puppycrush2 | week one

From what I can tell with Akechi-kun, he hasn't really had any experiences that have helped him believe in love in the first place. And Minami...

[ Hm. ]

... I don't know, sometimes his personality also seems a little bit different, so I'm not sure what to think about it. But he also said there are other people he's interested in, so...

Then why doesn't he just say their names! I mean--

[ a huff. face on the ground time. ]

Nevermind. This is the kinda thing you'd see week three in a show like this, not week one. I'll hold off until then.

[ her ranting... ]

Hang in there. Part of it is probably your reactions.

[ Because Anna reacts... vividly. ]

[ she's a normal healthy teenage girl with so many big feelings. ]

Well, what am I supposed to do? Just sit there and let him say whatever? Not. A. Chance. I don't care how early it is, I'm not backing down.

[ minami can't do what she can after all. probably. she doesn't know the guy whatsoever but a face like that wouldn't win will any points with the people who matter. ]

... Will-kun doesn't feel trapped though, by the way. We have a kind of deal going on. You know, if we end up liking other people, split and all. The usual courtesy.

[ which. doesn't sound like the "love at first sight" thing she's been toting, no, but. anyway. ]

... Um. Was "love at first sight" really that... open-minded?

[ Okay, let's be real, she sort of had an idea what they were doing, but-- ]

[ please, ]

It's for the sake of the show, of course. I hate to say anything nice about him, but Minami-kun's right that it's not fair to everyone else to be exclusive.

[ at least not so early on. even anna knows that. ]

... I mean, totally slim chance we aren't matched, [ even if she seems ~so sure~ they are, ] but we've gotta give each other that space to find out. I'll support him no matter what.

[ because it's supporting something bigger. ]

How do you feel about him so far? Sincerely.

[ anna remains laying on the ground, forehead down. her back hurts. it's a strain to flex like this. she sits up slowly, a quiet, almost guarded look on her face as she tries to find the words, her cheeks warming as she pulls her knees to her chest to rest her chin on them.

sincerely. the guard slips and she smiles softly, wistfully. like she knows it's not meant for her to have. ]

Will-kun's a kind, brave person. He might always be thinking of someone else before himself... but that's because of his past. He's reaching out to others because someone reached out to him. [ a sigh. he's stupid. ] I like that a lot. Even if it's been less than a week, even if there's other people I should see if I click with that way too, I...

[ ... softer, quieter: ]

... Keep wanting to hear him say my name.

[ yana-chan, yana-chan. she'd told him to call her that, and he's the only one that does, but even if someone else did she doesn't think it'd make her smile a second quicker.

she's burying her face into her arms. ]

Which is such! A problem, Ritsuka-chan! I can't say how it's a problem, but it is! I didn't think I might like someone this fast! I mean, sure, I fell in love with So-- with someone else pretty fast, but that's like, kid stuff! But when we were alone, I just wanted to keep the timer going!

[ even after they'd talked. even when they should've just left. she asked, she wanted to spend more time, he complied. it's horrendous. it's setting herself up for failure, again. ]

I really like him. The more we talk, the more I do. I'm just waiting for that bubble to burst now.

[ That was a lot... and Ritsuka doesn't respond for a long moment, gaze just resting unwaveringly on Anna until she's finished speaking. And even then, she looks at her for a few seconds longer before bringing her hand up to her chin in thought.

She's not the kind of person who falls easily, which makes a show like this hard when she has to start shoving herself into that mindset, but it doesn't mean she thinks any less of the people who do. Anna speaks of Will as more than "well we both have blue hair" or "I like mismatched eyes" or "he's cute." And more than that, she looks wistful, which isn't something she would have expected from Miss Go-Getter. ]

It isn't like you're ignoring the rest of us, right? We're all sort of still feeling out who we connect with, but you found someone like that right off the bat. And Ryuji also had that experience, didn't he?

Whether Will's your match or not, I don't think there's anything wrong with ignoring the bubble and just going forward with all that energy and resolution you've had until now. Your confidence is your strong point, didn't you say?

I bet Will likes that too.

Besides, it won't stop you from getting through the game, I'm sure of it. So I'm free to cheer you on.

[ yeah, but ryuji didn't propose dating within the first few minutes of meeting wednesday... they had more days to feel each other out, to think about things, and finally agree to trying for the group.

and it worked out for them. lucky wednesday, lucky ryuji. it's a choice every time, she'd told her. love. maybe she'll make that choice, or maybe she won't. but at least they've got more time to figure themselves and each other out. ]

... He does. He told me... that he admires how I always know what I want, and that I'm not afraid to ask for it, even if it... it might be awkward.

[ even if she was too afraid to ask him for something she wanted after hearing that. her face might be hidden, but her ears are a great indicator for how red it must be. ]

But I... if my match is someone else, then that means that's the person who'll make me happiest, isn't it? That's how this game works? I should be with them instead. And-- besides, Will-kun... there's someone he...

[ her voice falters a moment, then she falls quiet. give her a moment. ]

Ritsuka-chan, did you know there's only two types of women in this world?

The game is based on what the producers think is best for us. I think, in the end, no one knows what'll make us happiest more than we do. Even if that might take a while to figure out.

[ She's just going to say that first, before she slowly tilts her head. ]

... Only two?

In love, anyway.

[ she shuffles one hand out. a finger. ]

The childhood friends. Those that have always been at your side, who are irreplaceable, who think of you more than you do yourself. Who you take for granted, assume they'll always be there because they always have. Why would that change? Someone who would always have your back, help you out, and marry you if no one else does by thirty.

[ oddly specific but let her finish.

a second finger. ]

And the homewreckers. The ones that take you by surprise, that you fall in love with, who might be similar or total opposite of the person you grew up next to. Someone you can't help but be curious about, because they're new. There's so much to learn about them. They're exciting, even if they might be fleeting. You don't take them for granted because you don't know if they'll stay the way a childhood friend might.

[ ...

her hand drops, curling back into her arm as she sighs into them. ]

Do you get it?

Edited (my missing words wont make her any less tragic) 2024-11-16 21:26 (UTC)

[ Ritsuka, who probably just had that one kid in grade school who pulled her hair until she kicked him in the back of the knees and traumatized him for life when he landed in a puddle and that's why he swerved to avoid her in middle school-- ]

Aren't we all technically homewreckers in this scenario...

[ her hand flies up, pointing fervently at the other. ]

Only if the other person has a childhood friend, Ritsuka-chan!

[ ...

it

lowers again, and anna lifts her head to draw spirals with a huff. ]

He's really fond of his. In fact, Will-kun's doing a lot for that person. His childhood friend, who's really stuck between a rock and a hard place right now. I'm not setting myself up for another rejection.

Huh? "Another"?

[ Is she just getting all of the backstory of everyone in this conversation, all two people-- ]

[ it's part of being a protag who should've been nothing more than a background character, ritsuka.

that said

she really doesn't want to talk about it in front of these cameras, because of who exactly might be watching and "cheering her on", so anna moves closer to the other girl. like so close, to anyone else they're sharing a kiss as she leans. ]

The other guy I fell for kind of fast, the one I mentioned. We were childhood friends. But I wasn't brave enough to say anything to him, and he looked the other way. It happened just before summer break.

[ It's so hard to be a protag who should have been nothing more than a background character, you're so right.

Ritsuka holds still to listen, blinking slowly as she processes that. And then, just as quietly, but slower-- ]

... So you're a childhood friend who's falling for someone else who has a childhood friend, but in this situation, you'd be the homewrecker, but as the childhood friend who went through the experience of losing yours to someone else, you know what that feels like, but all the same, childhood friend or not--

[ She breaks off, wincing. ]

Okay. Hold on. I've said it so many times just now it's starting to not sound like anything...

But all the same, [ a quiet whine, ] childhood friend or not, I still want to kiss him again!

[ drooping onto her shoulder. sorry. anna is now a permanent feature of ritsuka. ]

Will-kun isn't here for romance anyway. It's all for that childhood friend of his, so I wanna respect that. I'll help him out. It's still early enough that I'm probably the only one thinking about how nice it would be to go on dates together. I can live with that, really.

[ while she still gets so pissed at minami? okay. ]

[ It's okay. Ritsuka just lifts her hand and gently pets Anna's hair. Melt into her shoulder all you want, not-bestie-but-buddy-she-ain't-getting-in-the-way-of-Asa-please-just-TALK-ALREADY. ]

I think he'll appreciate you spending time with him, no matter what you decide to do. And who knows, he might have some thoughts on his own. Shoujo titles are all about not giving up and the situations you least expect coming true just by being yourself, right? And sometimes the Chinese zodiac is involved and sometimes you're a magical girl and sometimes there are mysterious transfer students, but... the uplifting morals are the same! [ She'd flap a hand, but that might dislodge Anna. ]

I'm really not equipped to give advice here, but if either of you need anything, I'll help you out too.

[ uplifting morals all the same....... ritsuka doesn't understand. she can't. the face will made when talking about that person, the fondness and awe... things anna understands all too well. if that guy ended up falling for anyone but will, she'd beat the crap out of him!!!

wait. she's sitting up very seriously. ]

-- Don't! Talk to Will-kun about any of this! I don't wanna hear it either! Thanks for the offer, but I'm dealing with it myself!

[ like! she has always done! ]

It's not like I'm suddenly quitting on him anyway. If dates are what's gonna get him one step closer to his goal, then I'll go and enjoy myself. And Minami-kun might take our distance as a sign to swing in and nab him too, which cannot happen, 'cause I don't trust that guy a wink with Will-kun's mission.

[ plus she wouldn't be able to stand it. ]

week one | overflow

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