OKOSHI | JOJOLION

019 | crushed paper frog.

★ . . . SOMETHING PRODDED INSISTENTLY IN YOUR mind the next morning. You had stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, trying to figure out what you needed to do before you remembered.

Tsurugi. She was supposed to make you something, right? None of the Higashikatas had said anything about the kid's fingers falling off, but you might as well knock it out of the way before your Stand did something to hurt her. It would be nice to get a chance to talk to Kei again anyhow. She wasn't completely out of the running yet.

Figuring that it wouldn't take too long to meet with Tsurugi, you also made plans to meet up with Yasuho afterward. You hoped that Josuke was right in that she was a good person to get to know better.

You grinned when the Higashikata mansion gates finally rolled open. A part of you deflated, however, when Kei didn't return it.

She said your name tonelessly. "Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon, Kei. How are you doing?"

"Fine, thank you for asking." She tipped her head as you entered, then turned curtly on her heel as you followed her up the drive. "Unfortunately, Norisuke-san has already left for the fruit parlour. Daiya and Hato have been shopping since this morning and Joshu won't be home until late. I believe Mitsuba-san and Tsurugi are out as well. If you want to speak to them, I can leave them a message. You may have to wait a while before they return."

"Oh, that's alright." You coughed. "I didn't need to talk to them."

Kei paused before the front door. "What did you need, then?"

"Well, uh ..." For some reason, the words caught in your throat. Kei turned slightly to look over her shoulder at you.

"Oh, right. I did need to talk to Tsurugi. She said she was going to show me how to make origami hearts." Or was it butterflies?

Kei accepted the lame excuse and opened the door for you. It had seemed like a good idea to talk to Kei earlier, but when you were face-to-face, it suddenly got a lot harder to make conversation.

"Would you like me to call Mitsuba-san to ask when she'll come back?"

"It's fine. I can wait. I can always come back."

You could tell Kei was confused by your mixed signals. Did you want to see Tsurugi or didn't you?

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Sure. Whatever is fine."

Sure. Fine. Okay. Were your conversations always this dry? Karera's words from the other day kept echoing in your mind. To take your time and let things go as they would. You'd come with the plan to get to know Kei better, but that was going to fail real quick if all you did was answer Kei when she asked. While Kei rummaged around in the fridge, you took out your bone dice. Might as well.

"Kei, do you wanna—"

Kei turned, holding a pitcher of iced tea. "Ice? Straw?"

"Just a glass." You waited until the drink was poured and the pitcher was back in the fridge before trying again. "Kei, do you—"

"Are you sure you don't want me to pass on a message to the Higashikatas?"

You clenched your jaw. Now you had the feeling that Kei was intentionally throwing you off. "Actually, there's something else I was wondering if you could do for me."

"I'll do my best."

You set your bone dice and the jade plate on the counter between the two of you. "Let's play a game."