🌸Cherry Blossom Palette: Summer by the Sea🎨
Chapter 13: Post-custodial Conundrums [Part Two]
Doorway into Summer Arc
Written by EmtenDew
Edited by P. serrulata
Author's note:
ED:Here's a continuation of Naoto and Sakura's chat.
Another chapter with a lot of dialogue. The next ones will be too, but the end of the arc will have more action.
…
For those of you that haven't read it, I recommend looking at TheGoldCard's "Away We Go" story.
/works/46704958/chapters/117628933
I'm enjoying it so far. It's about the girls running into Naoto after a few years apart, after Nagatoro blows it big time, and they meet him in a most unexpected place.
It's good.
…
Another canon chapter where nothing happened again. Just Nagatoro being a little c*cktease, Naoto being a pet to her rather than another human being.
Maybe I should wait until something happens to mention canon again. I DID list off what would constitute "something" last chapter.
Naoto should've buried his face and taken a deep whiff. THAT would've been something to write home about.
…
Ask us anything, and we'll add a Q&A section in the next chapter. I would be happy if you ask questions.
Please enjoy what I wrote.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Naoto Hachioji couldn't recall a time that Sakura Inori had straight-up asked him for his advice.
But she just had, a decidedly messy, potential "love/hate triangle" having developed in the last two weeks, involving Hayase Nagatoro, Maki Gamo, and Hana Sunomiya.
Yoshi Yamazaki was fortunate to not be so directly involved, Naoto reasoned, but she certainly had an interest in the whole affair, all three girls her friends, though he might guess where her loyalties held the strongest.
As for the three girls forming the triangle, it was impossible to say that any one of them was the one "caught in the middle", as was the nature of a triangle…
OTHER people usually got stuck within those walls, if they let it happen…
Though Sakura did ask Naoto for advice, he didn't have any of the specifics, the gal having yet to give him any concrete information.
"I'm not sure where to start…" Naoto laid his cards on the table.
Sakura gave the tiniest grin, sad but ironic. "I hear ya, buddy… I imagine we know different things… and what need is there to break all confidences?"
"There isn't any."
"Nope, we don't need that. This is for our friends, nothing else."
It was… and that was slightly reassuring…
Naoto heaved a sigh, "I'll give it a try…"
"By all means," she heartened.
"…"
"…"
"This is kinda private, so I'm sorry for that…" He figured this was the best way to go about it. "When you worked with Dr. Akashi, back when… back when you worked with her… did she ever lead you through… techniques in, uh… anger management…?"
Sakura blinked. "…?"
'Fuck!' Naoto flubbed. "Yeah, I knew that was a personal thing to ask, so… sorry for that…"
He thought he'd just bombed, but it hadn't been the worst way to get them off the ground.
"Thanks for the thought, but it's okay, Senpai-kun." Sakura experienced a wave of relief. "I know you're just asking because… we gotta start somewhere… I can pretty much tell where you're going with this. I know about Gamo-chan going to counseling, here at school, for anger management."
Naoto also knew relief. "Can we leave it at that?"
"We can," she acknowledged; she gave a loath, crooked smile. "I'm glad I got it right…"
'Man, so am I!' They might've moved on, but he did feel it was important to clarify something. "How did you know?"
It was doubtful that YOSHI had told her, so…
"Gamo-chan never told me, but… I suspected it, knowing what I know and seeing what I've seen… and going through the same sorts of things myself…" Sakura deferred. "Hana-chan confirmed it for me."
"Sunomiya told you?!" This shocked him slightly. 'Not Gamo-chan herself?!'
For as byzantine as Hana could be, she was usually pretty good about keeping silent on matters truly requiring it…
Sakura was calm as can be. "Please don't be upset with her, and certainly don't blame her."
"I'm not…" Naoto assured. "I just didn't think she'd tell you… I didn't think Gamo-chan would tell her…"
"Hana-chan was pretty upset over it. Gamo-chan told her last week… Wednesday or maybe Tuesday, I'm not sure."
"Last week?!" he exclaimed. 'They already had THAT between them on Friday afternoon?!'
"I think Hana-chan just felt a little panicked, having Gamo-chan cry to her like that, and it just sorta came out when she talked to me about it…"
"Gamo-chan, she… cr—" He couldn't repeat that C-word. 'Gamo-chan cried…?'
"I think that'd rattle almost anyone, wouldn't it?" Sakura had no trouble putting faith in this. "I'm sure Hana-chan didn't mean to spill to me; she was just upset, Senpai-kun… a little overwhelmed…"
"I'm sure."
Gamo-chan had told Naoto that only YOSHI knew… but by the time she'd told HIM, she'd told Hana, so it seemed…
He supposed this didn't bother him.
"…"
"…"
"About Gamo-chan…" Sakura put forth. "How do you know?"
"…" He still wasn't entirely sure if he was doing the best thing. "Gamo-chan told me…"
Sakura's eyebrows went up. "I see…"
"Yeah…"
"…"
Naoto deliberated, "You think we should be… worried about Sunomiya?"
"I wouldn't say 'worried', but she's in a tight spot, I think. Gamo-chan gave her some 'food-for-thought'…"
"Yeah?"
"Oh, yes… and you could say it's not… really all that appetizing…" she respired. "I'm a lot more worried about Gamo-chan herself."
"…"
"…"
"I'm guessing it's too much to ask what Sunomiya said to you…" Naoto wasn't hopeful.
It wasn't an easy thing for Sakura to answer. "…Possibly…"
She wasn't saying this to be cute or demure or ANYTHING like that…
"Not sure what to do then…" Naoto knew it was difficult ground.
It hadn't been a question but a statement, and Sakura took it as such.
She shrugged. "No… I'm not sure."
"…"
Sakura inhaled and let it out.
She jogged his memory, "I told you I was hoping for your advice on something, you remember?"
'It was only a few minutes ago…' He had the wits to not be an ass about it. "Yes."
"Well, here it is…"
"I'm listening, Sakura-san."
"…"
"…"
"Between us, Senpai-kun?" She wanted his word.
"This stays between us," he promised. "Say what you gotta say."
Where this demonstrability had suddenly slithered in from, he wasn't sure…
"…" Sakura pondered.
Naoto waited. "…"
And the gal let him have it, "Hana-chan seems stuck on what to do… about a certain thing…"
He could take an educated guess but declined in doing so. "Okay."
"She wants my advice on what to do about it… but I refuse to tell her what to do—I don't even wanna suggest what she does with this… thing. It's that important."
Naoto beheld her conviction.
To repeat, he could take an educated guess…
'Gawddamn it…' He festered. "I'm guessing I don't wanna know what it is."
"I'll tell you… if you ask me to," she said somberly. "But… no, it's not something you'd like."
He wouldn't press her, not on the "subject".
But he would ask, "What do you want my opinion on?"
"Phew~… I guess I'm glad I don't have to specifically say…" Sakura's alleviation was plainly visible. "What I do want are your thoughts on how to tell Hana-chan that she needs to make up her own mind."
Naoto might've stopped himself, but he didn't, tsking, "That's what you wanna know…?"
"Don't you click your tongue at me, you jerk, I'm being serious here."
He stared her down. "…"
"…" She did the same in return.
"…"
"…"
"…" Naoto regretted it. "I'm sorry, Sakura-san…"
"Eh, it's alright…"
"It's just hard to imagine you'd need my help with something like that."
"It's not so farfetched, buddy…" Sakura forbade.
"I guess…" he allowed. "Why do you think I'd know?"
"You prolly know Hana-chan better than anyone, Senpai-kun, besides her family," she argued. "And, I mean, there are things I know about her that you don't, but it goes the other way too. Don't sell yourself short. You're a board-certified Hana-chan expert~."
"'Board-certified'…?" Naoto scowled. "You're talking nonsense…"
"Whatever… you know Hana-chan well~," Sakura fired back. "You've known her for at least four years."
"…"
"…"
"So…" he ruminated. "You need to know how to tell Sunomiya that you'll support her, but that she's on her own for an actual, final decision."
"You hit the nail on the head…" she murmured, far less chirpish than she wished. "That's exactly right."
"I suppose…" Naoto turned it over in his reasonably fertile brain. "I suppose I should ask what you've tried…"
At this, Sakura actually laughed, "Not a thing!"
"Huh?" He didn't like the show of hysterics.
She said in wonderment, "She blew me away with what she asked me… Rather, it was what she was asked that was so wack. Hana-chan's said some strange things to me, but this was prolly the only thing to really shock me."
'I still don't know for sure what it might be, but…' Naoto didn't want to know either. "I see."
"…"
"…"
What Naoto had to say was the same thing he likely would've said, had things been more favorable.
Hell, it was the same thing he'd say if the prospects were as shitty as a hoarder's unfortunate, abused toilet…
He disclosed, "I think it'd be best to just explain yourself… Just tell her the truth, and let her know you're having a hard time with it."
"You make it sound so simple… and kinda vague…"
'Haven't I said the same thing to you…?' Naoto thought this was true, at least the "simple" part. "I'm pretty sure that Sunomiya would understand, Sakura-san. I wouldn't worry about it."
"I, uh… don't think that's gonna cut it, Senpai-kun… and I really shouldn't laugh about it…"
"…"
"…"
Naoto didn't see any reason to beat around the bush. "This thing Sunomiya's stuck on… is it something that Gamo-chan said to her…?"
"Was that a guess?" Sakura, startling, was caught unaware.
He clarified, "It… was an educated guess…"
"Yeah?" Her curious mien demanded enlightenment.
'I hope she'd understand… if she ever found out…' Naoto silently begged forgiveness for what he was about to say. "Yeah… Gamo-chan and I… we talked."
"Well, you guessed correct."
"I was afraid of this…" He rubbed at his tired eyes. "But specifically… I still don't know."
"…Hmm…" Sakura hummed.
"…"
"…"
"How bad is it, Sakura-san…?" Naoto eked.
She resonated, "'It'?"
"Yeah…"
"As bad as I told you, buddy…" she said sadly.
"…" He simmered.
"Wanna hear it?" The blonde wasn't enjoying this.
'NO, I don't wanna fucking hear it…' He knew it was going to suck, whatever it was.
The big question was if it fell short, met, or exceeded his expectations…
"This stays between us," Naoto declared as much as reaffirming.
Sakura replied at once, "Of course."
"I feel like a piece of shit though, sharing this stuff behind their backs…" he imparted.
She had a similar notion. "When it comes to that, you're in good company. Welcome to 'Club Shitty', Senpai-kun…"
There was no humor to her voice…
"…"
"…"
"Okay…" Naoto tried to relax. "Go ahead."
Should he brace himself instead…?
"…" Sakura made ready. "Gotcha…"
"…" The senpai waited.
The kohai didn't keep him waiting long, and she didn't shillyshally either. "Gamo-chan… begged Hana-chan to not hate Hayacchi. She begged…"
So much for educated guesses…
"Geez…" Naoto really hadn't known what to expect, but as awful as it was, it was uninspiring.
"She also begged forgiveness for herself… for how she behaved… and she told Hana-chan about her counseling too, but I guess we already talked about that part."
"…Ack…" His skin crawled.
Sakura added, "I say she 'also' begged forgiveness for herself, but I just meant it as 'additionally'. She didn't ask Hana-chan to forgive Hayacchi, not explicitly, but not hating someone isn't totally different."
'Ugh…' Naoto wished this wasn't happening.
"So… yeah… Hana-chan doesn't know whether or not to forgive Hayacchi. That's what it is, in the end."
"…"
"…"
"Okay…" Naoto was at a loss for much else.
Sakura wasn't. "You asked if Hana-chan might be able to square things with Hayacchi… I'm doubtful, but this is why I don't consider it a lost cause."
"I see…"
"And that's why I don't want to steer Hana-chan one way or the other. I'm not sure if she'd just try it because Gamo-chan pleaded with her, but I let her know she has to do as she sees fit. It seems that Gamo-chan told her the same thing… that she'd try her best to deal with whatever Hana-chan decided."
…
It beggared Naoto's imagination, the returning thought:
Gamo-chan and Hana had already been through all of this BEFORE they'd sat down to that wonderful lunch on Friday…
Despite that, there had been no tension or weirdness between the two of them, and they'd been chummier than ever; he'd seen it.
Apparently, Hana had forgiven the big girl, if there'd been anything for Hana TO forgive… and Gamo-chan was seemingly set on being Hana's friend…
'Maybe things WILL turn out okay… whatever happens…' Naoto experienced a chill up his spine, but a weight was shrugged off along with it.
It was STRANGE… and unfamiliar…
He even smiled.
This beggared Sakura's imagination.
"What are you grinning about?" she sneered.
Naoto saw no reason not to tell her. "Sunomiya had a lot of fun with Gamo-chan and Yoshi last Friday…"
"…?!" She gawped. "Senpai-kun?"
'You should've seen them~…!' A good sort of shiver coursed through his body. "I… think Sunomiya will be okay, Sakura-san… probably Gamo-chan too."
"…?!" She gawped with more intensity. "Where's this coming from?"
The "unknowable" smile was rare for Naoto. "I just… think things between Gamo-chan and Sunomiya will turn out okay…"
What worried HIM was a Nagatoro/Hana clash!
And that would settle him down again, certain to face its own "day in court", sooner or later.
But… later…
Sakura decided to trust him, at least as far as she could, her senpai beaming like a rube who'd just seen some false miracle occur.
"Okay… I think I can see where you're coming from…" she folded. "Hana-chan did just get back from Tokyo last night, but she and Gamo-chan are chatting on Line, right now, as we speak. Seems like they're having fun~."
"You don't have a 'real' account though," he dumbly cited.
"Doesn't mean I can't lurk~." She offered up a kissy face.
"…"
"…"
"Uh… thanks, Sakura-san…" Naoto uttered. "I feel a little better about things."
She coincided, "Me too… in some things."
Yes… "some" things…
"…"
"…"
Naoto couldn't keep away from it, his smile fading. "Why do you think Sunomiya was able to be so understanding of Gamo-chan…?"
It seemed a stupid question, even to HIM, but a lot had been going on, and he could most likely fall asleep at any minute, if he let it happen, despite the early-ish hour…
"…" Sakura gave it a few seconds, and she didn't treat him as stupid. "Because she knows Gamo-chan is trying… and that Gamo-chan cares for her senpai~."
'Urk!' Naoto jarred.
He didn't miss her meaning.
It seemed a cheap shot… the implication…
Whatever Sakura's thoughts were, he wasn't sure.
But Hana's…
"I don't think Hana-chan's convinced that Hayacchi is sorry," Sakura established; to wit, she did give Naoto her own thoughts. "I know that Hayacchi is sorry. Gamo-chan knows… Yoshi knows… but Hana-chan…? She's lukewarm to the idea."
"…" Naoto stewed. "Why…?"
This, Sakura did think was a dumb question.
She elected not to "let him have it" though. "She feels so strongly about it because it's you."
"…!"
"Yeah… you're the one that was hurt," she said with some severity.
Somehow, he kept overlooking this, like it had happened entirely to another person. "…"
Was his mindset fucked up…? To keep forgetting that…?
"…" Sakura had said what she wished.
Naoto finally yielded, "I believe that Nagatoro's sorry…"
A part of him wanted to tell Sakura about the lunch period he'd chased after Nagatoro… how he'd turned his back on her… and her real tears that rescued him from making that very, very stupid decision.
But telling Sakura didn't seem like the greatest idea…
He tacked on, "I know she's sorry… but I'm still kinda angry about it…"
"…"
"…"
As if answering a question she'd only heard in her own head, Sakura waxed, "It sucks, Senpai-kun, but remember this:
"Not everyone will always get along. Not everyone has to be friends. We all have friends that others can't stand… don't we?"
It wasn't what Naoto wanted or expected to hear, but he wasn't sure what he wanted or expected either.
"You're right, Sakura-san…" he bid, completely unable to disagree.
"I sometimes am~…" she bubbled throatily. "A few girls Gamo-chan knows? I wouldn't piss on 'em if they were on fire~."
'The broken filter again!' Naoto might never get used to it, but he gave her a horrified chuckle… and a screwed-up face to go with it. "Sakura-san… c'mon~…"
She giggled, "There's Senpai-kun's smile, right back where it belongs~…"
"Yeah…" he sighed.
"…"
"…"
"Hey, I know it's not easy, Senpai-kun, but try not to worry too much. I think things will turn out okay… in the end."
"I hope so…" he prayed.
"…"
"…"
"About Hana-chan, I'll think over what you said. You might be right; being straight with her about her problem is prolly the best way to go. We'll see."
"I really do think that's the best way to go," Naoto held.
Sakura advised, "I don't know if she will, but… think about what you might wanna say to Hana-chan about all this… y'know, just in case she asks you personally about it. Think about what you might say to Gamo-chan too, I suppose."
"Me?" He couldn't fathom either girl asking him for guidance, not for this.
Sakura leered, cowing him.
"Asshole-kun," she lambasted. "You're a true senpai to us girls… Act like it~."
"…!" He squirmed. "Hey, I'm trying…"
"Well, try to be more consistent~." She blushed, something she'd been able to keep at bay most of the phone call. "Believe me though, you do more than occasionally come through, and with flying colors~."
Less than occasionally able to cope with such praise, Naoto's face heated up, and he knew he was turning a little red himself. "…"
Giving a great stretch, the now-chortling girl yawned, a most slovenly aspect about her, "H-haahhhhhhh~…"
Just as Sakura had completed her inspiratory oscillation, smacking her lips, Naoto was unable to suppress the urge, and he did the same, an impressive yawn issuing forth.
"Eh-heh-heh-heh~…" she tittered, her blush deepening. "They say that yawns are contagious… the same with blowing chunks~…"
Having finished his own chasmological exercise, her senpai sputtered, bursting out laughing at the suddenness of her assertion, "Yikes, Sakura-san… 'Blowing chunks'? Why'd you say that?"
"I just think it's kinda neat that yawns must be contagious, even remotely, like with over the phone~."
He was aghast. "What's that got to do with throwing up?"
"Hey, colds are contagious too~," she chirruped.
That beautiful smile of hers rarely failed to take his breath away, not to mention her laughter, which she didn't seem able to stop.
Naoto knew he couldn't "win". "…~"
But he did feel a little better, trying to strive to follow Sakura's advice… the advice she'd given nearly three weeks back… the day after his shitty shopping date with Nagatoro.
Sometimes, it WAS best to not work oneself up into a frenzy, fretting over things outside of one's power…
It seemed a lot more productive—and healthy—to step back, look at the big picture, and reassess, he'd found.
Things had been crazy, the semester ending… and some of those things were bad…
But he had found that things became clearer, once the stress calmed down.
Things weren't the best RIGHT NOW, but things would settle out…
…
He'd promised himself, earlier in the week, to at least try.
It wasn't easy, attempting to hold to this mindset, but the world seemed a little less terrifying with a little bit of perspective…
There'd been a reason he remained relatively cool, the last few days.
After all, it was his last summer as a kid, and he owed it to himself and everyone that cared about him to make the best of it.
…
Warmth bloomed in Naoto's heart, seeing his friend enjoying life on the other end of their connection.
It took a moment for her to cease her merriment, but when he had her attention…
"Thanks again… for all your help today," he breathed, not likely to forget the pool cleaning any time soon, his aching body and sunburned feet as temporary companions. "Maybe I'll send Sunomiya a goodnight message too."
"I think she'd like that…" Sakura beamed. "And you're most certainly welcome~."
"Yeah~…"
"Well, buddy o' mine, I guess I'll see you at the beach. Thanks for 'volunteering' to stake out a spot for us~."
As far as the beach went, Sakura had received her contribution assignment personally, and Hana later, but in a group chat on Line, the night before, Naoto had been "volun-told" by Gamo-chan to stake a fat claim on a spot at the beach "before anyone else gets there".
"No problem…" He took no issue, and he already had a fat stack of old blankets for the job.
…
'Man~…!' He liked being called "buddy".
It was two weeks to the day that she'd done it for the first time, when he'd walked her to another girl's house, after their kalbi feast at the yakiniku restaurant.
…
"You really mean a lot to me, buddy~…"
…
And then her friend Mari had ruined the moment (not that anything had really gone on), blinding them by the lights fronting her house, not to mention from the threshold.
…
He didn't mind "Asshole-kun" either, but he did have his favorite nickname by her, perhaps his favorite of all, and he got to hear it again.
Sakura issued, grinning and cerise, "Well… g'night, Senpai-kun~…"
"You too… Good night, Sakura-san~." Naoto's dimples pitted in cheeks the same hue as the tops of his feet.
With that, she hung up, he did the same, and his phone went back to the main menu.
…
Staring at the ceiling, Naoto cut loose another irrepressible yawn, so intense, he felt it to his shins.
He'd gotten up to take a leak, brush his teeth, get a drink of water, and he was ready to drift off…
While he was thinking about it, he'd previously sent Hana a brief but sincere message:
…
Sunomiya, thanks again for your help today. You and Sakura-san really saved me. Sleep well.
Love, Naoto
…
He'd done it again, signing off with "love"… this time to only one of his kohai…
But it wasn't a false salutation…
He really did love Hana, that bizarre, wonderful kohai of his~.
It would be nice to see a reply from her, but she might've still been having fun with Gamo-chan…
And he couldn't stay awake much longer.
'What could those two POSSIBLY be talking about~…?' He should've asked Sakura… or just checked Line for himself.
…
Naoto had certainly delighted in his talk with Sakura.
She'd just called him, no prior warning, probably just to say "hello" to her senpai…
He was sure things wouldn't have gone down the path they'd followed if he hadn't been the one to navigate them in that direction… but she'd had her hands on the tiller a few times too.
…
He gave another thought to going to school in the morning.
Maybe he'd just stay home and book.
There was no real desire to go to school, even for art, but he'd see how he felt in the morning.
…
Naoto eyed his phone.
'Still no message from Sunomiya…' His eyelids were becoming heavier.
For that matter, there was still no message from NAGATORO…
Why he kept checking, he didn't know.
It's not like he expected to see anything…
He knew she might not've been in any mood to shoot the shit with him.
He'd let her be…
'Maybe she just doesn't know what to say…' he cogitated, and it was just as well that she hadn't gotten back to him.
He had no clear idea of what to say to HER either…
…
Then there was his time with Gamo-chan, at that sandwich place, the night before…
The stretch they'd been together had been one of the more "interesting" experiences he'd had with the tall girl, Naoto had no doubt.
He'd totally spaced lauding Sakura for her "hit by a cry truck" analogy, or whatever it was…
Gamo-chan had taken to the concept well enough, and there were worse ways to address her breakdown…
The "cry truck" thing still made about as much sense to him as anything.
Besides that, their numerous topics had been all over the place, and it all turned out fine, but some real bitterness had encroached.
Neither one was at fault, really, but if anyone was keeping score, Naoto was probably in the wrong more often than the Maki…
Gamo-chan hadn't given him an overly rough time over the smutty comic he'd bought before they'd had their sandwiches, but she had given him some mild grief, dredging up a few things, hitting a nerve or three… and it had led somewhere not so chill…
Naoto could've been a little kinder too, not being so very merciful a time or two.
…
"…!" He'd neglected again, asking Sakura a question he'd been dying to ask. 'Shit…'
He wasn't sure why he kept failing to recall, having dreamed of asking a girl what she was looking forward to in the fall anime lineup.
…
"…!" Moreover, there were things not so innocuous rattling around his skull.
Anger…
Forgiveness…
He'd wanted to talk to Sakura about these miserable themes and several others, but he'd failed in doing so.
There was little uncertainty in that the gal would've had far different answers… and inputs of her own… different than what he'd gotten out of Gamo-chan…
And Gamo-chan had said a few words on these subjects, over crusty French bread and savory filling.
…
'Had it been odd on Monday? That Gamo-chan had seemed so forlorn over Hana? And what about LAST NIGHT?!' Naoto felt things had looked pretty good on Wednesday afternoon, though they'd dampened a little over dinner.
Gamo-chan had spilled her guts to Hana—the week before, apparently with success—and she was STILL freaking out some about her relationship with the first-year girl…
From what she'd told him the night before, it had sounded like she was still trying to come up with a way to talk to Hana, but she already had. Was she trying something else?
But WAS there a problem with how things were between them…?
Gamo-chan had probably enjoyed getting that fun video call from Hana, giving her an excuse to put her senpai in a headlock and giving their party a few laughs, as much as she'd enjoyed freeing her sore feet of those Sarah Jessica Parker designer pumps, if he was to take a stab at her level of pleasure.
And THIS night, THURSDAY, Gamo-chan was having a ball again with Sunomiya, if Sakura's words were to be trusted…
The Amazon's tribulations ebbed and flowed, it occurred to him… like manic-depression in fast-motion.
Maybe Gamo-chan had just been upset, sharing her troubles with him, and that was why she'd been so temporarily low…
Besides everyone learning about Nagatoro tanking her exams—which hadn't helped anyone—the whole of their circle had seemed a little more optimistic.
…
He was matter-of-factly glad that not everything he'd said to the Maki regarding Hana hadn't been bullshit.
How the girls had been on Friday—and on the phone before karaoke~—gave him a sureness that Hana understood how upset Gamo-chan was… and that she loved her "adoptive" neechan very much…
…
Or maybe Naoto didn't know WHAT he was on about…
He was tired.
…
Now that he thought about it, he had shared with Gamo-chan Sakura's concept of trying to worry less until one had the time and clarity to tackle that which troubles.
Gamo-chan probably didn't have it any easier than HIM when it came to trying to think and live in such a way… and it likely wasn't as cut-and-dry as all that for Sakura herself…
…
Since he was thinking of Gamo-chan anyway, Naoto currently felt quite grateful, not knowing then, what he knew now, during his sandwich dinner with her.
He'd made no promises, and he hadn't had much to say, but he was still satisfied he hadn't known about Hana's leanings, not that what he knew NOW was much worse than what he'd known THEN…
He knew that Hana was far from alright with her own Nagatorial rapport, but it didn't exactly shock him.
Some concerns were lessened, some were increased, some were gone, and some were introduced…
…
It probably WAS for the best that he hadn't told Sakura about his "reviving anger", which—again—he'd forgotten about, not that he hadn't alluded to it a couple of times in her company…
He was sure—again—that Sakura would've had something different from what Gamo-chan wound up saying, in response.
…
Wow, was his mind all over the place~!
His mind had been all over the place during the phone call with Sakura too, and he'd really been missing some big pieces of the "puzzle".
Things that bothered him were often forgotten, however fleetingly, when he talked with her.
The same could be said about a lot of other bad things…
…
He found he was "missing out" on a lot of the worry he "should've" been having.
Should he have been more invested in Hana's clash with Nagatoro, if it could be CALLED a "clash"…?
He reasoned he just had faith in each girl's ability to come to terms, his loyal friend and the girl with whom he was in love.
…Or was it something else…?
He had no reservations that such thoughts—the ones about "ability" or whatever—were as stupid as the half-assed assumption that Hana would be empathetic of Nagatoro, everything being what it was.
…
He was missing some stuff!
Or maybe he'd just been distracted…
He was exhausted.
…
"…!" Naoto frowned to himself.
What WOULD he say to Hana—or Gamo-chan—if he was asked for his advice on what to do about Nagatoro… or whatever else they might want?
He'd be glad to not broach it, even if the time did come.
…
He wouldn't tell Sakura what he'd asked of Gamo-chan, not that the Amazon hadn't advanced the line on her own… and what she'd said "yes" to…
…
Yes, he'd missed a few things…
…
As he dozed off a bit further, his thoughts flitted to another entry from the preceding night.
Gamo-chan had shown him some cute animal videos when they'd had their sandwiches, and these had been of her favorite animal at that.
They were—in their own way—as cute as the rain frogs, those adorable, sandy potato fairies that Sakura had shown Hana and himself… not that the blonde's favorite animal WAS the potato fairy…
Sleep finally began properly taking him, and he mused that Gamo-chan's favorite animal was as surprising as Sakura's, if Sakura's was the snake.
Just because the gal had pet snakes and tarantulas and that she and her dad were snake and tarantula enthusiasts didn't mean either of these were her favorite animal…
She may well have had another, he ascertained.
…
And Naoto's mother, her favorite animal was the GIRAFFE…
But that, however, didn't mean that she wanted one living in the yard, sticking its head and long neck through one of the upstairs windows for its dinner, and dropping wet shits the size of kindergarteners on their front lawn, from a height of almost two meters…
Naoto… didn't really have a favorite animal.
But it would've been something that pooped smaller than a giraffe… if he INDEED kept whatever the Hell it might've been as a pet…
…
'I'm thinking too hard… too much…' He fell asleep.
Please look forward to the next chapter! Thanks for reading!