June 12th, The Woods, Near midnight

[independent_dollmaker]

[Once again, it comes to this. Not that anyone present would be thinking of it this way.

On a dark night, deep in the woods behind Izumizaki, eight friends sit in a circle around a crackling fire. Holding hands, they look into the fire, its dancing shadows playing tricks on the imagination beyond the circle. Maria's established the rules, all that's left is to kick things off.]

So... on the count of three, then?

Comments

[independent_dollmaker]

[Pointedly ignoring the science question, but speaking up later, after all the others have gone their separate ways save for these two.]

I still can't believe you actually asked her.

[loveandwillpower]

What kind of friend would I be if I went back on promises as easy as that?

[independent_dollmaker]

I didn't ask you to make a promise like that, you just decided it on your own! You don't even like Nui, do you?

[loveandwillpower]

I wasn't expecting her to go for it, obviously!

...Fyi, she doesn't like me but she totally likes girls, you're welcome!

[independent_dollmaker]

That's not what I'm-- what? She does?

[Derailment successful.]

[loveandwillpower]

I threw my dignity and social standing to the wolves for the sake of a cunning plan in the name of love, behold the power of Minako Aino.

[ WHAT DIGNITY ]

[independent_dollmaker]

Is that what all this was about? Does anyone not know about this, or am I wasting all this effort trying to keep secrets?

[loveandwillpower]

One or two people don't know.

[ As for her question about wasting effort... ]

Neither of them is Osaka.

[independent_dollmaker]

Osaka found out? How is she not the last one to catch on?!

[loveandwillpower]

Because that would be Nui.

...Either that or she just assumes that everyone is in love with her from the start and then goes backwards from there, that's what I'd do if I was that hot.

[independent_dollmaker]

Oh.

[Let's all take a moment to appreciate how well Minako has upended this conversation.]

...Do you think she likes me?

[loveandwillpower]

I can only do so much, you know.

Take the cat by the horns and find out yourself!

[independent_dollmaker]

Cats don't have horns.

[loveandwillpower]

Then take the bull by the tits or however it goes!

Go! Ask her out! Don't make me break out Plan C!

[independent_dollmaker]

Bulls don't - l-look, I don't think Nui needs all her friends bothering her to go out with them in a row. She probably has enough to worry about already!

[loveandwillpower]

Of course she does, who wouldn't want that, don't try to weasel out of it!

[independent_dollmaker]

Why would Nui want to date me? I'm just the plain girl with the granny dresses!

[loveandwillpower]

Well she doesn't want to date me so maybe granny dresses are her type!

[independent_dollmaker]

I don't think someone who dresses like Nui does could be into granny dresses.

[loveandwillpower]

Then you should change your image to catch her eye! You could pull off the goth look, or something else old-fashioned but more dashing, like a sharp suit with a matching hat.

[independent_dollmaker]

...I don't know if I could pull off a 'look' like that. For starters, I'd just be too embarrassed.