Eh? Well... I can't exactly live my entire life in suspicion...
[ Which is precisely the reason why he suffers terrible protag syndrome, but. He seems to not see much of an issue in how he operates. ]
Ah, but—! You saved me again, Leon-san. [ A bit of an embarrassed shuffle, here. ] H, here, let me... [ He points to the row of food vendors, gestures towards the colorful candies and snacks. ] I'll get you something...! Does anything look particularly good to you?
[Only true protags can continue to live without suspicion despite all of this craziness happening. Also is he that obvious... or would Atsushi offer everyone candy for saving them?? He's not sure. But. Leon definitely doesn't want to be obvious about his sweet tooth, so the only response he can give to that is an obvious one.]
Do I look like the sort of person who would want something like that? [Sort of, Leon. You're scrawny, at least, please eat something.]
I don't enjoy sweet things [why you always lyin'] so just leave it be. It isn't as though I saved you for your sake, so I don't require a reward.
[ So. Atsushi is going to digest this: Leon didn't intend to help Atsushi for his sake, and Atsushi's safety is of no concern to Leon, but Leon helped Atsushi anyway, and didn't intend to be generous.
All of this is perplexing, but... ]
Ah... you're just a good person then, Leon-san.
[ He says that without any particular intention to flatter: it's just a fact that he's come to. ]
Would it help if I just said that I wanted to get something for myself, too...? [ Please let him get something for you, Leon!!! ]
[ Despite essentially being told that Leon doesn't give a single damn, Atsushi is still... happy with this outcome, because he figures that Leon could just have walked away, right? Or any of the myriad of other more simple, effective outs.
It doesn't take much for Atsushi to try to reciprocate; for a moment, he looks hesitant to turn and make his way to the nearest vendor, because what if Leon leaves?? It's a real possibility, but it can't stop him from taking some sort of action, so: ]
Ah... wait here, then?
[ And off he'll go, actually trotting to the booth instead of walking, buying two cotton candies instead of one.
Hopefully, when he turns around, Leon will still be there... or at least, not too far away. ]
[Atsushi, you are too pure..... but at least he's not running away. In fact, he'll be standing right there with his arms crossed, looking away at something else but... still pretty clearly waiting for Atsushi. Because he's pretty sure Atsushi would manage to get himself into more trouble and it would just be difficult clearly so...
[ !! There he is!! Right where Atsushi left him, bless.
It's the little things— maybe being worth someone's time— that get him to quicken pace and line himself up in front of Leon, offering one bright-pink stick of cotton candy (overpriced, but worth it). ]
Here, I hope you don't mind cotton candy...? Have you ever tried it before?
[Spun...sugar........ Leon's sweet tooth cries out for it, honestly. That sounds amazing. He wants it. There's a long moment in which he stares at it, and then--]
It...is not as though I like things like this.
[Okay!!!]
... But I suppose I may as well take it, since you have already wasted the credits.
[Success...?? Yeah, he'll take the cotton candy now.]
[ Sorry Leon... Atsushi is still all smiles, how embarrassing.
But he also appreciates that Leon might want to spend time by himself, and not be trailed around by a weird weenie?? That's definitely a possibility. ]
I hope you like it. [ But he'll worm a few more embarrassing lines in here, just to be certain that Leon feels extra awkward... thanks Atsushi. ] Ah, I hope I'm not keeping you from anything, though.
[Atsushi is so embarrassing??? So embarrassing he doesn't know how to handle it, so he's absolutely going to take the escape route when it appears, holding his cotton candy loosely in one hand.]
Yes. You are. I do not have time to dawdle the day away.
[Probably. He might be making that up.]
I'm leaving.
[And with that awkward... immediate response... he really does turn on his heel to go.]
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[ Which is precisely the reason why he suffers terrible protag syndrome, but. He seems to not see much of an issue in how he operates. ]
Ah, but—! You saved me again, Leon-san. [ A bit of an embarrassed shuffle, here. ] H, here, let me... [ He points to the row of food vendors, gestures towards the colorful candies and snacks. ] I'll get you something...! Does anything look particularly good to you?
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Do I look like the sort of person who would want something like that? [Sort of, Leon. You're scrawny, at least, please eat something.]
I don't enjoy sweet things [why you always lyin'] so just leave it be. It isn't as though I saved you for your sake, so I don't require a reward.
[How does that even make sense...]
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Huh? Wouldn't that make you even more generous, then...?
[ Just saving people because he can?? Leon is truly the most helpful. ]
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Naturally, that just...flusters him further.]
N-no! What are you talking about? Don't be ridiculous! I did not do this to be generous, or anything like that...!
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All of this is perplexing, but... ]
Ah... you're just a good person then, Leon-san.
[ He says that without any particular intention to flatter: it's just a fact that he's come to. ]
Would it help if I just said that I wanted to get something for myself, too...? [ Please let him get something for you, Leon!!! ]
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You-- [A...good person? That, definitely, Leon knows isn't true. His expression grows a little grimmer.]
... Keep your opinion to yourself.
[He just sighs softly then, shaking his head. It seems like a lot of the fight has gone out of him very suddenly.]
If you want to get something for yourself, do it. I do not intend to stop you. It does not matter to me what you do.
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It doesn't take much for Atsushi to try to reciprocate; for a moment, he looks hesitant to turn and make his way to the nearest vendor, because what if Leon leaves?? It's a real possibility, but it can't stop him from taking some sort of action, so: ]
Ah... wait here, then?
[ And off he'll go, actually trotting to the booth instead of walking, buying two cotton candies instead of one.
Hopefully, when he turns around, Leon will still be there... or at least, not too far away. ]
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So...!!
Here he is.
Waiting.
Awkwardly.
He's so obvious sometimes.]
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It's the little things— maybe being worth someone's time— that get him to quicken pace and line himself up in front of Leon, offering one bright-pink stick of cotton candy (overpriced, but worth it). ]
Here, I hope you don't mind cotton candy...? Have you ever tried it before?
[ Friendship sparkle... ]
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Why is this food bright pink.
He hesitates, staring at the cotton candy, and then at Atsushi, and then back at the cotton candy.]
I told you I didn't want anything.
[...]
What is that even supposed to be?
[Is it made out of cotton???]
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Oh, it's... spun sugar? It's hard to explain, but they heat up sugar and... spin it into something that looks like cotton.
[ He's no expert, clearly. But he offers it insistently to Leon nevertheless. ]
It looks like a lot, but it melts in your mouth.
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It...is not as though I like things like this.
[Okay!!!]
... But I suppose I may as well take it, since you have already wasted the credits.
[Success...?? Yeah, he'll take the cotton candy now.]
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But he also appreciates that Leon might want to spend time by himself, and not be trailed around by a weird weenie?? That's definitely a possibility. ]
I hope you like it. [ But he'll worm a few more embarrassing lines in here, just to be certain that Leon feels extra awkward... thanks Atsushi. ] Ah, I hope I'm not keeping you from anything, though.
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Yes. You are. I do not have time to dawdle the day away.
[Probably. He might be making that up.]
I'm leaving.
[And with that awkward... immediate response... he really does turn on his heel to go.]