Another flutter of wings as the ducks took towards the bread-- they’d almost gone idle, but two new hunks was enough to send the greedy, pudgy birds into a screeching frenzy. Reizo shifted in his seat and drew up into full height, looming tall even in the low-slung bench as he looked around. The view was too good to be spoiled by poor company: they sat abreast a lump of a hill, overlooking the duck pond and the field behind it where a group of children had taken to flying vibrant kites. They soared and snapped in the breeze, and their excited shouts carried all the way to the bench. They all looked delighted.
A far cry from the upperclassman who was standing away from the bench and staring. Reizo’s hand fell from Kozue’s shoulder and instead he hooked her around the waist. If it was meant to provoke Kou it wasn’t obvious -- Reizo was still watching the ducks, who’d taken their fight to the edge of the briefly serene pool, splashing in the water, beaks jabbing to try and steal bits of bread. His fingers moved and flexed against the slim girl’s side for a comfortable grip before he settled back in against her.
“A park, yes,” he said, looking back down at Kozue, ugly scar twisting one corner of his mouth up into an uncontrollable smirk, “Not much of a park.. It was more of an abandoned playground, but the two of ’em came walking up to me and got to shooting the breeze before Oubai-kun got all bashful and gave Ishinomori-kun a present. Box of chocolates, I think?” He looked at Kou for confirmation, but went on before he could say anything, “so I tried to help them out. Next thing I know Oubai’s got me in a big hug and is trying to whisper into my ear before I can shove him off.”
He leaned down closer to Kozue, head tilted and lips near enough to her ear that she could feel his breath feathering over it as he whispered. “Does he ever get close and whisper into your ear?”
He stared at Kou out of the corner of his eye the entire time.