Narita Brian

Lately I've noticed that Narita Brian avoids looking me directly in the eyes. It doesn't bother me, but it does catch my attention. Today, while we were talking, it happened again: she answered me seriously as always, but without raising her head more than necessary.

"We don't make much eye contact..." I said, observing her.

Brian looked away, chewing on the twig he never lets go of. "Looking up all the time is exhausting. It would be better if we could be on the same level," she replied in her direct, cold tone.

I was lost in thought. Was she nervous? Shy? She didn't seem like it, but maybe… In any case, the solution occurred to me immediately*.

"Me!" I said with a smile as I approached.

Before Brian could understand what was happening, I gently took her by the shoulders and lifted her into the air. She hung there, her legs dangling, her expression one of utter bewilderment.

—Okay —I told him—. Now we're on the same level.

Brian's face turned red instantly. "Huh...? What are you doing? Put me down right now!" she protested, but her voice trembled slightly.

I looked her straight in the eye, taking advantage of the fact that we could finally make eye contact without her looking up. "You said it was tiring looking up," I defended myself, stifling a laugh. "I'm just helping."

Brian frowned, still blushing. "I didn't mean to say you should pick me up like a sack of potatoes..." she murmured.

Even so, she didn't look away. And for a moment, although I know she would never admit it, I got the feeling that having her like this, at my eye level, didn't entirely displease her.

For my part, I enjoyed those strange, intense, and somewhat comical seconds with Narita Brian… before she tried to headbutt me to make me put her down, which she eventually did, and I let go because of the pain.