canon: it's not my fault that i'm not popular!

[nevermyfault]

[ "Of course I don't want to be played by you. All you muns, you probably throw all of your muses into sex games and have them all screw one another!! That's all you pigheaded fools think about isn't it?! I guess it's only natural when the lot of you are disgusting neckbeards whose only idea of a good time is touching yourself to your characters!

...Wait. If I don't get played, am I just going to sit here and become even less popular?! Damn it... is this what they mean by a catch 22?! I've got no choice. I must get into a game! And there's one perfect outlet...!" ]

M-Mun... t-there's an ATP c-coming up soon.... s-so could you... um... p-put an ad out for me...?

Comments

[splendid_solitude]

Geez... If you've got something important to say, speak up already!

1/3 because Tomoko is a comment spammer's dream

[nevermyfault]

2/3

[nevermyfault]

[ "Who the hell is this?! I knew I'd come across weird people if I was put out here like this. But... Ah, I don't care who it is. I'll just use them to get out of this slump. It's a small step but if I can't even talk to this person, how can I talk to an entire collective in a game?" ]

3/3

[nevermyfault]

Ah... w-well... n-nevermind...

[ Mission failed. ]

[splendid_solitude]

Your seriously going to give up just like that? How pathetic.

[nevermyfault]

...Uh... it wasn't... important...

[ Not exactly the most conversationally sound, this girl. ]

[splendid_solitude]

If it wasn't important, then why did you bring it up in the first place?

[nevermyfault]

I... d-don't know...

[ "Damn it! Where does this bitch get off questioning me about my motives! What business is it of yours in the first place?! So what if this is a public place!! And what kind of lame response was that? Is that all I can come up with? I'm more out of practice than I thought!" ]

[splendid_solitude]

Mein Gott! Your worse then Shinji... At least he could talk to a person for five seconds.

[nevermyfault]

[ "Shinji... Wait! It couldn't be! The fiery redhead that I'm actually having a conversation with right now is... Asuka?! Damn it! I'm caught between surprise at her being here and being insulted by being compared to a coward like Shinji!! No, being called worse. Worse than Shinji Ikari... I have to prove her wrong. Come on, Tomoko, stop being so scared!" ]

H-Hey... D-Do you wanna... talk then...?

[splendid_solitude]

That depends, are you willing to speak up?

[nevermyfault]

Y-Yes...

[ Zero might just get divided by soon, and all it might take is a famous anime/manga star that she can't let herself act too shy in front of. She didn't want to get even more embarrassed. ]

[splendid_solitude]

Fine, I'll give you one chance then.

Why don't you start by telling me your name.

[nevermyfault]

[ This is the most determined she's ever been not to screw something up. ]

Kuroki... Kuroki Tomoko.

[splendid_solitude]

Much better. I guess I should give you my name now, then. I'm Asuka Langely Shikinami.

[nevermyfault]

N-Nice to meet you... Shikinami-san...

[ "I'm doing it! I'm having a completely normal conversation with Asuka! Ah, but should I have been so formal? Maybe I should have called her Asuka-chan, or given her an endearing nickname... We're friends now so it'd only be natural, right?" ]

[spreadthewings]

Are you alright? You're not scared or anything of your mun to sound that shaky, are you?

[nevermyfault]

N-No... m-my mun isn't intimidating...

[ "Now there's another person... My experience is going to skyrocket! I might even level up at this point!" ]

[spreadthewings]

If you say so. Still, get a deep breath or relax a bit if you can or something. It kinda gives off the feeling that you're scared or nervous that somethings gonna happen. Not that its any of my business or anything, but it just rubs me wrong seeing someone so nervous that something might be up.

[nevermyfault]

O-Okay...

[ She really should be used to people giving a crap about her well being by now, but hey those shoes of hers look mighty nice so she's gonna just stare at them for a while. ]

[spreadthewings]

[ Well... he's not used to being so open with strangers, but this girl kiiiiiinda looks like she's in a wreck, so he'll extend a hand out for a handshake.]

Rock Howard. Nice to meet you.

[nevermyfault]

[ Tomoko recognizes the gesture from one of her games and reaches out to take his hand. Hers might be a bit... sweaty though. ]

Kuroki... Kuroki Tomoko...

[spreadthewings]

[Then its a good thing he is wearing gloves then since hi is hold of her hand is firm, but not squeezing hard as he shakes her hand. He'll be repeating her name quietly to himself before speaking again.]

That sounds like an asian name. Is Kuroki your first or family name? Or do you rather be addressed as Kuroki?

[nevermyfault]

[ "I can't believe it! I'm really holding hands with a boy! What's going to happen now? Are we going to exchange pleasantries before going back to his place? ...Wait, am I even ready for that kind of emotional experience?! Ahh, he'll probably try to sweet talk me beforehand! What should I do? Should I play hard to get, or would that only entice him even more?" ]

F-Family name...

[spreadthewings]

[He'll loosen his hold and starts to pull his hand away then now that the initial greeting is done. Of course, that doesn't really stop him from looking at least the little bit concerned about Tomoko here. Has this girl even been sleeping properly?]

Kuroki then... nice to meet you then. I don't quite know how the rules in this particular place works here, but if you need any help or if there is something I can do for you, feel free to get me anytime. I know we're strangers and all, and this is definitely very sudden too, but... I dunno. Just offering some assistance if you need some.

I guess that nervousness just has me a bit concerned is all.

omfg I love that anime

[divineputz]

It's pretty hard to pick a game. Sometimes you just gotta go out and chose your own team!

it's amazing and terrible in how much I can relate to her /)_(\

[nevermyfault]

[ "Choose my own team? What the hell is that supposed to mean? ...Oh, I get it. This guy must be part of some sports team. He's probably doing all sorts of illicit things with the managers after every game too. Disgusting! Doesn't he know that sort of thing is inappropriate?! But this is three people I've been able to talk to... At this rate I'll be swimming in adoration in no time!" ]

I-I've... never been on a team before...

Everyone was this girl to SOME degree in middle/high school

[divineputz]

[No illicit affairs with managers, just shenanigans in alternate worlds and pretty boys and coincidences...]

Really?? It's a lot of fun, and a great way to learn teamwork and sportsmanship!

Amen

[nevermyfault]

I'm... not very good at sports...

[ She practically has to be forced to engage in P.E. alone, after all. ]

[divineputz]

Really? Well, I'm sure there's some clubs you could join... like table tennis, or art, or something. I don't really know anything about those, though, I play baseball.

[nevermyfault]

Y-Yeah... I guess...

[ Ever the conversationalist, this girl. ]

[kanarienvogel]

Speak up! Maybe I didn't properly hear what you had said!

[nevermyfault]

Hee! I-It's not... important...

[kanarienvogel]

But you're bringing up something to your mun, it must be some importance, I wonder.

[shadez]

Eh? What was that?!

C'MON! IF YOU'RE GONNA SPEAK FROM THE HEART, THEN YOU GOTTA PUT YOUR HEART INTO IT. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO GET YOUR REAL FEELINGS OUT IN THE OPEN.

NOW DO IT.

DO IT!!

[nevermyfault]

[ "Who the hell does this guy think he is, screaming at me like that?! Wait... that boisterous attitude, those tattoos, those shades... It can't possibly be who I think it is! But why would he want to waste his time talking to me? Have I somehow enticed him? Or do I remind him of that little "bro" of his?!" ]

A-Ah... [ "I can't just mumble to myself when he's involved... I have to speak up..." ] W-Well... I...

[shadez]

Huh? What??

[He puts a hand to his ear, leaning in obnoxiously close because what is personal space]

I! Can't! Hear! You!

[moon_flicker]

What's wrong? You don't have to be scared, we're all friendly people here.

[nevermyfault]

A-Ah... I'm fine...

[moon_flicker]

If you say so. But hey, if you ever do want to talk, I'll listen. I'm good at that.

You look like you have a lot you want to say, so don't just let it stay all bottled up, because that's not good for you. You'll feel better to get it all off your chest and open up to someone.

[Zelkova the pep-talker.]

[idkworldruler]

Oh dear, someone has worse self-confidence issues than my mun.

[nevermyfault]

[ "Where do you get off, talking about other people's problems so casually?! And a stranger at that! Don't you know how to talk to girls?!" ]

N-No... I don't-- Ah...

[idkworldruler]

Then speak up.

[eternallypunished]

Hmm? [Kinda does a combination of lean in and lower his head so he can actually, you know, hear her.]

[nevermyfault]

[ She'll just be taking a step back. Any attempt at making words are now all coming out as sounds akin to choking. Tomoko is most certainly not used to attractive (ymmv) guys being near her. ]

[eternallypunished]

[He takes a surprised step back because, don't get him wrong, it's not like he isn't used to girls acting a little like this around him, but this is still kind of...extreme.]

You okay...?