puppycrush2 | week one

[out of everyone on Will's check-in list, Ryuji and Akechi were first only by the nature of their very public disagreement. with blows thrown on one side. . . Will needed to make sure they were both okay physically before he could rest easy. which means. . . he is probably catching Anna near the end of the night when she has changed into her pajamas and is settling down in front of the TV]

[. . . Will finds he misses the dress she wore to the match ceremony. it really did look good on her, accentuating her form in all of he ways that made her look quite beautiful. it had been hard for him to look away from her-- to stand up and walk to Minami's side after he had been called. but honestly. . .]

[even like this, dressed more normally, curled up on the couch. . . she really is lovely]

[though he knows the mood isn't right for those thoughts as he takes a seat next to her, the couch cushions sagging underneath his weight. he can only imagine how much she has on her mind right now, or how she is feeling in the wake of being one of the. . . ah. "leftovers" of the ceremony]

[(he still wonders. . . is that his fault?)]

Yana-chan. . .

[he says her name gently to get her attention, gaze flickering towards whatever she has on the TV]

Is it interesting?

[ the call of her name, from him, always makes her heart tick a little quicker now, always makes a smile flit to her lips, and it's no different this time. that's the same. stupidly, pathetically, the same. ]

Kinda. I'm not really following the plot, it's just nice to shut your mind off sometimes and stare at a screen.

[ but that

is kind of worrying huh!!!!! anna'll switch leaning sides, from the couch arm to will instead. ]

I do know it's a rip off a pretty famous movie. Casablanca. Performed by a bunch of college kids.

[he leans back, making sure their shoulders are pressed nice and warmly together as he stares at the screen, head slightly tilted. he has no idea what "movies" are, so obviously he has never heard of Casablanca. . . and he really only has a basic understanding of how this kind of igniter works, too. but he gets that it's something for entertainment, and that the moving pictures are meant to tell some kind of story]

I've never heard of "movies," or "Casablanca." Can you tell me what it's about?

[ how nice... it's like earlier. except maybe this time there won't be any interruptions. with her luck though, there will be. ]

It's a classic romance film about a man who has to choose between the woman he loves and his duty to the country he serves. I'm not spoiling the whole thing for you, [ he can watch these two bit actors himself, ] but which do you think he ends up going for?

[ ... ]

[NO!! THIS TIME I WILL BE NICE!!!]

[Will contemplates the question for a quiet moment, fingers lifted to his chin, features thoughtful]

I suppose it depends on what kind of story they're trying to tell, but. . . [in his own opinion] The more emotionally satisfying ending would be for him to choose love.

[I'M SO SORRY HE IS THIS STUPID!!]

[ it's fine. i actually have never seen casablanca i just know it's a classic so the plot being like that was a surprise to me too. the ending doesn't give me any hope. ]

I guess we'll find out!

[ haha. ha. she knows how it ends. more emotionally satisfying, huh... ]

I wouldn't blame him for choosing his country though. She's his former lover, so they've got history between them... but she did leave him. I'd be hurt by that too.

[I also have never seen Casablanca. I am a classic movie failiure!!]

. . . oh.

[that adds something complicated to the mix. his brows knit together tightly, nose wrinkled, as he contemplates what to make of this new plot information]

Then. . . I imagine he is struggling with the decision, right? [tryin' to call the ENTIRE MOVIE PLOT just from Anna's description, you're no fun Will] That he would like to reach out for love again, but is too afraid of being hurt a second time.

[ ...

she decides she doesn't like this movie anymore. ]

Guess you'll have to see.

[ that's all she'll say, laid against him. there's a wonderful variety of beautiful music still in this rip off, and though the love affair is a torrid, romantic one with suspense and passion (anna has, at this point, gripped onto will's arm in anticipation)...

... the man does end up sending his old lover away, claiming she'd regret not leaving with her husband and staying with him -- maybe not today, not tomorrow, but for the rest of her life. ]

[. . . oh]

[he doesn't mind the way Anna grips his arm-- finds himself leaning into it, even, allowing her to cradle it against her like a pillow if she so chooses. he watches the rest of the movie in silence, but his features do fall when he sees where the plot eventually goes]

[and as it slowly comes to an end, the credits beginning to scroll across the screen. . . . . .]

[. . .]

[he sniffs]

It's-- it's so. . . [IS HE CRYING??]

[not, like. openly. but he does look a little misty]

[ ... and he's a sensitive soul???? god, why do you make perfect men have childhood friends?! ]

Fleeting love truly is beautiful... and heartbreaking.

[ a sigh. she's sniffly too, full weight on him now as she does in fact use him as a pillow, though she's sitting up to wipe her eyes. ]

Even a B-list rip of a classic is still a classic in its own way. [ there were a lot of poor things about but that doesn't matter because will can't tell the difference anyway. ] Okay. I'm good.

[ on movies? on crying? hard to say. ]

[it's literally Will's first movie he DEFINITELY could not tell it was bad. he will remember this experience!! for now. . . he, too, lifts a gloved hand to gently wipe at his eyes, clearing away any moisture that threatened to leak from the edges]

The emotional payoff. . . it's not what you expect, so it really hits you here--

[thunks his other hand against his chest, right over his heart. it's almost like reading a good book, and being take off guard by a twist in the passages. he can see why people watch these things on TV now]

Did it help? [ah. . .?] Do you feel a little better after watching it?

[ah. now that the movie is over, he is ready to ask her about her evening]

[ when she takes him out to an actual movie and it's not like this. please. don't assume this is peak cinema. they've yet to see titanic.

but he's so cute... anna's glad he enjoyed it, it. was nice. sitting together, watching something together, comfortable with the quiet only broken by the movie itself. she thinks of her conversation with ritsuka and slumps against will again. pillow time. she

can indulge, she should. ]

Yup! I mean, I felt fine before watching it too, [ not really, ] but definitely now. How about you?

[ since he didn't have a great evening himself, ]

[. . . Anna. . .]

[he tilts his head to give her a level I know that's not true look. I mean, he believes she is doing better now, but. . .]

I'm fine. [he just spent his evening TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX THE AKECHI/RYUJI SITUATION it's okay. it's fine!1] But I am a little worried about you.

[a pause. where to start. . .]

Did something happen between you and Asa?

[ teehee she's casually ignoring knowing what that look means. it's universal. it's

really cute on will's face, he's so cute, he shouldn't be worried about her. the question makes her tense though, and she doesn't answer at first. her hand hesitates, then moves to take his. ]

She just... doesn't wanna be friends anymore. I mean, I really don't know why, but I guess I might've pushed her too hard? Trying to help her figure out who her match could be and all.

[he allows for this, flipping his fingers up to grasp at hers, so she isn't the only one reaching out]

[FROWNS!! he never had the chance to talk to Asa himself, but she and Anna seemed so close for only having known each other for a few days. so. . .?]

Is that all she said? "I don't want to be friends?"

[weird?? who even does that??]

[ great she's wriggling her fingers in they're Holding Hands holding hands. ]

No, she... well, she said that she wanted me to stay from her next week, because I'd just end up hurt if I didn't. And I... guess I just sort of...

[ ...

she assumed the worst. she is the worst. ]

... assumed that... she just didn't want to tell me to my face that I was annoying her, so she was being roundabout with it. Mii-chan... Mitaka-chan's really bad at saying things straight out.

[ so

wasn't it anna who said they couldn't be friends anymore? ]

[it's starting to sound just like that from Will's perspective. . . but it also sounds like Anna is coming around to that conclusion herself. still. . . he can't blame her for being injured by Asa's sudden rejection-- whether Asa gave a reason or not, being told by a friend to stay away would hurt anyone]

Do you still want to be friends with her?

[because, if so. . .]

[ of course she does. ]

Why would I?

[ it comes out before she wants it to, still hurt, and anna loosens her hold. nevermind. no longer holding hands holding hands. ]

She can't even tell me why I'd be hurt.

[nnnn. grasping at her hand a little tighter to make up for her letting go. they are holding hands holding hands now!!]

Do you want to try asking her?

[ oh he's. they're... holding hands holding hands, she guesses. ]

She's like an eel. I don't wanna right now anyway. I've been through enough today, haven't I?

You have.

[so he can understand why she wouldn't want to try today. perhaps another day. . .? or. . . maybe he should approach Asa himself?]

[but this is a good segue into what he wanted to talk about next]

How do you feel about the match ceremony? And. . . [guilt swells within] . . . not being chosen?

[ if he approaches her on anna's behalf they're gonna have a new issue and it's her slamming into his side to interrupt their conversation this cannot be a two nickels situation ]

It was a lot of fun! For the most part. I liked dressing up, the wardrobe they've got here is fantastic... and it was nice seeing Wednesday-chan and Ryuji-kun again. Like, they just left us, but I felt like I hadn't seen them in years.

[ exaggeration to the max, but, that's how she is... ]

I wasn't really expecting to be chosen though. I mean, why would they waste a chance for one of the lights to go up on someone they know they won't be a match with? I'm yours.

[ ... matchwise. ]

[HELP THAT IS SUCH A FUNNY MENTAL IMAGE. ANNA JUST BODY-CHECKING HIM OUT OF NOWHERE—]

[he eases a bit knowing that overall she seemed to enjoy herself, but. . . he still suspects she is putting on a brave face for him. her logic is sound, but logic doesn't always win out against feelings, does it. . .?]

[and he still. . . does not want to hold her back. to keep her from someone else, if her heart starts to cry out to them. to make her feel like she is just an "extra" who can be haphazardly paired with anyone else without any thought whatsoever]

[(though— hm. why does that thought stir a flicker of discontent in his gut. . .? huh. . . maybe he is just tired)]

That might be true, but— it still wasn't fair to you.

[firm!!]

I believe we're a match, too. But other people shouldn't shy away from choosing you just because of that.

[she deserves!! to be wanted!!]

[ SHE'D DO IT TOO NO HESITATION!!!!

and

she doesn't reply, not knowing how to. who cares if it isn't fair? the only person she wants to choose her is

(but if he finds someone he likes too, that's the end anyway. back to being a loser.) ]

... Speaking of that, we shouldn't go into the Truth Booth next.

[suddenly taken aback. the logic will make sense to him in a bit, but for now. . .]

Ah. . .? Why not?

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