[semi-open] how many hugs will be in this log? place your bets

[thesettingsun]

WHO: Shuji Tsushima and all his friends who were out of the city and are back.
WHERE: Recolle, which is 100x safer than wherever everyone else was.
WHEN: February 15th.
WHAT: Shuji has one day to check on everyone he knows and he's not going to waste it.
WARNINGS: Nothing as of yet!

[A: text]
[As soon as Shuji learns that people who had volunteered to leave the city are back for a brief period, he wastes absolutely no time. Everyone he's friends who's back is getting a text, something to the tune of:]

Where are you? Can I come see you today?

[B: somewhere in Recolle]
[But if you don't want to thread that part, and just skip to the inevitability of Shuji getting his friend to agree to meet up - and it is inevitable, he has to make sure they're okay with his own eyes - this is the prompt where Shuji spots your character after arranging a meeting and rushes up to them.]

Welcome back!

[He looks like he could hug them at any second. This is probably only a little due to his heartstone's influence.]

[closed to Oda]
[Of course, he'd promised Oda curry, so his lunch date is Odasaku for sure. He's all smiles when he meets Oda outside a really, really nice curry place.]

Welcome home, Odasaku. I hope this place is okay?

[It's probably one of the more expensive places to get curry in Recolle, but sure, ask if it's 'okay'.]

[wildcard]
[You know me, I'm easy. Hit me at Misheard for anything else.]

Comments

[thesettingsun]

It's okay. Everyone needs to vent sometimes. And we all make mistakes... but, I mean it when I say you've done good things.

[He gives Atsushi a soft smile. It's entirely genuine, a smile that recalls e-cards and conversations in the library over fictional romance.]

You make people happy. You're a good person.

[beneathmoonlight]

Shuji-kun...thank you...

[He’s glad that Shuji doesn’t mind him breaking down like this. He really needed to get it all out.]

I hope you had a good Valentine’s Day, Shuji-kun.

[thesettingsun]

As best as I could in the circumstances. We got stuck to other people on Valentine's Day, and... Do you know Anya?

[The most important thing is that Anya isn't his boyfriend.]

[beneathmoonlight]

[Atsushi blinks a few times.]

Stuck? Like...physically stuck?

[An inquisitive look.]

I do. Did you get stuck to Anya-chan?

[thesettingsun]

Not physically stuck, but we couldn't get very far from each other. Kind of makes spending time with the boyfriend awkward.

[beneathmoonlight]

Oh...yeah. I can see why.

[Good lord, what did he miss while he was gone?]

I’m sorry if you didn’t get to spend alone time with him.

[He huffs a laugh.]

What happened if you got too far from her?

[thesettingsun]

If we got more than a few inches apart, a red string tied our hands together. Like that one story, you know? Except I'm pretty sure I'm not destined for anything with her, she's ten years younger than me.

[He is in no way here for dating 15-year-olds.]

[beneathmoonlight]

Oh...I see.

[Atsushi looks much happier now, though the bags under his eyes are still very visible.]

At least it’s over now, right? I bet your hair and eyes will go back to normal soon too.

[He reaches up to poke at Shuji’s ahoge.]

It’s kind of cute though.

[thesettingsun]

It's embarrassing. I look like I'm from a hentai.

[Grumble, grumble. He's a little pink in the cheeks from being called cute, but that doesn't make him like the state of his hair.]

[beneathmoonlight]

H-huh???

[Atsushi’s eyes widen cartoonishly and he squeaks a little when Shuji says the word “hentai”. Oh gosh, that’s way too lewd for his poor little heart to take, especially when he imagines Shuji in those kinds of situations.

WHICH HE SHOULD NOT BE DOING.]

I don’t...I don’t think that’s true, Shuji-kun!!

[thesettingsun]

[Atsushi, no, don't do this. Just ask Oda how bad an idea that is.]

You're a pure soul who has never read those kinds of comics [apparently, or else he wouldn't deny it] so just take my word for it that the heart eyes and hair look like that. Sorry to give you a heart attack.

[beneathmoonlight]

[He knows better, but Shuji is still very attractive. He won’t crush on Shuji if he can help it, but that doesn’t mean he can’t think he’s pretty.]

It’s...it’s fine...really...

[He clears his throat. He has most certainly read those kinds of comics, but he’d rather not admit that.]

A-anyway...I’m sure that you’re busy...you don’t have to stay here if you’ve got other plans.

[thesettingsun]

I do have a lot of friends to check up on, but I want to see you for more than five minutes - unless this is you trying to push me out the door?

[He's not always the best with social cues, but that might have been a gentle urging to get out...]

[beneathmoonlight]

N-no!! Not at all! I just...

[Just think that Shuji has better people to spend his time with...]

I just want you to be able to relax and have fun. If you want to stay here, I’d be more than happy to spend time with you.

[thesettingsun]

[Please love yourself, Atsushi.]

Then I'll stay here. I'm having fun with you.

Did you get the chocolate I sent you?

[beneathmoonlight]

Thank you.

[He gives Shuji a sheepish grin.]

I did, but I ate it already...

[thesettingsun]

I'm glad you liked it enough to finish it!

[He would sparkle if he were physically capable of doing so.]

Sending store-bought chocolate to a baker always feels kind of sad, obviously you could make much better chocolate yourself, but it must not have been too bad.

[beneathmoonlight]

It was delicious, Shuji-kun, don’t worry! I know homemade chocolate is reserved for your boyfriend.

[He totally understands. Any chocolate is good chocolate, after all.]

One day I’ll have someone to give homemade chocolates to...I hope.

[He says, as if he doesn’t give everyone homemade goodies all the time.]

There’s um...there’s a lot of a-attractive people here...in the city...

[thesettingsun]

I'm still set on matchmaking for you, you know. Just, once your missions are through so you can really focus on romance.

[Fear this smile, Atsushi. Fear it.]

[beneathmoonlight]

If you insist...

[It couldn’t hurt to go on a few dates, could it? Even if they end up not being perfect, at least Atsushi can say he tried.]

How did you meet your boyfriend, Shuji-kun?

[thesettingsun]

We used to work at the same convenience store.

[A convenience store he's very glad he escaped.]

He yelled at a customer who made me cry, even though he knew he'd get fired for it. He was my hero...

[Dokis.]

[beneathmoonlight]

That sounds really sweet, actually.

[Atsushi can’t believe someone would yell at Shuji. What the hell is wrong with people??]

I’m happy for you, Shuji-kun. I hope you get to go on a nice date after all that Valentine’s stuff.

[thesettingsun]

[Customers are just the worst.]

We will, I'll make sure of it.

[He will have a sweet date with his boyfriend if it's the last thing he does.]

Is everything going alright on your away mission?

[beneathmoonlight]

I...think so.

[The town is saved, at least, much to Howard’s consternation.]

I kind of wish I’d stayed behind in the city to help you guys.

[A sigh.]

Have you fought any monsters yet?

[thesettingsun]

Just a few.

['Just' a few monsters, Shuji?]

Only the ones that come near the city limits. One of my friends, a lot of her friends left without telling her - her kid cousin is in your group, I think? - and she's really worried, so I'm doing my best to keep safe and not go looking for trouble. Give her some peace of mind.

[Apparently Sakura herself goes looking for trouble... but he doesn't know that yet.]