Sternennacht über der Rhone

[ex_fatalist246]

[Behind the glasses, the emotionlessness is slipping. There's a tenseness to the shoulders, an uncertainty to the spine, as Satoshi stands in the middle of the Plane.]

[He is in school uniform. He did just come from school, after all. He's a little out of breath, like he was just running.]

[He speaks with coached calmness, just barely.]

Who here attends Teitan Elementary?

Comments

[artiscordis.livejournal.com]

[Hmmm, Creator seems shaken!]

Creator?

[ex_fatalist246]

[adjusting his glasses] Yes?

[artiscordis.livejournal.com]

You are distraught.

[ex_fatalist246]

[simply] I made a mistake.

[artiscordis.livejournal.com]

It must be a large one.

[asmallamoroso.livejournal.com]

[Look who is skipping class here. And she seems to be juuuust a little bothered, to say the least.]

How do you know that school?

[ex_fatalist246]

[He matches her botheredness well.] It's beside my middle school.

[asmallamoroso.livejournal.com]

Azumano Middle School? That's the school you attend?

[ex_fatalist246]

Yes. Did you see it?

[asmallamoroso.livejournal.com]

[Nods.] It was behind my school.

[shewalks-away.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about that, but maybe you wanna sit or something?

[ex_fatalist246]

[he's startled by her] What?

[shewalks-away.livejournal.com]

Sit, you wanna sit?

You look like you've been running or something. Sitting down might help you feel better, yeah?

[ex_fatalist246]

Oh. [For a second, all his tension falters, and he's just a kid who doesn't really know what's going on. Social ineptitude: it's in the blood.] I'm fine. Thanks.

[shewalks-away.livejournal.com]

[so not convinced] You're sure about that?

[hostclubdaddy.livejournal.com]

[he looks at Satoshi, at the exhaustion and the school uniform and the asking about schools and he jumps to one and only one conclusion. His eyes widen and he gasps]

Oh oh oh! I have heard of this! [he grips Satoshi's hands, his eyes still wide and excited] You must tell me all the details! I have read about the great tradition of rival schools competing in grand sports festivals, but I have never heard a first person account before!

[ex_fatalist246]

[Tamaki startles him in a totally different way, and he pulls his hands away from him]

What?

[hostclubdaddy.livejournal.com]

[that's okay, Satoshi, you're not the first to pull away at first] The preparations, the excitement, the rivalry between schools and teams. It's something I thought only existed in anime and adolescent soap operas. To see such a display in person though, it's truly remarkable.

[ex_fatalist246]

What? This isn't a sports festival.

[Satoshi can't be stressed out any longer. He's too stunned by Tamaki.]

[hostclubdaddy.livejournal.com]

[freezes instantly] It's not?

[lovethepossum.livejournal.com]

Satoshi? Are you okay? [Cally's worried senses are tingling; it's a odd sensation]

[ex_fatalist246]

[he knows this lie is pointless before he said it, but there are certain rules] I'm fine.

[lovethepossum.livejournal.com]

No you're not; you're all tense and stuff. [And she knows she's probably not supposed to but she still edges closer; looking rather concerned]

...Did somethin' happen?

[ex_fatalist246]

It's manageable. [He is trying to shut off more than usual. Letting himself get close to people is what put him into this mess. He won't repeat the mistake.]

[lovethepossum.livejournal.com]

[Unfortunately that just makes Cally more determined.] You still look as if you need help though; C'mon, you can tell me.