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[imusntrunaway]

The person you are trying to call is not available. Please leave a message after the beep.

[Beeeeeeeeeeeep.]

Comments

[substitutable]

... [A moment as he swallows the ice cream.]

Because we thought we could. That's all.

[imusntrunaway]

... you and your friends are brave, then.

[substitutable]

Brave? You're kidding. More like stupid.

[imusntrunaway]

[Mumbled with his gaze averted and shoulders hunched:] I didn't say it wasn't stupid.

[substitutable]

Were you about to say it, then? I give you ice cream and this is what I get...

[imusntrunaway]

... sorry. I wasn't trying to be rude.

[substitutable]

You know... isn't this the part where you remind me that I barged in on you at midnight instead of apologize?

[imusntrunaway]

I already reminded you. I'm not sure you'd listen if I reminded you again.

[substitutable]

[He looks... almost amused.]

Sorry. I listen to music all the time so my ears are pretty shot. [bullshit]

[imusntrunaway]

[You're getting the flattest look Shintaro as he puts down his spoon.]

Why did you go through the trouble of visiting anyway? Is... [Hesitance, because this involves asking a somewhat personal question.]... everything all right at your apartment?

[substitutable]

Because I wanted to. The apartment's fine. Nagisa-san's doing his own thing as usual and my sister's asleep for once. When I texted you, you were awake, so I came here.

[imusntrunaway]

We don't even know each other that well...

[It's mumbled again.]

[substitutable]

I don't dislike you, though.

[imusntrunaway]

... you don't have a reason to at this point. We're acquaintances.

[substitutable]

[Well, Shinji is right. But Shintaro just shrugs.]

I came here because I wanted to.

[imusntrunaway]

[A pause.]

You should call me first, next time. So I can be prepared when you want to come over.

[substitutable]

...

I texted you, first, before I came up here.

[imusntrunaway]

That wasn't a good warning at all.

[substitutable]

Setting appointments is kind of... weird, though.

[imusntrunaway]

It's polite.

[substitutable]

[Shinji doesn't get a response for a few seconds.]

Sorry. I'll tell you before midnight next time.

[imusntrunaway]

... a few minutes before midnight won't count.

[substitutable]

[Shintaro glances at him, and then he watches him. He's not saying anything.

The kid looks annoyed, and a part of Shintaro feels bad about that. A part of him is confused. Usually he would be on the other side of this interaction, being irritated at Ene or Kano or whatnot for bothering him when he was trying to do something else.

He wonders what got into him, and the discomfort strikes immediately.]

... Sorry.

[imusntrunaway]

[Shinji can feel Shintaro watching. He averts his eyes, purposefully fixing them on something that isn't Shintaro, though he glances to see the expression on his face.

Did he say something strange? Maybe he was being too cold to someone who wanted to visit him. But dropping by in the middle of the night... as someone he didn't know too well... when was the last time he let someone intrude in his life like that?]

... you don't have to apologize so much about it. I'm not mad.

[substitutable]

If you say so.

[He doesn't laugh, but he makes a slightly nervous, slightly amused sound as he leans forward against the counter.]

Aah, but it's probably the first time I really talked to anyone this late at night, too.