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[For almost half a year since the Yellow Scarves incident life had been relatively peaceful. School was the same and her friends were the same but now that May was approaching Anri noticed something off about Kida. It wasn't something she could entirely put her finger on; it was just a feeling. He was restless, and irritable though not in a way anyone else would notice. But Anri did, because she watched quietly, all the faces he made when he thought no one was looking, when he was watching Mikado.]

[For a while she thought maybe it was the weather, or something that would pass, but the closer May got the more agitated Kida seemed. She wasn't imagining it. She had her children watch him too, and they reported that his movements were strange and hard to track sometimes. So after school one day, while Mikado was fulfilling one of their class rep duties, she bowed out and found Kida and called out to him. Fidgeting and looking down for a moment, before lifting her head with determination, she spoke in a voice both soft and set in purpose. It might have looked like the beginning of a confession.]

Kida-kun... Can we talk somewhere?

["Can we talk" could be the beginning of a really great conversation or a really bad one. With Anri, the chances of an extreme are, of course tripled -- she's one of the important ones. Someone he knows very well, but more importantly, someone who also knows him well. Despite how much he's changed over all the repetition, he's still essentially the same person, and he still puts on the same face, and Anri is, every time, someone with surprisingly good intuition.

Still, he's not going to let her see that he's worried. It doesn't matter what she sees or senses. He's become a better liar over time, and a timeline in which he cracks now probably isn't one in which he'll win. So he just smiles bright and cheery at her, pushing away from the wall where he was waiting for them and waving.]

A serious talk with Anri-chan, huh? Could it be it's finally time for the blossom of my youthful heart to bloom?

[His words were the same kind of teasing as ever. And she felt conflicted for a moment... Maybe she was wrong or it just wasn't her business but he was her friend, and they had all talked about much more personal things. If there was something he needed help with, she wanted to be able to help him. With that in mind she glanced at him with a somewhat complicated expression.]

Um... I told Ryuugamine-kun I was going home early. So... Can we go someplace quiet?

Whatever puts your fluttering heart at ease!

[He drapes an arm over her shoulder when he gets close. One thing he's learned with time is that there's no point in holding back with people he cares about. There aren't many of them, and they're fleeting, and in the end he can't guarantee he'll be able to save them even when he wins, so he tries to get in all the affection he wants where he can.]

[She's used to this, even if she still doesn't know how to react to closeness, it's something she has come to accept as part of "Kida Masaomi" and so she walks along with him this way.]

[In the end places to talk easily aren't that common, so she settles on a karaoke place. Once their drinks arrive no one will bother them until the time is up, and so she sits clutching a cold soda and staring pensively at the ice while the karaoke machine screen plays something silent and random waiting for a music selection that won't come. They're here to talk not sing, and she decides she should probably just ask.]

Lately... Has something been wrong? I don't think Ryuugamine-kun has noticed but to me it seems like Kida-kun has been struggling with something. If that's the case, even if I am intruding, I want to help.

[She pauses, after saying so may words, and ducks her head.]

Haah...

[Ah, so it is like that. Of course, it's to be expected that he can't keep a perfect face up all the time. He's still himself, after all. But telling the truth isn't an option, so he doesn't let the conflict show.]

Don't worry so much, Anri-chan. Any problems I've got are just the problems of a boy surrounded in too many eligible young ladies. And I guess history class is a pain too, but I can't let that get me down too much, right?

[She doesn't know why he'd lie. What could he be hiding that's worse than everything they've revealed about themselves to each other? It hurts a little consider he might not trust her, but even if she still feels it's not entirely her place to interfere in the lives of others, the fact is that Kida and Mikado interfered in her life first. They're the reason she's changed and the reason she now can say she has something she wants to protect. The anxiety in her heart deepens, and she can hear Saika's voice whispering love for the human in front of her, even while she ponders how to respond.]

[Finally she looks up to meet his eyes, determined and frank.]

Please... Don't lie to me, Kida-kun. Even if it's something I can't solve, Ryuugamine-kun taught me that discussing a worry can be a relief too.

[It's that kind of direct stare that he can't take, in a moment like this. Even after a hundred years, he's not strong enough to look her in the eye and say he isn't lying.

But that's not the only way to fake it. He can look down, and look troubled. He can even let his hands curl into fists as tightly as they want to against his knees. He just has to... make it about something else.]

...Sorry. Things are just a little weird at home right now.

[She doesn't react because she's not good at reacting, but maybe the worry and anxiety reflect on her face more when he does that, he own fingers tightening around the glass in her lap. It doesn't entirely make sense, not with his strange movements, but she doesn't want to doubt him either. And something like this isn't unbelievable.]

What's wrong?

Eh, y'know...

[It's not too hard to make something up. Combine his real home life with something out of the movies, and it comes out almost as smoothly as if he isn't full of shit.]

My parents are just really busy right now, so there's a lot going on. Not to do with me, but, since they're kind of going in different directions, they can't get along half the time. Last time there were a lot of changes, we picked up and moved.

[The anxiety spikes, just like he wants it, she's focused on this piece of information worriedly.]

You might leave?

Maybe... If they decide to go overseas, I'm not sure they could afford to keep an apartment here. I'd be going it alone if I stayed, then.

[He feels bad for worrying her, he really does. He doesn't like this kind of lie, but it's so much better than telling the truth.]

[She hesitates, because it's not appropriate, to offer what she's going to. But not because she's worried about Kida taking advantage of her or doing something; that's not a concern. She's more worried about how Mikado might see the offer, but she thinks if they both explain to Mikado he might offer the same thing, so she's not too anxious.]

[So she looks at Kida with conviction;]

You can stay at my place.

[He's kind of surprised she's that bold about it. Enough so that he looks genuinely stunned!

But of course, he lifts his hands to wave it off -- and his embarrassment is pretty real, too.]

Aah, c'mon! You can't do that. A guy like me would just die, living with someone as sexy as you!

I'd stay with Harima-san.

[She explains her plan calmly, not flustered. After all, even if she wouldn't worry about Kida doing anything, that doesn't mean she's prepared to live with him. Though living with Harima would mean owing her friend a lot, she's okay with that debt, if it means Kida doesn't have to leave.]

I think Ryuugamine-kun would also offer to let you stay with him. So, if it's leaving, you shouldn't have to worry.

I'm not going to put you out of your place...

[It slips out without a joke attached, but he figures that's alright. They're talking about serious stuff, even if it is all lies.]

But thanks. I'm glad to know you're thinking about me. And watching my face when I'm not looking, huh?

Then... We'll find some other way. I don't want you to be worried.

[She ducks her head and then lifts it again, meeting his eyes because it's more direct, more comfortable to look at him.]

It's because... You look anxious.

[Eye contact is not something he's good at. He can't hold it, especially when he knows he's full of shit.]

Aah... Well, I'm sorry in advance. It'll probably stay that way, since my family's still going to be crazy for awhile.

Please don't apologize--

[She pauses and then firms her shoulders.]

Um, or, I think Ryuugamine-kun would say, if you want to apologize than you should let your friends help you? [She looks a little flustered saying it.]

You're helping!

[He waves her off, or does his best to, leaning back in his seat to make his posture more casual.]

I promise. Seeing you guys every day is my number one source of happiness! ...For real.

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Track Two: The Girl in the Frame

Re: Track Two: The Girl in the Frame

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