Not yet, no, although that's to be expected when I've been focused on getting my bearings. I'm starting to get acclimatized now, but I doubt anyone's at their best on the first day they arrive here.
[How could they be, when they'd be in shock and filled with questions? Although everyone handles situations differently, he doubts there are many people (if any) who can be smooth and charismatic while they're disoriented from suddenly finding themselves in a world they didn't even know existed until that very moment.]
I'm sure someone as kind and pretty as you has had plenty of invitations, but perhaps we could go to dinner sometime?
[The hugbug starts to open his mouth to say something, but Neito puts his finger up to halt the little wingman. If Orihime isn't interested, he can roll with the rejection easily enough. There's no harm in trying in the meantime. At best, he gets some pleasant company while trying out the local cuisine. At worst, it's just a no, and she doesn't seem like she'd be cruel about it.]
Oh, no, I didn't think you were lagging at all! I was actually really impressed at how quickly you adapted, it's rare!
[It's possible that he's just like this back home too, but even still, she finds that almost everyone tends to be fairly reserved, even the ones who do loosen up enough not to get nervous in situations where moonlacing is sort of foisted on people due to traditions, accidents, and magically inconvenient scenarios.]
[She'd better make sure he knows this is a trait he should be proud of.]
I was really shy about it when I first came here. One of my best friends was in the city too, and I was so embarrassed about what he might think of me, and worried that he might feel the same way, that I pretended I didn't know he was here and never really reached out to him so he could keep living free of expectations. And I figured it would be awkward for other new people too, so I just kind of act like I'm ignorant about a lot of things to make things easier on other people, you know? That they don't have to do anything they're not ready to do. But you look so comfortable and at ease, it's really amazing!
[Orihime grins foolishly down at her yam, just holding it in her hands for now. Was that a bit much? Maybe. But it's all very true. She's about to laugh and shake her head when it seems like he's about to do the same for her, but she stops short when she realizes that this boy she just met has asked her out on a real date.]
[Not even people back home ever had the guts to do that with her. Granted, Tatsuki might have killed them, but even so...! She stares at him in shocked silence for a long moment, blinking, then blushing hotly.]
Oh...wow...no, you're the first person that ever asked me out...! This is kind of exciting, I didn't even have an amazing response prepared.
[How should she answer? She never really thought about it before. Mostly she just gets dropped into awkward scenarios, rolls with it, and manages to stay alive a little longer with the chroma that comes from holding hands, hugging, and even two or three kisses.]
...Yes? It's a little lackluster, ha ha! But yes. Definitely! I'd be really excited, honestly!
[That's a lot of information to take in and the way she phrases things when she talks about her best friend, he guesses that perhaps she had some attraction to him. Regardless, he listens quietly, and for the moment, he's just grateful he didn't just make a fool out of himself by asking out someone he's only just met.
Still, if she's talking to him about the problem, then maybe it's not something she's allowed herself to talk about with anyone who's met both her and her best friend.]
Apologies if I'm out of line in saying this Inoue-san...but if you avoided one of your best friends, then maybe you already knew deep down that this place would have an impact on your friendship and you wanted to avoid that.
["Free from expectations" is a rather telling phrase.]
I can only guess it's an unrequited crush, based on the way you were talking about it.
[He looks thoughtful. Maybe he's killing his chances with her here by being overly blunt about this, but it seems like such a shame to him for someone to avoid a person they're close to.]
It might be that he's not attracted to girls, or maybe he's not attracted to anyone at all.
[As she listens to Neito's straightforward response and advice, one thing becomes absolutely clear to her:]
[She gave more than 'a bit much!']
[Orihime chuckles sheepishly as heat rises to her face. That was far too much information to dump on the shoulders of someone she only just met, who had a spine of steel to straight up ask her out too! She feels so stupid.]
[Still...he's being really nice about it. And what he says makes sense to her, she can't really disagree with what he's saying.]
N...no, you don't need to apologize. I was just trying to compliment you, and I got carried away.
[Another small nod when he suggests that Ichigo might not be attracted to anybody, or just not attracted to girls. Maybe. But the way he looked at Rukia, she was sure...]
I might just not be his type.
[She starts to open her mouth, to state all of her worst qualities that might have pushed him away, but that seems needlessly unkind to Ichigo. And, again, 'a bit too much' for someone she's just getting to know.]
I shouldn't have avoided him. It was just...a lot to talk about. I wasn't ready, you know? I guess I'm still not, so...
[Her shoulders hitch.]
Anyway, now you know a lot more about me than you probably wanted to know, ha ha! I'd like to know more about you, though.
It's fine to not be ready...especially without knowing what moon he was affected by.
[He's not fully used to this place yet, but he has done his research.]
That gives you less than half of any given month to know for sure that neither of you would be under the influence of any external forces. Not to mention any potentially embarrassing transformations.
[Though he doesn't think he'd be as avoidant, it's clear by his tone that he's not judging and can consider some reasons why this might be extra awkward for a person.]
As for me...well. I attend a school called UA. It's the most prestigious school in Japan for people who want to become pro-heroes and is recognized as one of the best worldwide. Although it's not only aspiring pro-heroes who attend UA. There is also the support class, the business class, and the general studies class. I'm a first year student in one of the two hero classes, class 1-B.
[Orihime nods once, fascinated as she listens to him speak. He's right about the moons. Sanguis in particular can ruin a potentially sensitive conversation. They're more susceptible to fits of temper, jealousy, and possessiveness. That's the last side of her she wants to show to someone like Ichigo who's only ever been nice to her. If she confessed having feelings for him, he might feel obligated to humor her. It was a complicated situation, and Neito gets that. It makes her smile a little as she listens, internally relaxing.]
You're really nice, Monoma-san.
[It's no wonder his little follower likes him so much.]
[Oh, but the mention of a hero school hooks her interest even further. She turns all of herself to face him, wide-eyed and fascinated.]
You're a hero?! The kind that fights crime and saves people? And there's a school for it too...!
[She wants to go to that school so bad. D:]
Oh! That means you probably have a superpower too, ne? ...Or is that a secret?
[She lowers her voice conspiratorially. Maybe he has to keep up an alter-ego secret identity so he can do his hero work.]
Pro-hero is an occupation that works closely with law enforcement and other emergency services. In my world, roughly eighty percent of the population possesses some sort of superpower. We call them quirks.
[He's perfectly happy to explain some of the details of his world, especially since she seems interested.]
Mine is called copy. I'm able to copy the abilities of people I touch for a maximum of ten minutes.
[He can't help but be mildly amused at the idea of his quirk being a secret. He's heard of old stories that existed before people developed quirks, where such things were considered a secret.]
It's not a secret. It's right on my provisional license, and all quirks are registered with the government when people manifest them in childhood. Typically between the ages of three and five.
[She's listening so intently, even her sweet potato momentarily forgotten as she's swept up in the ideal of a world where she wouldn't have to keep her own powers a secret. Of course, if she WERE born into such a world, there's a chance she'd wind up taking quirks for granted. So maybe this just makes her more appreciative?]
Can I see your license?
[She grins, having relaxed considerably after the previous topic.]
I wonder if you could copy my powers too. It's not a quirk, so I'm not sure if that would work out. But you're welcome to try it!
[He passes over his license, more grateful than ever that his picture had turned out all right. It's far from the most flattering picture that's ever been taken of him, but as far as ID card pictures go, it's at least nothing to be embarrassed about. The picture reveals that the license has information both in Japanese and in English. His registered hero name is shown as "Phantom Thief" if she's reading the information.]
I think it's certainly worth a try. With quirks, it normally works with even the slightest touch. Just to be sure, we can hold hands for about ten seconds or so.
[They probably won't need that long at all, but it's a harmless way for them both to get a little Chroma.]
I can say with confidence that if my quirk doesn't copy a power within ten seconds, it's unlikely to work at all.
[Her fingers are sticky so she doesn't take the license from him; instead she opts to lean toward him and just look. Phantom Thief, wow!]
What a cool hero name!
[Because he steals powers? Sort of? Or just kind of shares them? ...Okay, she can't see the connection, but that doesn't matter. A good hero name is important when making an impression on the criminals, and he picked one that's excellent. It's suave and mysterious!]
[She brightens at his offer to hold hands, pinkening a little, but definitely interested.]
Okay! Just a second...
[Orihime crams the last bite of her yam into her mouth, crumpling up the foil and throwing it away, then hastening to the closest water fountain to rinse the sticky juices from her fingers. Once her hands are clean, she wipes them on her skirt to dry them and hurries back to take her spot on the bench. She holds her hand out, beaming.]
[He takes the offered hand, feeling the sensation of energy coursing through them both in an instant. It only takes a second before a set of hair clips much like hers appear in his hair.]
Oh my. You have excellent powers, Inoue-san. In my world you'd probably have no problem becoming a pro-hero.
[In fact, her abilities remind him a little of the little girl whom he failed to copy, Eri. Perhaps if he's able to remember his time here, he can use the knowledge of a similar power set to help the child control her quirk like Aizawa-sensei had asked.]
Provided you did well in the entrance exams to get into hero school, of course.
[As if he didn't have her full attention before, she's fully facing him and leaning forward, fists raised.]
I'm not sure what kind of exams you have where you're from, but I'd definitely study my hardest! I've always wanted to be a hero.
[Too bad she's usually eclipsed by the others, who are far stronger than she is, with powers more in line with heroic duties.]
...You really like them? It's kind of nice, being able to share them with someone else.
[And he reacted so positively, too. Even knowing what she can do, he doesn't seem repulsed at all at the potential she carries. She can relax a little.]
That's amazing, Monoma-san. With just a touch, you were able to understand my abilities. Even if you couldn't use them, that's still a really valuable skill. But you can, so really...around the right people, you could do just about anything.
[He nods at her question. Yes, these are impressive powers.]
The entrance exams are a mix of your standard academic exams, as well as a combat exam. We had to fight giant robots. Points were given for defeating them, but what they didn't tell us going in was that there were also points given for helping others.
[And though they've known each other for less than an hour, he feels confident making a call about how she might have fared in the exam, based on her powers and what he's observed of her personality.]
While Tsubaki would allow you to defeat any robot you came across with ease, the rescue portion is where you would have really stood out to UA's teachers. Strong combative powers are all well and good, but people who won't help others unless there's a direct benefit to them are not the sorts of people UA wants in the hero program.
[The majority of students who'd been accepted had a mixture of rescue and villain points.]
I suspect that's why they didn't tell us about the rescue points until after the exam. Then it's not only a test of using our abilities and how we handle ourselves in a combative situation, it's also a test of character.
[Orihime nods vigorously, her face completely serious. He's right, and so is the UA. It's why her friends are such good heroes in her eyes, too. They fought and suffered trying to save her, there's no way she could ever see them as anything subpar.]
[But if he got accepted, that means Neito is cut from the same cloth. He cares about helping people. Even just sitting here and talking with her, she can't deny the warmth and reassurance she feels just from his presence. He's dependable, and makes her feel like she has a shot at rising to his level someday.]
It's important. I've seen some really great fighters before. But they weren't great people.
[That crazy man with the painted face who blew up his own subordinates just to lay a trap for her and Ishida, for one. Not all of the shinigami won their positions with the intention of saving people. But, to keep the mood from getting too heavy, she exhales a happy sigh.]
I wish I could have fought giant robots too. They're so cool.
[Grinning at her new friend, she inclines her head in subtle gratitude. It was nice of him to boost her confidence like this.]
Since you're new, why don't I show you around? I can help you get settled, if you have an apartment.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[How could they be, when they'd be in shock and filled with questions? Although everyone handles situations differently, he doubts there are many people (if any) who can be smooth and charismatic while they're disoriented from suddenly finding themselves in a world they didn't even know existed until that very moment.]
I'm sure someone as kind and pretty as you has had plenty of invitations, but perhaps we could go to dinner sometime?
[The hugbug starts to open his mouth to say something, but Neito puts his finger up to halt the little wingman. If Orihime isn't interested, he can roll with the rejection easily enough. There's no harm in trying in the meantime. At best, he gets some pleasant company while trying out the local cuisine. At worst, it's just a no, and she doesn't seem like she'd be cruel about it.]
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[It's possible that he's just like this back home too, but even still, she finds that almost everyone tends to be fairly reserved, even the ones who do loosen up enough not to get nervous in situations where moonlacing is sort of foisted on people due to traditions, accidents, and magically inconvenient scenarios.]
[She'd better make sure he knows this is a trait he should be proud of.]
I was really shy about it when I first came here. One of my best friends was in the city too, and I was so embarrassed about what he might think of me, and worried that he might feel the same way, that I pretended I didn't know he was here and never really reached out to him so he could keep living free of expectations. And I figured it would be awkward for other new people too, so I just kind of act like I'm ignorant about a lot of things to make things easier on other people, you know? That they don't have to do anything they're not ready to do. But you look so comfortable and at ease, it's really amazing!
[Orihime grins foolishly down at her yam, just holding it in her hands for now. Was that a bit much? Maybe. But it's all very true. She's about to laugh and shake her head when it seems like he's about to do the same for her, but she stops short when she realizes that this boy she just met has asked her out on a real date.]
[Not even people back home ever had the guts to do that with her. Granted, Tatsuki might have killed them, but even so...! She stares at him in shocked silence for a long moment, blinking, then blushing hotly.]
Oh...wow...no, you're the first person that ever asked me out...! This is kind of exciting, I didn't even have an amazing response prepared.
[How should she answer? She never really thought about it before. Mostly she just gets dropped into awkward scenarios, rolls with it, and manages to stay alive a little longer with the chroma that comes from holding hands, hugging, and even two or three kisses.]
...Yes? It's a little lackluster, ha ha! But yes. Definitely! I'd be really excited, honestly!
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Still, if she's talking to him about the problem, then maybe it's not something she's allowed herself to talk about with anyone who's met both her and her best friend.]
Apologies if I'm out of line in saying this Inoue-san...but if you avoided one of your best friends, then maybe you already knew deep down that this place would have an impact on your friendship and you wanted to avoid that.
["Free from expectations" is a rather telling phrase.]
I can only guess it's an unrequited crush, based on the way you were talking about it.
[He looks thoughtful. Maybe he's killing his chances with her here by being overly blunt about this, but it seems like such a shame to him for someone to avoid a person they're close to.]
It might be that he's not attracted to girls, or maybe he's not attracted to anyone at all.
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[She gave more than 'a bit much!']
[Orihime chuckles sheepishly as heat rises to her face. That was far too much information to dump on the shoulders of someone she only just met, who had a spine of steel to straight up ask her out too! She feels so stupid.]
[Still...he's being really nice about it. And what he says makes sense to her, she can't really disagree with what he's saying.]
N...no, you don't need to apologize. I was just trying to compliment you, and I got carried away.
[Another small nod when he suggests that Ichigo might not be attracted to anybody, or just not attracted to girls. Maybe. But the way he looked at Rukia, she was sure...]
I might just not be his type.
[She starts to open her mouth, to state all of her worst qualities that might have pushed him away, but that seems needlessly unkind to Ichigo. And, again, 'a bit too much' for someone she's just getting to know.]
I shouldn't have avoided him. It was just...a lot to talk about. I wasn't ready, you know? I guess I'm still not, so...
[Her shoulders hitch.]
Anyway, now you know a lot more about me than you probably wanted to know, ha ha! I'd like to know more about you, though.
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[He's not fully used to this place yet, but he has done his research.]
That gives you less than half of any given month to know for sure that neither of you would be under the influence of any external forces. Not to mention any potentially embarrassing transformations.
[Though he doesn't think he'd be as avoidant, it's clear by his tone that he's not judging and can consider some reasons why this might be extra awkward for a person.]
As for me...well. I attend a school called UA. It's the most prestigious school in Japan for people who want to become pro-heroes and is recognized as one of the best worldwide. Although it's not only aspiring pro-heroes who attend UA. There is also the support class, the business class, and the general studies class. I'm a first year student in one of the two hero classes, class 1-B.
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You're really nice, Monoma-san.
[It's no wonder his little follower likes him so much.]
[Oh, but the mention of a hero school hooks her interest even further. She turns all of herself to face him, wide-eyed and fascinated.]
You're a hero?! The kind that fights crime and saves people? And there's a school for it too...!
[She wants to go to that school so bad. D:]
Oh! That means you probably have a superpower too, ne? ...Or is that a secret?
[She lowers her voice conspiratorially. Maybe he has to keep up an alter-ego secret identity so he can do his hero work.]
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[He's perfectly happy to explain some of the details of his world, especially since she seems interested.]
Mine is called copy. I'm able to copy the abilities of people I touch for a maximum of ten minutes.
[He can't help but be mildly amused at the idea of his quirk being a secret. He's heard of old stories that existed before people developed quirks, where such things were considered a secret.]
It's not a secret. It's right on my provisional license, and all quirks are registered with the government when people manifest them in childhood. Typically between the ages of three and five.
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[She's listening so intently, even her sweet potato momentarily forgotten as she's swept up in the ideal of a world where she wouldn't have to keep her own powers a secret. Of course, if she WERE born into such a world, there's a chance she'd wind up taking quirks for granted. So maybe this just makes her more appreciative?]
Can I see your license?
[She grins, having relaxed considerably after the previous topic.]
I wonder if you could copy my powers too. It's not a quirk, so I'm not sure if that would work out. But you're welcome to try it!
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I think it's certainly worth a try. With quirks, it normally works with even the slightest touch. Just to be sure, we can hold hands for about ten seconds or so.
[They probably won't need that long at all, but it's a harmless way for them both to get a little Chroma.]
I can say with confidence that if my quirk doesn't copy a power within ten seconds, it's unlikely to work at all.
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What a cool hero name!
[Because he steals powers? Sort of? Or just kind of shares them? ...Okay, she can't see the connection, but that doesn't matter. A good hero name is important when making an impression on the criminals, and he picked one that's excellent. It's suave and mysterious!]
[She brightens at his offer to hold hands, pinkening a little, but definitely interested.]
Okay! Just a second...
[Orihime crams the last bite of her yam into her mouth, crumpling up the foil and throwing it away, then hastening to the closest water fountain to rinse the sticky juices from her fingers. Once her hands are clean, she wipes them on her skirt to dry them and hurries back to take her spot on the bench. She holds her hand out, beaming.]
Ready!
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Oh my. You have excellent powers, Inoue-san. In my world you'd probably have no problem becoming a pro-hero.
[In fact, her abilities remind him a little of the little girl whom he failed to copy, Eri. Perhaps if he's able to remember his time here, he can use the knowledge of a similar power set to help the child control her quirk like Aizawa-sensei had asked.]
Provided you did well in the entrance exams to get into hero school, of course.
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[As if he didn't have her full attention before, she's fully facing him and leaning forward, fists raised.]
I'm not sure what kind of exams you have where you're from, but I'd definitely study my hardest! I've always wanted to be a hero.
[Too bad she's usually eclipsed by the others, who are far stronger than she is, with powers more in line with heroic duties.]
...You really like them? It's kind of nice, being able to share them with someone else.
[And he reacted so positively, too. Even knowing what she can do, he doesn't seem repulsed at all at the potential she carries. She can relax a little.]
That's amazing, Monoma-san. With just a touch, you were able to understand my abilities. Even if you couldn't use them, that's still a really valuable skill. But you can, so really...around the right people, you could do just about anything.
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The entrance exams are a mix of your standard academic exams, as well as a combat exam. We had to fight giant robots. Points were given for defeating them, but what they didn't tell us going in was that there were also points given for helping others.
[And though they've known each other for less than an hour, he feels confident making a call about how she might have fared in the exam, based on her powers and what he's observed of her personality.]
While Tsubaki would allow you to defeat any robot you came across with ease, the rescue portion is where you would have really stood out to UA's teachers. Strong combative powers are all well and good, but people who won't help others unless there's a direct benefit to them are not the sorts of people UA wants in the hero program.
[The majority of students who'd been accepted had a mixture of rescue and villain points.]
I suspect that's why they didn't tell us about the rescue points until after the exam. Then it's not only a test of using our abilities and how we handle ourselves in a combative situation, it's also a test of character.
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[But if he got accepted, that means Neito is cut from the same cloth. He cares about helping people. Even just sitting here and talking with her, she can't deny the warmth and reassurance she feels just from his presence. He's dependable, and makes her feel like she has a shot at rising to his level someday.]
It's important. I've seen some really great fighters before. But they weren't great people.
[That crazy man with the painted face who blew up his own subordinates just to lay a trap for her and Ishida, for one. Not all of the shinigami won their positions with the intention of saving people. But, to keep the mood from getting too heavy, she exhales a happy sigh.]
I wish I could have fought giant robots too. They're so cool.
[Grinning at her new friend, she inclines her head in subtle gratitude. It was nice of him to boost her confidence like this.]
Since you're new, why don't I show you around? I can help you get settled, if you have an apartment.