“You don't like Angie, do you, Tenko?”
She's smiling when she says this, without even the decency to make it look sad. Bland, like a fact, her cheerful expression unfaltering. Something bubbles in Tenko's stomach; something like discomfort, something like irritation, something like jealousy, something like rage. Tenko knows Himiko doesn't love her—doesn't even really like her. She's hoping she can change that, but it's clear; Himiko Yumeno prefers Angie.
Angie, her white hair like a halo splayed around her. Yellow and bright jacket that always catch Tenko's eyes. Deep blue eyes like the ocean, a color she's never seen naturally before. And that's what she reminds her of, truly: the ocean, unforgiving and harsh but sparkling on the surface, the sun reflected back at her on the surface, fake light only mirrored, a beautiful facade. And Tenko looks at her, Tenko looks into those cold eyes, and thinks she might drown.
Tenko is the opposite of Angie. Angie believes in at all cost ; Angie is practical, methodical, and logical. Angie is a liar, that lies as easy as she breathes, and nothing that she says is real. It's all with a goal; something to prod, someway to manipulate. She represses; she denies. Tenko doesn't limit herself, doesn't censor herself; it's not in her nature. And yet, that is all Angie is.
And if Tenko was any more like her; if Tenko believed in at all cost —Angie would already be dead.
But she doesn't, so she isn't, because no matter how irritating Tenko finds the whole affair, no hate will ever overcome Tenko's love—and she does not believe in at all cost, and never will.
And so, here Angie is, to ask pointless questions they both already know the answer to.
“Why does Angie think that?”
Angie laughs. It's a beautiful laugh; more of a giggle, really. And it's empty. “Because Tenko isn't a very good liar.”
Tenko presses her lips; she's not. It's her philosophy to feel what she feels, honest and intensely, and to express that without regret. Everything Tenko says, she means in the moment. It is real, at least for a short time; it is true. Until Angie.
Tenko doesn't like these games, but she wants to stay with Himiko, wants to help Himiko, more than she wants nothing to do with Angie.
It's not even that she dislikes Angie, really. It's more that—Tenko finds this kind of person dangerous. Nothing about Angie can be said to be true, and that's by design. Bright yellow jacket a facade of happiness that hides her cold, deep eyes harsh depths. She smells like the sea breeze; she is as harsh as the ocean, willing to crash your fragile body against the shore, lead you away like a riptide.
“Angie is just too good of one.”