(no subject)
January 16 writing
Sometimes Kanji allows himself to hope. Mostly on Wednesdays, because that means he won't be obligated to meet everyone at the food court and head into the TV, because Yu-senpai usually has plans those days. Though basketball isn't really his thing, Kanji can appreciate Yu-senpai's dedication to the sport--and also the free time that opens up after school because of it.
Wednesdays aren't particularly busy at the shop, either; his mother doesn't need the extra hands, since most orders are due to be finished on Fridays and she thinks he should "spend time with people that are good for his image," or something like that. She means Yukiko-senpai and Yu-senpai, the dark, serious-faced, lovely people that they are.
Yousuke-senpai usually works on Wednesdays because he needs the money; Chie-senpai can be found on the rooftop, practicing her kicks in anticipation of their next venture into the TV world. And Teddie... Teddie amuses himself, mostly.
So that leaves him Wednesdays. Wednesdays and Naoto.
Naoto, although not un-free of work entirely, as she's usually looking for work to do with the police force, tends to be tired from the school day and slightly less driven to look for a new case to help the police with, especially when the police force is just even more harried and sloppier in the middle of the work week than they are on the weekends. So Kanji seeks her out that day, with nerves crawling up and down the line of his spine, trying to find the right way to speak with her, ask her if she'd like to maybe get food or eat dinner or hang out at the shrine or orsomethinganythingwhateveryouwanttodo.
Today is the day, he decides, and finds Naoto just as she walks out of her classroom, bag tucked neatly under her arm, cap already in place.
"Y-yo," he tries, raising a hand in greeting, irritated by how fast his heart is pounding and how breathlessly the syllable comes. Naoto pauses, looks at him, and nods.
"What's wrong, Tatsumi?"
"What makes you think something's wrong?" he asks, a little surprised. Somehow, he was expecting a more, "Oh, hello there, Tatsumi-kun. What's up with you?" or something, but he supposes that simple small talk doesn't really exist in Naoto's specific set of social skills.
Naoto just shoots him a look, slightly confused at the corners but a little amused at the bottom. "You're turning red and slightly out of breath. I assumed you ran here to tell me something important regarding the case. What is it?"
"Oh." That explains it. "It's not about the case."
"I see," Naoto's shoulders relax slightly and she turns to step to the side. "Well then, I'll be off."
"Wait, where are you going?" Kanji reaches out a hand and grasps at thin air, groping a little for the courage he needs to ask her if she'd like to hang out or something. "I just--"
"I have to take care of my grandfather," Naoto replies, walking away. "Call me if Narukami-senpai requests our company into the television."
Kanji's heart plummets into his stomach as he watches her move down the hallway.
It pulls itself back up again when Naoto lifts a hand to wave him goodbye before she turns the corner.
Okay then.
The next Wednesday, his attempt goes similarly, although it's outside and Kanji feels kind of bad in retrospect because Naoto's tiny shoulders shake just a little from the cold. He can't bring himself to ask, so he tells her to have a good day and watches again as she disappears down the street.
He just barely misses the glance she throws his way before she disappears down a side street.
The next Wednesday, they end up in Junes and then the TV world. Kanji wants to curl up and die every time Naoto gets knocked down.
The look she gives him when he reaches out a hand to pull her back up after a fight is over is enough to keep him hoping.
It's a Tuesday when Naoto approaches him, as he gathers the courage he needs for tomorrow.
"Tatsumi," she says, sounding unamused.
"Oh, hey," he grunts, and looks at his watch. Yu-senpai must need them. "Shit, I was supposed to help at the shop today. Can we try and leave the TV world a little earlier, do you think? Ma said she had a huge order coming in today and I really should help out."
"Narukami-senpai is at the drama club today," Naoto replies, tugging her cap a little further down her head.
Kanji freezes.
"I was wondering if you would accompany me on another investigation," she begins, eyes averted. "I need someone to stand guard while I search someone's yard."
Oh.
Well, okay then.
Tuesdays were better suited for hoping anyway.
Sometimes Kanji allows himself to hope. Mostly on Wednesdays, because that means he won't be obligated to meet everyone at the food court and head into the TV, because Yu-senpai usually has plans those days. Though basketball isn't really his thing, Kanji can appreciate Yu-senpai's dedication to the sport--and also the free time that opens up after school because of it.
Wednesdays aren't particularly busy at the shop, either; his mother doesn't need the extra hands, since most orders are due to be finished on Fridays and she thinks he should "spend time with people that are good for his image," or something like that. She means Yukiko-senpai and Yu-senpai, the dark, serious-faced, lovely people that they are.
Yousuke-senpai usually works on Wednesdays because he needs the money; Chie-senpai can be found on the rooftop, practicing her kicks in anticipation of their next venture into the TV world. And Teddie... Teddie amuses himself, mostly.
So that leaves him Wednesdays. Wednesdays and Naoto.
Naoto, although not un-free of work entirely, as she's usually looking for work to do with the police force, tends to be tired from the school day and slightly less driven to look for a new case to help the police with, especially when the police force is just even more harried and sloppier in the middle of the work week than they are on the weekends. So Kanji seeks her out that day, with nerves crawling up and down the line of his spine, trying to find the right way to speak with her, ask her if she'd like to maybe get food or eat dinner or hang out at the shrine or orsomethinganythingwhateveryouwanttodo.
Today is the day, he decides, and finds Naoto just as she walks out of her classroom, bag tucked neatly under her arm, cap already in place.
"Y-yo," he tries, raising a hand in greeting, irritated by how fast his heart is pounding and how breathlessly the syllable comes. Naoto pauses, looks at him, and nods.
"What's wrong, Tatsumi?"
"What makes you think something's wrong?" he asks, a little surprised. Somehow, he was expecting a more, "Oh, hello there, Tatsumi-kun. What's up with you?" or something, but he supposes that simple small talk doesn't really exist in Naoto's specific set of social skills.
Naoto just shoots him a look, slightly confused at the corners but a little amused at the bottom. "You're turning red and slightly out of breath. I assumed you ran here to tell me something important regarding the case. What is it?"
"Oh." That explains it. "It's not about the case."
"I see," Naoto's shoulders relax slightly and she turns to step to the side. "Well then, I'll be off."
"Wait, where are you going?" Kanji reaches out a hand and grasps at thin air, groping a little for the courage he needs to ask her if she'd like to hang out or something. "I just--"
"I have to take care of my grandfather," Naoto replies, walking away. "Call me if Narukami-senpai requests our company into the television."
Kanji's heart plummets into his stomach as he watches her move down the hallway.
It pulls itself back up again when Naoto lifts a hand to wave him goodbye before she turns the corner.
Okay then.
The next Wednesday, his attempt goes similarly, although it's outside and Kanji feels kind of bad in retrospect because Naoto's tiny shoulders shake just a little from the cold. He can't bring himself to ask, so he tells her to have a good day and watches again as she disappears down the street.
He just barely misses the glance she throws his way before she disappears down a side street.
The next Wednesday, they end up in Junes and then the TV world. Kanji wants to curl up and die every time Naoto gets knocked down.
The look she gives him when he reaches out a hand to pull her back up after a fight is over is enough to keep him hoping.
It's a Tuesday when Naoto approaches him, as he gathers the courage he needs for tomorrow.
"Tatsumi," she says, sounding unamused.
"Oh, hey," he grunts, and looks at his watch. Yu-senpai must need them. "Shit, I was supposed to help at the shop today. Can we try and leave the TV world a little earlier, do you think? Ma said she had a huge order coming in today and I really should help out."
"Narukami-senpai is at the drama club today," Naoto replies, tugging her cap a little further down her head.
Kanji freezes.
"I was wondering if you would accompany me on another investigation," she begins, eyes averted. "I need someone to stand guard while I search someone's yard."
Oh.
Well, okay then.
Tuesdays were better suited for hoping anyway.