She's pretty straight forward and doesn't like talking much. Even though Tuyet acts more professionally than I do, she and Hau get along very well. They care about each other a lot, but Hau's more relaxed than she is.
... They're both good people. You'd be great friends with them.
Huh... They sound like Yamato and Miyako kinda. Only kinda. [It was a rough comparison to make, but when it came to the whole 'sibling' thing. Well, even now... Hiro still found Miyako's case more than odd.] They're both dependable, but they aren't very good at handling normal social situations sometimes. Well, Miyako is a lot more easier to speak with. And Yamato's gotten a lot better compared to before... But he's still kinda awkward.
[And when it came to getting along... Well, Hiro has seen the two of them butt heads and figured that it was the standard for siblings to do that. It was the definitely the impression that Hiro had internally guessed from Ai and her sister.]
So if you worked together with 'em, then that means you guys built a fun little dynamic, right?
[Honestly, he knew that he could've said something different. But he couldn't resist the chance to make Ai a little angry. She looked cute whenever she was a bit steamed.]
Pfft-- I-I'm--[He's trying not to laugh.] I'm sorry! I really am! But it's just silly to me. [DEEP BREATHS.] Why wouldn't you wanna make friends with your allies?
[He feels genuinely bad now. Compared to her, his life used to be very normal in comparison. It would've been like a dream.]
That's usually where parents come in for that kind of stuff. [Hiro was generally rebellious towards his, but he still learned the standard lessons. Anyway, he figured that the only way to ask this was to be direct.] So what happened to yours?
Her mouth opens, but no words come out. Why was this so hard? Why has she taken so long to talk about anything?? One hand reaches up to brush her hair behind her ear as she struggles to find the right way to reply.]
[Hm. It sounded like a tender subject. Hiro didn't want to sound like he didn't care, but he didn't want to sound too pushy either. It would've been easier to joke this off. But he felt like that would've been dancing around the elephant in the room and that might have ended up hurting Ai. And naturally, he was a very curious George, so...]
I'm not gonna pry if it's a difficult subject... [For once, he's sounding serious.] But I do want to learn more about you, Ai.
[Oh, well... He couldn't help and feel his cheeks turning somewhat pink from seeing that smile. It was definitely an improvement compared to how she looked before, yet-]
Um, sure! But, erm...
[There's a short pause.]
What did I do, though?
[Hiro wasn't fully sure what he was thanked for. He just said what felt natural for him!]
[He's internally very embarrassed, but he's trying to play it cool with a self-assured smirk. Look closely and you'll notice his cheeks are still somewhat pink.]
Buuuut that's what friendship is all about! Supporting each other through the best of times and the worst of times!
[Feeling more heartened, Ai takes a sip of her tea before replying.]
I guess it's not too late for me to keep learning about that. Before, I felt like I didn't have anyone to be there for me... But I think I should have been there for others in the first place. I want to be a good friend.
It's always a two-way street. If you're there for others, then they'll return the favor. But then you've got some assholes who reject that kind of thing.
[And rather confidently, Hiro picks up a cookie and takes a sharp bite out from it. There's a trollish smile to cross his features whenever he brings that up.]
Buuuut there's a way to break through to those kinds too. It's a very easy secret.
[Ai looks a little confused as she opens up a bag of red hot spicy chips (although what he just said did kind of remind her of a certain person she just argued with...)]
If it's an easy secret, it wouldn't be actually secret... Would it?
[And he'll be putting that pile onto a napkins as he clears his throat.]
--Anyway! The answer is very simple! To people like that, you need to be aggressively persistent!
[It worked for Keita, it worked for Ronaldo, it worked for Yamato, it worked for Miyako... He saw no reason to stop with that answer. Hiro pauses again as if he's letting that sink in for Ai for a moment.]
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... They're both good people. You'd be great friends with them.
[Unlike her...]
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[And when it came to getting along... Well, Hiro has seen the two of them butt heads and figured that it was the standard for siblings to do that. It was the definitely the impression that Hiro had internally guessed from Ai and her sister.]
So if you worked together with 'em, then that means you guys built a fun little dynamic, right?
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[ai what's with that pause]
. . .
. . .
I wasn't... I wasn't really good at talking with them...
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Then he decisively says-]
... You suck, Ai.
[AT LEAST HE'S HONEST.]
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W-Where did that come from!?
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Pfft-- I-I'm--[He's trying not to laugh.] I'm sorry! I really am! But it's just silly to me. [DEEP BREATHS.] Why wouldn't you wanna make friends with your allies?
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[Look Hiro, her environment was stifling okay]
Things like allies, making friends, maintaining friendships... No one ever really talked to me about those things, not even my sister.
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[He feels genuinely bad now. Compared to her, his life used to be very normal in comparison. It would've been like a dream.]
That's usually where parents come in for that kind of stuff. [Hiro was generally rebellious towards his, but he still learned the standard lessons. Anyway, he figured that the only way to ask this was to be direct.] So what happened to yours?
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Her mouth opens, but no words come out. Why was this so hard? Why has she taken so long to talk about anything?? One hand reaches up to brush her hair behind her ear as she struggles to find the right way to reply.]
I...
[Was there a right way?]
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[Well. It's something.]
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I'm not gonna pry if it's a difficult subject... [For once, he's sounding serious.] But I do want to learn more about you, Ai.
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But he wasn't faulting her for it. That's all she needed to hear.]
... Hiro?
[Her smile is glowing.]
Thank you.
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Um, sure! But, erm...
[There's a short pause.]
What did I do, though?
[Hiro wasn't fully sure what he was thanked for. He just said what felt natural for him!]
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[Yeah. Yeah that's it. TOTALLY.]
I'm really happy about that you know.
[She's poking her fingers together looking shy all of a sudden.]
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[He's internally very embarrassed, but he's trying to play it cool with a self-assured smirk. Look closely and you'll notice his cheeks are still somewhat pink.]
Buuuut that's what friendship is all about! Supporting each other through the best of times and the worst of times!
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I guess it's not too late for me to keep learning about that. Before, I felt like I didn't have anyone to be there for me... But I think I should have been there for others in the first place. I want to be a good friend.
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[And rather confidently, Hiro picks up a cookie and takes a sharp bite out from it. There's a trollish smile to cross his features whenever he brings that up.]
Buuuut there's a way to break through to those kinds too. It's a very easy secret.
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If it's an easy secret, it wouldn't be actually secret... Would it?
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Well, I could tell you the answer that! But you'd had to lay down 50 credits for the "A Hiro Is Always Right" Foundation.
[Is he trolling or being serious? Either way, he's holding his hand out... GIMME SOMETHING, AI.]
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THEY SURE ARE FLAMIN. HOT. RED. AND SPICY.
Ai however, gives Hiro's a thumbs up!!]
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Okay, the wisecracking was supposed to be reserved for him. You could see a red vein popping above his head if one squinted.]
Do you want me to kick your ass?
[Not that he'd seriously do it since he's a nice person. But the thought is there.]
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--Anyway! The answer is very simple! To people like that, you need to be aggressively persistent!
[It worked for Keita, it worked for Ronaldo, it worked for Yamato, it worked for Miyako... He saw no reason to stop with that answer. Hiro pauses again as if he's letting that sink in for Ai for a moment.]
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[For a moment it does appear she's thinking about what he just said. And really, she is! But...]
... You don't really like losing do you?
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Huh? What bought this up exactly?
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