sweetdevil | 65th ♫ | by the look of the sky, i wonder if the raindrops will turn into snow

[ Ahah, now she's definitely looking smug. ]

Are you sure? I'll take you up on the offer but it seems a bit awkward to just sit there by myself if you're not having anything.

[ Is this... bullying?? She's certainly saying it all very nicely and reasonably but just look at her face. It's the well-intentioned bullying of a big sister who knows that kind of bluster and all but... bullying is still bullying!!! ]

Then I'll get a snack or somethin'!

[It's definitely bullying, he's exchanged enough of it with his siblings to recognize it. But it's a little fun to be bullied by Ryoko—it's such a stark contrast to how distant and closed-off she was when she first arrived, and the telltale sparkle of mischief in her eyes is adorable.]

Or, I dunno, something iced.

[bro just quit while you're ahead]

Mm. If you insist.

[ Sometimes the best outcomes are watching someone suffer the low-stakes consequences of their own voluntary actions. A little schadenfreude is good for the soul, sometimes.

She gives him a little tug and starts walking. ]

Let's get going, then. We have plenty of time, but I don't want us to end up rushing.

[ She is absolutely holding him to that offer of a drink!! ]

[He follows along in your typical Anime Punk Strut, hands just a little too far into his pockets (because he isn't wearing gloves that actually cover his fingers either, of course) and hunched over just a little (because maybe it'll be warmer that way).]

Cute scarf, by the way. Is it Taeko's or yours?

[When it became apparent Ryoko wouldn't be leaving anytime soon, Taeko had taken her shopping (and made Akira carry the bags), but in the interest of not being a creep he hadn't paid much attention to what he was actually carrying.]

It's mine. I wasn't really sure if I should buy anything for winter, but... Taeko-san insisted.

[ She's already putting enough of a burden on everyone at Bright Sparks, even if she knows they'd all insist it's not the case at all. Buying clothes she's not sure she'll be around to wear seems like an unfair strain to put on Taeko's finances when she's already having to worry about feeding her... but now she's glad she listened. ]

If I'm honest... I wasn't really expecting to end up wearing it. I keep catching myself feeling surprised that I'm even still here for winter.

Hey, who knows, maybe you'll be able to hawk it as like-new vintage fashion when you go home.

[The longer she stays here, the more he hates the idea of her leaving, but...it's an inevitably, in the end.]

I'll do my best to make sure you're home next Christmas, so we've gotta pull out all the stops while you're here. I know it's not great to say something like this when you need to get home, but after the kind of year we've had, having you here has really been...

[Well, he's just not going to get into that. He and Taeko are both in their feelings every time a first without Matsu comes around and that's something he has to deal with on his own time.]

...Anyway, are you a coffee or tea kinda gal?

[ She's noticed the look he and Taeko get sometimes, the way they both trail off letting sentences hang unfinished that Ryoko knows better than to prompt them to complete. She's heard enough fragments of conversation and more importantly, knows how it feels when those sentences hang, to have made a guess at what she might be missing but she hasn't pried yet – it would feel slimy, somehow, to poke and prod what's so clearly a fresh wound. They can tell her on her own time, if they decide they ever will. It's fine by her either way. ]

I've been a good distraction, it seems. [ She says it like it's a joke, but with a smile so he knows she's giving him a Get Out Of Feelings Free card. ] Maybe by the time next Christmas comes around, the postal system will be up to sending packages back to 2010 and we won't have to worry.

[ But probably not. ]

I'll take a tea. Ah, but– without caffeine, please. [ The last thing she needs with her headaches. ] If there's fruit tea, that should be fine.

Sure, but how'm I supposed to send anything back? It ain't like our postal system's gonna have figured that out.

[Maybe he'll bully Tobei into reverse-engineering something. If he can just get that teleporter of his a. working and b. capable of traveling across time, not just space, it'll be a cinch...though he knows exactly how impossible that sounds even as he only jokingly entertains the notion.

When they arrive at Legally Distinct Starbucks, Akira orders a hot raspberry tea for Ryoko, and a pastry for himself. Ryoko, for her part, will probably notice that he has had it heated up, because it's steaming slightly as he eats it.

He is, of course, opting not to say anything about this.]

I thought of somewhere else I wanna hit up when we're done at the department store. We should probably bring a cake home for the kids or something, aside from the presents. What kind of flavors do you like? I mean, fruit, I guess, but what else?

[This is also an attempt at trying to figure out the kinds of things that Ryoko might like, since he's still doing calculus in his head to come up with good ideas. He's not used to actually having to put effort into this kind of thing—most people have an understanding of things that they want, and his emotions about all this keep swinging from earnest desire to get her something she'll like to extreme frustration that the circumstances she's been raised in don't allow for her to know what she'll like to begin with.]

[ He really does make it so easy to pick on him... but she'll let him off for now. ]

Technology's always progressing. [ she says it like she's being totally serious, but it's clear by the little smile she has that she's pulling his leg. ] Who knows what the professor might come up with before I go?

[ Putting a little turtle into a robot is already pretty uh far ahead of even the sort of thing she's come to expect from Shikishima...

But, well. They've got more important things to be worrying about than next Christmas. Getting this one sorted out first is probably the priority. ]

Mm... I don't like anything that's too sweet. Most of what we'd have in the house growing up were wagashi and traditional sweets, if we ever had them at all. So things with red bean or flavours like that... ah, and chocolate, too. We'd probably have an easier time finding a chocolate for Christmas than red bean. If it's for the others, it should be something fun to look at as well as being good to eat, right?

[That makes sense—she does like the taiyaki he makes. Maybe he should try his hand at crepes again sometime soon and give her some options for chocolate too...]

Yeah, chocolate would be a hit with the kids too. I'm not too picky, and neither is Taeko, so that's a good pick for everybody.

[Akira has something of a sweet tooth, though now that Ryoko's said she doesn't like them as much he's not about to mention it...]

Jeez, dunno what I'd do without you. I'm no good at this stuff.

[It's certainly some kind of thoughtful to pluck desires straight from one's brain to fulfill them, but he's come to rely on it. Ryoko's more traditionally thoughtful by nature, so having her along to make suggestions is already making this easier for him.

He shifts where he's seated, sidling toward her just a little. He's still cold so it's fine, probably.]

While we're here, I want you to have fun, too. There's still a couple days to get the shopping done, so if there's anything you see that you wanna check out, let me know, okay?

Well, don't rely on me too much. I'm not much better – the only person I've ever really bought gifts for is Ei-kun. [ And she hadn't been able to read his mind, exactly, but knowing him since he was six was its own kind of cheating. ] I'll do my best, though.

[ Without missing a beat, she reaches up with her free hand as she's taking a sip of her drink and sort of, fussily tucks in the scarf a little more cozily around his neck. Yes, she might have bullied him for bringing about his own chilly fate, but she's not totally heartless enough to let him freeze. ]

How about this? I'm not sure what there is around here to do during Christmas. Why not recommend me some things? I'm curious to see how people celebrate Christmas in this era, compared to mine.

...Uh...

[Akira looks a little thrown by the suggestion, his blush a little more apparent now that he's warming up.]

...It's a couple's holiday so...

[The words "I have never had a girlfriend before" are not ever leaving his lips but it is what's going on here.]

...Wanna see the lights together?

[This may be the least smoothly anyone has ever asked anyone else on a date, but listen: it's fine.]

[ Ryoko tries – and frankly, fails – not to look surprised. Maybe it's silly to be, when they're out here shopping for Christmas gifts but she hears couple's holiday and her stomach gives an odd lurch, like going downstairs and missing a step. It shows a little on her face, even if she's trying to school her expression back into something less damning.

Maybe she's overreacting. Maybe it doesn't really need to be as big a deal as she's making it in her head. It's just... strange to think that Akira might think of her that way.

Strange, but not exactly unpleasant. It's getting to a theme of the time she spends in this era.

Finally, her expression breaks into a smile. It's a little caught off guard and more bashful than she'd like it to be – but it's a smile. The sort she hadn't shown much of at first, but one that shows itself on her face more and more the longer she stays here. ]

Mm. I'd like that. If you don't mind taking me.

[Akira doesn't respond immediately, but his face does turn an impressive shade of red. He'd been not entirely unconvinced he wouldn't just die on the spot while Ryoko processed his words, but now that she's responded positively he's trying not to expire right here for totally different reasons.

This...doesn't mean anything official yet, but...that she agreed makes him really happy.]

Of course I wouldn't! I'm the one who asked.

[He doesn't have it in him to be too bashful, though the sudden bluster in his voice is probably close enough to a giveaway regardless.]

The city's always gorgeous this time of year. Kinda feels like a way to get us to go shopping, but...I ain't complaining.

[They probably don't bother setting up light displays or anything when kaiju could show up at any moment and smash everything, huh. Though he's not about to wonder that aloud.]

I just...y'know, it feels like a shame to only go shopping, I guess.

[He's trying to play this so cool but his brain is going at like 500 km/h to keep himself from stuttering.]

[ It's cute to see him trying to cover up his embarrassment like that – not that he has much of a chance with how red he's gone. It's enough to make that little flutter of unease in her chest warm into something a little gentler and sweeter. ]

I know what you mean. If I'm only going to get one chance to see it, then I should make sure I get my fill of it.

[ Right. This doesn't have to mean anything serious – how could it, when they're all working so hard on helping her go home? It's just...

Before coming here, she thinks her stomach and heart would both have rebelled at the very idea. If she could even manage to get her head around it in the first place. But somehow with Akira, it's not quite as scary or unpleasant to imagine.

The fact that she can even imagine it at all... that has to mean something good, doesn't it? ]

That's settled, then. We'll do whatever shopping we can do today, then we'll go and see the lights together.

[This is going to earn him the bullying of a lifetime from his siblings, but well, it's not like they're wrong when they make fun of him for having a crush, even though all he's done is deny it in front of them. Ryoko's inevitable return to the future is certainly an effective obstacle when it comes to actually making a move, though the longer he goes without saying anything the more it feels like he's going to regret it when the time comes. If it weren't for that, this would be the perfect time of year to confess, but...

Well, who knows what might come about after this. Akira's never been good at thinking ahead and he's not about to start practicing now. For now, he's just gonna play it casual.

He finishes his pastry while she talks, and gives her an easy smile once she confirms their plans.]

You mentioned they were talking about how it was gonna snow, right? I kinda hope that's true.

[It'd be the full Christmastime experience, even if it would also make it downright hellish to get back to the orphanage on a motorbike. It's not outside the scope of his ability, though, and if he said it out loud Ryoko might agree with him and revise their plans—the last thing he wants to have happen now that she's agreed to spend some time with him.

Rather than remain on the topic, lest Ryoko realize the situation with the motorbike herself—she's smart and courteous, so it's a real danger—he changes the subject fairly quickly.]

...Do people still eat fried chicken for Christmas in the future, or...

[If they don't, boy is she in for a surprise when Taeko rolls up with the traditional KFC bucket for the kids.]

It is Christmas. If we're going to see the lights, they'll look best in the snow.

[ Even if it's only for the atmosphere. And she hasn't had a snowy Christmas since she was too young to remember it – either it's more common back in the 2010s or Ryoko's luckier than she thought.

Some things never change, though, by the sound of it and she laughs to herself. ]

Yes, by the bucketful. Oh, but now they go all out – you can buy wine and cake and a whole meal from them, if you order far enough in advance. And I don't mind chicken at all, but I think I'd draw the line at wine from KFC.

[ If she, you know, was old enough to drink wine. It's the principal of the thing. ]

The cakes aren't too bad, or so I've heard. But if you're going to get Christmas cake, I think you should go all out and get one from a bakery.

KFC wine, huh...it really does sound gross. Even the "good" stuff tastes like piss anyway though.

[It's hard to keep alcohol out of the hands of a boy with psychic powers and the incredible determination to be as much of a problem as possible every time they pop open a bottle, though not for a lack of effort from Taeko and Matsu both. The fact that he hates it keeps him from being much of an underage drinker at any rate—he just steals a sip every now and again to see if he gets why people drink so much of the stuff.]

I'm right there with you on the cake too. Maybe other families are fine with cake from some American chain restaurant, but my little brothers and sisters deserve the best. Just don't tell 'em I said that.

[Their lives are happy enough, but it's still a fact that they've all lost their parents. A really nice cake once a year is really the least they deserve for enduring that kind of loss.]

Or, maybe you should say that, and then just not tell 'em I also said it. I bet they'd like that.

[And that way he gets out of being bullied for being soft.]

Maybe I will. And I'll make sure not to let it slip who really said it until most of them are out of earshot.

[ having ryoko around really just means the kids have gotten an ally in Mission: Bully Akira Out Of Existence, huh ]

While we're out looking for Christmas, we could see if there's anything in the way of New Year sweets as well. It's a little bit in advance, but we might have a better chance at getting something if we start looking around now.

[ That and – if they're going to be sharing their year end traditions with her, it might be nice to do the same in return. She and her parents didn't celebrate much while she was growing up, but she remembers scraping together pocket money to buy whatever they could afford with Ei, sneaking them under their parents noses and being thrilled that they'd gotten away with something that really didn't need "getting away" with.

It's a little nostalgic, is all. It'd be nice to share that with another rabble of younger siblings, even if they aren't strictly hers. ]

It's fine if you think of them as yours, y'know. I know they all think of themselves that way.

[He'd been peeking into her thoughts for something to get back at her for threatening his questionable status as the coolest kid at Bright Sparks, but he ended up finding something wholesome and cute instead. Life isn't fair at all.]

...If you're worried about getting too attached, you can always think of it like...big sisters go away eventually, right? So just enjoy being here while you can, same as me.

[Big brothers will need to leave too, after all, though Taeko's already more or less promised there's always a place for him until he can either support Kaori himself or she ages out of the system, whichever comes first. Even then, he doubts he'll go far. Bright Sparks is too important to him to just pack up and leave.]

I'm always sneakin' 'em some snacks from the stand during naptime, so it'll be a lot of fun for the kids to get something secret from you too.

[ She turns to him with a bit of a start, with a look on her face like she's torn between scolding him for peeking and letting it slide now that he's gone and said something so sweet. Life isn't fair indeed. ]

It just seems a bit... presumptuous, don't you think? You've known them for so long and I've not even been here a whole year.

[ But her slightly bashful smile makes it clear she's not displeased and she's certainly not denying it. Maybe it is fine to let herself be a big sister again, at least while she's here – for all she knows, it won't be that much longer before she finds her way back to her own era. Maybe it's a good idea to make sure she doesn't go back with regrets. ]

I'll make sure I get enough for all of them, then. [ Then– she raises her eyebrows a bit and her sheepish smile turns into a little grin. ] And you as well, of course. You wouldn't want to be left out, would you?

It's part of being in an orphanage, isn't it? Kids come and go.

[It sounds almost heartless when he says it like that, so he frowns and clarifies:]

Kids with no parents...we're pretty adaptable. Since we don't have a family anymore, it's only natural to get attached to whoever's around. As far as I'm concerned you're just as much family to them as I am.

[To them, not to him. The distinction's important, because to him, she's...]

You don't have to get me anything, but if you do I'm not gonna turn it down. You've gotta let me get you something too though, okay?

[Though he still has no idea what.]

And on that note, I'm banning you from saying "you've already done so much" til the end of the year. That includes Taeko too. Once the holidays are over you can say it again. Sound fair?

If you're all so determined, I guess I shouldn't protest too much, then.

[ She says it like this is something she's going to oh-so-graciously permit, but the way she drains the last of her tea to hide the pleased smile on her face tells the real story. She knows, really, it's wiser to not get attached when she'll need to be leaving who knows when – but it's much too late for her to be telling herself that now. Wise or not, she's already attached. ]

I'll warn you in advance, I'm very boring to buy gifts for. I'm a bit too practical for it.

I wouldn't say it's boring. Nothing wrong with being practical.

[Ryoko simply wouldn't be Ryoko if she weren't so straightforward and practical. It's not always a trait he likes in people, but it's one of the things he likes about her for sure.]

It probably wouldn't kill you to find, I dunno, a hobby or something, though. Maybe I'll help you find one for the new year.

[He is only half joking.

Once he sees she's finished her tea, he starts to stand, but remembers they're still sharing a scarf just in time to not choke her or himself and quickly sits back down.]

Ready to head out? I'm all warmed up.

[He doesn't do anything to unwrap or otherwise return half of Ryoko's scarf, though.]

Maybe I'll take up stamp collecting. Or model kits. Or... whatever's popular for people to do in 2010. I actually have no idea.

[ she says, as if she's even remotely up to date on pop culture in her own era. you're lucky she even knows what a light novel is.

She sets her cup down and stands up instead, taking advantage of the fact that with her advanced height of 5'2'' she's at least a little less likely to throttle them both. ]

We may as well get started. We've got some good ideas, so I think we've got a bit of a head start... should we go with presents first, then pick up sweets once we know how much we'll need to carry?

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this is Real and Actual Japanese Christmas Tradition btw i would not lie to you

let ryoko have kfc...!!!

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