Chapter Text
“You know, I didn't think you'd remember this” Nanako had her hands on her hips, watching as Kusakabe dragged a small, wooden boat onto the shore of a tiny lake right beside his house.
“So, I'm not gonna be peeping on you but just so you know, I'm gonna keep an eye out in case anything happens, alright?” Atsuya crossed his arms and sighed as he considered his job done. “It's easy to handle, basically just use this lever here to steer it and press this button right here to get it to move.”
Junpei and Nanako nodded, both outfitted in jackets to avoid the cold. Swimming in said lake was evidently a bad idea in such weather, cloudy skies and chilly water.
“So have fun, kiddos” Kusakabe waved, standing still until they couple entered the boat, and began to separate from the shore. After some distance was built, the man entered his own home by the back door.
The sight of the misplaced suburban home that Kusakabe resided in gradually fading into the distance was an oddly beautiful scene that Junpei couldn't shake as artistically interesting.
“It's really pretty, isn't it?” Junpei asked,
“You mean today?” Nanako affirmed, taking a look around at the foggy bogs near the lake that could just barely be seen “I see it, but I prefer days where you can see the sundown”
“I like these types of weather, it's the same vibe as rainy days but without the inconvenience” Junpei pointed out “But I see the merit”
“I just really like orange.” Nanako shrugged, pulling out her phone to snap some pictures from the environment. Perhaps she could see the same charm Junpei did after some inspections. “Honestly, I think if we make a movie that's got a lot of fog like this, we can get away with a lot”
“Not this year I don't think we will” Junpei laughed “It was a lot of work to get the first off of the ground and I think Mechamaru will kill me if I even suggest another one”
“I don't think we'd need him that much, as long as you make something smaller scale, like a thriller movie” Nanako suggested
“You really enjoyed the work, huh?”
“It grew on me” She smirked “Next time I could help you with the script, so you don't feel so bad about it”
“Only if we binge some good ones for reference” Junpei offered “Either with the guys or just the two of us”
“Not a movie geek but… I'll take up on your offer.” Nanako smiled “And depends on them to be honest”
“I don't think they'd mind but… Wouldn't be the first time we'd be left alone” Junpei scratched the back of his head, reminding himself of the time Toge and Mimiko left the two alone in the ice cream shop, or Mimiko left them alone in the sports events… Mimiko was actually rather helpful.
“Mr. Kusakabe really didn't undersell this boat, though” Nanako carefully tried to adjust herself in the small ship, his original description of it, that it barely fit two people, was correct. The couple had to have their knees beside each other in order to fit, interchanging their legs.
“To be honest I thought that's what he was doing” Junpei sighed, not quite expecting the boat to be as tiny as it was even when taking Kusakabe’s description into account. “But it's pretty nice, I mean, it's really quiet”
“I guess… I've been needing a place like this” Nanako sighed “I just said I liked the movie but, you know.”
“You need some peace and quiet,” Junpei smiled, and Nanako nodded. Despite not being an inconvenience, Junpei remained silent, as the two simply sat as the boat barely moved.
Nanako reached for his hand, grasping it on her own, but neither broke the silence. Talking to him was great, but after so much time with so many people, having to sort out filmmaking responsibilities or just a plain overcrowding of the environment Nanako was used to being barren, she needed this.
Taking a deep huff of cold, humid air, she sighed.
“I didn't thank you” Nanako broke the silence “You told me that you were thankful for my help and… Other things, but I didn't”
“I wasn't even thinking about that, to be honest” Junpei replied, he didn't expect thanks, and he didn't need it.
“Still… Thanks for being here… For listening to me. For… You know, trying to help even when you're a bit lost yourself” Nanako slid her finger atop the back of his hand “Mimiko doesn't like to talk about back then, Sensei Geto always has a sanitized answer… Because he doesn't want me to go evil or something… But you… You get it”
That certainly explained why she felt the need to discuss her insecure hatred with him of all people. Whether he was originally an emotional crutch she had, and not much other than someone who could empathize with her, Junpei didn't mind. He knew this feeling. That burning at the back of his throat like he just vomited. A spite that refused to leave, but didn't do a single thing either. The one problem it caused was itself.
Grief, anger, confusion, any number of things that she had been stuck with for years. Nobody could understand her other than Mimiko but if the girl refused to even discuss it, then how was she supposed to turn away from her spite?
“So… Thanks for listening… For being here” Nanako concluded, her tan face displaying a detectable blush.
Junpei knew this was the moment. He didn't know when the opportunity would strike, but he was well aware this was it.
“I promise I'll be here. For all that you need… Nanako.” Junpei began “Throughout all my life I… I barely even talked to girls outside the ones that decided to pick on me, and I didn't even consider finding a girl possible… I didn't even entertain the idea that I would ever meet someone like you”
Sun Dregs
From deep within the cold water, a large, red jellyfish floated up until it broke through the surface and hovered beside the small boat
Junpei reached into the shikigami’s innards, and pulled out a tiny box, entirely dry due to the shikigami.
“So… I know this might be a little early… But I don't want to delay the inevitable either. Nanako, would you be my girlfriend?” Junpei opened the box, unveiling a small, golden ring. It wasn't luxurious to any degree, evidently he bought it with his own, limited money.
Nanako was stunned, also surprised at how blunt the request was, how fast it was. Their relationship, if it could be called that, had barely begun but… Was she wrong to accept? He said it himself, why delay the inevitable.
Nanako, barely containing a smile, nodded positively.
With care for the boat to not flip over, Junpei placed the ring on her finger, and thus, the couple leaned forward, and spent their next moments carefully embracing one another.
Less than an hour was spent on the boat afterward, as the small ship simply wasn't great to spend that much time in, especially when some level of intimacy was what they needed
A little shamefully achieved on Kusakabe’s couch, with coffee mugs he made for them, Junpei and Nanako watched the news, sharing a blanket and leaning onto one another. Whether or not they were abusing the middle aged man's kindness was beyond any of their concerns.
At this moment, only each other mattered.
