soulstutters

[soulstutters]

Okarun had messed up. He knew that. But this was getting excessive. You guys were going against these schlong-stalking aliens and their stupid shrimp but it was starting to feel like he was your enemy.

Every time he treaded towards you in the water, you would swim in the opposite direction. You used Momo as an excuse, saying you wanted to be near her, but you were a terrible liar.

When Momo insisted you all get on Okarun's back, you were practically floating above him the whole time. He almost chalked it up to an aversion to touching skin on skin, but you stubbornly clung to Momo.

Once the whole ordeal was finished, you all found yourselves in the school nurse's office. Okarun tried to extend an olive branch, offering to help you find clothes in your size. But, again, you made the insane decision to avoid him against your better judgement. In his opinion, at least.

At this point, Okarun was really starting to get irritated. He spent several minutes listening to Momo's ticked off rant pushing him to apologize. But how was he supposed to explain if you wouldn't even look him in the eye?

So, he cornered you. Kind of.

You sigh as you reach for the handle of the door you were changing behind in the nurse's office, preparing to face Momo and the two lovebirds again. You don't really like the idea of them together, but if Aira's who Okarun's chosen, it's fine. You'll get over it. Eventually. For now, though, you're dead set on avoiding him.

You very quickly find out that Okarun is dead set on making that extremely difficult to do. As you step out in your borrows clothes, you're faced with the sight of a lone Okarun staring at you expectantly. You almost want to step backwards into the closet, but you've been trying to keep your evasion subtle.

You close the door behind you and stand there for a moment, suddenly feeling awkward. Your willpower could have you standing there across from him forever, but your legs don't have the same strength after today. Trying to make it look smooth, you stride over to the recovery couch.

Eternally persistent, Okarun moves from his chair to sit on the opposite end of the couch. You can't find it in you to spitefully move right now. Instead, you just clench the sheet under you and lean back on the wall behind you.

Okarun starts to talk. You let yourself listen, finally.

"What you saw with Miss Shiratori and I earlier is not what you think." You're tempted to get up and leave at his first words, peeved that he has the nerve to lie to you. But you'd promised Momo you'd give him a chance. And, if you're honest with yourself, you want to hear this. You don't want to believe they're really together.

"Ok," you state simply, giving Okarun the space to speak. You can tell he appreciates it, if his relieved sigh means anything.

"She came onto me. I guess she developed some weird crush on me after we helped save her. She ambushed me while I was outside-"

"But why were you avoiding me - I mean us during lunch? If you were so busy working, what were you doing outside?"

"..."

"Right." You stand up to leave, pace around, do something other than listen to Okarun lie to your face. His hand shoots out and latches on to your wrist. You glare down at him, only to be met with a pleading face. You are weak. You sit back down.

"I was training," Okarun mumbles so quietly you almost don't hear. But you do.

"Training for what? How to be someone's boyfriend?" You spit at him. You know you're being petty but he clearly thinks you're stupid.

Okarun groans loudly and throws himself back against the wall. "I was training...so I could be stronger. Like Miss Ayase's grandmother said. I have to be strong to..." He paused as if he was trying to find the right words. "To protect you." At this, he looked back at you.

"Okay." You were really stressing him out.

"Okay?"

"Okay. I believe you." Okarun beams. "But!" He deflates again. "I don't need you to protect me. What I need is for you to be honest with me. Okay?"

Okarun smiles so brightly you almost get angry at him all over again. "Okay!"

You two look at each other in silence before you hear a click. Both of your heads swing towards the door, which opens to reveal a smirking Momo.

"Are you two done with your little quarrel," she asks, mischievous eyes darting between you and Okarun.

"Yes," you both say in sync, though in completely different tones.

"Good! Now you can focus on your love for each other!" Momo starts to chuckle.

"WHAT!"

"Our What."

Momo's giggles quickly grow into cackles as she almost falls on the ground laughing. Behind her, Miko and Muko appear.

"Do you two know what's going on with her?" Okarun asks tentatively.

"Never do," sighs Miko as Muko shakes her head.

You simply sigh deeper into the couch, not noticing Okarun's adoring stare on your form.