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[ it's seldom when tadashi feels nervous, but he already messed up once, he doesn't want to mess up again. he drives to the apartment complex of the sailor senshi early in the morning and waits for ami to exit. he's been rehearsing some lines in his head so he knows what to say.

and when he sees ami walking out of the building, he greets her with wave and says: ]

Need a ride?

[ you're so cool, tadashi. ]

[Ami was checking her watch, getting ready to head out when she paused and saw Tadashi. At his question, her eyes widened. She hadn't expected to see him... well, ever. She honestly thought that he wasn't going to talk to her again after that awkward evening. But was he going to act like she hadn't confessed at all? Was this his olive branch? She wasn't sure she wanted to just forget, but she didn't want to lose Tadashi as a friend, either.]

I ah, was heading into work, today, actually. Isn't that a bit out of your way?

It's fine, I've got time to spare.

[ it's not like anybody was policing the time he went in and out of work. he offers his extra helmet to ami, though whether or not she takes it is entirely up to her. ]

Edited 2016-01-12 04:47 (UTC)

[She took the helmet and examined it, her fingers lightly ran across the top. Her lips pressed together.]

I... suppose. [So this was definitely an olive branch, right? He was just going to act like that confession never happened, and they'd both pretend she didn't find him anything more than a dear friend. She looked at the moped and realized:]

I've never ridden on one before.

It's fine, you won't get hurt.

[ he pats the space behind him, where ami can sit. there is actually a lot of space, but she'd have to hold onto tadashi for better balance. ]

[She sat behind him and hesitated at wrapping her arms around his waist, opting instead to rest them on Tadashi's shoulders.]

You remember the way?

Research Center, right? I know the way.

[ and he starts to drive!! it's not particularly a slow one, but it's not fast either. he's silent for the most part until they're about halfway, then he starts— ]

Rei and Minako talked to me, you know.

[ so, no. ami. he isn't pretending it never happened. ]

[She should have known better than to get on! Now she was trapped. Maybe she could throw herself off at the next red light. Her grip on Tadashi's shoulders tightened considerably, though not enough to hurt him. She swallowed.]

I'm sorry, I wasn't... trying to sic them on you or anything. I told them what happened is all... [She knew they wouldn't hurt Tadashi... well, Minako wouldn't, Rei was about a 80/20 depending.]

[ he glances back, chuckling. ]

Hey, don't worry about it. It's fine.

They really helped me out when I needed it.

[ see! this is a good conversation! no need to run away. ]

[She'd check for injuries if she didn't trust the girls more. She gazed at his shoulders and smiled, despite how much she wasn't sure she wanted this conversation.]

I'm glad to hear that, Tadashi. Rei and Minako are both very smart. [Which they were, Ami would not follow Minako's leadership if she did not have faith in her intelligence.]

What did they help you with?

Life. Stuff. [ he sounds so unsure, but that's mostly because he isn't sure how to word his following statements yet. he hums in thought for a bit as they reach a stop light, and it's only when everybody starts moving again that tadashi continues. ]

My self-doubt, mostly.

Well, they're certainly people to listen to regarding self-doubt. [Mostly because both girls were incredibly confident in most things even if Ami knew about matters that upset them. At a sudden jerk, Ami's hands moved from Tadashi's shoulders to his waist and she gave a small squeeze in fright. It seemed silly, considering she was able to do much more and survived much more. Her hands were quick to return to Tadashi's shoulders, embarrassed, yet again.]

And ah... what about your self-doubt?

Just- [ he waves a hand dismissively as he slows down in driving, but he speeds up the moment his hand goes back on the moped's handle. ] Stuff about how I think I don't deserve anything good since I'm dead and all.

I guess it takes somebody else to tell me I'm stupid to realise that I should be happy, too.

[She's not sure if she should be annoyed that she would have had to call him stupid to get him to listen.]

I... see... [She's never had the girls call her stupid, so she's not sure what the feeling was, though she's berated herself often enough when she made big enough mistakes.] And ah... [She was afraid to ask, or to let anything connect back to "that evening."] Are you going to allow yourself a chance at happiness now?

[ well, tadashi wasn't exactly called doofus. just a "nihilistic doofus"... which isn't any better.

he responds, softly: ]

Yeah... I guess. I could try that.

[She checked to see where they were and how much longer it would take to get to the tower. Not too much longer now. What would he do if this conversation wasn't over but they arrived? What would she do?]

I'm glad you're at least willing to try. [She had a feeling Hiro would be too, honestly. She was torn between asking what that meant to him and just letting the conversation end there.] I hope you'll allow yourself more happiness, as you go, then.

Which was why I came to talk to you.

[ a beat, and he glances back again to try and get a glimpse of how ami's expression was like. the moment he turns his head again and faces forward, he adds: ]

I wanted to ask if you'd help me with that.

[....

Wait.

Wait wait wait wait wait. Was he suggesting? No... No he couldn't be. He obviously MUST have meant that he just wanted help with happiness in friendship. He was rather explicit when it came to his rejection and at no point mentioned returned feelings for her. So clearly, obviously she was reading into this, again, just like she did on that night.

NOPE! Nope, nein, lo, no, non, ochi, iie, nahin, net, and whatever language she could think of to say "no" in. She swallowed, trying to figure out what exactly to say next so as not to attach it to any romantic feelings since clearly Tadashi was doing that thing he does of asking her in the most charming way possible and not having any other intentions behind it. It was getting to be frustrating.]

An ah... how... exactly can I help? [That was neutral enough, right?]

[ he didn't really say he didn't like ami that way. he said he likes her, but he didn't think he deserved somebody what with his status in life. but, hey. thanks to hiro, rei, minako, and levi, he's slowly changing his mind. ]

I was wondering if you'd go out with me.

[ it's a good thing they're mobile and that tadashi literally planned this conversation while on his moped, else ami would have probably bolted again before they could finish talking. they're nearing the research center, though, so tadashi slows down just a little bit. ]

[Don't tempt her, Tadashi, she's Sailor Mercury, if anyone can figure out the safest way to get off a moving vehicle and live, it's her. Which is sort of what she wanted to do at this moment. HE WAS MAKING IT REALLY HARD TO CONSIDER THIS AS SOMETHING FRIENDLY AND NEUTRAL, OKAY!? Her face was a deep, deep, deeeeeeep red and she wasn't sure what to do. She bit her lip and her hands were fighting to squeeze tight onto Tadashi, not to hurt, but because clearly this was a sickness induced illusion.

Yep! That was clearly it. She had too much wine to drink last night with Rei and Minako to help her relax and she had gotten drunk and this was her hangover and punishment provided by a guilty, if somewhat wish-fulfilling conscience.

Right?

RIGHT!?!?]

J-Just so we're... clear... [She said slowly, wanting to make completely sure she wasn't reading into this again and going to make a bigger fool of herself in front of someone.] you mean... as friends o-or... [She didn't even want to finish this, feeling heat even in her ears.]

[ oh, they're here! they're here. tadashi stops in front of the centre's door, but doesn't necessarily move or gesture for ami to get down. not yet, anyway. he checks his watch; there's a couple more minutes before he assumes her work begins. so it should be okay if she doesn't clock in yet. ]

I think you know what I mean.

[ it's pretty awesome how tadashi can remain as collected as he is at a time like this. he's totally wondering if he's saying the right things, though, and he's surprised by himself that he hasn't fumbled with his words yet. ]

[THE LAST TIME SHE ASSUMED YOU REJECTED HER, TADASHI, THAT IS NOT A GOOD RESPONSE. She does notice they're in front of her work and she blushes, wondering how she was going to actually go through the day with this.

She is incredibly annoyed by how calm he is. She can't even say "like" without going red in the face and here he is, suave as ever.

She took off her helmet and wished she had the ability to be more calm and collected about this. She'd done a stellar job when he rejected her but now the whole thing was on the table again. She was literally using the helmet as a means to hide her face. On the one hand, she wasn't sure how she felt about being asked so soon after his flat out rejection only a few nights ago. Talk about emotional whiplash.

On the other hand, she hadn't suddenly stopped liking Tadashi just because of the rejection and had more or less resigned herself to an unrequited relationship that she would hopefully one day overcome while remaining good friends, preferably with CERES bringing Nikola Tesla to the colony. She was a huge fangirl for Tesla.

Except no.

This was not part of her calculations, this wasn't part of her formula!]

N-No I don't, I would like to think I do but I've not had prior success when it came to knowing your intentions.

[Maybe some part of her was being vicious, but honestly, Ami just didn't want to be hurt again or have any misunderstanding between them. Quantum physics and advanced mathematics was easy. People? People were still hard.]

S-So please... I just... [How is it she was the one being asked out and she was the one red in the face again?]

Edited 2016-01-12 09:13 (UTC)

[ yes, tadashi does look absolutely calm right now. it's pretty great. but inside, he's freaking out about dumb he's making himself look. he's probably going back to his apartment and just scream into his pillow after all of this. so, there's that, too.

he pulls out the keys from the ignition and gets off, resting an arm on the moped's handle. he just relaxes there, sort of, looking at ami. she's flustered, and it's actually pretty cute. but what he likes more about her is that she always knows what to say to him. except in this situation, apparently. ]

I don't think I'm ready to be exclusive just yet, but I really want to go out with you. On dates.

It'd- [ ah... now he's actually feeling embarrassed. he takes off his hat and squeezes it in his palm to calm his nerves. ] I still have issues which I need to fix, and I still have Hiro to take care of, but I've always wanted to go out with you.

[ is that forward enough, ami... ]

[She was clearly ill.

Yep! Ill! No other way to explain what might be making her not only flustered but incredibly giddy. Giddy... and... did he say he always wanted to go out with her?

WAIT WHAT?!]

Ah...

[She was ill. Or she was going to be ill. Or... something. Because this was all too wonderful and clearly not true. Maybe she was stuck in ViViD and didn't know it. Sweet Mercury, was she stuck in a love simulator? She prayed not.

She didn't even realize she was nodding.]

[Wait, nodding?

Oh... yes. Yes, she was. She was nodding. And... the deepest red she's been since... actually probably ever.

But, she was nodding and smiling, and bright cherry red from the tips of her ears to her shoulders.]

I... that is... I mean... yes. I'd... [She was babbling.] Y-Y-Yes, I mean... I would like that, that is... you're I mean...

[Actually, forget ill. Someone please tape her mouth shut because she was little more than a babbling, giddy mess right now, even if the smile on her face was the brightest it's ever been since being in the colony.]

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