[Haru didn't mean to get him stuck on the gay thing? She knows that she personally doesn't care if she ended up with a boy or a girl... but like, how can one tell? She has think about it for a while.]
Well, for one. You could just ask. Some people just tell you. Some people... you can just tell by the way they look at the one they love!
[Haru Okumura for Purest Answer Ever.]
... me? Be the lucky person Hajime-san likes?
[She pokes at her food, which she... hasn't eaten yet.]
I'm not sure he could ever feel that way about me.
Ryuji has to cover his mouth to hide his embarrassment over all of this, at least, for a moment. Oh god, Haru is so open and honest, and that's supposed to be his gig, but it's also super effin' effective against him.]
U...uh...
[Maybe this was a mistake? He's such a newborn when it comes to this sort of shit, despite all the machismo behind Operation Maid Watch and Operation Baywatch... his inexperience shines through.
BUT! He's trying. He wants to understand his own feelings more and there's no other way than putting himself out there and figuring this shit out.
And it's a double suckage fest here, because he knows Hajime likes her, but that's not his story to tell.]
Wait, huh? Why not? You're like... I dunno, I mean I could say that you're really high up there on the hot scale and everything, but I honestly kinda think anyone would be outta their mind not to... in that way, yanno?
[Wait, does this sound like a personal confession?]
Not me! I mean. Dude, I love you to death and shit, but we're, like. Family. I dunno, I don't think I could ever date someone from our friends' group.
[Ryuji is such a mess sometimes. It is a good portion of the reason Haru adores him so much. She really really adores him as a friend. What would she do without him around?
So she just ends up giggling at this whole awkward moment that she doesn't really find all that awkward.]
If Hajime could have the patience with me, I would want to be the person he likes. You know how touchy dating is for me right now since the whole Sugimura thing.
[Ryuji could write an entire book on that topic, but it wouldn't sell a single copy... since it, too, would be a mess. He takes her cue of giggling as a light hearted moment, and stops being such a spaz about this entire thing for a moment.]
Yeah... I mean. Screw that guy. Sugimura was a total dickwad.
[That's... the understatement of the freaking year, but it's filled with a reticence in going into what he did to Haru. Ryuji gets angry just thinking about it, and he tries to find a different angle from all of this to approach.]
I just... I mean. I hope that you can like, feel comfortable again one day to open yourself up to dating. And I don't even blame ya for feelin' that way. But it sucks. 'Cause I really think you and Hajime would be kinda cute together? And you deserve to have a good person love you for who you are.
Oh, more than that. He was such a terrible person, even after we defeated my Father's shadow. Even after my Father passed away. He was so terrible, disgusting, nasty.
[And then there was the added rejection from Ren, which didn't really help at all at the time. But she is seeing now that perhaps that was for the best. She wouldn't be able to open her heart to Hinata otherwise.]
I don't think it would be a shot in the dark. Hajime-san is a great guy. He's patient and gentle, and he tries to always listen. Maybe at some point I could allow him to hold my heart.
[So, if the blushing and the comments about whoever dating him would be lucky weren't enough, this absolutely cements it for Ryuji. The only thing that would take this a step further would be if she came out and straight up said that she liked him. Which, not really necessary, but Ryuji leans back in his chair.]
No matter what that asshole did... you are like, the most beautiful person I've ever met. No, seriously- like, inside and out! Seriously serious.
I'm rootin' for you guys. Hajime's... Hajime's become like. I guess... my best bro here? [And with Joker gone...]
And yeah, I think he's patient and gentle enough to hold your heart flower in his hands and see that bloom to its fullest potential. Or some corny shit like that. Despite the fact that... y'know he's kinda got muscles for days. You ever notice that? It still kinda freaks me out.
[Focus, Ryuji...]
And that guy? Yeah, he never saw you for who you are or... all of that... stuff that really makes you, well, uh, you. We got our masks for a reason, right? To shield us and give us power beneath our identities that we know are ourselves. It's tough to let people in like that, but it's... it's so effin' worth it sometimes.
[At least the intent of her words is clear enough. She does like Hajime, and she would like to try opening her heart again. But these things... they take time. They take patience. Haru is a patient kind of girl, but she hopes that Hajime might be just as patient as she is.]
Thank you, Ryuji. Sometimes hearing it helps. Back then... I couldn't help but feel like I was a little worthless. Just a rag doll. Nothing to be proud of.
Hajime-san is a good guy though. Muscles and all.
[Don't think she hasn't noticed herself, okay...]
That guy, Sugimura. He will never know who I really am. All I really was...I was a toy for him to play with. A toy given to him by his Father and my own Father. We already know Milady accepted me because I refused to continue being used like I was.
[Please, it was practically the second thing he noticed about Hajime right after he was looking at Haru, and both of those things were incredibly unsettling at the time. But with enough repeated exposure and the weight of his intentions pretty clear, Ryuji's become chill with it.
And as this conversation takes a turn for Sugimura, there's a nasty taste on his tongue. That rat bastard was no better than Kamoshida for how he viewed women. And Ryuji himself might not have had the best moments in the world trying to pick up girls, he always stopped when the rejection hit and didn't take anything the wrong way. Women aren't toys. People aren't toys. It pisses Ryuji off to see the scars that this asshole left on her.]
Fuck him.
[She gets an f bomb out of him for that. Considering the way Hajime and Dave say it so often around him, he feels less awkward when he says it, which is #progress?]
Like, seriously. If that guy was on fire on the other side of the road I wouldn't cross to piss on him.
He doesn't matter anymore, I think... I do think it is finally time for me to move on and be happy. Don't you think?
[She hides her smile just a little. She likes the thought of having someon she can rely on in that manner, someone she can support too. But she hasn't been so trusting recently. She knows it. She knows also that it is really no ones fault but her own for being so afraid to be open.]
Thank you, Ryuji-kun. You're a really great friend. You do know that right?
half of the time writing this reply was just spent staring at your inbox gif
[If you're ever looking for someone who will protect you fiercely and is also totally open to graphically describe corrupted assholes burning alive, Ryuji's definitely your guy.]
I dunno the answer to that.
[Really, because it's not his call to make in the matter.]
But I'm thinkin' that you do.
[There's a bright smile that meets her back. Being called a great friend is definitely a title he can live with. Way better than "vulgar boy," too.]
Sometimes I might be kinda hard on myself and not remember that. But little by little I'm gettin' used to that idea.
I'm gonna say the corny thing here, but it's pretty obvious. If our hearts can't get stolen, that means that they have to be pretty goddamn strong to begin with.
[They're all a lot stronger than they give each other credit for. Sure, there are some weak spots to work on, but Haru looks like she's working it out. Ryuji, too, with his own set of unique problems that are somewhat similar in nature, but brought about by very different reasons.]
Annnd.... I think I'm about to give up on this okonomiyaki. You?
[ANOTHER SACRIFICE FOR THE TOILET GODS.]
thank you thank you, she's here all month, or for the rest of her life
Points for being called logical? This is amazing.]
Yeah. There's a spot in hell with this dish's name on it.
[It just makes him miss those hole in the wall spots back home in Tokyo where the food wasn't anything great by actual culinary standards, but, shit- they hit the spot. Ryuji picks up the meal and heads over to the trashcan to dunk the entire thing in it, plate and all.
There are no survivors when it comes to shitty okonomiyaki.]
Alright! Cool. Thanks for your opinion on everything, by the way. I was kinda wonderin'.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Well, for one. You could just ask. Some people just tell you. Some people... you can just tell by the way they look at the one they love!
[Haru Okumura for Purest Answer Ever.]
... me? Be the lucky person Hajime-san likes?
[She pokes at her food, which she... hasn't eaten yet.]
I'm not sure he could ever feel that way about me.
no subject
WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT, GOT TO DO WITH IT?
Ryuji has to cover his mouth to hide his embarrassment over all of this, at least, for a moment. Oh god, Haru is so open and honest, and that's supposed to be his gig, but it's also super effin' effective against him.]
U...uh...
[Maybe this was a mistake? He's such a newborn when it comes to this sort of shit, despite all the machismo behind Operation Maid Watch and Operation Baywatch... his inexperience shines through.
BUT! He's trying. He wants to understand his own feelings more and there's no other way than putting himself out there and figuring this shit out.
And it's a double suckage fest here, because he knows Hajime likes her, but that's not his story to tell.]
Wait, huh? Why not? You're like... I dunno, I mean I could say that you're really high up there on the hot scale and everything, but I honestly kinda think anyone would be outta their mind not to... in that way, yanno?
[Wait, does this sound like a personal confession?]
Not me! I mean. Dude, I love you to death and shit, but we're, like. Family. I dunno, I don't think I could ever date someone from our friends' group.
This sure is effin' awkward. Buh...
Do you.
Do you want him to feel that way about you?
no subject
So she just ends up giggling at this whole awkward moment that she doesn't really find all that awkward.]
If Hajime could have the patience with me, I would want to be the person he likes. You know how touchy dating is for me right now since the whole Sugimura thing.
no subject
Yeah... I mean. Screw that guy. Sugimura was a total dickwad.
[That's... the understatement of the freaking year, but it's filled with a reticence in going into what he did to Haru. Ryuji gets angry just thinking about it, and he tries to find a different angle from all of this to approach.]
I just... I mean. I hope that you can like, feel comfortable again one day to open yourself up to dating. And I don't even blame ya for feelin' that way. But it sucks. 'Cause I really think you and Hajime would be kinda cute together? And you deserve to have a good person love you for who you are.
no subject
[And then there was the added rejection from Ren, which didn't really help at all at the time. But she is seeing now that perhaps that was for the best. She wouldn't be able to open her heart to Hinata otherwise.]
I don't think it would be a shot in the dark. Hajime-san is a great guy. He's patient and gentle, and he tries to always listen. Maybe at some point I could allow him to hold my heart.
no subject
No matter what that asshole did... you are like, the most beautiful person I've ever met. No, seriously- like, inside and out! Seriously serious.
I'm rootin' for you guys. Hajime's... Hajime's become like. I guess... my best bro here? [And with Joker gone...]
And yeah, I think he's patient and gentle enough to hold your heart flower in his hands and see that bloom to its fullest potential. Or some corny shit like that. Despite the fact that... y'know he's kinda got muscles for days. You ever notice that? It still kinda freaks me out.
[Focus, Ryuji...]
And that guy? Yeah, he never saw you for who you are or... all of that... stuff that really makes you, well, uh, you. We got our masks for a reason, right? To shield us and give us power beneath our identities that we know are ourselves. It's tough to let people in like that, but it's... it's so effin' worth it sometimes.
no subject
Thank you, Ryuji. Sometimes hearing it helps. Back then... I couldn't help but feel like I was a little worthless. Just a rag doll. Nothing to be proud of.
Hajime-san is a good guy though. Muscles and all.
[Don't think she hasn't noticed herself, okay...]
That guy, Sugimura. He will never know who I really am. All I really was...I was a toy for him to play with. A toy given to him by his Father and my own Father. We already know Milady accepted me because I refused to continue being used like I was.
no subject
And as this conversation takes a turn for Sugimura, there's a nasty taste on his tongue. That rat bastard was no better than Kamoshida for how he viewed women. And Ryuji himself might not have had the best moments in the world trying to pick up girls, he always stopped when the rejection hit and didn't take anything the wrong way. Women aren't toys. People aren't toys. It pisses Ryuji off to see the scars that this asshole left on her.]
Fuck him.
[She gets an f bomb out of him for that. Considering the way Hajime and Dave say it so often around him, he feels less awkward when he says it, which is #progress?]
Like, seriously. If that guy was on fire on the other side of the road I wouldn't cross to piss on him.
no subject
[She hides her smile just a little. She likes the thought of having someon she can rely on in that manner, someone she can support too. But she hasn't been so trusting recently. She knows it. She knows also that it is really no ones fault but her own for being so afraid to be open.]
Thank you, Ryuji-kun. You're a really great friend. You do know that right?
half of the time writing this reply was just spent staring at your inbox gif
I dunno the answer to that.
[Really, because it's not his call to make in the matter.]
But I'm thinkin' that you do.
[There's a bright smile that meets her back. Being called a great friend is definitely a title he can live with. Way better than "vulgar boy," too.]
Sometimes I might be kinda hard on myself and not remember that. But little by little I'm gettin' used to that idea.
its spicy af
Of course I know the answer, I just have to convince myself that it is okay. That my heart isn't as fragile as I think it is.
[She smiles again, happy.]
Continue getting used to it, because I will keep reminding you until you remember it!
i rate it 10 chilis out of 10
[They're all a lot stronger than they give each other credit for. Sure, there are some weak spots to work on, but Haru looks like she's working it out. Ryuji, too, with his own set of unique problems that are somewhat similar in nature, but brought about by very different reasons.]
Annnd.... I think I'm about to give up on this okonomiyaki. You?
[ANOTHER SACRIFICE FOR THE TOILET GODS.]
thank you thank you, she's here all month, or for the rest of her life
[They may be strong, but their stomachs...are not.]
I think I am done with it as well. Can we please dispose of this post-haste?
god that is the saddest thing i've ever read
Points for being called logical? This is amazing.]
Yeah. There's a spot in hell with this dish's name on it.
[It just makes him miss those hole in the wall spots back home in Tokyo where the food wasn't anything great by actual culinary standards, but, shit- they hit the spot. Ryuji picks up the meal and heads over to the trashcan to dunk the entire thing in it, plate and all.
There are no survivors when it comes to shitty okonomiyaki.]
Alright! Cool. Thanks for your opinion on everything, by the way. I was kinda wonderin'.