"So tell me why you don't want to wear the girl's uniform."
After a while of silence, Takasugi decided to address the issue. Kinu peered up at him from the book he had given her, and raised an eyebrow.
"Hm?"
"What's wrong with the uniform?" He repeated, glancing back at his new book for a second.
"Oh... Comfort."
Nodding, the one-eyed man leaned onto his desk. He studied the odd expression the girl was making, before continuing.
"Have you tried the girl's uniform on before?"
Kinu shook her head, and he nodded once more.
"Alright. Well, why don't you try it on once, and make your decision then?"
"Don't want to." The girl murmured, and he chuckled in response.
This was going to be a challenge. It was obvious that she did not care. About anything. Getting the girl to dress accordingly was going to require careful plotting, and execution of a plan. Silence consumed the dim office, and Takasugi pretended to read again. He would have to make use of their shared interest, and convince the girl that she would benefit from wearing the proper uniform. The perfect method was formulated, and the man placed his new book on the desk.
Kinu icily peered at him as he pulled two books from a drawer.
"Have you read this?" Takasugi asked, holding up a book called "Evolution's Dust".
The girl nodded, and he mimicked her motion.
"Good. You know how Carla was afraid of change? If she hadn't decided to listen to her friend, and switch jobs, she never would have met her husband."
"Her husband also beat her to death at the end of the story." Kinu added in a monotone.
Frowning, Takasugi shifted his gaze. Yeah. That was true, and he had not thought about that.
"But they were happy together. Erm, before he got addicted to heroin. Changes can have positive effects on life. It's up to the person making the decisions to control the effects. If you were to wear the skirt, I'm sure that you'll have a lot more... Friends?" The one eyed man raised an eyebrow, and Kinu shook her head.
"Have you ever heard of misanthropy? It's a natural allergic reaction had by an intelligent, thinking person when confronted by a world of tribalized, reactionary proto-humans. Possibly the most rational, reasonable attitude when dealing with your fellow human."
Sighing, Takasugi rolled his eye. Of course, he knew what misanthropy was.
"Yes, very true. I'm sure that you like somebody right?"
When Kinu lowered her gaze, the man knew he had found leverage. Of course, she liked somebody. She was a teenage girl. The girl's posture changed, and her shoulders slightly slumped.
"Most likely, if you were to wear the skirt, he would look at you more." The one eyed man stated, and Kinu shook her head.
"I doubt it. He probably thinks I'm creepy like everybody else. He hasn't even glanced at me in the few weeks I have been here. It doesn't matter, that won't work on me." Murmuring the words, Kinu returned her gaze to her new book. She was referring to the sandy haired boy in her classes. The one with the large S on his shirt. He had not paid her any mind at all.
Approach number two. Grabbing his second book, Takasugi held it up.
"What about for this?"
The moment Kinu saw the book her eyes immediately widened. She leaned forward, as if to make sure she was reading the cover properly.
"Atlantis in the Shadows? How did you- It's not supposed to be out for another month!" Reaching for the book, the girl was disappointed when Takasugi moved it out of her reach.
"I have my ways. You have to put on the girl's uniform for it. No negotiations." Smirking the words, the one-eyed man knew he had her. She had no choice but to listen now. Her internal struggle was obvious, yet he knew she would not refuse a chance to read such a highly anticipated novel. Especially before it was released.
"Hmm... Interesting... And if I still say no?"
"You'll never be able to buy it- It's restricted, you know." Takasugi's smirk widened and Kinu scowled at him. She muttered something under her breath, and he was positive she had caved.
"Hmm?" He teased, and the girl shot him another dirty look.
"Fine." She grumbled, gazing at the ground. Nodding Takasugi stood up. He instructed her to wait there while he found an extra uniform. Of course, the man took the book with him, after placing the cover over it.
After a few minutes, he returned with an outfit. The man placed it in her lap, and told her to change. He left the room again, and waited outside.
Kinu stood up, suddenly anxious. It was the only way to get the book. If she did not agree, she would have to wait three more months for her birthday before she could read it. The girl nervously pulled the plastic wrap from the uniform, and allowed the fabric to unfold in her hands. After studying it, she reluctantly re-dressed herself. She knew this was a horrible decision. Something like this would only make her appear to be even creepier. There were reasons behind her choice of the boy's uniform. Her arms and legs were completely concealed. It was deeper than mere comfort, yet could be summed up in that one word. When she finished, she walked to the door, and opened it.
Takasugi's initial response was surprise. It was not a pleasant form of the emotion either. Glancing around the hallway to see if anybody else had seen her, the man ushered her back into the room, and closed the door.
"What happened to you?" The question was asked in a hushed tone, and Takasugi motioned to the girl's legs and arms.
She dropped her gaze, and waved the words off. Light bruises adorned a portion of the girl's skin. All were fading, but two seemed to be darker and the most prominent. One on her forearm, and the other on the outside of her left calve.
"I fell." She lied, and the man shook his head.
"You fell? How many times? On both sides?"
Kinu nodded and Takasugi sighed. Something was going on.
"Uh, I was walking down the stairs, and slipped." She added, and the man shook his head again.
"Look, get a pair of tights, and keep the jacket of your other uniform." Murmuring the words, Takasugi, placed a hand to his head. This was not good. After seeing something like that he was obligated to do paper work, and a sort of security check. Nobody would believe that "Stair" excuse. It was obvious that the girl had been hit. Most likely repetitively. Leaving the room once more, Takasugi waited for the girl to change back into her other uniform.
When she finished, he entered his office, and sat at his desk.
"Kinu, do you expect me to believe the stair excuse?"
Gazing at the man, Kinu slowly nodded. Rolling his eye, Takasugi placed his elbows on the table. The man rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to think of what he should do.
To his surprise, Kinu walked to his side. The girl softly placed a hand on his shoulder, and gazed down at him. When he met her eyes she offered a smile.
"It's fine." The words were a low chuckle, and though she was smiling, she did not sound happy. An answer was not produced. Instead, the two simply studied one another. Kinu started towards the door, and her hand slipped away. She grasped her bag, and tucked the extra uniform inside of it. As the girl pulled the door open, Takasugi spoke.
"Otose said if you don't wear the skirt, you can't go to class."
"I guess I'll go somewhere else." She murmured, and with that, she was gone.
A/N: Hi all, I just want to give credit to the definition of misanthropy to urbanditionary. I was trying to think of a way to explain it on my own terms, but their definition was much funnier. Too good to try to rephrase. So there you go. Yep. I cheated. Lol
