RABBIT

  “You really think that way? … You’re an odd person.”

          she didn’t mean it to be an insult. the way her expression softened & her voice held a bit of admiration likely made that much clear. people who could stand by what they believed in despite the disapproval of others had always made her jealous, but not necessarily in a bad way. she was happy to hear something like that, even from someone she’d only just met. it made her heart skip a beat because it reminded her ( maybe not all people in this world were terrible people. ) no one who saw the beauty in dreaming could be a bad person, right?

  “Then I suppose I would be the fool for not believing in him… but that’s okay.   It doesn’t matter what I believe. What’s important is him. If he believes in his   magic, then what do I matter? Or anyone else… If he loves his magic and   the smiling and the applause, then that’s that. Ahah… the Rabbit sounds like   such an admirable person… You know a lot about him, don’t you?”

          she giggled, shrugging it off as him being a fan. she had no right to question it any further & she didn’t wish to, anyways. she just wanted to take in the enthusiasm – enjoying being in the presence of someone so spirited while she could.

  “Hm? Oh, you want to read it?”

          her eyes widened, surprised, perhaps, he’d taken her suggestion seriously at all. it was a hard book to read for most… ah – maybe she should’ve recommended something a little less… intense… now she was afraid of boring him.

  “We… we don’t carry it in the library, but I always have my personal copy with   me… Gardens of the Moon is the first book in the series, but… You… you don’t   have to force yourself to read something like that just because I brought it up!   Not that I’d mind. If… you wanted to talk about it with me, that is.”

          her smile turned sheepish, but the fact he was likely indirectly asking to meet with her again ( & that she’d offered to lend him her own book, actually ) went right over her head. she didn’t even realize it.

              " Not a thing wrong with being strange Hasegawa! After all it is the most strangest of people who are the most endearing and attractive after all! You're pretty strange too you know. Like I said though endearing and --- yeah you know what I mean. "

              Fingers go to play with the curls of his hair as he tries and hides the slight blush on his face he gives another small laugh and shakes his head.

              " Well everyone matters Hasegawa. Especially to the Rabbit, what's the point in performing to a bunch of people if some of them think they don't matter. But yeah I know what you mean he's pretty admirable, he's really cool. I'm a er...huge fan. " definetly performing here. Definetly.

              " Yeah I'll totally read it! Gardens of the Moon? Sounds already really interesting! I promise to take really good care of it too and... uh well I should have your number r-right? So I can c-call you when I finish and we can talk right? Makes perfect sense!

  “Ooooh, noooo! Look at him, so defensive over some douchebag wearing   a Party City mask. The definition of ‘con artist’ is as follows, since you seem   to think I’m ragging on some imaginary entry price: a person who cheats or   tricks others by persuading them to believe something that is not true.   His magic! His magic is so effing fake! Are you shitting me right now!?”

          she didn’t miss a beat. with her nose wrinkled in disgust, she took a step forward, arm reaching out to point an accusatory finger straight at him. her nails were as pretty & pink as her soul ( but goddamn, she had an attitude for days! what a mashup! )

              He quickly looks around to make sure nobody is looking at the two of them right now, raising his hands in defense he begins to slowly back away from the girl. She's shouting too much and being too damn nosy. There's no way that she knows right?

             " You know nobody's going to like a girl who shouts obsenities at strangers, so whatever you're smoking I'm not buying. "

              He couldn't contain himself.

             " Ah well I got mine from a local store --- if you want I can show you where. I know the manager pretty well and uh --- " wait is he asking a girl out? Is he? A really cute girl too. No this doesn't count as a date, not at all.

  “ … ”

          she froze up in response to that, immediately feeling embarrassment quiet her protests. for her part, she did her best to ignore that he’d probably just made her blush ( he was only being kind & she, an idiot ), choosing to stay focused on the card moving in his hand. she’d never think it anything more than an illusion, even if she didn’t understand it… but that didn’t mean it wasn’t beautiful. it was. fun to watch, too. she’d not let her lack of belief ruin something genuinely entertaining.

          it took her a while to tear her gaze away from the card & acknowledge him again, though there was still a tentative, bashful quality to her expressions & movements. she took a surprised step back when he bowed, letting out a nervous laugh.

  “I don’t think my opinion is really all that important… But – About that… I’m   not sure. There’s been something… off about the people here lately. It’s like   they’re all… giving up. I… certainly would never ask to be the deciding factor   in anything you did, but if you perform here again, I’m sure it’ll help lift spirits.   It did tonight.”

          calmly, she moved her hand along her arm, rubbing at the fabric absently to distract herself. ( “beautiful flower.” ) she flinched. her blush didn’t stay gone for long, did it? how could he say stuff like that so easily?

  “ … magic is too good to be real. It’s too wondrous – makes people too happy.   It’s like the happy ending in a fairytale. You believe in it because you want to.   But once you close the book, you realize it was exactly what you knew it was   all along – just a dream. A fantasy.”

          despite the sad train of thought, when she smiled at him again in spite of her flushed cheeks, she seemed almost peaceful. she wasn’t trying to be pessimistic. it was just… how she viewed the world.

              Ah the blush on her face made his face shine in delight ( though it could not be seen ). Not a thing could be better than a cute and soft spoken girl with cheeks as red as a rose --- it warms his heart.

              " Everyone's opinion is important my dear. An entire city giving up though, that is worrying. If a lifting of spirits is required I shall stay and perform as much as possible holding tight to hope is what we all need. " he's hoping his father is still breathing. He's doing all of this for him ( isn't he? ).

             " Ah I see." he's unsure what to say to that. His magic is fake, just a bunch of clever illusions but how could he say that to a girl who eleives that happy endings are just a fantasy. He stops the flipping of the card and hides it beneath his sleave ( quick unseen ), then moves closer to place a hand upon her cheek ( if it wasn't for the mask he'd be a blushing bumbling mess ), he places the specialized card beneath the fabric of her clothing, a gift for that she will find later he's sure, and backs away to calm himself because in reality he just touched a really cute girl's cheek and that was friggin insane.

             " Nah, I haven't been in an area where he performed. I just check his social media and stuff watch the live streams he sets up. He's really devoted to showing off too his fans.

No response. The bear just walked forward, raised his leg ( && ) then promptly slammed his foot into the other’s shin. One would think he was soft ( && ) fluffy – he certainly looked it, after all – but there were robotics hidden under the surface. That kick certainly wasn’t gonna feel good. It was the only response he ever gave to people who tried to tell him he ‘wasn’t real.’

              He keels over in pain upon the slamming of his leg, when it's a question of pain tolerance Akio has little to none. An audible curse passes through his lips as he retreats from the bear ( holy shit that felt real ).

aka “I can feel my cheeks blushing from just thinking about what I want to say to you”

“I like the way your hand fits in mine.”

“You have something in your hair, umm… Do you want me to get it out?”

“It’s nice that your voice was the first thing I heard today.”

“You can call me whenever you want… Even if you don’t have a reason to.”

“I’m bad at texting first, so I always end up hoping you will.”

“This movie is really scary, but you’re into it so I’m trying not to cover my face the whole time, but- WHAT IS THAT?”

“Wait, don’t pull away… Not yet.”

“You look really cute in that sweater.”

“Half the time I get too embarrassed to say anything.”

“No, it’s fine.  I can wait until you’re done talking to them.”

“No, like…. It’s just, I can’t believe you’re actually wearing my clothes.”

“You’re a big piece of inspiration for this, honestly.”

“God, you always make me blush so damn much.”

“I’ve been trying to get ready for like an hour and a half, because I know you’re going to look so good and I need to try and match up.”

“Would it be too cliche if we matched clothes a little?”

“First second I saw you and I couldn’t get over how beautiful you were.”

“I wanted to say “I love you” for the first time without stuttering, but that failed.”

“Could you hold my hand?”

“You can’t leave without letting me hug you first.”

“I really love holding you, darling.”

“That pet name was so gushy, but it was also so cute.”

“Aw, you’re blushing like a rose.”

“Your lips are really warm.”

“I can’t get over how a few months ago I wanted to learn your name and now you’re having breakfast with me in my sweater.”

“No, mom, don’t tell him/her I said that about him/her!”

“My friends get so annoyed by how much I talk about how sometimes.”

“Wanna, like– I mean, if you’re not busy… We could get lunch? Or even just coffee if you don’t have a lot of time?”

“Wow, I didn’t think you could make me smile this big.”

“You don’t need to leave so soon.”

“You look so comfy, and cuddle-able.”

“Quit smiling at me, I can’t stop messing up my sentences when you look at me like that.”

“You’re hiding under the blanket because you’re blushing?”

“You make me so happy.”

“Don’t give me that puppy dog face.  How am I supposed to say no to that?”

“You made these cupcakes for me?”

“I look forward to holding you close in bed soon.”

“Let’s share my coat, since you’re so cold.”

“I can’t believe I got the first date, let alone a year.”

“You make me feel so damn gushy.”

“How do you always manage to look so captivating?”

“Would you mind if I kissed you?”

“Are you sugar personified or something?”

“I know I’ve kissed you like, ten times, but just like another ten, please.”

“You’re the perfect height for me to rest my chin on your head.”

“I would’ve had breakfast ready, but you were sleeping on my arm, and I didn’t want to wake you.”

“Is it cold outside or are you just blushing?”

“Yeah… Huh? Oh, sorry I was just thinking about my girl/boyfriend.”

“I’m so in love with her/him, I don’t know what do do.”

              " ..."

              Is he high or something right now? Or is someone playing a trick on him. Some elaborate prank.