chippedsoul | The Journal [Inbox]

[ The humans, despite being exceptionally bright individually, are having a severe case of "sharing one brain cell" at the moment. Susato lets out a noise against his chest as she fumbles into him, the towel wrapping around her like a blanket. She otherwise doesn't seem to fight it much, but her cheeks are still a striking red. ]

J, Just for that, I am borrowing your clothes. [ Again. Because clearly this is the worst punishment she can give to a man with an already-limited wardrobe.

Does she need to? No. By now, she has her own change of clothes here, though she would have to see if they're clean.

Does she enjoy his scent and the freedom to move around in clothes two sizes two big for her? Well... ]

My clothes? [A bit of laughter escapes him towards the end there. He's gently moving the towel, helping her to dry. Helping, used lightly.]

You could have just asked if that's what you wanted. [Oh my god, this man is an absolute smartass.]

[ Girl, you walked right into that one.

Maybe if she buries her face into his chest she can pretend she is not embarrassed. Or maybe she isn't even here at all! ]

[ Predictably that fails. Susato's grumbles are muffled as Kazuma probably feels that ticklish vibration, and then--oh, yes. His feet lift slightly off the ground. She's actually doing it.

No snakes! No Hyde! Just Kazuma, the smartass! ]

[ Ah, but it's a shame. The floor is awfully wet, isn't it? Her brain kicks in at the last second, reminding her that this may not be the best of ideas. She also finds herself questioning whether Kazuma even deserves it. Yes, she still owed him, but so much has happened between them since.

And he was just joking, wasn't he? ]

[ Her shoulders start to slack with indecision. Perhaps if she had simply followed through, it would have just been Kazuma on the floor, naked, as it was meant to be, but she can already feel her feet start to slip as his weight pulls her down.

No. She definitely shouldn't. But it is too late.

In the next moment, the wind is knocked out of her chest, and there's no telling whether the squeaking is from Susato herself or their feet scraping against the floor. She lands on top of Kazuma, dropping like a rock.

Some really undignified noise escapes from her lips. In her head, it was a curse. ]

[Ohhh that definitely got under her skin. He's laughing until he feels his feet leave the floor.] Ah- [He probably should have seen this coming. He kind of deserves it. He isn't going to stop her, but he is grabbing onto her shoulders. Something doesn't feel right about this toss though, and Kazuma doesn't have a lot of time to react when they're both stumbling and slipping onto the ground. Only thing he was thinking was making sure he's hitting the floor and Susato's fall is cushioned.

He's going to feel this in the morning. There was, definitely an odd case of deja vu from that fall, not a pleasant one. Not important right now.] Susato?! [Fang chirps in alarm at the two of them suddenly on the ground, towels all over.

His hand is resting on Susato's head, and on her back. She's making some embarrassing noises, but otherwise, she seems fine.] ...Well, you almost had it.

Haaaah. [ There's a sigh that turns into a drawn-out groan. She has to cough some of her hair out of her mouth. She was cushioned from the worst of it, and yet that almost makes it worse. Her head is spinning, but she is just aware enough to know that Kazuma protected her, which is annoying. She can't even be mad at him properly!

She frowns, slowly pushing herself up with her hands on either side of him. She can almost imagine that she's pinning him down . . . ]

I am out of practice without Naruhodo-san here. [ She says this, but can't seem to decide whether she's joking or not. Either way, she is staring down at Kazuma, concern in her eyes. ] Are you hurt?

[He blinks at the Naruhodo remark. A chuckle.] So you're practicing with me instead?

[He isn't sure if he's joking as well. He does not particularly want to be the target of the Mikotoba takedown. Seeing that worried look on her face, he raises a hand to rest on her cheek.] Sore, but I'll be all right. I ah...do need to be able to get up.

Oh. [ Soft touches are cheating. It's a wonder that she ever stopped blushing at all this entire time--or maybe she never did. She glances away, finding it a little harder to look at him as she sheepishly does a crawl off him. So he can get up, or whatever.

She finds herself sitting seiza position, looking rather apologetic. To complete the look, she murmurs, ]

...Sorry.

[...She's so cute. He wince as he moves to sit up himself, pulling a towel with him. He then puts it over Susato's head.] Can't say I wasn't asking for it.

[Whether she asked for it or not, he's going to help dry her hair. Fang is sitting down nearby, at a lost at what to make of these hooman activities. It usually doesn't take this long for them to clean up.]

Mmf-- [ Suddenly she can't see! She almost breathes in a mouthful of towel, but at the very least, she understands his intentions quickly. Sneaky of him to take advantage of the fact that her head at been slightly bowed. It feels like a gentle massage as the towel is pulled down. Probably better than she'd care to admit once her sight is restored, his hands getting at the lower strands.

Hopefully he'll allow her to return the favor. ]

Someday... [ She hums contentedly, glancing Fang's way apprehensively. Yeah, Susato understands none of this either. How did they even get here? In a laugh, she adds: ] Perhaps. I'll get it right.

Hm. Someday. [Should he be encouraging this? His dignity was on the line. So was her happiness. Ah, if it happens, it happens. Worry about it then. He lets the towel drop onto her shoulders, a warm smile on his face.]

Thank you, for joining me in the bath.

[ Considering how she often came to regret it with Ryunosuke at times, he probably shouldn't encourage it; but she probably shouldn't be bathing with him either. Ultimately, she is glad she did, of course. Who knows when something like that would ever come up between them, if at all. With that still at the back of her mind, she closes her fist like she is grasping that very feeling of being here for him, in the palm of her hand.

The towel lands on her shoulders, and she returns his smile, forcing herself to meet his eyes. What is she supposed to say? "Oh, yes. Anytime."

In the end, she just settles for, ] You... You're welcome.

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