(testing male pronouns)

Valentines day was usually a day Kono dreaded, it wasn't that he hated the attention, or the sweets, but the worst part was trying to politely tell everyone who confessed to him that she simply wasn't looking for a relationship right now, wanted to focus on studies, didn't have time for a girlfriend, or the very blunt, 'sorry, i just don't feel the same way.' He never considered putting together some kind of gift for someone else, sure, maybe at his old school in her days as the Red Mermaid, but not since he'd become a tried and true teenager. 

He turned over the metallic blue present box in his hands. All that was in it was a giant Hershey's kiss, but he'd had a friend wrap it extra perfectly for his (as his wrapping skill is null) He waited in a grey hoodie and skinny jeans, converse sneakers scuffing the grass beneath the cherry trees blooming all around. It was really beautiful up here, and a quick text to Cei has him hoping she'd come see it with him.

Man, the concerts, swim practice, the arcade, she was just so amazing, and as much as he'd confessed his crush, he was starting to feel like he was really serious. Before, it was like some childlike admiration, maybe the way a dog loves other dogs, but now it was turning into something else. Konosuke sort of knew what to do, if teen romance novels and tv shows were any kind of reference. Be yourself, say it clearly, be nice, and of course be respectful if you get turned down. Kono didn't want to take no for an answer and his stomach tightened a bit  at the idea of upsetting Arceia by trying to take things to the next level. He could only be content with the one sided crush for so long. he had to make it clear that he wanted it to be more and see what she thought. He could live with a maybe, but a 'no?' He tried not to imagine it, it made him nervous, and he wasn't used to nervous.

Shoka of course being the doting senpai to the redhead had her advice, but it just wasn't Kono's style. Look her in the eye, take her by force, convince her to say the yes she's actually hiding from you for her own pride. Nah, even if Kono could somehow tell she meant to say yes under some kind of turn down, he couldn't force anything out of her, even if it was just making her tell the truth before she was ready.

His palms were starting to sweat so he shoved the box into the front pocket of his hoodie and decided to do some martial arts moves, some basic kicks and punches to distract himself. The pleasant burn of his muscles felt good and certainly got his mind off the topic of what he'd do when she showed up. The thing was, four punches and a high kick later and she was witnessing his anti-nervous fighting routine and he stopped for only half a second to look stunned only to suavely hide it with a smirk in greeting.

((Mobile so no layout.))

Of course such a thing was unheard of for her. The only texts she got were from family members and failed contest entries. Today was Valentines Day - a day to confess one's feelings and be with their lover. It was even remotely hard to put two and two together for her. Kono had been very clear with his feelings in the past, but she had played them off like some kind of joke at first and then later on she had dismissed the idea of a girl's romance entirely because she couldn't see herself in one. She knew he wanted her. She knew he would say it today in some kind of anime cliche way. She knew she had to be direct with him.

Still...

She had never been confessed to before. She wondered what it felt like. All that embarrassment and awkwardness, she couldn't help but find it somehow charming. She only hoped she could still give her proper answer when the moment arrived. As if to bolster her own confidence, she made herself presentable. She had thrown on a nice looking tank with a white blouse over it, her normal pleated skirt and thigh highs, and a belt which had two large disc shaped items on it on either side, which one could identify as the sides of headphones. A personal invention of hers at that. Bluetooth headphones that clipped to the belt and didn't have a handbags, but rather folded over and around the ear for optimal soundproofing. Her design, and a little outside ingenuity.

She had finally arrived on the scene, realizing she may have overdone it after seeing him, and she couldn't help but feel a little awkward right off the bat. Of course she wouldn't just not show up. That's horrid, and she would have to see him again literally tomorrow at practice. This was an unavoidable situation that she couldn't keep masking and running from. It would be confronted today.

"H-hey there... "

"Hey how's it going?" He asked, trying to sound a lot more cool and confident than he felt, "Got this for ya," he said producing the small metallic blue box. No user putting it off, she knew why he was here, "So I was thinking," he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, the other in his hoodie pocket, "I think you're really amazing, and I was hoping you thought I was cool too, or at least not a total loser. I know we've gone out in the past, but I was wondering if you'd go out-out with me, like date me, as in be my girlfriend maybe?"

He could already tell something was off, what was it Shoka said? Was there really a way to tell if someone meant yes when they said no? "Uh, wait, before you say anything, I wanna show you something and If you hate it, we can pretend today never happened okay? It'll only take a second."

Kono wasn't a quitter, but he didn't mind losing to bad. This was a test and Cei set the bar to either pass or fail, this was something that could legitimately be judged besides his character. "Close your eyes while I get it ready okay? No peeking."

Looking at her face with her eyes closed was magical, like an angel, then her flirtatious DJ persona flashed through his mind, even better, she was just so fantastic. He leaned in close enough she could smell his old spice cologne and he hesitated, was this okay? Both hands balled into tight fists in his hoodie pocket he almost chickened out, then he pushed forward. Hands to himself he kissed her gently, softly pressing his lips to hers, noting their texture. As much as he was overcome with an intese feeling of joy from this, he was nervous too and pulled back.

His face was flushed, "So, ah," he took a deep breath still standing close to her, "did you hate it?"

Can you feel the music and the melody?
I can feel it moving through my whole body
Sound, it takes me higher to another place
Lose control of myself when I hear the bass
So let the bass kick
When I'm listening on my headphones all alone
I'm taken to another world
Makes me feel like I can fly
Like I cannot ever die
Music is my only drug

A R C E I A
╜───────╓

She knew this was coming, and she couldn't say she was surprised by the awkwardness they were both giving off. She was a little surprised by a gift however, and made a slow approach to receive it. She dared not open it, although she felt this was a little rude, she just wasn't comprehending the situation enough to open it yet. She was red before he even said it, just thinking about it. Was this how these things normally went? Was there some deeper significance to them? Or was all of this just two inexperienced idiots with no idea what they were doing? She didn't really have time to ponder, as a request was made of her after. Close her eyes? She did so, admittedly quite hesitantly.

chu

It was brief, sweet, and horrifying. There was a mixture of dread and joy in her at that moment, but more powerful than both of those was the feeling that she had forgotten her own answer. She knew somewhere deep down that it had to be said but after he went through all this trouble, all this stress, was it really okay? Could she even say no anymore? And in truth, was it even genuine or was this a passing thing? Arceia herself liked boys, she had always like boys, so her emotional roller coaster was a bit on the loop. She was rationalizing this sudden desire to say yes by saying to herself that it was the moment and not the feelings. Perhaps there was more she needed to consider...

((Below are three, yes, three options. You may choose which one you like best. I have a plan for all of them so don't be shy.))


Result 1 -
Her thoughts raced quickly to every occasion they had spent together. The winter ball, she was her persona. The pool, she was discovered to be her persona. The blood moon party, she was her persona. Their little date, she was herself, but things kept going that way. Then at the arcade another night as her persona... Yes, nearly every time Kono had shown interest, it had been in the persona, not her. She had that worry deep down, that all of this was because of the stage name and not her true self. This only seemed to confirm it in her mind - she was more set now to reject than before. Besides, she liked boys. This whole idea... It was bull!

"I..." she hesitated still, some part of her wishing she wasn't about to say this. "I'm sorry. I'm... Not interested in dating girls." her words came as sharp as her gaze. "And I don't think you're sincere. I think you like my persona, not me."

She couldn't just let this go. It was something she knew she would encounter in her idol life, so she was mentally prepared for this for a while now. She wasn't, however, prepared for it to be the one person she trusted with her secret that she still talked to. That's what hurt most of all.

Result 2 -
Somehow, she was thinking more about their time together than the overall situation. How much fun Kono had been to be around, and how much more lively her shows had been because of it. It was like the girl breathed a passion into her that she hadn't expected to ever have, even pushing herself the way she did. That being said, there was still a hurdle to cross. Something she needed to make very clear.

"Y-you know... That I'm straight right? I want kids someday. A husband." she shook her head, mostly for herself. "Then, why is it I'm finding it so hard to say one thing or the other?"

In her heart she wanted to say yes. Even if it was a fling, she wanted to feel this way about someone. But there was part of her that just couldn't, at least not in a split second decision. The kiss hadn't helped the sexually confused young lady to decide on her preferences either. She was always so sure of herself until now. What had changed?

"I... Could you give me a few days? I need to figure some things out."

Result 3 -
It was hard to tell someone who cared this much that you didn't share the feelings. Especially when you were probably lying to yourself about that. Arceia found it so hard to say no that she stood there, dumbfounded, for a minute or two in total silence. She didn't want to say no. She had a sudden urge to just say yes and taste that sweet taste again. But then came the doubts. Her own thoughts kept creeping along, and it was as if she had to battle some kind of inner demons about this.

"You stole my first kiss." she stated plainly. There was no anger in her words. More confusion than anything. And in her confusion she came to a decision - One that may not be the best, but it was the one she had made. She couldn't say she felt the same way. That would be a lie. She also couldn't say she didn't at least have a curiosity, because that would be a bigger lie. There was only one solution she could bring out - Test the waters. She didn't feel the same way, but maybe she could if she tried. It was a forced relationship, but... Maybe.

"I can't let you just walk away after that and not take responsibility." she sassed, masking her own internal confusion and a little bit of self hate. She knew she was going to be leading him on, and yet... This was all she could think to do. "You don't just kiss someone who isn't your girlfriend, dummy."
╖───────╓
K I N S L E Y

Reply to option 2

Straight? Oh. The notion of sexual orientation hadn't been considered by the single minded redhead, if you like someone, you like them right? It made him more embarrassed than anything and he stepped back a little, feeling adrenaline start to fuel his movements, even if those movements were mostly an effort to keep acting cool.

"Kids huh? I would make an okay mom I think," trying to keep his time casual, "but listen, thats later...you..." She wanted to help her with her question, even if it was rhetorical, "you see, maybe, you know, it's okay because you like me too maybe? I'm really flattered if you do, I mean, that would be the greatest thing ever. And-People adopt all the time, but it's not like we're getting married tomorrow. I haven't done this before either, and I don't know if it's wrong or weird or whatever, I just like you. Your smart and creative, talented, sexy and cute. You take all the time you need hun, I'll be here like always. See you at practice tomorrow alright? No skipping, let's not make it weird."

He smiled, blew a kiss with a wink and turned to make an exit. It wasn't that he was running, he was trying to hide the giant grin, she didn't say no. She definitely didn't say no. He'd take that, what's a few days to wait for a chance at being with someone as great as her?

Can you feel the music and the melody?
I can feel it moving through my whole body
Sound, it takes me higher to another place
Lose control of myself when I hear the bass
So let the bass kick
When I'm listening on my headphones all alone
I'm taken to another world
Makes me feel like I can fly
Like I cannot ever die
Music is my only drug

A R C E I A
╜───────╓

There was what she had not wanted to hear. Justification instead of understanding. Make a good mom, not like it was marriage, that kind of thing. While it was true, it wasn't what she wanted. She had always had this idea that her ideal husband would be someone she met later in life, not so young that she would never have any stories to tell him. She wanted a past all her own so she could be in the present with her husband and look toward the future fondly together. In that sense, she really didn't want to date very much, but she was also never opposed to it either. The chance had just never come.

"I..." she stammered. You what Arceia?

"I don't know what I want."

Understatement of the century.

"I just... Ugh, this is going to sound so dumb..." she took a deep breath. "I've always pictured myself settling down later on, and living my own life while I'm young. And later on I see myself with a full family. But, that said, I was never against dating. Nobody ever came up is all. And now that I say this stuff out loud I realize how contradictory it all is."

She had at this point started to follow after him, reaching out a hand to put on his shoulder.

"That... And I never thought about another girl that way. But along you came and here I am, questioning my sexuality." she could not raise her head at any cost. Don't let Kono see your blushing, or your extremely visible inner conflict written on your face.

"You... You inspire everyone around you just by being you. I barely know a thing about you aside from what you've told me and a few rumors that I didn't listen to. We're still new friends, and yet... I knew I felt something too. I do, and I have been fighting myself about it for a long time. I didn't want to believe that I was interested in girls. That wasn't who I thought I was." A soft giggle came to her. "But then along came you. Some kind of superhuman who just oozes life, and someone I feel safe around. Someone who I can meet step to step every day. Someone who makes me uncomfortable in the best way with just a smile. I can't even process what I'm saying right now myself so please don't get mad if I'm rambling. It's just... I do like you too. I'm just... Realizing you aren't who you always thought you were is a bit much. It's not a no. It's a plead for your patience while I figure myself out. Because in truth... I want to say yes, but I don't know if that's who I am. And if it isn't, that's not fair to either of us."

╖───────╓
K I N S L E Y

Arceia had something to say, and that had Kono listening, hanging on each word. Eventually she turned around, she didn't look hurt, instead, she had that same fire that was always burning in her eyes when she looked at her.

"I get it," she said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "I totally get it, and I'm really happy." She smiled, teeth looking a little pointy like they did during a race, people called it the shark grin. "It might be kind of lame, but I think it's awesome you like me too. But I see what you mean. C'mere,"

She opened her arms, inviting the slightly shorter girl in for a hug, "It's cool." It was a short hug, she let her go quickly. Konosuke wanted to give her reasons, spout of stats about herself like she was some kind of car to be purchased by a weary prospector, but that wouldn't be right. As much as she wanted to convince her it would be worth it, Kono didn't know herself if it really would be. Her one track mind made it clear that all she wanted was to have Cei next to her, to be able to say she was his. But right now she would have to wait, and she'd have to make sure that Cei knew that was okay. She was patient, or she could be. Sure.

"If it's not you, just say so." She wanted to put a timer on it, but she wondered if that was too much to ask, if she really was challenging the framework of what made Cei who she was, would a day, a week, a month be long enough? "just don't make me wait too long, kay?"