PSL

[reluctantjinrou]

 [With summer coming to an end, and school coming up on the horizon, their days of spending a lot of time together were wrapping up. It's inevitable because Natsuno is someone who likes to study and has a very high goal. That particular evening, his family is driving him crazy so he goes out without saying anything, wandering to Tohru's house to knock at the door. 

Tohru's parents are used to seeing him by now and he's directed to go up and visit his best friend who is playing video games. Natsuno removes his shoes and heads up the stairs. He knocks on the doorframe.]

Hey Tohru-chan.

Comments

[wateringthehomolust]

Hey...hold on a sec.

[He's playing said video games at the moment, keeping his eyes on the screen when Natsuno knocks. He isn't ignoring Natsuno, though, as he pauses the game after a minute and leans back to look at and greet him properly.]

What's up? Wanna play? [Waving the game controller in the direction of the television.]

[reluctantjinrou]

[Natsuno enters his room and shrugs a little.]

I can play if you want.

[He moves to sit next to him.]

Don't blame me if you win.

[wateringthehomolust]

Cool. It's more fun to play against a human-controlled character than a computer-controlled one.

[He moves over to give Natsuno some room, and presses a controller into Natsuno's hands.]

Haha, that wouldn't bother me, I'd be winning! Unless you've got some spectacular beginner's luck...which you might, who knows? Here, you select your character with these buttons, and you press these to attack.

[Pointing out the buttons as he mentions them.]

[reluctantjinrou]

[Natsuno bites down on the inside of his lip and focuses on the controller.]

I think I've got it. I'll pick...this one.

[He picks a strange looking girl, God only knows what skills she has.]

[wateringthehomolust]

[She's a girl in a fighting game, her strongest skill is probably keeping her boobs inside whatever she's wearing. He himself picks a guy who wields some sort of staff.

Faito time!]

I'm surprised you agreed to play. You don't normally like video games.

[reluctantjinrou]

I don't like them now either.

[Apparently this doesn't stop him from button mashing to try and win the fight.]

It's just something to do since I came over here.

[wateringthehomolust]

[Button mashing is a valid strategy. But it makes Tohru laugh, sorry Natsuno.]

Okay, fair enough.

So why'd you come over then? Parents getting to you?

[reluctantjinrou]

Yeah they are. [His button mashing gets a little more aggressive.]

They want to know why I would even bother with university. They went, it wasn't that great. Todai is too far out of my reach. How am I expecting to pay for it? [He sighs. The fighting is an old argument.]

I'm sorry that I don't want to waste my life on some artistic pursuit and I'd rather have some semblance of a normal job and a normal life!

[He grimaces.]

Well as normal as things can be anyway.

[wateringthehomolust]

Ah...

[Well, that was a sore spot, apparently. He grimaces as well.]

Well...I don't blame them for worrying about that kind of stuff. That's what parents do, after all. I know Dad would do the same if I told him I felt like going to university.

[A small laugh.]

If I did. I don't know if I'd get past the entrance exams.

[reluctantjinrou]

[Natsuno slams his thumb on the buttons a few times.]

So what, you're taking their side now?

[He grumbles under his breath and just gives his head a shake. Tohru doesn't understand, no one really does.]

[wateringthehomolust]

Hey, no, I didn't mean it that way.

[Natsuno's button-mashing is currently SUPER EFFECTIVE, in that he's currently kicking Tohru's character's ass because Tohru is partially distracted by Serious Conversation.]

I'm just pointing out that they have valid concerns. Even if they are a little on the weird side.

[reluctantjinrou]

If you think I'm too stupid to get into Todai, just say it. God knows my mother did.

[It isn't that serious, he's just complaining.]

[wateringthehomolust]

No putting words into my mouth, that's unfair.

[He doesn't think Natsuno's stupid, really.]

[reluctantjinrou]

[He sighs, but as annoyed and bitter as he's feeling at the moment, he's not going to become rude on top of it.]

I'm sorry. It is unfair.

[He slouches a little, now he's losing again and it's fine.]

[wateringthehomolust]

Besides, I don't think you're too stupid for Todai and you have a few years yet to convince your parents of that.

If you need to stay here for the night, you know you're welcome to.

[reluctantjinrou]

[Natsuno nods a little.]

Thanks...for that. I'll stay. It's not like I told them I was leaving, but I'm sure they'll figure it out. I only ever come here after all.

[wateringthehomolust]

[You need more friends, Natsuno.]

Your mom might assume you're unable to find my house and got lost in the woods instead.

[reluctantjinrou]

I'm sure she'll figure it out. She'll just call your mom. She already thinks I'm here too much.