will the real anime protagonist please stand up

[protagchan]

[ ah, it's sunny out...

you know, as i get older i realize the days just start to blur together. i can't really tell one day from the next 'cause it's all the same to me. i do the same things over and over again that everything i do has lost meaning to it.

i wake up, i eat breakfast, i go to school, come home from school, sit around and play some games while i do my homework, eat dinner somewhere along the way and i go to sleep.

and then it repeats, just like that, every day. and it's been like this for, what, i dunno -- half of my life? and then this is just going to keep on going for... however long i'm alive for. it's really boring, isn't it? living that kind of life.

which is why, right at this moment, i sigh heavily. before me stands perhaps the greatest obstacle of my day: a hill that i must climb in order to reach the school campus.

ugh, anything but this...

it's true, this route could easily be avoided -- if i wake up early enough, i could take the longer way around, or if i had a bicycle i could just bike my way up the hill, or if i had friends who lived in my neighborhood, they could walk up with me and it wouldn't be so boring.

except it's all too much trouble and i'd rather not waste my time. it's going to be more work to figure out an alternative. best not to prolong the inevitable, either -- i'm going to have to climb this hill for the next two years of my life anyway.

it's way too early for this.

i take my first step -- left foot first -- and just as my foot is about to hit the ground, my right foot just about to push off to take the next step, something odd happens. it takes me by surprise and i stumble, losing my balance after not even one single step and i fall to the ground, my ass meeting the pavement that i would have been treading along had things... gone to plan, i guess.

something rustles from the bushes to my right, and within a moment's notice something i've never seen before comes out from it. a dark puddle or blob or something moves to the left, a little, then to the right. it stops, moves forward and then moves back... and looks right at me.

-- panic settles in --

what the hell is going on right now? why is it looking at me? shit --

why is this happening to me? ]

Comments

[herosfriend]

Neither do I, but I'm not risking catching a cold because you wanted to live a little, you know.

[iwanthamburger]

If you catch a cold, I'll come to your place and feed you chicken soup.

[herosfriend]

Tempting.

But this dress is a pain to take on and off.

[iwanthamburger]

... Come on, it can't be that complicated.

If you want to do it, just do it. I'm not going to argue with you anymore.

[herosfriend]

Lunch is ready by now. We should get going.

If you could set the table, that would be great.

[iwanthamburger]

[Grump. Aki grabs her clothes, glances over at Ayase.]

Last call for naked lounging.

[herosfriend]

I'll take a rain check.

[ Ayase leaves the bathroom first, goes to prepare the curry. Yay lunch ]

[iwanthamburger]

Boo.

[Aki gets dressed in a flash and follows after Ayase, sets the little table up. It's just big enough for them both to sit at - Aki doesn't see a need for a bigger one.]

If you were wearing something easier to take off, would you have done it?

[herosfriend]

[ Since the table is so small, Ayase scoops rice and curry onto plates for them. If they were at her place, she'd just put the pot there in the middle of everything for accessibility.

She brings those plates over, sets one down in front of Aki and then one for herself. ]

Maybe, who knows. Mostly, I just need to discipline you a little more.

[iwanthamburger]

What, are you gonna hit me with a rolled up newspaper?

[Aki just takes a big ol' bite.]

It's not my fault I want you to relax. You've got stiff shoulders.

[herosfriend]

Do I? I've never noticed.

[ Small bites for Ayase, though if Aki notices, Ayase has a smaller portion to begin with ]

[iwanthamburger]

Hm.

[Chomp.]

You need to eat more, too. Being a bit chubby is a lot better than being too skinny.

[Chooomp.]

Ah, this is good. Thanks.

[herosfriend]

I'm eating enough.

[ Chew, chew. ]

I'm glad. I'll make anything you want any time, Aki-chan.

[iwanthamburger]

... Would the reason you didn't want to take your clothes off be that I would have seen how scrawny you are?

[Chomp.]

When I carried you back then, it was way too easy.

[herosfriend]

Something like that.

[ Hmm. ]

I've always been kinda of small. I don't consider myself slim just... That. Small.

[iwanthamburger]

What if I outright told you to take your clothes off?

[Chomp.]

You're the kind of girl that makes everyone worry about you.

[herosfriend]

It's not like I ask anyone to be worried for me. I can take care of myself just fine.

[ Chew, chew. Then she thoughtfully puts down her spoon. ]

I wouldn't say no.

[iwanthamburger]

Take your clothes off.

[herosfriend]

[ ... Ayase stands up from the table, and in one fluid motion the buttons are undone, the belt is unbuckled and the dress drops, pools around her feet.

Look at that matching bra and underwear. Look at how thin she is.

She sits back down, shivers a bit ]

[iwanthamburger]

I thought you said it was a pain to take off.

[Aki stands up and walks over.

Pokes her in the side. Geez, she can feel your bones really easily, Ayase.]

You cold?

[herosfriend]

[ She doesn't flinch, but she frowns. ]

Don't do that.

[ She sighs. ]

A little, yeah.

[iwanthamburger]

You know I can't see something like this and not worry, right?

You aren't skin and bones, but you aren't far off.

[herosfriend]

You were the one who wanted to lounge naked.

You don't have to worry about me, Aki-chan.

[iwanthamburger]

[Poke, poke, poking bones.]

[herosfriend]

I said stop that.

[ Swat. ]