2025-12-20: Cherishing Ichika
- Log: Cherishing Ichika
- Cast: Tsubasa Seki, Ichika Kawase
- Where: Kawase Household, Iwatodai
- OOC Date: 2025-12-20
- IC Date: Tue, Aug 28 2012
- Summary: After the fireworks festival, Tsubasa and Ichika get out of their yukatas and talk about their feelings around their first Formal Date. In between all their flirting, they uncover important points about the roles they want to play in a relationship, and how those differ from their life generally. Ichika's still the Boss, even if she prefers not to lead romantically, and Tsubasa has no interest in taking charge on the field... but feels quite validated in their gender when they can do that on a date.
- Content warning: Sexual references, undergarment nudity
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
The fireworks were, of course, fantastic...
... but eventually it's time to come back. (Home, in Ichika's case.)
After thanking Dr. Ichika's Dad for his help earlier (and assuring him they had a good time, which can be evidenced by the masks, really), it's time for them to head back up to Ichika's room to get out of the yukata. This is as complicated a process as getting into one, so it's helpful to have an extra set of hands.
"Wow," Tsubasa says, as they fold up their cloudy rental to put it safely back into its bag. "That was totally sweet... I ain't never had a yukata or nothin'," though there's a hint of yearning suggesting they might like one. "Nice design..."
They hang up the yukata and nice folded obi -- and they're not scandalous in doing so, they were of course wearing underclothes under all that, their binder and a t-shirt and a pair of shorts -- and their face is definitely going to get sprained, because they're smiling again. "Man, tho'... takin' me girl out to fireworks all proper-like... that was really somethin'. Don't mind bein' selfish meself, here an' there..." Ichika stole them tonight, after all. It's fine; she will surely steal Ryuji instead for another festival, down the line.
"An' you were really somethin'," they add, turning back to Ichika. "I was seriously blown away, man... you don't just do hot, you do elegant too. Callin' you my girl out there... made me real happy, y'know?"
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
They were beautiful! Ichika found them a wonderful cap on a summer that's been... quite a ride. And while it isn't over, it will be very soon. There's just one more thing, really, that she wants to do...
But that comes later.
Ichika caught back up with Ririka at one point, and then at home with her mother, assuring her that she'd also had a great time. Now, back up in her room...
Ichika is a little more scandalous, or would be if she weren't in her own bedroom; she stands in a bra and underwear, because that's what she wore under her yukata. (It's a pretty nondescript bra; beige, no pattern or particular texture, to avoid showing through the yukata.) She hangs up her own and folds the obi nicely; she's done this many a time before, and she smiles back.
"I'm glad," she says. "You should be selfish sometimes. ...And it really was something. I haven't had a date like that in a good while..."
She will definitely steal Ryuji for one eventually, but it probably won't go quite like this.
Ichika beams back, her bleached-blonde hair framing her face nicely, draped just over her shoulders. "Thanks," she says. "...I went all-out for you, you know?"
"Because I am."
"Your girl, I mean."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"Really? Wow... an' th' first time I try to do it proper, too... heh, must jus' be a natural," they brag, as if Dr. Ichika's Dad didn't give them tips.
... well, let's be fair: Tsubasa's gotten tips from far less sources than most guys their age about how to take a girl on a date, so maybe they're not entirely wrong to brag.
"I was thinkin', like... what's th' kinda shit would build you up an' make you feel good? An'... what kinda shit have I always wanted to do? Seems like those things go pre' well together, too... that makes me feel real good."
Well, so does seeing Ichika out of her yukata, but Tsubasa thinks she looks great in both scenarios.
They step up to her once she's done straightening out her yukata, slipping their hands about her midsection as they embrace her from behind. (They waited patiently, of course, because they didn't want to distract her from taking care of her nice yukata.) "I could really tell," they say, voice rumbling at her ear as they tilt their head up. "You looked fantastic out there... you musta put so much effort in. That's my girl... I'll never forget what you did for me tonight."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
"Must just," Ichika agrees amiably, a warm tone in her voice. She knows her dad helped. That's nice; it's nice, that he and Tsubasa get along. ...And besides, Tsubasa's the one who did it.
Build her up, make her feel good... "Most guys don't think that hard about what their girl wants," Ichika points out. "So you're already ahead of them. ...But I like hearing that the two things line up..."
She glances over her shoulder, "Because I want you to feel good."
But then she busies herself straightening out her yukata, and then Tsubasa's hands slide about her. Ichika sighs softly, leaning into her partner. "You could," she repeats, and that makes her happy, too. The murmur at her ear is... distracting, but she manages to keep her composure. "I thought... the lighter makeup suited the yukata situation. I wanna be cool and make people back off day to day, but... I wanted you to look at me today."
"But I always want you to look at me."
She places her hands on Tsubasa's hands, folding them over. "I'll remind you anyway," she says softly. "To make sure."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa gets this ridiculous goofy smile on their face when Ichika agrees on their talent; they might be saved by Ichika being occupied, but, like, they're not gonna mind that much if she sees it.
"Yeah...? Ch... they oughta. It's like... it's real nice thinkin' about it, y'know? They're losin' out... like, every time I got you somethin', or whenever you got into my space, or... like, seein' ya face light up when I thought it might was rewardin' as hell, man. An' I really liked... supportin' ya." It might be kind of a funny way to think about it, when most guys would insist a cute girl is there to support her date, but Ichika might be able to see their logic anyway: she was the one leaning on them back there, after all.
"Day to day, you're fierce as hell... but that ain't all you are," Tsubasa affirms, and it's lucky Ichika's hands clasp theirs, really. (Well, they like that, too.) "I couldn't stop lookin' at you," they say, looking past her to her nice, neat yukata. "You look gorgeous in this thing... you look gorgeous all the time, but that don't mean all ya looks are alike, y'know? It's real special."
They chuckle, into her shoulder. "Out there, you're the Boss... but I love how you'll make some space to let me make ya feel good, too. It's real good bein' someone you can rely on, too... y'know? I like... bein' someone who can carry things for ya, sometimes. Heh... it's funny, 'cuz I ain't no leader, but..." ... well, they're not out there right now, are they?
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika doesn't see it, but she's seen other goofy smiles. She'll see another one soon, probably.
"Heh," Ichika answers. "You're right," she says. "They should. ...You're getting what I'd give them, and all that too." She smiles, looking down. Tsubasa probably can't see her smile, but it's in her voice as she says, "You really do support me. And you did." She sees it, all right; besides, it was literally true too. "You're really good to me..."
Ichika wouldn't mind if Tsubasa gave their hands something else to do--but it would kind of get in the way of the conversation, too, and she does want to hear this. "Special..."
That's more she doesn't usually hear from guys. That she's hot, sure; that she's beautiful, maybe. But each look special...? That's different. And Ichika reflects on that difference, until Tsubasa laughs in her shoulder.
"You make me feel really good," Ichika assures Tsubasa. "I really can rely on you... I always could, but..."
"But it's different, now."
A beat, "...A girl should be able to lean on her guy a little," she says with a sigh. "I can be the Boss out there. But..."
"...It lets me relax with you, yeah? And..."
She bites her lip.
"...I want a guy I don't have to stay tough around all the time. Who I don't have to fight. But who won't use that against me, either. You know?"
"...You still respect me. Even when I do things for you. It's... nice."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
"That's great," Tsubasa smiles, too. "I'm glad I'm as good to you as you are to me, y'know?" She deserves nothing less, in their mind. Frankly: several things more. Maybe some crown jewels... man, that's way outside their stealing experience range, though...
Tsubasa likes talking just as much as anything else, too, so it's fine. Maybe later... y'know. But this is important!
"Yeah," they underline it, when she reflects on the look being special. They're definitely not a girl, but they are fashionable, in their particular way; they know that each look they put out has its own purpose, its own aims, and to just call them all uniformly slick would just make them feel like the person saying it really didn't get the point.
They hum, against her shoulder, indicating their attentiveness as she talks about the differences. How she can relax, and...
"... I think I'm real lucky you'll let ya guard down around me," Tsubasa answers, quietly. "Real privileged, like... 'specially with the shit we been through. Can't imagine not respectin' you... you're clever, man, real sharp, an' you're strong as an ox, tough as one, too... always willin' to do what ya gotta, an' you'd never leave one a yours to eat shit. Like... I can't count the amount a times you saved my ass out there. All that don't go away jus' 'cuz you lookin' hot as hell, y'know? You're my Boss... Joker might be ours, but I'll always be lookin' to you. An' that's 'cuz ya earned it, yeah? You ain't jus' hot, man, you're hot shit."
They nuzzle at the side of her head, another chuckle shaking their chest. "Knowin' all that's what makes takin' you out so special... 'cuz I know ya can be tough. When ya softer... it's a real gift I got. Like, ya trustin' me... that feels so good, man. An' I don't ever wanna do ya wrong."
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika could go for some jewels. ...Maybe not those jewels. They'd be hard to wear out!
Tsubasa gets it; maybe it's because they put so much work into their own looks... Either way, Ichika appreciates it. Ichika leans a little more against Tsubasa, relying on them to stay strong enough that she doesn't fall as she does. She knows she can, after all.
"You're warm," she comments then, and it might seem out of nowhere, but it's something she 'feels'.
"Yeah?" Ichika asks. "...You're not just saying that because 'letting my guard down' means I'll drape all over you?" she jokes. But it's a soft joke; she knows that's not it. "I'm happy about that, though. And you can trust me. You can rely on me. I won't leave you."
"...But if I had what I wanted..."
"I wouldn't have to kick as many asses," she admits. "....But I'm glad just because we have a leader in common you're not gonna stop looking to me. I'd... I'd miss it."
"I'd miss you relying on me like that."
She leans into Tsubasa's nuzzling, starting to shift her hands to let Tsubasa's trace over her belly, instead of just staying still.
"...I like being taken out," she says. "I like it when you can lead like that. ...It... I dunno. Maybe it's just old-fashioned, but it makes me happy."
"...But you know...? I do trust you, and..."
"A gift, huh?" she asks. "...It is a gift," she decides.
"It's my gift to you. ...And as long as you want it, I'll give it to you."
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
Tsubasa's more than happy to provide a solid structure for Ichika to sink into; after all, it's not just something that feels good for her. They're always trying to get away from the tarnished brush of being a girl, and, like... what better way is there to insist they ain't but to let Ichika be the girl?
"O--oh?" Their warmth wasn't something they expected to come up, but the rising tone in their voice is pleased as it is surprised. "Heh... I'd be a pre' piss-poor Phoenix if I weren't, eh?"
They laugh when Ichika makes her joke; like, actually laughs instead of that throaty chuckle, though it's still more hehehe than hahaha. "Ain't jus'," they admit, with a stress on the 'just' which suggests that it might be a good niche benefit. "An' I believe you, yeah...? ... that feels nice, too."
The gift isn't unidirectional, after all; Ichika knows how much it took for them to get here, giving more and more of their guarded heart over to her.
"Not so many asses, sure," Tsubasa says, "but that don't mean you'd stop kickin' ass. Jus' means you'd get to surprise people who tried fuckin' with ya instead a havin' ta broadcast it. But don't you worry," they smile, against her. "You understand me better'n anyone... an' I really don't got th' head for managin' a sitch like you do. If I couldn't look to you, man, I'd be blowin' me top left an' right... you're the one what knows what asses better get kicked. I respect the hell outta that... an' I really need your level head, y'know?"
Ichika's hands shift, though, and Tsubasa's fingers circle the skin about her navel; not quite trying to cut her conversation off, but affirming that they do like the contact.
"Ain't sure it counts as old fashioned if it's me doin' it," Tsubasa points out, against her, and thanks to her consistent affirmation it's something they can be amused about. "Still... I like it, too. Standin' on this side, it's like... I really felt like one a th' guys out there, y'know? I weren't seen as some girl who was broken 'bout it... 'cuz me girl were standin' right next ta me. Makin' you feel more like a girl... helps me feel more confident I ain't. Y'know?"
They hum, into her ear, nuzzling up into it. "... reckon I'll be wantin' a gift that nice a real long time," they add, still smiling.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
The chance to 'be the girl' without being hurt--that means a lot to Ichika. ...Of course, she knows Tsubasa isn't a boy, either--but she hasn't found the edge from which Tsubasa wants to pull back on 'guy', yet. Maybe she will eventually.
"Yes," Ichika says to that rising tone. "...Heheh. You would, huh?" she agrees. "Well, you're a good one."
Ichika's pleased with that joke. It is a benefit! But it's not unidirectional, no. "Cool," Ichika says of Tsubasa's belief. She loves that heart, after all.
"Guess that's true," Ichika admits. "It's important to keep the option open, right?" But... don't worry, they say. "Your passion's good though," Ichika says. "Too, I mean. ...Happy to lend you my level head," she says, and closes her eyes at Tsubasa's circling fingers. She keeps talking, though. "We'll do it together. ...Like we have been. We're a good team."
Ichika smiles, eyes still closed, as she finally lets Tsubasa's hands under hers settle about her hips, ceasing to drag them around for the moment. "That's true," she says of old-fashioned ways. But since Tsubasa still likes it, "Good," she says. "I want to help you feel like that. ...Makes me happy. For me... I know it's not like that for all girls. But being a with a guy helps me... contrast, you know? See what I'm not. And I am a girl. I want to be."
"If that means I get to hang on your arm more, that's cool. But I..." She lets out a soft noise that is no longer just a sigh at the nuzzling against her ear. "Ah..."
"Then I'm yours," Ichika says once she regains her composure. Not 'it', but 'her'.
"..." She bites her lip.
"...Would you... make sure the door locked?"
<Pose Tracker> Tsubasa Seki has posed.
They'll find the edge eventually; they're not a boy, either. But...
In a world which doesn't have much room in-between, getting away from one means that the other can still feel pretty good.
"Great," Tsubasa smiles, when Ichika declares they're a good Phoenix.
And they're still smiling, as she accepts their belief, as she praises their passion. They hum assent, when she asks about options; Tsubasa's pretty sure they can't ever stop seeing Ichika as kicking every ass. Of course she kicks the most asses, that's why she's the Boss! "Yeah," they agree, softly. "A great team."
Team Ichika...!
Their hands are quite happy to settle, there; it's a little daring, but Ichika's good at making it comfortable for them to be bold. "Yeah," they affirm, again. "I feel good when you're enjoyin' ya gender, too... ain't jus' somethin' I need, y'know? An' I reckon, even if I ain't a boy like Ryuji... we still contrast real good. Mm... for instance," they add, their voice a touch lower, "right now, you're much softer..."
They do like her hanging on their arm, as it happens, amongst other things.
The sharp intake of breath she earns when she offers herself up might be just as rewarding, though. "Ye-- yeah, me-- me too," and that's not quite as cool as they were hoping their response would be, but they're still figuring it out; and maybe the genuineness of the rough edges can even appeal more.
"... glad ya thought of it," they add, a moment later, as they step aside for a moment to check the toggle-lock on the door.
They won't be away too long.
<Pose Tracker> Ichika Kawase has posed.
Ichika will be glad to preserve that, too, when Tsubasa finds it. There are things she could do, maybe. ...But those aren't today.
Today, Tsubasa's a good Phoenix.
Team Ichika continues.
Ichika likes daring. ...Besides, she's holding back a little still, which helps her think of the door. But before she lets go, there is one other thing... "Yeah," she says. "I never thought much about gender before, but... I like mine. I don't want to opt out. And sure, you're not a boy, but..."
Contrast. Their voice lowers, and Ichika shivers lightly. "Yeah," she agrees.
It's not quite as cool a response as they'd hope, but Ichika likes it. "...You got plenty to recommend you, too," she says, and glances over to the door as she turns towards Tsubasa.
"Heheh. I don't expect anybody to come bug us, but..."
It isn't as late as it could be.
"But it's true. You're not like Ryuji-kun," Ichika says.
"You're like you. ...And I like figuring out what that means."
Ichika and Tsubasa may spend a long time on the subject.