puppycrush2 | week two

... Hey, Tsukasa-kun... they can't use this footage since you're in it, right?

[ what

an odd question. ]

[... Hm?

It is an odd question, but aside from a quizzical tilt of his head, he just answers it.]

That's most likely right. There's no real reason for them to use it, since your relationship with the other contestants is what matters for the show.

[In fact, even if these dates are also recorded, there's much less of a crew here than on Anna's other dates.]

Good.

[ just because

she still doesn't want everyone else to know. back home, within her friends' group. anna breathes in, hanging her head lower so her expression is obscured. but her hands are tight as they clasps each other. ]

... I said I turned down a lot of confessions, but... I was pretty much rejected myself. No, not pretty much -- I was dumped, plain and simple. By my childhood friend, who I thought would never find anyone else to fall in love with.

[ a soft, pained laugh. ]

Not that he ever thought about me that way in the first place, probably.

[... Oh.

So that's where the raw emotion in that portrayal came from. She was acting from true life--from her life, from a moment that has been this meaningful to her, all this time.

And how could it not be? Maybe there are endless incredible people here from all sorts of worlds, but a broken heart is a broken heart. That's the same across worlds, he has to believe.]

... I see... so that's why...

[... Hm...]

Did coming here help at all? [The show. The play. Their little acting stint--any of it.]

Mmhmm. I met Will-kun, after all.

[ and

she does mean that sincerely, she already knows that, even if some tears drop onto her dress, voice shaky. ]

He's-- everything I could ever want, Tsukasa-kun. I can't imagine he's not my match, but even if he wasn't, I... I wouldn't accept that. I came here because I thought I was ready to move on from Sosuke-kun, but I'm almost more upset that I am? If that makes sense?

[... Oh. Oh.

He may not be terribly experienced when it comes to love, but they've all experienced heartbreak, haven't they? In some form or another. And from the sounds of it...]

This Sosuke-kun... was he one of your dreams?

[Grow up together, be childhood friends into lovers into marriage, and... have that sort of picturesque life?]

He was my only dream, [ she chokes out, and she can't stop the tears now.

for the first time in a while, anna yanami cries. ]

I wanted to marry him! For over a decade-- a whole decade of my life, that's all I wanted!

[ she inhales sharply, pressing her hands to her face and shaking her head. ]

... But that's not my problem here, Tsukasa-kun. It's part of it. But it isn't the whole.

[... Ah.

He shifts a little so that he's in front of the cameras, and it's mostly his back--truly unusable footage. There's so much he could say to that (so much that resonates and aches when he thinks of losing your only dream for ten years)... but.

There's more, she says.]

... Will you tell me the rest?

... Mmhmm.

[ she doesn't mind. he's outside it all, this isn't an interview, so... it's fine. she lowers her voice anyway. ]

It doesn't make my feelings any less genuine, but... Will-kun and I aren't together because we like each other. It's because I'm helping him gain publicity, so everything we do is to show off the sides he wouldn't normally be able to from day one. It was my idea, so I'm really reaping what I sow, but I like him way, way too much. I really do.

... But... there's no way, you know? That I could say any of that to him, when he has so many people depending on him becoming king, when he's going to be in a whole other world -- I'm trying not to think he might seriously like me back, but he makes that hard too.

[ and that

is the crux of her issue, so soon, so early into this all things considered, is just how much she likes it and him and there's really no one else on her mind even if she should try just in case someone else is better suited to her and she does not care ]

[... So that's how it is. She lost her whole dream, came on here, found someone new to love, and agreed to date them for pragmatic reasons.

But... that's not how these sorts of stories go, is it? Of course she fell in love.

And Will... has Will, also...?]

... Are you sure you can't tell him?

[He gets it, he really does. Will's got so much going on that Tsukasa can't even imagine. This whole different worlds thing is wild, and he and Anna are probably the most normal people here.

But... there's value in that, too.]

You're really kind, Anna-chan, and you don't want to put too much on his shoulders, right?

But... I think heavy problems like this are easier to solve when you're working on them as a team.

[And maybe there isn't a solution to every single problem--but at least that way, you're still not alone.]

... I don't want to be rejected again. If I say something, and... the look on his face tells me he doesn't feel the same, then I...

[ ... ]

[Well, of course there's that. He can't say for sure which way Will's feelings tilt, especially given all of the responsibilities he has.

And yet...

... They only have four weeks here, right? And he definitely doesn't want Anna to leave here with any regrets.]

... Are you going to keep it to yourself? For the rest of your time here?

... Yeah. I'm not brave, Tsukasa-kun, whatever anyone else thinks.

[ she's a whole coward actually. but she can be brave in a different way, smile resigned and helpless. ]

Will-kun has to see the bigger picture too, if he's gonna be king. I'm here to make sure of that.

Anna...

[It's really foreign to Tsukasa, whose coping methods have always been to slam forward and give it his all, consequences be damned. But he's learned a lot lately that there's a time and place for that sort of problem solving, and that people have their own ways to cope with problems.

... So he drags in a slow breath, and lets it out equally slowly, and knows that he can't encourage her to just go confess right now--not as a host, and not as her friend, when the stakes are so much higher for her and Will than they are for him.]

I see... Can you at least... try to lean on him a little more? You don't have to tell him why. But I imagine he'd want to be there when you're struggling.

[Even if it's not romantic, it's--]

Because he's your friend.

[ yeah, because he's her friend.

all the more reason not to press too far, hope for too much, even if

he wants to say goodnight to her, wants to kiss her at the door, wants to hold her hand and lay with her, always perks up when he sees her, always makes it a priority to talk to her, always is so considerate and kind and loyal and sweet and

far too much to hope for, she thinks, closing her eyes to the evidence otherwise. even so, even so. the bigger picture. ]

Yeah, of course. He's really nice to snuggle with anyway.

[........... love seems very complicated, he can't help but think.]

Well! If you do that much, then I'm satisfied. I have a pretty good feeling things will work out for you, Anna-chan.

After al, you're a go-getter. [That's what the card said, isn't it?]

[ dude i don't want to read that from a guy who's macking on a demon ]

That's what he likes about me too.

[ if only he knew......... that she's not........ as much as one as he thinks.......... like she is but it was so much easier when he wasn't kissing her. in general. ]

[don't perceive that]

Oh, I see! One of many things, I'm sure.

[Because Will is a nice guy and Anna has a lot going for her! So! Obviously!

Also the theater is practically empty by now, so...]

Are you ready to return to the cameras, Anna-chan? We can stay a little longer if you want.

How good at fixing make up are you?

[ please she needs a touch up and she needs it now. ]

[Well...]

I can't do anything complex, but I know the basics.

[Mostly stage make-up, but he's learned a few things from Saki too.]

Do you have any supplies with you?

Of course. I'm a girl, aren't I?

[ don't stereotype yourself honey. but she does have a little handbag with make-up in it, just in case the play made her cry. which it did. ]

[don't stereotype yourself, honey.

Anyway, he'll accept the make-up as she hands it over (he is not rummaging in her purse, that'd be really rude), and leans in to carefully do what he can to fix her make-up.

The result is... fine! She looks like she has perfectly normal make-up on. Not as cute as she could've done herself, but--]

Well, that'll have to do for now. You'll look fine for the cameras, so no need to worry!

[ okay!!!! that's good enough!!!!! she'll take his arm. ]

Then yes, let's. Thanks for indulging my request, Tsukasa-kun. It really was fun.

No, I should be the one thanking you!

[This was legitimately everything he could've asked for and more in an outing..... this includes the canon mandated post-show breakdown.

He'll lead the way out, humming thoughtfully.]

I'm grateful for the opportunity to see such a wonderful show with a dear friend of mine.

[ really glad to make him feel right at home. ]

You can invite me out any time, you know, after the show's done with too. We're probably from the same world.

[ moreso than like. some of these others, ]

week two | dates

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)