During the trip

[majestic_keiki]

(Locked to Izuru until the thread reaches its natural climax. You can probably guess what it is. Then it's open for everybody else on the trip, which seems to only mean Asagi.)

[In the evening of one of the days of the Rabbits' trip, Kei knocks on the bous' door while others appear to be away. While she's dressed normally, there's an unusual fastidiousness to her clothing and she's a bit stiff like she's trying to psych herself.]

There's something I want to talk about. If we can go a bit, so the others don't interrupt us.

Comments

[herodrawing]

Kei? What's up?

[Izuru opens the door. The room behind it feels so empty, with no one present but him and his drawings.]

Is something wrong?

[majestic_keiki]

Oh, no. [She looks a bit uncertain.] Anyway, let's go somewhere else where the others aren't going to interrupt.

[herodrawing]

Eh? You have something planned, Kei? Talk about a surprise.

[Izuru closes the door and looks around in an exagerrated fashion.]

That way, maybe?

[majestic_keiki]

Yeah...[She fidgets a bit, looking around to make sure there's nobody else in the room.]

I've been thinking of saying it for a long time.

[herodrawing]

Say? You had some sort of secret?

[It must be really important if Kei decided to say it right now. Izuru steels himself.]

I'm listening.

[majestic_keiki]

[She's quiet for a long moment, still seeming pretty tense.]

I li-...Am in love with you.

[It comes out a bit forced, even if she did find time to overrule nerves to edit herself for clarity.]

[herodrawing]

... Eh-wh! I mean!

I didn't think anyone'd say this to me ever! Except for my dream! I mean, I didn't have this kind of dream, it's just that one time but it was more like a reverse situation! Ah, nevermind that, it was a dream, forget that now!

The point is!

[For someone at loss for words, Izuru has a lot to say.]

[majestic_keiki]

[She shrinks away slightly, whatever confidence she'd psyched herself up for starting to falter.]

[herodrawing]

Err. I mean.

[And now that he's done with his initial outburst, Izuru is stumbling over his words.]

You are always the most responsible and making sure everyone is safe. I didn't know that's how you feel... well, except for that dream.

So, I guess I'm trying to say is.

You really feel like that Kei?

[majestic_keiki]

...Yes. [Her voice is pretty weak.]

I've been thinking about saying something for months.

[herodrawing]

Oh boy.

[Izuru sits on the bed.]

That's a big thing to come out. But, you know... somehow I kinda suspected it. I mean, even though I just said I'd never expect it. Call it a hunch, maybe.

What do we do now?

[majestic_keiki]

You say what you feel, so I know what to do.

[herodrawing]

What I feel? Ah... this isn't easy... you probably know yourself Kei, since you mustered so much courage to say it.


Okay! Let me try.

[Izuru stands up.]

Kei! You are a very precious person to me!

I'm pretty sure I love you! I just don't know if it's love or... you know. Love-love. But I'm willing to move forward and slowly find out!

[majestic_keiki]

[Kei nods, giving him one of her rare, bright smiles.]

Right.

[She looks really relieved for a second, then she looks around suspiciously, half expecting one of the other Rabbits to pop out of nowhere and have heard it all.]

[herodrawing]

Eh? What's wrong? You think Suruga is hiding under the bed?

[majestic_keiki]

I just didn't need them to poke fun and it seemed too perfectly timed for nobody to do anything.

[herodrawing]

Eh, it's fine. You guys poked fun at me plenty of times anyway. Besides, we're kinda like family, right?

[majestic_keiki]

You're, right, we are.

[herodrawing]

Well, there you have it then.