[open] ring ring, bingo?

[esperimental]

WHO: Ritsu Kageyama and people who are probably nicer than him
WHERE: All around the city
WHEN: Throughout July
WHAT: Frustrated teen wants answers, does silly things for it; July catch-all, you know the drill!
WARNINGS: None for now!

[ My plotting post for bingo help is over here! ]

i. At least they're not grayberries

[ On the university school grounds of Apprassage, Ritsu mans a respectably built stand of questionable legality. He's fairly certain he can get away with it even with age alone, his professor guardian may have lost his memories of Retrospec, but was supportive in Ritsu's inexplicable one-day business venture. ]

Blueberry juice.
Freshly squeezed.
We have ice.

[ Now that sure is a passionate sales voice, yessir. Also before anyone asks, it's a Royal We. ]

ii. The hero nobody deserves

[ Some kid in a mask stands... uhh. Not that tall. Not that proudly. Maintaining a cross-armed pose lacking in passion. But the summer wind blows, and his cape dramatically flutters. He really hated he got a task like this in summer. He'd hate it all other seasons too but now the weather would be against him as well. Should've checked the forecast, should've picked another day. Wished he had money for sunglasses instead of goggles.

... Should concede and open up that umbrella, now before he gets sunburn. And maybe the shade would make him slightly harder to recognize. Ah, who was he kidding. He looks like some lost kid who wanted to celebrate Halloween a full couple months early. ]

Hey, you.

[ There's a point now, sorry if you were trying to ignore him. ]

Tell me, what do superheroes do?

iii. Maybe impossible

"Flash mob"...

[ Echoing the text on the square as he's seated at Tribunal Terrace, there's a frown on Ritsu's face even more intense than his usual one. He goes ahead and watches a video, shaking his head in defiance after a couple seconds. He's seated outside so the lack of earphones shouldn't bother too many people, but some might've still heard a pop song or Broadway that they knew. ]

No way. Definitely no way. A musical isn't any better. I can't do this kind of thing even with a team. Did anyone else get this kind of assignment? There's no role I can fit.

[ Could always be Robert during Enchanted, does that count Ritsu? Watching on, his will seems to be wilting, and his brows remain furrowed. ]

... Is this supposed to be music?

[ Well, even if you can't help him with such a monumental task, you can still take those as fighting words. ]

Comments

[secare]

I'm not even sure if they want us to figure it out ourselves. Almost seems like they don't really care too much what we do and just enjoy poking fun at else.

( which is true. everything is so goddamn weird all the time that he kind of figures that it's some kind of large scale prank because fuck them, right? how dare they just try to live their lives like normal.

but then the new guy is doing something weird. what's he throwing paper for? )

You okay?

[esperimental]

[ POUT. ]

This isn't a hobby.

[ Also please stop reminding him how concerned people were over his lack of hobbies Shou... ]

Mostly... one way or other I'm reading. Learning new things.

[esperimental]

What you didn't hear everything before you popped up behind me...? Well, whatever. Smug bastard over here knows.

[ Ritsu doesn't trust the way he's looking up at him. He might still try something when their guard is lowered... but surely he wouldn't while this redhead was standing over him. ]

Apparently I got them in trouble with their schools when they picked on some foreign kid. This is probably normal for them. ... Truth be told. I would've thought you'd listen to authority figures if not other people smaller than you. Guess you're not all that smart.

[ Leader-san is just grinning now, apparently not wanting to accept defeat with any ounce of grace. ] You're all talk. If it weren't for your little friend you would've just ran, right?

Because I'm not an idiot to do 1 versus 4. While carrying groceries.

[ And. Well. He doesn't think they're friends?? But Ritsu does give Shou a glance. Why did this guy help him? Maybe it was just his own situation from back then but... more violent. ]

Are you genuine about leaving us alone?

[ The leader nods, face down. ... Still suspicious, Ritsu thinks. But he's going to go ahead and grab the food that had thankfully managed to stay unharmed in all the fighting. ]

[chargebomb]

Reading hero comics, or what? [ no, but he really approves of the cosplay hobby. REALLY. ]

[chargebomb]

[ shou just clicks his tongue, but reluctantly takes his foot off leader-san's shoulder. well, he can be sporting on occasion. and it's humiliating to kick a guy when he's down, as tempting as it is. ]

Little friend, huh? You want me to break your arm? [ ... is he serious. he's not actually all that bothered about his height, but maybe he's just still itching for a fight. ] I still got my growth spurt ahead of me. You'll see. [ they'll all see...

forget about the bullies, though. he glances over at ritsu. ]

You wanna just let these guys go?

[esperimental]

I... don't understand...

[ Why is Ryoji still being so nice to him? His chest feels tight, but it wasn't the resentment that he wanted to build. He'd been walling himself from emotion so that it wouldn't hurt when someone dear to him decided to leave again. Because of his lack of redeeming qualities, or worse-- his own wrongdoing. Those people in his memories, he treated them like objects. Mere stepping stones.

He couldn't trust himself with other people. Then, wouldn't continuing to be alone be the better option? Ritsu's mouth moves before he can take back a secret he'd not previously shared. ]

It's my fault I lost someone important to me. I don't... want that to happen again. If I can't even let go, then I shouldn't hold onto anyone else!

[esperimental]

Huh? Community service? In this weather? Oookay.

[ The clerk seemed a little weirded out, even more by the action they were going to embark on than their costumes but whatever! Nuts to the rules! And let's get it done as quickly as possible. ]

Two trashbags, and a box of disposable gloves. Here you go.

Thank you. [ Forking out the cash, Ritsu sighed as they were about to exit the luxurious world of air-conditioning. ]

We really should remember to thank all the people who do this for a living.

[appraiser]

[ Ryoji's the one who doesn't understand. It's hard, with as little information as Ritsu's chosen to share with him already, and being him, Ryoji's mind goes first to death when he hears the word "lost." He shies away from that immediately, because there's a very old guilt that bubbles up at the thought, that he had pushed down a long, long time ago. ]

If you can't let go, that person must be very important to you. It's not a bad thing... But I can't say more without knowing the whole story. Will you tell me?

[esperimental]

So... it's okay if I don't?

[ That was a bit more along the line he was wondering... ]

[esperimental]

... No.

History books, encyclopedias. Things that are easy to find in the library. [ MOST DEFINITELY 13 YEARS OLD. ]

[esperimental]

We've already wasted enough time on their sad existence. I'd be glad to.

[ He should probably leave them with a warning though. He looks down, groceries in his arms. A+ totally threatening. ] By the way, it kinda looked like he was just getting started. Don't try anything.

[ --If it's not about him then, okay, that's fine. He turns on his heel, hoping he gets the hint. ]

You coming?

[ The words feel a bit unnatural, coming from him. But it wouldn't be very sporting to not give proper thanks. ]

[esperimental]

Your own ideas? Or the clients'?

[esperimental]

Um, I just asked you about spiritual things, right?

[ Ritsu's not sure Yukine's gonna believe him. Maybe it doesn't matter all that much. The goal was to share with a stranger, not make new friends. ]

Somebody's trying to intrude our conversation.

[ ... AWKWARD SILENCE... ] You can't see them, can you?

[chargebomb]

Ritsu... [ puts hands on his shoulders, dead serious...... this is an emergency. ]

Do you really, honestly read that for fun. Look me straight in the eye and tell it to my face.

[esperimental]

[ Ritsu by now had realized the futility of pushing Ryoji away. It was simultaneously annoying, frustrating to realize his powerlessness, and yet a relief of being the child he hasn't allowed himself to be for the past few years. Someone was reaching out to him. He only need to accept.

He releases a heavy exhale. Accept he does. ]

... Okay...

[ Ritsu clears his throat. ] Should we... find someplace away from the sun for this? I don't want you to get sunburned.

[esperimental]

Yes, I honestly read those for fun.

[ No sense of irony in his voice here!! ]

[chargebomb]

Ritsu... [ grips shoulder grimly. ] Got it. I'll rec you some manga and comics. You're welcome.

I bet you'd like One Punch Man.

[ ... why does he think that?? ]

[esperimental]

[ ... ]

I'm not buying anything, so I'll just borrow from you.

[ Why is he being so compliant with this guy. HE DOESN'T KNOW. ]

[chargebomb]

Fine, fine! Just remember if you're going to cosplay as a hero, you need to learn who your role models are. [ and apparently that's... saitama. who knows.

anyway they seem to be getting quite far away from the commercial center or any malls and closer to... the beach?? he's great at directions, swear. ]

[esperimental]

[ He kind of doubts he's going to be repeating this unless for god knows what reason Retrospec demands him to again, but. There are things of more immediate concern.

Like how they got all the way over here. "Despite himself" might as well describe everything about Ritsu re: following Shou around, because his steps aren't stopping. ]

... Suzuki? Why are we at the beach.

[appraiser]

[ A slow smile spreads on Ryoji's face; despite their difference in ages, he feels like Ritsu will always be the more mature one of the two of them. ]

There are large shade trees at the park, and I like watching the birds. How about there?

[ There are also a lot of people around, children laughing and yelling, but it's in that noise where they won't be overheard, as opposed to trying to find somewhere quiet and private. ]

[chargebomb]

'Course I am.

Oi, you, just remember that arm-breaking offer is still open if you ever want to cash in. [ toootally generous of him. it's with a last look over his shoulder at the leader that he finally turns and puts his hands behind his head and follows ritsu, looking pensive.

it lasts for just a moment before he looks over, curious. and then actually really looks at ritsu for the first time, because in the heat of the fight he hadn't really paid too much attention to the prep-looking kid in the uniform. now that he does...

he blinks and almost freezes for a second in mid-step, recognizing him--not actually from online, but from a more primal memory that flashes through his mind in an instant. beating up those kids from earlier was barely even a warm-up. for a second he could remember punching ritsu into a wall so hard it cratered, so vivid he could have sworn it must have happened before even if he's never seen this kid in his life. ]

[chargebomb]

[ ...... good question. ] What the...

Maybe the mall moved. [ because OBVIOUSLY his directions were perfect? he actually looks kind of clueless, like... how did they get here? ] What's up with that--heeey, look, there's an ice cream truck. [ and... instantly distracted, because if they can't have AC in the mall then frozen treats are the next best thing. ]

[saburai]

[ Kaguya will pay for her half of the materials as well, ignoring the clerk's confusion. It's not worth trying to explain bingo shenanigans to people out of the loop, especially not over small talk. ]

Truly, they are the unsung heroes of our city.

[ Since she... never really thought much about how difficult a job it would be, before. ]

If nothing else, hopefully this task will make their work slightly easier for a day.

[esperimental]

[ Ritsu nods without another word or meeting his gaze, awaiting Ryoji's ready. At the least, he seems earnest to not run away from him anymore.

Where should he begin? It seemed like the branches of hypothetical conversation just kept on branching and splitting through intricate procedure: question, answer and consequence.

Honesty. Mistakes. Betrayal.

Ahh... he wants to run away again. But Ritsu steels himself. Maybe things could be different. ]