Painter on the Road (Takashi and Friends/WIP Title)
Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 9:26 pm
So, here's my first Katawa Shoujo fic, hope people enjoy it and let me know where I can improve, whether or not I should continue this at all, and other things.
Pastebin: http://pastebin.com/BXv4n2Bk
Here's a short reading guide for certain details about current and future things planned for this, spoiler'd because I know someone out there might want to go into this blind.
- Yoshiro/Yoshi Lastunameupendingu is the Lelouch replacement in 3-3
- Every non-named character from the CGs has been given at least a first name, so I'll be happy to point out who's who in later posts if you get confused.
- Chronologically speaking, the prologue takes place a few weeks or so before Hisao shows up.
- This is not a Takashi route for Hisao.
- I'd like to hear opinions on things like romantic options, so far I'm thinking of three possible candidates: Molly Kapur, Rin Tezuka and Suzu Suzuki
- Also, opinions on introducing family members for established characters, ie. Rin's family.
Other than that, I don't want to reveal too much else. Please enjoy.
Prologue - Family…
'Please' is a magic word. That's what my parents told me, that's what a lot of parents all over the world tell their children. It's something to do with the golden rule; treat others how you'd like to be treated. Saying please because, if the roles were reversed, they'd do whatever you asked them to if you asked with the same polite, magical word.
That being said, I think the original request has to be reasonable first. When you have a little sister with an addiction to arcade cabinets and claw machines, and you're saving up your money, there isn't much to think about in the way of reason.
"There is no way I am giving you money to go blow on arcades," I say, staring right into her little green eyes, trying to match her death glare with my own. I'm unsure of whether or not she's genuinely annoyed with me, but I'm pretty ticked off myself.
I really hate malls, for reasons that are pretty obvious but are apparently worth ignoring for the sake of 'keeping the family together'. One family outing, once a month, because they didn't see enough of me. When I first moved into the dorms in Yamaku, I thought I wouldn't have to bother with them anymore, and especially not have to sit outside a blaring arcade while my sister was hemorrhaging money in it.
I blame myself, really; I didn't have the foresight to think that my moving would make things worse.
"You're a real jackass, you know that?" she puffs out her cheeks, frowning hard. She's been too sweet for too long to even pretend to look like she could burst, though.
"Hey, no swears during an outing, you know how--"
"Oh come on Takashi," she cuts me off. I already know what point she's going to make, "You swear like a… Like a…"
I perk a brow and grin, but I feel merciful enough to help her out instead of watching her squirm. "Like a sailor."
She almost repeats me, but instead scrunches up her face even further. She's curled up her hands into tiny fists right now, and she…
The watery eyes let me know I've done something terribly stupid again.
"Kiyomi…" There are a lot of things that I can't stand about my sister, but the worst of it is her crying, not because it bugs me, but because, well. She might be a little sister, but she's MY little sister.
Except that isn't how this happens at all. She closes her eyes…
Takes a deep breath…
And sighs.
"You really are an asshole."
She turns away and leaves without saying anything else. If she's crying, I don't see it, and I definitely don't hear it, between the din of the shopping mall crowds and the ringing in my ear.
At home, before I moved out, she would really let me know just how upset I made her. Her honesty was either charming and rewarding or downright terrifying. She emulates father like that. I think I'm more like mother, more reserved about it.
No wonder we were always at odds with each other.
It does take me a moment, but I push myself from my seat facing the arcade doors and head out to find her. She might be half my age, but she's no idiot; I know exactly where I'll find her.
---
When I reach Kiyomi, she's walking hand in hand with father away from the clothing store, looking like she held down her tears well enough. Father gives me a look that confirms what I already knew would happen.
I muster up as much of an apologetic feeling as I can when he does. I do feel pretty bad about it, really. "Listen, Kiyomi…"
"It's fine, Takashi," father interrupts, putting on a half-smile. Kiyomi just looks at her feet, so I can't meet her eye. It makes me feel like I wasted my one shot at it. I catch a lump of regret in my throat as they walk by, brushing past me in silence.
Fine is a terrible word. It's a placeholder for what you really want to say when things obviously aren't okay, meaning it wasn't in Kiyomi's vocabulary.
I'm still standing here, in a swelling crowd beginning to leave the mall. My dad's head starts shrinking into the distance, and I'm struck by an idea.
I guess all this time apart really has caused us to drift.
But, that's what I wanted. To get away from all that. Right?
I follow after them before I lose myself in a sea of people and my own thoughts.
---
It's a silent car ride back to Yamaku, which usually I'd be thankful for. At least, I think I would be, since they're never, ever this quiet.
I watch out the window as the city disappears between the mountains. The area really is special, and even though I was brought up in the city, I've always had an appreciation for nature and the outdoors. Any excuse to replace noise with more pleasant noise, I suppose.
Father flicks his head around, as if he wants to speak, but decides against it at the last second after seeing us. Kiyomi's looking out the other window, and in the reflection I can see she's almost as uncomfortable with the silence as I am.
"Since when did you swear, sis?"
Masterstroke, Takashi.
She throws me a wide-eyed glare, pursing her lips together. Father's eyes go wide too, although his are far more subdued.
"Kiyomi, what's our rule?"
We all spend the next few seconds mentally revising it before Kiyomi says it out loud, "No swearing during a family outing."
"Exactly," father nods his head, eyes sticking to the road ahead. I notice that he swallows, too. It was a rule he'd thought up, and for the most part it worked. It took some getting used to, but I got the hang of it in the end. Mother did her best, but she never tried too hard. 'The language was tougher than the rule,' she'd say. She'd say a lot of other things about toughness, but even she had a soft spot for Kiyomi when she turned on the waterworks after too many broken rules.
I might take after mother a little, but I don't think I miss her all that much.
"So Takashi gets to swear, and I don't?"
Her trying to argue with father was a second, new thing to me.
"Hey, he never swears when we're together, we both know that," he shrugs it off with an honest answer, never one to argue with his kids. Kiyomi, on the other hand, looks like she's going to keep up the attack.
"He swears all the time at school! And I never say anything like that at home!"
I do feel a little glad that she hasn't changed that part of her personality. However, I'm then overcome with a higher, mixed dosage of curiosity and irritation.
"Who told you that I swear at school?" I look at her, trying to seem more dismissive than angry.
She doesn't pick up on it though, still talking at father, "Why does he get to do that and I don't?"
"Because," he starts, slowly formulating the answer as he says it, "He's a grownup, and he gets to make grownup decisions about his behaviour, even if they aren't ones you or I agree with."
That sounds pretty reasonable, actually, even ignoring the obvious shift in tone as he finished up. I wasn't winning any points with him, but it sounded like he understood where I was coming from. I offer Kiyomi an apologetic smile, hoping that it conveys that train of thought well enough.
"I'd hate to grow up to be anything like him."
She fumbles over her own bitterness, which isn't all that surprising. She was never spiteful or able to hold a grudge, she was probably the kindest person I had ever known, even towards someone like me. Which is why those words sting so bad. She looks away, hiding her expression from the car window's reflection by keeping her head down.
Father looks stunned as well. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had slammed the brakes on just to emphasise how stunned he was, but he keeps his momentum as the snaking road and mountains give way to the sight of the little town under Yamaku. Such an out of the way, faraway place…
The end of the trip is just as silent as it was at the start, but now I know I would have preferred the old, happier conversations, even if I never participated in them. I'm not sure if it would have made much of a difference.
To be continued: Right now!
Pastebin: http://pastebin.com/BXv4n2Bk
Here's a short reading guide for certain details about current and future things planned for this, spoiler'd because I know someone out there might want to go into this blind.
- Yoshiro/Yoshi Lastunameupendingu is the Lelouch replacement in 3-3
- Every non-named character from the CGs has been given at least a first name, so I'll be happy to point out who's who in later posts if you get confused.
- Chronologically speaking, the prologue takes place a few weeks or so before Hisao shows up.
- This is not a Takashi route for Hisao.
- I'd like to hear opinions on things like romantic options, so far I'm thinking of three possible candidates: Molly Kapur, Rin Tezuka and Suzu Suzuki
- Also, opinions on introducing family members for established characters, ie. Rin's family.
Other than that, I don't want to reveal too much else. Please enjoy.
Prologue - Family…
'Please' is a magic word. That's what my parents told me, that's what a lot of parents all over the world tell their children. It's something to do with the golden rule; treat others how you'd like to be treated. Saying please because, if the roles were reversed, they'd do whatever you asked them to if you asked with the same polite, magical word.
That being said, I think the original request has to be reasonable first. When you have a little sister with an addiction to arcade cabinets and claw machines, and you're saving up your money, there isn't much to think about in the way of reason.
"There is no way I am giving you money to go blow on arcades," I say, staring right into her little green eyes, trying to match her death glare with my own. I'm unsure of whether or not she's genuinely annoyed with me, but I'm pretty ticked off myself.
I really hate malls, for reasons that are pretty obvious but are apparently worth ignoring for the sake of 'keeping the family together'. One family outing, once a month, because they didn't see enough of me. When I first moved into the dorms in Yamaku, I thought I wouldn't have to bother with them anymore, and especially not have to sit outside a blaring arcade while my sister was hemorrhaging money in it.
I blame myself, really; I didn't have the foresight to think that my moving would make things worse.
"You're a real jackass, you know that?" she puffs out her cheeks, frowning hard. She's been too sweet for too long to even pretend to look like she could burst, though.
"Hey, no swears during an outing, you know how--"
"Oh come on Takashi," she cuts me off. I already know what point she's going to make, "You swear like a… Like a…"
I perk a brow and grin, but I feel merciful enough to help her out instead of watching her squirm. "Like a sailor."
She almost repeats me, but instead scrunches up her face even further. She's curled up her hands into tiny fists right now, and she…
The watery eyes let me know I've done something terribly stupid again.
"Kiyomi…" There are a lot of things that I can't stand about my sister, but the worst of it is her crying, not because it bugs me, but because, well. She might be a little sister, but she's MY little sister.
Except that isn't how this happens at all. She closes her eyes…
Takes a deep breath…
And sighs.
"You really are an asshole."
She turns away and leaves without saying anything else. If she's crying, I don't see it, and I definitely don't hear it, between the din of the shopping mall crowds and the ringing in my ear.
At home, before I moved out, she would really let me know just how upset I made her. Her honesty was either charming and rewarding or downright terrifying. She emulates father like that. I think I'm more like mother, more reserved about it.
No wonder we were always at odds with each other.
It does take me a moment, but I push myself from my seat facing the arcade doors and head out to find her. She might be half my age, but she's no idiot; I know exactly where I'll find her.
---
When I reach Kiyomi, she's walking hand in hand with father away from the clothing store, looking like she held down her tears well enough. Father gives me a look that confirms what I already knew would happen.
I muster up as much of an apologetic feeling as I can when he does. I do feel pretty bad about it, really. "Listen, Kiyomi…"
"It's fine, Takashi," father interrupts, putting on a half-smile. Kiyomi just looks at her feet, so I can't meet her eye. It makes me feel like I wasted my one shot at it. I catch a lump of regret in my throat as they walk by, brushing past me in silence.
Fine is a terrible word. It's a placeholder for what you really want to say when things obviously aren't okay, meaning it wasn't in Kiyomi's vocabulary.
I'm still standing here, in a swelling crowd beginning to leave the mall. My dad's head starts shrinking into the distance, and I'm struck by an idea.
I guess all this time apart really has caused us to drift.
But, that's what I wanted. To get away from all that. Right?
I follow after them before I lose myself in a sea of people and my own thoughts.
---
It's a silent car ride back to Yamaku, which usually I'd be thankful for. At least, I think I would be, since they're never, ever this quiet.
I watch out the window as the city disappears between the mountains. The area really is special, and even though I was brought up in the city, I've always had an appreciation for nature and the outdoors. Any excuse to replace noise with more pleasant noise, I suppose.
Father flicks his head around, as if he wants to speak, but decides against it at the last second after seeing us. Kiyomi's looking out the other window, and in the reflection I can see she's almost as uncomfortable with the silence as I am.
"Since when did you swear, sis?"
Masterstroke, Takashi.
She throws me a wide-eyed glare, pursing her lips together. Father's eyes go wide too, although his are far more subdued.
"Kiyomi, what's our rule?"
We all spend the next few seconds mentally revising it before Kiyomi says it out loud, "No swearing during a family outing."
"Exactly," father nods his head, eyes sticking to the road ahead. I notice that he swallows, too. It was a rule he'd thought up, and for the most part it worked. It took some getting used to, but I got the hang of it in the end. Mother did her best, but she never tried too hard. 'The language was tougher than the rule,' she'd say. She'd say a lot of other things about toughness, but even she had a soft spot for Kiyomi when she turned on the waterworks after too many broken rules.
I might take after mother a little, but I don't think I miss her all that much.
"So Takashi gets to swear, and I don't?"
Her trying to argue with father was a second, new thing to me.
"Hey, he never swears when we're together, we both know that," he shrugs it off with an honest answer, never one to argue with his kids. Kiyomi, on the other hand, looks like she's going to keep up the attack.
"He swears all the time at school! And I never say anything like that at home!"
I do feel a little glad that she hasn't changed that part of her personality. However, I'm then overcome with a higher, mixed dosage of curiosity and irritation.
"Who told you that I swear at school?" I look at her, trying to seem more dismissive than angry.
She doesn't pick up on it though, still talking at father, "Why does he get to do that and I don't?"
"Because," he starts, slowly formulating the answer as he says it, "He's a grownup, and he gets to make grownup decisions about his behaviour, even if they aren't ones you or I agree with."
That sounds pretty reasonable, actually, even ignoring the obvious shift in tone as he finished up. I wasn't winning any points with him, but it sounded like he understood where I was coming from. I offer Kiyomi an apologetic smile, hoping that it conveys that train of thought well enough.
"I'd hate to grow up to be anything like him."
She fumbles over her own bitterness, which isn't all that surprising. She was never spiteful or able to hold a grudge, she was probably the kindest person I had ever known, even towards someone like me. Which is why those words sting so bad. She looks away, hiding her expression from the car window's reflection by keeping her head down.
Father looks stunned as well. I wouldn't have been surprised if he had slammed the brakes on just to emphasise how stunned he was, but he keeps his momentum as the snaking road and mountains give way to the sight of the little town under Yamaku. Such an out of the way, faraway place…
The end of the trip is just as silent as it was at the start, but now I know I would have preferred the old, happier conversations, even if I never participated in them. I'm not sure if it would have made much of a difference.
To be continued: Right now!