[Haru is already so very much in love with Li, how can this cat orb be so cute? Haru lavishes as much affection on Li as they can handle. Making sure to scritch all the right spots.]
I suppose that is where "overworking" comes from. You wear yourself out too fast and then try to keep going.
[Haru holds Li a little closer.] You haven't been overdoing it, right Erika-chan?
They're fine, [she says quickly, and quietly, folding her hands together primly over her stomach, knowing perfectly well that Haru knows perfectly well that they're not "fine". They are relatively "fine" at best. But you can't just saaaaaay that.] ...It's not like overworking or underworking will change anything. It's just a waiting game.
[They both know they aren't "fine" per say. But Haru is more physically fine at this point. Just sore, and easily tired. She wants to help, but she isn't sure how or if Erika wants to let her do so.
[This is one of those moments where, back home, she'd just abstain. Say nothing, refuse to acknowledge, let someone step in apologetically and pull the conversation away.
Finding something to say instead is like pulling teeth. There's a long, awkward silence. Erika doesn't have to work very hard to avoid eye contact; just stare at the ceiling.]
[She obviously doesn't want to overwhelm Erika in a bad way. If sitting here talking to her about the logistics of sweets is what helps. Then it helps. If sitting here in silence helps, she would do that too.
Haru has long decided that she would stick around for her right now unless she was adamant about Haru going away.]
[She doesn't like quantifying her needs. Being helped. That's - a doctor-patient thing, and to be asked in a personal context makes her feel obtrusive and needy and self-conscious. It's like taking an insult - but the fact that she feels that way isn't Haru's fault - and this is the spiral that always shuts her up.
Erika's face turns red. She nods swiftly, choppily, without looking at Haru.]
The sheer awkward tension demands relief, and Erika convulsively reaches for her comm and pulls her hands back apart, denying her urge to fidget at the last moment.]
I don't need help, [she mumbles very very quietly, gently dying of mortification.]
[Abashed nod. Man, it sounds so placating and....juvenile? Like that?
She should talk to Ryuji later about this. Her choice was based on the one-point-something thing she knew about Haru, and it led here, so obviously it was a flub. Next time, she needs more information.
Li takes advantage of the stretch of silence to direct Haru's attention to a spot behind her ear that needs scratching.]
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I suppose that is where "overworking" comes from. You wear yourself out too fast and then try to keep going.
[Haru holds Li a little closer.] You haven't been overdoing it, right Erika-chan?
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Of course not. I've been getting too much sleep. [She wants to be like YOU'RE NOT THE BOSS OF MEEEEEE but she can't because it's Haru.
"Have you?"
Oh god no she'd die. She frowns at the ceiling instead.]
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Oh dear.]
How do your legs feel?
[Well, let her worry regardless.]
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[Grump hrump hfffufh.]
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[They both know they aren't "fine" per say. But Haru is more physically fine at this point. Just sore, and easily tired. She wants to help, but she isn't sure how or if Erika wants to let her do so.
But hey, it really is worth a try to her.]
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Finding something to say instead is like pulling teeth. There's a long, awkward silence. Erika doesn't have to work very hard to avoid eye contact; just stare at the ceiling.]
...I don't - I don't know. [She mumbles it.] You're already here.
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[She obviously doesn't want to overwhelm Erika in a bad way. If sitting here talking to her about the logistics of sweets is what helps. Then it helps. If sitting here in silence helps, she would do that too.
Haru has long decided that she would stick around for her right now unless she was adamant about Haru going away.]
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Erika's face turns red. She nods swiftly, choppily, without looking at Haru.]
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[Haru is just...inherently a good person. She just wants to do right by her friends. Erika is a friend, right? Right.]
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The sheer awkward tension demands relief, and Erika convulsively reaches for her comm and pulls her hands back apart, denying her urge to fidget at the last moment.]
I don't need help, [she mumbles very very quietly, gently dying of mortification.]
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I understand.
[She also understands that for some people, asking for help is the hardest thing to do.] We could just keep talking about random things?
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She should talk to Ryuji later about this. Her choice was based on the one-point-something thing she knew about Haru, and it led here, so obviously it was a flub. Next time, she needs more information.
Li takes advantage of the stretch of silence to direct Haru's attention to a spot behind her ear that needs scratching.]
...Like what? [Still kind of mumbling.]
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Things that interest you? I want to hear about them!
[There Haru goes, trying to get to know Erika again.]
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...I haven't worked on the VR system in a while.
[That counts??]