[02 | Video]

[tranquilrhythm]

[Ducks, the image before you is a severely flustered Kanade. What in the world could have happened?]

I... what did I just read... I- she- um.

[She shakes her head hard and focuses on her camera.]

S-so, um... apparently there's a large following for the Precure on the internet. And there are a lot of artists that make fanart and write doujinshi... and... um... [Her eyes are going blank... wait, no, she's back, shaking her head again with a groan.] Mmn...! Why does everyone seem to think Hibiki and I look good as a couple!? She's so insensitive and loud and can't think things through and...!

[She's quiet for a long moment, before she sighs.] I can't even think about her without my head going all fuzzy and getting weird ideas. I don't even want to know what else is posted... I found one link, and that led to another, and... I think I wasted a couple of hours with this stuff.

I don't even... I hadn't even thought of her like that before. Not until I saw all this. [Kanade slumps against the wall behind her, face red.] What do I do...?

Comments

[bag_has_snapped]

No, it never is... [Tsubomi can't help but chuckle.]

...it sounds like those stories made you think the same way, huh?

[tranquilrhythm]

A little. I've been out of sorts all day because of that. It's one thing to know the relationship between Hibiki and I, as it is right now. It's another thing entirely to see what could be a progression of that relationship in a different direction...

[bag_has_snapped]

[Tsubomi's blushing a little, thinking a bit more about... other things. Other people.]

I'd say... take it one day at a time. Don't think that, just because some sort of comic is telling you that's how it should be, that's how you should go. If you do... y-y'know... I'd say... go for it.

[tranquilrhythm]

[Well... trust your sempai, right? Especially one that looks like she's had experience with this train of thought.]

I think that's the best way. I'll try to get myself sorted out... and whatever feels right, that's what I'll go with. I guess you've had to do this before already, huh?

[Ironically, her existing male crush is the furthest thing from her mind just now.]

[bag_has_snapped]

[Her blushing kicked up a notch.]

Y-Yeah... m-my friend Itsuki...

[tranquilrhythm]

Itsuki? Isn't that the blonde on the community from your world? [The pieces are starting to fall together.]

...I think I see where you're coming from.

[bag_has_snapped]

Y-Yeah... you see... when I first saw her, I thought she was a guy and, well... I thought she was handsome. When I found out she was a girl, I... worked myself sick because of it, but every time I was with her, I... felt odd...

...m-maybe I still kinda do like her...

[tranquilrhythm]

I think a lot of people made that mistake... I'm pretty sure Hibiki did, at least. And she does have the whole handsome thing going...

It sounds like you're pretty attached to her, though. Honestly, I think it'd be better to just follow your heart and deal with the consequences.

[bag_has_snapped]

...I guess you're right. But... I don't know. Maybe she doesn't feel the same! I mean, she has the rest of the school acting the same way about her! I'd just be another person like that!

[tranquilrhythm]

But... she knows you, and you know her. Right? Even if your whole school feels that way, they don't really know her. They just see the persona she puts up for them. That's not really the same. You're not liking her because of that. You're liking her because you've seen how she is deeper down, and you're attracted to that, too.

Am I on the right track?

[bag_has_snapped]

...yes.

[Now Tsubomi's being bashful, shuffling her feet as she does.]

[tranquilrhythm]

Then there's no problem, right? Nobody can fault you for going after someone you like, even if the circumstances are unusual. At least, that's what I think...