<div class="floatleft">(https://elliquiy.com/elluiki/images/a/ac/Taro03.jpg)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Taro Ikeda (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=257738.msg12730054#msg12730054)<br/><strong>Location:</strong>Cafeteria >> School Grounds<br/><strong>Time:</strong>Flashback - a few days before school starts, morning >> early afternoon<br/><strong>With:</strong>Shizuma + Open<br/><hr/>"I will," Taro assured Shizuma that he would not let her become a burden, but he didn't really foresee it happening any time soon. She was likeable enough, and now that she had stopped calling him 'san' for good, it felt like they were becoming real friends. That was certainly worth investing a little bit of time.<br/><br/>"My parents? Oh, I think they don't mind having their place to themselves. How best to say it... It is not always convenient for a married couple to have someone else around, under the same roof." He winked, certain Shizuma would get what he was hinting at. Taro actually blushed a little, accepting Shizuma's hand so shortly after he had hinted at intimate relationships, but he didn't want to turn her offer down. Such close contact between a man and a woman who hardly knew each other struck him as inappropriate, but at the same time he welcomed the gentle touch of her hand.<br/><br/>As they toured the school grounds, Taro felt the same every time the wind buffeted the pink-haired girl in his direction, and he was glad they talked about completely normal topics. It didn't really matter if there were actual air spirits involved, or if Shizuma just lacked control of her powers. He liked being so close to her. He felt... appreciated, felt that he was doing right by this girl he liked, when she came so close to him. Once or twice he even felt tempted to place his arm around her hip or her shoulders, draw her in close, but he couldn't quite bring himself to cross that line. They had just met, and Taro had no clue what Shizuma would make of such an intimate gesture. No, it was best to focus on their chat about mundane school topics.<br/><br/>"Maybe you can have someone mail you some of your old stuff?" Taro suggested, when they stopped on the small bridge. He tugged at the sleeves of his jacket, but no amount of pulling could hide the fact that they were a little too short. "But maybe it's not worth it. I've grown out of this jacket the last two years, and maybe you'll have the same problem with your old clothes?"<br/><br/>He leaned his back against the railing, resting his arms on it, looking in the opposite direction from Shizuma. His eyes glanced over the small greenhouse the gardening club had out here, at the edge of the school grounds, while he listened to her next idea.<br/><br/>"Maybe I can lend you some money," he offered, turning his head to look down at his new friend. "My parents provide me with an allowance that covers my basic needs, rent, food, clothes, but I had a part-time job last year, doing deliveries for one of the local restaurants on weekends. I spent some of it on myself, but I still have half of it saved. You could pay me back in installments, once you find a job?"<br/><br/>Taro turned halfway towards her, his hand resting on the railing very close to Shizuma now, without touching her. "I suspect you might say no, but before you do, think about it. I have what I need to get by, and my needs are small. And I am not talking about every last Yen of my savings, just enough to get you a few basics." He bit his lip for a moment, his eyes narrowed in thought. Was it really a good idea to suggest what he was about to? He had already made up his mind to do it, and while shopping was not exactly what he had had in mind, perhaps it was an inevitable part of it.<br/><br/>"Besides, I was thinking about showing you around town, if you like? We'd probably end up stopping in some shops anyway..." His voice trailed off, as he wondered how that would turn out, but there was no convincing reason not to make the offer. He had already shown Shizuma around the school, he lived in the city. Not extending his offer of playing guide for her when it came to the city wouldn't make any sense.