[ ok. so maybe he's used to girls being forward, like forcing friendship down his throat or grabbing his hand. that he could deal with. what he can't deal is being told that he should kiss?? a girl??? on his own volition????? ]
I- What?
[ the look on shinji's face must be pretty comical right now - his eyes bulging, brows furrowed, a healthy spread of color over his entire face. and then they're still holding hands, which he somehow can't find it in himself to pull away from? it's only by chance that his gaze sweeps upwards in the middle of looking everywhere else but the expression on minako's face... and the sight of mistletoe makes terrible sense. ]
[ at least she has seen his reaction before. a couple of times at least so minako giggles in response to it, leaning backwards a little while keeping his hand in hers.
her own cheeks have flushed a light shade of red when he notices the plant as that is when all of this really sinks in. the extra fuzzy feelings and the urge to be much bolder than she normally would be. ]
Maybe. ... It doesn't feel like a normal plant, or at least that is the vibe I'm getting.
[ not that she wasn't already thinking about being much closer to him before all of this. ]
[ how backward... and even more awkward than it was five seconds ago. shinji feels frozen (literally) to the spot, and keeps looking down at minako's small hands around his. ]
You... you serious about this?
[ it's not like they know each other well -- or rather, it's just him that doesn't know her well, huh. she knows him. probably better and in ways he doesn't really want to think about. there's nothing on her face that says she might be doubting this, either, and that's the scariest part. ]
[ she puffs her cheeks out, glancing away for a second. ] not my fault I don't.
[ it is in a slight teasing tone. she closes her eyes for a moment and nods her head because how could she not be serious about this? not that she expects him to know.
minako has told him details here and there about their friendship, but never the gritty details of what else is between them. or was between them -- at the very least what she has experienced with the shinjiro she knew. ]
[ it feels almost like he's backed into a corner. while reasonably shinji knows he has all the power to walk away and decline, but there's something so earnest in her face that has nothing to do with the damn mistletoe, and it makes him almost question the relationship between them, whether he meant something to her that she wasn't being honest about.
he's not brave enough to ask about it. he doesn't think he's brave enough to even look at her face right now. she wants to kiss him. he doesn't think it's right to kiss a girl just because of that, but he doesn't have the heart to even say no.
so in the end shinjiro just closes his eyes and gives in, leaning down to peck her quickly on the lips before pulling back. ]
[ one would expect magical sparks to happen when you're kissed by the guy you're into, but no, that isn't the case. not with this kiss at least because it felt so short, it was almost a little disappointing for her.
okay. more than a little. it doesn't take her long to get over her shyness about the situation because he did it. there's no reason to her chest to feel tight anymore and the fear of rejection. he wouldn't have done it if he didn't want to. she knows he won't force himself into a situation he doesn't want to be in. sometimes. ]
No. It looks like I just have to show you how to really kiss a girl. [ there's a sly smirk.
standing on her toes, minako warps an arm around his neck and makes sure to grab onto his beanie so that she can pull him down into a kiss. it's definitely no peck on the lips. ]
[ when it comes down to it, shinjiro is still a guy. what kind of guy would turn down something that comes leaping into his arms and kissing him like he's the only thing she wants. it knocks the breath out of him, sending him tumbling backward until he can steady himself on his feet with his arms around her waist.
and because shinjiro is still a guy, he kisses back despite the warning siren in the back of his head, asking him what the hell is he doing, what the hell is she doing. most of him definitely questions why this is happening, but the more primitive, typically male part of him tells him to shut up and enjoy the moment.
her lips are soft and sweet. it makes him even more aware and self-conscious of the way his feel, whether he's performing to her liking. he kisses her back for a moment, a long, almost magical moment that ends when he pulls back to frown at her with his flushed face. ]
[ nothing can beat having a kiss returned. in fact, it makes her heart beat faster when she feels that he's responding to the gesture and she closes her eyes. if she could melt away right now then minako might because kissing feels so nice to her.
kissing him feels even better. it reminds her of their first kiss even, although shinjiro knew her a lot better. now isn't the time to think about the man she knew and instead focus on the one in front of her. he's the one that matters after all.
it's almost sad when he pulls away, but it has to end at some point. all minako can do is give him a gentle smile. ]
I knew you had it in you. [ her tone is soft, slightly distracted even as previous memories come flooding into her mind. okay, so it's hard to seperate the two when they're basically the same person. she was just born male in his world. ]
[ it feels like there are more questions that pops into his mind with every interaction of theirs. shinjiro's heart is beating loud and heavy in his chest, and it's hard to discern whether it's because he's flustered or confused. or both. it's probably both. and the more he looks at her, at the sure and affectionate expression painted across her face, the more confused he gets. ]
... You knew, huh.
[ so, many questions. and he's not sure if here is the best time or place. ]
Do you do that with the other guys, too?
[ aki, junpei... he does remember the male version of her being popular with the girls, so maybe it was the same in her case. ]
[ taking a step back and putting her hands behind her back, she gives him a nod to his first statement.
what he says next makes her eyes widen and cheeks flush red. minako clenched her fist as her hands now fall beside her and all she can do is give shinjiro an offended look as words start to splurge out. ]
No! You -- ... [ she quickly falls silent and glances away from him, her head tilting downwards so she can avoid eye contact. ] were... the only one...
[ the last part gets mumbled out in a slow manner. ]
[ it hits him soon later that what he said was rude and insensitive. but hey, shinji never claimed to be a socially upstanding guy. which makes it even more incomprehensible that someone like her would... be with him, or that's what he's taking away from this, despite his misgivings. ]
... Why me?
[ he has a feeling he's treading on thin ice again, but it's hard to deal with uncertainty and confusion. ]
Before I answer this, I want to make sure that you actually want the answers. I can't take them back once I say them.
[ this is like a love confession, but it's ten times worse because this is the second time she would have to do it. it isn't like it bothers her to explain her feelings to shinji again, she'll happily do it all the time when given the chance.
but, she does want to make sure he's prepared for this. ]
[ her words stun him for a moment, because it's not like he could really fathom how serious it would be. he's not prepared for it, for whatever her answer might end up being. it sounds more serious than it should be, and maybe it is. maybe being with him was the worst choice she's ever made. that he could believe. ]
[ taking in a deep breath, she closes her eyes for a moment and then lets that breath out. ]
It's because I fell in love with you. Despite how you kept pushing me away, I did think that you have a charming personality and I fell for how you're a very kind-hearted person. You act all rough and mean, scary even, but I know that isn't the real you. [ there's a tiny smile as she thinks about their time together. ]
Strong, kind, caring, so selfless too... so many qualities that I grew to love and so that is why I picked you.
[ shinji doesn't know what he was expecting, but it wasn't this. that's a lot of praise for someone like him, far more than he deserves, far more than what he actually is. once again he gets the feeling that minako is quite a bit delusional, and the only thing that he could believe from all that was the fact that he kept pushing her away.
well, he failed, obviously. ]
I ain't even the one you knew, right? Not... that I know how this alternate universes thing works.
[ he looks back at her and there's guilt, twisting across his features. the place where takaya's bullet entered his body feels like it's stinging, but he's just imagining it all. ]
... What an idiot. [ he says, about himself. ] Why'd I let you in, when I was gonna hurt you in the end?
You don't have the memories, but you're the same person.
[ she can't spot a single difference between the two. as far as she can tell, they're the exact same person. just meet a different version of her.
it's hard to hold back a giggle at his choice of words. ]
Let's just say... I'm stubborn. [ and not always in a good way. part of her feels bad for pushing shinjiro so much, but she did know he has (had) returned her feelings. ] And you never hurt me.
[ haru's face flashes before shinji's eyes and it feels like he's just been slapped. for good reason. he looks away from minako because he can't meet her eyes. because he'd kissed another girl when there's someone pining for him, loving him like she does. he could see himself falling for her, and the realization makes it that much worse.
logically, shinji knows he wasn't obligated towards anyone. guilt tears at him all the same. ]
You don't know that.
[ he'll have to tell her some day. not today though. he doesn't think he could handle that well, but then again, he doesn't think he will ever handle that well. ]
... Sorry, I don't really know what to do with this yet.
[ all she can do is shake her head. no matter how many times he says that he will or might hurt her, she doesn't believe it. he would never do it on purpose and that is what counts in her mind.
minako's famous, bright smile shines through and she leans forward a little. ]
Take your time, there's no rush.
I can be impatient sometimes, but I can also be patient. [ she doesn't want to rush this because it's a lot of new information no doubt. she just wants him to be happy, that's all. ]
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no subject
I- What?
[ the look on shinji's face must be pretty comical right now - his eyes bulging, brows furrowed, a healthy spread of color over his entire face. and then they're still holding hands, which he somehow can't find it in himself to pull away from? it's only by chance that his gaze sweeps upwards in the middle of looking everywhere else but the expression on minako's face... and the sight of mistletoe makes terrible sense. ]
It's the damn plant, ain't it.
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her own cheeks have flushed a light shade of red when he notices the plant as that is when all of this really sinks in. the extra fuzzy feelings and the urge to be much bolder than she normally would be. ]
Maybe. ... It doesn't feel like a normal plant, or at least that is the vibe I'm getting.
[ not that she wasn't already thinking about being much closer to him before all of this. ]
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[ how backward... and even more awkward than it was five seconds ago. shinji feels frozen (literally) to the spot, and keeps looking down at minako's small hands around his. ]
You... you serious about this?
[ it's not like they know each other well -- or rather, it's just him that doesn't know her well, huh. she knows him. probably better and in ways he doesn't really want to think about. there's nothing on her face that says she might be doubting this, either, and that's the scariest part. ]
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[ it is in a slight teasing tone. she closes her eyes for a moment and nods her head because how could she not be serious about this? not that she expects him to know.
minako has told him details here and there about their friendship, but never the gritty details of what else is between them. or was between them -- at the very least what she has experienced with the shinjiro she knew. ]
Yeah. ... I'm very serious about this.
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he's not brave enough to ask about it. he doesn't think he's brave enough to even look at her face right now. she wants to kiss him. he doesn't think it's right to kiss a girl just because of that, but he doesn't have the heart to even say no.
so in the end shinjiro just closes his eyes and gives in, leaning down to peck her quickly on the lips before pulling back. ]
... That good enough?
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okay. more than a little. it doesn't take her long to get over her shyness about the situation because he did it. there's no reason to her chest to feel tight anymore and the fear of rejection. he wouldn't have done it if he didn't want to. she knows he won't force himself into a situation he doesn't want to be in. sometimes. ]
No. It looks like I just have to show you how to really kiss a girl. [ there's a sly smirk.
standing on her toes, minako warps an arm around his neck and makes sure to grab onto his beanie so that she can pull him down into a kiss. it's definitely no peck on the lips. ]
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and because shinjiro is still a guy, he kisses back despite the warning siren in the back of his head, asking him what the hell is he doing, what the hell is she doing. most of him definitely questions why this is happening, but the more primitive, typically male part of him tells him to shut up and enjoy the moment.
her lips are soft and sweet. it makes him even more aware and self-conscious of the way his feel, whether he's performing to her liking. he kisses her back for a moment, a long, almost magical moment that ends when he pulls back to frown at her with his flushed face. ]
no subject
kissing him feels even better. it reminds her of their first kiss even, although shinjiro knew her a lot better. now isn't the time to think about the man she knew and instead focus on the one in front of her. he's the one that matters after all.
it's almost sad when he pulls away, but it has to end at some point. all minako can do is give him a gentle smile. ]
I knew you had it in you. [ her tone is soft, slightly distracted even as previous memories come flooding into her mind. okay, so it's hard to seperate the two when they're basically the same person. she was just born male in his world. ]
no subject
... You knew, huh.
[ so, many questions. and he's not sure if here is the best time or place. ]
Do you do that with the other guys, too?
[ aki, junpei... he does remember the male version of her being popular with the girls, so maybe it was the same in her case. ]
no subject
what he says next makes her eyes widen and cheeks flush red. minako clenched her fist as her hands now fall beside her and all she can do is give shinjiro an offended look as words start to splurge out. ]
No! You -- ... [ she quickly falls silent and glances away from him, her head tilting downwards so she can avoid eye contact. ] were... the only one...
[ the last part gets mumbled out in a slow manner. ]
no subject
... Why me?
[ he has a feeling he's treading on thin ice again, but it's hard to deal with uncertainty and confusion. ]
Why not Aki or someone else?
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[ this is like a love confession, but it's ten times worse because this is the second time she would have to do it. it isn't like it bothers her to explain her feelings to shinji again, she'll happily do it all the time when given the chance.
but, she does want to make sure he's prepared for this. ]
no subject
I asked. Go for it.
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It's because I fell in love with you. Despite how you kept pushing me away, I did think that you have a charming personality and I fell for how you're a very kind-hearted person. You act all rough and mean, scary even, but I know that isn't the real you. [ there's a tiny smile as she thinks about their time together. ]
Strong, kind, caring, so selfless too... so many qualities that I grew to love and so that is why I picked you.
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well, he failed, obviously. ]
I ain't even the one you knew, right? Not... that I know how this alternate universes thing works.
[ he looks back at her and there's guilt, twisting across his features. the place where takaya's bullet entered his body feels like it's stinging, but he's just imagining it all. ]
... What an idiot. [ he says, about himself. ] Why'd I let you in, when I was gonna hurt you in the end?
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[ she can't spot a single difference between the two. as far as she can tell, they're the exact same person. just meet a different version of her.
it's hard to hold back a giggle at his choice of words. ]
Let's just say... I'm stubborn. [ and not always in a good way. part of her feels bad for pushing shinjiro so much, but she did know he has (had) returned her feelings. ] And you never hurt me.
no subject
logically, shinji knows he wasn't obligated towards anyone. guilt tears at him all the same. ]
You don't know that.
[ he'll have to tell her some day. not today though. he doesn't think he could handle that well, but then again, he doesn't think he will ever handle that well. ]
... Sorry, I don't really know what to do with this yet.
no subject
minako's famous, bright smile shines through and she leans forward a little. ]
Take your time, there's no rush.
I can be impatient sometimes, but I can also be patient. [ she doesn't want to rush this because it's a lot of new information no doubt. she just wants him to be happy, that's all. ]
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... You're too good for someone like me. You know that.
[ in the end he sighs, and instead of kissing her, pats her once more on the head. ]
Tell me you moved on after I... y'know.
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[ there's a faint smile and she closes her eyes, leaning into his touch just that little bit more for the sense of familiarity. ]
Seeing as how you were in a coma, I didn't really... I got closer to some people, but none of them could replace you.