Killing Time [Naito]

     Even though Destiny had seen the mall directory hundreds of thousands of times over the few years she’d lived in Shibakuzoi and practically memorized it, she still found herself standing in front of the map, intently studying the curves and pathways. Laying a finger on her mouth, her eyes scanned the list of stores. After about a minute she stepped away, turning and walking aimlessly past the various shops and boutiques that lined either side of the mall walkways. A small sigh left her lips as she passed the same staircase for the sixth time that day. // We’ve got to stop meeting like this. // The thought twisted her mouth into a wry grin. It was better to laugh at herself now rather than whine, in her opinion.

     The day had been almost painfully perfect. She had finished her homework—what little there was—in just over an hour. During her shift at the restaurant, there had been just enough customers to make a smile light up her father’s face, but few enough to make the time relatively stress free. Heavens, even her sister, Kari, had miraculously showed up on time for work. With all of this good fortune, Destiny supposed she should be in high spirits. In a sense, she was; her shoulders seemed lighter, what with the burden of responsibility removed for the time being. Still, with no responsibility, it felt like she had no clear purpose. So she’d taken to wandering around the mall, looking for something to occupy her time.

     The blonde’s cheek twitched as a wince flashed across her face. High heels may be pretty, but they hurt after hours of standing in them. With that thought in mind she changed her course immediately, knowing that there was a large fountain nearby ringed with a large ledge; it was the perfect spot to rest and come up with a way to kill time. The spot in question was practically deserted by the time she got there and sank gratefully onto the polished marble. A minute or two passed of her merely sitting there, observing the people who passed by. But when she began to see to same people over and over again, her interest waned and her gaze traveled to the shallow pool of water behind her.

     The fountain was actually interesting to watch. The lights inside the mall created odd, almost abstract patterns on its surface, and the ripple effect from the bubbling spray of water distorted the images even more. If she stared long enough, the light would reflect off of the few coins scattered at the bottom, glinting almost hypnotically.

     On a whim, Destiny reached into her purse, pulling out a coin. Closing her eyes for a moment, the girl clutched the coin in her hand. She hadn’t made a wish on a fountain in some time, and she almost felt a little silly doing so. Still, she had been searching for something to fill in her unoccupied hours. It wasn’t as if she had a better idea of where to start, anyways. So she made her wish, kissed the coin for luck, and flicked it into the water. The object barely made a sound as it plopped in, quickly sinking out of sight. A small, nostalgic smile played at the corners of her mouth. Perhaps she was being a bit childish, but something about that had been oddly fun.  And who knows? Perhaps Karma or luck or something similar would decide to play nice today and grant the girl her request. Well, she could always hope, at least.

"Hmm? Destiny?" A familiar voice would reach out to the young woman's ears who was ever so familiar. She was certainly Destiny, he could never forget that figure and hair. Though that made him sound like a pervert, he had no choice but to look at her body to tell who she was since he couldn't see her face or hear her voice. What he could tell however, was that she was making a wish in the well. That was such a childish thing to do, but it did make him want to 'snrk' slightly. It reminded him of his younger sibling. Walking up beside her, he would look in the fountain, and then look back up to meet eyes with his previous lab partner. "I'm not surprised you're the type to believe in a wishing fountain. That's quite adorable." For once the Tsurinai was not wearing his school uniform or anything such. However his attire was still refined, as he wore black trousers with a grey collared shirt. Everything else was about the same, from the sullen gaze to the silver locks draped over his face. However, there was something quite different this time. There seemed to be a spark in his silver hues, and a slight smirk on his face as if he were satisfied about something. Perhaps he was happy to see her? Maybe it was something else? Whatever the case, he placed his left hand on his side while letting the other hang freely. "I wasn't expecting to see you here, Destiny. Though, I hardly come to this mall either. It's just a cesspool of advertisements and merchandising that capitalists love so dear." He spoke with his usual condescending tone about the place, yet his eyes wandered abit as he spoke. If he didn't agree with such a place, then why was he there in the first place?

Lifting his free hand up to his mouth in a balled fist, he'd clear his throat and close his eyes. "Though even I am not immune to everything they pitch. I've actually here to buy a book." Though he was trying to keep his calm and stoic composure, it was obvious this book had him rather excited. Or was it anxious? Well same thing. The book was rather rare and this would most likely be one of the only chances he had of obtaining it without needing to order it online. So braving the busy transit, he came to Shibakuzoi with a goal in mind. This was just like another Shadow Operation. Nothing different at all! There was something on the line and he wanted it! Though, he'd shake the thoughts and look back towards his lab partner with an indifferent expression. "So what brings you here, Destiny?" Naito looked the young woman in the eyes again. That strange hue was almost like looking into the sky on one of these spring mornings.

     Turning her head at the sound of her name, the blonde blinked at the boy walking up to her. A smile lit up her face a moment later. Yes, the spirits or fairies or whatever listening to her earlier were definitely in a good mood today; otherwise, what were the chances of her meeting a familiar face this far away from the Academy? She found it hard not to laugh at the uncanniness of it all. “Ah, hello.”

     She wasn’t quite sure how to take his comment. On one hand, he said he wasn’t surprised by her actions. Did that mean he thought she was ditzy? Or perhaps just simply childish? Either one wasn’t an adjective she would like to have associated with herself. But…he said it was adorable. That was a compliment, right? It was hard to tell with this boy, since he was obviously oblivious to the way his words could be misinterpreted. It didn’t exactly help that expression was rather blank most of the time, either. Apparently the optimist in her won out, however, as she turned away to take a deep breath and will away the embarrassed blush gathering in her cheeks.

     “Oh? It must be important to have come here for it.” Her gaze finally fell on his face again, a soft smile accompanying it. Shibakuzoi was definitely the wrong place to have come if you didn’t appreciate capitalism, after all. Not that Destiny liked it herself, mind you; she just didn’t see a point in raging against a system that most people seemed content with. Shrugging her shoulders lightly at the question, she replied with a simple, “Ah, I had work earlier.”

     She stood after a moment, brushing off her skirt. “Seeing as you don’t come here often, I suppose you don’t know where the book store is?” Her head tilted, sending her long hair shifting over one shoulder. “Of course, I can show you where it is, if you'd like.” Should he accept her offer, she’d smile and nod before she began walking to that oh so familiar staircase, her heels clicking lightly. “It’s this way. Oh, and watch your step. These stairs love to trip people.”

Work earlier? The Tsurinai was rather curious about where she worked, but his priority was the book and nothing else. He silver hues watched her brush off her skirt when she continued on and offered to show him where the bookstore was. Naito allowed a sly smile to come across his face, as he crossed his arms over his chest. "You've grown interested in showing me around, haven't you? I suppose I could use your help; or perhaps your company until the book is open for purchase." Following behind her, the Tsurinai would head for the staircase. When she told him to watch his step, he gave a slight 'Hmph..' He opened his pale lips to finally speak. "Destiny, I'm not so foolish to where I'd fall so ea-" Just then his foot clipped one of the steps, causing him to fall forward into the young woman's back, making him wrap his arms around her to keep his balance. Regaining his footing, he'd take a breath of fresh air before noticing just how close he was to Destiny, and how he was currently embracing her. Needless to say his silver hues became quite round as he released her and an placed a few fingers on his chin in surprise. It didn't help that people walking down from the opposite way were murmuring something while looking at the two Kizuna Academy students with devious eyes. They were obviously talking about them.

The Tsurinai would speed up his stride to reach the top of the stairs, even passing Destiny on the way. Standing at the top with his arms crossed upon his chest, his eyes were closed and he was obviously in thought. When she made it, he'd clear his throat and begin to speak to her. "Excuse me for that, perhaps I should have listened to you. What an embarrassing turn of events.. Unbecoming of a Tsurinai." The silver haired young man would shake the thoughts as he placed a hand on his side and looked towards his companion. "So, moving forward, where do you work? I couldn't imagine working in a place like this every day, especially with how busy it always is."

     They were about halfway to the top when he stumbled. With the sudden added weight, she was nearly knocked off balance; luckily enough, she had been holding onto the railing, and was able to use it to steady herself. Her heart was thudding at the thought that, had she not taken that little precaution, she might not have been so fortunate. But what about Naito? He was the one who fell; it was entirely possible that something had been twisted or bruised. Yes, it seemed like just a simple misstep, but it was better to be safe than sorry.  Expression clouded with worry, she turned her head to look at the teen, intent on asking if he’d hurt himself. Yet she faltered for a moment as she realized that he was far closer than he should have been. It took a moment, but she managed to ignore the blush spreading across her cheeks and stutter out,  “A-Are you alright?”

     Judging by the way he scurried up the rest of the way about two seconds later, the silverette didn’t seem injured in the slightest. Still, she watched him carefully for a moment before she followed. When she finally reached Naito, he automatically launched into something that resembled an apology mixed with self-reproach. Before she could tell him it was alright or make sure that he wasn’t hurting anywhere, the teen changed the subject and asked about her job. Obviously he’d rather forget about the little incident on the stairs. So she obliged him and went with the sudden topic switch, answering his question. “Oh, I’m a waitress and hostess at a restaurant on the first floor.” She gave a light half-shrug before she continued, “Not many people come to that part of the mall, so the crowds aren’t so much of an issue there.”

     A light cough made her jump. Swiveling her head, she was met with a small family waiting on the top step, obviously waiting for her to move. Sheepishly smiling and offering a quiet apology, the blonde stepped out of the way. Once the family had gone she turned back to Naito. “I suppose we should keep moving, then. The bookstore’s not too much farther away.” With that she started walking again, this time intent on keeping the boy next to her rather than behind her.

"Waitress and Hostess, hmm?" The silver haired young man had a spark of interest in his sullen as before he closed them and nodded his head as if picturing it. "Yes, I see. So you dress in the fetishes of your customers and serve them while they enjoy your attention and company. I see, perhaps I should also visit this restaurant." Naito seemed intrigued but maybe he had the wrong idea on what sort of restaurant this truly was. Apparently he planned on going into the establishment and asking Destiny to be his personal Hostess. For what reason? That was unknown. Perhaps to taunt her or make her job abit more exciting? Lifting a finger up to his lock of silver hair draping over his face, he'd brush it aside while giving a thin smile. "I think it'd be interesting to see you in your own environment. Surely something to remember. I'm convinced, our next outing will be at your restaurant." The refined young man gave a nod: this was not up for debate. When they continued on their way to the bookstore he made sure to walk by her side so another embarrassing experience did not occur. After all, the young man still was not used to spending so much time invested with others. Though this was their second meeting, he felt as if he had known the girl for quite some time?

"I'm surprised you know your way around this place so well, Endeux. Do you happen to read alot of books aswell?" Tsurinai Naito was curious. It'd give her a reason to show him to the bookstore, as she'd probably want to buy a book herself. "Personally I am a fan of detective stories and books that have situations that could possibly happen in the future. It's quite a contradiction though, as I am more of a fan of certainties than possibility. But something about submerging yourself in a book is... relaxing." Naito took a breath as he spoke, almost as if he were thinking about it then and there. Yes, he was an avid reader, and when he had time he was usually reading. If he could say something was a hobby, it certainly was this.

     At first, Destiny had almost admired Naito’s affinity for speaking his mind. She herself had never been so confident as to do anything similar, so that trait struck a particular chord with her. At times like this, though, she could understand why people found it an aggravating characteristic. It was tempting to try and dissuade him from making a sudden appearance at her work place, but she just couldn’t think of any decent—much less plausible—excuses. Still, he had warned her that he’d show up eventually at the restaurant; at least she’d have a fighting chance of running away or hiding before he could see her. Rather considerate of him, actually. With a rather pleasant smile she told him, “Alright then.” Somehow her voice was still positive, hiding her growing anxiety.

     Oh, books. Books were a wonderful topic. No chance of embarrassing herself there, she reasoned. “Yes, actually. I do read quite a bit.” Listening intently, she perked at the mentioning of mystery novels. She couldn’t count how many of those she’d blazed through in the past few years; they tended to fill in the unoccupied hours at home and at work. “Relaxing? Hmm, I suppose so.” She tapped a finger against her lips, thinking over his choice of words. “I’ve always thought reading was more…exciting. It’s not as if we could do half of the things in books, like use magic. To be honest, it seems more like an escape of sorts, doesn’t it?” Glancing at him, she smiled lightly. “That’s merely my opinion, of course. To each his own.”

     The bookstore was in sight now. Slowing down slightly, she tilted her head in confusion at the small crowd bunched at the front. Were they all waiting for the same book that Naito wanted? It must have been popular, then. It didn’t excite her to be stuck in the middle of all of that, but she wouldn’t complain; after all, she had asked for something to do, and an opportunity came along. And what would she be doing right now otherwise? Probably sitting at the fountain still, staring at the same people, getting pins and needles in her legs from being stationary for so long. No, this was definitely the better of the two options.

     Looking at the silverette beside her, she asked, “What kind of book is it that you came here for, anyhow? Shifting her purse slightly on her shoulder, she gazed at him curiously. What was so important that he’d come all the way here to buy it?

When his companion mentioned that she did read, there seemed to be some interests she sparked in the Tsurinai. His dull silver hues seemed to widen slightly, getting rid of that sullen gaze he was usually known for. When she mentioned how books were exciting because the things that occurred within them, like magic, could not truly be done, it almost made the young man laugh beneath his breath. It was cute how innocent and oblivious she was to the supernatural world. There was a chance Destiny would have her experiences with Shadows and the strange power of Persona as long as she resided in Ueitawa. Though the Tsurinai wasn't the type to care for the well being of others, there was a side of him hoping that she did not get involved in any of it. The chance of death ratio would skyrocket if she were to begin fighting Shadows, and her well being, though he would not admit it, would be on his conscious. It wasn't as if he liked her or anything more than that, it was more so that he did not want his guide injured or incapacitated. Atleast, that's what he told himself. So brushing the thoughts aside he would place a hand on his side and look away from his companion. "I suppose it could be an escape for some people. That's an interesting way of putting it, Endeux." The refined scion was finding fascination in his self made tour guide. After all, she was quite interesting, even though she did have moments of being ditzy. But it wasn't ditzy in a bad way, more so in a way where it made him laugh for once. It was rather cute.

When they arrived within the vicinity of the bookstore, Naito had noticed the large crowd. His eyes narrowed at the large mass of people, and slowly he raised his hand and placed it over his forehead in annoyance. "...Perhaps we should walk around more and come back. Luckily the book has been reserved, even though I had to spend extra for it. Regardless of how many people are there, they won't be getting my copy." The silver haired young man nodded his head in self confidence. Turning towards Destiny as she asked her question, he'd cross his arms over his chest and tilt his head to the side. "Huh? Well it's a science fiction and mystery novel combined into one. A tale of a man going so far as to end Eternity itself to solve the mystery of his missing loved one. Though I'm not the romantic type when it comes to literature, the premise intrigued me. After all, you never know what a man is capable of until they're backed into a corner with their backs against the wall. That's when things get interesting." Naito chuckled to himself as he covered his mouth with a gloved hand. Since they would have some time to burn, he turned to look towards the far side of the mall. "This may take some hours, perhaps you'd like to come see a movie with me? I've heard they released a new Samurai movie that has pretty stunning effects and real time action. Though I'm not the type for action movies, I can appreciate anything that emphasizes on swordplay." He nodded to himself a few times before turning back towards Destiny with a thin smile. "Actually, I don't believe I've ever told you.. I'm a member of Kizuna Academy's Kendo team, though I hardly show up these days. More important things to do, such as meetings like this. Your company is much more appreciated than the imbeciles they put me with in that club." Though his words were harsh, he was praising Destiny. Apparently he had a high opinion of her, which was why he was talking to her so easily, and not as harshly as he usually did to others he did not particularly care for or like.

     “End eternity”? “Missing love”? It sounded like a cliché gone wrong, in Destiny’s opinion. Of course, her interest in the book had already taken a nosedive the second he said the words “science fiction”. It wasn’t that she hated the genre itself, exactly; more like those particular kinds of novels—and, on some occasions, movies—tended to place too many “what-ifs” in her head. And those, she knew, she had enough of already. It was better just to leave those things off of her reading list and enjoy her sanity. His reasoning behind his purchase, however, caused her to tilt her head slightly and wonder if the boy in front of her was actually a sadist. She’d never seen anyone look so…amused at the thought of a desperate man. The blonde knew Naito wasn’t exactly “normal”, but sometimes his words tended to practically whack her over the head with that fact.

     …And then, sometimes he said things that reminded her that he was still a teenage boy. Seeing a movie would definitely be a good way to kill some time. It was the type of movie he suggested, though, that she found almost stereotypical of guys. Granted, he wasn’t babbling on about the film like most boys their age tended to do, but still, the fact that he suggested an action movie of all things…it was such a guy thing. The thought almost made Destiny laugh, but she held back, knowing it would be awkward to explain to the silverette why she was so amused. Instead, she allowed herself to smile. “That sounds interesting. Yes, I’ll come with you.”

     Destiny had actually remembered that during their experiment Naito had mentioned he belonged to a club. Which club that was, however, had slipped her mind until now. The kendo club, hmm? Well, that explained his interest in swordplay, then. She was surprised, however, to learn that he’d been skipping practice. And because of other important things? Studying, work, and family seemed to be plausible reasons. But why in the world was she placed in the “more important than kendo club” group? For a second, she considered that he was just trying to flatter her. But he didn’t seem to be the type who would lie for the sake of a few brownie points. That meant that he was actually being serious. She smiled a little shyly, obviously flustered, before she managed a reply. “I have to admit, it’s nice talking to you as well.” Most people she interacted with were more…excitable? Yes, that seemed like the right word. It was actually a refreshing change to be with someone so composed.

     “I suppose we should head to the theater and see when the movie starts.” Destiny mused aloud. Luckily they were already on the right floor, so it shouldn’t take long at all to get there. Turning back towards the way they just came, she pointed as she said, “It’s probably best to go this way.” In all honesty, the theater was closer the other way. But the crowd in front of the bookstore was blocking the pathway, and she thought it would be better to take the longer, less congested route. With her luck, she thought, she’d lose Naito in that mess of humanity, or hurt someone, or do something equally stupid. No, this way was better.; that she was almost certain of.

"Interesting, hmm?" The young silver haired Tsurinai thought to himself. What could possibly be interesting about that movie to her? Was it possible she was just saying that to proceed with the conversation? Thinking about it, Destiny Endeux had hardly shown any lack of interests with the topic the Tsurinai usually brought up. She was either extremely selfless, letting just anyone walk over her with a smile to hide it, or simply easily impressionable. The pale faced young man would stare at his companion as she stared at him. It was a blank stare, displaying his ability to look completely indifferent at will. Considering she said nothing about the book he was coming for, there's a chance she didn't like it. This meant when Endeux didn't enjoy something, or particularly like it, she just went quiet and smiled. I guess that was an adequate response for when you didn't like something specific. It stopped any sort of rude response the person you didn't agree with had waiting, just for the occasion. Honestly, the Tsurinai didn't care what he said in response to others. He was aware his words could be quite scathing, but he believed it was better to speak what was on your mind instead of keeping it inside. However, he would not question Endeux's choice of keeping to herself. After his time dealing with the Shadows of others, he understood that no human was the same with how they coped with themselves. If her way of living was to keep to herself and simply smile, then so be it. That was for her to do, and for her alone. He was no counselor after all, and he'd probably never have that talent. Now with these thoughts out of the way, a thin smile would come across his usual indifferent face.

"I'm surprised you want to see such a movie with me, Endeux. I suppose if we're travel companions, we should also be doing things you enjoy aswell. Atleast that's what I believe we're supposed to be doing, correct?" He raised his hand and pinched his chin while he was deep in thought. After all, thinking back there was never any time where he was out and about with another unless it was for something HE wanted to do. Never for them. This, in itself, was a new experience. Those attendants in that room did say he would need to come to understand others to grow in strength himself. Of course he didn't particularly believe such nonsense, but it did prove to be useful during his fights within Limbo. He had no choice, right? Clearing his throat, he'd look towards Endeux with a slight smirk. "Well then, I believe we can call this our first date, Endeux. That is what they call it when a man and woman, spending time together, goes to the movies, yes? Or is that something else?" He placed a finger on his temple and tilted his head. "I'm sure you've been on plenty of dates, haven't you? I mean, I'm sure the boys of the Academy are all over you. You're attractive and don't seem to have an annoying ego to accompany the good looks. Perhaps boys aren't your preference?" Naito's last comment was more teasing than actually serious. Though how his generation was, he wouldn't be surprised to learn her sexual preference was towards other girls.

When she decided to lead the way to the movie theater, he chose to walk by her side once again. He had actually been in Shibakuzoi's Mall once before to see a movie, so he knew the way. However, he had no problem with walking with Endeux anymore. Infact, it was sort of relaxing to have someone else lead the way for once. As long as he mad it back before the store closed, he had no problem spending more time with her. Though he had to remember the book was the main objective and nothing else. After all, it would be a wasted trip if he didn't return back to the dorm with it. He had a collection to uphold, after all. Now thinking about it, he didn't know what part of Ueitawa Destiny lived in. Looking towards the girl, he'd ask straight out. "So where do you live? At the dorms aswell, or does your family actually live in Ueitawa?"

     She’d heard that phrase in so many different ways. “What do you want to do?” “You wanna do something else?” “This can’t be fun for you.” Over time, Destiny had come up with a list of responses which she’d use to get people to stop asking her the same thing. Luckily Naito had only asked once, but still, it was best to deal with it now. Tilting her head with a bright smile, she locked her fingers behind her back. “I suppose it’s good that we want to do the same thing then, isn’t it?” When he took a moment to think, the girl assumed he was intent on dropping the subject. The comeback he returned with, however, made her eyes widen with surprise and the grin falter.

      “Uhm…” Goodness, what was she supposed to say to that? He was right, in a sense; a date normally consisted of two people trying to get to know each other better. That was sort of what they were doing, wasn’t it? On the other hand, a date usually implied that there was some romantic interest, right? But he did ask her to come with him...did that mean…? No, no, that was just fantasy talking! But did that mean…? …Oh for Heaven’s sake. Destiny wasn’t even sure if she wanted to say yes or no at this point. Growing weary of the continuous, confusing loop her thoughts were making, she sighed to herself before she answered.  “I…suppose you could call it a date.” The full reality of what she admitted to hit her about ten moments later, and a blush sprang to her cheeks. Desperately needing a distraction, she reached to take hold of a long strand of hair near her face, lightly fingering the strands as she listened to the silverette’s questions.

      She laughed lightly, offering a slight shake of her head. Releasing the light hold on her hair, her hands came together and interlocked loosely, drawing her gaze.  “No, men suit me just fine. I’ve just…never caught anyone’s eye.” The blonde punctuated her brief reply with a light shrug. She’d never actually gone on a date before. Until now, she supposed. The realization made her laugh sheepishly. “Truth be told, I think this is the longest conversation I’ve had with a boy who isn’t related to my work.” Was that strange? No, there must have been lots of other girls in the same position as her. …Right?    

      They hadn’t been walking for long before the teen inquired about her home. Destiny saw no harm in telling him; after all, he’d just inadvertently revealed where he lived.  “Most of my family is here in Shibakuzoi. We’re not too far away from the mall; within walking distance, actually.” In some ways, it was a good thing; she didn’t have to deal with public transit to get to work. But the noise was unbelievable at times. When she had first moved to Ueitawa, she’d lived in Hayabusa for a time; every so often she found herself missing the quiet. Oh well. Can’t have everything. “I’m assuming you live at the dorms right now? How do you like it so far?” If she remembered correctly, he had said he was more used to the city, hadn’t he? Hayabusa was probably the farthest from being a bustling town as one could get in Ueitawa. Still, it had its good points. Maybe he'd gotten used to it by now?

Heh, she was rather interesting. Perhaps she was stronger than he had previously suspected. The fact she could smile and move on with such ease could have easily fooled him. There was a sort of respect for his female companion now, and he could genuinely say he enjoyed the time he spent with her. "Hah, I suppose it is good we want to do the same thing. I believe the saying was: "Opposites attract", yet I find myself compelled to spend more time with you. You're an interesting one, Endeux. Perhaps I was the lucky one with getting partnered with you for that lab." With that said, the usually stoic male gave a slight smirk as he brushed his draped silver hair to the side. When the conversation went on towards the "date" comment he made previously. When she agreed that this was technically a date and the redness came to her cheeks, he crossed he arms and shifted his weight to his left leg. "Your face is turning red. I see, you've grown interested in me, haven't you?" Naito said this quite proudly as he tilted his head up as if he were honored. "Allow me to reciprocate, Destiny Endeux. At first I saw you as just a tour guide, but you've caught my interest aswell. Though I cannot say we're a couple, I think we should continue our "dates" until we learn enough about each other. Then once complete, we can decide if our relationship together will go somewhere." The Tsurinai pinched his chin in thought as he said this. Was this how couples usually began? It seemed quite formal.

When she said she had never caught anyone's eye, Naito's own brow would raise in question. "Is that so? I'm surprised. Perhaps they're intimidated by you. After all, you seem quite hands on and can be assertive if you please. Maybe they are attracted by that, but too scared to make a move. If that's the case, then I suppose I hit the jackpot by going out with you, yes?" For some reason he felt like a winner, which was what all Tsurinais strive for basically. When she spoke about the duration of their conversation and how she had hardly spoken to boys this long, he closed his eyes and nodded his head. "Actually, Endeux, you could say the same for me. Most of my conversations are business related, even when it comes to females. This would be my actual first date, so I plan on enjoying it. Atleast so I can see just why so many other males of my age are so obsessed with the concept." So as they began to walk, Naito moved closer to her, taking one of her hands in his own as if they were a real couple.

As he held her hand, he looked at it with his silver eyes before looking at her. "So I wonder if this is just for others to see, or is there a special meaning behind this? Seems kind of strange." When she said her family lived by the mall, his head tilted slightly. "That must be quite a hassle with how busy Shibakuzoi usually is. I do live at the dorms yes, and it's rather okay." His silver hues shifted to look forward. "To be completely honest I hardly speak to any of the student body unless I'm forced too. You could say this is my first interaction with another student that's not business related. It's not too bad."

     …There was a word for this feeling. Embarrassment? No, that wasn’t right. Shock? No, that didn’t quite fit either. Stunned? Ah, there we go. Destiny was stunned. It had taken a moment to wrap her head around the fact that Naito was suggesting something more intimate than acquaintances, and even longer to comprehend the fact that he was considering her a viable romantic interest. He couldn’t be serious, could he? Oh dear. This wasn’t good. She couldn’t think clearly at all. Her head was too busy analyzing his words, trying to make logical sense of it all. It didn’t really help that she was also wondering if she really was interested in him. // Nonono. Stop it! // Was it sad that she had to tell herself to stop overthinking the situation? Probably. But it helped calm her down, and that was all that mattered. Finally regaining her composure, she was able to nod and agree nonchalantly. “That sounds reasonable.” He’d probably lose interest in her eventually, anyhow. It was foolish to worry about it then, right?

     “Intimidated”? She found that hard to believe. Her personality didn’t have a thing to do with it, in her opinion; boys simply didn’t approach her because there wasn’t anything remarkably unique about her. It was as simple as that. Still, hearing him say that was a little flustering. “I…suppose?” Why was he so pleased about this?

     Oh. Perhaps that was why. It made sense when she thought about it; despite Naito’s smooth words, his demeanor could easily be misconstrued as cold and standoffish. She found it a little sad, actually. He wasn’t the most tactful person, but he was nice enough. And, if you looked at it right, sometimes his cluelessness was actually kind of cute. Perhaps that thought distracted her enough to not be overly embarrassed by the gesture, as she didn’t seem fazed by it at all. “Does it? I’ve never thought of it that way. To me it was always a way to keep someone important close to you.” She smiled softly, tilting her head for a moment in a “meh” gesture. “Still, it means different things to different people. Depends on your intentions, I suppose.”

     She listened intently to his reply. Ah, she should have suspected something like that. “That’s good.” she nodded slightly at the last part of his response. It was good to hear he was at least enjoying himself in some capacity.

     Brushing past a gaggle of teenage girls, she picked up a few hushed giggles and none-too-quiet whispers. Normally Destiny would have ignored them and dismissed the sound as idle gossip. It wasn’t long before she realized, however, that the pack of teens wasn’t cooing at just anything; no, they were glancing every so often at her and Naito, nudging each other and jerking their heads in what was supposed to be a discreet manner. Turning her gaze away from the girls with a heavy blush on her cheeks, she tried to shrug off their stares. Heavens, why couldn’t they mind their own business?

With both parties in a formal agreement about the entire "date" situation, the Tsurinai gave a nod before narrowing his eyes. He seemed to always turn something into a business transaction, even when it came to personal relationships. Perhaps that was just the type of person he was. When he explained the significance of holding hands, he gave a nod before closing his eyes and soaking in the information. "I see, it does make sense. But if that was the case, why not keep the person in your embrace, so they truly are close to you? I would suspect that'd be the easier route, though I suppose maneuverability would be cut down dramatically. Interesting." The young man raised his hand, in turn her own since he was currently entwined with her own, and would look at their connection. "Well then, this means you're someone important to me then? I see.." Naito was currently lost in thought as they continued to walk with each other, hand in hand. What was on his mind was hard to tell, as he had his eyes focused forward and an indifferent expression on his face. However, this would soon change...

When his silver hues glanced towards Endeux, he saw her face turning a bright red. It remind him of an apple or cherry every time she became so flustered, and he was truly starting to believe she may have had a cold. Though that was weird, it was summer time now. Perhaps a fever? He wasn't even aware of the small group of girls that had been paying them unneeded attention. Stopping their forward advance, the Tsurinai would raise his free hand and place it against her forehead while leaning close. "Hmm, you're warm." The young man muttered to himself as he removed his hand and gently placed his forehead against her own to get a more accurate reading. Little did he know this did nothing but give the spectators more fuel to gawk and jerk their head towards. He would be standing close to Destiny for a few seconds before pulling back and tilting his head to the side. "You don't appear to be sick, so why are you getting so red in the face, Endeux?" Naito asked with a curious gaze as he looked back down towards their hands. "Hmm?" It seemed as though he was finally catching on to what could have been causing her to become so red. This holding hands had its flaws, huh? This was quite humorous. He couldn't help but give a thin smile before looking towards her with sly eyes. "Ah, Endeux. You're quite the adorable one, aren't you?" It was almost as if he were taunting her, but not in a condescending way as usual. He wasn't sure why he was surprised at this point, since she had been doing various adorable things since they had met. At first he compared her to his younger sister, but now she was breaching into a category all of her own. "Do you care what others think when they see us together?"

     Why was he stopping? Why was he stopping here of all places, where that group of girls could still see them? Couldn’t he have walked just a bit farther? She turned to face him, intent on questioning his sudden pause, but before she could open her mouth more than a fraction, his gloved hand was on her forehead. Confusion momentarily blocked out her curiosity. What was he doing? After a second, he commented on the heat lingering in her face. Was that was he was checking? Her temperature? In that case, assuring him that she was alright should get them moving again. Yet before she managed to say her piece, his face was suddenly far too close to her own, her eyes locked on his and thinking was becoming harder than it used to be.

     Oh dear. Her heart wasn’t supposed to be beating this loud, was it? She was pretty sure the answer was no. Nothing should make her pulse speed up so much that she barely heard the girls who were practically squealing not too far away. It probably wasn’t healthy that her face had gotten even warmer at this point, either. For heaven’s sake, she couldn’t even breathe properly; the moment Naito had passed the five inch mark from her face, she’d sucked in a sharp breath and refused to let it go until he moved away. // What was that? //

     Goodness, she wasn’t sure she could answer that question. Not that she didn’t have reasons for why she was so embarrassed, of course: people were staring, people were talking, and his actions were obviously being misconstrued by the people around them. But she didn’t trust her voice quite yet; she had a sneaking suspicion that if she tried to say anything, she’d either stutter or sound like a mouse that sucked in helium. Neither one was a particularly pleasing reaction, she thought, she it was best to stay quiet. Luckily, it seemed Naito had caught on just a little bit. He seemed intelligent enough; maybe he’d be able to deduce the answer based on the clues all around him.

     Well, give him points for figuring out most of it. Yes, of course she cared what other people thought. It was their actions, however, that bothered her more. Short glances she could deal with; full-blown knowing grins and open stares, however, were much more attention than she ever wanted. Focusing her gaze on the floor, her free hand trailed up to her collarbone, her fingers running over it gently in a habitually nervous gesture. “S-sort of.” Well, she did stutter, but at least her voice was at a normal range. Glancing up at Naito’s bemused expression through her bangs, she asked, “D-Doesn’t it bother you?” She suspected he’d say no. He seemed far too confident in himself to be worried over something trivial like idle gossip. No matter his answer, she’d sigh and smile slightly. “I guess it’s a silly thing to worry over. It’s not as if it really matters, does it?”