[The waiting in silence is the most awkward part, Shuji thinks, and then corrects that opinion because Sakura has kissed his cheek.
Her lips are exactly as soft as he'd imagined - no, softer - but he can't properly appreciate the moment because he's lost in a haze of confusion, in why and but I thought and does this mean.]
...Sakura...?
[Right now, he needs Sakura to help him, because he has no earthly idea what's going on..]
[Blurted out because it's important, and it's true, and both she and Shuji need to hear it, she thinks. She glances down nervously at their joined hands, fingers giving a gentle flex underneath Shuji's]
[Said with giddy delight as the truth starts to seep in -- Shuji likes her and they both like John. It's almost too perfect, in fact. She's afraid it will shatter under scrutiny, and so mentally pulls back and allows the moment to be what it is.
... Which in this case means kissing his cheek, again, a little peck of encouragement and because suddenly she can do it as many times as she likes.]
[ so john probably responds with some time that he's off his shift at work and will be right over. if it's shuji texting him, he doesn't need more info other than a time and place to rush over. ]
[ and— perhaps predictably, john-san is absolutely, 100% oblivious. he literally suspects nothing. unless he walks in on sakura and shuji in some weird compromising position (he did knock a few times, you know)-- he's only bursting with cheer at the prospect at seeing his beloved friends. and, uh, other embarrassing feelings he'll take wit him to the grave.
so he enters, his work apron from earlier still tied about his waist. he offers them a wave. ]
Yo! What's the occasion?
[ not that he needs an "occasion" to hang out with them, anyway. ]
/comes in late with starbucks so old it's evaporated ;A;
Believe her, she tried to be once Shuji sent the text with a time and place, but then the minutes ticked by, and the weight of her choice started to settle on her shoulders, and the moment that door opens is when Sakura nearly bolts off the couch and into the bathroom to hide.
... She does not do this. But only because she'll leave a mess in her wake.
Also because she'll have to leave town forever.]
-- Uh, no occasi--
[MMmmm false]
A small occasion.
[Also false, just slightly more true. Sakura looks to Shuji as if begging for death]
[Shuji is altogether not surprised that Sakura isn't ready for this. He one hundred percent believes that she's trying her best, but if it were easy for her to confess to someone, they wouldn't be in this situation to begin with.
Normally, Shuji isn't the greatest at being straightforward about his feelings either. But Sakura is more anxious than he is, and so his Mom Friend Override goes into effect.
He clears his throat.]
We wanted to ask you out on a date. ...A romantic date.
[Dear god in heaven Shuji just went for it with all the subtlety of a bullet, and Sakura makes a weak noise in the back of her throat like she's been shot.]
-- U-um!
[Staggering to her feet, not looking at either of them.]
-- I... need to do something!
[Tea? Tea! Except the kitchen has no door, that's a terrible place to hide, she is going to flee to the bathroom and lock the door behind her.
[ john goes completely still. you see, there are a few words that have him stunned. "we." "romantic." "date." he's too confused for the smile to completely vanish. he misheard, right? he feels like he can't hear anything over the sound of his heart hammering away in his chest. ]
[ oh. and sakura-- she's running away. ah. and there, she's... gone. ]
[ in their defenses, if john weren't rooted to the spot, he might be backing away slowly towards the exit. he feels his face beginning to flush pink, damnit. he folds his arms over his chest, shifts his weight as he passes a scrutinizing gaze over shuji. and the bathroom door, too, which is apparently currently acting as a stand-in for sakura. ]
Oh.
[ still-- what. he's shocked. ]
[ it'd be... too mean to be some sort of coordinated prank. he doesn't think they would lie to him? eventually, after a few more beats of silence, his mind slowly catches up with his thoughts. ]
I don't... [ no, wait. ] You're for real 'bout this?
Neither of us are cruel enough to joke about this.
[He understands John's disbelief, because it's similar to his own when Sakura kissed his cheek. But at the same time, he can't imagine them toying with John for their own amusement. Has he even met Sakura?]
You don't need to rush a reply. We just wanted to tell you together... well, as together as we could manage...
[ his face is on fire now, the noise of his blood thudding in his ears. of course he knows what his answer is, of course he does. he glances between shuji and... the stand-in door, again, like it should tell him all the answers he seeks. ]
[ when he finally forces a reply, it's not as articulate as he'd like. ]
I mean. [ his speech halts. ] ... It's just, the sorta thing that seems to be good to be true?
[ argh. ]
Just.. both of you askin' me out. [ no, wait. ] Tryin' to do that, anyway, at the same time.
[ he doesn't like that answer, but hey. time would do. maybe after his heart stops trying to beat its way out of his chest, his face stops trying to emulate a tomato. john's crossed arms fall to fold over his stomach. the sudden swarm of butterflies aren't helping much, either. ]
[ he nods to the door. ]
Maybe we should try to.. coax her outta there, or whatever.
Also Shuji, don't go being sweet to her after she literally ran and hid. Her nervousness softens into guilt, and though they won't hear it with the door in the way, she sighs at her cowardice]
I'll be out in a second. Just... some green tea.
[She needs something to sooth her nerves. But yes, both of ya, just go to the kitchen while she tries not to die before then.]
[ john lifts his hands to lace them behind his head, trying to force himself into some semblance of normalcy. he gives shuji a light nudge with his shoulder. ]
[ right. because as she preoccupied as she might be, john, like shuji, also can't blame her for wanting some... time. he turns to head to the kitchen. muffled through the door, ]
[Well, as promised, given enough time and Sakura will... open the door to the bathroom, tiptoeing as she goes, and then hovering by the entrance of the kitchen. This would be a lot easier if the butterflies in her stomach would just disappear, instead of simply making room for guilt and embarrassment.
But she supposes the worst is over? Or at the very least, whatever John's answer, it's unlikely he will mock her for being a disaster. Picking at her nails, she'll very, very quietly sneak in.]
...
「 S-sorry... 」
[No, she doesn't realize she switched to Japanese. Let her rest. Also yeah uh, sorry Shuji for leaving you on the battlefield to die. She hangs her head in shame]
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crowspace2018-03-16 10:55 pm
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Her lips are exactly as soft as he'd imagined - no, softer - but he can't properly appreciate the moment because he's lost in a haze of confusion, in why and but I thought and does this mean.]
...Sakura...?
[Right now, he needs Sakura to help him, because he has no earthly idea what's going on..]
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[Blurted out because it's important, and it's true, and both she and Shuji need to hear it, she thinks. She glances down nervously at their joined hands, fingers giving a gentle flex underneath Shuji's]
But... I... I can like both of you, can't I...?
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[So if it's not allowed, he's in trouble.
But this is 2018, and their friends all have better things to worry about than whether three people who like each other do things like kiss. So- So-
So he gives her hand another squeeze.]
Can we tell him together?
[Maybe between the two of them, they can work up the nerve.]
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[Said with giddy delight as the truth starts to seep in -- Shuji likes her and they both like John. It's almost too perfect, in fact. She's afraid it will shatter under scrutiny, and so mentally pulls back and allows the moment to be what it is.
... Which in this case means kissing his cheek, again, a little peck of encouragement and because suddenly she can do it as many times as she likes.]
I mean, I'm pretty sure he likes you, so...
enter john!!
I'm sure he likes you, so between us we've got this covered.
Let's go find him.
[John shouldn't be too hard to track down. If nothing else, Shuji can probably just text him and ask.]
ENTER JOHN
[ and— perhaps predictably, john-san is absolutely, 100% oblivious. he literally suspects nothing. unless he walks in on sakura and shuji in some weird compromising position (he did knock a few times, you know)-- he's only bursting with cheer at the prospect at seeing his beloved friends. and, uh, other embarrassing feelings he'll take wit him to the grave.
so he enters, his work apron from earlier still tied about his waist. he offers them a wave. ]
Yo! What's the occasion?
[ not that he needs an "occasion" to hang out with them, anyway. ]
/comes in late with starbucks so old it's evaporated ;A;
Sakura is not ready for this.
Believe her, she tried to be once Shuji sent the text with a time and place, but then the minutes ticked by, and the weight of her choice started to settle on her shoulders, and the moment that door opens is when Sakura nearly bolts off the couch and into the bathroom to hide.
... She does not do this. But only because she'll leave a mess in her wake.
Also because she'll have to leave town forever.]
-- Uh, no occasi--
[MMmmm false]
A small occasion.
[Also false, just slightly more true. Sakura looks to Shuji as if begging for death]
hugs you both
Normally, Shuji isn't the greatest at being straightforward about his feelings either. But Sakura is more anxious than he is, and so his Mom Friend Override goes into effect.
He clears his throat.]
We wanted to ask you out on a date. ...A romantic date.
[He feels like he should probably clarify that??]
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-- U-um!
[Staggering to her feet, not looking at either of them.]
-- I... need to do something!
[Tea? Tea! Except the kitchen has no door, that's a terrible place to hide, she is going to flee to the bathroom and lock the door behind her.
... Doing great, guys.]
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[ oh. and sakura-- she's running away. ah. and there, she's... gone. ]
[ john's left to stare at shuji. ]
... What?
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...Honestly, I'd like to hide in the bathroom too...
[Why are they both like this.]
We both like you. A lot. ...A lot. So we were going to ask you out together, but, um, that just happened.
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Oh.
[ still-- what. he's shocked. ]
[ it'd be... too mean to be some sort of coordinated prank. he doesn't think they would lie to him? eventually, after a few more beats of silence, his mind slowly catches up with his thoughts. ]
I don't... [ no, wait. ] You're for real 'bout this?
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[He understands John's disbelief, because it's similar to his own when Sakura kissed his cheek. But at the same time, he can't imagine them toying with John for their own amusement. Has he even met Sakura?]
You don't need to rush a reply. We just wanted to tell you together... well, as together as we could manage...
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... That bathroom door ain't opening though.]
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[ when he finally forces a reply, it's not as articulate as he'd like. ]
I mean. [ his speech halts. ] ... It's just, the sorta thing that seems to be good to be true?
[ argh. ]
Just.. both of you askin' me out. [ no, wait. ] Tryin' to do that, anyway, at the same time.
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He doesn't blame John for doubting, either.]
Well... What would help you believe this is really happening?
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[ he doesn't like that answer, but hey. time would do. maybe after his heart stops trying to beat its way out of his chest, his face stops trying to emulate a tomato. john's crossed arms fall to fold over his stomach. the sudden swarm of butterflies aren't helping much, either. ]
[ he nods to the door. ]
Maybe we should try to.. coax her outta there, or whatever.
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[So Shuji stands up and heads to the bathroom door, brushing his pinky over one of John's hands as he goes. He knocks lightly on the door.]
Sakura? Are you okay in there?
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It sounds muffled]
I'm fine.
[Door's still locked]
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[ john stares. ]
Maybe she really is just... usin' the bathroom, Shuji.
[ he feels likes his brains are addled. ]
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...Okay. What kind of tea do you want me to make for when you finish, Sakura?
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Also Shuji, don't go being sweet to her after she literally ran and hid. Her nervousness softens into guilt, and though they won't hear it with the door in the way, she sighs at her cowardice]
I'll be out in a second. Just... some green tea.
[She needs something to sooth her nerves. But yes, both of ya, just go to the kitchen while she tries not to die before then.]
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[ right. because as she preoccupied as she might be, john, like shuji, also can't blame her for wanting some... time. he turns to head to the kitchen. muffled through the door, ]
... All right. We'll be in the kitchen, then.
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Making tea is something he could do in his sleep. The process is more automatic than not, and Shuji keeps talking while he's getting the tea ready.]
Do you want some tea, John?
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But she supposes the worst is over? Or at the very least, whatever John's answer, it's unlikely he will mock her for being a disaster. Picking at her nails, she'll very, very quietly sneak in.]
...
「 S-sorry... 」
[No, she doesn't realize she switched to Japanese. Let her rest. Also yeah uh, sorry Shuji for leaving you on the battlefield to die. She hangs her head in shame]
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