For any of the Gobusters crew

[yellow_buster]

Ryuu-san and Mr. Sister-Complex are keeping secrets and I don't like it. I wouldn't care if they were only keeping them from the boss but they're keeping me out as well.

Well, not for much longer because I'm going to find out, once and for all, what they're hiding from me.

Comments

[red_pleather]

There are times when I see Youko and I think, okay, this'll work, I have confidence, we're all part of the same team.

There are other times when I see her and think ohshitI'mgonnadie.

I swirl the coffee in my cup and take another sip, giving her a hesitant wave.

[yellow_buster]

He's waving. I eye him suspiciously over my plate of cake. He's up to something, has to be.

[red_pleather]

"Everything okay?"

We've seen each other now. If I walked past her table I'd look like a rude asshole, not that she doesn't think I am already.

[yellow_buster]

"Fine," I reply, watching him warily. Is he... trying to make small talk?

[red_pleather]

I sigh. "I, uh, I'd like it if we could get on a bit? For Ryuuji's sake in particular?"

[yellow_buster]

I scowl but move my tray marginally to the side. Only because Ryuu-san wants us to get along and Gorisaki gets annoying when Ryuu-san's upset.

[red_pleather]

I beam, and sit down with her. "Your face isn't *that* round, anyway," I say eagerly. "It's more sort of square."

[yellow_buster]

I take a deep breath and juuust manage not to stab his hand with my fork.

"What did you just say?"

[red_pleather]

"I know I pissed you off before," I say cautiously, freezing at the look on her face. "I was wrong about that?"

[yellow_buster]

"My face is not square," I hiss, raising my fork to make a point.

Sometimes I'm not sure why he bothers to open his mouth to me when only stupid things come out of it.

[red_pleather]

I swallow, having a sense I'm kind of close to impending death. "Sorry?"

Maybe that should be the only word I speak to her.

...how the hell am I going to raise Enter with her.

[yellow_buster]

I watch him warily to see if he means that, then huff and stick the fork into the cake instead. I don't have nearly enough calories in this to deal with sometimes.

[red_pleather]

"Um. So, um, how're things?" I ask weakly. At least that cake's suffering now instead of me.

[yellow_buster]

"Fine. Why wouldn't they be fine?"

Everyone else has to do their job without special treatment like he gets. Ah, but this is my chance to start figuring out what he and Ryuu-san are up to.

"What about you?"

[red_pleather]

"I don't know! I know you're competent and you cope with anything!"

I'm really beginning to think Ryuuji should be doing this instead of me. He's more likely to leave this conversation with all body parts intact. "Okay. Just been doing some thinking," I say cautiously. I've been studying how people lead up to things and don't just blurt them out.

[yellow_buster]

"Then why are you asking?"

Then he says he's been thinking. I can practically hear Usada snorting inside my head at the possibility of Mr Sister Complex thinking about anything. "About?"

[red_pleather]

"Just to make conversation!" It's a stupid question, though. How else would she answer it?!

I gulp. "About whether people can be forced into doing bad things?"

[yellow_buster]

I stab my fork into the cake again, then consider what he's supposedly thinking about.

"I guess they can," I say grudgingly. "But they should stand up for themselves. No-one can make you do stuff you don't want to forever."

[red_pleather]

I wince as she stabs the cake, wondering which of my eyeballs she's imagining.

Oh, good, okay, that's sort of positive.

"So if someone was being forced, you'd consider helping them?"

[yellow_buster]

"I suppose," I say warily. Although I guess it would depend on the person. "Who are we talking about?"

I'm not going to like this answer, am I?

[red_pleather]

"Um, someone you know fairly well," I flounder. Why'd she have to ask that so quickly?

[yellow_buster]

My fingers tighten around the fork. It's him, isn't it? Someone's trying to make him do something he doesn't want to, probably holding that sister of his over his head.

I need to talk to Ryuu-san he should know about this.

[blue_pleather]

It's nice to see Hiromu and Youko having an actual conversation that doesn't involve fighting. I'm sure that in a matter of seconds he'll say something tactless and she'll walk out again, but let's enjoy the peace while it lasts.

"Is everything okay?" I take a seat next to Youko just in case she needs to be physically restrained.

[yellow_buster]

"Ryuu-san," I say in surprise. Where'd he come from? I give Hiromu a wary look, unsure if we're carrying on this conversation now. If we're not I'll talk to Ryuu-san about it later.

[red_pleather]

"I'll just get a drink," I say hastily, getting up. "Back in a minute."

Phew, I need to regroup. And maybe Ryuuji will calm her down.


[ooc: tell me when to come back in, lol]