You'll get to know me pretty damn quick if you fuck this up. And I don't know what the hell kind of person you are besides you throwing bullshit at her and expecting her to know what you mean.
[He sent a text beforehand: Meet me at your house. Got something for you. Just to make sure he was around, because Riku's not gonna stand outside in Nonah for ages if he doesn't have to. It's not cold, but it's colder than Heropa, and he's not used to anything below sixty degrees (F), really.
When Kaneda opens the door he'll find Riku waiting there, leaning against a post, a plastic shopping bag dangling from one wrist. He's got a hoodie on, zipped all the way up, because he's not dealing with any sort of cold, he just isn't.]
[The whole text conversation with Tex really set his mood for the next day. Cheerful, always 'okay' Kaneda was now a mess, his one act of getting his mind away from the hell that was his life was now part of a different hell. A small, selfish part of him is angry that Maya went and told someone this stuff? Hell, he doesn't even know what Tex formulated in her head and what was Maya's words, but all he can believe is that Maya wouldn't.
Then again, he thought the same about Tetsuo too. His thoughts were toxic enough without that mentality, so he shakes away any doubt about that--no, Maya was his friend. She wouldn't...she wouldn't really think that he'd be an awful date, right? He wasn't, he KNEW that. And that's what made him so angry! And it visibly bugs him the entire day, Krem staying out of his way as he lies around the empty house. And when he gets the text, he almost wants to tell Riku to leave it on the doorstep. He's really not in the mood for people right now.
But he knows how that conversation would go. Riku was in a lot of ways, his emotional dampener for when he got too worked up. Calm voice and calm demeanor can do that to you. With a huff, he sends back a fine ill be outside reply, heading towards the door and nudging away any cats that tried to follow.
He steps out, shutting the door behind him (no jacket, because when you're a warm teenage boy the cold air's kind of nice), only to see Riku standing there. Hi Riku, he looks like a bundle of joy today, can't you tell? His shoulder slumps against the doorframe, looking from the bag up to Riku's face, then back down to it.]
[He can tell as soon as Kaneda opens the door that something's wrong. It's the scent of frustration that tips him off first, but then the look on his face matches the scent of his demeanor. He's surprised he doesn't see this more often, honestly -- Kaneda's been pretty good about keeping himself up on the emotional side, even in light of Maya's short death.
Riku shakes his head quietly, then lifts his head a little, eyes on Kaneda's face.]
No, I was asked to do this in person. Besides, I haven't seen you since last week or something, I thought it was about time.
[He lifts the bag, letting it slide down to his fingers so he can open his hand and offer it up. He can smell the strawberry scent from inside the bag, and he's curious if that's just him, or if Kaneda can smell it from there, too. ]
[There's a sharp turn of his head, throwing the comment off to the side for a moment. Of course Riku would worry about him after a week. That's just how Riku was. The moment passes, and those eyes soften--the guy's default personality having it's intended effect on Kaneda.
Cooling down just enough to have a decent conversation.]
I meant to stop by, but...fires happened. [And you know...Maya's death. Among other things. But there's a soft hint of a smile hiding behind those lips as he tilts his head to the package, as if silentl asking if it's that.
Not before Riku thrusts it out to him, though, taking it gingerly in those gloved hands.]
[He ruffles his now-free hand through his hair quietly, looking a little frustrated himself now. Ask him about how the fires went for him, Kaneda, just ask.]
... Yeah, I get that.
[His expression changes instantly as Kaneda wonders what it is, and he smiles quietly.]
A gift.
[He told Maya he'd take a video, since she couldn't be here, so he digs his phone out, too, looking down at it for a moment. Now he's got to navigate to the video thing... of course he forgot to do this beforehand, didn't he?]
[She's not entirely wrong--its not like he has much proof right now, especially with how Ken's situation worked out. And he's not looking for anyone to vouch for him.]
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