ryuwrighthistory | Empatheias IC inbox

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.

It was you. [He just outright says it.] You got me this gift.

That's a bold claim.

[ He's only surprised that he got to that point in such a short amount of time but in fairness, he had nudged him towards that path. His face remains neutral — at least until he smirks, gesturing with one hand. ]

Prove it.

You know exactly what I like. Sure, everyone knows I like sweets, but this-- [He presents the chocolates.] these were picked accordingly to my preference. And the way it's been wrapped up and presented. . .it would be just like you to make sure it's been done professionally, even if the gift itself isn't as fancy.

[He picks up one of the chocolates.] And then there was the chocolate you chose. I wouldn't have noticed until I had another piece and realized some weren't as sweet as the others. Maybe it was just coincidence, but looking back on it, you definitely picked up the one that wasn't as sweet, because you don't have as much of a sweet tooth as I do. And for you to be able to pick the right chocolate on the first one. . .you had to have known the contents.

Hmm. Some of that is well thought out, but it's still all conjecture, Naruhodou. All you've outright proven is that I knew the contents of that box beforehand.

[ He turns, gesturing to the box and the wrapping, and then crosses his arms. ]

There's a number of different reasons as to why I might have known the contents ahead of time, though. And right now, I don't believe you can prove any of them wrong.

Grnk! Well, t-that's- [D-Damage. He can't, Asougi's right that he can't prove when exactly he saw the contents of the chocolates. He may have just as easily told someone what he liked and how to present the gift, but that's still seems rather. . .

Just as he was unable to think of another option, there came a loud clatter from Asougi's room, Wagahai yowling in shock soon after.] Ah, what-?

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