#1.

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

“What?! What did I say that’s so funny?” 

She was confused, was she really that humorous? She didn’t intend to…

What confused her the most, however; is Ayaben laughing this enthusiastically.

The people in front of them stared at him for a while, wondering what in the world was wrong with him, she bets. She would have thought so too, anyway.

“My gang? Oh, they are! Sometimes it gets annoying though.” She didn’t even notice the hint of envy in his tone.

“I know I am! I just mean, every girl I’ve encountered are really delicate. Well, except my mother…” She said, her mom flashing into her mind. 

“And besides, they’re afraid of me anyway.” She shrugged, placing her hands in her pocket.

“Heh, can’t imagine you being delicate. If you curled your hair a little and dressed differently, hmmmn…” Ayabe began muumbling as his purchases were being scanned and placed in their respective plastic bags. He paid it and took the bags before glancing back at Mafu Mafu, “Hey, so, you’re going home?”

Oddly, this was the closest thing he had to ‘hanging out’. It was pathetic and he didn’t even realize it. 

“Maybe I can look delicate if I cut my hair? But I don’t think it’ll suit me. I could just get this dye off, maybe they won’t realize I’m a yankee…” She shrugged, checking her watch. 

“Right now? I can, if I want to. But I still need to buy something.” She said, pointing back at the counter.

She completely forgot about the napkins the thing she had to buy. She sighed and turned around, waving at him.

“Well, bye then, I guess?” She said that, but she really just didn’t want him to see what she needed to buy. It’s embarrassing to buy that in front of a guy. 

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

“Oh. So it’s like you’re the only decent one?” She wondered why he thought so lowly of his own brother, but she guesses it’s just because he’s that much of an idiot that even Ayaben can’t deny it.

“But doesn’t it feel fulfilling? To know that you’re actually needed?” 

She was suddenly reminded of Kenkawa, Maizono, the rest of the gang. They looked up to her, they needed her as their leader. It was some sort of substitute for younger siblings, since she’s just an only child. 

“Fun?” She said, turning to him.

“Of course it’s fun! Well, the feeling of victory does.” She said, looking at her hands.

“And besides, if I hadn’t been in the gang… Well, I wouldn’t be friends with Kenkawa and Maizono right now.” She shrugged, grinning at him.

“I’m not good at talking to girls… they’re just so delicate.” 

“Delicate? Pfftt…Ha ha ha—” Ayabe started chuckling, which slowly turned into a hearty laugh. Does she even know she , too, is a girl?

His stomache started hurting, laughing was rare for him, and a tiny tear formed at the corner of his eye. He wiped it off before moving forward in the line, “Your gang, they sound lively.” He said it wit a bit of envy in his eyes. He can’t goof off like them. But it was fine. 

“You’re a girl too, but I doubt you’re anywhere near delicate, Mafu Mafu.”

“What?! What did I say that’s so funny?” 

She was confused, was she really that humorous? She didn’t intend to…

What confused her the most, however; is Ayaben laughing this enthusiastically.

The people in front of them stared at him for a while, wondering what in the world was wrong with him, she bets. She would have thought so too, anyway.

“My gang? Oh, they are! Sometimes it gets annoying though.” She didn’t even notice the hint of envy in his tone.

“I know I am! I just mean, every girl I’ve encountered are really delicate. Well, except my mother…” She said, her mom flashing into her mind. 

“And besides, they’re afraid of me anyway.” She shrugged, placing her hands in her pocket.

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

“Nothing outside responsibilities? What about friends?” 

 

“I mean…you look cool enough to be approached, really.” She said as a matter-of-factly, nodding to herself.

“You can be a bit of an ass though, with all the glaring at first. But you can be sort of…friendly.” She assured, feeling as though this could actually defuse the tension.

“I see them at school, that’s more than enough.” He sighed at this. He was being constantly nagged to join them in outings, but again, that was a luxury he can’t afford. ”It’s fine, cool or not, I’m fine as it is. You’re one to talk, you’re a girl but you’re in a gang.” 

“No it’s not. That’s less than enough.” She poked his cheek and stared, he should really socialize more.

A small voice in her head said, But you don’t socialize, too!  

Well, she didn’t, but at least she had friends!

“Besides, isn’t one of your siblings in middle school too? You can let him…or her, take care of the others while you’re away!” 

She pouted at his remark,

“What’s so wrong about being a girl in a gang? It might be unusual, but it’s not like I can’t handle it.” 

“He can’t do anything right. He even finds difficulty in remembering the fire department’s number. ” He spoke of his younger brother as if he was an idiot, which was true. Even if he relied on them a bit, he can’t help but worry. It was his job to care for them all this time anyway. “They can’t do anything without me.”

Soon enough, the cart was full and they waited in line. Ayabe stashed back the two parts of the list in his pockets and glanced at the yankee girl, “If you’re really part of a gang, then you must have lots of ‘fun’.” He quoted the word as if it was so terrible.

“Oh. So it’s like you’re the only decent one?” She wondered why he thought so lowly of his own brother, but she guesses it’s just because he’s that much of an idiot that even Ayaben can’t deny it.

“But doesn’t it feel fulfilling? To know that you’re actually needed?” 

She was suddenly reminded of Kenkawa, Maizono, the rest of the gang. They looked up to her, they needed her as their leader. It was some sort of substitute for younger siblings, since she’s just an only child. 

“Fun?” She said, turning to him.

“Of course it’s fun! Well, the feeling of victory does.” She said, looking at her hands.

“And besides, if I hadn’t been in the gang… Well, I wouldn’t be friends with Kenkawa and Maizono right now.” She shrugged, grinning at him.

“I’m not good at talking to girls… they’re just so delicate.” 

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

“Nothing outside responsibilities? What about friends?” 

 

“I mean…you look cool enough to be approached, really.” She said as a matter-of-factly, nodding to herself.

“You can be a bit of an ass though, with all the glaring at first. But you can be sort of…friendly.” She assured, feeling as though this could actually defuse the tension.

“I see them at school, that’s more than enough.” He sighed at this. He was being constantly nagged to join them in outings, but again, that was a luxury he can’t afford. ”It’s fine, cool or not, I’m fine as it is. You’re one to talk, you’re a girl but you’re in a gang.” 

“No it’s not. That’s less than enough.” She poked his cheek and stared, he should really socialize more.

A small voice in her head said, But you don’t socialize, too!  

Well, she didn’t, but at least she had friends!

“Besides, isn’t one of your siblings in middle school too? You can let him…or her, take care of the others while you’re away!” 

She pouted at his remark,

“What’s so wrong about being a girl in a gang? It might be unusual, but it’s not like I can’t handle it.” 

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

“Can’t I just push the cart?” She suggested, not even bothering to remember his reminders. 

“You can do all that, anyway.” She added, looking around. Ugh, all the food made her hungry. She should go home right away, she thought; or she might miss dinner.

“Anyway, why’re you in charge of the groceries? Isn’t that supposed to be the mom’s job, or something?” 

“My mom’s a nurse, her sched’s too busy. Dad’s pretty much the same with his job.” He spoke of it so casually. He was always asked that kind of questions, and repeating the same answer over, and over again was getting tiring. “I’m the eldest so I’m stuck parenting, cleaning, cooking, and everything.” He started explaining as he gathered the items on the list, “Sort of like chores, ‘cept their more than usual.”

“Oh.” She said absent-mindedly, nodding.

She just realized how she never really experienced that. Her mom’s a house-wife, so she has all the time in the world. She doesn’t have to worry about babysitting too, since she’s an only child. She wondered how stressful it was to be like Ayaben.

“Do you even have fun, Ayaben?” 

“I mean, with all that stuff to do… I reckon I wouldn’t be able to run around and deal with fights if I were in that predicament.” She added, staring at him.

“Fun? Cleaning is sort of fun when you turn it into a game. It’s not like it’s a bother, I don’t have anything outside of my responsibilities anyway— unlike you i’m not part of a gang.” He ignored her stares and kept his gaze away, focusing solely on the items as his head drifted off.

“I guess fun is a luxury.” He admitted shortly once he realized he never even hang out with even his classmates. 

“Nothing outside responsibilities? What about friends?” 

“I mean…you look cool enough to be approached, really.” She said as a matter-of-factly, nodding to herself.

“You can be a bit of an ass though, with all the glaring at first. But you can be sort of…friendly.” She assured, feeling as though this could actually defuse the tension.

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

“Can’t I just push the cart?” She suggested, not even bothering to remember his reminders. 

“You can do all that, anyway.” She added, looking around. Ugh, all the food made her hungry. She should go home right away, she thought; or she might miss dinner.

“Anyway, why’re you in charge of the groceries? Isn’t that supposed to be the mom’s job, or something?” 

“My mom’s a nurse, her sched’s too busy. Dad’s pretty much the same with his job.” He spoke of it so casually. He was always asked that kind of questions, and repeating the same answer over, and over again was getting tiring. “I’m the eldest so I’m stuck parenting, cleaning, cooking, and everything.” He started explaining as he gathered the items on the list, “Sort of like chores, ‘cept their more than usual.”

“Oh.” She said absent-mindedly, nodding.

She just realized how she never really experienced that. Her mom’s a house-wife, so she has all the time in the world. She doesn’t have to worry about babysitting too, since she’s an only child. She wondered how stressful it was to be like Ayaben.

“Do you even have fun, Ayaben?” 

“I mean, with all that stuff to do… I reckon I wouldn’t be able to run around and deal with fights if I were in that predicament.” She added, staring at him.

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

“Well, duh. You know how some idiots can be; trying to fight a girl by groups.” She said casually, as though she was just telling him about how wonderful the weather was.

“Oh uh…, thanks, Ayaben.”

Finally, they reached the grocery store.

“Honestly, this place is so far away.” She hissed, pocketing the sanitizer he gave her.

“Well we’re here now, stop being a snake, Mafu Mafu.” The nickname resurfaced again as they entered. He took the one of the rolling carts since he had to buy a lot— mostly ingredients for meals. “Since you’re here, want to hold the cart or the list?” 

“Hmpf.” She looked around the crowded grocery store, trying to remember what she was supposed to buy.

“Well, I don’t think I’ll be able to read your handwriting; so I’ll stick with the cart.” She said bluntly, grabbing the cart as she waited for further instructions.

“Separate the food from the cleaning products, and the refrigerated goods from the easily stored ones.” He reminded her as they started walking towards the vegetables. “Keep a sharp eye for the greens, the greener the better!”

“Can’t I just push the cart?” She suggested, not even bothering to remember his reminders. 

“You can do all that, anyway.” She added, looking around. Ugh, all the food made her hungry. She should go home right away, she thought; or she might miss dinner.

“Anyway, why’re you in charge of the groceries? Isn’t that supposed to be the mom’s job, or something?” 

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

“Well, duh. You know how some idiots can be; trying to fight a girl by groups.” She said casually, as though she was just telling him about how wonderful the weather was.

“Oh uh…, thanks, Ayaben.”

Finally, they reached the grocery store.

“Honestly, this place is so far away.” She hissed, pocketing the sanitizer he gave her.

“Well we’re here now, stop being a snake, Mafu Mafu.” The nickname resurfaced again as they entered. He took the one of the rolling carts since he had to buy a lot— mostly ingredients for meals. “Since you’re here, want to hold the cart or the list?” 

“Hmpf.” She looked around the crowded grocery store, trying to remember what she was supposed to buy.

“Well, I don’t think I’ll be able to read your handwriting; so I’ll stick with the cart.” She said bluntly, grabbing the cart as she waited for further instructions.

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

“Well, you can’t expect me to be a gang leader without getting into some nasty fights.” 

After his sanitizing, she put her hand on her mouth, trying to stifle the sound of her giggling.

“Clean— hands— are— good— HAHAHAHAHAHA!” 

She couldn’t even finish the sentence, this is just too amusing for her.

“You’re always fighting?” Instead of being wary of being in the presence of a gang leader, he was more worried of being constantly dirtied. Poor girl.

He took his extra sanitizer, conveniently stored in his jacket’s inner pocket, and handed it to her, “Take it, you can’t refuse.”

“Well, duh. You know how some idiots can be; trying to fight a girl by groups.” She said casually, as though she was just telling him about how wonderful the weather was.

“Oh uh…, thanks, Ayaben.”

Finally, they reached the grocery store.

“Honestly, this place is so far away.” She hissed, pocketing the sanitizer he gave her.

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

princeofbrooms:

manlierthanmostguys:

“You ass.” She hissed, grabbing his hand and steering him forward.

“Weren’t we supposed to go shopping, Ayaben?” She asked, adding emphasis on the nickname.

“We? Oh so now you’re clinging on to me, Mafu Mafu?” Before he could end up being dragged all the way to the grocery store, Ayabe matched his paces with Mafu Mafu the yankee girl. “I can walk you know!”

“I’m not clinging, Ayaben. Didn’t I tell you earlier that I’ll join you, just in case you get a mental breakdown? You’ve got to do something about that memory of yours.” She said, grinning at him. Even when Ayaben he caught up, she didn’t let go. She seemed to have forgotten about her hand on his.

“I know you can walk, I’m just steering you to the right direction.”

“My memory is fine, Mafufu.” He decided to shorten the nickname even if it sounded like some sort of odd chuckle. “Are you hands clean?” He asked all of a sudden, his eyes focused on their hands. 

“Whatever you say then, Ayaben.” She said, rolling her eyes.

Are your hands clean?

She suddenly blinked surprisingly at him, and then she started laughing.

“You— honestly— care— about— that?!” She exclaimed, inbetween laughter.

She clutched her stomach that was aching, continuing to laugh at him.

“What are you talking about— I was just asking!” Heat crawled to his face, making him turn red. “Stop laughing you— I said stop! And you never answered my question!”

She wiped a tear off her cheek, the laughing exhausted her.

Still, smiling she replied:

“It is, Ayaben. Stop being so paranoid.” She said, waving her hand dismissively.

“Well, I think it is. I mean, I wiped off the blood from earlier…” She said, looking upward as though thinking.

“THERE WAS BLOOD??????” With a handy hand sanitizer ready for use, he quickly applied it on her hands, and on his too. “Repeat after me, clean hands are good hands. “

“Well, you can’t expect me to be a gang leader without getting into some nasty fights.” 

After his sanitizing, she put her hand on her mouth, trying to stifle the sound of her giggling.

“Clean— hands— are— good— HAHAHAHAHAHA!” 

She couldn’t even finish the sentence, this is just too amusing for her.