[AQ] The Hearts Egg [Tsukiko/Yasuko K.]

[Yasuko Kobayashi]

Yasuko looked back at the first-year beside her. Gardens huh? Somehow there was something about flowers and plants that suited Tsukiko; perhaps it was that certain softness of nature that reminded her of the girl's quiet personality; or perhaps it was the warm colours of the flowers that matched the girl's amicable approach. Either way, she couldn't help a slight smile as she heard the words Tsukiko used. Flowers like beautiful dancers; dancing because they were happy - the whole romanticism quality of her descriptions just wanted to make her chuckle. Those words could easily have been funny because of how cheesy they were, but somehow Tsukiko's earnest personality made the those exact words sound warm instead.

"No no, I don't think it's silly!" Yasuko immediately said. Gardens seemed like something really precious to Tsukiko, and the way she described it convinced her so. "It's an important place to you, so treat it as such!" She paused, shifting slightly so that she was leaning agains the bookshelf a little more. "And besides, that's...a really charming way of putting it," she couldn't help but comment on it. "I never thought of seeing flowers that way before. Maybe they are happy in their own way," the first-year laughed. It would be difficult not to see the flowers in the garden as 'dancing' now.

Glancing back at Tsukiko, the girl had to ponder for a while on her words. To be honest, if it was any other person, she would've easily shot them a disapproving look. That's too silly! she'll say. Childish even. But the book they were looking for was about something magical, and it wouldn't be too surprising if it wasn't a tad magical too. Could it be possible it was one of the magical places? One of their own magical places perhaps? Well the inside of a book sounds extremely difficult to get into (not to mention that they hadn't a clue as to how to get there to begin with) but a garden...A garden was certainly doable. Seiyo academy had a big garden outside. Was it possible...? "Maybe," Yasuko said, a hand on her chin as if in thought. "A book's difficult to get into but a garden..."

But the girl's next statement made Yasuko blink at her blankly. Before she began to laugh. Tsukiko was just so interesting! She could see why the girl could end up with such a conclusion, and it honestly wasn't out of character, but still! "Sorry I-," she began in between laughs. "I'm not being mean honest! I just...didn't expect that! You're really something, you know that?" It was a compliment.

[Deleted]

As Yasuko answered and her voice tickled inside Tsukiko's ears. They heated up before she could say anything. Even though Tsukiko was a tad embarrassed she wasn't mad and she certainly didn't think what Yasuko said was mean. In fact, it made her want to be friends with the girl even more. "You're very beautiful when you're laughing." It kind of slipped out. Tsukiko had a habit of saying things like that. Things that sometimes were misunderstood. She got red in the face hoping Yasuko didn't think she was coming on to her. Not that Yasuko wasn't beautiful! She really was! But Tsukiko didn't mean to sound like an old man pervert.

"U-Um sorry, that must've sounded weird." She was so terribly embarrassed with herself. How was she always able to be the strangest person in a conversation? Maybe she could take a class in socializing. "A-Anyway! Let's head to the garden! I'm pretty sure if anyone can find it in the garden it's you Yasuko! You're so mature after all and um I feel like nothing gets past you!" That was a compliment but maybe it didn't sound like one? Oh man, she was bad at this. Yasuko had gone and showed her such an adorable expression that she began sweating a little in the face. Cute girls always did this to her.

She offered her hand. Was it strange to do that? It kind of felt right. Even if she was in high school now and holding hands was something little kids do. "You're right. The garden... Um well, the garden I would visit near my family's home was very special to me." Her eyes closed as she remembered the color of each flower, of each petal on each of those flowers and the scent that carried her to a fairy tale land inside her head.

Opening her eyes she smiled a bit brightly. "I'm sure this garden we go to together will be much more special to me though."

[Yasuko Kobayashi]

"Oh, uh--" The first-year stopped laughing, her face lightly flushed from Tsukiko's words. Yasuko hadn't a clue how to answer that. She certainly didn't get a lot of compliments in her life. Most of the time they tend to be curses and swears and...well she always ended up with some kind of nickname that means 'mean'. Considering the way she acts towards people, it should come as no surprised. But the fact that someone actually gave her a compliment like that really threw her for a loop. "Um...thanks...?" the first-year replied, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. She didn't think Tsukiko was trying to flirt with her - she sounded too innocent for that.

"Oh no, it's really alright!" she said, hands up as if gesturing to her that it was honestly not a big deal. Tsukiko seemed to be the kind that liked to say things that were on her mind - but Yasuko herself hadn't met someone whose words were mostly soft and warm. A lot of the time, the people she met who say things before they think often say nasty, sarcastic things, rather than anything nice. So the fact that there was someone like Tsukiko was...a rather pleasant change of things.

The girl's nervousness and stuttering made Yasuko want to laugh again. She took Tsukiko's words as a compliment either way; and she couldn't help but feel swelled up with pride at hearing them. She was mature? And nothing gets past her? Those words made her happy. She always wanted to be seen like an independent mature woman, so to have people say that to her always lightened her mood.

As the girl offered her hand, Yasuko stared down at it. Was it a strange thing for people to do? She didn't know. She certainly held hands with others when she was younger, but in high school? The thought didn't cross her mind. But Tsukiko's description of her home garden made Yasuko smile a little. She must really love gardens and flowers huh? A part of her wondered though; wondered why the garden near her house was so important to her. Was it a place of special memories? She would like to ask.

But perhaps another day.

Taking Tsukiko's hand, she laughed at the girl's statement, a little embarrassed. How does the girl say these things so easily? "This'll be my first time the gardens," Yasuko said, looking at her fellow first-year. "So I guess that makes it a little special too." She laughed again. Was that a strange thing to say?

[Deleted]

It was special. It okay to think that, right? Tsukiko hoped with all her heart that it was. She wanted to believe that the things she thought were special in this moment were just as special to Yasuko. If that could be something and if it could be a feeling that they shared, well it would just about be the most amazing thing ever! Tsukiko honestly believed that and if she believed in it hard enough maybe Yasuko could as well. Her thoughts repeated like this as she walked with a smile and her hand holding Yasuko's hand.

As they left the library and entered the halls Tsukiko just kind of walked with a skip in her step. It wasn't that strange. She had always been pretty easy to read. Growing up she never voiced how she felt so those feelings ended up spilling out in her expressions and actions. Her smiles meant she was happy, excited, sometimes they meant she was nervous even. Her frowns meant she was sad of course but also worried. But when Tsukiko showed it in her body language well that just meant the feelings she was feeling were just that big.

"Yasuko! Um! Is it okay for me to call you that? Y-You can call me Tsukiko! Um.." She paused and just kept walking a bit more before continuing. "T-To be honest I really like being called Tsukiko instead. I-It's mine. Do you know what I mean?" Her first name was hers and to her, it was something that meant everything. Her family name didn't feel like hers. But her name did and to be called by it was just about the most affectionate thing anyone could do for her. It was a sign of friendship and more importantly that she'd formed some sort of bond with another person.

"I'd really like it if you just called me Tsukiko! E-Even a nickname would be really nice!" Her eyes almost sparkled with anticipation at the prospect of a nickname. That was far more incredible.

[Yasuko Kobayashi]

Yasuko wanted to laugh at the first-year's behaviour. Somehow, it was a strange feeling to be holding hands with someone who was walking with a little spring in her step. She certainly had her fair share of expressive individuals - she herself was one of them - but most of the time, such peoples displayed anger and frustration easily, which obviously meant that they would likely butt heads. To see someone though, that was of her year, to be so expressive in a positive way was a far more rare occurrence. In some ways, Yasuko saw it as a little childish; but she found it difficult to be critical about it. Was there really anything bad in seeing somebody being so obviously happy about things? In the end, she settled for a little chuckle here and there, her hand still holding hers. Tsukiko was adorable in her own way...!

Blinking, there was a pause for a while, before Yasuko realised that her fellow first-year had called her without an honorary suffix. It was...a little weird, for admittedly she was the kind of person who didn't get along with most people or get close enough to amicable individuals to be able to reach that level of relationship. And, for that moment, she was hesitant. But she honestly couldn't say no to the other girl. If that was what the girl wished to be called, there was no reason why she couldn't be the same. Besides...there was something nice about it. Like she made a friend.

She gave a little smile. "Sure, I don't mind."

A friend huh? Had she ever thought about something like that? She wasn't sure. She was the kind that often bulldozes her way through things without much of a thought; and she had done things so often on her own that "friends" were perhaps a strange concept. And constantly getting into fights with people certainly made others avoid her. But then again, was it also because it was something she never really thought about before? About whether someone became a friend? When they did become one? And how would you consider them to be friends? She had only met Tsukiko, but she couldn't deny that they had some kind of bond, even if it wasn't a kind of relationship she had thought it would be when they first met earlier.

But a nickname huh? Nicknames weren't really her thing. She had trouble coming up with a pseudonym even for the pen-pal exchange letter programme; would she be able to come up with a nickname for Tsukiko? But, looking at the sparkle in her eyes, she didn't want to disappoint her. "A nickname, huh..." she repeated, as they walked towards the entrance to the gardens. "Tsuki? Or maybe Kiko?" She laughed sheepishly. "Sorry, I admit nicknames aren't really my forte."

[Deleted]

Tsukiko just smiled and without thinking swung their hands together a bit. It swung forward and then back and forward again. "That's okay Yasuko. I-I'm just happy if you call me by my name. Nothing would make me happier." She giggled a bit and with her hand that was resting at her side and free. She lifted it to rub the back of her head sheepishly. "You know when I was little my classmates never called me by name. They always said Yamamoto-san this and Yamamoto-san that. B-But I really wanted them to say my name..." Just remembering hurt. She had always felt so out of place everywhere she stood. Eyes following her and expecting things she didn't know if she could even do.

Her hand moved again this time to her chest. Squeezing her own shirt tight. "So um I-I got a bit more brave. Like talking to you even though I was very afraid. A-Although I did bump into you so it was like um some magic! Yes! Us meeting has to be some kind of magic!" It was silly that was certain but well it was fine to be silly. She had changed so much in the time she'd spent here and it made her wonder if she would change more. To be better and greater.

"Anyway! We're friends and um! The more time we spend together the closer we'll become! Which means someday you'll give me a nickname." She spoke with this brimming confidence. Because she had confidence in her new friendship with her new wonderful friend. It was then that Tsukiko noticed they'd walked so far that they were just a little bit away from the garden. "The garden!" She said running a bit well pulling Yasuko forward. "Let's hurry! It's going to be our special place!" Every smile up until this very point was nothing. Because the one on her face was so much more then all of them combined.

[Yasuko Kobayashi]

Yasuko certainly found her behaviour strange - but then again, it was difficult to find anything wrong with it. Instead, all she did was give a little smile as Tsukiko swung their arms backwards and forwards. It wasn't something that the first-year herself would initiate on another, but it was a little sweet to watch her fellow first-year seemed so happy. But her face dropped the moment the other girl talked about her other classmates. At first, she wondered if it was a strange thing to feel sad that no one called by her given name - after all, that was Japanese culture right? To call by their last name as a sign of respect? But maybe...did Tsukiko mean that there wasn't anyone who was close enough to call her by her first name? Was that the real reason why she was sad? Like an impersonal relationship...that no one called a name that was the girl's own.

The girl was surprised by the other's sincerity, watching her clutch her hand to her chest and stumble over her words. She blinked, as the young girl continued on, talking about how it was "magic". Yasuko didn't believe in magic - but then again, things like Guardian Characters did exist right? That was certainly close to magic as anyone could get. The first-year laughed; Tsukiko's words were silly but they were earnest and she found it difficult to criticise. A kind of innocence and purity that she hadn't seen much. "Well, it was certainly one heck of a coincidence," she started. She wasn't sure if their meeting was spurred on by "magic" so to speak, but Tsukiko looked so happy thinking that it was, and she couldn't say anything against that.

She blinked at the other. Someday huh? Someday she'll be able to give her a nickname, Tsukiko had said. It was strange to see her so confident - Yasuko had instantly thought that she was simply someone that was very nervous and hadn't a lot of self-esteem - especially when the other girl did not know Yasuko that much in order to say such things. But yet, she felt a sense of confidence too; perhaps maybe if they spend enough time together, she could indeed give her a nickname. Something that hopefully wouldn't disappoint her.

Hearing the girl's exclaim, she only had enough time to see the entrance to the garden, before being pulled by her fellow first-year. "Whoa!" she cried out, surprised by the sudden tug on her hand. 'Special place' huh? What a strange concept. Yet she couldn't help but smile too. Did she ever have a special thing like this where she shared with someone else? She didn't remember any.

As they burst through the doors, the first-year gasped. Inside was certainly a garden - but she didn't know that a garden could be so beautifully arranged and so carefully cared for by students that it didn't seem like they were in a high school. Everything was green and lush; and flowers of all kinds and colours were blooming in the spring. There were little green shrubs lining the walkway, and even tall trees that waved lazily in the wind. Yasuko had been to gardens before in the park, but she never paid that much attention to them. She was always too preoccupied by her brother's constant pranking.

She didn't let go of Tsukiko's hand, as she stood there admiring the scenery. Their...'special place', huh? Would the book be easy to find too, in such a place?

[Deleted]

Tsukiko was happy. The kind of happy you can only get when you see such beautifully kept flowers. It felt nice to know there were others that valued the life of these living things just as she did. "You know flowers have feelings too," Tsukiko said well watching Yasuko be emersed within their beauty. "Well, I've always thought so. Flowers dance when they're happy right?" She mentioned as her hand slipped loose from Yasuko's but it was only for a moment. Because now both hands took hold of Yasuko's hands. Pulling her with care and spinning around with her. The sunlight and the flowers that bloomed around them added to the light magical atmosphere. "So if we're happy we have to show them so they understand!"

Her curls bounced as they twirled for a bit. It was just too much fun being around Yasuko. Tsukiko felt like she could say anything. Like all those silly thoughts in her head would be heard and not made fun of. That made Yasuko special in Tsukiko's heart. So she danced with her like a child might. Clumsy, giggling, smiling bright. Taking steps and leading Yasuko in their dance. It would be fine if her new friend thought this was silly. It would be okay because Tsukiko knew it was silly. But more than anything because it was fun.

When she took her last step a bit breathless she squeezed Yasuko's hands. "Do you think the flowers understood? You're happy aren't you?" Tsukiko was brave today. She was so brave and did many things with a new friend. Even if they didn't find the book that would be enough for Tsukiko. So her cheeks flushed red as she prepared to say more. "Thank you. For indulging me in some magic. Yasuko my friend!" Her eyes swirled with tears as some fell.

Was it okay to be this happy?

[Yasuko Kobayashi]

Yasuko was honestly surprised. And really she couldn't stop being surprised and taken by Tsukiko's earnest feelings. The way the girl's hands had grasped hers and spun them around - she hadn't expected that but at the same time she couldn't help but be swayed by the young girl. Spinning around like little children. And, although she was the kind that liked being a mature adult, she couldn't stop herself from being sucked into the happiness radiating off from the girl. A kind of innocent happiness that she didn't know she could still see and experience.

She honestly couldn't believe what was happened. She was the kind of person who easily ended up in conflicts with everybody, and had friendships broken more than once because of this. Because of something she and some other friend couldn't agree on. And perhaps she hadn't thought she was the kind of person who could make somebody happy. At least, not this happy.

But Tsukiko seemed so happy to be around her. And she didn't know what to think or to say to it. Except to be surprised and yet warmed by the idea. That she could make somebody feel so happy and want to even dance around with her. That, just by being around, there was somebody who wanted to be around her. To feel happiness just by having her around. It was a strange feeling. To know that there was somebody who liked being around her so much. And it made her want to protect that smile.

She smiled back at Tsukiko - a genuine, happy kind of smile - as she gave a little nod to the girl's question. "Yeah." She didn't expect to feel any sort of happiness from having met her, but at this moment, at this point in time, she was happy. Happy to have met Tsukiko. A friend. A friend huh?

But the girl's tears startled her. Was she...crying? Crying because of sadness? Or crying because she was happy? But she was smiling wasn't she? So it was happy tears? Happy tears...Quickly, she pulled out a tissue, raising to dap away the tears away from Tsukiko's eyes. "Hey...you don't have to cry," she started, slowly wiping the tears away. "I'm your friend as long as you want me to be one." She gave the other girl a smile. "And we can come here as much as you want to." She paused, averting her gaze, before looking back at the girl again, a little blush apparent on her face. "...This special place." It was a strange concept to her; to have something like a special place - and it was embarrassing to say it - but if Tsukiko likened it to a special place, then she couldn't criticise her. She would like to believe in a special place, if only for the duration of their friendship.

[Deleted]

A lot of people walk by her. Almost always and never look at her. But other times they do look at her. Right at her. She'll tremble, her eyes might even water, but here she had reconsidered her previous thoughts. Did she want to be left alone? That wasn't it. Tsukiko wanted to be found. Because here she was in front of Yasuko. The girl she crashed into. Tsukiko wanted to believe maybe this was what it meant to bump into someone in the dark. Because she didn't feel lost when she was in front of a friend.

"I'd love to be friends with you forever. I know that some people might say forever doesn't exist but I'm not like them... I-I'm like the other kind. The ones that still believe in things like forever." She finally stopped sniffling.

Tsukiko smiled before looking around. If she felt like she was always in the dark. Maybe the book felt the same? It was definitely silly to think the book had feelings but she felt like if she thought about it like a person. It would show it's to them. "Let's go look in the bushes. I'll take on the roses! I-I wouldn't want you to get pricked by the thorns!" So she let rushed away toward the bushes and began looking. Getting down on her knees and hands. Tilting her head this way and that way.

[Yasuko Kobayashi]

Friends forever?

That was a strange concept. The idea of being friends forever. Was there people who even believed in such things anymore? In the idea that a friendship could stay as long as it could until both parties were unable to uphold it because they weren't physically around anymore? It was something that Yasuko didn't really believe in. To believe that a friendship could last as long as it could, in that way. When there were so many things; so many factors; so much change that could happen in one's lives that made it unable for them to stay with each other as friends anymore. A kind of idea that the first-year would scoff at; would see it as naive; would see it as something that was entirely impossible.

But she couldn't say it to Tsukiko.

That innocence; that sense of purity; that child-like naïveté, was something she had come to expect now, after all the girl said earlier. The ones that still believe in things like forever. It fitted Tsukiko. It sounded like something she would believe in.

Yasuko wished she could believe in it too. But maybe she was far too cynical for something like that.

She gave the other a weak smile, unsure of how to respond to those words. The first-year couldn't subscribe to a notion like that. But if the other wanted to believe in forever, then she will do her best to maintain it that way. To keep the friendship as long as she could, if only to preserve the other's ideas in forever. Until whatever happened that might lead to their friendship's end. But until then, she will do her best. She will do her best as Tsukiko's friend.

The girl's sudden surge in enthusiasm for the book caught Yasuko off-guard and she stared after the girl in surprise as Tsukiko readily volunteered herself for the roses. The rose bushes. "Thorns?" the girl repeated, a mix of surprise and slight trepidation in her voice. Why was the other so willing to do something that would hurt herself so easily? "Wait---" Immediately she went over to Tsukiko, placing her hands in between the bushes and the girl's head. "...If you're afraid of prickling thorns on me, then shouldn't you be more worried about yourself?" There was genuine concern in her voice as she said that, looking down at the girl.

Perhaps the book had understood Tsukiko's feelings, for there was certainly something underneath the bushes, where the girl could certainly see. A kind of dark shade that didn't quite match the dark green shade of the leaves. Like there was something there; shaped like a box; looking suspiciously like a book. Just near enough for an arm's reach.

[Deleted]

Tsukiko stopped to look at Yasuko. Her surprise was clearly written on that face of hers. A flaw of Tsukiko's. One she labeled on herself as a flaw. Because it was her expressive face that made her such a terrible liar. Keeping secrets was even more difficult. But well she didn't know anyone well enough to be trusted with things like secrets. "Oh um... W-Well no I'm not afraid at all. Rosary told me herself that with a lot of hard work I'll be a thorn just like her." No doubt it was a strange thing to want to be but well when Tsukiko thought about the beauty of a rose. Her admiration went to the thorns that seemed like knights protecting their princess.

"I have a few friends. Some are princesses and some are princes. So When I think about working hard to be a thorn or well when it feels like it's gotten too hard I like to take a break and remember them. Yasuko you're another one of my princesses." She meant every word. Tsukiko knew she was weak but so long as she charged forward even if others felt she was just being careless even reckless. It was fine. She never felt happier than to do something for someone else. "Besides it would be a shame for a princess to get her hands scratched up!"

With care, Tsukiko reached up to pat her friend's head. "I'll be careful. I'm used to handling roses anyway. S-So no need to worry!" Tsukiko gave a confident nod to Yasuko before slowly reaching under to feel something. Book shaped? Before giving it too much thought she yanked the thing out.

[Yasuko Kobayashi]

Yasuko paused, her hand still in front of the girl's head, in between it and the rose bushes. Tsukiko wasn't afraid? Wasn't afraid of being pricked herself, was that what she meant? Even so, the fact that she had so easily volunteered herself up for something like this didn't sit well with her. Yet, she gave a puzzled look at the other first-year, perplexed by the words she had used. Be a thorn? "Why would you want to be a thorn?" the first-year asked, confusion evident on her face. Thorns sounded like something that was sharp and hurtful - Tsukiko seemed more like a small flower bud to Yasuko, rather than a painful thorn.

But the first-year was genuinely surprised by being called a princess. And she blinked, staring at Tsukiko wordlessly, not really knowing what to say. Yasuko wasn't the kind to think of how people could be presented in the same kind of fairy tale romanticism that Tsukiko easily did, but she had always thought she was more like the extremely serious and strict kinds, like a sword instructor. Maybe a witch even, considering their harsh and biting demeanour. A princess seemed more...delicate, graceful, gentle. Something that Tsukiko fitted better than a thorn.

The pet on her head however, stopped her from saying anything. It was a strange feeling, to be petted by somebody else. Someone who wasn't really that much older than her. It had always been just her brothers - something which she grew to resent, as a sign of being reduced to a kid. But somehow, when Tsukiko did it, it didn't make her feel that way, only surprise. And perhaps, she didn't know what to feel about it.

But before she could even react to the pet on her head, the girl had already stuck her hand into the bush - pulling out something hard. Something that was rectangular in shape. Something which took her a while to register.

A book. A book with a colourful cover, a crayon-drawn egg depicted on its front. And there, in an almost childish handwriting, was 'The Heart's Egg' as its title. Yasuko blinked, staring blankly at it, before she exclaimed. "Thats--! That's the book--! Yama--" Yasuko had to stop herself; realising that she had almost called her by her last name. The girl had requested to be called by her first name, right?

"I mean...Tsukiko," Yasuko said sheepishly, not looking at the other girl as she stared down at the book's cover. Quickly - perhaps trying to avert her attention away from her own embarrassment; calling another by their first-name was a little more personal right? - her hand shot out to grasp the other's hands; the ones that had gone under the bush. "You...didn't hurt yourself, right?" she continued, looking at Tsukiko's hands to see if they had been hurt.

[Deleted]

Tsukiko didn't say anything well Yasuko was being shocked by the book. In fact, Tsukiko was just as shocked. A sort of shock that left her speechless. Inside her was this uneasiness. This was the book they were looking for and inside it held answers. She questioned if these answers would confuse her more or in fact actually help her. But well she was thinking about that Yasuko took her hands away. "Huh?" Not completely sure herself she looked down at her hands to find them in perfect condition. There was not one scratch on her. "Oh,uh I'm fine. Just a bit surprised..."

Here was the book they were looking for. Right on her lap. What would she find once she mustered the courage to open it? "I'm a little nervous." She admitted to Yasuko before saying or doing anything else. "It's like when you're meeting someone for the first time. You know nothing about them but one thing. They know something about you that you don't even know... I'm afraid that even if I know more because of this book. I-I still won't understand anything." She hoped with all her might that Yasuko felt the same or at the very least understood her.

The anxiety that had been stored up until this very moment was creeping out and stretching across her face to give her an unbearable expression of discomfort. "I-I want you to read it. P-Please." She was too afraid. So afraid that inside the book it had nothing or worse something. Anything that would make her question herself. Question Rosary who the entire time had been so silent. She just watched them quietly. Now her eyes were narrowed at the book and she too looked uncomfortable by this.

"I'm not brave at these things." Tsukiko sighed feeling ashamed.

[Yasuko Kobayashi]

She wasn't hurt. That was good. Yasuko let go of her hands, her gaze turning back to the book. She wasn't sure what to expect when they found it. "The Heart's Egg" certainly did sound like a title of a children's book, and undoubtably the book lying on Tsukiko's lap looked like one made for children. Crayon drawings and all. Yet it seemed to be just an ordinary book; harmless; childish - just a book. But yet, she felt apprehensive. Apprehensive about what could be inside.

Hearing Tsukiko's words, Yasuko looked back at her with a slightly puzzled look. "Nervous?" she repeated, as if doing so would allow the words to sink in. A nervousness about the fact that someone knew more about them that they do. A fear that even if they did read it, they wouldn't understand what was written, leaving them as confused as ever. Yasuko wasn't sure if it was the same feeling as if meeting someone for the first time, but she could understand feeling anxious about what was inside. And...the feeling of failing to understand what was inside. "...I...I have to admit I'm a little nervous too," she finally said, dropping her gaze so that her eyes are on the book, her cheeks a little pink. Admitting something like this was a little embarrassing. "Nervous about what is inside..." There was a pause, before she gave a nervous laugh.

The other girl's request made Yasuko look up at her with a bit of surprise. She, read the book? She was apprehensive certainly, but perhaps she found it easier to force herself through the anxiety and go through with it. Her hand slowly rested on the book's cover, unsure. Tsukiko seemed rather afraid. But Yasuko wasn't sure if she should just read it by herself. Tsukiko was the one who found it first, right? Surely she should have a part in this?

There was a pause, before Yasuko finally opened her mouth.

"...What do you think...about reading it together?"