ryuwrighthistory | Empatheias IC inbox

Why, are you nervous?

[ He gives him a teasing grin before nodding. ]

I'll stay here. Don't worry.

Y-You never know! [Better to be prepared than not! He takes a deep breath.] (All right. The moment of truth!)

[He unwraps the box without incident and shutting his eyes, quickly lifts open the box. Nothing happens, and he'll open his eyes to find...chocolates. Actual real chocolates, unless they're actually mud shaped chocolates.] . . .Huh. [They're even the kind of chocolates he likes, nothing too fancy like how the box had been wrapped up.]

. . . well, it didn't explode in your face.

[ He picks up the untied bow, setting it aside for now. It would be a good toy for Wagahai later on. ]

[He picks up one of the chocolates.] Not yet. [He squeezes the chocolate slightly. Doesn't feel like there's a bomb in disguise (thanks Jackass for making him paranoid). Carefully, he take a bite. After chewing on it, he eats the rest of the piece, a smile forming on his face.]

Mm, it really is chocolate. [And a very tasty one at that. His face suddenly brightens up as he enjoys it.]

[ Asougi gives him a small smile of contentment in turn, leaning back to watch him snack on that piece of chocolate. ]

And good chocolate at that, I take it.

Mmhmm. [He presses a hand against his cheek, savoring every bit of the chocolate.] Here, try one yourself! [Cause something this good needs to be shared.]

Alright, alright. I know you won't take no for an answer.

[ He glances down at the box, considering for a moment. Because he knows exactly which chocolate is what, having bought the box and all, Asougi quickly picks out one that he knows won't be too sweet and takes a bite. ]

— mm.

Tasty, right? [He presses a hand on his stomach. No tummy aches or feeling like he's been poisoned, so this gift really must be...he looks down at this box with a serious expression. Who sent this?]

Mm. This is actually good.

[ If only because he picked a sea salt caramel. Asougi glances over at Naruhodou, taking note of that expression of his. ]

. . . you've got quite the look on your face.

Well, yea. . .[He picks up another piece. Oh, this one tasted different, not as sweet.]

Because I don't know who the sender is to properly thank them for this.

You'll just have to figure it out then, won't you?

[ He leans over to pick up the card from the box, turning it over carefully to check the other side. ]

[He crosses his arms at that.] It could be Maya. We've known each other since she first got here afterall, but. . . [Didn't she like Phoenix? He shakes his head.] this doesn't entirely seem like her style. She'd definitely be flashier than this.

I don't know her well enough to judge that, but she does seem to be the flashier type. ... She tried to get me to buy bowties not too long ago. Most of the ones she selected were . . . patterned. [ And from his tone, it sounds like they weren't nice patterns either. ]

And you've also ruled out pranks, since this would be far too elaborate for a prank at this point.

[He looks at Asougi, surprised.] You, wearing a bowtie? [The mental image he has of this, gets him grinning a little too much.] You're already flashy enough with that fluttering thing you've worn around your neck.

[Teasing aside, he's gotta narrow down this list more. There's Weiss, Y'Shtola, Usagi, Minnie, Asahina and Alisaie. He shakes his head.] It's not Minnie-san. Aoi-san might, she likes sweets as much as I do, but she wouldn't have wrapped this up like this. Alisaie-san seems too forward to do this...so that leaves Y'shtola, Usagi and Weiss--no just Weiss and Y'shtola.

It goes without saying that I ruled those out very quickly, Naruhodou. [ Though he can't . . . really argue with the whole sentiment about the "fluttering thing." ]

Hmm . . . [ He considers that, nodding slowly. ] Your logic is sound there, it seems. Are those your only two suspects, then?

Well, I don't know any other women besides the ones I've named, unless. . .[He stares down at the chocolate.]

It's from someone I don't know at all, but they know me. Ah, what if they've been stalking me this whole time and I never noticed!? [That's creepy!]

I would have noticed someone stalking you by now. No one has been.

[ He huffs at that. A stalker, come on. ] You're just focusing on the women, then?

Well I mean, I'm a guy, so naturally a woman would send this to a guy, right?

If you want to discard other potential suspects then yes, I suppose that is a way of looking at it.

[He frowns. Why does Asougi seem so...invested in this mystery? He didn't seem entirely on board with his deduction a moment ago when he narrowed it down to two suspects. It feels like he knew something he didn't.]

Asougi. . .do you actually know who sent this?

Don't make an accusation that you can't back up with evidence, Naruhodou.

[ Get used to hearing this, friend. He shrugs his shoulders. ] I'm here to point out the things that you may be missing.

Is that really all it is? [If he wants evidence, he'll give it to him.]

You were very adamant about this not being a prank, at the very moment I even considered it. You've been leading me on to believe this gift is legitimate, and narrowing my search as if you're trying to point me in a certain direction.

That's an interesting theory, Naruhodou. But it's all conjecture at this point. [ He smirks, tilting his head back. ] I'd argue that I don't want to see my closest friend dismissing something like this as a mere prank because he has such a low opinion of himself.

W-Well, I suppose... [He deflates a little at that. He has a point, he would be the more optimistic one between the two of them. He shakes his head.] (All right, let's start over from the beginning then. These chocolates, whoever sent these knew exactly what I'd like. So rather than focus on all the women I know, I should focus on who would actually know what I like.)

[That pretty much narrows down the list significantly. Sure he liked any kind of sweets, but this was clearly handled with more care and thought, so definitely no one random or mere acqaintances. It comes right down to either Maya and. . .Asougi.] . . . [He slowly gives his friend a sidelong glance.]

[ He chuckles again, giving him a pat on the shoulder as he moves to stand. ]

Well. That's all I can think of to add to that, anyway.

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