pslplz | Futureverse

"Ha. You need to get on some of these sporting sims in the VR. It'll sharpen up your coordination!" Naru says with a laugh. Naru himself is more a snowboarder than a skier, but he thinks he's fairly good at both.

"My parents are threatening to cancel our trip to Singapore if I don't finish that essay for Western Civ. Can you believe that?"

Naru always finishes his essays! So what if he's up all night the day before they're due? It'll get done, and that's what's important. Besides, a spring break trip is exactly what he needs to get his mind ready for the last push.

Maybe Naru is right. Omi isn't sure if it'll actually work or not, but it's worth trying, right? Assuming he doesn't also fall out of the simulator... that would be embarrassing. But he can't be that bad, can he? It's not like he goofs the beginner slopes. Maybe he just tries to push himself too hard to keep up with everyone else, and he should stick to the intermediate courses a while longer.

"They'd cancel the whole trip for everyone over one essay? That's gotta be a bluff."

"Maybe. I mean, I can probably talk my mom down, but Dad seemed kinda adamant." He sighs wearily, as if a high schooler being denied a trip to one of the most glamorous locations in the world is the worst thing that could ever happen to a teenager. (Okay, maybe he's a little bit spoiled...but Singapore is awesome, okay? One of these days, they should all plan a trip there together, he thinks). "I'll try to finish like, half of it and see if that'll be enough."

Naru finishes his beer, and sets the cup on a hover tray nearby, which will shuttle the glass back to the bar while expertly avoiding bumping into anyone.

"What did Ken say he was doing?"

Naru just needs to move his goal posts. If he has to finish before the trip, that's his real deadline. Omi knows that Naru feeds off the last-minute pressure, and he can use that to his advantage here, too, as long as he makes his up-all-night-to-finish night the one before his parents need it instead of the one before his teacher does.

When the question of Ken's spring break destination arises, Omi shrugs nonchalantly and glances down. More than once, he's toyed with the idea of asking his parents if he can invite Ken to come skiing with them. It's a bad idea. He knows it is. But in his mind he pictures a week of playing in the snow together, then coming inside to sit by the fire with soup or hot drinks, and maybe they'd even share a blanket or cuddle. Maybe they could hide in a room and more-than-cuddle.

It's probably a good thing the room is dark. Something definitely just stirred that shouldn't have. Omi grins in embarrassment, but has had just enough alcohol to not be nervous over it.

"I dunno. I haven't asked really."

Oh, Omi. Can you make it any more obvious? It's a good thing Ken's so dense about this sort of thing, because that would just be awkward. And Omi's too hung up on his own feelings that he doesn't realize what's going on with Nagi.

It's all very messy stuff.

"Why not?"

"I don't know! I mean..." Omi stalls pathetically. The truth is, he's been afraid to ask because he doesn't want it confirmed that Ken can't go along. And what would he even say if Ken were available? 'Would love for you to come ski with me but I haven't asked my parents because I'm pretty sure it's a bad idea for Reasons'?

"I guess I should."

Naru gives a soft snort. He thinks about it for a moment and decides to just go for it:

"Are you ever gonna tell him how you feel?"

Of course Naru would know. Omi didn't even have to tell him.

"...Do you think I should?" The very idea is sort of terrifying.

Edited 2018-09-29 23:29 (UTC)

"Hm. Well, if he doesn't feel the same way, it might get awkward," Naru says bluntly.

"Er, not that I know he doesn't. He's a little...unaware generally of things like this, if you know what I mean."

Not just of his own attraction to guys (of which Naru is fairly certain), but about his feelings in the romance department at all.

Yeah, and that was the rub, wasn't it?

"I don't want to make things awkward for our group," Omi presses his forehead against the railing.

"It's dumb, right? If it were someone outside our circle, I'd totally go for it... Why is it easier with the people you aren't tight with?"

"Obviously because you don't wanna sabotage what you've already got and risk not being friends with them at all," Naru says bluntly. Hey, as a friend, it's his job to let him know what's at stake.

"At least for a little while, anyway. You want me to feel him out? See what's going on in that head of his? Maybe send some suggestions, subtly of course."

Omi's stomach twists a little at Naru's suggestion, and he grimaces. It's a kind gesture; it's just not one he can comfortably accept.

"No... Thanks, but I'm not dragging anyone into my stupid crush drama. I can talk to him myself or suck it up."

And Omi knows himself well enough to guess which of those it'd be.

And Naru knows too, which of those will likely happen. Well, it's not the worst thing ever. Eventually, Omi will find another crush and move on. Ken will just be...Ken, and maybe one day he'll slam face-first into a relationship. He has a feeling that's how things go with the guy.

"All right. Maybe you could date around instead, casual like. Find a bad boy who can get your mind off of things."

At that, Omi gives a low laugh.

"A bad boy, huh? Yeah, I should. Then my transformation into an anti-Nii-san will be complete."

There truly just wasn't a point in trying to emulate perfection, after all.

Futureverse

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