[Backdated to the 13th]

[readingreinbow]

[ Early in the evening there's a knock. ]

Kisumi-san. Are you there?

Comments

[highspeedo]

[LATER THAT NIGHT—another knock!! WHO COULD IT BE]

[readingreinbow]

[ For the sake of letting Kisumi rest, Rei is going to answer the door. ]

Who is it?

[highspeedo]

—There you are!

[readingreinbow]

Nagisa-kun...

[ Rei can't meet his eyes. ]

[highspeedo]

I looked everywhere! Here! We're going for a walk, okay?

[holds out Rei's coat, ignoring the pajamas]

[readingreinbow]

It's late... this can't wait until the morning?

[highspeedo]

[falters for a second, then shakes his head]

It's important. Please?

[readingreinbow]

Alright.

[ Putting his coat on and noticing his phone in the pocket. ]

Ah, so that's where I left it.

[highspeedo]

[sticks his hands in his pockets, rocking back on his heels]

Mm, I tried to send you a message, but...

[readingreinbow]

[ Reading it. ]

I see. I'm... not mad either.

[ Terrified, yes, but not mad. ]

[highspeedo]

Ready?

[readingreinbow]

Yes.

[ Putting his hands in his pockets and following Nagisa. He has an air of 'just getting it over with' ]

[highspeedo]

[heads away from the cabin, walking for a minute or so before he stops and turns around]

Right! I'm going to go first, and then you can tell me what you think! And if it's not the same, I promise nothing will change. You'll still be you, and we'll still be us. Okay?

[readingreinbow]

Okay.

[ For once Rei is the one not really listening. He is actually making eye contact now. ]

[highspeedo]

Up 'til now, I thought there was no way you'd be interested, so I didn't say anything, but... Mako-chan is right! That's not fair to you, especially after what you did. That was really brave!

[readingreinbow]

It wasn't 'brave'! It was stupid and impulsive. I should never have given in to my base desires like that.

[highspeedo]

[SENSING AN INCOMING ANXIOUS SPIRAL HERE, so reaches out and tugs one of Rei's hands out of his pocket to cut him off]

Rei-chan, look at me.

[readingreinbow]

We can still be friends right? As long as I promise not to do that again?

[ And there's his fears laid out before he can even meet Nagisa's eyes. ]

[highspeedo]

[leans up and kisses him on the cheek :>]

[readingreinbow]

Nagisa-kun...

[ You have his full attention now. ]

[highspeedo]

"I really, really like you!" That's what I came to say. I'm sorry I made you worry! You just surprised me, that's all. You don't have anything to apologize for.

[readingreinbow]

You like me as in... you like me more than just as a friend?

[highspeedo]

Mm-hm!

[readingreinbow]

I like you too. I really, really like you. But you're also my best friend and I don't know if I'm willing to lose that.

[highspeedo]

I thought you might say something like that.