Chiyo isn't expecting Kashima to come barreling toward her, bordering on disheveled, two inches away from bowling them both over. It's only Yuzuki's arm reaching out and clotheslining Kashima, almost languidly, that stops her forward motion. Chiyo looks up at Yuzuki, who is staring half-interestedly at Kashima, and is about to thank her before she realizes first, that Kashima is in a lot of pain, and second, that Yuzuki appears to have been reaching instead to open a window.
"Chiyo-chan," Kashima sniffles, and Chiyo knows that whatever is going on, it has to do with Hori-sempai.
She and Yuzuki sit down with Kashima and extract the story in fits and starts. It had started, apparently, when they were talking about Chiyo. Kashima had noted, apparently, to Hori-sempai, that lately Chiyo had been somewhat listless. "I wanted Hori-sempai to think I was cool," Kashima sniffles, the tip of her nose turning rosy in a way that strangely doesn't detract from her overall attractiveness. "So I said what I thought - that maybe it was because you were in love," Chiyo can feel her blush tingling through the roots of her hair and down to her ends, which is strange, because she knows for a fact that isn't how hair works, "and if that was the case, it would be nice if it worked out, you know?"
"And then," Kashima's gulping breaths begin to take on a strange, manic quality, causing Yuzuki's expression to become increasibly interested, "do you know what he replied?"
Apparently, Hori had replied that Chiyo finding a boyfriend would be troublesome. That it would be a problem for Nozaki, but more notably a problem for him. Kashima had said he'd looked grumpy, even distracted. That his face said that Chiyo finding a boyfriend was something he had never considered, but that now that the possibility had been brought up he was at once deeply concerned about it.
"Chiyo-chan, how could you!" Kashima whines, but it's clear that there's no heart in it.. "Where did this bond even come from? Why are you such good friends! Is it something about your height? Because you're both so tiny and adorable? Because if so, I too --"
"Kashima-kun," Chiyo interrupts, sternly, "It's comments like that that'll get you hated."
Kashima is too exhausted to argue, and simply lays her head on the desk and whimpers until Chiyo relents, rubbing her back and telling her that she and Hori are just friends, that she only has eyes for one very tall and thin-eyed and deeply stupid boy, none of which are traits that fit Hori, that Kashima and Hori have a strange and special relationship that no one could get between even if they wanted to. She resolves never to let anyone know she's seen Hori with his bangs down. Yuzuki thumps Kashima on the back much too hard, causing her to cough and clutch her chest, and notes that even when she coughs she's kind of out of tune. As far as Yuzuki is concerned, this is probably being helpful.
The incident apparently sticks with Hori, as well, because the next time they are working together in Nozaki's apartment, Hori leans over and whispers, "Hey, I know that this is probably pretty frustrating for you, but you aren't going to get fed up and leave, are you?" Chiyo gives him a questioning look, and he continues, "Kashima--"
"Ah, she told me!" Chiyo stares down at the page she's working on. Suzuki-kun appears to be being kidnapped by thugs in this issue - she has difficulty believing Ken-san approved this storyline, and is already mentally preparing herself for major corrections. "I mean, I don't think that's very likely but... would it really be a problem? Me getting a boyfriend."
"Of course it would be a problem!" the warmth with which Hori replies surprises Chiyo, as does the way in which he grabs her shoulders, meeting her gaze directly. "Nozaki would never stop complaining about having to find someone else to do the beta, and you know I'm not that good one-on-one with Mami... koshiba."
"Ah." Chiyo smiles, places a comforting hand on Hori's arm. "Well, you don't have to worry about my getting tired of it - I know not to expect anything, you know?" Hori smiles softly back at her, warmth spreading fondly across his expression. Neither of them notice Nozaki standing in the kitchen, watching with a look somewhere between contemplation and discontent.
04.09.2015
"Chiyo-chan," Kashima sniffles, and Chiyo knows that whatever is going on, it has to do with Hori-sempai.
She and Yuzuki sit down with Kashima and extract the story in fits and starts. It had started, apparently, when they were talking about Chiyo. Kashima had noted, apparently, to Hori-sempai, that lately Chiyo had been somewhat listless. "I wanted Hori-sempai to think I was cool," Kashima sniffles, the tip of her nose turning rosy in a way that strangely doesn't detract from her overall attractiveness. "So I said what I thought - that maybe it was because you were in love," Chiyo can feel her blush tingling through the roots of her hair and down to her ends, which is strange, because she knows for a fact that isn't how hair works, "and if that was the case, it would be nice if it worked out, you know?"
"And then," Kashima's gulping breaths begin to take on a strange, manic quality, causing Yuzuki's expression to become increasibly interested, "do you know what he replied?"
Apparently, Hori had replied that Chiyo finding a boyfriend would be troublesome. That it would be a problem for Nozaki, but more notably a problem for him. Kashima had said he'd looked grumpy, even distracted. That his face said that Chiyo finding a boyfriend was something he had never considered, but that now that the possibility had been brought up he was at once deeply concerned about it.
"Chiyo-chan, how could you!" Kashima whines, but it's clear that there's no heart in it.. "Where did this bond even come from? Why are you such good friends! Is it something about your height? Because you're both so tiny and adorable? Because if so, I too --"
"Kashima-kun," Chiyo interrupts, sternly, "It's comments like that that'll get you hated."
Kashima is too exhausted to argue, and simply lays her head on the desk and whimpers until Chiyo relents, rubbing her back and telling her that she and Hori are just friends, that she only has eyes for one very tall and thin-eyed and deeply stupid boy, none of which are traits that fit Hori, that Kashima and Hori have a strange and special relationship that no one could get between even if they wanted to. She resolves never to let anyone know she's seen Hori with his bangs down. Yuzuki thumps Kashima on the back much too hard, causing her to cough and clutch her chest, and notes that even when she coughs she's kind of out of tune. As far as Yuzuki is concerned, this is probably being helpful.
The incident apparently sticks with Hori, as well, because the next time they are working together in Nozaki's apartment, Hori leans over and whispers, "Hey, I know that this is probably pretty frustrating for you, but you aren't going to get fed up and leave, are you?" Chiyo gives him a questioning look, and he continues, "Kashima--"
"Ah, she told me!" Chiyo stares down at the page she's working on. Suzuki-kun appears to be being kidnapped by thugs in this issue - she has difficulty believing Ken-san approved this storyline, and is already mentally preparing herself for major corrections. "I mean, I don't think that's very likely but... would it really be a problem? Me getting a boyfriend."
"Of course it would be a problem!" the warmth with which Hori replies surprises Chiyo, as does the way in which he grabs her shoulders, meeting her gaze directly. "Nozaki would never stop complaining about having to find someone else to do the beta, and you know I'm not that good one-on-one with Mami... koshiba."
"Ah." Chiyo smiles, places a comforting hand on Hori's arm. "Well, you don't have to worry about my getting tired of it - I know not to expect anything, you know?" Hori smiles softly back at her, warmth spreading fondly across his expression. Neither of them notice Nozaki standing in the kitchen, watching with a look somewhere between contemplation and discontent.