He could say no. It was none of JK's business. For that matter, it wasn't any of Tomoko's business, either. If it'd been Joujima whose book he was returning, no one would blink.
How much had Tomoko seen? When Shirakawa had asked if he wanted to stay, he'd almost been tempted. This Rider Club thing was wrecking havoc with his ability to stay on-goal; hanging out someplace where he wasn't reminded of Switches and where he could be himself for the most part had seemed such an inviting prospect. Shirakawa had tried to give him another book, too, and that had reminded him that he hadn't read the one he'd returned, that he didn't have time for such things. When he'd said no to both, she'd made that expression—the one that he'd maybe imagined meant that she thought—or maybe it was just him that thought it—that he couldn't spend all his time at the hospital.
Maybe it was that look that had done it. It only meant something if he accepted it, he would say to Tomoko if she'd give him the chance. Or maybe he should have gone after her to explain. He hadn't thought she would take it so seriously. But he should have realized—Shirakawa had been out of uniform. There had been so many ways to misunderstand the situation, but he hadn't thought of them at the time. At the time, he'd left to go see Jirou. It was just Jirou that needed him, he'd thought at the time. Jirou alone. Shirakawa's silent entreaties didn't mean anything.
"It was. Focus, JK-kun. You can't date her. Anyway, what should I do? I don't want Tomoko-chan mad at me."
no subject
How much had Tomoko seen? When Shirakawa had asked if he wanted to stay, he'd almost been tempted. This Rider Club thing was wrecking havoc with his ability to stay on-goal; hanging out someplace where he wasn't reminded of Switches and where he could be himself for the most part had seemed such an inviting prospect. Shirakawa had tried to give him another book, too, and that had reminded him that he hadn't read the one he'd returned, that he didn't have time for such things. When he'd said no to both, she'd made that expression—the one that he'd maybe imagined meant that she thought—or maybe it was just him that thought it—that he couldn't spend all his time at the hospital.
Maybe it was that look that had done it. It only meant something if he accepted it, he would say to Tomoko if she'd give him the chance. Or maybe he should have gone after her to explain. He hadn't thought she would take it so seriously. But he should have realized—Shirakawa had been out of uniform. There had been so many ways to misunderstand the situation, but he hadn't thought of them at the time. At the time, he'd left to go see Jirou. It was just Jirou that needed him, he'd thought at the time. Jirou alone. Shirakawa's silent entreaties didn't mean anything.
"It was. Focus, JK-kun. You can't date her. Anyway, what should I do? I don't want Tomoko-chan mad at me."