when the bubblegum pops

[sisters]

Who: Rantarou Amami & you
What: September catch-all
When: September & some backdates
Where: Various locations
Warnings: TBA

---

01.) the world lights at your smile
•　open — 08/27-31, around the school

( it's true that, the morning after he opens his eyes in the courtyard once more, amami doesn't waste any time on checking up on the people he feels like he needs to speak to. at the same time, it's a pretty short list, and half of them are gone. how much of a difference does it really make if he comes back one week or the next anyway? if he doesn't go out of his way to find someone though, it's still entirely possible to see him around the school — borrowing a sketchbook from the art room, taking some notes in the music room, or moving what seems to be an obscene amount of money into his locker. noticing the presence of anyone he hasn't seen in a while, he'll offer a wave and a warm smile in the midst of whatever he's doing.

on the 27th in particular, he can be found rummaging through a locker that some might recognize is clearly not his. the first twenty minutes or so are spent haphazardly scribbling notes down from a series of stickies pinned up against the locker door. the remainder of the time is spent picking out belongings from the locker one-by-one to take a look at before he decides whether he should drop them into a backpack that's half-slung over his shoulder. to his credit, he doesn't seem to be interested in too much of it, putting the majority back in after a cursory glance, but it's entirely possible that it could stand out to someone familiar with locker 097. )

02.) and shines at the sound of your laugh
•　open — anywhere, any time

( have an idea? feel free to throw anything else my way, or if you're unsure, you can hit me up via pm or at kagehira! )

Comments

[decrypter]

You said that exact same thing before, when you were in the infirmary, and as we both know, decidedly not fine at that moment in time. So forgive me if I don't quite believe you immediately.

[her hand rests on the table, a marker in space to guide her.]

I'll simply repeat what I said before, I can't help worrying about my friends.

[sisters]

And I was fine — comparatively.

( kamo-kun was literally fighting for their life and losing in the bed next to him, so excuse him if he didn't want to make it the amami show. there's a grimace, but it's followed by a bit of a huff meant to dispel his distaste for that comment. )

I mean it though. I'm doing better, so it's okay, and...

( ... )

You did hear what happened, didn't you?

[decrypter]

Of course I did. All of us did. It would be impossible to escape from what happened, really.

[she's not ignorant of any of the facts. and that little smile on her face seems to say you essentially told me, anyway.]

[sisters]

Would it?

( y'all were kind of running around like some headless chickens for at least a little while there. he's tapping his pencil against the desk now, restless, maybe a little anxious. while it's true that he knows helena's smart enough to solve it, practically told her outright himself, yeah, he also knows that what he did isn't something typically regarded positively by most sane people. so, well, the doubt that lingers is still enough for him to question her on it.

a few moments, and the tapping stops, holding the pencil maybe a little bit tighter than he entirely needs to. )

Most people... wouldn't want to call me a friend after all of that, y'know.

( if she needs an out, he'll offer one... )

[decrypter]

[she's not the type to brag about what she did, especially when it was something so delicate. it would be asking for praise when the only thing she had wanted was to turn the tide, to change the look in people's perspective. to make them turn, and listen, and not regard the parts that painted him worse. and it had worked, and so she never will bring it to light, when he's been recovering.

instead, she reaches into her bag, and pulls out a small paper wrapped package, the exact size of a sandwich. it is a sandwich. one of the kinds that can be eaten regardless of temperature.]

I don't think you can eat it here, but I don't know if you had lunch yet.

[it is her answer to his question.]

[sisters]

Oh.

( oh. he'd been expecting her to take the out, so when she reaches into her bag, that's confusing. when she holds out the sandwich, he just kind of blinks at it for a long moment. catches himself quick enough, mind you, but it's certainly a noticeable delay before he accepts it. glancing to the side, back to her, his expression is a little sheepish even if she can't see it, but maybe it leaks into his voice too when he manages to think of something to say. )

Did you... bring this for me?

( is that presumptuous of him to ask? it could've been a coincidence after all, something convenient she happened to have. but she said it was him she was looking for, and didn't seem to hesitate in handing it over... )

Thanks, Helena. That's really thoughtful of you.

[decrypter]

[she nods when he asks, to make it undeniable. she brought this for him - made it for him, actually, and it's an entirely opposite reaction. she hears that emotion, knows it might surprise him. but two things are in his favor - she likes him, thinks he's a decent person, and the faker had been out to kill him. automatically, she would have supported him. that he saved Keigo as well? even better. she wouldn't have easily forgiven him with that death.]

You're welcome. I merely thought...you've been doing a lot of looking after other people. But sometimes the reverse is nice too, right?

[that, and she's older. she can still pull that.]

[sisters]

... Yeah. Yeah, it is.

( listen, he might not wholly expect it — might not understand why he's receiving it, but far be it from amami to be outright ungrateful when kindness is offered to him. setting the sandwich aside for a moment, there's a smile on his lips as he replies, even if it still doesn't sound like he entirely knows what to do beyond it. well, aside from repaying it, of course. )

I appreciate it, but you're the same, yeah? Let me treat you too some time. I'm a good cook — promise.

( but also... it'd be rude not to eat it, and he doesn't actually enjoy the studying here all that much today, even if the library is usually a place he's pretty fond of for leisure. for now, he'll take a break. stacks up his books so that he can move a couple of them to the backpack he's got with him, and pull himself to his feet. )

[decrypter]

You're probably a far, far better one than me. I know enough to not starve should I be left alone for a while, and that's the extent of it.

[she hears that motion, and tilts her head a little.]

Where are you going?

[sisters]

Well, I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to eat in the library, right?

( it's a pretty standard rule, and amami likes libraries, so he tends to respect those when it comes down to it. )

[decrypter]

Oh! Right, right. Do you mind if I accompany you?

[if he's actually going to eat it, that makes her happy, and she can probably get some kind of snack for herself to make it less awkward. but privately, she's just happy that he's eating something at all. it's easy to forget, easy to let that part of yourself slide by until it was actually a problem, but it doesn't need to be.]

[sisters]

Yeah, of course. I'd appreciate the company — after so long looking at these books, I could use a little conversation to refresh.

( his brain feels like he's melting, but he'll swing the bag over his shoulder and start his way towards the entrance, pausing just a moment to look over his shoulder make sure that helena won't be left behind. )

[decrypter]

And these aren't even the sort of books that are fun to talk about.

[she's tapping away, following him at his pace! no worries there.]

If you want those, you have to really hunt through the stacks - I'm a professional by this point at that very thing.

[sisters]

Oh yeah, no kidding. If you talk to Komaeda-kun though, I'm sure he'd help you find some, no problem.

( or maybe if she said that amami told her to go to him? anyway, point remains: komaeda's got a lot of luck when it comes to finding a good library book. anyway, once they reach the doorway, he'll take a quick glance around. )

Where do you suppose we should go? Anywhere in particular you like to sit?

[decrypter]

The roof, though that's a little far just for lunch. Still, it's the best place on campus to feel a breeze, or just to be able to think.

[or play your record and pretend for a little while that none of this was real.]

Where do you normally go?

[sisters]

( well, the obvious answer is the student store, but he'll think it over a bit more. )

Roof's fine. I'd rather be outside, but I'm not a big fan of the courtyard when I can avoid t.

( got some reasons for that but, anyway... )

[decrypter]

The roof it is, then. Let's go before you get too hungry.

[she has the path up through the fourth floor memorized by now, but tapping her way through is a comfort, a familiar thing. and to go with a friend, it's even better.]

[sisters]

I think I'll make it.

( said with a bit of a smile, but yeah, he'll follow along after her lead. )

How's this week been on you though... You getting by?

[decrypter]

That's a good term for it. Mostly I've just been focusing on classes and tutoring some people...it keeps me busy if I'm not trying to write.

[and it means she has pocket money to give to npc-kun...who deserves all the money in the world.]

I would try to cook more, but I'm no good with knives. Everyone would get too impatient with how slow I can get.

[sisters]

Nothing wrong with taking your time.

( sometimes you just want to vibe, y'know? it's about the journey. )

Maybe we can trade lessons — you help me keep up with classes, and we can cook together later. Get you some practice.

[decrypter]

I'd do that regardless. I'd say you can borrow my notes, but since I'd have to read them out to you, we'd have to meet up anyway.

[the pains of not having an easy way to convert braille to a lettering system...]

But I don't mind - I like studying, anyway. It's not hard to be good at it.

[sisters]

And I like cooking, so we'll call it even then.

( because if she's not going to mention her subtle drop that it could be something she was interested in, if the patience were there, then he doesn't mind pursuing it. )

Besides, I don't know about you, but I think better on a full stomach. We might as well hit two birds with one stone, don't you think?

[decrypter]

When you put it that way, how is anyone supposed to say no?

[if they try, they can manage something. even if chopping things with knives will always be risky, she can figure something out, learn the right distance, listen to when something is boiling versus simmering.]

You're a skilled person, Rantarou...your dedication is something else.

[sisters]

Ah — it's nothing that special. I just move around a lot, gotta know how to look after myself, y'know?

( oh, then he remembers, and it kind of sounds like it's tacked on for that— )

But thanks.