July 1/Not Alone/PG/Closed

[Greg]

Characters: Hiroya Kouno and Kakeru Shizuma
Time: 4:50pm
Location: Park

Hiroya was strolling rather leisurely through the park, ignoring all the weird looks people were giving him. He had his metal limbs on, as was his usual for the rest of the year. Of course, you couldn't really notice his leg since his deep-blue jeans and black tennis shoes with a white trim were covering it...his arm however, had little cover from his midnight blue short-sleeved shirt. He had a black and red windbreaker he could've thrown on, it was tied around his waist for the moment, but he didn't feel the need to...and as far as he cared, people could think what they want.

There was an empty bench by a fountain in the middle of the park that Hiro decided to steal for himself. He took a seat on the middle of the bench of leaned back. Bad idea. He quickly jolted back to his upright position. He was just shot in the chest by a tennis ball going, what felt like, mach-5. He awoke that morning to find a nasty looking bruise, it was sore, and it caused him a sharp pain if he stretched his chest too much.

He leaned his head on his right arm, supported by his legs. That tennis ball just wanted to ruin his whole week with pain. Unfortunately for it, the good outweighed the bad. He had made several friends thus far in the week, and he hoped to make more. He let out a sigh as he sat there and people-watched. There were so many couples. He buried his face in his hand; he didn't want to see it anymore. The couples, the weird looks, he just wanted to sit there. He wished for someone he knew, anyone...just so he didn't look like an outcast. Atticus would be a nice addition...although then, all the attention would be on them...and he wanted less.

Hiro sat back up straight, his hair covering his eyes, hiding the underlying truth within. His emotions. He felt alone. Sad, and alone.

[bella]

His emerald eyes were intensely scanning the words on the page as he read the book. Really, Kakeru Shizuma shouldn't be walking and reading at the same time in a semi-crowded park. To anyone that knew Kakeru personally, they would know that Kakeru was the biggest klutz ever. Constantly bumping into people and tripping over things. So, having the said clumsy teenager reading a book while walking was an incredibly stupid idea. Though Kakeru knew he was clumsy, that didn't stop him from wanting to read the book his sister had sent him. So he had decided to multitask. Walking and reading at the same time in a somewhat crowded park.

Oddly enough, Kakeru had yet to run into anyone or anything. The only reason he hadn't run into anyone was because when ever he walked towards someone, the person would simply slide out of the way as Kakeru passed. Now, not running into any inanimate objects was purely good luck on Kakeru's side, instead of people not wanting to get walked into.

After Kakeru had turned the page of the book, he finally decided to look up and see where he had ended up. Surprisingly, the shy boy had ended up next to the fountain in the middle of the park. Turning his head slightly to the left to survey the place, Kakeru's eyes caught sight of blond hair pulled up into a ponytail and the gleam of metal Isn't that... Hiro? Tilting his head slightly to the left, Kakeru shut the romance novel he had been reading and watched Hiro from the side.

Hiro seemed to have his face buried into his hands. Curious as to why, Kakeru glanced around him once again. Not noticing anything odd, his eyes danced back over to Hiro. He watched as Hiro suddenly sat straight up, almost as if he realized something. Before Kakeru realized what he was doing, the young teenager was walking slowly over to Hiro.

"Hi-Hiro? A-Are... you alright?" he asked softly, as he approached the older teen and stood slightly to the left of him. Kakeru had not expected himself to ask if Hiro was alright. It wasn't like him to blatantly ask others if they were alright, even though he liked to see others happy. Kakeru nervously bit his lip and waited for Hiro's answer.

[Greg]

Hiro heard a faint voice talking to him. He recognized the voice, and the stuttering. His eyes perked open as he looked up at the younger teenage who approached him, "Hey, Kakeru." He smiled, "Care to join me?" He slid over on the bench, gesturing for his friend to sit next to him.

"In truth..." Hiro's voice trailed off as his gaze shifted towards the ground, eyes again no longer visible, "I'm just a little...depressed with...everything right now." A sudden cool breeze blew through, blowing Hiro's hair out of his eyes, revealing a blank, lost stare aimed at the ground. He sighed, "It's just a bad day...I guess."

ooc; I feel like such a fail with this short of a reply...but I don't want to start up multiple conversations at once...his mood would seem...bipolar in each reply. Haha xD

[bella]

"Hey, Kakeru. Care to join me?" Kakeru watched as Hiro shot him a smile, and then slid over on the bench he was sitting on. The kind gesture made Kakeru blush lightly as he swiftly sat down next to Hiro. For a moment, there was just a silence between the two before Hiro once again spoke. Answering Kakeru's concerned question.

"In truth..." He heard Hiro's voice trail off, as he seemed to be searching for words to say. Kakeru watched Hiro's movements lightly from the side, curious as to why the older teen was down. When they had first met, Kakeru believed that Hiro was a very cheerful person, and couldn't be knocked down easily. In a literal sense and emotional sense. "I'm just a little...depressed with...everything right now." There was suddenly a breeze that blew by, and it rustled not only Kakeru's hair but Hiro's hair as well, blowing the blond strands of hair out of Hiro's face. Kakeru looked back up at Hiro's eyes, to see them stare blankly at the ground. He opened his mouth to say something comforting, but was cut of by Hiro "It's just a bad day...I guess."

His stomach churned nervously as Kakeru racked his head for a comforting reply. Something to make the blond happier, because Kakeru did not like the look of depression on Hiro's face. It wasn't meant to be there. Finally coming up with a reply, Kakeru turned his head away so he wasn't watching Hiro anymore.

"Hiro... E-Everything... I-it'll g-get better. M-Maybe n-not r-right now but... Y-You always hav-have to l-look on the b-bright side. W-What e-ever it truly is t-that's m-making you d-depressed... i-it'll ... it will g-get b-better. I-I promise..." Kakeru blushed deeply as he meekly replied to the older teen. He set his book on his lap as he let his eyes trail to the ground. "A-And... I-I'm sorry you're h-having a b-ba-bad day. H-Hiro," After mumbling that, Kakeru let his head turn back to the older teen, so he could watch him. He was hoping for a happy answer from Hiro because Kakeru truly didn't like seeing the older teen look so down.

ooc; fuuuuu, i forgot to add in this ooc comment. neh. anyways, the reply wasn't that short. sheesh >_> but I see where you are coming from with not wanting him to converse so much

[Greg]

Hiro found himself smiling, just from the way Kakeru spoke. He had to admit to himself, and maybe Kakeru...later, that it was adorable...the stuttering, the blushing, looking away. He couldn't help but smile. But what made him smile wider is what his friend said.

Hiro looked over at his friend, wide smile still on his face. "Thanks, buddy. Normally, things don't get to me...but I have my days." He grinned, "Although, I think I'm good now." Which, he was. His mood was lifted, out of his slump. He couldn't thank Kakeru enough, he hated days he was down.

His eyes suddenly wandered down to the book in Kakeru's lap. He couldn't make out anything written from where he was, though. He leaned over, pointing at the book, "What're ya reading?" He asked, one eyebrow raised slightly, gaze still focused on the book.

[bella]

The first thing that Kakeru saw was his smile. It seemed to stretch across Hiro's lips happily, like it belonged there. To Kakeru's surprise, it seemed to grow wider right before Hiro thanked him genuinely. Saying something along the lines of 'usually things don't get me, but I have my days.' Kakeru said nothing, but he honestly couldn't help but want to smile at how much happier Hiro seemed to be because of his words. It felt nice, to be able to comfort someone not feeling so good. The feeling was absolutely new though, which made Kakeru feel flustered beyond belief, causing him to gaze down at the ground.

"What're ya reading?" Looking back up at the sound of Hiro's voice, Kakeru saw that his eyes were locked firmly on something in his lap, and he was pointing at it too with one of his hands. Glancing down back at his lap, Kakeru saw a book laying firmly in his lap. It was then, that Kakeru remembered what he had been reading.

Kakeru's face flushed incredibly red, practically resembling a tomato as he quickly glanced back to Hiro and then back to the book laying is his lap. There was no way he would tell Hiro he had been reading a book that involved romance. Just no way possible. He would die from embarrassment if Hiro found out. "Oh- I-It's uh... n-nothing... j-just y-you-your nor-normal ev-everyday book," Kakeru stuttered as his face still glowed red. He mentally begged that Hiro wouldn't pry into it. If he did, Kakeru would drop over dead from embarrassment.

[Greg]

Hiro looked up when he heard Kakeru start speaking. His friend was extremely red. "Oh- I-It's uh... n-nothing... j-just y-you-your nor-normal ev-everyday book." Hiro furrowed his brow and tilted his head. "That's a pretty broad answer." Hiro sighed as he sat back up straight.

His curiosity was getting the better of him. He wanted to know what the book was, even though he felt he shouldn't pry...he couldn't help it. He crossed his arms, leaning his head forward a little and closing his eyes. "You act like I'm going to laugh at you or something..."

Hiro opened his light brown eyes and shifted his gaze back over to Kakeru, smiling, "I'm not the kind of person who's going to force you to tell me, so if you're that embarrassed by it," he uncrossed his arms, placing his left hand on Kakeru's right shoulder, "it's alright. I won't poke and prod ya for it."

ooc; I never specified which way Hiro slid so Kakeru could sit down...uhh...so Hiro's to the right of Kakeru...yeah. x]

[bella]

Kakeru caught sight of Hiro furrowing his eyebrows and tilting his head to the side. "That's a pretty broad answer." He heard the older teen sigh as he sat straight up. Kakeru felt his heart beat speed up and he nervously swallowed. Oh dear, please God, don't let him pry. Don't let him pry. Don't let him pry. Kakeru was silently chanting that thought over and over in his head, hoping desperately that Hiro wouldn't pry.

"You act like I'm going to laugh at you or something..." Kakeru froze as one thought crossed his mind. Hiro was prying. It was then, that he had noticed that Hiro switched his position. Now he had crossed his arms, tilted his head forward a little, and had closed his eyes. Kakeru watched silently frozen as Hiro reopened his gorgeous light brown orbs... Wait... Did... He just... Think that Hiro's eyes were gorgeous? He didn't have time to think those thoughts over, for he was momentarily shaken out of his frozen state when Hiro's eyes met his and he smiled. "I'm not the kind of person who's going to force you to tell me, so if you're that embarrassed by it," Kakeru watched as Hiro uncrossed his arms and still sat frozen when Hiro placed his left hand on his right shoulder, "it's alright. I won't poke and prod ya for it."

With those statements, Kakeru knew that his first thoughts were wrong. Hiro wasn't the type to pry, which let Kakeru sigh inwardly, in relief. Feeling a wave of confidence overflow him, Kakeru thought it would be safe if he told Hiro what he was reading. Hiro wasn't the type of person to laugh at someone. Even if said someone read ... romance novels.

"W-Well... H-Hiro since y-you've b-been so n-nice t-to me... I-I guess it w-wouldn't h-hu-hurt to tell y-you wh-what the b-books a-about," Staring intently at the ground as his entire face lit up red, Kakeru slowly breathed out. "It-It's... a-a- rom-ro-rom-romance n-nov-novel," he mumbled softly, looking back up at Hiro. Kakeru hoped desperately now that Hiro wouldn't laugh.

[Greg]

Hiroya squeezed his friend's shoulder lightly before removing his hand and setting it flat on the bench next to him. "Romance novels, huh?" He took a short pause, looking at some of the people walking in front of them, "Not my genre of choice, but you know, everyone's different. You read what you like, that's all that matters." He looked back over to his friend and smiled to reinforce his words.

He leaned back, putting his hands behind his head and sighed, "See? Now was that so bad?" He grinned and chuckled. "You don't need to be afraid to tell me anything. I'm not one to judge anyone." He said this rather plain, serious. He wanted to make sure his friend knew he meant it.

Hiro reached his left hand over again and patted his friend on the back, "You're you. You should be proud of that. If anyone doesn't like it, then...who cares about what they think. And-" Hiro suddenly froze for a quick second. He hadn't thought that far ahead. He didn't know what to say after that; well, he did...but it wasn't something he planned to vocalize. He couldn't just sit there though, act like he didn't say anything, that'd be rude. He lowered his right arm from behind his head, brought his left arm back to his side, and lowered his head so his hair was covering his eyes. He picked his sentence back up, only a bit quieter, "And...for what it's worth...everything I know about you so far...I find extremely cute." A faint blush rose to his cheeks, eyes still hidden as he awaited a response.

[bella]

Kakeru felt Hiro lightly squeeze his shoulder a few seconds after he told him that he was reading a romance book. The hand then fell from his shoulder, and Kakeru turned to look at Hiro with a quizzical expression. "Romance novels, huh?" There was a slight pause before Kakeru heard Hiro start up again. "Not my genre of choice, but you know, everyone's different. You read what you like, that's all that matters." Kakeru's face filled with shock when Hiro turned to face him and gave him a warming smile.

The feeling of embarrassment flooded Kakeru as he bashfully turned his head away. "Y-Yeah... I-I guess you're ri-right," he mumbled softly, glancing at a couple with their hands intertwined. Kakeru felt odd watching the two flirt, but his attention was quickly brought back to Hiro when he heard the sound of his friend shifting positions. The blond had leaned back with his hands behind his head casually.

"See? Now was that so bad?" Kakeru saw Hiro grin before he continued to speak. "You don't need to be afraid to tell me anything. I'm not one to judge anyone." The tone Hiro had used caught Kakeru off guard. He had said it seriously, which made Kakeru believe that he genuinely meant it. That in turn, caused him to lightly blush. The older teen had made him feel completely flustered with his kind words. While deep in thought, Kakeru was oblivious that Hiro had reached his hand over to pat him on the back until the hand was there.

"You're you. You should be proud of that. If anyone doesn't like it, then...who cares about what they think. And-" Kakeru was blushing heavily as Hiro spoke, but he hadn't excepted the upperclassman to suddenly freeze and stop. The hand on his back slowly retreated back to it's owner. Confused as to why Hiro suddenly stopped, Kakeru turned to look at the blond curious as to what was happening. He saw that the older teen had lowered his head and that his hair covered his eyes. Kakeru opened his mouth to say something, but the older teen beat him too the punch, with a much quieter voice than before though."And...for what it's worth...everything I know about you so far...I find extremely cute."

Kakeru turned completely red at the statement that come out of the older teen's mouth. He couldn't believe that Hiro had just called him cute. Turning his head away quickly from Hiro, his flushed face somehow got darker, if that was even possible. Kakeru slightly opened his mouth to speak, but the words just couldn't come out. Staring intently at the ground, he was finally able to get his voice to work. "T-Tha-Th-Thank y-you... Hiro. Y-You're ... Truly one of t-the nice-nicest people I-I've ever m-met" he whispered. A smile took over his still flushed face as he turned back to look at Hiro.

ooc; Holy shit. I didn't mean for it to be so long ;__; Sorry~

[Greg]

Hiroya turned his head slightly towards Kakeru as he spoke. He saw how red his friend was as he stuttered through the sentence, Hiro couldn't help but smile. "And that's what's so cute. The blushing, stuttering, kindness..." His voice trailed off as he shifted his gaze to the ground. "You say nice, I just say I'm honest. Honest to my thoughts and feelings. But...thanks, buddy. I'm lucky to have such an awesome friend." He grinned, as he looked back over at Kakeru.

Suddenly, Hiro wanted to move. He wanted to do something new. As if it wanted to give him an excuse, his stomach churned. He realized he hadn't eaten since breakfast. He got to his feet and turned to face his companion. "Hey, do you want to go get some food?" Hiro asked, gesturing over his shoulder, nowhere in specific. He knew it was a little out of the blue from the rest of their conversations...but he did say he was honest to his feelings...and he was feeling hungry.

ooc; haha don't worry about it. :] I'm sorry my replies take so long. :[

[bella]

Hiro had spoken to Kakeru, telling him exactly what he thought was cute about him and that he believed himself to be the 'honest to his thoughts and feelings' type of person, instead of a 'nice' person. Even with that said, Kakeru still thought the older teen was a genuinely nice person. Hefting out a sigh, he glanced towards Hiro and saw a bright grin on his face.

Turning his head sharply away as a blush invaded his cheeks, his thoughts wandered back to exactly what Hiro had said. He had called all the things Kakeru did on a normal bases, because of his shy personality, cute. Hiro had called all the stuttering, kindness and even the blushing cute. Of course remembering that Hiro had said that caused the shy boy to blush even more. How could someone think that the things he did often were cute? It just didn't make any sense to the raven haired teen.

At the sound of someone getting to their feet, Kakeru turned his head back to the upperclassman. Their eyes met for a second, causing Kakeru to furiously blush as he diverted his eyes back to the ground. "Hey, do you want to go get some food?" Hiro asked, causing Kakeru to look up to see the blond gesturing over his shoulder.

"S-Sure... I-if you d-don't m-mind me c-coming with you. I-I-I d-don't wa-want to in-intrude if you w-want to go a-alone," Kakeru mumbled, gripping tightly onto the book in his lap. He hoped deeply that Hiro would want him to come along. Although, he wasn't completely sure as to why he was hoping that.

ooc; Alright~ And don't worry about it. Really, I honestly don't mind how long it takes. I take forever as well.

[Greg]

"S-Sure... I-if you d-don't m-mind me c-coming with you. I-I-I d-don't wa-want to in-intrude if you w-want to go a-alone," Kakeru answered him shyly. Hiro lowered his right hand, letting it rest on his hip, and shifted so he was leaning mostly on his right leg. "I just invited you along, didn't I?" He asked rhetorically. "Of course I don't mind if you come~" He added, grinning.

He paused for a second, enjoying the breeze that blew through, his ponytail flowing behind him. "Besides, dining out is kinda lonely by yourself." He said, chuckling. He took a step over so he was directly in front of Kakeru and offered out his right hand to help him up. "Come on, buddy." He said with a warm smile.

ooc; So uhh...I'll let your reply wrap up this area...and we'll transfer it to the restaurants~ :]

[bella]

"I just invited you along, didn't I?" Kakeru held his breathe as Hiro paused for a quick second. He was afraid of the blond's next words as his heart rate sped up incredibly. Although, he wasn't particularly concerned as too why he was so afraid of rejection from the teenager standing in front of him. "Of course I don't mind if you come~" Letting out a relived sigh as he stared up and the blond, he saw Hiro grin lightheartedly. Hiro paused as a breeze blew over the both of them before he spoke again. "Besides, dining out is kinda lonely by yourself."

Kakeru listened to Hiro's chuckle as a blush formed over his cheeks. For some odd reason, he couldn't help but think of how nice it sounded. Deeply lost in thought about the older teen's chuckle, the boy hadn't noticed Hiro standing directly in front of him with his hand extended out for him to grab. At the sound of Hiro saying something, though Kakeru had no idea as to what he said, the raven haired teen looked up. He glanced between the hand, and Hiro's smiling face awkwardly before reaching his right hand out to grab the extended hand

"R-Right..." Kakeru whispered softly as Hiro helped him up to his feet. The book that he had been reading was clutched in his left hand tightly, and Kakeru took a glance at it when his cheeks warmed up. Kakeru Shizuma felt odd at that moment, to say the least. And the feeling was a good odd.

END
ooc; Alright it's, finished!