Oh. [ Only marginal disappointment. Mostly since she's already accepted Makoto as eyecandy-only territory a long time ago, so there's nothing particularly letting her down about any of this..
Also glancing over his embarassment instead of poking at it just this once. The goddess of love is having a merciful day. ]
Then.. why the flowers? I mean, you don't just randomly go around handing those out to girls for no reason, right?
[he sighs, bows his head, and offers the flowers again. though his shoulders are slumped it's not to show defeat; it's more to show that the embarrassment is yet to leave him, but he's getting better.]
[it definitely helps that minako is being merciful]
It's kinda silly. I just thought you were looking out for me and Rin, kind of like a big sister. I went by the flower shop today, and so I wanted to get you flowers... for all you've done for us.
[ Now this is what doesn't cause disappointment, but instead a rather.. strange emotion. Minako hardly feels shame - even with her lack of self-confidence, she can bluff enough fake confidence that even her own mind starts to believe at those moments.
But this.. this is different. This is Makoto standing in front of her, genuinely telling her she's kind of like a big sister to them.
Of course she's been looking after them, she's consciously been trying to, she's aware of it, but.. well, let's just say Minako isn't entirely used to hearing it, let alone being thanked for it.
Her head dips a little, and for a moment it almost looks like she's going to cry as she stares at the flowers. Not that she doesn't, no actual tears fall (although, is there something a little shiny or watery about her eyes?) and when she looks back up at him, she instead smiles. Warmly. Much, much more natural than usually. ]
I see.. [ It comes with a little difficulty, but it's the kind of difficulty caused by happiness bubbling up in the pit of your stomach, trying to awkwardly find a way out. ] That's great. I mean-- um, it's probably going to sound really embarrassing, but.. this means a lot to me.
[ There's an oddly choked sound, like she's biting something back, but then her smile widens in its genuinity. ]
.. Thanks, Makoto-kun. You're really important to me. Rin-kun too. I guess.. having both of you around made things a lot more fun. [ She nods to herself, staring back at the flowers. ] .. hmm. Something like that.
[he looks up, too, at her words, and is happily met with a rather positive response; it doesn't mock him in any way, and it doesn't seem like she finds it too naive or over the top that he went ahead and did this. it's rather nice, to have feelings accepted, and it's definitely a warm sort of happiness bubbling in him, too.]
[his cheeks puff, almost childlishly, and he's smiling widely.]
[makoto realises that people expect gratefulness and expression of his feelings to come easily to someone like him, but the truth is--it isn't. he comes to their understanding in his thoughts, but to actually voice them and do something for them takes a lot more courage than what others could imagine.]
[it's great that this time it was the right thing to do.]
--a hug?
[his arms spread out; he's not sure what he wants to say, in addition to her words, but perhaps action is more appropriate in this situation. this is going beyond being friends, to demonstrating a family-like status that he cherishes and misses so much. it's hard for him to put it into words, but]
[makoto is definitely happy to find a family here, away from home, as much as the notion saddens him if he dwells on it too much]
[ A hug totally sounds right to her right now. It feels right after him giving her flowers, after what she said - it really is just like she said. Makoto is important to her, like a brother, like the kind of feeling of family that she's never had before.
And so she's happily moving in for the hug, throwing her own arms around the other guy despite their height difference and happily clinging to him with his arms spread and the flowers out of the way of being crushed by Minako's enthusiasm.
[ She removes herself from him - a little bit, at least. She's still loosely holding on to him a little bit, but she's enough removed from him to angle her head up so she can look at his face. ]
Even if it's in front of everyone? You won't get embarrassed? [ Because it's not like Minako to hold back because of silly circumstances like that, after all. Especially since besides how much she likes to ramble on about how attractive Makoto is, she doesn't really see him necessarily just as a guy or a potential love interest - he's just.. someone important to her outside of all that. ]
--but, it's fine, isn't it? Being the goddess of love and all it would be kind of rude to tell you to hold back on showing that you care for others.
[he says this so easily because he knows her interest in him is not "romantic", and love is not just about boyfriends and girlfriends, but friends and family, too. he's sure she understands.]
[ Now that's true nobility - resigning yourself to the fact Minako will embarrass you all over.. ]
.. Hmm, I'm glad.
[ Her first answer is pretty honest. It's easy to tell from her tone. It's not as spazzy, but more mature, like she really does feel glad to hear it from Makoto of all people. Having friends who aren't just with you by default because of destiny, having something that feels a little more like a family - it's definitely nice.
But of course serious moments never last long with Minako, and a moment later she's already clinging to him again and rubbing her cheek against him. ]
Oh, I can't believe that you're so perfect, Makoto-kun..! I feel like a mom who's going to have to give their baby away to their first love! Don't forget to come and hug me too sometimes when you have someone, okay?!
[ She does sound like one of those overly protective mothers even just in tone right now, really.. ]
[is this what it's like to not be the mom of the group anymore? makoto sputters a nervous laugh, and though this is a more traumatic tearful hug, he returns it nonetheless. he would be dumb to not know minako's dramatics by now.]
I promise that I'll hug you now and then even if I'm snatched away by my first love.
[it's like one of those dramas his mother liked to watch, isn't it.]
They wouldn't be worth the trouble if they can't handle us hugging, right? They've got to understand that what is important comes first.
[heh heehee]
...really, though, I'm very thankful to have someone like you in my life. [fake tears and all] So, things like these, they aren't a bother at all.
U-.. uh-huh! [ Still full of tearful dramatics, because those don't let up so easily - especially not since Makoto plays along with it so well too, there's no way she can just stop in the middle of the action then. It's probably impossible to pry her off him as she's clinging onto him right now, anyway. ]
If they're someone who can't accept me in your life as well, then I don't even want to see them around this place..! They'd break my heart!
[ This is her way of saying she feels the same about that last part, okay.. It's not even that Minako feels embarrassed saying that kind of stuff out loud - is there anything that does embarrass this girl? - but it'd just be weird in the middle of the melodramatics. ]
[he's so glad there's no more talk about helping him find true love and have him settle down fine and dandy once he turns eighteen. that's just something he... just remembered, and is quite happy he's without.]
Right! I'll definitely make sure to introduce whoever it is to you first, and if they can't accept you, I'll reconsider my choices.
[big words]
[but, well, he's rubbing her arms now. please don't cry (whether fake or not) so much now, minako... makoto's trying here.]
Hm, and I, know it's not my shift today, but if you need help with anything, since I'm here already...
no subject
N-no, it's not--!
[omg what if she takes it the wrong way]
You're very beautiful, Minako, and you're one of the best people I've met here, and I'm glad we're friends, but it's not --!
[shut up]
I! I wasn't thinking of confessing to anyone!
no subject
Also glancing over his embarassment instead of poking at it just this once. The goddess of love is having a merciful day. ]
Then.. why the flowers? I mean, you don't just randomly go around handing those out to girls for no reason, right?
no subject
[it definitely helps that minako is being merciful]
It's kinda silly. I just thought you were looking out for me and Rin, kind of like a big sister. I went by the flower shop today, and so I wanted to get you flowers... for all you've done for us.
[he's never had a big sister figure before]
no subject
But this.. this is different. This is Makoto standing in front of her, genuinely telling her she's kind of like a big sister to them.
Of course she's been looking after them, she's consciously been trying to, she's aware of it, but.. well, let's just say Minako isn't entirely used to hearing it, let alone being thanked for it.
Her head dips a little, and for a moment it almost looks like she's going to cry as she stares at the flowers. Not that she doesn't, no actual tears fall (although, is there something a little shiny or watery about her eyes?) and when she looks back up at him, she instead smiles. Warmly. Much, much more natural than usually. ]
I see.. [ It comes with a little difficulty, but it's the kind of difficulty caused by happiness bubbling up in the pit of your stomach, trying to awkwardly find a way out. ] That's great. I mean-- um, it's probably going to sound really embarrassing, but.. this means a lot to me.
[ There's an oddly choked sound, like she's biting something back, but then her smile widens in its genuinity. ]
.. Thanks, Makoto-kun. You're really important to me. Rin-kun too. I guess.. having both of you around made things a lot more fun. [ She nods to herself, staring back at the flowers. ] .. hmm. Something like that.
no subject
[his cheeks puff, almost childlishly, and he's smiling widely.]
[makoto realises that people expect gratefulness and expression of his feelings to come easily to someone like him, but the truth is--it isn't. he comes to their understanding in his thoughts, but to actually voice them and do something for them takes a lot more courage than what others could imagine.]
[it's great that this time it was the right thing to do.]
--a hug?
[his arms spread out; he's not sure what he wants to say, in addition to her words, but perhaps action is more appropriate in this situation. this is going beyond being friends, to demonstrating a family-like status that he cherishes and misses so much. it's hard for him to put it into words, but]
[makoto is definitely happy to find a family here, away from home, as much as the notion saddens him if he dwells on it too much]
no subject
And so she's happily moving in for the hug, throwing her own arms around the other guy despite their height difference and happily clinging to him with his arms spread and the flowers out of the way of being crushed by Minako's enthusiasm.
She giggles. ]
As I thought, Makoto-kun's always so warm..
no subject
That's a little embarrassing to hear...
[of course he's warm! he's alive!]
And though I'm not always one to take the initiative, if you ever want a hug, I'm alright if you want one without asking, alright?
[it's official; she's leveled up into 'family']
no subject
Even if it's in front of everyone? You won't get embarrassed? [ Because it's not like Minako to hold back because of silly circumstances like that, after all. Especially since besides how much she likes to ramble on about how attractive Makoto is, she doesn't really see him necessarily just as a guy or a potential love interest - he's just.. someone important to her outside of all that. ]
no subject
[there's no denying that]
--but, it's fine, isn't it? Being the goddess of love and all it would be kind of rude to tell you to hold back on showing that you care for others.
[he says this so easily because he knows her interest in him is not "romantic", and love is not just about boyfriends and girlfriends, but friends and family, too. he's sure she understands.]
Hugs are nice, either way.
no subject
.. Hmm, I'm glad.
[ Her first answer is pretty honest. It's easy to tell from her tone. It's not as spazzy, but more mature, like she really does feel glad to hear it from Makoto of all people. Having friends who aren't just with you by default because of destiny, having something that feels a little more like a family - it's definitely nice.
But of course serious moments never last long with Minako, and a moment later she's already clinging to him again and rubbing her cheek against him. ]
Oh, I can't believe that you're so perfect, Makoto-kun..! I feel like a mom who's going to have to give their baby away to their first love! Don't forget to come and hug me too sometimes when you have someone, okay?!
[ She does sound like one of those overly protective mothers even just in tone right now, really.. ]
no subject
traumatictearful hug, he returns it nonetheless. he would be dumb to not know minako's dramatics by now.]I promise that I'll hug you now and then even if I'm snatched away by my first love.
[it's like one of those dramas his mother liked to watch, isn't it.]
They wouldn't be worth the trouble if they can't handle us hugging, right? They've got to understand that what is important comes first.
[heh heehee]
...really, though, I'm very thankful to have someone like you in my life. [fake tears and all] So, things like these, they aren't a bother at all.
no subject
If they're someone who can't accept me in your life as well, then I don't even want to see them around this place..! They'd break my heart!
[ This is her way of saying she feels the same about that last part, okay.. It's not even that Minako feels embarrassed saying that kind of stuff out loud - is there anything that does embarrass this girl? - but it'd just be weird in the middle of the melodramatics. ]
no subject
Right! I'll definitely make sure to introduce whoever it is to you first, and if they can't accept you, I'll reconsider my choices.
[big words]
[but, well, he's rubbing her arms now. please don't cry (whether fake or not) so much now, minako... makoto's trying here.]
Hm, and I, know it's not my shift today, but if you need help with anything, since I'm here already...