battering | ic contact;

WHAT?????

[ How was someone in friend-love? What did that even mean?! He's suddenly very glad he's alone because he's sure embarrassment is just oozing out of him. ]

[ Don't ask her, because— ]

I don't quite understand it, either. I was hoping you would know.
Is it like being in love, but with friends?

[ Yata's totally an expert on this because he has many friends. ]

I HAVE NO IDEA
uuuhhhh if ur IN love with anyone im p sure thats just like
relationship stuff

No! No
I didn't mean it like that
I am so sorry

Kano said he was in friend-love with me.
That was why he was using hearts when he wrote to me.
I thought he meant we were friends!
Do you think he meant that?

[ five minute delay due to just staring at the screen. ]

yo i think he has a crush on u
mayb friendlove was him tryin to b sneaky
to see if u liked him back

What??
Really?
But all he does is tease me.

[ Also he's taken!? Not that Kougyoku knows this. ]

guys tease girls when they like them!
its a fact every1 in japan knows

[ Or so he's learned from television. ]

That doesn't make sense.
Do you do that, too?

uuhh this aint about me
its about ur friendlove

[ but it's too weird!!! ]

Well I suppose I should have noticed earlier...
He called me a lol.

[ ... ancient fantasy china needed an update on technology. ]

lol means laughing out loud
did u tell him a joke
is that what happened kou-chan??
u charmed him with ur funnyskills?

What? No, I
He said it meant loveliest of ladies.
So he was lying!?

yes and no i guess
if he came up with his own thing it could mean that
it could also mean something like
lets order lunch
or lover of ladies
cuz i made it up yknow???
but usually it means the laughing one

This is the first time anyone has ever had a crush on me.
What should I do? I have never thought of him in that way before.

[ is she seriously asking Yata this?

Yes. ]

[ it's cool, he's gotten lessons from both Izumo and Koujaku. he's an expert by now?!?! ]

what dude dont lie
but i dunno
do u like him?

I am not lying...
But I do not like him in that way.

[ The person she is stalking has left the building. She hasn't noticed yet. ]

mayb they have n just never told u
but if u dont like him u gotta let him down easy
and u cant do it over text that part is super important

[ Thanks, Koujaku! ]

That makes a lot of sense! Thank you, Misaki.
I must do it soon before there is a misunderstanding.
I think he thinks I like him back.

let me know if he gets weird alright?
text me somethin like SOS
and ill go kick his ass

Okay.

[ Thanks homie. Kougyoku checks the building - looks like her target hasn't come out yet! Time to bug Yata more.

Actually, there's one thing that's been bothering her... ]

Misaki, do you know anyone from HOMRA who uses both knives and a saber?

[ ... five minute delay. he'd been wondering how to ask her about that ever since fushimi told him they'd met (yata: 0, kougyoku: 1). ]

ur talking about that idiot saru arent u

[ She's just anxious he will show up in the forest she was hiding in again. That's why she remembered! ]

Saru? He never told me his name.
I suppose that is him.
He upsets me. I do not like him.

saruhiko fushimi
saru cuz its written like monkey n he is one
i dont like him either, sorry he upset u
ignore him ok?? he just likes messin w/me n people i know
not worth it

I will.

[ What she doesn't tell Yata is he will be difficult to ignore after their first encounter. How do you ignore an (one-sided) enemy!? ]

He said many awful things about you and I, but I know they are not true.