Charles Patricius

[Bloodedge]

This cycle was a bit different to the others, which had been direct attempts at seducing Reiji via various means. This was simply... a chat, and an older person giving advice to their junior. Sakura processed his story and lesson well, albeit with some caveats. She took it all as having to let things occur in their own time, but that wasn't quite the message he intended to deliver. Either way, Sakura thanked Reiji, and he nodded. "Daijoubu. But..." He started to make his point a bit clearer, but then there was a hand upon his cheek. So gentle was the touch of Sakura, and the smile she showed would bring light to the darkest day. Reiji faltered briefly. Ah, but he was able to recover himself when that hand parted with his skin. After all, it wasn't like he was the person Sakura spoke of; they'd hardly interacted up to this point. Even if they had, he was much older, and she was surrounded by young lads anyway. There was no cause for concern. Prior to any snapping this time, Reiji managed to produce another clause. "I did mean to imply that... well, letting things happen naturally is fine. What I didn't say, was that my experience didn't work. The method that worked for me had already worked for someone else a few days before. It turns out I was more a spur of the moment decision who wouldn't get a second chance. Letting things happen naturally can work... but it can just as easily lead to a lost opportunity. I can't advise you on which choice is the right one; you'll have to figure that out for yourself. Sumimasen."

[Apollymi]

Sakura heard the story given by Reiji and after a single moment of contact she was prepared to snap and reset this cycle. But it would seem that Reiji's love story hadn't worked out. He claimed that in waiting he came up a bit late and he'd missed out. He gave the final advice that he couldn't tell her what to do but that both sides of that sort of decision had some specific potential outcomes. "That is still useful, though I wonder if it was worth it?" she said almost cryptically. Perhaps she'd trace that thread. She could see it and find out about the person on the other end at some point? Sakura did have a potential huge amount of free time to work with. But for now, a gentle snap would sit her back to that silent twenty seconds.

What rotation was this, six or seven? Sakura wasn't truly keeping track. By her own understanding, she needed to be direct enough to let him know she wasn't joking or being immature, but not so direct as to be vulgar. She needed to entice him to allow her antics while helping him maintain what he thought of as his sense of propriety. Humans were such complicated creatures, so strong but also so fragile. Sakura was beginning to understand why they were truly interesting, but also found them a bit frustrating. No one had anything resembling logic and those who did, used it for things that didn't make sense. "Reiji-san, I'm trying not to let an opportunity slip by me... it's a bit complicated and it involves you," she started a wide smile crossing her face. "I realize what I am asking may broach a boundary or two, but... I think crossing boundaries in some cases is how I best understand things. It doesn't have to change anything for us normally, I'm just a girl looking to do a thing I feel a deep desire for. So, I'd really like you to take a chance, and spend some time with me tonight, and let me show you something fun while I figure things out. You're a person worth trusting myself with, besides you're the kind of man I enjoy... so let me?" she asked reaching out to him. She was a fully seductive existence. Maybe this one wouldn't work either but as she looked at him she smiled excitedly, it was such an enticing prospect she felt the desire to see it through. She wouldn't know if she didn't try, and the idea of having to try to slip in to his mind in various different ways was quite exciting. She knew simply by how hard she had to work that the satisfaction of the conquest alone would be just as relieving fixing her 'H' related problem.

[Bloodedge]

Just as before, a snap sent them back to that twenty seconds of silence and number crunching. Reiji prepared to hear Sakura out as he had in previous versions of events, and this time, Sakura began her speech in a rather heartfelt manner. She was chasing an opportunity. Fine; that was respectable. The opportunity she spoke of involved him somehow. That made sense of her earlier preface. What she wanted would be in breach of some boundaries. Interesting. There was an earnestness to Sakura's speech, and Reiji could respect that, if nothing else. Implications hidden within those words, however, were... interesting. As he'd done many times before, Reiji adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. "Sou ka. This sounds like something that troubles you deeply ─ maybe more deeply than it should. Regardless, maybe I'm inferring a few more things than I should. This suggestion of yours sounds very... intimate in nature. I'd like to think I'm misinterpreting things, but I doubt it," he stated.

Assuming he was correct in his assumptions, Reiji sighed. The way Sakura presented this issue of hers was genuine enough to garner attention, but would this version work? Time would tell. Whatever the case, Reiji had a question for Sakura this time. "I said I would try to take you seriously, but how am I meant to do that? You're suggesting something very improper, so I would hope you have something more to work with than a random invitation for a man to spend the night with a teenage girl he's known vaguely for two days."

[Apollymi]

It seemed a more earnest and honest approach was working a bit better with a man like Reiji. She supposed given his likeness to the original version of Kazuhiko she encountered this made a great deal of sense. Her logical appeals could potentially work, but she'd have to lead him into making this decision in a way that didn't compromise his existing integrity. It was a difficult thing to navigate, but Reiji was also clever enough to piece together her less than obvious conversation pieces. "It is a bit troubling but I am working on it. Everyone else is trying their best, I can't help but do the same," Sakura admitted. In truth, Kazuhiko was already doing the most difficult thing by getting their other wife back. All she had to do, was figure out how to become better at communicating her feelings... she felt like that should be the easier task, but it was quite problematic for her.

Still there were arguments to be given, and Reiji had a question. According to him he wondered what Sakura was actually doing, offering something so improper. "It's not a random invitation. Though I can see why it might seem that way to you. What I should say is I am experimenting with how best to express myself. My circumstances in that case are a bit complicated but I have met a lot of people recently and you are one of a very small list to manage to receive a natural emotional response from me. A combination of things leads to that outcome but one of the easiest is in an intimate setting," she mentioned borrowing his words. "Combining the two would be most efficient... and what I am trying to do I can't really do on my own. So I want your help," she explained of herself. The exact nature of her circumstances not withstanding, having sex with a man who could naturally make her have an emotional response, was a better option than all others. Besides that she was sure it would be helpful to both of them.

[Bloodedge]

Reiji had no clue what the girl meant when she spoke of everyone else trying their best. The notion itself was at least understandable, but it wasn't his place to seek details in that regard. No, what Reiji required was the details about Sakura's suggestion. She became stranger still when that was given. She was... experimenting, apparently. He wasn't sure how intercourse would lead to better expression, but more of an explanation was soon to come. It seemed Reiji was among a rare few who elicited a legitimate emotional response from the lass ─ something he'd come to notice, given the difference between their conversations and her acknowledgement of others today alone.

Reiji's hand rose again as if he intended to adjust his glasses once more. Instead, he pinched the bridge of his nose in contemplation. "That is... an incredibly strange thing to suggest still. I do understand some of your points, and though I still have a hard time believing this is a real thing, I can't in good faith deny you outright while you seem so sincere. Though I was also under the impression you were in a... situation with Kakihara-kun. I may have been mistaken, but he was openly bragging about some 'accomplishments' of his earlier today, which I attributed to you especially after you left together. I apologize if I'm mistaken."

[Apollymi]

'Honesty seems to work best on the earnest, adult types.' she thought, but this was fine. It was actually much easier to have an honest conversation with Reiji than it was to try and seduce him, well... it seemed to work at least a bit. Beyond this point there was an oddity to the conversation. Apparently, he thought that he couldn't deny her earnest request but had a few hang ups. Perhaps if she took care of those in conversation they could move forward. 'Sou ka, perhaps this was the kind of talking Kazuhiko would have preferred. Though it definitely seems less efficient, I can at least understand needing time to process...' she thought. Even she used up a bit when going through several different moments of this same small chunk of time.

Ah, but what was this, apparently he'd heard something earlier from one Kakihara Shota. He'd been bragging about his accomplishments according to Reiji and the man had assumed they had some sort of situation. "Situation? With Kakihara-san?" she questioned those things with an earnest look of disgust on her face. "Bragging about his accomplishments... did he do something impressive? No. I find him informative but I don't like him. Actually there is something I really don't like about him and I haven't figure out what it is yet," her honest reaction to that situation would read a bit closer outright dislike. "But there is nothing there worth extra consideration at all. So if that's an issue, it's not one.. at all." Reiji had managed to get another one of those almost visceral reactions out of the girl, but this was why she liked Reiji as he was one of few people who managed to do so in even casual conversations.

[Bloodedge]

Reiji questioned whatever relationship Sakura had with Kakihara Shota. In doing so, he earned one of the most legitimate reactions he'd seen from Sakura thus far... but not a positive one. She seemed almost repulsed by the idea of a connection to that particular young man, insisting that he was only an informative individual. Ah, he must have been lying to the others as boys tended to do in that age group. Surely their relationship was a wholesome one of card games and learning, fitting with Reiji's earlier hopes. A deep sigh of relief left him. "Sou ka. I apologize for putting that obviously disturbing thought in your mind," he said, bowing his head lightly.

Moving on from that hellhole of a topic, Reiji could go back to addressing the matter at hand. He wasn't going to spread hatred or cause for hatred against Kakihara or anyone else in the shop, so he wouldn't make assumptions about whatever Sakura disliked about the lad. Standing straight with his arms crossed, Reiji looped himself back mentally to the more... seemingly intimate conversation Sakura initiated. "Still, I'm not sure why you would bother looking my way. Don't get me wrong; I am flattered, and it would be a lie to say I'm entirely disinterested. But, there must be some better-suited people out there ─ perhaps in your own age group?" he suggested. Sakura had initially arrived to this shop with one Kimura Kazuhiko, whom he figured she would rather pursue. Alas, he wouldn't continue prying on the girl's relationship status, or lack thereof.