[x] Talk with Kishi and Mariko
-[x] Small talk. Maybe about books?
--[x] Science fiction? Maces?
[x] Go meet up with Evelyn in the school
-[x] Joke that you will crash into the classroom and kidnap her.
--[x] Inform her that you'll wait for her outside the school area.
With your need for new reading satisfied for the moment, you turn around and leave the fantasy bookshelves behind. You quickly run into your friends on your way back, both of them seeming slightly bemused about your sudden rush to go and grab what you came here for.
Still, it is a rather awkward realization that in your hurry they were accidentally left behind. Fortunately, neither one really minds it too much, as especially Kishi just finds it amusing. It doesn't stop you from trying to start up a conversation about any other topic, though.
"So um, is there anything you need to get?" you ask as you make your way down the stairs with Kishi leading you, "I mean, I kind of forgot to ask and all… Plus, we still have a small while before we need to go meet Evelyn."
"N-not really!" Kishi tells you with a light smile plastered on her face and points to one of the table between the shelves on the bottom floor, "I-I already have everything I need back home. B-but this is a good time to sit down for a moment, don't you think?"
She's definitely in her element here! A quick look to your side reveals a rather nonchalant Mariko shrugging her shoulders. She on the other hand doesn't seem to have a strong opinion one way or another about this, and is just following your lead for the time being.
"Heh, that's fine by me," you confirm and take a seat for yourself, "Also, I was kind of wondering, Mariko… What kind of books do you like?"
The girl nearly stumbles on the floor from her seat in surprise, only barely managing to catch herself and maintain her dignity while sitting down. "I, uh… I don't really read much," she admit, "W-well, books at any rate."
"Huh? That's a shame," you say, "Didn't you say you like science fiction?"
"...Yeah? It's just that…" she tries saying, but trails off. She seems to be regretting answering the question in the first place.
"...Y-you're into fanfiction, aren't you?" Kishi suddenly blurts out and gives a suddenly shrinking Mariko an indignant look.
"...No? Yes? I mean, it's not like I do that much… well, very much at least…" Mariko says, valiantly trying to deflect the questions.
"What kind of stuff do you read then?" you jump in, glad to see them talking at least. Honestly, it's not like you haven't read bad fanfiction yourself... But the chance is too good to pass up! "I think you mentioned that you liked science fiction?"
"Yes? Well, it's kind of simplifying it but…" Mariko says defensively, and pauses to think for a moment, "Okay, I'm shutting up now. I'm not going to say anything."
"Are you sure? I-I mean, it's not like it's that bad, really?"
Mariko simply zips her thumb and index finger over her mouth. She has decided not to budge on this one.
Time for another topic, you guess.
"So… Your weapon is that awesome mace, right? I mean, I'm kind of a sword person myself, even if i just got into this hobby," you start rambling off at very fast pace. Come to think of it, you really need to read through the rest of the books soon and maybe seek out something else to do with your sabre, "In fact, why don't you tell everything about it? Magical Weapons are so cool!"
You pause to give Mariko's utterly blank and neutral face a quick look-over and blink. You never knew she could pull off such a perfect imitation of internal screaming…
===
Your conversation lasts for a while with the topics eventually moving to the books you borrowed after an interrogation about the capabilities of Mariko's mace. You end up learning that the top of the mace apparently has lots of moving parts, several of which she has yet to experiment with in the first place.
Something to do when you go practise again, you decide!
But regardless, eventually you are forced to leave the library and head towards the school to meet up with Evelyn. However, with the whole skipping of school, you don't think you should go in.
We, Kishi and Mariko shouldn't at least.
But waiting outside is dreadfully boring, and you eventually get an idea. You whip out your phone and start writing a message to Evelyn, who must still be sitting through the boring classes.
'Warning, in a moment I will crash into the classroom soon and kidnap you. There's no time to explain!'
You smirk to yourself and set down to wait at a corner of the street next to the school. It takes several minutes for Evelyn to answer, probably from having to sneak out her phone during class.
'...Okay, please tell me you're not serious? I've stared nervously at the window for better part of the last ten minutes.'
You have to stifle the fit of giggles about to erupt as you read through the message. It seems that while she may not have necessarily fallen for it, the joke was enough to make her act on it.
'No good kidnapping can happen when you are expecting it! So we are waiting at the Western side of the school.'
This time there is no response, and you wait for Evelyn to arrive with some idle chatter passing between you about the nice but cold weather outside. Eventually, you notice Evelyn walk through the school gate and you wave at her.
She notices you swinging your arm wildly about and hastily jogs towards you. On a closer look, she appears to be somewhat indignant for some reason. "Okay, I really need to know, were you seriously planning to kidnap me?" she almost demands, not even noticing Mariko and Kishi throwing questioning looks at you.
What do you do?
[] Talk with your friends.
[] Introduce Mariko and Evelyn to each other.
[] Telepathy Ariane.
-[] You're coming over.
-[] Ask her to join you in the city!
[] Write-in.
===
It's mostly light-hearted stuff for a while now.