orphne | expiation inbox

[For a moment, Ken wondered if he should say something. Tilting his head, he knew something was off with her.]

...Is this your way of saying that you want me to join one of your clubs?

You don't have to, but it'll be fun. Hopefully a bunch of other people come, too, so you can learn together.

[Her gaze looks somewhere past the charm for a moment before focusing back on him.]

Hey, have you talked to anyone else about this? Or like, has anyone else said anything about the parchments?

I might as well, I have all the time in the world now that I'm here.

[That and he should at least try to be a normal kid for once. That said? There was a moment of silence on his end.]

But no, I haven't. But I wouldn't be surprised if others had this too and they haven't said anything about it yet.

["All the time in the world." Now there's a thought she doesn't know how to respond to or process, so she just shuffles it into the corner of her brain where she puts a lot of the thoughts she doesn't want to think and doesn't answer it at all.]

Hmm... I can ask around and see if anybody else I know has gotten it.

[Does Shinji have it? If both Ken and Shinji do, and she doesn't, what does that mean...? Are they in danger? No, she can't think like that. There's no point worrying about something she doesn't even know for sure yet.

So she just gives Ken a smile and a nod.]

Well, we can try a bunch of new things, so even if you don't like sewing, we could do something else. Have you ever played tennis?

If you do, let me know. Maybe I can help them too since I worry that whatever this 'punishment' is if they do not complete it in time.

[Because in the back of his mind, Ken didn't care what they did to him. He just worried about what happened to the others as he didn't know if they have the powers to withstand a potential God. Of course, he just hoped that Shinjiro or the others might have gotten one too....]

But I don't think so? I don't mind tennis but I'm willing to try anything I haven't done before.

[Although, just how 'new' was trying something new was it supposed to be??]

It doesn't say when it has to be done by, right?

[The next full moon, maybe? Still, she hopes the smile she gives him is bright and encouraging, even if she doesn't really feel it.]

So we can try a bunch of different things and you can decide what you like best to really learn how to do properly.

I'm not sure but I have a feeling I might need to get it done within a month...

[That seems like a normal amount of time, right? He really didn't know as he shrugged.]

Any other suggestions though? [And there, he didn't seem to meet Kotone in the eyes. Instead, his eyes seem to look at something else.] To be honest, I never really tried a lot of different things before.

Hmm...

[So about the length of time between full moons. At least it's a familiar-feeling time limit, even if it's not precisely synced up like that. Considering the moon is constantly full anyway...]

Well, you already know Aragaki-senpai is the master of cooking, but I can help you with baking some sweets if you want! When I was in school, I did Tennis, Library Committee, Cooking Club, Sewing Club, and some work on the Student Council... oh, and sometimes I'd talk about stories and books with the old couple at the bookstore or with a friend at the shrine.

[But she saw the way he looked off.]

You didn't try anything new for yourself after SEES disbanded...?

[See that look on his face? All he could do was stare in awe!!]

Just how many clubs were you in? I knew you were always busy but I didn't realize that you were that occupied with everything!

[No seriously, do you sleep?? But regardless, he gave a mumble or two. He really couldn't say no to her, could he?]

...It's not that I didn't do anything new, it's more that I didn't know what to do. [As he was too busy trying to do what he thought he was supposed to do.]

[She counts on her fingers.] Five! Oh, six if you count SEES.

[Everyone always gives her that look! Back then, it had been as much about meeting interesting people as it had been about the activity itself; maybe it had been Theo and Igor guiding her toward them, but there had always been someone there she could turn into a dear friend -- or, at the very least, someone she could learn from.

But her smile softens a bit as she nods in understanding. Yeah, that can be tough. Again, the activities were fun, but it was the people who were important. Without people like that... it would be way harder to decide something to do, huh?]

So let's start... Operation Find Ken-kun Something He Likes! [She pumps a fist. Junpei would probably approve of the name... wasted without him here. :( ]

[How does she even do it? Ken really had no clue! All he could do was just keep on staring at her as he wondered where she got her energy from. He certainly needs it!

Either way, he shook his head.]

You don't have to do that! I don't want you to fret over something I would like! All I need to do is find something new to do anyway!

[Nevermind that he would probably need to find it soon.]

[Use the constant motion to distract yourself from being sad, Ken! Collapse at the end of the day too tired to think too much about anything!]

I'm not fretting! [Said very simply, as if it's obvious.] And yeah, we'll make sure you learn something new. But that doesn't mean we have to stop there. It's always nice to find something you enjoy doing, isn't it? I'd like to help you find it!

Thank you, Kotone-san, I appreciate it. Who knows, maybe if I find something I really enjoy, I might have to start running my own club too.

[Not that he really would since he's joking but...!]

You could!

[Brightly. He might be joking, but it's more likely than he might think!]

Wanna go try some stuff out now, or are you busy today?

I don't see why not, I'm not busy.

[If anything, he was trying to figure out what to do here now that he has a lot of extra time.]

Where are you right now?

Fabric shopping!

[Surprise... she was actually working on stuff for Sewing Club before he'd even messaged her. She moves her charm to show off the background more clearly, revealing she's in one of the general stores near some big bolts of fabric.]

If you come meet me here, you can help me carry this stuff back to the club building.

[Free labor... yes.]

[Somehow, he wasn't surprised at her response. If anything, he really should have known better. With a sigh, he just places his hand on his face and shook his head.]

...Please don't tell me you bought a whole bunch of them.

Okay!

[She simply won't tell him she bought a whole bunch... he'll just have to see for himself. Her smile is bright and almost impish as she beams at him.]

I'll see you soon, okay?

[Meanwhile as soon as Ken went to said place, all he could do was ~~fear~~ wait to see what was before him. Going to the door, there was a sense of dread. Was he going have to carry so many things? He didn't know but he'll have to find out....]

K-Kotone-san....?

[Jaws theme.mp3]

[Listen Ken, think of it like training.

Now, her original plan had been to barter with the local shopkeeper to have it delivered, but there's no need to tell Ken that. Way funnier to see his reaction to the several thick bolts of fabric she's currently forking over the coins to pay for.]

Oh, hey, Ken-kun! You're just in time!

[With a bright, impish grin, she waves a hand at the pile.] Thanks for you help!

[Oh no, oh no. Oh no, no, no, no.

All he could do was stare at the pile before him. Looking back at Kotone and then at said pile, all he could do was shake his head.]

....Kotone-san, please don't me that you bought the entire store.

[Please tell him you didn't.]

I didn't buy the entire store!

[Is she saying that because he asked her to tell him that, or because it's true...? Don't worry about it. With the money paid, she flounces over to the bolts of fabric she'd picked out, resting a hand atop the pile.]

Look, it'll only be a couple trips back and forth if we work together! [She pumps her fists, still with the same playful sparkle in her eyes.]

[Somewhere, in the back of Ken's mind, he was starting to regret this. Regardless, he couldn't just ignore her request. With a sigh, he walked up to her and picked up a couple of bolts.]

I'm starting to worry just how much you plan on making. And if I should be worried about how much I'll be making....

It's not just for me.

[She follows suit, hefting the exact same number as he's carrying before tossing a smile to the shopkeeper and heading straight out the door. No need to get them delivered if she's got Ken, after all!]

It's for anyone who wants to use it. And it's not like ingredients for cooking that'll go bad -- as long as you store it properly, it'll last a long time! So I can stock up. I like to stay busy!

Even with so much, it makes me wonder what you and the others might be making.

[As he walks out of the door, he had to keep his eyes on the ground. He didn't want to trip on the ground...]

I never been to a sewing club before so I don't really know what you guys make.

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