//02// [action//quad] [backdated a week or so because of my memory]

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[One walking through the quad this fine day might notice a small teenage boy sitting under a tree with a textbook on his lap. Which really isn't different from any other day, given the nature of the quad, but this particular boy is out of the ordinary because

1) he looks like he's about to cry, and

2) he hasn't turned the page of his textbook for about twenty minutes.

Not that he's going to start crying all over anyone who happens to be near. But having the person he's been living with for the past year and a half, who taught him not to be an indifferent little brat, disappear really puts a damper on his mood. Also, he doesn't really understand his English textbook.]

Comments

[werepanther]

[Cue Tom sitting down next to him. Pulling his legs to his chest, Tom pauses for a moment before gently putting his head on his knee.] ... Miharu? What's up?

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[Miharu honestly isn't expecting anyone to approach him, but he doesn't show his surprise. That is, until he notices how Instructor Bronson is sitting; it's how Yoite always sat. Quickly, he looks back down at his textbook, switching back to indifference mode.] I'm just studying.

[werepanther]

[snorts] What're you studying? It can't be that traumatizing.

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

English.

[werepanther]

... Riiiiiight. [peers down at the story] I'm not the best at explaining, but there's plenty of Japanese cadets hanging around too.

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

It's fine. I'll use the dictionary later.

[werepanther]

Gomen ne. [his Japanese's got a definite American accent, but he's trying?]

... I don't wanna force it out of you, but that's not your problem, is it?

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[Hideous accent or not, he appreciates the gesture.] ...Not really.

[werepanther]

Then let's do something else. [figures that talking about it probably isn't what he wants to do right now] Something that doesn't involve reading English.

[renzokukens.livejournal.com]

[Squall doesn't really come out of his office much, but here he is! He's actually taking a walk around Garden just for a break of sorts and ended up hitting up the Quad and courtyard for a bit of fresh air. Although he can go out onto one of the balconies on the 2F, he had figured he might as well just go down to the main level and stretch his legs.

He spots Miharu and notices the expression he's wearing.]



Everything alright?

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[Miharu looks up to see who's talking, then returns his gaze to his book before responding, sounding bored.] The textbook doesn't have a glossary.

[renzokukens.livejournal.com]

...

[Peers down at the textbook, or rather the page Miharu is reading.]

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[It's an intermediate level English textbook, currently opened to an excerpt from a novel. Miharu watches him look down at it, not bothering to say anything.]

[renzokukens.livejournal.com]

You looked upset because of that?

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

I look upset?

[renzokukens.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

Ah. I'm not. [A lie, but he's been starting to rebuild his mask of indifference. Even if it isn't very convincing lately.]

[renzokukens.livejournal.com]

[Squall's not going to push him for an answer. He'll drop it and let the kid keep his secrets to himself; they're all entitled to keeping the demons in the closet after all.]

If you say so.

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[It's appreciated. Miharu is once again studying the book in his lap; he might as well get some information out of this awkward conversation.] ...What does "betwixt" mean?

[renzokukens.livejournal.com]

It means 'between'.

[Looks back down at the textbook.]

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

Do people use it? [It had taken him about five minutes of mental practice to even be able to somewhat pronounce it. He doesn't like the word.]

[renzokukens.livejournal.com]

Doubt it.

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

Then it's useless.

[renzokukens.livejournal.com]

For us, maybe.

[bunnypassingby]

[Sup, study buddy? Mikuru plops down beside him.]

Are you okay?

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[Why do people keep asking him that?] This story is hard.

[bunnypassingby]

[Because he looks like he's going to cry? Mikuru is unconvinced enough to give him a searching look, but she lets it go for now.] Um, which part are you having trouble with?

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[He ignores the look she gives him.] The vocabulary.

[bunnypassingby]

[Mikuru looks down at the book, and starts indicating particular words in one sentence, translating them into Japanese in what would be the Japanese word order. When she's done, she looks up at him and smiles.]

I try to just memorize the vocabulary. [Yup, still in Japanese.] I make little cards with the English on one side and the Japanese on the other side, and I keep a list up on the wall in my dorm room.

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[He's grateful for the switch to Japanese. It's been a while since he's heard it, with Yoite being gone.]

That sounds better than rereading everything. [Which was what he had been doing. Honestly, he's been making more progress just by paying attention in classes.]

[bunnypassingby]

[Hey, Mikuru likes using Japanese. Not many people understand it; she fears she might one day go back home rusty in her own language.

[She giggles.] Yeah, usually when I just keep rereading something I don't understand, I just feel stupid because I still can't understand it.

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. [This is the reason he's still on that same page after so long.]

[bunnypassingby]

If you like, we could go get materials and I can help you make flashcards or something.

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[He's trying to be indifferent here. >:( ] ...If you want.

[bunnypassingby]

[Mikuru does not care for your indifference!] But do you want to? [Because what someone else wants is more important to her! Than...whatever she was doing.]

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

It would be helpful.

[bunnypassingby]

Let's go, then! [She stands, with a smile.]

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

'Kay. [He closes the book and stands, waiting for her to lead the way.]

[lostmyhyperion.livejournal.com]

Stop crying. [He shouldn't even be bothering him, but the fact that he looks like he's about to lose it is on the verge of pissing off Seifer the wrong way.]

What's your problem anyway?

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[His response is cold. As Seifer should have expected, he's not really in the mood to be nice.] My problem is that people keep asking me that.

[lostmyhyperion.livejournal.com]

Maybe you shouldn't air them in public. Grow up while you're at it. You're not going to get anywhere looking like a disgrace.

[ossutamente.livejournal.com]

[It takes him a second to process the words, but once he does, there's an abrupt change in his mood.] Wow, you're so tough and cool! I want to be just like you when I'm an adult!

[lostmyhyperion.livejournal.com]

Don't try. You couldn't be like me even if you wanted to.