[Let's just mutually agree that they fuckin sucked, huh?]
...
[Blink blink. Sorry, did you say a gift? For him? Because honestly, outside of Ken getting him takeout, or their lunch dates, gifts aren't exactly something he's used to getting. Ever.
He almost wants to ask if he heard Riku right, but sure enough, the box he pulls out of the bag is very...gift-like.
There's a moment of looking at the box, noting the yellow sakura pattern on it as distinctively japanese, before looking back up at Riku, returning to the box.]
[A brow raises as he reads the calligraphy on the note--only showing his name and not the sender. It's too girly to be Riku's, and its not one he recognizes.
Well...only one way to find out.
His hand moves to lift the lid, pulling it off and wrapping it behind the bottom to get a good look at--
Those eyes widened as large as dinner plates.
Strawberry Daifuku. Something he may have had once in his life, and certainly not anything worth writing home about--like something you'd find in a convenience store. This was the real deal, though, he knew from just looking at it. Strawberry was his favourite, and his eyes soften for one lasting moment as he looks at it. Something he couldn't put on his face intentionally. That soft spot Maya mentioned? Fully and completely exposed right here.
His gaze shoots up to Riku immediately, completely speechless for once. All his frustration at Tex, or the frustration at Ken's situation, or Maya's death...all of it is gone.
[Satisfied, Riku sticks the phone back in his pocket. He'll send it to Maya later. Now, though, he smiles quietly, leaning to peek inside the box. There's a bunch of them -- she really packed them in there. Kaneda looks like someone just told him he won every lottery on the planet or something. This is half the reason Riku likes his job, honestly, is stuff like this. The other part is mostly just regular life advantages type stuff, but this...]
They're really good, she paid me in them.
[He can't help but grin -- the look on Kaneda's face is just too good.]
[Kaneda's silent for a little while longer, thumb running along the edge of the box as he bites his lip. He's really trying to play it cool--he really is. It's just not working all that well.]
Etto...
[It slips out, trying to find something to say--before Riku's words snap him back into reality.]
[Riku all this cryptic talk is getting an eyebrow raise from your bff. Because he's already astounded someone would send him something at all, let alone...who it would be from.]
[omg kaneda come on. His face says as much -- he's honestly surprised Kaneda hasn't put the clues together on this one. After a minute he sighs, then shakes his head.]
Yeah. Well, if it's not marked, maybe I'm not supposed to say anything...
[He just thought you'd pick up on this one pretty quick! His exasperation quickly morphs into a smirk, and he folds his arms, pressing his shoulder against the post again.]
Hm... well, I wasn't going to, but now I'm not sure. Gotta cover my own ass with these things, you understand.
[YOU OVERESTIMATE HIM, RIKU. Those dark eyes look at him with the ULTIMATE BETRAYAL, like you took a toy away from your dog and put it up somewhere and won't tell him where you hid it. How dare.]
You can't just--
[He so can, Kaneda. He so can.
Enjoy him flailing, Riku, this is probably better than a movie.]
[He is indeed enjoying the sight of Kaneda not knowing how to process this, but he lifts a finger, tilting his head a little.]
When you realize it, you're going to feel like it was obvious.
[Like, come on. The box, even, with its flower motif. The fact that the daifuku themselves are strawberry, rather than anko like would be default in most places, meaning the person knows his penchant for it.]
[Riku you are legit the worst. First you admit knowing who it is, then you tease him for it.]
Yeah yeah, that's how it always goes.
[But he's right, daifuku were for eating, weren't they? And...who's he to deny his stomach some food? That metabolism doesn't support itself, you know. So without much hesitation, he scoops one up, the nostalgia (if you can call it that) hitting him the moment it sits in his hand.
If Riku looks, there's a soft hint of a smile as he takes a bite--eyes widening the moment he eats it.
[He is indeed the worst. Please see Sora for details. And, well, it's true he knows, but he's not going to lie about it now and have to come clean later. He's just going to be an ass instead.
Kaneda's expression changes instantly and he can't help his own grin. He probably made the same face, himself, but seeing it on someone else is fun.]
[His chewing slows, letting the taste of the anko and the strawberry linger in his mouth as he just soaks up that taste, eyes closing slightly as he leans against the door. ]
Well...whoever it was, they know my tastes.
[Good luck? Or chance?
There's another bite as he smiles, letting his head tilt against the doorframe as a small, genuinely happy smile spreads across his face.
[Riku's grin shrinks into just a little smile, eyes unfocusing a little until he's looking more at the siding behind Kaneda's arm than Kaneda himself. He feels half like he's intruding on a moment, here.]
Don't worry, I think... you'll figure it out fairly soon.
action;
...
[Blink blink. Sorry, did you say a gift? For him? Because honestly, outside of Ken getting him takeout, or their lunch dates, gifts aren't exactly something he's used to getting. Ever.
He almost wants to ask if he heard Riku right, but sure enough, the box he pulls out of the bag is very...gift-like.
There's a moment of looking at the box, noting the yellow sakura pattern on it as distinctively japanese, before looking back up at Riku, returning to the box.]
A gift, huh.
action;
C'mon, open it. My client wants to know how you like it.
['His client' being a tiny television personality. Actually, he's not sure if Maya put in it who it's from or anything...]
action;
Well...only one way to find out.
His hand moves to lift the lid, pulling it off and wrapping it behind the bottom to get a good look at--
Those eyes widened as large as dinner plates.
Strawberry Daifuku. Something he may have had once in his life, and certainly not anything worth writing home about--like something you'd find in a convenience store. This was the real deal, though, he knew from just looking at it. Strawberry was his favourite, and his eyes soften for one lasting moment as he looks at it. Something he couldn't put on his face intentionally. That soft spot Maya mentioned? Fully and completely exposed right here.
His gaze shoots up to Riku immediately, completely speechless for once. All his frustration at Tex, or the frustration at Ken's situation, or Maya's death...all of it is gone.
Because who would give him this?]
action;
They're really good, she paid me in them.
[He can't help but grin -- the look on Kaneda's face is just too good.]
Now, I wonder who sent it...?
action;
Etto...
[It slips out, trying to find something to say--before Riku's words snap him back into reality.]
Wait...-YOU- know! Who sent it??
action;
Of course I know. I picked it up in person, didn't I? And I'm pretty sure you know, too. You just haven't considered it.
[Riku looks thoughtful.]
I picked it up pretty close to my house, actually, as a hint.
action;
So...Heropa.
It's someone in Heropa.
action; fuck
Yeah. Well, if it's not marked, maybe I'm not supposed to say anything...
action;
Oi, you can't just keep it from me!
[RIKU YOU TRAITOR.]
action;
Hm... well, I wasn't going to, but now I'm not sure. Gotta cover my own ass with these things, you understand.
action;
You can't just--
[He so can, Kaneda. He so can.
Enjoy him flailing, Riku, this is probably better than a movie.]
action;
[He is indeed enjoying the sight of Kaneda not knowing how to process this, but he lifts a finger, tilting his head a little.]
When you realize it, you're going to feel like it was obvious.
[Like, come on. The box, even, with its flower motif. The fact that the daifuku themselves are strawberry, rather than anko like would be default in most places, meaning the person knows his penchant for it.]
Try one, while you're standing there.
action;
Yeah yeah, that's how it always goes.
[But he's right, daifuku were for eating, weren't they? And...who's he to deny his stomach some food? That metabolism doesn't support itself, you know. So without much hesitation, he scoops one up, the nostalgia (if you can call it that) hitting him the moment it sits in his hand.
If Riku looks, there's a soft hint of a smile as he takes a bite--eyes widening the moment he eats it.
Because oh my god.
He could just melt there right now.]
action;
Kaneda's expression changes instantly and he can't help his own grin. He probably made the same face, himself, but seeing it on someone else is fun.]
Right?
action;
Well...whoever it was, they know my tastes.
[Good luck? Or chance?
There's another bite as he smiles, letting his head tilt against the doorframe as a small, genuinely happy smile spreads across his face.
Today just got a little bit better.]
action;
Don't worry, I think... you'll figure it out fairly soon.