[x] Really, you're fine; you can stay.
"Yuma is fine!" you say. "Yuma is not tired!"
The others stare at you with varying levels of disbelief, ranging from somewhat skeptical acceptance- Madoka- to a to a full-on non-verbal 'suuuure you aren't'- Homura- to a simple shake of the head- Sayaka. Big Sis, meanwhile, simply pats you on the head.
"Well, the squirt seems inclined to stay," says Kyoko. "If that's fine by you, of course," she finishes, tilting her head at Sayaka.
"Oh, it's fine," says Sayaka. "I don't have anything important to do, so stay as long as you want!"
Madoka coughs. "Nothing important?" she says. "Sayaka, we have have school tomorrow."
"And?" replies Sayaka.
"
And we need to get a healthy amount of sleep."
Sayaka snorts. "But Madoka, sleep is for the weak!"
"No, Sayaka, sleep is for the responsible."
"Like I said, the weak." That gets a chuckle from Kyoko. Madoka giggles, admitting defeat. "So, what do you guys wanna do?" says Sayaka. "I've got Smash Melee, of that interests anyone."
"What's Smash?" you say. "Is it a game of some sort?"
"Yeah, It's a video game," says Sayaka. "A fighting game, and really fun. I'm guessing you guys never played?"
You shake your head, as does Kyoko. "My family never had any video game consoles, and I think it was the same for Yuma. So how do you play?"
Madoka passes everyone a controller as Sayaka sets up the Gamecube. Sayaka shows everyone the controls, and after a few minutes of messing around you're ready to play. "So, only four people can play," says Sayaka. "I might as well sit out, then; you four can play for a while, and then we take turns once you've all got a hang of it?"
"That's fine," says Madoka. "But Sayaka, if you want to play, I can always sit out."
"Nah, it's fine," Sayaka says, waving her hand in front of her as if to brush away Madoka's suggestion. "I'm your host, it wouldn't be right for me to play while you guys aren't." She smiles, and puffs her chest out. "Besides, I'm
basically a master at this point; beating you newbies just wouldn't be fair."
"Oh, we'll see about that," says Kyoko, smirking as the match begins. She's playing some pink fluffball- who is apparently not the same as
Madoka's pink fluffball, but you can't tell the difference- and is currently beating the snot out of your green... you think it's a dinosaur? Whatever it is, it's cute and green and can eat people so really it's just you as a character. Homura, meanwhile, is playing some weird green guy with a bow, and is standing on some platform shooting arrows at the three of you as you fight amongst each other.
"You know, I'm really killing it right now," says Kyoko, who is indeed slaughtering you and Madoka. "Sayaka, I'll bet ya that after… let's say ten rounds, I'll be able to
crush you."
Sayaka joins her in looking smug. "Oh really?"
"Yeah really."
"
Bring it."
-----------------
Ten rounds later, Kyoko brings it. Sayaka
also brings it, and the result is rather predictable.
"Aw, come on!" Kyoko says, letting her head fall and hit the back of the couch. "How did you even
do that?"
"Wave dashing, my friend," responds Sayaka. "Something only a
master such as myself knows how to do."
"Yeah, yeah, you're the coolest ever and all that," says Kyoko. "But seriously though, how the
hell did you do that?"
"It's complicated," says Sayaka, leaning forward. "You've gotta air dodge
right after you jump, the timing's all sorts of weird. It took me
ages to figure out, but once you master it you can play so much better."
Kyoko shakes her head. "Well, I guess practice makes perfect."
"But you know what makes perfect even more?" you say. "Luck. And if Yuma plays against everyone again, Yuma will probably get lucky and win. It has to happen."
"Y-Yuma," says Madoka, staring at you. "I… don't think that's how it works."
You shrug. "Sorry, but that's just how things are. Yuma doesn't make the rules."
Madoka giggles. "Well, if you insist." You play a few more matches, with Sayaka replacing Madoka or Homura every once in a while and kicking Kyoko's butt, until eventually you all decide that you've played enough Melee.
"That was fun," you say. "It's nice, doing things like this: playing games, chatting, just doing
stuff. Yuma really likes it."
Big Sis pulls you in for a one-armed sidehug, and you let her. A yawn escapes your mouth as you burrow into Kyoko's side, wrapping your arms around her midsection and leaning against her. "You still awake?" says Kyoko, ruffling your hair with her other hand. "If you're tired, we can go back to the hotel."
"No, Yuma is fine," you say, face pressed into Kyoko's side. "Yuma isn't-" An incredible yawn rises up from the depths of your gaping maw.
Kyoko smiles and pats your head. "We don't have to go if you don't wanna, you know."
You snuggle into Kyoko's side. "Yuma doesn't wanna go. Yuma likes it here."
"Well then, we don't have to go. We can stay till you're ready to go."
Across the room, you see Sayaka smile. "I'm flattered, Yuma. I'm glad you like it here."
"The food helped," you say.
"Yeah, it sure did," says Kyoko. "Seriously, that supper was amazing."
"Really, it was nothing," says Sayaka.
"If
that was your nothing, then god
damn I wanna see what your something is," says Kyoko.
Sayaka leans forward, resting her chin on her hands and smirking. "When we really get going- and I mean
really get going- Dad and I make some
amazing food. Sushi, beef, tempura, you name it."
"Marry me," says Kyoko. "Right here, right now, just marry me."
Sayaka giggles. "W-Well, I don't know-"
"Don't do it," advises Homura, reaching over to rest a hand on Sayaka's shoulder. "She doesn't like you for you- she's just trying to get into your oven."
That sends Sayaka and Madoka into a fit of laughter, and gets Kyoko chuckling. Personally, you're not sure why the image of Kyoko climbing into Sayaka's oven is so funny. Maybe it's one of those teenager things?
"So, I-I was wondering about something," says Madoka. "Homura, you and Kyoko aren't- you know, right?"
Homura raises an eyebrow. "No, Kyoko Sakura and I are not dating."
"Yup," says Kyoko. "Not dating.
Not."
"And we never will," says Homura. "As we are not attracted to each other at all."
There's a pause.
"Well-" "I mean, within reason, of course-" "If her hair were out of the equation sure, but-" "Hormones are out of my control, after all," "Look she's got hella great hair, are you really gonna hold it against me?" "And attraction does not necessarily mean compatibility, of course."
Their panicked rambling comes to a stop. The rest of you stare at them, not at all sure what to make of the words that just erupted from their mouths.
"Long story short, we aren't dating," says Kyoko. "And we won't date in the future."
"We lack chemistry," continues Homura. "A relationship would not work between us."
"Exactly," says Kyoko, nodding at Homura.
"Thank you."
They pause again.
"I'm telling you guys, it wouldn't work and we're not gonna try."
"I, for one, will certainly not."
Sayaka sighs. "So, basically, you're saying that even though you're both kind of attracted to each other-"
"Please," interrupts Homura. "Just say that we find each other attractive. It sounds better that way."
"Sure. So you find each other attractive, but you both think that a relationship between you wouldn't work out, so neither of you will do anything?"
"Basically," says Kyoko. "Like, so far Homura seems pretty cool, and I think she's a nice friend, but imagining a
dating her? Ya, I would rather not."
You poke Big Sis, still hugging her but sliding down her midsection as the conversation progresses. She looks down at you, probably expecting you to say something, but you just poke her again. "Ah, right, no offense Homura," she finally says.
"None taken," replies Homura. "In all honesty, I would be more offended if you
enjoyed the thought of a relationship between us." Kyoko chuckles, not offended in the slightest, and Madoka- bless her soul- speaks up.
"So, what you're saying is that you both like girls, but just not each other? Or at least you think that two of you wouldn't make a good couple."
Homura nods. "Yes, that is an accurate summary. Thank you, Madoka Kaname." That makes Madoka blush, for some reason. Your head comes to rest on Big Sis Kyoko's lap, and you feel yourself drifting into unconsciousness…
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your awaken to warmth surrounding you, light sheets covering you and Kyoko. You're in the hotel room, lying in bed next to Big Sis, and it looks to be some time in the morning. You must have fallen asleep at Sayaka's, and then Big Sis carried you back. You're a bit sad you didn't get to say goodbye, but something else is on your mind. It's morning, after all, and that means that it's
breakfast time.
After a minute or two of willing yourself to get up, you slide out of the bed, yawning and stretching your arms as you do. You make your way to the kitchen and prepare your usual breakfast of a fried egg and cheese sandwich, and like always Big Sis Kyoko is walking to the table right when you're finished cooking.
"Heya, Yuma," says Kyoko, voice low. She sits down, and you join her at the table. The two of you start on your sandwiches in silence, the only noise being your chewing.
"So, Yuma," Kyoko says, breaking the silence. "Yesterday was fun, huh?"
"It sure was," you say. "The, the lunch, and the shopping, and the arcade, and the supper; it was all so great!"
Kyoko smiles. "That's good to hear." She takes another bite of her sandwich, eyes narrowed in concentration, and you can't help but guess what she's pondering.
"So last night, I got thinking," she continues. "I just- well, I was thinking about Sayaka."
"She's a good person to think about," you say. "But what specifically?"
Kyoko takes a deep breath. "Well, I was just thinking that my current strategy for getting with her? You know, just sitting by and doing nothing? Well I was thinking about stuff, and I realized that just sitting around and doing nothing hasn't exactly, uh, worked out for me in the past, and I don't want any regrets, so…"
She pauses. If she's getting at what you
think she's getting at, this could be a Very Good Thing.
"I guess what I'm trying to say is that I want to actually, you know,
try to get with Sayaka."
Yes.
You hop out of your seat, running around the table to hug Kyoko. "Yes!" you say. "Good Big Sis! Good Kyoko!"
"There's only one problem," continues Kyoko, patting your head as she does. "See, I've never really, you know,
dated anyone before, and I've got
no goddamn clue how I should go about this."
Wait a second, what? You pull away to stare Kyoko in the eyes, frowning as you do. "You- you've never dated anyone?
Anyone?"
Kyoko chuckles. "Not even once."
"Huh."
"What, did you think I was some sort of master flirter?"
"Well, I mean,
sort of." You shrug. "But instead, you actually-"
"Have no idea what the fuck I'm doing."
The two of you share a laugh and take another bite of your sandwiches. "Yuma just finds it kinda weird," you say. "Really,
no one? Even
Yuma had a boyfriend when Yuma was extra small."
Kyoko blinks.
You take another bite of you sandwich.
"You… you had a boyfriend?"
You nod. "Yeah, when Yuma was… maybe six or so, there was some boy who liked Yuma. He asked Yuma to be his girlfriend, Yuma didn't know what that was and then he pulled Yuma's pigtails so Yuma punched him and he cried and didn't talk to Yuma for a month."
Kyoko stares at you, mouth opening and closing without any sound coming out. "You- I, I-" She takes a deep breath, staring at you in what you hope is awe is more likely horror. "You, Yuma Chitose, have more dating experience than me."
You nod. "Yepperoni!"
Kyoko erupts into laughter. "You- oh my God, I can't believe this!"
You chuckle, finishing off your sandwich and getting up. Kyoko hands you her empty plate, and you bring them both to the counter before sitting back down in your chair.
"So then," says Kyoko. "Since I have absolutely
no clue what to do, and since you apparently have more dating experience than I do, I'll leave this to you; how the hell do I, you know, do the dating?"
Kyoko is... asking for your advice? Looking closer, you can see that her smile is a bit forced, her laugh a tad nervous. She
genuinely doesn't know how to go about asking Sayaka out, and your heart flutters a little with the realization that
you're the first person she came to.
What do you do?
[ ] First off, you should call Homura; she's smart, she knows things, she can help you!
[ ] Kyoko should take it slow; no reason to rush it, and Sayaka will only like Kyoko more the more she knows her!
[ ] Might as well do it soon, right? Maybe not right now, but she shouldn't put it off. Maybe once Sayaka's out of school tomorrow, or even today!
[ ] Kyoko should spend lots of time with Sayaka, things will work out from there.
[ ] Write-In
Once again, sorry for the delay. Enjoy!
