h o g o t s u k i ☾

“To the best of my abilities! I’d rather not have you and Kanata worrying about me 24/7 and be on my case about it!”

When he had finished, was only then did he realize that perhaps he shouldn’t touch her face but she didn’t mind. Not really. His touch was gentle and kind and it was nice of him to even consider wiping away her tears. Before he could even withdraw his hand away from her face, she grabbed it, unaware of what she was doing before she leaned into his hand.

A warm smile adorned his features at the sight of the damsel, at the words she chose despite his depreciation of her which seemed to occur just within seconds ago -- for he was the type of person who could not, for a moment allow himself to forgive his deeds so easily. There were past solecism he has yet to palliate, as it sat within his heart, rotting his core from the inside.

Even though they briefly knew one another, even though she didn’t know him all that well, he was still someone kind and she held true to that belief. After all, he brought back the book for her—she didn’t understand why. Hiyori’s gaze softened then, at his words. Her? Who was this girl that he mentioned that he compared her to? But at his words of no longer seeing her again, she seemed to have jumped from her place on the bench and ran toward him, grabbing hold of his sleeves as she looked up to him, her expression agonized as her tears began to form once more.

The gesticulation she adopted, however -- was beyond his expectations. The innocence, naivete of Hiyori remained within her heart -- the mere light she didn't require a refulgence of to exhibit. The ray of pure sinlessness within her required none a single mirror to display -- for she possessed the potential itself within her. Her hands took hold of his sleeves and his pupils dilated upon taking in the sight of her dim-lit features.

So child-like, yet so ... Exquisite.

A chuckle bubbled against his lips, indeed -- a shadowy one as he exhaled a sigh of relief upon comprehending the words she took to deliver, so sincerely. "You seem to really believe so, don't you?" the man could hardly resist the mere thought of adopting the protective kinesics upon her -- to reach out and wipe away the lucid clear tears adorning her porcelain cheeks and so he did.

He lowered himself to clean her facial assets of the wet taint of sadness. Upon the thought that he has concluded the response, his expression enunciated the astonishment upon realizing just exactly what he may have done.

“Magazines… Photography… Modelling outfits.” Mumble beset formerly bold tone as if ashamed or else self-conscious. Accusing glare lest he mock. “I work for an agency.”

She turned to face him, watching as if he was walking away, “To-Tohzuki-kun…!” she said with the softest voice. She held the book tightly in her hands, shaking slightly as she stayed sitting where she was. “Wh-Why…?” she asked, her fingers almost turning white from holding the book so tightly. They weren’t together and they were barely just strangers, someone that she barely had the time and understanding of getting to know.

A weak, smile so faint it lacked the coruscation he seemed to have possessed a number of times -- which to him, or perhaps to others was the refulgence burnished from the moon's reflection of the sun. How... Humorous the thought seemed to play within his mind then, that he could not comprehend as to how his smile even possessed a single charm -- for he was... A mere moon. To simply reflect the light of another.

Hiyori had run off without really knowing a destination. All she knew was that she wanted to hide, wanted to disappear. This hurt. What was he trying to do in doing such a thing to her? No one’s ever done such a thing to her before and in such a forward manner. It hurt her to think that a person she trusted, a person she thought to be good would do that sort of thing to her. It was too cruel to be meant as a joke, having since she’s never even had the opportunity to experience it in an actual relationship, that she only wanted to find out what love was like.

When she spotted the aquarium, she thought that it’d be the perfect place to hide: it was dark, with lots of corners and areas that she could easily find and hide. Making a run for it, she averted her gaze from the person selling the tickets to go inside as she quickly bought one, and dashed inside. “He-Hey! Wa-wait!” the ticket master shouted before watching the small girl disappearing inside. He sighed as he pushed up his hat a little, scratching his head. What was he to do? He had seen her crying and she was such a small girl, he wondered if she perhaps had gotten into a fight or something had happened to her… With a sigh, he mulled over what he ought to do.

Hiyori ran around the aquarium until she found a secluded room, where there were no one inside to view the fishes that floated over and around them. Everywhere was tinted blue and dark, but it was warm enough that it comforted her. As she was trying to find a spot to hide in, she recalled a promise she had made with Ri-chan and resisted hiding further and decided to sit in the center of the room on the bench, curling up to hug her knees to her chest.

Was she wrong in her assumptions of Tohzuki-kun? It hadn’t seemed likely because he seemed so kind to her when they had first met. She couldn’t understand what was to be the matter now. Why? Why did he do that? Was it his intention to hurt her? Was this a cruel joke he decided to play on her? Her chest ached, her slender shoulders shaking as she cried softly… not sure what she should do.

Yet inquiring others of such individual would never be a problem, for her height was unusual, yet not a second would he complain, not a second would he judge her for her height or appearance because she was attractive within her years, amongst her peers perhaps -- for she held a certain mirror of fragility upon her facet. Therefore, with her unique height did he placed a high disquisition against his tiers, to seek for her location as the crowds before him pointed towards a direction -- the Aquarium.

It wouldn't be surprising if she sought a corner to cry there, after all. The tranquil atmosphere such places displayed were already an attraction, especially for lovers themselves.

Without a single thought, the man arrived upon the counter of the attraction, to question if a small damsel passed through -- to receive an answer, with a puzzled expression. Suzuya sighed, relief beginning to wash over his heart, yet still a trace of anxiety would not ever leave. The man paid for two tickets, "One for the girl, and one for me. You did mention that she didn't pay for it, right?"

-- The real search within the darkness was an eventual event, and Suzuya had to be patient upon walking in -- noting that there were other customers without appearing too suspicious. He did not call out for her, nor did he looked around wherever there were customers around, and upon arriving at the entrance of a room with a single girl sat upon the bench, he could not brave himself to face her.