Sure. A team that works together, laughs together, and all that.
( right. he had visited malkuth's house once, but most of what he can recall is stumbling back home in the dark drunk, their discussion not really being what he wanted to dissuade him from the disconnect he was feeling at the time. not that he had helped much in refusing to tell her in plain terms what he wanted.
anyway...
that's a perfectly sweet, innocent statement from malkuth for sure. the reaction it gets tickles a certain part of his brain the wrong way, but takasugi keeps his expression cordial even when the smile doesn't reach his salmon-pink eyes in quite the same way from a certain angle.
he raises his glass to his lips, drowning the rest of the sticky mochi with warm alcohol. which, maybe he shouldn't be downing it faster than anyone else, but what better time to drink than with the rest of them here? he's always been a social drinker, indulging at every meeting and serious discussion. after he sets the glass down, a tipsy hand reaches down to smack and shuffle through all that paper he had shoved unceremoniously under the quilt. when he draws his hand back up, he pushes a sheet in every direction.
[To be honest, Rinne's also been nervous about this. He's well aware of how much trouble he's caused in the past year, making Takasugi run around in circles the way he did... But this actually turned out better than he thought.
He can't show this to Hiiro.
What did everyone else get? He peeks over Niki's shoulder.]
That's perfectly fine, he won't mind. You three are all I talk about anyway.
[ again, sorry. but hold that thought while she looks at her evalu...
... was that supposed to say secretary...? oooh, she got such good marks that-- it's a problem? she should probably ask him for help every now and then. there's plenty of things he can do that she can't, and it'd make him happy. what's that smudged out... while rinne looks over niki's-- ]
You should be happier that I'm overqualified, Takasugi, it makes your life easier. But I'll give you a heads up on anything going forward. [ okay now she's tapping on the crossed out bit. ] What's this?
[Niki's expectations for himself were relatively low (like always), but he has nothing to hide, especially from Rinne, so he lifts his evaluation up for him to see it better.]
Wow. Prez is always way too nice to me, but I did way better than I thought.
[He's actually a bit moved by some of these comments... He should keep this somewhere safe.
He points to the red ink on his page.]
What's this for?
[He's not complaining, of course, but it doesn't look like Rinne's has one...
(He's not peeking at Malkuth's, that's impolite.)]
It makes my life easier, but even your witty and thoughtful President wants to be relied on sometimes. I'll turn as boring as a rock with no hill to roll down, you know. As boring as a rock.
( the familiar chirp of takasugi's complaining rises up in his throat. he tilts his head to get a better look at her evaluation, palms pushing down on the surface of the kotatsu table to lift his rear off the floor. )
Ah, that. I wanted to notate to you that we should focus on improving security measures at our venues, but I ran out of space to jot it down. As for Shiina-kun, that's a special flower just for you for a job well done... for, you know, letting me harass you over...
( his tipsy mind recalls something else entirely, takasugi plopping back down on the floor a little too hard. ow. )
For teaching me idol-isms even when it was hard for you.
[ security measures... that's right, her failing in december... why didn't he just write that? it was an oversight on her part, trying to make sure everything else turned out fine -- he would've been within his right to get onto her about that. but none of them did... she'll have to do better. ]
... I guess I should see if my professor wants to give me an evaluation too, or if he thinks that's as stuffy and a pain as deadlines. I'll ask him later.
[ later as in sometime after this. malkuth's otherwise pleased, folding up the paper carefully and putting it in her pocket, before lifting her glass to knock against niki's cup. ]
Congrats, Niki! You really have earned it, you know -- I wouldn't be half as knowledgeable about things if it weren't for you and Rinne, so my good grade's really thanks to you two.
[ ooh. wait she wants-- she's taking some of takasugi's ink to lean over and draw a flower on niki's cheek. there. ]
[It definitely feels like Takasugi was going somewhere else with that thought, but even if Niki doesn't know where, he doesn't particularly care. What he does say and the brightly-colored mark on his evaluation are more than enough for him.]
N... Nahaha, I've never actually gotten one of these before.
[It's a little embarrassing... but this is actually making him feel a lot of things right now! He almost doesn't know how to react! He tentatively touches the hand on his shoulder, a bit unsure of what to do with himself, but Rinne being there has always made him feel better.]
Um, sorry. I know it's not really a big deal, but... [It's... kind of a big deal to him!! But there are way too many people here for him to be feeling all these emotions. But his face feels hot. They're not bad emotions! He's just really flustered.] ...i-it's not just about me. Rinne-kun did really good, too. I bet Miss Manager also did great. ...I think we should all be proud.
[He's not trying to be ungrateful or anything by pushing this on the others. It's the complete opposite: he thinks he might cry if he doesn't!
Besides, he thinks they should celebrate everyone's accomplishments, too. Niki wouldn't know anything about idols, either, without Rinne, so... he squeezes his hand a little.]
Why don't we make a toast? Prez might not need another drink, though...
[Niki squeezes Rinne's hand, and Rinne's glowing smile grows a little wider.]
Kyahaha! Whatcha bein' shy for, Niki? I always knew you could do it! See?
[Never mind that Niki has his own faults. Never mind that Takasugi didn't know a damn thing about idols before this. If Niki can move even one person with his presence, then he's one step closer to realising the truth Rinne has always seen within him. They should celebrate it.
He raises his glass, the lights in the room reflecting off the surface like twinkling stars.]
A toast to the new year! And to 3kon's success and happiness!
[ oh, niki's so cute. her ears wiggle and she pours a little more into takasugi's glass, just enough to toast with, before raising her own glass as she giggles. ]
To good health, a bounty of wealth, and new experiences for us all!
( the makeshift kotatsu table wobbles as takasugi leans forward and over, raising his now full glass with an enthusiasm that's sure to flip it if he isn't careful.
the drink sloshes a bit, catching the light above and mirroring the sparks in his wild eyes as he knocks it lightly against the rest. easy, now. )
For most people in this world, life can be as short as a cicada's, but everything we do as 3kon can give someone’s heart everlasting joy. That's right. You should ALL be proud. After all, you have Takasugi Shinsaku backing your accomplishments, so keep your heads held high as we enter the new year as glaring as ever! A toast, gentlemen!
( and lady. sorry. he's way too hyped all of a sudden to tack on another word, so take it as him assimilating malkuth flawlessly. in the background, the abandoned movie plays on aimlessly, its colors fading as those who yearn pass each other down a flight of stairs, so lost in their own thoughts that they don't even notice. )
[It's not like Niki had ever hoped to see a mark like that... Or, rather, maybe it's more like he'd accepted so long ago that he never would that he just hadn't ever thought about it. It wasn't a lack of motivation or intelligence or anything like that that made him quit school—it was his condition that made it difficult for him. He couldn't focus, and back then, simply eating more wasn't an option, because he couldn't afford to. He couldn't relate to people, either, and sometimes he didn't even know if he'd have anything to eat for dinner on any given day, and...
Just surviving was hard enough. Idly, he wonders what sorts of things Takasugi's condition made it difficult for him to do... What sorts of things did he have to give up?
Of course, the circumstances for this passing grade are completely different from anything Niki would have had to do in school. There's also the implication that Takasugi might view him as a child (though it's true that Niki is the youngest one here)... But Niki isn't too bothered by it. Takasugi is always too nice to him, but he can't possibly grasp the depth of meaning of this tiny gesture. And maybe that's okay, because Niki still finds it a little hard to believe that he could have done something so meaningful to deserve it.
With the dried ink of his "loss" on one cheek and the drying ink of a "victory" on the other, he hopes none of them will have to think about giving anything up for a while. At the very least, they can drink and eat and play as much as they want today. They can rest here until the effects of the alcohol wear off, and they'll have plenty of leftovers to take home (though Niki's not even a little worried about food right now).
He doesn't actually have anything to add to their toasts. They've already said all the cool and thoughtful things that need to be said. So he joins them in raising his cup, touching it to the others' without even a little bit of hesitation, and he adds, very simply:]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 12:20 am (UTC)( right. he had visited malkuth's house once, but most of what he can recall is stumbling back home in the dark drunk, their discussion not really being what he wanted to dissuade him from the disconnect he was feeling at the time. not that he had helped much in refusing to tell her in plain terms what he wanted.
anyway...
that's a perfectly sweet, innocent statement from malkuth for sure. the reaction it gets tickles a certain part of his brain the wrong way, but takasugi keeps his expression cordial even when the smile doesn't reach his salmon-pink eyes in quite the same way from a certain angle.
he raises his glass to his lips, drowning the rest of the sticky mochi with warm alcohol. which, maybe he shouldn't be downing it faster than anyone else, but what better time to drink than with the rest of them here? he's always been a social drinker, indulging at every meeting and serious discussion. after he sets the glass down, a tipsy hand reaches down to smack and shuffle through all that paper he had shoved unceremoniously under the quilt. when he draws his hand back up, he pushes a sheet in every direction.
one for rinne, one for niki, and one for malkuth. )
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 12:32 am (UTC)He can't show this to Hiiro.
What did everyone else get? He peeks over Niki's shoulder.]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 12:40 am (UTC)[ again, sorry. but hold that thought while she looks at her evalu...
... was that supposed to say secretary...? oooh, she got such good marks that-- it's a problem? she should probably ask him for help every now and then. there's plenty of things he can do that she can't, and it'd make him happy. what's that smudged out... while rinne looks over niki's-- ]
You should be happier that I'm overqualified, Takasugi, it makes your life easier. But I'll give you a heads up on anything going forward. [ okay now she's tapping on the crossed out bit. ] What's this?
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 12:57 am (UTC)Wow. Prez is always way too nice to me, but I did way better than I thought.
[He's actually a bit moved by some of these comments... He should keep this somewhere safe.
He points to the red ink on his page.]
What's this for?
[He's not complaining, of course, but it doesn't look like Rinne's has one...
(He's not peeking at Malkuth's, that's impolite.)]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 01:04 am (UTC)( the familiar chirp of takasugi's complaining rises up in his throat. he tilts his head to get a better look at her evaluation, palms pushing down on the surface of the kotatsu table to lift his rear off the floor. )
Ah, that. I wanted to notate to you that we should focus on improving security measures at our venues, but I ran out of space to jot it down. As for Shiina-kun, that's a special flower just for you for a job well done... for, you know, letting me harass you over...
( his tipsy mind recalls something else entirely, takasugi plopping back down on the floor a little too hard. ow. )
For teaching me idol-isms even when it was hard for you.
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 01:26 am (UTC)That's great, Niki. You passed!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 01:29 am (UTC)... I guess I should see if my professor wants to give me an evaluation too, or if he thinks that's as stuffy and a pain as deadlines. I'll ask him later.
[ later as in sometime after this. malkuth's otherwise pleased, folding up the paper carefully and putting it in her pocket, before lifting her glass to knock against niki's cup. ]
Congrats, Niki! You really have earned it, you know -- I wouldn't be half as knowledgeable about things if it weren't for you and Rinne, so my good grade's really thanks to you two.
[ ooh. wait she wants-- she's taking some of takasugi's ink to lean over and draw a flower on niki's cheek. there. ]
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 02:31 am (UTC)N... Nahaha, I've never actually gotten one of these before.
[It's a little embarrassing... but this is actually making him feel a lot of things right now! He almost doesn't know how to react! He tentatively touches the hand on his shoulder, a bit unsure of what to do with himself, but Rinne being there has always made him feel better.]
Um, sorry. I know it's not really a big deal, but... [It's... kind of a big deal to him!! But there are way too many people here for him to be feeling all these emotions. But his face feels hot. They're not bad emotions! He's just really flustered.] ...i-it's not just about me. Rinne-kun did really good, too. I bet Miss Manager also did great. ...I think we should all be proud.
[He's not trying to be ungrateful or anything by pushing this on the others. It's the complete opposite: he thinks he might cry if he doesn't!
Besides, he thinks they should celebrate everyone's accomplishments, too. Niki wouldn't know anything about idols, either, without Rinne, so... he squeezes his hand a little.]
Why don't we make a toast? Prez might not need another drink, though...
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 03:14 am (UTC)Kyahaha! Whatcha bein' shy for, Niki? I always knew you could do it! See?
[Never mind that Niki has his own faults. Never mind that Takasugi didn't know a damn thing about idols before this. If Niki can move even one person with his presence, then he's one step closer to realising the truth Rinne has always seen within him. They should celebrate it.
He raises his glass, the lights in the room reflecting off the surface like twinkling stars.]
A toast to the new year! And to 3kon's success and happiness!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 03:21 am (UTC)To good health, a bounty of wealth, and new experiences for us all!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 03:23 am (UTC)( the makeshift kotatsu table wobbles as takasugi leans forward and over, raising his now full glass with an enthusiasm that's sure to flip it if he isn't careful.
the drink sloshes a bit, catching the light above and mirroring the sparks in his wild eyes as he knocks it lightly against the rest. easy, now. )
For most people in this world, life can be as short as a cicada's, but everything we do as 3kon can give someone’s heart everlasting joy. That's right. You should ALL be proud. After all, you have Takasugi Shinsaku backing your accomplishments, so keep your heads held high as we enter the new year as glaring as ever! A toast, gentlemen!
( and lady. sorry. he's way too hyped all of a sudden to tack on another word, so take it as him assimilating malkuth flawlessly. in the background, the abandoned movie plays on aimlessly, its colors fading as those who yearn pass each other down a flight of stairs, so lost in their own thoughts that they don't even notice. )
Let's keep making things interesting together!
no subject
Date: 2026-01-05 08:18 am (UTC)Just surviving was hard enough. Idly, he wonders what sorts of things Takasugi's condition made it difficult for him to do... What sorts of things did he have to give up?
Of course, the circumstances for this passing grade are completely different from anything Niki would have had to do in school. There's also the implication that Takasugi might view him as a child (though it's true that Niki is the youngest one here)... But Niki isn't too bothered by it. Takasugi is always too nice to him, but he can't possibly grasp the depth of meaning of this tiny gesture. And maybe that's okay, because Niki still finds it a little hard to believe that he could have done something so meaningful to deserve it.
With the dried ink of his "loss" on one cheek and the drying ink of a "victory" on the other, he hopes none of them will have to think about giving anything up for a while. At the very least, they can drink and eat and play as much as they want today. They can rest here until the effects of the alcohol wear off, and they'll have plenty of leftovers to take home (though Niki's not even a little worried about food right now).
He doesn't actually have anything to add to their toasts. They've already said all the cool and thoughtful things that need to be said. So he joins them in raising his cup, touching it to the others' without even a little bit of hesitation, and he adds, very simply:]
Cheers!