[ This is the answer he wanted to hear, because no matter what he'll arrive at her door five minutes later and opens it to step inside nonchalantly. It seems that he brought chocolates. Lots of them, actually. ]
If you say or even think that you don't want to bother me with your problems, I'll make you eat all of them. Alone.
Well, I only said that because they really are problems I wouldn't want to bother others with. But I must learn to be more open with you and the others, right?
[She's just, sitting here in the living area of her apartment. No one else seems to be home right now? Which is probably a good thing. She spends a lot of quiet afternoons here unless Dave or Magilou are home.]
[There is always good friendship between them. But this is the first time Haru has blushed this hard over a friendship! Hibiki really has been nothing but good to her.]
I guess explaining a little more about me might be helpful to you.
My father was the CEO of the family company, and I used to be whatever he wanted me to be. I decided that wasn’t what I wanted. I stood very stubbornly with my friends and stayed faithful to them when I was faced with adversity.
[She shifts a little.] I never thought that trying to save my father from his selfish ways would end in him passing away though. That’s why I was a little taken aback by the flower fortune, it was just to spot on for my liking.
[ At that, Hibiki smiles weakly. Parents with expectations, he's been there too. He doesn't allow these thoughts to linger for too long and focuses on what else Haru has to say. ]
Your father... [ Hibiki realizes that she might have been choosing her words carefully. Passing away doesn't imply being murdered, and as far as he knows, that's what happened. ] I'm so sorry, Haru-san. It might mean nothing, especially if it comes from someone like me...but I'm truly am. Do you know what happened to him?
He had plans for me, without my permission. I was engaged to a man of his choosing, a business arrangement really. I was watched closely by this man, he wasn’t very good to me at all.
[Remembering that guy gives her the shivers. She hates thinking about someone she has long left in the last. At the next set of questions she raises her brow. How much did he know? How much did Akira tell him...]
I’m well aware of why. But there isn’t much I can do about that here.
[ A man who wasn't good to Haru. He can't even imagine such a person, and before Hibiki realizes it, his hands are curled into fists. Murder is a no go for him, but beating...it's the less subtle way of teaching someone a lesson, that's for sure.
Not that Hibiki can do any of that here, anyway. ]
Haru-san... [ He takes a deep breath. There's no point in pretending that he doesn't know anything—Haru probably realized that by now, too. ] I'm sorry I kept quiet, but I promised. Besides...it's a matter between you and your friends and I didn't think that I had any right to step in. It sounds like a poor excuse now, but that's what I thought. Even if you're angry with me, I want you to listen to what I have to say. I know it's not over yet, and that you still might be in danger...
[ Hibiki gets up and stands in front of Haru just to get down on his knees a little while later. ]
You're kind and brave, and even though you probably don't need it, I insist. Allow me to protect you.
Akira-kun didn’t tell me for quite some time. I was unaware of what the real situation was. For a while it seemed like we were the ones who caused the whole thing.
[She thinks about that sometimes, how they were all fooled into thinking they had messed up. She realizes very quickly that Hibiki is getting worked up over this conversation. She won’t stop him from feeling— it took Haru a long time to realize it was okay to feel certain ways.]
Hibiki-kun...
[Her cheeks? They are pink.] I won’t stop you, because I know once you are determined there is no stopping you.
Of course I forgave him, he’s not perfect and I know he meant well.
[Haru raises a hand, gently brushing some hair from Hibiki’s face, this declaration of friendship is oddly almost an intimate thing. Like, no one else should be seeing it or hearing it except for the two of them. But Haru believes that might be what makes an unbreakable bond.]
[ He could roast Akira for a little while longer, but he forgets how to form a logical sentence when Haru brushes a strand of hair away from his face. Maybe he's finally realized how embarrassing his declaration was. A bright blush spreads across his face, but he doesn't move away just yet. ]
Thank you. You won't be disappointed. If there's anything I can do, just tell me.
You already do so much for me. How could I ever ask you to do more? Just continue being my friend, Hibiki-kun. That is really all I ask of you.
[Look, there is a time to roast Akira and there is a time to pay attention to nice and pure friendships like they have. Right now is friendship time. Haru might be giggling at Hibiki's blushing though. It's cute.]
[ That's most certainly the way to go if you want to make him blush even more, Haru. ]
I suppose I can try doing that once in a while. [ He's never been so thankful for this ridiculous poncho thing that's a part of his uniform which Hibiki now uses to cover his face. ] Or maybe more often than once in a while.
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[ Yet, he can't stop thinking about it. ]
Faithfulness in times of adversity...do you happen to have any idea what this might be about?
[ She has just said that she's not certain what to think, but maybe there's something on her mind. ]
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[ He might have an idea what this is about—some time ago, Akira told him about The Situation. ]
Is there anything I can help you with? Or if you want to talk about this...
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[She hates to think that her friends would be burdened with her problems anyways.]
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[ This question might seem a bit out of place, but— ]
I'll be here in five minutes. You left me no choice.
[ Maybe sometimes it's a good thing that he's pushy... ]
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If you say or even think that you don't want to bother me with your problems, I'll make you eat all of them. Alone.
[ Gasp. He's not kidding, though. ]
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[She's just, sitting here in the living area of her apartment. No one else seems to be home right now? Which is probably a good thing. She spends a lot of quiet afternoons here unless Dave or Magilou are home.]
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You're not the only one if that helps with anything. Being open with other people is really hard sometimes...
[ Not to mention all these feelings that usually come along with being open. Yuck... ]
Just remember that you've never been a bother to me, Haru-san. And you'll never be.
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[There is always good friendship between them. But this is the first time Haru has blushed this hard over a friendship! Hibiki really has been nothing but good to her.]
I guess explaining a little more about me might be helpful to you.
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[ Or, more accurately, feeling. ]
I'm all ears, Haru-san.
[ He'd like to listen to her version first, and then tell her what he knew. If she's going to be angry...well, that's what the chocolates are for. ]
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[She shifts a little.] I never thought that trying to save my father from his selfish ways would end in him passing away though. That’s why I was a little taken aback by the flower fortune, it was just to spot on for my liking.
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[ At that, Hibiki smiles weakly. Parents with expectations, he's been there too. He doesn't allow these thoughts to linger for too long and focuses on what else Haru has to say. ]
Your father... [ Hibiki realizes that she might have been choosing her words carefully. Passing away doesn't imply being murdered, and as far as he knows, that's what happened. ] I'm so sorry, Haru-san. It might mean nothing, especially if it comes from someone like me...but I'm truly am. Do you know what happened to him?
[ He hates himself for asking that. ]
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[Remembering that guy gives her the shivers. She hates thinking about someone she has long left in the last. At the next set of questions she raises her brow. How much did he know? How much did Akira tell him...]
I’m well aware of why. But there isn’t much I can do about that here.
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Not that Hibiki can do any of that here, anyway. ]
Haru-san... [ He takes a deep breath. There's no point in pretending that he doesn't know anything—Haru probably realized that by now, too. ] I'm sorry I kept quiet, but I promised. Besides...it's a matter between you and your friends and I didn't think that I had any right to step in. It sounds like a poor excuse now, but that's what I thought. Even if you're angry with me, I want you to listen to what I have to say. I know it's not over yet, and that you still might be in danger...
[ Hibiki gets up and stands in front of Haru just to get down on his knees a little while later. ]
You're kind and brave, and even though you probably don't need it, I insist. Allow me to protect you.
[ HIBIKI WILL NOW DIE FOR YOU ]
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[She thinks about that sometimes, how they were all fooled into thinking they had messed up. She realizes very quickly that Hibiki is getting worked up over this conversation. She won’t stop him from feeling— it took Haru a long time to realize it was okay to feel certain ways.]
Hibiki-kun...
[Her cheeks? They are pink.] I won’t stop you, because I know once you are determined there is no stopping you.
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[ Let the dissing (lovingly) begin. ]
I'm glad you understand that. I won't do anything you wouldn't like me to do, though.
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[Haru raises a hand, gently brushing some hair from Hibiki’s face, this declaration of friendship is oddly almost an intimate thing. Like, no one else should be seeing it or hearing it except for the two of them. But Haru believes that might be what makes an unbreakable bond.]
I trust you, Hibiki-kun.
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Thank you. You won't be disappointed. If there's anything I can do, just tell me.
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[Look, there is a time to roast Akira and there is a time to pay attention to nice and pure friendships like they have. Right now is friendship time. Haru might be giggling at Hibiki's blushing though. It's cute.]
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[ It's more like he wants to do that, but what is expressing his true feelings. One day he might learn how to do it, though. ]
No, I will do that.
[ The blush is getting brighter with every second, even after he finally gets back on his feet only to sit beside her. ]
You should have scolded me for doing something so embarrassing.
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[Haru thought it was rather touching.]
I like it when you're more honest with how you feel, you know.
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I suppose I can try doing that once in a while. [ He's never been so thankful for this ridiculous poncho thing that's a part of his uniform which Hibiki now uses to cover his face. ] Or maybe more often than once in a while.
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[She is teasing him, but just lightly.]
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[ Things as in he's totally blushing. It's high time he clears his throat, too. ]
But I think I understand the meaning of the flower fortune now.
[ What a subtle subject change. ]
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