(no subject)

[burningbow]

WHO: Mirai and Sayuri.
WHAT: A private lesson.
WHERE: Archery Dojo.
WHEN: Tuesday May 9th, after classes.

Mirai had not the slightest concern he was opening the club outside of hours. He saw two reasons that he could. First, that he was the captain and he had the keys to open the dojo anytime. Secondly, that he truly wanted to help Sayuri better herself into becoming a fine young woman who could do anything she said. That was the best he hoped for. It wasn't lost to him that people would still just talk.

He helped Sayuri unload a number of the wooden arrows and put them in a container by his feet. Then he showed her a kind smile that seemed to hide all his problems.

"You really did come. You are very punctual," he said.

Comments

[burningbow]

"Of course. Though you truly aren't a disappointment, Sayuri-chan," Mirai said warmly. Then he showed her his bright smile, spreading it gently across his face first, and then turning his lips up to spread it ear to ear. And it lay on his face as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

He began inspecting his bow, turning its string towards him first, and then fingering down to check the rigidity of the wire. He did this carefully and with slow attention. He began to make things almost comfortable.

"If, somehow, you turn that way, then I'll keep on top of you."

[conformity]

She only let out a small and polite (but somehow almost awkward, too) laugh in response to what he said. "I'm glad to have senpai watching out for me like that.."

At least it wasn't like it was entirely a lie or anything. Sayuri was the kind of person who could hardly take any action or decision by herself, after all - she always needed someone else to guide her, someone to tell her what to do. And her senpai were great candidates for that role, especially considering Mirai was involving in this whole mess just as much as she was.

A voice in the back of her mind still couldn't help but nag her about whether she really wasn't a disappointment after all though, even as she grabbed her bow as well, clutching it tightly.

"It's.. very kind of you."

[burningbow]

Mirai began to make things uncomfortable when he came towards Sayuri and began circling her with patient attention. His presence and warm smile kept things comfortable; Sayuri was the kind of nice person he liked to give his special help.

His middle-index fingers were sliding up-down the twine of his bow.

"It's my job, right? That's what most captains would say. But I like you." A nice smile. "So then. What is your problem?"

[conformity]

But I like you..?

What was that supposed to mean? He wasn't just doing it since she was a part of the club he was the captain of? But why would he want to do it for her in particular-- Sayuri's mind already couldn't wrap itself around that one very basic question to begin with, really. She wasn't anything special. Yet Mirai seemed to think so. Why?

When she couldn't think of a single way to answer that question, she instead just tried to focus on the latter half after standing there for a moment completely dumbfounded.

"A.. ah, right! I'm mostly having trouble keeping the bow steady, really.."

Mostly due to nerves. Maybe it would be easier if she'd just be practicing here alone with Mirai (although he was definitely intimidating in his own special way) but when the others were all there as well, she was so afraid of failing in front of everyone that it practically gave her performance anxiety bad enough to make her hands shake.

[burningbow]

When Sayuri's words shook slightly the corners of Mirai's lips gracefully smiled. To his increasing delight, she was barely able to look at him. To this, he stopped walking around, headed right over and looked completely pleased by everything. His eyes turned to the bow cradled in her hands

"If it helps, I have trouble keeping my bow steady too, sometimes," he offered.

In the relative quiet, he sounded kind and useful. Only he knew what else he was thinking.