[ That is met with an outraged spluttering noise. ]
You've never seen me do any such thing! Please refrain from mentioning my underwear when we're actually having a civilised conversation.
[ Not when she's made such a concerted effort for certain things to forever remain a mystery to him, no matter how long they might live in close proximity to one another... ]
...Perhaps I should I feel embarrassed to admit it, but... yes. I've never had many friends in general.
[ No matter how popular she might, how respected and admired... none of that stuff necessarily meant having actual friendships. If anything it meant people were usually intimidated by her and that always made it easier for her to keep them at arm's length. ]
You're right though. I'm glad of that - although I cannot say that I don't miss the benefits "Kirijo-sama" had. Having my laundry done for me for example.
[ She smiles at that, well aware of how it sounds but... Honestly, who would ever willingly do laundry again if they had someone else to do it for them?
Although all of this friendship talk has her wondering something... she suddenly looks distinctly more awkward for a moment. ]
...Have you ever held Akihiko's hand? [ What is this question even, Mitsuru...?? ] Or, well, any good friend's hand really?
[ Implying that a) Shinjiro would ever be the hand holding type and b) that he had any good friends outside of Akihiko... Except, well, she happens to know that he'd branched out far more than he ever had back home, made more friends. In which case, perhaps he's in a better position to enlighten her? ]
[Rough laughter and nodding is the only response she gets to her outburst-- that's the absolute limit, she's made it clear, and it's likely that if they weren't in the middle of this talk, he'd be executed on the spot. Understood. He lifts a hand in surrender, more than happy to leave that one alone in favour of their talk of friends.]
Nah, nothing embarrassing about it. It's not like I've had many friends before either.
[And then she asks: 'Have you ever held Akihiko's hand? and instantly his thoughts are to those nights in an unfamiliar home, immediately after the fire, his best friend inconsolable no matter how tightly Shinjiro held onto him--]
As kids, sure. Probably haven't in years, though.
[He shrugs, reaching out for another one of those cookies. He'll have to remember that bakery.]
Aki was pretty emotional as a kid, so it came with the territory. I guess after a while it just sort of stopped.
[He's not sure who pulled away. Himself probably. Once Akihiko had his new family and his goals and could stand up comfortably on his own and fight with his own purpose.]
I bet Kotone's the kind to hold hands with everyone, though. Probably doesn't even ask.
[ Hey, if he doesn’t make a note to remember the name of that bakery then she will prompt him. These are good.
And right, of course they would have held hands as small children. It hadn’t been what she was thinking of when she asked the question about them but of course that makes sense. ]
…Somehow the image of him being emotional always makes a lot of sense. These days I think he just channels it differently. [ You know, into punching things. ]
And I think you’re right about Shiomi. That seems just like her…
[ For a moment she has a strong recollection of that time she had been hit with corruption and Kotone hadn’t exactly taken no for an answer in dragging her out of the house… She’s probably one of the few that would dare do something like that with her. ]
So then you don’t think it’s… unusual? It can simply be a friendly gesture.
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no subject
You've never seen me do any such thing! Please refrain from mentioning my underwear when we're actually having a civilised conversation.
[ Not when she's made such a concerted effort for certain things to forever remain a mystery to him, no matter how long they might live in close proximity to one another... ]
...Perhaps I should I feel embarrassed to admit it, but... yes. I've never had many friends in general.
[ No matter how popular she might, how respected and admired... none of that stuff necessarily meant having actual friendships. If anything it meant people were usually intimidated by her and that always made it easier for her to keep them at arm's length. ]
You're right though. I'm glad of that - although I cannot say that I don't miss the benefits "Kirijo-sama" had. Having my laundry done for me for example.
[ She smiles at that, well aware of how it sounds but... Honestly, who would ever willingly do laundry again if they had someone else to do it for them?
Although all of this friendship talk has her wondering something... she suddenly looks distinctly more awkward for a moment. ]
...Have you ever held Akihiko's hand? [ What is this question even, Mitsuru...?? ] Or, well, any good friend's hand really?
[ Implying that a) Shinjiro would ever be the hand holding type and b) that he had any good friends outside of Akihiko... Except, well, she happens to know that he'd branched out far more than he ever had back home, made more friends. In which case, perhaps he's in a better position to enlighten her? ]
no subject
Nah, nothing embarrassing about it. It's not like I've had many friends before either.
[And then she asks: 'Have you ever held Akihiko's hand? and instantly his thoughts are to those nights in an unfamiliar home, immediately after the fire, his best friend inconsolable no matter how tightly Shinjiro held onto him--]
As kids, sure. Probably haven't in years, though.
[He shrugs, reaching out for another one of those cookies. He'll have to remember that bakery.]
Aki was pretty emotional as a kid, so it came with the territory. I guess after a while it just sort of stopped.
[He's not sure who pulled away. Himself probably. Once Akihiko had his new family and his goals and could stand up comfortably on his own and fight with his own purpose.]
I bet Kotone's the kind to hold hands with everyone, though. Probably doesn't even ask.
no subject
And right, of course they would have held hands as small children. It hadn’t been what she was thinking of when she asked the question about them but of course that makes sense. ]
…Somehow the image of him being emotional always makes a lot of sense. These days I think he just channels it differently. [ You know, into punching things. ]
And I think you’re right about Shiomi. That seems just like her…
[ For a moment she has a strong recollection of that time she had been hit with corruption and Kotone hadn’t exactly taken no for an answer in dragging her out of the house… She’s probably one of the few that would dare do something like that with her. ]
So then you don’t think it’s… unusual? It can simply be a friendly gesture.