thanks . . . for the present.

[nuraridouman]

[Feeling the tug on his sleeve has Douman stop for a split-second before he adjusts his step so he won't accidentally shake Sakura off.]

Don't thank me before you even know what it is, i-silly. I'm just sticking my nose into things that aren't my business again, and hope that nothing will explode in my face for once. ...and it's not like I can keep beating Ebisu-kun up for fun all the time either, so I was free.

[This lady doth protest a bit too much, but don't call him out on it.]