The initial reaction is shock, because all that was on Manabu's mind was getting on the train and how to eat through half a month's worth of instant noodles before the next box arrives: contact is the last thing in his thoughts, let alone a sudden embrace.
"Eh-? Wuh-? Uh--!"
What? Why? Who?
This hug is...seconds too long for a stranger. But who the heck doesn't even say hello or warn a guy before going in for the kill like that?
Wait.
Is he getting pickpocketed? Is that what this--
"..."
All those memories...they don't flood back. It's not organic -- not the way they left, not the way they return. It's more like life is still playing while that world is left paused, frozen and darkened in the background. But the particular way in which he is held, the particular way Brendan smells and sounds...and looks hits the play button, and both the then and now begin to play simultaneously, not on top of each other, but together.
This goes into effect as Brendan withdraws to arm's length, leaving Manabu to wobble and shake his head.
"Jeez, Brendan, I was only just--" He blinks. "Just...?" Wait, who? Just what?
He gawks at him in utter confusion, only startled out of it by the loud whistle of the engine ahead. Manabu shakes his head and starts to snap his eyes up-- up to the station clock, over at the engine (the conductor's out, waving the rest of the people in), back to Brendan, over his shoulder, back to Brendan, up at the clock...
What's going on-!?
"Uh-!! Here--" Manabu hastens, turning Brendan around and pushing him back up the stairs into the train car. The only thing he knows he understands right now is that the train waits for no one, so at least...one thing he set out to do is done. Get on the train. But the rest...?
"Just, uh...ah...here, here." He peers past Brendan as he pushes him along, then reaches in front of him for the sliding door between cars. Through one set. Then the other. Business car. Good. He knows this! There's privacy doors in these! Good. Great!
"There, yeah, good--" He slides the door closed once inside, staring at his flabbergasted expression in the little window he's still facing.
no subject
"Eh-? Wuh-? Uh--!"
What? Why? Who?
This hug is...seconds too long for a stranger. But who the heck doesn't even say hello or warn a guy before going in for the kill like that?
Wait.
Is he getting pickpocketed? Is that what this--
"..."
All those memories...they don't flood back. It's not organic -- not the way they left, not the way they return. It's more like life is still playing while that world is left paused, frozen and darkened in the background. But the particular way in which he is held, the particular way Brendan smells and sounds...and looks hits the play button, and both the then and now begin to play simultaneously, not on top of each other, but together.
This goes into effect as Brendan withdraws to arm's length, leaving Manabu to wobble and shake his head.
"Jeez, Brendan, I was only just--" He blinks. "Just...?" Wait, who? Just what?
He gawks at him in utter confusion, only startled out of it by the loud whistle of the engine ahead. Manabu shakes his head and starts to snap his eyes up-- up to the station clock, over at the engine (the conductor's out, waving the rest of the people in), back to Brendan, over his shoulder, back to Brendan, up at the clock...
What's going on-!?
"Uh-!! Here--" Manabu hastens, turning Brendan around and pushing him back up the stairs into the train car. The only thing he knows he understands right now is that the train waits for no one, so at least...one thing he set out to do is done. Get on the train. But the rest...?
"Just, uh...ah...here, here." He peers past Brendan as he pushes him along, then reaches in front of him for the sliding door between cars. Through one set. Then the other. Business car. Good. He knows this! There's privacy doors in these! Good. Great!
"There, yeah, good--" He slides the door closed once inside, staring at his flabbergasted expression in the little window he's still facing.