Match 8

[mathisradical]

Action | Just after school | Rec center

[ Between keeping up with school, trying not to get bitten by zombies, fighting the zombies, and Marui being permanently droned, Niou really hasn't had much time to relax. But the moment he gets it, he decides to go straight to the tennis courts. Tennis really is relaxing for him, especially when it's just

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[fatedmagica]

[ Madoka was going to try to run the track a bit and practice basketball, but stops when she notices someone at the tennis court. Since she recognizes Niou, Madoka has twice the reason to stop and stare awkwardly. Simply because she's very impressed. ]

[mathisradical]

[ He notices her almost as soon as she stops to watch, but he doesn't stop playing for another few moments. Finally, when the ball comes flying back at him, he catches it instead of hitting it. He turns to look at her, wearing his razor-sharp grin. ]

Yanno, they say that pictures last longer.

[fatedmagica]

H-huh?

[ Madoka turns a bit pinker and waves her hand. ] N-no, I mean! Picturs.... pictures probably can't capture how well you were, um... D-don't let me interrupt, I'm not trying to be rude!

[mathisradical]

[ His grin widens. It's a good thing he doesn't hate you. If he did, there'd be a lot more mocking going on. ]

You wanna give it a try? [ He holds out his racket. ] You were pretty good at bowlin'. Maybe you'll be good at this, too.

[polysyllogism]

[ Walking to a tennis court anywhere almost seemed like a natural motor response for Yagyuu. Or perhaps it was a hidden desire; but, obviously, he mused, not hidden well enough.

Once he stepped on the court, however, his usual perfectly placed expression falters temporarily. It was like seeing double. Literally. Except, Yagyuu realizes he's not exactly dressed the part.

He pushes up his wired framed glasses in his usual manner (even if they're not truly his) before approaching the other. ]

Niou-kun.

[mathisradical]

[ It's been forever. Nearly three months is forever, when you're Niou. It's been forever since he's heard that voice, heard his name said like that, heard that tone, but he recognizes it immediately. He recognizes it like he's heard it just seconds before.

He catches the ball as it flies back toward him and turns on his heals. He masks his look of shock, so the only traces of it are his slightly wide eyes.

He tries to come up with something to say. What do you say to your best friend after not seeing them for three months?

Finally, he smirks his usual smirk. ]

Yo, Partner.

[polysyllogism]

[ He smiles his usual polite smile, except it has a bit of an edge. A bit that shows it may be more genuine than he leads on. When he speaks, the tone is soft, as always, but curt and proper. After all, a gentleman has no holidays, even in a hell hole like this. And he supposed, some things never change. ]

What a coincidence to see you here. [ Obviously it has multiple meaning, all of which even he finds terribly hard to interpret and lay out. A brief pause before- ] How's your condition?

[mathisradical]

Where else would you find me? [ His words hold a bit of a challenge. Most of the things he says to Yagyuu do, after all. He takes a brief moment to try to dig under the first layer of that sentence and find the rest of it.

He shrugs, bouncing the ball against the court once. ] Y'know. Same old same old. [ He's as well as he can be with everything that's happened. But this is a topic he'd rather not breech, so he drives the conversation somewhere else. ] How long have you been here?

[perfektsymmetry]

[Crowe is also the sort to head to the rec center when he has a free moment. He's walking past, also looking quite exhausted, but that's never stopped him from hitting the gym before. He stops, and waits for a break to speak up.]

Hey, Niou.

[mathisradical]

[ Niou turns and grins a more muted version of his razor-like grin. ] Yo. Glad to see you're not dead after all those fuckin' zombies.

[perfektsymmetry]

[Crowe leans against the fence of the court, threading his fingers through it. He smiles halfheartedly.] Not sure how, but yeah, I made it. You too then?

[mathisradical]

[ Niou bounces a tennis ball against the court. ] Still livin' and breathin'. [ His grin softens into a smirk. ] Back at home, I used to think zombie apocalypses would be fuckin' sweet. Now I feel like I'm eatin' my words.