A/N: Knew this fic would behave itself eventually. Enjoy and let me know what you think!
10.
"Hello! Nice to meet you!"
This guy could be gratingly cheerful, she thought. He just smiled like there was nothing wrong in the world and that the very sight of two young women was enough to make the clouds poof away. Maybe he was secretly a pervert?
Akari doubted that because seconds later, he stood up and bowed to them both, eyes only lingering on Nene's face for a nanosecond longer as if to memorize it, playfully pocketing his MP3 player. Akari caught a flash of its red casing before it went snug in his pocket. "How can I help you today?"
Nene couldn't help but giggle. "You can help by telling me your name."
The boy blinked. "Hasn't she told you?"
Akari flushed and scratched the back of her neck. "I have a tendency to forget it," she admitted and Nene laughed despite herself. "It's not my fault!"
"Right, right, she's probably just bad with names." The spring in his voice made her think that he didn't believe that excuse in the slightest. She pouted.
"This isn't exactly giving off the vibe of supportive friend."
The three of them shared a laugh, as the boy stood up, balancing on one foot for a second. Akari jolted, head briefly spinning at the familiar movement of shifting from one foot to the other with catlike poise. When he didn't have his goggles, she thought suddenly, without any idea what she was thinking about at all. He would do that, so he wouldn't blab out whatever it is he wanted to say, it made him focus better.
It made who focus better?
"Well, it's only polite that I introduce myself anyway," he said. "New person, nice friend, all of that." He gave a quick, small bow. "I'm Kudo Taiki. Nice to meet you!" As he straightened, he smiled. "Or, nice to see you again, as circumstances may have it."