[Okay, of all the things Kuzuryuu expected to happen after he stormed off, this was not even in the top 100 list of possible outcomes. Run this scenario by hims as many times as you'd like, he never would have guessed that such a seemingly carefree guy could possibly be hiding a nature like this...]
[There's no way Kuzuryuu wouldn't turn around when Tenka's throwing around a word like "halfpint" though. Because his height is kind of a sensitive topic, second only to his babyface. "Shithead", on the other hand, doesn't even faze him. Call him shithead all day, he doesn't care BUT WAS BRINGING HIS HEIGHT INTO THIS REALLY NECESSARY!?!]
[But it's what comes after that that makes him stay put. Because it wasn't until Tenka outright said it that the notion of "hey, this guy cares about Peko, just like me," really and truly clicked. Because that's, sadly, something he's just not used to. Until now, he's been the only one who really cared about her. But she's been here a month now without him and she's clearly made friends and...whatever Tenka is to her. Because something about him seems fundamentally different than Peko's acquaintances that he's run into up to this point. Things are different now, and that's something he's going to have to get used to. Which shouldn't be too hard, seeings how more people caring about Peko is a good thing. Lord knows she needs it, especially people who are actually decent at showing it. Because he'd be the first to admit that he was kind of absolute shit at that. Mostly because he perceived as actions in her best interest or for her happiness were...not always that. Because he's not Peko and he has a hard enough time understanding and fulfilling his own emotional needs, let alone somebody else's. He really and truly thought that pushing her away was the best way to handle their...everything.]
I... That's... [There's a few more of those weird half strangled noises. Is he trying to make words or is he choking, we just don't know. But the longer he goes without managing to string any words together, the more he seems to deflate. Because with everything he just said, Tenka may as well have punched him. And that's enough to knock Kuzuryuu's head back on straight and realize that he really kind of overreacted there. And that realization is enough to make him ashamed and mildly disgusted with himself. Because he's supposed to be a better person than that now and that was so fucking childish, Tenka is 100% right.]
Sorry. [It's a little gruff, but clearly not because he's being insincere or because he's just apologizing to get Tenka to stop yelling. Because he does clearly mean it, so the rough edge to his voice is probably more self-directed than anything. Because, again, damn you Fuyuhiko, you were supposed to have moved past this. Though to be honest, he still thinks Tenka's comment was a little out of line for a first conversation. But that doesn't make his reaction even remotely justified.] That's not the first thing I need to tell her but...I know. Trust me, I'm making a list...of all the things I need to tell her.
[Though it's not going to be until much later tonight that he actually manages but HEY. HE IS AT LEAST TRYING TO MAKE A LIST RIGHT NOW. Even if he's going to kind of flub it when he actually finds her.]
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[There's no way Kuzuryuu wouldn't turn around when Tenka's throwing around a word like "halfpint" though. Because his height is kind of a sensitive topic, second only to his babyface. "Shithead", on the other hand, doesn't even faze him. Call him shithead all day, he doesn't care BUT WAS BRINGING HIS HEIGHT INTO THIS REALLY NECESSARY!?!]
[But it's what comes after that that makes him stay put. Because it wasn't until Tenka outright said it that the notion of "hey, this guy cares about Peko, just like me," really and truly clicked. Because that's, sadly, something he's just not used to. Until now, he's been the only one who really cared about her. But she's been here a month now without him and she's clearly made friends and...whatever Tenka is to her. Because something about him seems fundamentally different than Peko's acquaintances that he's run into up to this point. Things are different now, and that's something he's going to have to get used to. Which shouldn't be too hard, seeings how more people caring about Peko is a good thing. Lord knows she needs it, especially people who are actually decent at showing it. Because he'd be the first to admit that he was kind of absolute shit at that. Mostly because he perceived as actions in her best interest or for her happiness were...not always that. Because he's not Peko and he has a hard enough time understanding and fulfilling his own emotional needs, let alone somebody else's. He really and truly thought that pushing her away was the best way to handle their...everything.]
I... That's... [There's a few more of those weird half strangled noises. Is he trying to make words or is he choking, we just don't know. But the longer he goes without managing to string any words together, the more he seems to deflate. Because with everything he just said, Tenka may as well have punched him. And that's enough to knock Kuzuryuu's head back on straight and realize that he really kind of overreacted there. And that realization is enough to make him ashamed and mildly disgusted with himself. Because he's supposed to be a better person than that now and that was so fucking childish, Tenka is 100% right.]
Sorry. [It's a little gruff, but clearly not because he's being insincere or because he's just apologizing to get Tenka to stop yelling. Because he does clearly mean it, so the rough edge to his voice is probably more self-directed than anything. Because, again, damn you Fuyuhiko, you were supposed to have moved past this. Though to be honest, he still thinks Tenka's comment was a little out of line for a first conversation. But that doesn't make his reaction even remotely justified.] That's not the first thing I need to tell her but...I know. Trust me, I'm making a list...of all the things I need to tell her.
[Though it's not going to be until much later tonight that he actually manages but HEY. HE IS AT LEAST TRYING TO MAKE A LIST RIGHT NOW. Even if he's going to kind of flub it when he actually finds her.]