OOGA OOGA OOGA CHAKA

[theshiningone]

Who: Hiro Kageyama (theshiningone) & Ai Thao Kha (emotive)
When: 7/25
Where: Various places!
What: Bunny dork taking esper dork on an apology date!
Rating/Warning: None for now!

---

[To put it simply: Hiro had screwed up big time and he was going to make it up big time.

Now dating was a new territory for Hiro Kageyama. While he was all for friendship, he never really thought too hard on going out with anyone. And considering the state of the world back home, he didn't really have time to focus on things like that. Fixing the world and survival were his highest objectives. But it never stopped him from joking about it or flirting around. And now that he was the Administrator... Well, he was happy that he could experience human bonds again. Yet the birthday party from a while ago was also a reminder on how painful they could be. When you got too close to fire, you got burned. So in a sense, Hiro felt like he burnt Ai horribly.

And when Hiro thought about it, his main goal here was to patch things up with Ai and try to understand her a little better. Not to get in her skirt and get a free laid for his troubles. And jumping right into romantic territory despite knowing that she liked (??!?) him was still something that he was trying to wrap his mind around. And it was something he felt that he wasn't ready for yet. Quite frankly, he didn't want to send her the wrong signals here and watch this explode into another misunderstanding...

For all he knew, he might have screwed up already by saying "We're going out on a date!" So there he was just standing in front of her doorway for five minutes and wondering how everything would go, what to do... Thanks to some help, he was prepared. But why they could've stayed normal pals like before? He was going to follow through with his promise, but still...

It was a cruel thing to think about, but a small part of him wished that whole prom night never happened. Because that when he felt everything started to change. He was happy that they were still friends, but it didn't change the fact that things were different than before. Oh well. If he started to get overly contemplative than things would fall into a downward spiral. No point in regretting things now.]

... Alright. I'm ready. Here we go. Let's survive.

[That said, Hiro finally knocks on Ai's door. No teleporting or window jumping here.]

Comments

[emotive]

[All in all, Ai Thao is surprisingly feeling very calm about this.

Maybe it's because she and Hiro had enough time apart from one another after that heart wrenching incident. Perhaps it was because she had other worries such as her friends who kept throwing themselves into danger or her taking up a second job to help out with Athena's money troubles and to keep themselves afloat... Life was funny like that, even if it was life in another world. There were other things that called for her attention to the point where her birthday seemed like a bad dream.

But Hiro asking her out on a date? Not a dream. Delayed, maybe, but it was finally going to happen. Goodness, but it seemed like forever until she chose the right outfit she felt comfortable enough to wear for the event.

At the knock Ai stands up suddenly from the kitchen table. She tells herself to breathe. Just. Be. Normal. Whatever that means!!

The door opens up and Ai peeks her head out first to see if it's for sure Hiro.]

... Hi.

[THRILLING.]

[theshiningone]

[Ah, it was a very simple... But very Ai-esque reaction. Hiro's lips curl up into that usual trademark cheekiness as he sees Ai peeking out from the door like some scared little rabbit. He felt like it was always his mission to be the ice breaker in all kinds of conversations.]

'Sup! It's the paper delivery boy here! I'm just coming by to give your daily news and pick someone up for a date.

Soooo... [...] Is the lady of the house in?

[emotive]

...

[Ai finally opens the door wide and fully prepared in her date outfit. It is and isn't quite how she's usually dressed and it's offset by the sakura hair pin accessory she wears that pulls back her hair behind her ear.

A little different, but still very much her.]

Ah... Yes. And she's all ready too.

[And also gonna go along with Hiro's punches, take that!]

[theshiningone]

[Now Hiro loved trolling people but he could appreciate people who could roll with the punches too. He couldn't help and stare at her for a moment as he had to wonder what or who made her dress like that...

It was probably Athena. If not her, then it'd be easier to blame her just because.]

Ohhhh! You look great! [As for Hiro, he was dressed in his school uniform. Simple, but effective for classiness.] As for me, I know I look good... But please don't hesitate to remind me. ♪

[So much ego is showing right now.]

1/3

[emotive]

[She's thinking for a few seconds...]

[emotive]

[HERE'S THE, "I'M GONNA DO MY VERY BEST LIKE NO ONE ELSE EVER," LOOK...!!]

[emotive]

Hiro.

[She smiles. All things considered and after all they went through... It's warm as ever.]

You look great too. Thank you for picking me up!

[(She needs to remain calm, last time was too overwhelming, she was too overwhelming, and to be honest, Ai isn't sure if she's doing the right thing anymore, but she wants to make this right.)]

[theshiningone]

[Frankly, there was still some things that Hiro wanted to talk to her about and tell her. But he was glad to know that Ai didn't really hold him in contempt after everything he did. This is how things should be between them, he thinks.]

No probs! Anyway, I've got some places that we can go today. [He kept Angelo's list in mind. But he wasn't sure if they'd reach all them in one go.] But I'll be up front and say that I have no idea what I'm doing!

[He says this as cheerful as ever as he felt it would've been too hard to pretend that he did. It was his first date ever, so he figured it would've been easier to be straight with her.]

[emotive]

That's fine with me. If anything, that's what ought to make it fun, right?

[If they're gonna go on a date, it should be fun, simple as that.]

I'll follow your lead then! Should I call you, "Leader," in that case?

[theshiningone]

Ah, that's perfectly fine by me. It's like my middle name by now. ♪

[Judging from his tone of voice, he certainly likes the sound of that. That being said, he'll start walking as a pace that she can keep up.]

Have you ever been to the CERES gardens? I figure that we could take a walk through there.

[emotive]

[Well, she did drown her robot in the park Ai lights up and nods.]

I've been there a few times, but I never took a walk with anyone else before! It's a good start as any.

[theshiningone]

Cool! Let's mosey on over there!

[That said, he start to walk and decides to casually brings up a rather sensitive subject. No point in dancing around the topic since it would've been a pain for Hiro. Though his usual cheerful voice is more gentler than usual as he's trying not to be too forceful, but smooth enough to bring it to attention.]

Sooo... How have you been holding up? Y'know... After the whole birthday incident.

[emotive]

[Her eyes widen slightly in surprise as she walks next to him. Ai is quiet for a second or two before answering.]

There... There was a lot of other things that took up my attention. I was worried about Athena rushing into something else dangerous and I took up a second job and I also had to deal with the robots, so... I just kept myself busy.

... Archer is gone too. So I that made me sad.

[Mm, but this made her sound like she was avoiding his question. So better get right to it.]

But talking about what happened with other people helped. Even Miss Otome checked up on me, you know?

... Hiro? Do you still think I'm mad?

[theshiningone]

I'm sorry you had to put up with all of that. That must've been a ridiculous month.

[So things got even busier on her end than his. Really, he wasn't surprised Otome had looked after her over him. Saiduq already gave him a talking too, so that was more than enough there.

Frankly, Hiro was reflective enough to quickly come to terms with his own screw ups, so he didn't really do much heart-to-hear talking with people on his end about it. Otome and Saiduq were the ones who could be most effective, anyway.]

Well... Sorta. Guess I'm more mad at myself than anything else. [Compared to his friends, he felt like he hasn't progressed at all.] But you said that you don't know how to get angry, right? I don't really get how someone can be like that. Anger is a basic emotion that humans feel.

[In the back of his mind, Ai always felt... off to him. He was used to meeting people and seeing their inner darkness that it felt like she was trying to cover things up.]

[emotive]

If... If it's towards someone I care about, I find it hard. It's not that I can't be. Saying I have no anger would be a lie.

[Archer had hurt her before and there was some anger there. She was angered over Archer's death, but that was towards the robot clone of Rin that she didn't view as human in the first place although it tried its best for sure. CEREs is exasperating and fully deserving of everyone's ire, but to Ai, that's what they are; a hateful group although they aren't the only cause of the misery and hardship that crops up in Cerealia from time to time.]

... It hurt. It still hurts. And I wish that didn't happen between us, but I'm not mad at you.

[theshiningone]

[He'll be forcing a smile. It's a sad one, but it's there.]

... I wish things didn't come to that either. It's all my fault.

[He might have had a big ego, but he could quickly admit when he's seriously screwed up. It wouldn't had been the first time that he felt that he might've made a bad decision or his impulsiveness might've made things worst in the long run.]

When you said all that stuff... I thought you were a more optimistic person than that. So it got me really sad and angry to hear stuff like "It doesn't matter" or "None of this will lead to anything". If it was anyone else, I would've laughed at them... But it just hurt coming from you.

[emotive]

... Maybe that needed to happen.

[The mood's become somber, but not in a harsh way. Ai brushes some hair behind her ear before looking ahead and not at Hiro.]

Or else we'd continuing fooling ourselves about each other.

[theshiningone]

... You're definitely right on that.

[That response comes resolved without a second thought as he's also looking forward. It just reminded him of what happened with Polaris' trials. Sad things did happen, but it wasn't entirely so. If they didn't get thrown into those conflicts and were pushed to their limits, then they wouldn't had changed.]

Conflict and arguments can be scary, but they're also necessary. People with two conflicting ideals can't come to an understand if they tip toe around each other. A stronger bond can be born once they learn more about each other. And even if they gotta butt heads through the whole thing.

[He's speaking with a lot of experience on that end. Hiro's fought his friends to show them that there were more than one way and not out of betrayal or a mean streak. He gave it his full strength against them and made up with them after because they were all friends.]

[emotive]

[And Ai had always been afraid of conflict wasn't she? That was one of her core flaws that she still struggled with and probably always will. It's why she never killed on orders, but that's why she never really disobeyed her elders otherwise. She never really understood anyone, much less herself.

Things were painful here and she had been hurt by others, but every day Ai Thao felt as if it was actually living compared to back then. She smiles to herself before replying to him.]

Then... It's okay to learn about each other right now then?

[theshiningone]

Hell no. I don't want to see your face or learn about you at all!

[# F U C K I N G R E K T.

... At least until Hiro gives a playful laugh and follows up with--]

Just kidding! Of course I do. We can become even better friends this way!

1/2

[emotive]

. . .

[Silence.]

[emotive]

[And then suddenly Ai reaches up to ruffle Hiro's hair. Except it's not just any normal hair ruffling. There's some gentle electricity being emitted from her fingers and thus, Hiro Kageyama's hair has just gotten STATIC SHOCKED TAKE THAT. Said hair is a funny sight, kind of like a fluffy bird's nest as soon as Ai lets go.

And she's smiling all the while, and it's just as mischievous as Hiro's.]

And from that, we learn that I can stand up for myself a little better than before. Don't you agree?

1/2

[theshiningone]

[So now he has a bird's nest for hair... Well, he was used to this from riding Byakko and getting random discharges of his electricity every now and then. Though it was rather shady if Byakko did that out of necessary or just to mess with his master.

Either way, Hiro is equally silent.]

. . . .

[theshiningone]

[... Okay, well then. At the very least, he could feel better that picking on Ai wouldn't feel like mocking a soaked puppy. Granted, Hiro always treated everyone like an equal regardless of their rank or circumstances. While he could be polite and even slightly mature if he had to be, it was just easier to be casual like this.]

Yeah, I guess so! Buuuuut-- [Since Hiro is still a brat through and through, he will flick her nose.] You're like Crybaby Ai underneath it all!

[But hey. His good natured trolling is better than his angry freakout from the birthday party.]

[emotive]

[And whose fault was that Hiro!? She lets out an indignant, but soft huff when he flicks her nose as they continue on to the Gardens.]

This coming from the person whose hair looks like a bird's nest...

... Although you wouldn't be wrong. I've cried a lot since coming here.

[Implying she didn't have a lot of chances to cry back home then...]