[AQ] Cold and Wet [Norio/Daichi]

[Norio]

SPOILER: Click to show

{Spoiler}Stormy Panic

+ Description: A storm has knocked out the power in the school building shortly after classes have ended for the day; it seems to nasty outside to leave, though the building is pretty deserted, save for one or two other people who got stuck.

+ Stay put, wait out the storm: -1 Guardians, +2 Faberge

+ Venture out to try to get the power back on: +1 Guardians, +1 Faberge

+ Sneak into the staff room while no one’s around: -2 Guardians, +1 Roost

+ Look for someone else who may be stuck: +2 Guardians, -1 Roost

+ Requirements: None

+ Submitted by Hatta

The sound of rain pelting against the windows was plainly audible to anyone with ears. If anything, Norio mused that there was no chance he was going to step out of the safe confines of the school into whatever whipping mess was going on outside- they were nearing the tail end of spring and moving onto summer, after all, so it wasn’t like he’d have to deal with these surprise storms for much longer.. Nonetheless, for the present moment he was stuck on campus with nothing to do but wait. It was a little embarrassing to admit how devastatingly lonely he was sitting alone in the classroom with nothing to entertain him but his out of signal smart phone and a deck of cards. As the lightning streaked across the sky Norio got a good look again at the desk he was sitting at, and he sighed.

After slumping against the cool smooth top Norio began muttering quietly to himself.

“... can’t believe I got myself stuck in another annoying predicament again. What is this… the third time this happened, this week? Maybe I should invest some of my allowance into shrine offerings… No, who am I kidding, that’s a stupid fucking idea… Ahh… I want a coffee.” He continued to babble as he clicked his smartphone's screen off and on absentmindedly.

[Daichi]

Again. Again. Again, he was stuck in the school while a storm raged on outside. " Fuckkkk." He moaned looking out the bid window that stood at the end of the hall. Standing there messenger bag at his side, one hand loosely holding on the strap. The rain tapping persistently against the glass. The only reason he stayed a little longer then normal, was to help his teacher with some task- And here he is now. Trapped in the school till the rain calms down. Again. Maybe he should invest in an umbrella, that was a smart idea. Sighing, his free hand that hung loosely at his side found the back of his neck. He stood there for a bit longer gazing outward at the grey swirled sky thinking of his next step. 

His thoughts were interrupted by his stomach, which growled rather loudly. Right he forgot to eat lunch, that was a thing.

Quickly turning on his heel, he walked down the hall where the third year classrooms were. Spotting some vending machines present in the hallway. He approached them and of course like any hungry teenager would, he pulled out his wallet put in some money for a green tea, a bag of barbecue flavored chips- two bags of chips actually. Soon his goods where dropped and he now was much more content with his little adventure he was having today. Popping open a bag of chips, he wandered down the hall listening to the rain and thunder outside while munching down. 

In the back of his mind he supposes he was looking for a life form of some sort. He walked past a third years classroom without much thought until he passed it did he really register the door being opened. Walking backwards he poked his head inside. Seeing a teen talking to himself? Maybe? he couldn't really tell. Swallowing whatever food he had in his mouth, he walked fully through the door into the class and knocked on the door frame to make himself known. Then adding a weak, " Hey."

[Norio]

His forehead had been pressed flat against the surface of the desk, at this point he was no longer looking at anything at all. His ears were attuned to the sound of the rain falling down- he figured if he could just wait for the heavy rain to pass, he’d be fine. Norio didn’t put too much thought in his situation beyond that as he knew it wasn’t going to last forever. What he didn’t expect was someone to still be lurking around the school building, and even more so went out of their way to catch his attention. The footsteps were heard long before Daichi had knocked on the door frame to get Norio’s attention, so he wasn’t at all caught off guard as he lifted his head off the desk to give the stranger and tired once-over.

In the darkness he couldn’t make out the other’s features, but in the momentary flashes of lightning he caught sight of the two year pins on his sweater and a whirl of styled hair that put his own to shame. It wasn’t someone Norio knew, anyway, so when Daichi greeted Norio he wasn’t actually sure what to say first. Eventually, however, Norio pulled out a seat next to him and raised a hand in a pained, but friendly, gesture of good faith. “..Hey?”

[Daichi]

Taking that as a sign the other was okay with him being here he walked over to other. A third year guy with glasses. Pulling his bag from his shoulder and around his neck, he dropped it on the desk in front of the new, soon to be, 'friend'. Taking a seat in the empty desk, he sat backwards in the chair to face him. " So like, whats up?" He asked casually. Before turning slightly to the side and grab the green tea bottle that was nestled in the holder on the edge of his bag. Then placing the bottle on the little ledge on the window. He held out his bag of chips to the other, shook it once, as a means of saying ' you can have one, if you want.'

"So you got stuck behind to?" He prompted the other as he leaned back against the desk. He was getting very use to meeting people just- randomly and starting conversations with them. If this was a year ago or hell even a few months ago he may not have even bothered- But things change and here he was, attempting to make another friend.

[Norio]

There was no stopping the half concerned and half confused expression that dominated his face at just how casual this guy was with everything he was doing- it was evident from the way he approached, to the way he parked his things down, even to the way he shook the bag of chips. It left Norio dumbstruck for a hot moment that he remembered people out there could do these sorts of things without looking like a bumbling idiot, and it was that realization that pulled his brows into a tight squeeze. It was almost like a challenge, the way that this stranger was representing everything Norio felt he wasn’t, and suddenly he felt a lot more determined to sit up straight and look at his new found rival.The first test came in a ‘what’s up’, to which Norio, after a moment of hesitation, succeeded in responding with a socially acceptable “Nothing much”. Inwardly he gave himself a high five. He was on top of the world.

Not for long, however.

Disaster came in test two as the silent question and shake of the chip bag left him staring in horror for a long thirty seconds. Inwardly, he debated- was it an offering of chips? Perhaps he was just showing off the chip bag, and not actually offering any? Maybe it was a trick, and he was going to yank the bag away from Norio as soon as he reached for it? What if he did reach for one- what if it was a flavor he didn’t like? Would he be insulted if Norio didn’t reach for one at all? Questions burned in the back of his skull as the seconds ticked on, and before he could even reach an answer the guy was already asking him another question. Shit, he thought, did I miss my social cue to take a chip? Would it be weird now if I said anything about it? Wait, what did he even say again? He began grinding his teeth, unconsciously before making the split second decision for reaching out towards the chip bag to take a chip, only to promptly fumble and ending up dropping the chip right into his lap instead of in his mouth.

Inwardly, he probably died. He looked up from his lap in abject horror as his mouth kind of forced itself into the fakest smile of all time. “.. W...What was that?”

[Daichi]

He gave a small nod to show that he heard the other- Then Daichi saw the chip fall but didn't really- you know point it out. He kinda, just pretended he didn't see it. Why point out something so harmless? To make the other embarrassed? That was kinda mean, especially to a guy you dont know. Instead he took the higher road, and he repeated his statement with a soft smile. " I said, 'Did you get stuck here to?' You know because of the rain and all." He carefully set his bag of chips down on the others desk between the two of them, to share. " Help yourself to some chips by the way." He added. He would have gone on and asked his name but- With the way things were going he decide he should, he guess overwhelm him.

Reaching over he took his green tea from the window and twisted of the cap and drank a few sips. Before twisting back on the cap and putting it back it is spot. He leaned forward arms crossed on the chairs back. Seeing as he waited long enough to give the other time to pick up what he said and to reply, he spoke up again. " By the way I'm Fujiwara, Daichi. Just call me Dai if you want." He said giving the upperclassman a grin.

[Norio]

There was visible relief in Norio’s shoulders as they dropped when the other didn’t comment on the fallen chip, although his brows remained as crunched together as ever as he went to pick up the insulting chip and munched at it spitefully. The other person, the second year, seemed to be the genuine article nice guy- a type Norio was unfamiliar with dealing with and wasn’t sure how to handle. He repeated his question and Norio just nodded, his fingers were quickly in his bangs and was tugging them down in front of his glasses as he nodded. “.. Yeah, of course. I’d ask the same thing of you, but that is obvious isn’t it?” Well, there goes his big mouth, he clamped his teeth shut and looked the other way as the offending bag of chips was offered, although he definitely was going to pick at one later.

The second year introduced himself as Daichi, only after leaning on the back of the chair like some kind of protagonist, and Norio found himself getting increasingly flustered as his mouth ran off without him. “Dai? What do I look like, a potential girlfriend? Are you always this awfully cheeky with people you’ve just met? Your kindness is appreciated but you’re just going to get people who see you as some sort of push over they can use to get what you want, your introduction should be more prideful! Say, like for me, ‘I’m Katsumi Norio’ and leave it at that, strangers have no business calling you by your first name, that’s just.. Really, really personal. Do you really need me explaining this to you?”

[Daichi]

" Eh?" He blinked a few times- Was he- Was he getting lectured? Was this actually happening right now? " Uh." Daichi was kinda processing what was going on right now, which was clear on his face, which then melted into a kinda eyebrow draw upwards in a kinda confused- No more perplexed look with a small smiles as to how the guy just seemed to you know, go on." Okay, well firstly, Its nice to meet you, Katsumi." He smiled more properly now, and face back to is normal state. " Secondly, Yeah i'm normal this 'cheeky'." He was acting more friendly at upbeat more often now thanks to Taiki if he was gonna be totally honest. " An you're not really a stranger anymore now that I know your name. Also I just like to be called by my first name or my nickname because its just easier for me to respond. Its a just a preference, you know?" He said casually as he reached for a chip to throw into his mouth.

" Also I dont think I'm that much of a push over honestly. Is that really the vibe I give off?" He asked, he wasn't really offended, not in the least. He had been called way worst things in his life, and been lectured twice as hard. So all of Norio's words, while processed and understood, didn't have that big of an effect on him.

[Norio]

“What?”

It seems his newfound rival was relentless when it came to his clear friendship-making superiority. Daichi actually looked confused, more than anything else, that he was being lectured rather than the more obvious problem of that Norio was more or less talking down to him. Something about that struck a nerve in Norio, one that practically grew visible on his twisted up face as ‘Dai’ just gave him an easy going smile and properly responded to him like nothing happened. He was good- too good at this friendship thing, Norio couldn’t help but feel like he had just been utterly bested. The third year went quiet as Daichi had finished up his introduction, face growing increasingly irritable as the other talked, ate, and talked some more.

At the pushover question, Norio pulled up his head and gripped his face against the hard surface of the desk. There was a part he felt Daichi wasn’t even listening to him anymore, which only proved to push Norio back over the edge. “Yes, you are! What do you mean we aren’t strangers? Acquaintances, at best, but can you say you know my favorite color? My birthday? I don’t know anything about you besides the fact you like chips! ” A sharp intake of breath paused his ramble, but..

“Also I’m just not comfortable using someone else’s name just willy like that, because next thing I know you’ll be wanting to call me by my first name. It’s a two way street, you know? What’s wrong with Fuji- Fuji- what was it, Fujinuma? What’s wrong with Fujinuma? You look like the kind of person who could get along with anyone, of course there's people who are going to think they can get anything they wanted from you! It’s frustrating! Don’t you have any self awareness-” Finally, after more or less ragging for Daichi for this long, his brain caught up with his mouth and he quickly pressed a hand over his mouth and looked straight out the window.

[Daichi]

He saw the others growing pain on his face. Daichi was listening, he knew what the other was saying but that wasn't gonna change how he acted. At the very least it might change in what order he did the things he did, but it still wouldn't change how he was going to act. He seemed to say mostly silent listening to the third year. Quietly munching on his chips, still relaxed. Still just being Daichi. He supposes he should have been a little- upset? angry? that this dude he didn't even know what coming at him with words, proclaiming the type of person he was- A push over. But in the end he kinda just felt bad for the other, he seemed to be getting carried away- Hell he even said he was getting frustrated. That was in no way shape or form Daichis intention.

" Listen man, I had no intention to make you this upset." He started after the other finished and gazed out the window. " It's Fujiwara. There's nothing wrong with my name, I just have a preference is all...But if you want to call me Fujiwara you can, I'll call you Katsumi." He found is strange that despite saying they were only acquaintances, the guy seemed really keen on Daichi knowing that he was gonna get it used if he remained a 'push over'. Showing that he cared in some small way.

He already knew all of this already. He knew people he would- and hell some have used him. He knew, He always knew. He always he pretended he didn't, but he did- He wasn't stupid you know. " I'm very aware of that, about being used. You really dont need to lecture me about that, my dude." He said eating another few chips.

[Norio]

He’d cross the line. Norio did that a lot- had a lot of big words and talked a big game, but the moment his thoughts actually caught up with him he realized his words were just all trash talk after all. It was his bad habit, his bane, and he was visibly frustrated all over again as he glared out the window and into the rain. The second year didn’t deserve to be lectured at, but Norio had still.. His thoughts were interrupted when Daichi spoke up and was trying to calm Norio, which mostly intensified Norio feeling like a sack of shit. He slumped against his desk as he turned his head, slowly, and gave Daichi a quiet look over.

“... Sorry, Fujiwara. Katsumi is fine, but ‘senpai’ is better.” He meant to say it as a light joke, but he immediately looked conflicted if it actually came out the way he intended it to be. His hand dropped from over his mouth and tucked itself under his chin, for him to lean on it more comfortably.

It was then Daichi said something he didn’t actually expect to hear, which was an outright admission of the guy that he was being pushed around, and that he was fine with it. Norio quickly realized that he had misjudged this guy all together- this Daichi guy was an entirely different beast altogether. He narrowed his eyes at this revelation, and questioned “... Are you into that? Being used by other people, I know there’s people like that in this day and age… but I mean… Don’t let me judge you for being what you’re into man, we’re in 2016.” He looked fairly serious saying this, convinced that Daichi was actually some grade-A masochist.

[Daichi]

Turing to look outside for a moment at the storm still raging outside, despite it being chaotic, it seemed to make Daichi feel oddly calmer. Maybe it would die down soon? He wasn't sure. Turing back to the other, " Don't worry about it man. " He spoke softly after the other apologized. He planned on saying something else but then Norio's following statement. Earned quick, " What?! No, oh my god man, no. NO." He seemed to have a very very light blush on his face. More so earned from being caught off by the statement, but you could hardly tell it was there in the dark classroom. " Dude, I'm not- Into that no-" Jesus Christ why did this conversation go this way.

" Okay, how about we pretend you didn't say that and talk about something else now, that cool with you?" he reached for another chip but found nothing, grabbing the bag he found it was indeed empty. Never fear! He had another one, reaching back behind him and into his bag, that laid on its side, zipper side facing them he pulled out another bag of chips. He however in doing this exposed Taiki's egg that sat nicely next to the bag and rolled into the empty space. Daichi noticed, but didnt freak out to cover it up. He did adjust the bag to make sure the egg didn't roll out.

With a new bag of chips in hand, he popped it open and returned it to the space in between them. " So like, how was your day today? How was class?" He asked, trying to make simple chit chat to change the subject.