text; un: asura

[demonicbookworm]

Hello everyone. My name is Ruca and I would like to ask for your assistance.

My roommate went missing. He has short red hair, he may be around 17, he's usually wearing a school uniform. His name is Otonashi.

Before his disappearance, he sent me some very cryptic messages. I believe he may be in trouble.

Please, if you have seen him let me know. I'm worried about him.

[Ruca has been running around, trying to find Otonashi. The messages he got are highly worrying and Ruca is blaming only himself, even if Otonashi specifically wrote him that it wasn't his fault.]

Comments

[triggerhappytraitor]

If he's able to, I'm sure he will. Until then, we can keep looking.

[demonicbookworm]

Thank you.

--> Action mode

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[It's not too long before a motorcycle pulls out outside Ruca's building, Tachibana pulling off his helmet and heading over to the teen, consern very evident in his expression.]]

Hey.

Action!

[demonicbookworm]

[Due to Sanguis changes the boy now has a pair of dog ears that are flatted with worry and a fluffy tail. Ruca is worried, angry and frustrated. There's a deep frown on his face and his hands are curled into fists.

He relaxes a little when he sees Tachibana.]

Mister Tachibana... Thank you for coming.

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[It's taking a bit of self control to not reach up and scratch behind those ears, but that tension...

He puts a light, warm hand on Ruca's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.]]

Are you all right?

[[The answer is clearly "no" but he won't press it if Ruca insists he is.]]

[demonicbookworm]

[He breathes out loudly, tightening his fists.]

I'm sorry... I'm just... really frustrated.

[To the point if he wonders if punching himself would help.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

No need to apologize for that. I think anyone would be, in this situation.

[[He himself wouldn't be able to stay in one place for more than a minute if something similar had happened to someone he was close to]]

[demonicbookworm]

He wrote me that it wasn't my fault, but maybe it actually is. Maybe he wrote that only to make me feel better?

[He's pretty sure it could be the case. Otonashi is just too kind to tell Ruca that he was at fault.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

What could you have done that would have caused someone to disappear?

[demonicbookworm]

I... don't know. Maybe I'm an awful roommate?

[That's probably the case.]

And I wasn't there when he needed help...

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[There's a small, almost amused huff as Tachibana reaches up to muss Rica's hair, gently fluffing on of those folded back ears]]

Don't be so foolish. People don't run away for such small reasons.

[demonicbookworm]

I-I mean... [He blushes a little when his ears are touched.] He was feeling abandoned because of the dragon curse. [He's going to call it that.]

But it's not that... He knew I didn't want him gone...

[Ruca is confused. He doesn't know what to think any more.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Curse is a good name for what that whole mess was.]]

Sometimes there are things that happen that are out of our control. I doubt that he intentionally ran away, especially not if the two of you were getting along well.

[[There's a small, distant look in his expression, as he can't help but think of the many, many moments in his life where those he cared about deeply were taken, or left, and how much he blamed himself for the situations that had lead to those painful moments. But he pulls himself back to the present, focusing on the teen in front of him that -- he hoped-- was dealing with this for the first time.]]

It's sometimes easier to blame ourselves when these things happen, but so often, there was nothing at all we could have done to change them. If he told you that it wasn't your fault, I think you should trust in that-- trust in him-- and not blame yourself for it.

[[Far easier said than done, he knew. But hopefully...]]

[demonicbookworm]

[Ruca has a feeling Tachibana speaks from experience, especially when that distant look appears in his eyes.

Ruca went through many things in his life, but it still hurts when everything gets out of control, when he's stuck feeling helpless and alone.]

I... want to believe in him.

[Otonashi is kind, so he would come back, also for Ruca's sake. He knows Ruca likes having him around, he knows Ruca wants to help him. He doesn't have a reason to stay away... right?

Ruca frowns with worry.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

Then believe in him.

[[Such a simple thing to say for something so important....

Tachibana gives Ruca's shoulder a light squeeze before letting his hand fall back to his side.]]

Did you want to go back out looking for him? Or stay here and wait?

[demonicbookworm]

I... want to keep on looking. Just in case.

[He closes his eyes.]

I don't think I could just sit in here.

[triggerhappytraitor]

Easier to keep from worrying about the worst of things when you're focused on something else, right?

[[It's a warm, fond smile that goes with that very understanding tone.]]

We can drive out to the site and start spreading out in a search pattern from there. Sound good?

[demonicbookworm]

Yes...

[He sighs deeply, then blinks.]

...Drive?

[triggerhappytraitor]

Yeah.

[[He nods over towards his bike. It's not technically a two seater, but it can indeed fit two.]]

There's a spare helmet in the seat you can use.

[demonicbookworm]

I... I don't know if this really is a good idea.

[He is worried.]

I-is this safe for two people? And what if I'm too heavy?

[He's very worried.]

[triggerhappytraitor]

I wouldn't have suggested it if it weren't safe.

[[It's said kindly, not as any sort of rebuke.]]

And unless you're much, much, heavier than you look, I don't think it'd be possible for you to be too heavy for it.

[[He might be teasing just a little bit. But just a little]]

[demonicbookworm]

Oh...

[He looks to the motorcycle and approaches it cautiously. It looks cool and interesting... Maybe it'll be fine?]

O-okay. Let's go.

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[The seat flips up easily to show the storage compartment where the spare helmet is held, and Tachibana holds it out with a warm smile]]

Let me know if you need help adjusting it. I assume you've never been on a bike like this before, right?

[demonicbookworm]

[He takes the helmet, then looks at Tachibana expectantly, waiting for instructions what to do with it.]

Y-yes. We don't have these kind of machines back home.

[triggerhappytraitor]

[[Tachibana picks up his own helmet, pulling it down over his head, but leaving the visor up for the moment.]]

I'll be sure to go slowly on it. And if that's too fast, just let me know okay?

[[If it looks like Ruca doesn't quite get how to put the helmet on after seeing Tachibana's own, he'll step forward to offer assistance, but he's fairly sure Ruca will be able to catch on easily enough.]]