1464/An Unlucky Gift

An Unlucky Gift
Date of Scene:	27 April 2024
Location:	Dorms #1
Synopsis:	Ikuto delivers a gift to Chiyo, only to find that it's more embarrassing than he thought. Then he tries to confess to her!
Cast of Characters:	Ikuto Tsukiyomi, Chiyo Sakai

---

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto, rather nervously considering his usual demeanor, headed towards Chiyo Sakai's dorm. Well, the dorm she shared with two of her friends, according to the people he had asked. He had a gift-wrapped bundle under one arm and his cat ears and tail were out with his tail swishing about. A bundle of nerves, the cat boy was as he knocked on the door and called out, "Chiyo-chan? It's Ikuto. I uh, brought a gift!"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
There's a particular smell this side of the dorms. A sweetness to it currently as if someone inside had a surplus of baked goods or candy on hand. When the knock comes there's an immediate noise from within. Not just a voice, but the sound of something heavy thumping and thudding before footsteps start quickly toward the door.

It's flung open leaving Chiyo standing there with her hair down for once from the buns it was usually in and her attire was just a bit more relaxed than usual. Not a school uniform or work uniform or a dress. She's just in jogging pants and a shirt, what might be considered 'athleisure' wear. Good for lounging in.

"Ikuto? What?" Her gaze flits over the catboy breifly as she seems rather tense but spotting the gift she relaxes marginally with a sigh. A hand pulls away from the door to scrub over her face breifly. "Come in," she offers stepping back from the doorway. "I thought maybe... But she wouldn't have knocked," she mumbles to herself.

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
"Expecting someone else?" the catboy smiles as he walks in. "It smells nice here. Some sort of candy-scented air freshener?" Yoru is excitedly looking around, sniffing. "I smell candy! The good stuff, too!"

Ikuto nervously offers the wrapped package to Chiyo. "I ah. Wanted to apologize in a more tangible manner for...before. I heard that you like manga, so I got you this short series. It's about ninjas! I've read it before and it's really cool, and even pretty cute at some parts. I...think you might like it."

Wrapped up in paper that has a bunch of cat faces on it would be the three volumes that make up 'Ninja Boy Paradise', a story about two childhood friends who end up on opposite sides of a shadowy war between factions among ninja clans but ultimately come together first as begrudging allies, and then a -lot- more than that. Wait, was this...one of 'those' series? The catboy didn't seem to think it was particularly strange to give something like this to a girl, but some of those panels in the later volumes especially were...suspect. Those ninja boys sure liked hugging on each other and staring deeply into each others' eyes.

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
It's not just the smell of sweets: There's a table pushed toward one of the bunk bed/desk combos in the room. There's three in total. Desks beneath, bunk bed on top, and near the one furthest from the window is the table currently laden with sweets. Mochi, daifuku, sweet senbei crackers. All currently being diligently wrapped in various clear plastic baggies with twist ties so that it makes them portable and easily doled out.

Ontop of that bunk is a rather rotund white and ginger cat. His gaze sweeps over toward Ikuto and Yoru watching with bright golden eyes. Maybe it's the movement of the flying Yoru that has caught his attention.

Chiyo flashes a tired grin as she lifts a hand to rake back through her loose hair. "A couple of people fell into a portal recently and I was hoping maybe some came back already," she explains with a vague gesture toward the table of goodies. "I've been preparing in case they come back injured. If I use my powers when I cook, I can create things that help to boost healing and restore energy. ... It's not as good as Tuxedo Kamen's healing, but for the longest time it's all we really had to rely on. Plus, there's *so many* missing right now I don't want him to wear himself out trying to help them all."

It might also be that she just wanted to keep busy.

When he mentions the manga she nods a single time. "Yeah, I'm in manga club. You got me manga?" The corner of her lips actually twitch a bit with a slight smile as she reaches out to take the offered package looking it over. "That's very thoughtful of you," she begins only to tear the wrapping off and pause, staring with widening eyes in horror, at the title as she forgets to breathe and her face turns pink.

The seemingly 'normal' cat at this point speaks with a deep bass voice: "Are they upsetting you, Chiyo? I can bite them."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto nods, and watches Chiyo's expression with interest followed by confusion. "A portal, huh? A portal fell on me once. Some sort of eldritch horror Madoka-chan called a Witch was in there. Um. Chi-chan? Are you..okay?" Then the cat talks and he jumps about two feet into the air. "Your cat can talk!?"

Yoru seems much less confused, and approaches the big cat. "Hiiiii big chonker neko-san, I'm Yoru! Please don't mind Ikuto too much; he's dumb but his heart is in the right place. He actually really likes your owner! He came to apologize and confe- Oops. I shouldn't have said that...!"

Ikuto's face is turning pink now too, and he's glancing around like he wants to run away as he tries to explain. "Bhh...gah...whhhh..."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
The chonk loaf looks toward Yoru who approaches to give a small 'mm' toward in way of greeting. He does respond at least stating, "Bonito. I'm Chiyo's spirit guide."

"He's a shapeshifting spirit, and likes being a cat because people feed him more," Chiyo supplies with a vague handwave as she looks over toward the suddenly mute Yoru in confusion.

Maybe she didn't catch that last part.

Instead her attention turns back to the manga held in hand. "Ikuto-kun... Do you... *Like* manga like this? You're into it?"

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto nods, taking this in. "Your cat's...a spirit who just likes being a cat? Huh." He looks to the cat for a moment, offering a smile even as he's blushing like mad. "We have something in common then, Bonito-san. I'm a human but I want to be free like a cat."

Then he turns back to Chiyo, the blush fading slightly as he tilts his head. "Why wouldn't I like it? It's a cool story about two friends and the bond they have even through conflict. There's fighting, and intense showdowns, and even cute moments when they remember that despite everything, they're still bros, you know? It really spoke to me when I read it. Kinda reminds me of Tadase-san and myself, just with a bit more hugging. You're a ninja; is that some sort of ninja culture thing? Is it like how people would shake hands at the forearm to show they weren't hiding weapons?"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"N-ninja culture?" She's a ninja? Chiyo just looks baffled. Moreso by what else he was saying as she realizes he has *read this series* and *completely missed the point.

Bonito for his part has to slam his face down into the comforter to try and hide his laughter at the faces the pair were making. He didn't know exactly what it was, but he'd never seen Chiyo react like that before about anything.

"I-Ikuto um..." Chiyo falters, and looks over to glance back again taking another breath. The books are raised up to hold in front of her face to HIDE from him as she blurts out, "I can't tell if this is more or less embarassing then when I confessed to my first crush in front of his boyfriend!"

At least they were all still friends.

"Ikuto-kun this is a gay romance series!"

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto stares. You can practically hear a "bzzt" as something shorts out in the catboy's brain. Yoru is giggling now, rolling around in the air as Ikuto keeps staring.

"WHAT! Y-you mean the hugging, the staring...that's because they like each other? As more than friends?" He's shocked. Legitimately shocked, as he didn't consider that a possibility at all when he was reading the series himself. "So not just a bromance, but actual romance...that explains why the tone seemed a bit off to me later in the third volume..."

"Huh. How do I keep messing something up every time? All I want is to see you smile, and know that it was because of me."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai draws the manga down to peer over the edge at him with just her eyes making her expression hard to read. She's a bit pink-faced herself though at this. "... Why? To make up for prom? I'm not even thinking about that at this point. There's so much else going on."

Oddly though, this had been a distraction from THOSE worries, even if it was an unexpected one. The manga is lowerd fully to just hold onto with a wry grin.

"I have been in very weird situations before, and am still friends with those people. I know you weren't meaning to do it on purpose." Unlike his sister who DEFINITELY did that on purpose. That was different. "... Do you want some sweets? I'm sure I have plenty right now."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
The catboy shakes his head. "It's not still about prom, Chiyo-chan. It's.." He looks to Yoru. This is when he should normally speak up right? ...Right? Yoru is watching him. Just watching. Not speaking up for once. Not making fun of him, either. Instead the Chara gives him the closest approximation to a thumbs-up he can give. He has the Chara's support, but is on his own when it comes to words here.

"Things were never going to work between Yuki-chan and I because..guh." Why is this hard to say outside of his head?

"Things could never have worked, and she knew it as well because -you're- the one on my mind. You're the one I stalked like an idiot to try and protect. You're the one I let myself get kicked in the shins by your cousin for because I wished you had hit me for hurting you back then."

Ikuto laughs a bit. He realizes now that there's nothing to be afraid of here. He just needs to say what he's been meaning to say. "You're kind, strong, and you don't put up with anyone hurting those you care for. You're amazing. Chiyo, I've fallen for you."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
Chiyo Sakai sucks in a quick breath. It's held a long moment as she stares at Ikuto unmoving. Unblinking. Unsure of what to say. It was a lot to take in after all. Her face reddens just a bit which seems to finally snap her out of her trance.

She turns to walk with a few shuffling steps to place the manga down on her desk. Then just as awkwardly she moves to the only window in the room. It's opened up letting in the fresh Spring breeze and she stares out taking in a few more deep, cleansing breaths.

"I... see."

Her hands rest on the edge of the windowsill a long moment gazing out at the tree not far off. They were in the corner where it was furthest from the campus walkways so it was a very nice view.

Her mouth opens, and she starts to try to speak, before pausing and having to restart. "I hadn't realized you'd met Usagi-chan. The last time I saw you was when you admitted you were following me." Something something, ninja. Hanzo was involved she expected. That might explain his thoughts that SHE was a ninja.

Wordlessly she steps away from the window to approach Ikuto. A hand reaches for him to slide up toward his shoulder tenderly...

And grips the back of his collar firmly as she sidesteps. Her other hand grabs hold of his belt just above his tail as she physically picks him up, swings back, and chucks him out the open window with amazing accuracy.

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto blushes, but that quickly fades as he's sent flying. "Chi-cha-AAaaaaa!" Yoru's eyes widen and he flies out after the catboy. "Ikuto! Don't land on your head nya!"

Landing on all-fours after a bit longer of a fall than he's used to, Ikuto dusts himself off and looks to Yoru as the Chara catches up. "This was a terrible idea and I'm going to yell at Kiseki for this next time I see him." Yoru pats him on the shoulder as he walks away. "Maybe next time-"

Ikuto cuts him off. "Yoru, I was just thrown out a window. Even a cat knows what that means."

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
As if being yeeted out the window weren't enough, while he's recovering outside, a bag of sweets is tossed out to hit him in the head. At least it's not heavy at all. It's more of a smack than anything.

Chiyo leans out the window glowering down at him with a scowl. "You don't know anything about me, Ikuto! I haven't even known you two weeks yet and you've turned my life upside down and *I can not handle this* right now! My cousin and friends are missing!"

Another bag of sweets is thrown out before she steps away from the window muttering to herself. Chucking him out was cathartic but she wasn't going to let someone get actually HURT by such actions. Not unless she really meant it.

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
"Did she just throw candy at me?" Ikuto stops, turning to shout back up even as Chiyo turns away. "Wait, what?! You could just ask me to HELP deal with your problems instead of throwing me out the window you know! Not even Sunbreaker threw me out a window, and she's actually my enemy!"

The sight of a teenager shouting up at the third floor of the girls' dorm is surely quite an interesting one, but this catboy is past caring if he looks ridiculous. "I care about you, you...defenestrator! Even if I don't know you well at all! I can be useful!"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"AUuuugh!" Chiyo throws her head back to stare up at the ceiling in frustration. Turning back to the window she half-leans out to peer down, one hand bracing against the edge so she doesn't risk falling.

"Yeah,and how can I trust you won't change your mind the next time a girl smiles at you, huh?! I can't TRUST you I--" Her voice cracks at this point as she hits on what has her most upset right now.

The yelling stops at least, but she does still call down, "I don't know you either, Ikuto. You keep changing on me."

Ikuto Tsukiyomi has posed:
Ikuto relaxes, hearing what Chiyo is saying and nodding. He's only shouting at this point because he doesn't want Chiyo to mishear anything.

"You're right! I'm an idiot! I betrayed your trust, and I'm sorry! I'm trying to be better, I really am! I want to help you! I want to only look at you from now on! I only want you to look at me and see someone worth trusting! I know it's dumb! I know -I'm- dumb to stand out here yelling up at the window like this! But you're worth it, Chiyo! You're worth it even if I get thrown out a window every time I see you! I'll prove that I can be trusted!"

Chiyo Sakai has posed:
"WOULD YOU TWO SHUT UP!? Some of us are TRYING to study!"

This comes from somewhere around the second floor as a window opens, and then slams shut again.

e's no other response from Chiyo for now as she lingers at the window a moment, only to just... shake her head and turn away. "I have work to do."

This time it's her window that shuts.