halloforigin | 2017 OPEN RP POST

Heir? [A curious glance to the other two, although their little silent conversation meant that would just have to be a question he'd save for later.
Right now, it was waiting to see if Itsuki would say yes, the most important part of a date!

And when that yes comes, his hand extends to his heart, letting out a breath of relief. So his train trip today wasn't in vain, and with the way her voice flows like honey, he could only sense genuine affection in her statement.]

That's so great...

[The girls push her forward, giving her soft words of encouragement before leaving as Taiyou can't help but light up in reaction. He'd really have to introduce himself to those two at some point...they were his unofficial wingwomen right now, after all...With a little warmth to his cheeks, he waves them off, chuckling lightly at Itsuki's correction.

An outing it was, then. If Taiyou felt deterred by Itsuki's outfit, he certainly didn't show it, as he got that silent acceptance from her friends as well as affirmation from Itsuki herself.]

Come on, Itsuki-san. There's this place I really want to show you.

[While it was pretty far from Arakumo Gakuen, the school was relatively close to Raimon, and there was one place in particular in that town that came to mind the moment he'd made his promise for a date. It was quiet, sentimental (to him), and at this time of day...beautiful.]

I've got it all planned out and everything.

[ She'd really thought it was a playful joke-- a whim, at best, something he'd maybe lightly entertained but hadn't given a whole lot of thought to. But Taiyou had come all the way here to find her, and not only that, but had worked out some manner of plan concerning it to the point that it included where he wanted to take her.

... Taiyou's cheeks aren't the only ones that are slightly warm now, but even as her heart thumps a little more quickly, Itsuki's shoulders relax and a lot of the confused tension goes with it. Thinking of this as an outing with a friend who just wants to show her a favorite place... she's done things like this before. Nature of the situation aside, this is nothing out of the ordinary.

She'll just keep telling herself that, nodding as she turns to follow him. ]

Lead the way.

[ Her bag is excitedly squeaking. ]

[Originally, it had been. Taiyou had teased the idea from the moment she'd exited through his window, and while he wasn't overly serious about it when the words came out of his mouth, he found himself thinking more and more about the girl with the honey-coloured hair, just a couple of inches taller than him and bright amber eyes. Sata would often complain about how much he brought her up, this mysterious girl he'd smuggled into his hospital room...as if that was something normal people did!

And the more he thought, the more he actually wanted to take her out on a 'date', as casual as it was just to show her something like a riverbank after school.

He starts to walk towards the school gates, arms behind his back as he leads the way and taking in the sights, only diverting his attention when he hears that giggle from Itsuki's school bag. There's a playful little smile towards the girl, giving a little wink before whispering to the bag.]

Do we have a stowaway with us on our date?

[The curious tone quickly turns to a gentle one, nothing but a whisper so the other students can't hear.]

I missed you too, Potpourri....

[ Movement in the bag becomes more pronounced, ceasing only when Itsuki presses a gentle hand against the side, because it's not safe to come out yet. Not that she wants to deny Potpourri a chance to see her second favorite sun, but Taiyou was one of the few civilians (and definitely the oldest) who knew what she was (sort of) and was more than okay with it. Not everyone could understand that yet.

So she waits until they're past the gates, when the trickle of students calling out goodbyes to her has ended, and they're well on their way before she unzips her bag and lowers her voice. ]

All right, Potpourri. You're clear.

[ ... Which is all it takes for the fairy to zip out of the bag and straight towards Taiyou, just so she can happily nuzzle his cheek. It makes Itsuki's smile turn soft, just watching the two of them. ]

For about a week, you were all she'd talk about.

[Taiyou's eyes momentarily track the movement on her bag as they make their way to the gates, nonchalantly putting his hands behind his head and turning his eyes up to the trees overhead. He had a feeling that Potpourri wasn't something everyone carried around in their purse, and bringing attention to it could cause more trouble than Taiyou was willing to throw them into.

Besides, he liked keeping secrets.

They pass the gates as the bystanders now make their way towards their after school activities or towards their homes, and with Itsuki's signal of all clear, he can see Potpourri fling herself out of that bag.

Laughter erupts from Taiyou as Potpourri makes a beeline for him, and hands gently cup around her to give a little nuzzle in return. After all, he'd missed her just as much as he'd missed Itsuki...]

Is that so...

[A smile spreads, reaching up to tickle the little fairy with his fingers.]

Good things, I hope, yeah?

I promise, there was nothing bad.

[ And if anyone could testify to that, it would be the one who got to hear all about how much Potpourri liked Taiyou at three in the morning, or while walking home, or gently turning down another girl behind the school (and that hadn't been the best timing for multiple reasons).

Now, it's easy to smile at the sight the two of them make, each equally thrilled to see each other again. When she thinks about it, Taiyou does seem to possess the same love of life and exuberant happiness that her fairy does, albeit with much more maturity. ]

It seems you really made an impression on Potpourri. That's pretty impressive, Taiyou.

[ Potpourri giggles, although whether it's sign of being ticklish or just Potpourri being happy-- no one really knows.

"He's warm, like the sun, and like Itsuki! Of course Potpourri likes him!"

Duh. ]

[The little fairy sung praises of him, huh...there's something about hearing those words that spreads warmth throughout his body. Potpourri, while their meeting had been unexpected, seemed almost fated. The little fairy took to him almost immediately (after he'd foiled her little doll imitation), especially once he'd promised to keep her existence secret.

He can't explain why, but then again...there's a lot in this world we can't really explain. Keshin, hissatsu, and now these fairies. The world's full of things we don't have to make sense of.]

The feeling's mutual, it's why I tracked you down again after our first meeting, after all... I can't really explain it, but there's something special about you two...

[Potpourri's comment only makes him glow more, fingers giving one last little tickle before letting her loose to hover around them and tangle his fingers in that mess of orange hair instead.

He's lost in though a few moments, humming softly before snapping one of his fingers.]

Maybe it's because you're both cute!

[TAIYOU!]

I--

[ Sooner or later, Taiyou is going to get tired of seeing Itsuki's surprised face-- and truthfully, Itsuki herself isn't used to letting her surprise show all that often, or even being surprised at all that much. After Potpourri, she could handle most anything with composure and a great sense of calm, but now there's this sunny boy who just blurts things that she's really only heard from her brother or the Fashion Club and never from another boy.

(She was never going to include Cobraja in this list.)

But this is the first time she can feel a great amount of heat suffusing her face, and is alarmingly aware that she's turning redder than she has in a very long time. It's only when Potpourri perches on a shoulder with a questioning noise that Itsuki is able to drag an answer forth. ]

I... don't think that's it. Maybe you were just curious?

[ Help her, Oniisama. ]

[It's common fact that Cobraja should never be included in that lineup.

But the way Itsuki gets surprised every time it's mentioned is exactly why he's so upfront about it. This is a girl who's clearly never been complimented like this...at least not so bluntly, from another boy. And for someone like Taiyou, who found people so interesting as a whole, he couldn't help but feed into that. He wanted to see her get surprised. He wanted to see that surprise become the norm, for her to expect comments like that.

After all, in his eyes, and probably anyone who knew her....she deserved them.

Her attempt to deflect his affection has him smiling even wider, giving a little wink to Potpourri before turning his attention back to her.]

Hmmmm....

Well you're not wrong, Itsuki-san. I've been interested in learning more about you since we met.

[Can you not word everything like a vague attempt at flirting.]

Maybe it's a bit of both.

Mm... I suppose you really didn't get a chance to learn anything past my name.

[ For understandable reasons that involved hiding from hospital staff, but there's definitely more breathing room now. This also seems like a safer topic, so Itsuki settles into it easily enough. ]

You know my school and you probably know I'm a second-year... the older brother Erika mentioned actually stayed at the same hospital you were at for a short while, which is why I think Potpourri got confused and tried to find me there. He's been sickly and frail ever since he was born, but he recently underwent a risky surgery to try and fix that. He's fine now, but he does have to go in every so often to make sure nothing's wrong.

[ Itsuki looks away now, forward-- ]

He's the rightful heir of our dojo. Up until this point, I've been acting in his place, so that's why... [ she'll motion to the gakuran. ]

Your older brother was at the same hospital? [With hands still behind his head, he tilts his body slightly towards her in acknowledgement. Taiyou's often one to believe in fate, and something like this...while nothing more than just sheer coincidence and a line of reasons why they would have met (involving Potpourri's shenanagins, no doubt), seemed more and more like fate in his eyes.]

Sounds like he was in there for the same reason I was. It's such a hassle, and normally I get so stir crazy in that place... [He sighs wistfully, smile creeping across his lips.] But small checkups are worth it if it means I get to stay out of there for good and visit you at school.

And Potpourri, too!

[A hand reaches out to the fairy, offering a hi-five. As short lived as it is, as his attention is soon drawn to her, looking her up and down as if this were....the first time he'd noticed it.]

Ah, you wear the boy's uniform to act in his place? At the dojo too?

[Is this girl a fuckin' black belt.]

[ It's still so strange to imagine Taiyou having been at the hospital in the first place. If Itsuki hadn't met him there herself, she doubts she would have believed it. Even now, as she watches Potpourri happily bring a paw forward to meet his palm, that aspect of it just feels like some sort of odd dream.

But he is here in front of her, after all, and she smiles. If he's doing better, that's all she needs to hear. ]

That's right. I didn't think anyone would take me seriously if I didn't at least try to act as a boy, and showing weakness at the dojo was even more of a fear to me.

... Of course, I think a lot of that was self-imposed. My brother always told me I didn't have to force myself so much.

[He'd always been one to not let his sickness define him, let alone take over his life. To him, it was something temporary, and his will to play soccer and experience life like everyone else would triumph.

And nothing gave proof of that more than right now. His desire to get out into the world and play soccer with Tenma, to see Itsuki again, they were all stepping stones to conquering his own physical limitations.

The sky was the limit with him, and that was where the sun belonged.]

I agree. Your dedication alone is enough to warrant respect, the way I see it.

But--

[Another wink to Potpourri. This next line's going to be a good one.]

Boys or girls uniform, you're very cute, Itsuki-san. The sun just glistens off you.

[ ... Are boys normally this forward?? Their future student council president had blurted out his desires when he thought she wasn't listening once, but she'd never caught him actually trying to flirt with anyone. Her own brother might say things like this, but that was her brother, and as Yuri had said once, all older siblings doted on their younger ones to a certain extent-- even Momoka.

If Taiyou keeps talking like this, it's going to be very difficult to keep her composure; indeed, Itsuki is already pressing a palm over her face. He doesn't seem like the type, but... ]

Please, don't tease me...

[Most boys have a filter--but Taiyou, someone who's always been so confident in who he is, how he feels, and what he wants to do, never saw the point in masking what you want to say. He had tact, of course, it's not like he went out shouting to the world what he thought without a filter, but when it came to expressing things that he felt were obvious...positive ones, he never held back.

From the looks of it, Itsuki wasn't one who really got comments on her appearance as upfront as his. It made it feel a little special, in some ways.

A smile spreads further, blue eyes calm and collected, and his voice mellowing to match.]

I'm not teasing. You have a glow about you that makes it impossible to resist gravitating towards. Whether you're in a boys uniform or a girl's uniform, that radiance still beams like the sun.

[He closes his eyes, nodding sagely.]

It's why I'm here. And it's why you have such good friends like Potpourri and the two girls I just met.

[ Potpourri nods sagely (for once), because as far as she's concerned, Taiyou is absolutely right. Itsuki had a certain warmth and brightness to her that drew people in, and kept them there when they learned that the warmth they'd seen wasn't just for show.

But very few people have ever told her that, in such glowing terms, and Itsuki is already doing her best to stay firm on the subject here. She can't let him throw her too far off-guard. ]

... Thank you, but a lot of that was due to them. And you have a radiant sort of charisma yourself, Taiyou.

[ Which she's sure he knows. ]

Ah? You flatter me...

[He smiles, blue eyes cutting through her rebuttal.]

Tell me, Itsuki-san. What attracts bees to flowers? Whatever it is--colour or pollen or scent, its something the flower had from the start.

[His arm reaches over to hook hers confidently, leaning in to rest his chin on her shoulder.]

Buzz, Buzzzzz~...

[...and then bursting into a fit of laughter.]

Edited 2017-07-08 00:47 (UTC)

[ ... This boy is ridiculous. And even as Itsuki blinks at him, completely startled by just how easily affectionate and playful he is (despite knowing Erika), a laugh escapes. ]

Has anyone told you that you're unusual?

[Her response only fuels his laughter, pushing his weight back onto his own feet, but still keeping their arms linked together.]

All the time.

[Although, he couldn't sound more proud of that if he tried.]

'Unusual' is more exciting, though, don't you think? No one ever changed the world by being 'usual'.

... That's true.

[ In the wake of their laughter, Itsuki completely relaxes, letting him stay connected to her. ]

Is that what you'd like to do? Change the world?

[ Because that's kind of a process and half the time Itsuki isn't sure what she's doing anyway. ]

MMm. I think so.

[His mood settles into a more carefree, casual tone, letting their feet guide them along the sidewalk, their arms being the only link between them, but with no pull on either side.]

It might not be very big, and no one might notice, but it'd be worth it if it made someone smile.

[ Does she have any idea where they're going yet? Honestly, no. A lot of this remains new and unknown, which is something Itsuki knows Erika would be thrilled about and she's still mildly curious herself. Until then, she can simply enjoy this walk with him for what it is (or what she thinks it is). ]

... You've already made someone smile, though. I think you're doing very well already.

Is that so?

[Don't worry Itsuki, he knows exactly where he's going, and if she happens to need a hint in the direction, he'll tug her gently to let her know when there's a turn. It's not too far to the riverbank...but he may be going a bit slower to enjoy their leisurely pace.]

And who might that be? Maybe....Potpourri?

[A little tease, smiling right back at her.]

I don't think Potpourri's stopped smiling since she met you, so she counts.

[ And a giggle from her fairy companion, of course, as Itsuki's smile also takes on a hint of something teasing. ]

[That's more what he likes to see--a playful banter back from her that he knew she kept tucked inside her. Itsuki may be acting in place of her ailed brother, but he could see the bits of sunshine that wanted to peek out from behind the cloud she'd fit over herself.]

That bright and shining smile just for me?

[He slowly steers her to take a right at this next crosswalk, looking around for the little fairy that had seemed to have disappeared for just a moment. She was tiny--maybe she was just hiding from passerby.]

A girl after my own heart...

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