moezama | Appointment Post

[ Midday in Luceti would find Kazuma's home assaulted with a number of rapid, hard thuds on the door that sounded like someone was knocking with a club. The knocks would start, stop for a moment as if the knocker was taking a break, and then resume in full force, unrelentingly alerting the entire household as to their presence.

Do you come down and open the door, Kazuma? Or do you simply stay huddled up in your room and wait for someone else to answer it? ]

[Well someone would actually open the door, if there was anyone actually home. But it was just Kazuma, hiding, more so than usual, especially as the week went by. When he hears that booming knock at the front door, he remains sitting on his bed, staring at the back of his own door.]

...[He shouldn't answer, he shouldn't. He told Noel he wouldn't. But...Terumi. And...what if he was just being paranoid and this wasn't Terumi? A week has passed though...He stands up and grabs the second journal from his desk. He had to hide it somewhere, under the bed will have to do. He then takes his regular journal with him before heading for the front door. The knocking stops when he reaches the door. Again, he hesitates.]

Who...Who is it? [Maybe it wasn't Terumi, maybe it was just someone else deciding to stop by. Maybe...?]

[ The knocking stops at precisely the same moment footsteps are heard creaking across the floorboard. Instead of a response, or a movement or anything, there is only silence.

Should Kazuma choose to open the door, he will found a crudely written note scrawled in... some odd kind of ink, almost too messy to be legible. The paper itself is flimsy and easily crinkles under the slightest touch, bearing the words "go back to your room" as clear as day.

From the back of the building, there's the faint sound of shattering glass. ]

[Silence. Did whomever was on the other side not hear him? Did he take too long to get to the door...? He had only just placed his hand on the door handle to open the door when he heard the sound of glass shattering.]

-!? [What the-? He shuts the front door and looks around the house for a moment. Did he just...as if instinctively, Kazuma rushes to his room first. If it's him he had to be there--how did he even find out where he lived?]

[ In retrospect, busting in through the window probably wasn't his best course of action. While Ouroboros did make things infinitely easier, the truth of the matter was... well. Now there was a draft. And he was fairly certain that he'd gotten some glass in his suit, but luckily he'd avoided anything ripping.

He admired his handiwork with brow furrowed. Hrm. Not exactly the cleanest break, but there was always next time.

And now he is in Kazuma's room. The end result was the same, either way. ]

[It is such a good thing that buildings can fix themselves in Luceti.]

T-Terumi!? [A moment later, Kazuma was standing at his door, looking flabbergasted by the mess Terumi had just caused in his room. It felt rather strange to be calling out that name again. The stutter was more or less out of uncertainty. He hasn't physically seen Terumi in the clothes he was wearing now. It must be what he normally wore in his time.] What...why did you have to break the window?

[ Ah, Kazuma. There you are. He'll straighten from where he's inspecting a piece of wood, the splintered ends being carefully maneuvered around his fingers as he drops it onto the ground. Even after a week it's hard for him to really believe that Kazuma is here, but then again this entire world is full of contradictions.

The wings on his back flutter in the breeze filtering in through the window, and when he smiles it's nowhere near as sinister as it had been the first time they'd met. He looks.. nicer. ]

Think of it as a little experiment of sorts... Kazuma. [ Hands on his hips, he lets his gaze survey the green-haired replica in front of him, though his expression betrays nothing. ] You're looking rather pale there, kiddo. Eating right? Been getting enough sleep?

[...He was considering to ask him if he'd clean up after his mess, but somehow he already can guess his answer. Or perhaps he was just hesitant of asking anything from Terumi at the moment.

Terumi suddenly expressing his concerns for him certainly threw him off for a moment...it was more like the Terumi he remembered. Was this the same person he was talking to a week ago?]

I'm-[Somehow he doesn't think his standard "I'm fine" line would pass with Terumi] ...not as well I should be.

[ That's to be expected, he supposes. Not every day you find out your entire existence is a lie. ]

That so? Huh... [ There's really nothing he can do to salvage the broken window, but if what he's read there's really no need. Taking into account Kazuma's appearance, he strides toward the kid, flips his jacket open, and ... oh. Here's an egg, all peeled and ready for you, Kazuma. ]

Here. [ The look in his eyes is knowing, more smug. It's like he already knows... ] You like them, don't you?

[Kazuma backs up slightly until he sees what Terumi pulls out of his jacket. He stares. Slowly, he closes the door behind him and comes forward. Suddenly he felt a little hungry just from seeing the egg.]

I...I do. You're really giving it to me? [...Kazuma, do you even know where it's been?]

[ It's almost like he's dealing in black market eggs-changes. He knows as well as Kazuma that there is no denying the beauty of the egg, and everyone who questions otherwise need to have their brain checked. Just the look in Kazuma's eyes tells Hazama all that he needs to know. ]

Of course. I brought it for you, after all.

Ah... [He actually puts on a small smile and happily takes the egg from him. He quietly admires it for a moment, appreciating how much care Terumi had taken to deliver this in perfect shape before eating it, practically swallowing it whole. Mmm so good...a nice hard boiled egg was now in his stomach.

And with that it seems like Terumi's act of "kindness" finally eased some of the tension between them.]

That tasted wonderful...thank you.

[Okay, so... a few days have passed since encounter, and considering the amount of time that has passed? It's time. Noel's given herself the space to think and get advice from someone she knew she could trust. She's ready... at least, she thinks she is.

Ready and dressed already, she opens the journal and filters a message to the man.]

Kazuma? It's Noel. [...] Uh, you're not busy right now, are you?

[Kazuma was spending most of the week hiding in his room, only to leave when he needed to. He's had some time to cool off at least. As the week went by though, he was slowly getting more and more anxious. Terumi was suppose to see him soon. He hadn't heard from him since their first encounter and it's putting him a little on edge. Did he already figure out where he was?

He had nearly forgotten that Noel had agreed to speak with him when her voice came through the journal.]

Ah... [it takes him a moment before he responds.] Miss Noel. No, I'm not. Did...you want to meet somewhere or discuss things here?

[...]

I would feel better if we spoke in-person about this. [A pause as she thinks that over. If Kazuma was living with Miss Litchi, then...] Would you like me to come over?

[He hesitates. He's concern that Terumi could be watching from somewhere...although what does it matter? No where was really safe in Luceti.]

...Yes. You already know where I live, right...?

[She nods.] You moved in with Miss Litchi, didn't you?

That's...right. [A frown. He's never missed someone as much as Litchi right now.]

No one is home right now, so no one will interrupt us.

[She may not see it, but she hears the frown in the tone of his voice, which in turn causes her to frown. If Miss Litchi were here, she would know what to do...]

...okay. I... I'll be on my way, then.

Right. [...] Ah, you'll be fine getting here by yourself? I could...meet you somewhere halfway and escort you the rest of the way.

Huh? [DUDE, SHE WAS ABOUT TO CLOSE THE JOURNAL ON YOU.] Oh... no. I'll be fine, but thank you. I've been there enough times to know where it is.

[But of course, she'll pay extra attention to making sure she's alone.]

Oh well, that's not what I...okay.

[WELL PARDON HIM FOR NOT WANTING TERUMI TO SUDDENLY SWOOP DOWN ON HER. But he'll go ahead and close his journal now and move to the living room to wait for Noel's arrival.]

[SHUT UP, DAMMIT, SHE KNOWS. And that's why she'll be careful! After all, with what they're doing? It's best if they're not seen together anyhow.

So...

Right.

Time to go, Noel.

It'll take somewhere around 15-30 minutes, but soon enough there's a knock on the door.]

[And Kazuma will be at the door a moment later to open it for her. He was...well, looking paler than usual. Who can blame him after Terumi's arrival.]

...Afternoon. [He opens the door a little more to let her inside.]

[...]

Hello. [Right. She was sure she was prepared for this, but now that it was finally happening, she can't help but feel the slightest bit apprehensive... regardless, she's letting herself in.] I didn't make you wait too long, did I...?

Appointment Post

[Action, February 10th]

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[Private, February 9th]

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