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𝔇𝔦𝔞𝔩𝔬𝔤𝔲𝔢 𝓒𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔯 || [color=#FF741D]#FF741D[/color] ||| 𝔗𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝓒𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔯 || [color=#DFD989]#DFD989[/color]
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Asuka gave a sardonic half-smile. She considered herself to be something of a social expert, too, and as such was fairly confident that she'd understood the meaning behind Kasuke's words. If Fumika really had been spreading rumors about her, Mina's response was definitely a good sign, since she seemed to be taking what preconceptions she did have with a grain of salt. That made things easier. If that was the case, then no matter what her sister had said, this was one person, at least, who'd at least give her the time of day. Perhaps she'd be able to talk to someone here without things turning immediately sour, after all.

[color=#FF741D]"Who said I wasn't getting anything in return?"[/color] She smiled back calmly. [color=#FF741D]"Although we're not exactly close, Harukaze-san is putting me up - not to mention putting up with me - while I'm here visiting my sister."[/color] She said it half-jokingly, hoping to lighten the mood from Kasuke's unexpectedly sour reaction to the mention of her friend. That much didn't make sense to her. After all, there was no way Fumika would slander the name of the girl who'd saved her life... was there? No, Asuka couldn't believe that her sister would be so petty... And yet, it certainly seemed as if people were reacting strangely to the mention of her. Could it really have only been because of the argument that had resulted from their last visit?

[color=#FF741D]"Besides, both my sister and I owe her a lot. If I couldn't be arsed to help her out when she needs it, then by that same logic, I wouldn't be a terribly good friend myself. And as far as favors go, telling someone sorry isn't exactly too much to ask, y'know?"[/color] She gave a slight shrug. [color=#FF741D]"Whatever. Not like it matters, anyhow, since that Jett guy didn't want me playing middleman either. My job's done, either way."[/color]

She was just about to turn and head into the dorm when another voice suddenly reached her ears, and she started slightly, immediately turning around. They hadn't spoken much, but the only person who'd address her in such a familiar manner had to be...!

It was. Yoshida Kenichi came trotting into view. Asuka made sure to seem surprised by this, and thankfully didn't have to try very hard, since she hadn't really been expecting to be accosted by someone so suddenly, especially not after the deduction she'd just made.

[color=#FF741D]"Ah, Yoshida-san, right? Nice to see you again!"[/color] She greeted cheerfully. There wasn't any point in going full-on Gal Mode - if she was too cute, after all, he'd just fall for her, which would only get in the way of her plans for him and her sister - but on the other hand, she hadn't exactly greeted him very warmly last time, and she definitely needed to undo that first impression.

Almost immediately, he inquired after Fumika. She smiled slightly, glad to see things were proceeding according to her expectations, and was about to answer, but something about the whole situation felt... off, somehow. Asuka wasn't quite as good at this sort of thing as her sister, since she couldn't literally see through people with the same ease... but she liked to think of herself as a pretty good detective, and she had to say, his body language was way different from how it had been before. He seemed to be making each motion oddly deliberate, as if trying to avoid straining himself... And it was definitely unusual for somebody so active to seem so out of breath unless he'd sprinted the whole way. Was he injured? Almost immediately, she couldn't help but tie that conclusion together with his very vague excuse, saying he'd been away on "personal business..." There was definitely something fishy going on, but it wasn't like he'd tell her if she just asked about it up front... Still, it was a tad unsettling. Was Fumika involved somehow? Was that why he was worried about her? She made a mental note to keep on eye on him, but decided she'd pretend not to notice for now.

[color=#FF741D]"Well, Kasuke thinks she's probably still here in the dorms, but I was going to visit her myself so we could plan some outings this week before Harukaze and I head back. If you want to see her, why not wait here? I'll text her and ask her to come down."[/color] She gave an apologetic smile as an aside to Mina, who had doubtless already seen through her transparent excuse for starting the conversation in the first place, but whose offer to help her find her sister she did not wish to devalue.

Taking out her phone, she began tapping dexterously away at the screen, shooting off a message even as she spoke.

[color=#FF741D][i]Hey. Sis. You're in your dorm, right? Come downstairs. Harukaze will be here in a sec, and a friend of yours wants to talk.[/i][/color]

[@Silver Carrot][@Zeroth]
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𝔇𝔦𝔞𝔩𝔬𝔤𝔲𝔢 𝓒𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔯 || [color=#c9c916]#c9c916[/color] ||| 𝔗𝔥𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥𝔱 𝓒𝔬𝔩𝔬𝔯 || [color=#3F9CB1]#3F9CB1[/color]
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Haruka was silent for a moment, then slowly, hesitantly, she reached out a small, white hand, and took the hand that was offered to her. Her artificial leg wobbled slightly, the joints giving a dull, hollow clatter as she planted her crutch to support herself and, after a moment longer, released Jett's hand with a faint blush.

The wind rustled through the leaves of the hedge, and Haruka's dark hair fluttered back from over her eyes, revealing two amber orbs fixed gloomily on the stones of the path on which she stood. Her face had never been terribly striking, or overly pretty. A high brow and prominent cheekbones had always seemed to dramatically overshadow her deeply set eyes, yet now, even in the light, the dark, baggy circles underneath them remained. Their whites seemed rimmed with red, denied of sleep, and her once round, childishly ruddy cheeks had lost much of their fullness and color.

She was silent, not knowing how to respond. Jett's simple words still seemed to ring in her ears, accusing her of the greatest crime she could possibly commit toward their friendship. He didn't understand her reasons, still? Even after what she had said during their argument before? Did he just not want to know the truth, not want to believe that she could really be so petty? And yet, he deserved to know. She had no choice but to tell him, no matter how much she wanted to hide it. So why? Why wouldn't the words come out?

[color=#c9c916]"...If I had told you, what would you have done?"[/color] She asked quietly. She couldn't say it. She couldn't say it at all. How could she honestly tell him that she just hadn't wanted to be pitied? How could she tell him that she had wanted him, at least, to admire her like he had used to? Anything would be better than that. She'd lie. It was the stupidest, most audacious, most high-minded lie she could think of, and to say it made her sick, but she said it nonetheless. [color=#c9c916]"You'd have come running, right? You would have done anything you could to help. That's how you always were, even when it was none of your business."[/color] What was she saying? This wasn't... This wasn't it at all. [color=#c9c916]"I didn't want to waste your time. Not when you needed to practice and work hard to become a hero. If I'd told you what had happened... If you knew, it would only have been a distraction, right?"[/color]

She lowered her head. How could she possibly look him in the eye and claim that her own self-gratification had been meant for his good? That she'd been thinking of him all along, when she'd only been thinking of herself? Disgusting. She was so disgusting. He'd been so devastated when he saw her, had only wanted to help... He was still just as stupidly nice to her as ever, and she was going to brush all that off? She didn't even deserve his pity! And yet, he was still looking at her with those eyes... those damned sad eyes, pitying her like that when he should have been disgusted.

[color=#c9c916]"So that's... that's..."[/color] She faltered. The lies in her throat warred with the guilt in her heart, and were defeated. [color=#c9c916]"...That's not it at all."[/color] She said at last, raising her head. [color=#c9c916]"I can't. It's too stupid. I can't say it after all. We both know I'm not that kind of selfless person."[/color] She took a deep breath. [color=#c9c916]"...The truth is, I knew you'd come running... but I was only thinking of myself. Because I knew... Because I knew that if you found out what had happened, if you found out that I couldn't do anything anymore, you'd feel sorry for me...!"[/color] She bit down hard on her lip. Her voice was trying to crack, but she wouldn't let it. She wouldn't cry in front of him. Not again. Please, not again.

[color=#c9c916]"It's stupid, right? I mean, what have I got to be proud of? I never did any good for anyone, and now I never can. And because I was selfish, I made you worry, and... and... It's all just so stupid that I want to laugh."[/color] She forced herself to smile, but it was utterly mirthless. Haruka neither looked nor sounded like laughing was something she was even capable of doing.

[@Aerandir]