city of dreamers

17. saying “I love you.”

“Well, I don’t see why not..” The question was simple enough. What she was about to do was a different story. If it was something violent, he could easily fend her off. Sadly, the words that followed were the last things he ever expected d-ne to say to him.

“Pity screw…? Wh— I— huh!?” He couldn’t even think properly right now. What the hell is going on? What happened to D-ne? She’d never talk this. Unless…she was fake the whole time. Either way, C-ta felt hurt. 

“What I really think? C-ta-san, I’m only offering for your sake. It wouldn’t do if everyone found out what a filthy homo you are, pining after A-ya-san like that. It’s a free service that comes with our little deal--you know, the one where we keep B-ko-chan and A-ya-san separate from each other so we can have them all to ourselves...which you seem intent on pretending to forget.”

17. saying “I love you.”

“Well, I don’t see why not..” The question was simple enough. What she was about to do was a different story. If it was something violent, he could easily fend her off. Sadly, the words that followed were the last things he ever expected d-ne to say to him.

“Oh…uh…good. Yeah…” This was so wrong. What happened to D-ne? She should at least know that C-ta only likes—

“I’m not making much sense? You’re the one who’s acting different! You were so shy and polite before…what happened? Did A-ya say something to you and it messed you up? You’re normally not this…weird.”

Now, something was really wrong here. First off, C-ta even daring to speak with her outside the club room for no real reason? And the way he was acting as if this side of her was completely new to him...

Did he get replaced by some mysterious being or something? No, wait, that was such a ridiculously A-ya thought that she quickly abandons it. Those things weren’t real. C-ta was just messing with her.

Well, she can do that in return too. She knows exactly how to draw out his real personality.

“C-ta-san, if you wanted a pity screw where I pretended to be like that, you should have just said so. I’m afraid I can’t match up to A-ya-san in certain areas, but I’m sure you couldn’t care less if you’re so desperate that you’d come to this...lonely and friendless girl.”

17. saying “I love you.”

“Well, I don’t see why not..” The question was simple enough. What she was about to do was a different story. If it was something violent, he could easily fend her off. Sadly, the words that followed were the last things he ever expected d-ne to say to him.

“Um…sure…” Why was this happening anyway? God, this was so awkward. When did D-ne ever have feelings for him and why now? C-ta couldn’t help but think to himself that maybe now he wouldn’t mind a fight with D-ne. At least it wouldn’t feel so out of place.

What follows is entirely spur of the moment, and really, she would never do this normally, but now she’ll just step closer and throw her arms around him, hugging tight and pretty much rendering her momentary formality moot.

“D-ne! I was wondering where you ran off to!”

His happy grin subsided a bit when he actually looked at her. She seemed…angry? Maybe annoyed? Bored? He couldn’t really tell. Normally D-ne didn’t look like this so something must have happened.

17. saying “I love you.”

“Well, I don’t see why not..” The question was simple enough. What she was about to do was a different story. If it was something violent, he could easily fend her off. Sadly, the words that followed were the last things he ever expected d-ne to say to him.

He actually didn’t know how to respond to this. Did he hate D-ne? Of course he did. However, this D-ne wasn’t…normal. From the moment she started talking to him, she’s been the exact opposite of how she usually was. So now what was he supposed to say? ‘Yes’ and make her cry? ‘No’ and give her a false sense of hope? In order to keep up with appearances, he chose the latter.

The disappointment is clear on her face now. She really should have just kept quiet as usual and played her usual role. Now, things were sure to be different between them and really awkward.

A quick glance around tells her that they’re alone, so she can pretty much drop her usual face for now.

She walks over to him and nudges him (not so) lightly with her foot.

"Thanks,” she mumbled, reaching for the can and rolling it between her palms, before cracking it open with a finger. Calpis Soda, she noted, lifting the can to her lips and taking a sip of the liquid. It’s just as she remembers, an interesting, but not sickening mix of creamy and a touch of sour. 

Maybe I should grab some the next time I wind up in Japan again.

Then a thought occurs to him, and he actually breaks the silence first for once. “Hey, is everyone in this house a Stand user too?”

17. saying “I love you.”

“Well, I don’t see why not..” The question was simple enough. What she was about to do was a different story. If it was something violent, he could easily fend her off. Sadly, the words that followed were the last things he ever expected d-ne to say to him.

“You’re really confusing me with B-ko now, aren’t you? I didn’t meet you until you stopped by the old music room to be with her!”

“Huh...? But B-ko-chan only came after me...and C-ta-kun, you said that we were...” She trails off. So she was really being rejected then...? And here she had thought she'd had a chance with someone who would have been out of her league otherwise.

17. saying “I love you.”

“Well, I don’t see why not..” The question was simple enough. What she was about to do was a different story. If it was something violent, he could easily fend her off. Sadly, the words that followed were the last things he ever expected d-ne to say to him.

And now he can’t move. This was weird. This was wrong. Just what exactly was going on with D-ne?

“A-ah...it’s...you’re always so nice to me...! And you were one of the first people to really talk to me...and you made me so happy when you brought me to the club room...”

17. saying “I love you.”

“Well, I don’t see why not..” The question was simple enough. What she was about to do was a different story. If it was something violent, he could easily fend her off. Sadly, the words that followed were the last things he ever expected d-ne to say to him.

But this was her only chance, right?

Somehow, she manages to work up even more courage than earlier. This time, she reaches over and grabs his hand, her grip firm. 

Helps with the nerves, though. Kinda. 

“So what you’re saying is that we’ve got some overgrown mutant octopus down there, hungry for the souls and flesh of the living? How do you deal with it then when it gets hungry?” 

“Well, uh, when Seventh’s mad she picks one of us and feeds him or her to it. Otherwise...I’m not really sure what she does.”

...wait, now that he’s said it aloud, that sounds really fucked up. He’s gotten way too used to the way their ghost house works.