imaginex | Inbox for Recolle

[Sakura has spent enough time in her memories to know that if she were a Matou... well. This game of neutrality would go without end. That girl spent her entire life frozen in one expression, she believes.

But at least in this world, she's a Tohsaka at heart, glad for it, and the neutrality only lasts until they reach Odasaku's front door after the elevator ride. Once the door is open, and they enter, and she waits for him to close it--]

Odasaku-san.

[Your attention, please.]

[ odasaku's not sure whether or not he would prefer the endless neutrality. both that and the eventual honesty has its own set of pros and cons to weigh. but doing so takes time, and it seems that sakura has already made her own decision.

all he can do is take it on. turning around to face her, his expression remains as deadpan as ever. on the inside, however, he expects the worst. her anger, her hatred, anything like that. he knows it's his fault, so he'll accept it. ]

Yeah?

[Anger, hatred? Hardly.

She merely holds his stare for a beat before giving a tired smile and gestures to his legs]

They must be hurting, yes?

Why don't you lay down -- I'll, um... make you something warm to eat.

[ What.

What?

Odasaku's almost too surprised to even answer her question. He blinks at her a couple times, before realizing that, yes, she's talking to him. And she's not wrong, either-- his legs are aching. But then he realizes the sorry state of his fridge and the tips of his ears grow warm in embarrassment.

but he also doesn't feel like he can say no to her either. so he'll just give in to his fate. ]

I'll...yeah. The kitchen is over there. [ and he'll point towards it. ] There's some tupperware with curry rice. Enough for the two of us so... you can eat, too.

[ and she'll find almost nothing else besides that. bottled water, one (1) apple, and some eggs. his cabinets have a box of cereal, a box of tea, and some instant coffee. it's an incredible contrast to how full his bookshelves are. there's even some books piled up on the floor, too; it's obvious where his money goes. ]

My room's the door at the end so...feel free to come by and stuff.

[The state of his kitchen will give her a small aneurysm, how do men survive on their own like this, but that will only be when she sees it. In the meantime she'd much rather wait patiently for him to start that trek to his room. It's not that she doesn't trust him to make it to his bed without supervision, but. Well.

He did escape Shuji.]

Okay! [A small nod of understanding] I'll make sure to warm it properly.

[ if this was another situation, it would be smart of her to do that. in fact, this is probably what shuji should have done all these times, but he would've probably found some way to escape that surveillance, too.

but now that he's got sakura here, safe under his watch, odasaku has no need to run off or sneak out. he'll hobble to his bedroom as asked and down on his bed. his legs might as well be yelling at him.

he glances to the side-- shuji's book lies on the table, bookmark marking the page he left off on. but today he has little desire to read. if anything, seeing shuji's name only makes his chest ache dully. he knows that he's supposed to be getting over him (there's no reason to go after a taken man, sakunosuke) but he didn't want it to be like this. and the fact that he dragged sakura into this, too...

whatever. there's nothing that can be done now.

reaching for his laptop, he opens it to see the word document open on his draft; almost 100 pages. though he feels the weight of guilt and regret over his shoulders, he sees no better moment to write than now.

when sakura comes in, that's what she'll see him doing-- typing. ]

[Odasaku is allowed about half an hour of peace, though it's not because it takes that long to warm up curry. Sakura is too busy marveling at the state of his kitchen, checking every cupboard and needing time to massage her temples as she dissuades herself from sneaking off to the grocery.

She'll be too tempted to look for Howard if she leaves, and knows it, so. No, she'll stay put.

At least his kitchenware seems respectable. Once she's pulled out fresh plates and served the curry and rice on both of them, there will be a soft knock on his door before she peeks her head through the crack]

I'm not interrupting you, am I?

[ odasaku looks up from his laptop, eyes owlish as he sees sakura at the door. he can't help but feel surprised towards the fact that she actually stayed with him.

he's also relieved. he's not sure what he would've done if she had run off again; probably go after her again.

closing the laptop, he shakes his head. ]

It's fine. Come in.

[Unlike when she'd entered the front door, Sakura is much more careful in her approach this time. It's Odasaku's room, she figures; having a girl inside might be weird.

... Or that might be some of that traditional Japanese assumptions getting to her. In any case, she'll offer him the plate and do her best not to stare about.]

Here you go. I hope it's to your liking. [Sakura you just warmed it up in the microwave--]

Thanks.

[ but it's the thought that counts!!

and it really does for odasaku, who gives her a small smile as she takes the plate to set it on his own lap. this is a lot more than he would've expected her to do, and he can't help but feel a bit guilty about that.

ah, well. nothing that can be done about that anymore. he'll take a spoonful and put it in his mouth. nothing's as good as curry. oh wait-- ]

I made this a bit spicy so I'm sorry if you don't like that.

I don't mind spicy.

[She prefers sweet things, to be sure, but spice is better than bitter. So long as it doesn't taste like chalk or coffee, she's fine. After gathering a little bit of her own curry into a spoon, she'll take a small nibble like she's showing off.]

Besides, this isn't as hot at the mapu tofu shop in town.

[ odasaku chuckles, somewhat amused over her comparison. he's glad she likes it though, because there's not much else to prepare in his excuse of a kitchen. ]

I'm gonna have to go there when my leg's better. Maybe I'll get some ideas on what to cook next time.

If you go there, please send my regards. The owner happened to come from the same city as me.

[Kei Shigaraki ~~assuming that the player apps in this month~~ -- one of the nicest people she knows, and she smiles at the thought of him]

... Though you really should keep your kitchen better stocked.

[Ah, there it is. The slight nagging. She'd hoped to last longer than three minutes, but now that the word is out, she settles her gaze on Odasaku in mild concern and disapproval.]

You'll heal better if you're eating well.

[ and there it is.

for reasons he can't even come to explain, he feels surprised that she's admonishing him for the state of his kitchen. he didn't even think it was that bad to begin with...but now that he thinks about it...he has been living on what shuji's brought him for lunch.

and the leftover curry.

and the snacks tatsuma gave him half a month ago.

maybe it is that bad. ]

Huh...maybe I should. [ yes sakura. he's just realizing it now. ]

[... Ah.]

Y-yes... you should. [She parrots him weakly, not able to wipe the disbelief from her face. That's, um... that's quite an oversight to suddenly realize.

Maybe it's because he's not used to shopping for himself? In that case, she feels it her duty to walk him through the... steps... of grocery shopping... ]

You can start out small, with some of the basics. Flour, eggs, milk, rice... maybe some stock for soup, too?

[See? She's trying to be positive about this!]

[ odasaku can't help but feels like he's disappointed her somehow. it's not like he's new to living alone...he's been doing so for a couple years now.

it's just that he's been living on the simplest things; the amount of instant noodles he's consumed makes his kidneys cry.

listening to sakura's explanation he nods, as if he was back in school and was receiving a lecture. ]

This makes sense.

Oh... Okay!

[It's not that she's ever blamed Odasaku for being... laconic, necessarily -- secretly, she prefers his quiet to some of her more chatty friends -- but a rush of nervousness hit her like a heatwave when that's his only reply. Her eyes fall back to her curry.]

... I can make you a list, if you'd like?

Sure. If it's not a bother to you, that is.

[ he plays around with his food for a moment, considering the situation. odasaku appreciates her kindness-- he really does! but sometimes he's afraid of unknowingly taking advantage of her.

he takes another spoonful of curry, mulling over the thought. once he swallows, he adds, in a quiet voice. ]

Thanks. And...sorry for what happened earlier.

[...

Wordlessly she mimics him, pushing bits of curry to the edge of the plate before scooping it in her spoon. She knows that they were building up to this, but with the moment finally here, well...]

I'm not angry. [Not anymore. She'd thought to keep her anger but ultimately couldn't match her fury to the crime.] You did it so Shuji-kun wouldn't suspect me.

[It's her fault, really. She can admit that, however quietly]

... I just don't want you getting hurt, either.

Then I guess that's two of us.

[ that was why he left in such a hurry once he realized what was happening. he didn't, and still doesn't, want her to put herself in danger. he didn't want her to be like he had once been in the past-- going on a suicide mission for revenge.

odasaku continues to stare at his plate, taking another bite. suddenly, it doesn't taste as well as it used to seconds prior. ]

You don't gotta answer if you don't want to but...why do you wanna go after that thing?

[Ah right, he doesn't know, does he?

Which results in a pause, Sakura obviously weighing the difference of truth, lies, and omission, until she seems to come to a balance she's happy with. Slowly, she lowers her spoon back to the plate.]

A friend of mine is with it.

[ ah. that explains things.

odasaku's immediate response is a strange cocktail of emotions. anger, guilt, sympathy and, the strangest one, relief. he may not know sakura well, but he has a feeling that she really would have stormed over to fight with mateus for the sake of her friend.

for all the more reason he's glad to have her at home. it's a selfish kind of relief (hence the guilt) but sakutarou tries to justify himself by saying that he'd rather have a safe sakura than a dead sakura. it doesn't make him feel much better. ]

I understand.

[Does he really? She glances at him, trying to pick out the pieces of truth in his expression. With a pokerface like Odasaku's, it's a difficult task, but she seems to find some reflection of what she's looking for.

... Though she supposes that leaves her own guilt to nurse, doesn't it?]

I should apologize to you as well. [Muttered softly] It isn't your fault, really.

[She should've lied better, at the very least, and then shoos the thought away before it has time to settle. No, it won't be a true apology if she's making excuses for herself already.]

I do appreciate you trying to look out for me.

It's fine, really; all I did was cause trouble.

[ not only did he become a burden to her, he had to drag her into a lie that may have ruined her reputation. not only that, but he has no idea how to undo the mess either. telling shuji the truth would most likely upset him; the only thing he knows how to do.

either way, he sighs, trying not to focus too much on that thought. the last thing odasaku wants is to upset her even further than he believes she is. ]

I wonder what that thing was, though...it definitely didn't seem human.

[Her lips thin into a disapproving line as he continues to batter himself because this was the opposite of what she'd hoped for. It reminds her too much of their initial meeting, how Oda had seemed surprised Sakura would offer a word in his defense.

It's too much like watching a drowning man making no efforts to die but refusing to float.

But he's moved on by now, meaning her options are to harp on the point or move along with him. After a dissatisfied pause, she settles on the latter.]

It wasn't. I didn't get a good look at it, but it was like a... a parasite attached to a woman. [She stares anxiously at the plate in her hands] And the air was so cold around it, I thought I'd freeze in place.

[Shaking her head, she refocuses] But it told us it wanted to break a contract with someone... so I think it's a creature of some sort that was once summoned.

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