ardent | 005. [Video, and one other thing]

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005. [Video, and one other thing]

[VIDEO]

[Well! From the sound of the BGM, Ishimaru is currently back in Violet, though he's apparently holed up in Nondescript Hotel Room #356; he seems to have set the device on the table in front of him, and one of his Pokémon is actually out with him today - admittedly, it's a small pink tapir with flowers on it, and while it's definitely levitating itself it's tethered itself to his hair in a way that makes it look more than a little like some sort of really fabulous Combine headcrab. At least, he doesn't seem to mind - if anything, he seems a bit...lost in thought today. Not distracted, per se, just really contemplative.

And maybe a little peeved. Though that might be just his normal expression, it’s sorta hard to tell sometimes.]

So I've been told that I should probably start dressing like a "normal person."

[...okay, yeahno, he’s definitely a little agitated, though it's definitely more frustration than anger; he seems to realize then that his Munna is back and...well, doing the hair-thing again, and he takes a moment to retrieve her, holding her awkwardly in folded arms.]

While I find the way I dress to be completely appropriate and necessary, apparently that isn’t considered to be the case here! I don't see why - I'm a student, and therefore my clothing should reflect that! It's my profession for the time being, and as such the uniform of my profession is something that I should wear with pride!! It isn't proper conduct to do otherwise!

How...ever...

[Whatever he was going to say after that, he falters quite a bit; just...let him get his defensiveness levels down a little bit.]

...As fashion is something I've never really had a grasp on, I would...like to hear about what constitutes "normal" and how it can be achieved, as one's presentation goes!

Thank you for your time, and even if you don't reply, I want you to keep your head up and your eyes trained forward! Today is going to be a good day, I can tell!

[...yeah he kind of doesn't do "normal" well, um.]

[VIDEO - PRIVATE TO DANGANS, ALSO DORUMON]

[A second video will hit shortly after the first, now that he's finished discussing his hideous social failure; still in the Painfully Generic Hotel Room, still with the same setup going on, but at least he seems in somewhat higher spirits this time around, though he's still holding the Munna and seems determined to keep doing so until he's done filming.]

We've made it back to town as of yesterday - safe and doing well, as far as I know! It will be good to see you all again; hopefully you've all been well and keeping yourselves in line during my absence!

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It's pretty quiet in this city! I think you'd probably have to make your own trouble if you wanted to get into any.

[Not that she's never done that. But generally she's a good girl. Generally.]

Mm! I'd like that too. I'm... umm... [A pause while she looks around. Some... where... near the...] Oh! That's the pokemart. So I guess I'm near there.

Well, I hope that none of you would resort to that!

[He doesn't sound agitated, however; just kinda loud. ...So par for the course, then, isn't it.

He does seem pleased with that information, however!]

Give me ten minutes, then!

[And as usual, if he's anything but exactly on time, you probably need to reset your watch - tardiness isn't acceptable, even here, after all.]

Mm. I'll wait here, so I'll see you soon!

[Asahina finds herself a good spot to lean against the building, one knee bent, foot braced against the wall. Her squirtle is mimicking her posture beside her, leaning as well.

But she perks up when she catches sight of Ishimaru, lifting a hand to wave.] Ishimaru! Right on time!

[No surprise. No surprise at all.]

Of course, Asahina-kun! Just because we're away from a school environment doesn't mean that I can relax my standards any!

[That isn't chiding at all, though, and if it wasn't Ishimaru it likely would have been a somewhat successful attempt at self-deprecation; as it is, he just seems...kind of amused, at least, if still horribly blunted. He genuinely is happy to see her, though, and he approaches her briskly, though he manages to stop before shattering anyone's personal bubble all over the sidewalk; his posture is still ridiculously rigid, but he seems a bit more relaxed than usual, simply because actually seeing his classmates in person tends to have that effect - it makes the entire thing feel more real somehow, it gives him a way to verify that yes, they're actually here and safe and in one piece.

For the time being, he's put the...headcrab of a Munna he had with him in the video back in the ball; he imagines his Misdreavus is around somewhere, as Aiko isn't usually terribly far from him, but she's out of sight for now.]

I hope you've been well!

Not at all? [Asahina can't help a laugh at that.] To me that sounds a little exhausting, but I guess you're really the dedicated sort after all.

[Ishimaru is still Ishimaru. Somehow it's reassuring. Seeing the classmates that she lost to that horrible school, well. It's good. It's really good. She took each and every death pretty hard.

So she's the one to shatter the personal space bubble right now. Because even if they didn't have time to become close friends (though the revelation of missing memories makes the fact that her classmates always felt comfortable and familiar), she's relieved enough to see him alive and in the flesh that he's getting hugged whether he likes it or not.] It's really good to see you [...alive, breathing, in the flesh] in person!

[She steps back now with a sheepish grin. There. She got Fujisaki with the same ambush.] I've been good. I've even figured out where most of the stuff in this city is.

[Ishimaru manages to not flinch away from the hugging, as he might have back in the school when caught off-guard by physical contact like that, but it's fairly obvious that he doesn't really know what to do with himself while it's going on - he isn't too used to being hugged by people who aren't his brother (and even then it's just sort of...one-armed guy-hugs) and he most certainly isn't used to being hugged by girls, and it's...a lot warmer than he thought it would be and a bit difficult to figure out what would be acceptable in terms of positioning, and goodness, where does he even put his hands.

The result is that his eyes widen quite a bit and he just sort of allows it - while it looks like he's considering returning it, he doesn't...quite make it there, his hands moving upward to just kind of hover over her sides without touching her, and while he's not full-out flushed, he's obviously more than a bit flustered when she pulls away.]

W-Well, it's good to hear that - you...you know how much I worry about all of you, and it wouldn't do to have any of you wandering around completely lost!!

[...Ishimaru, for the love of god, breathe before you sprain something.]

But I think I understand what you mean - about seeing people in person. It's always much better that way; shortly after Fujisaki-kun's arrival, we all met up in person in the hotel...perhaps we can all arrange something like that again, now that we're in one city again.

Ah, but that can wait; how have you been liking this place so far?

[Not just the city, really; Johto in general.]

[Sorry, Ishimaru. She is usually good about personal space. Really. And if she notices Ishimaru's difficulty with his hands, she doesn't let on. Instead, she's happy enough to leap into the conversation.]

Eheh.. well! I haven't been completely lost most of the time anyway. So it's all definitely on the bright side.

[Breathing is good. Sometimes she wonders.]

I'd really like that, a lot. Seeing everyone together, I mean. It'd be nice to spend time like that without having to worry about scary things. Right?

[She beams at that last question.] I think it's really great. Weird... I mean, very weird. But great. I mean, I've caught a bunch of pokemon, and they're all so sweet.

[HE'LL...HE'LL RECOVER...

At any rate, however, the conversation moving forward does seem to calm him down quite a bit; he still doesn't quite understand the concept of the word "relax" but at the very least he seems to be trying.]

It's a lot to get used to! But the Pokémon seem pleasant, for the most part - and having several of our classmates helps quite a bit!

I'm very grateful for the opportunity to see all of you, away from that school; to...get to know all of you properly. We didn't have much of an opportunity before, after all!

[...uh.]

Well, not one that we remember, anyway...

[Asahina nods in agreement.] The pokemon are great really. I really kind of love the ones I caught. They're like my friends already. And knowing you guys are here, that makes me feel good too. Really good. The scariest thing I can think of is being alone completely.

But you're right you know! We should definitely make the best of it and get to know each other! It's really important.

[He offers a soft noise of assent at that, though something in what she'd said manages to catch his attention rather abruptly.]

Does being alone really bother you that much, then? Or is it just in situations like this, where it's largely unknown?

Ah... well... [She trails off a little.] I think it's the scariest in strange and new places. Or places where frightening things are happening. But...

But even in general, I wouldn't like having to be alone for a long time at all, no matter how nice a place it was.

[Having friends and loved ones nearby is important to her, crucial even.]

I see - though I can't imagine that being much of a problem for you, is it? After all, you have many good qualities, Asahina-kun; I'd think you would have many friends!

[At the very least, he can't see why she wouldn't - either way, the inquiry isn't really pointed at all, just curious. If a bit overly straightforward.]

[Asahina blinks at that, looking almost like she's about to blush before grinning. Oh. A compliment.] Well. I guess I really like making new friends, but... it's not always that easy!

[She spends so much time training. And then there's all the fretting about whether she fails at being feminine enough to be a "proper" girl and... Well.]

I don't understand why; you're a very kind person, and I -

[Something finally seems to click in his head then; that internal sense of "oh my god, Ishimaru, you can't just say shit like that" still isn't exactly present, but he seems to at least work out that this isn't...the best line of inquiries to be pursuing.]

Ah, but I probably shouldn't trouble you with such things - it's just difficult for me to fathom, that's all.

[He hesitates for a moment once that's out there before pushing forward with it.]

Making new friends...it's not something I've ever really been able to do, not before my brother; it's been a bit easier, the longer I've been here, but it's still not something I really understand. Another learning experience, I guess!

But if anyone can be said to be deserving of companionship, I would think you're one of those people, Asahina-kun.

[THat's okay, Asahina is smiling anyway. Because really,] That's really sweet of you to say.

[So she shakes her head at his next words.] It's definitely not trouble or anything. I promise.

Making friends isn't always easy. I mean some people are hard to make friends with. [...Togami, for example. Cough.] But sometimes it's even more important than having a lot of friends to have really close friends, even if it's only one person. So you and Oowada are really lucky to be that sort of friend, right?

[Ishimaru brightens a bit at that, really; he'll try to refrain from dudebroing it up too badly at you, Asahina, but he's obviously still ridiculously fond of his brother, infighting that's gone on here aside.]

Lucky indeed! Oowada-kun is one of those people I don't know what I'd do without, at this point; he's my brother, and I would do anything for him!

[He falls quiet for a moment after that, however; there...is something he was told, and he's not sure whether it should be mentioned or not, but...well. If Oowada had done something similar, he might want to hear something like this, right?

His brain-to-mouth filter still isn't very good and he's still got no tact, but at least he's been kind of working on it.]

...Oogami-kun was a close friend of yours like that, wasn't she? Someone you cared very much for?

[...]

Naegi-kun told me about what she...did, for the rest of you. It was very noble of her.

[......]

Just the same, I'm...sorry. For your loss.

[Asahina starts out all smiles at this conversation but slowly her expression falls, little by little.

It hurts, to think of Sakura. And she wishes it were different. Because remembering her friend should make her happy! That's the way it should happen. So even if there are tears gathering in her eyes as she speaks, she nods.]

That's right! Sakura-chan was my best friend, and I was really lucky to know someone like her, no matter what else happened. Sakura-chan is the most selfless and noble person I've ever met.

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005. [Video, and one other thing]

[Video -- private]

[Video -- private → Action]

[Video -- private → Action]

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