psycholawgy | ic contact;

Study up!

[ PEACE SIGN. ]

Or we could play a different game next time.

Sure, I like games!

[ Wouldn't hurt to introduce some new ones to Mr. Munakata, too... ]

Any time, okay? [ He doesn't even mind losing, as long as she's not fretting over a vanished significant other. ]

[ jo is going to kill you both, adi and jaune. ]

Quick question... Did you come here just to cheer me up?

Wha--? No, I really wanted to learn Boggle!

...Buuut I was hoping the side effect would be something along those lines, yes. Why, did it work? Heh.

Maybe. Maybe it did.

[ she nods, though. ]

Ah, thank you! [He bows politely at the couch potato.]

I believe that the best first place to start would be with... youth itself!

[ what does that mean. ]

Um.

[ enjoy athena's clueless face for now, lee. ]

Allow me to demonstrate, Athena-san! Normally, when I make a bold declaration, it may sound something like this: Springtime of youth, full power!

But, I actually speak it like this: Seishun, full power desu! Do you see?!

[ the best way to learn a language is from hearing it. and copying it. ]

Seishun, full power desu!

You- you are doing it!!

[ she's so pumped up now!!]

I'm learning!

You are! Athena-san, you are a natural! I must prepare further lessons!!

Wait - was that all you prepared?

Er... ah...

...I can teach you any word that you want!

How about... Oh!

How do I say "objection" in Japanese?

What had happened? [ He glances at her, wondering if she means something specific. ]

[ she gives yu a once over, unsure of what to say. but, he's such a nice guy and she thinks that he would tell her anything. they're friends. it's okay. ]

I died.

[ It has to be said that Yu can take a lot in stride.

The death of a girl he considers a close friend isn't one. He stops walking, staring at her.

For what it's worth, he won't make her stop. He catches back up to her, staring at her with open concern. ]

... Athena. [ His voice is soft, and full of feeling. Sympathy, sadness, heartfelt care, he packs it all into just her name. It's a question, an invitation ... but since he doesn't ask a question, he's also implicitly saying, you don't have to tell me more if you don't want to. ]

[ she stops just as well to face yu. she can hear his heart. it hurts just a little bit because of the sadness, but it's something she's used to. her expression is sombre, and she did say she was getting over it.

she definitely took it hard and refused to leave her apartment for a few days, but now... she's better. there's no other way to go but up! she's disturbed by other things. death, while it's something she absolutely feared... and still fears, is something she's working to overcome.

perhaps she should be more affected by this, but she's learned to shrug off any sadness she was feeling. she smiles at him as she puts both her hands behind her back. ]

I'm fine. [ a pause, and she remembers what her senior's taught her. ] I'm Athena Cykes, and I'm fine.

[ He can see that in her, too. In the way that she smiles, and the way she plucks up her courage. He could never ignore that. He's seen that countless times in his friends, facing their darkest fears, their darkest selves, and choosing to accept themselves and move on anyway. Acceptance ... even of that which you think can't be accepted.

Yu's expression softens, and he reaches out to grasp her shoulder. ]

I know. You're strong, Athena. If anyone can pull through, it's you. [ He lets go, tilting his hand to start them walking again. ]

Still, if you want to talk about what happened, I'm here. You're not alone. Remember that, alright?

[ oh, no. that's so touching. athena easily cries, and tears start to fall from her blue eyes. how dare you make her cry, yu narukami!!!

she tries to smile, but she can't hold back her sobs. it's not because she's sad, but her heartstrings have totally been tugged. it's great to know who her friends are. ]

You're— [ SOB. ] You're a true friend, Yu.

[ Oh no...

In the end, Yu sighs. Athena... she's so expressive with her emotions. Maybe he should have expected this...?

Without any hesitation, he reaches out, gently gathering her into his arms. ]

You've been a true friend to me too, Athena. Ever since we met. I'm grateful for you. I'm just glad I can be here for you, too.

[ o- oh... a hug????? she was not expecting that. she was stiff when yu had embraced her, but she relaxes immediately and rests her head on his chest.

and then she remembers kissing him. not just kissing him, but passionately kissing him.

and she opens her eyes wide, and she jumps away. ]

Ha ha...! Y- Y- Yes, definitely! I'm your true amiga, and you're my true amigo! Danke schoen!

[ He looks a little surprised at the suddenness with which she springs away, their passionate kiss the furthest thing from his mind. It hadn't meant much to him, after all. (Only two book kisses had, and those had been backed by other feelings.) But he respects her space, and lets her go, his smile turning a little crooked at the sprinkling of other languages. He props a hand on his hip and tilts his head a little, at least guessing that she feels awkward, though not actually clueing into the reason. ]

Sure. Come on, that ice cream isn't going to eat itself without us, right?

Yeah!

[ and she stiffly walks past yu, though at least she's smiling?!?!?!? everything's fine. she's thinking too much. and she's secretly thinking and hoping that widget doesn't blurt out what she's currently thinking. she can already be embarrassing enough, she doesn't need widget to add to what she's already feeling. ]

Oh, but I meant what I said, okay? You're a true friend.

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