unfriendliest | subdivided

[lksdjfldkjf she actually just presses her face into the book for a second, blushing all the way up to her ears]

You should know I don't actually let whatever answer I might get stop me by now!!

[sTOP MAKING HER EXPLAIN THAT SHE'S RECKLESS IN ALL THINGS, KARA]

It's fine! Nevermind! It's just a festival!

[NOT COURTSHIP,,,,,,]

[ he tilts his head ]

Then there's no point in getting anxious about it. We don't even know if there will be another one.

[ so what's the big deal?? ]

[ffslkdjf

it makes her lower the book a bit if only to just make eye contact with him, just so he knows how tired she is]

... I don't know whether to be relieved or irritated that you don't care at all....

[ he sighs. why do humans and their emotions have to be so difficult. ]

I just don't see the point in getting embarrassed about it.

[ not... that he doesn't care? it's not like he would agree to that suggestion if it came from just anyone, but that's a lot harder to say out loud. ]

[maybe your preferred human shouldn't be a tsundere, kara

that said she's just going to pout at that - but just a little, finally dropping the book completely.]

It's not like I can help it... Sometimes feelings don't make sense, even when you know better.

Seems like they don't make sense a lot of the time.

[ maybe that's just his experience as a sword speaking, but... hearts are weird, and kara still isn't sure if he likes it. ]

I don't know... Different things make different people happy - and sometimes feelings aren't always simple. Other times people will try to put their feelings aside in order to accomplish what they have to anyway, even if it leaves them saddened in the end....

[and she'll seem thoughtful at that for a second before deciding this book isn't telling her anything useful]

Anyway, this seems like a weird place capable of magic... or at least, that's what I can tell from the books. It's not particularly anything new, but at least it's not a war fort or a prison... so I think the portraits might be alright.

[ and this is why it's easier to be alone. ]

I don't know how you deal with it for your whole lives.

[ whatever. he shakes his head, trying to clear those thoughts from his mind. it's always unnerving to think about, how none of them could feel these things until now... ]

...As long as they're not trapped.

[ with that settled, he glances back toward the door. ]

Should we keep looking?

Well... it's not as though we have a choice... [though she frowns as she puts the book back and follows his gaze] But I think - even if it's difficult at times, I would still rather be able to feel.

[and then she turns to him]

We can, if you want. Do you have anything else to do? I won't keep you from it if you do, but I thought I might as well explore until dinner.

[she's already put in her time for training today and she's been cautioned against overdoing it....]

It's easier without it getting in the way.

[ he just doesn't know how to deal with emotions haha what an idiot ]

Not really. I was just looking around when Kaoru dragged me into the cafe.

[ but he pushes himself off the desk, heading for the hall ]

But if you're tired of our date already, I can find something else to do.

[sdkfj

she reaches out, aiming to catch onto his sleeve

even though she can't quite look up at him]

... I didn't say that...

[she just thought he'd get tired first]

[ - ah. he'd meant to tease her, but this isn't the flustered reaction he'd expected. he's... not sure what this is, or how to react to it.

but he does pause, looking over his shoulder at her. ]

Was there somewhere else you wanted to look, then?

[it is still a type of flustered reaction at least, and she's just going to ignore the embarrassment she feels when he looks back at her]

I don't know -

[she's realizing that not going to any of her arranged meetings with suitors means she doesn't know what to do]

We can keep... looking around the castle? Or go outside... Or...

[????]

D-Don't make me come up with a plan on my own...

It's not like I know what we're supposed to do for this.

[ kaoru really should have given them some suggestions or something, this is a mess ]

...You said you'd rather be outside, right? Maybe we should do that.

[ he does kind of want to explore the castle more, but they should have time for that later ]

I wouldn't mind... whatever you want to do is fine, too.

[but she will at least move to let go of his sleeve, exiting the classroom

though she'll pause when she looks at all the staircases]

... we do have to figure out how to leave again, too.

[fuck]

[ lili's never sounded quite so unsure of herself... and he isn't sure how he feels about that. ]

If we keep heading down, we should find an exist eventually.

[ it... can't be that hard, can it? ]

Probably... If we get lost, we can just exit out a window as long as we're close enough.

[at least escape plans are something that she's used to doing

but she'll start descending the staircase at least, even if she's still mumbling to herself]

Hmm... actually caring about courtship is difficult.

[ he nods and follows her down, eyes trained forward in case he spots a way out. his mind wanders a bit as they walk, wishing sada was here after all, instead of just some illusion meant to shatter him. he was always better at these sorts of things than kara. ]

We're probably thinking about it too hard. Kaoru said the point was to do something with someone we like, where we... focus on each other. Isn't that what we're doing?

[ well there is trying to escape from this castle somehow but besides that ]

I suppose...

[though she'll pause at the bottom of the staircase, looking back at him.]

... I didn't think you liked me, though.

[she like. might as well say it.]

I already told you I wouldn't have stayed if I didn't.

[ ah, but then he remembers - "not that kind of like," is what lili said. is that what she means this time, too? he's a little unsure how to proceed if so, except to say: ]

...And that how Kaoru described a crush sounded like you.

[skrnrjdjjf

that still manages to get her face to turn red as a tomato as she tries to find her tongue to respond - ]

Well it's - it's not like you know, right...

[if it's a crush or not

but also

she pauses for a second before she admits]

.... I didn't... I don't know anyone who likes me in general either, aside from maybe one person.... I don't like most people, because all I cared about back home was helping my people and my tribe.

But I would always get in trouble, and get locked in my room until I got exiled - so....

[that's her excuse for why she's awkward, and surprised that he even acknowledges her,,]

Weren't you the one who said we'd figure it out?

[ he descends to the bottom of the stairs, stopping one below her before he turns back to lili ]

Everyone says I'm not friendly enough, both here and at the citadel. For some reason, you like me anyway. I don't know why you would, when I told you, repeatedly, I wanted to be left alone.

Whether or not it's a crush, you have earned my respect, and I trust you more than anyone here. What happened before this doesn't matter to me. What does is what you do with it now that you're here, and you've been working hard to get us home and to improve yourself while you're here, instead of wasting your time waiting to see what comes next.

[ hand on his hip, he averts his eyes again... maybe a little embarrassed. ]

That makes you less annoying the others.

[ tsun tsun ]

[ . . . . oh.

that makes her pause even as she stares at him in obvious surprise, a little too shocked to be embarrassed immediately. it's still odd, to earn acknowledgment from anyone at all - much less someone that she respects.]

I didn't... I wasn't asking you for why...

[just so he doesn't think she was fishing for compliments, even though now she's just embarrassed to hear that from him. though she does pause a moment]

... You don't have to be friendly - and I wouldn't even bother to tell you to try to talk to others if there were other ways to get information... but you're steadfast. And you want to protect innocent people, even if you don't interact with them. I... I don't understand a lot of things, but what you say always makes sense to me. I think it's a noble way to live.

[ . . . ]

So I like you, and respect you. There's plenty to be done here, but... if there's nothing calling our immediate attention... I like - [she stumbles over the words for a second, looking in the other direction from him] I like being with you. I don't really care what we do, if it's you.

[wh

what if she yeets herself off the stairs, she's thinking about it]

[ it's fine kara's just going to stare at her for a moment because... lili is the first person to say he doesn't have to change somehow? even mitsutada is always trying to convince him to get along with the others...

and he really doesn't know how to respond to someone just... accepting that, let alone liking him for it.

so what if he just

answers the other part instead. ]

...Then we can figure that out as we go, too.

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