savetheearth | the old friend is the new friend

Entry tags:

the old friend is the new friend

Who: Haruka Kokonut, Shitnaro Kisaragi
What: Two boys meet for froyo.
Where: Froyo Joint®
When:July 5???

[Haruka wobbles into the froyo joint with a very relieved smile on his face. Judging from the fact that his sleeves are rolled all the way up his shoulders, he probably wasn't having a great time with the summer heat outside. Recognizing Shintaro waiting at one of the tables, he quickly, or at least as quickly as a frail and heat exhausted boy can, paces over to him.]

Thanks for waiting! I had to walk from my place, I'm trying to get more exercise lately but...It was a lot farther than the places I'm used to walking. [He settles down, sinking comfortably into his seat. Ever tall, his legs bump lightly against Shintaro's under the table. Not that Haruka thinks anything of it.]

What doesn't kill you right? Nice to finally meet you.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Shintaro looks up from his phone when he recognizes the boy walking in -- and he's immediately worried. Both of the two people he has met from the Network off the Network have been, well, like this. One had broken ribs and now one is wobbling. Is he okay? He scoots back his chair to give the tall kid some space but he's not paying attention to that or Haruka's greeting much.]

... I can grab you water. You okay?

[Haruka lays his cheek down on the table. So cool. So refreshing.]

No no...I'm fine. I just get a little weak sometimes.

What I need is...I need...Yogurt...Frozen yogurt...[As he moans about the yogurt, his face shows a dopey grin.]

Mountains of yogurt...What kind should I get...

...

Catch your breath first, kid. The frozen yogurt will wait for you.

You could've told me and I would've picked you up. I'll drive you home, okay? It's hot.

[Haruka gives a thumbs up, head still on the table.]

Sorry...I'm just hungry...And tired. Mostly hungry. I haven't eaten since breakfast. [He puts on the puppydog eyes. Haruka it's 11PM and you ate 90 minutes ago.]

That would sound more dramatic if it was past noon.

[A sigh. These kids...]

Hold on just a sec. I'll get you water, and then you can get your yogurt.

Thank you Shintaro...I feel like this is the start of a beautiful friendship!

[He finally picks his head up from the table.]

I promise I won't be this much of a burden all the time!

[He shakes his head with a small laugh, already going to get the water. He'll come back with a paper cup of it and put it down in front of Haruka before sitting!]

I don't think it's a burden. But if you eat too much cold stuff you'll hurt your stomach.

[Drinkdrinkdgulpgulp]

If there's one thing I've mastered, it's the art of pacing myself when I'm eating. [Gringrin.]

Flavor flavor...

...

Is it a common trait shared among Numbered teenagers to really like food? You're the second one I've met.

It's probably just a coincidence! In my case, I think it's just my appetite trying to compensate for my body's failings...Or something like that. It makes me feel better to think about it like that.

So what flavor are you getting?

Oh I see. [That is one way to put it. He doesn't want to push or anything about Haruka's body, so he nods. If the kid wants to talk about it he probably will.]

I want... mixed berry? Something like that. You?

[He clenches his fists excitedly as he thinks.]

Mmm....Gingerbread! And green apple!

It's gonna taste so good I haven't had frozen yogurt in forever!

Really? You sound like the type who'd come here every week.

[Haruka is really animated. This is the sort of kid who would fall under the "adorable" category, probably, if Shintaro left it to his cousins to judge.]

Well, I'm glad you got the chance today.

My parents...Are extremely strict about where I go.

[He brings his palm to the side of his mouth to whisper.] Full disclosure, my parents think I'm just walking to the park to relax and draw. It's the only place they let me go by myself.

But yeah! Me too! [He'll get up with Shintaro to retrieve their yogurt.]

You lied to your parents?

[Wait what no stop.]

Haruka -- if I knew that I would've come introduce myself!

[Frantically waving his hands.]

N-No! Well! Yes! I lied! But!

They...They definitely wouldn't want me driving around with an older guy like you. They'd get...suspicious.

... I guess you have a point.

Not that I'm sure if I want to ask what they'd get suspicious of.

Still, I'll at least drive you back close to your house. You were seriously sweating buckets.

Yeah! You can just drop me off at the corner and I'll walk the rest of the way! We can work on um, slowly introducing you afterwards. It took them like, months before they would let me go off with Takane by ourselves...And she's my next door neighbor.

They just worry a lot about me. I have health issues. It's not a big deal.

You sound like you have good parents. Don't worry them too much, now.

[He'll take a cup off the counter and hand it over to Haruka.]

We can work on the introductions. In the meanwhile, I'll do my best to make sure you stay safe while you're with me. As an adult.

[A weak smile as he receives his froyo.]

Okay...Thanks Shintaro. But just remember you don't have to treat me like a kid, though. Even though nobody thinks so, I'm pretty good at taking care of myself.

I'll remember that. I won't do things for you that you say you can handle.

I've got cousins I grew up taking care of -- just tell me if I start doing anything you don't want me doing.

[A very, very serious look.]

Give me your frozen yogurt.

[And he breaks out into laughter.]

Ah, just kidding, just kidding! I would never try to take advantage of you like that.

Now that we have that out of the way though, have you gotten any new memories yet?

[He'd frozen at the sight of Haruka's serious look, and he's only slowly relaxing at the sound of the laughter. Jesus.]

You're pretty scary when you make that face, did anyone ever tell you that?

And well-- no. I haven't, to be honest. Is it easy to get new memories?

Hahaha! Good think I'm not actually mean, right? I bet I'd have a pretty scary face if I was! [He says this while wearing a goofy grin.]

It's kinda random. If you do something your other self also did, like, something really specific, sometimes you'll get a memory. Like, Takane and I played this game together, and then I remembered playing it in my other life...

[The contrast between the smile and the attitude would be really scary. Haruka's already gotten himself to a certain ranking in Shintaro's life where he'll be very careful not to get him mad.]

Oh. The video game. Takane mentioned that, too. She beat the other me pretty much, huh?

[Haruka's face goes a bit white.]

Um.

[Runs his hand through his hair nervously, breaking eye contact.]

Yeah...I think she...definitely, probably beat you....

...

[This is weird.]

Um. Is something up?

[Under his breath.] If I tell him, she'll kill me...

D-D-D-Don't worry about it!

Takane totally beat you! Clean! I was um, I was there!

... Oh?

[He raises an eyebrow. And then leans in curiously.]

Did she?

Wh-wh-why would you doubt me I'm an h-h-honest boy, um...

You sound nervous.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

the old friend is the new friend

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

2/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject