retrospec | [video] forward dated to 9/13

Ryoji Mochizuki shared a video.
09/13 near Apprassage

[ The video starts up, dark, silent. A bedroom, if an empty desk and neatly made bed and too many cardboard boxes count as a bedroom, and then the view flips over with a soft ] Oh. [ as the user finds the front-facing camera instead of the rear that he always uses on his phone. ]

Hi... It's been a while.

[ The bottom half of the screen blurs as Ryoji draws his knees to his chest where he sits on bare floorboards, phone in his hands. He doesn't introduce himself— doesn't need to, when his name is up there for people who don't know him, his face right here for people who do: the people he's recording this video for, whispers in an empty room. ]

I'm back. I know there are probably questions as to why, or how... and I can't really explain it well myself. But I'll answer the best I can, if you want to ask, texting or in person.

[ Ryoji sits up a little straighter now, looks a little more serious. This is what he meant to say: a confession. ]

But before that, I want to say that I'm glad to be back, however it happened... a second chance like this. I also want to be more upfront about myself, and there are things I want to say to a lot of people.

There was a time in the past where I was a monster: I'd hurt a lot of people, and I ran from all of that, hid myself away, and pretended it hadn't happened. The memories I've been experiencing, I kept the good ones close, the bad even closer, pretending they weren't real and that they have nothing to do with me. I thought... that it would be better to forget about all of that and return to a simpler time. Unconsciously, I think that's what I did. I went back to before everything happened, to start over, and do better this time. But I got it wrong. I made myself forget, but I wasn't forgotten...

[ He's rambling now, a little, so he turns his eyes away from the screen, staring off at something in the distance- it's the moon reflected in his eyes, only half. ]

There's somebody I still need to say goodbye to, but after that... I want to see so many of you. I owe a lot of "thank you"s and "I'm sorry"s and "I love you"s, and I want to be with people again. I don't want to leave this world or its people ever again.

So... I'll see you guys soon.

( ooc: forward dated to 9/13 to give myself a buffer. replies can be via text, or an in-person if you want to fast-forward to ryoji showing up at your character's house/class/chance meeting at some cafe/hi roommates/he'll be finding people around town somehow. for his cr, please assume he checked up on them, whether it's handwaved or not! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ he chinhands ]

Told...? I've love to know who.

[ryoji why are you like this]

Why don't we go order drinks while we're here?

Okay.

[ He gets up and stretches his legs, but that doesn't mean she's off the hook. ]

We can get coffee and cake and you can tell me all about this person you care about.

Or we could just get coffee and cake and talk about cats.

[HELP HER. but she's getting up and following...]

[ Hazelnut for him, as is his usual, and then a simple pound cake with strawberry creme in between the two layers. ]

Would it be easier to practice on a cat? You can come over sometime, and talk to mine.

[she's getting a strawberry shortcake, with tea for herself.]

No, I don't need to-

[..... and then her ears stand straight up in interest.]

You have a cat?

Her name is Katkat. Akira's cat is named Morrigan.

[ Two cats, Cleo. Now she's gotta come over. ]

[.... SHE REALLY WANTS TO NOW

but

talking about her stupid crush

BUT CATS

THE STRUGGLE

HELP HER, RYOJI

HELP HER]

That's cute... What kind are they?

[ :)

The drinks and cakes get ordered to-go. ]

Katkat is... [ Actually, what kind of breed is she? Ryoji doesn't know; he'd gotten her because she was small and cute and liked biting at his ankles. ] a calico, and Morrigan is black and white.

Cute...

[SHE'S EXCITED NOW]

Wait, to go? We're going now?

Yes?

[ Is there a reason not to? They came to the cafe for Ryoji to embarrass himself and leave happy, and now it's Cleo's turn. ]

Well... All right, then, but don't think that's all it will take for me to talk...

[cleo this isn't a crime drama you aren't being coerced into a confession]

[ Yes it is ]

What else will it take? We can swing by the cat cafe later after saying hi to the house cats...

Nothing. My mouth is sealed.

[until the cats happen.]

[ He laughs; that's fair, but he's always been persistent. ]

Alright. Are you okay with walking? It isn't far, and I don't know if your bike has cup holders.

Of course, I don't mind.

[ryoji this is the girl who runs 10ks for fun regularly]

[ But this is a leisurely walk! With coffee and tea and cake, like they're friends. Look at them being friends, walking over to a friend's house. Did you know, friends tell their friends about their crushes. Because they're friends.

That's to say, Ryoji gives Cleo this very expectant look the entire way to his house. ]

[honestly

she's crumpling like wet paper under that look]

Why are you looking at me like that?

I thought... maybe we were close enough friends, that you would trust me enough to confide in me?

[oh no

oh no why the friendship angle

HELP HER]

I- Of course, we're close, I trust you with my life! It's just...

[ He waits patiently for her to continue, because haha he's her friend but he's also a menace who will not help this time.

Please do go on. ]

[She's dying, Ryoji.

Her face is beet-red, her head is lowered a bit, and her ears are laying flat in embarrassment. And when she finally manages to speak it's in a low whisper.]

... It's Minako...

[ ...He's surprised, but he's not surprised at the same time, alternating between wanting to exclaim out loud or make Cleo repeat that so he makes sure he heard her correctly. But if she trusted him with this, then he'll keep it a secret, cross his heart. ]

...Would it be so hard to tell her?

[ Amazingly, Cleo isn't the first person he's guided towards telling Minako their feelings. ]

Absolutely yes.

[FEELINGS ARE SO HARD TO DEAL WITH, RYOJI.]

[ No??? Ryoji is literally made of emotions, he cannot relate. ]

Why? I think it would make her really happy to know.

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