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[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto takes the smaller bowl, since he isn't really eating these days. He's just trying to make sure that the food tastes good and that she isn't suffering-- and he's overly polite.

He sighs along with her, reminded that he can't help her for the long term. Not unless he gets crafty.]

Is it okay? There was some left, so I packaged it.

[dereban]

[ She takes her chopsticks and starts to eat. She's not really in the mood to actually, well - eat too much, but she forces it down out of politeness regardless. ]

...it's fine.

[spacialeyes]

[He relaxes enough to smile again. Even if she doesn’t eat much, Yuuto is happy to see her eating anything at all. He may be overjoyed to get to spend time with her, but he’s also worried.]

I’m so glad… I can make you anything else that you ask for. Any time! I’ll take care of all of the dishes too, Kay?

[In the back of his mind, he’s scheming ways to keep this promise. Inaba is too important for a little nap to get in the way of helping her.

Absently, he voices part of these thoughts by quietly whispering;]

I missed you.

[dereban]

... don't say that.

[ "Any time" is a scary, terrifying word for her.

She also hears that last bit, but she's not going to voice her thoughts on it right now. ]

After this, I'll get back to work, so you're going to have to leave from your B&E.

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto's mood does dampen when he's reminded that he'll have to leave. Normally he would be fine with that, but the circumstances here aren't 'normal.' He just found Inaba collapsed on the ground from stress, after all, and now she wants to go back to work? And on a more selfish note, he's afraid to return home and go back to sleep. He'd like to postpone that.]

What are you even working on? I'm sorry. I didn't realize that I'd made the boards so bad that you'd be this busy...

[dereban]

Cameras, mostly.

I might need to see if I can program a thing too, later.

[spacialeyes]

Cameras..? For tracking the spirits, you think?

[He nods slowly, trying to understand.]

Do you need my materials for programming? I'm still a beginner, so I hope it's not too messy.

[dereban]

It's for security purposes, mostly. That way we won't have to keep on continuously staking out every night. I want to make them durable too, so I'll need materials to keep them encased as well.

[ ... ]

If you have them, toss them over and I can take a look at it. I have some programs on my computer that can clean it up a bit and make it easier to parse.

[spacialeyes]

Stake out..? Why would you need to do that?

[He's been asleep since the middle of November, so Yuuto hasn't seen the Wishing Boards lately. Not wanting to discuss his health, he carefully tries to move the conversation along without her questioning why he isn't up to date. Maybe she'll just think he's stupid? It's why he plays the part, anyway.]

Mm, I have one copy with me for emergencies. You could offload the relevant files onto your computer before I leave? I'd be in your debt.

[dereban]

Have you not seen the Wishing Boards lately?

[ Unfortunately for him, she doesn't think that he's stupid, but rather thinks that he hasn't been paying attention to them. Two completely different things. ]

Well, I'll just bring you up to speed. Last month, one of the spirits was basically sabotaging them and this month someone - not sure if it's a spirit or not, wrote that they want to see the Kami of Love fall.

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto shivers. Maybe he got too complacent?

He shifts nervously.]

No, sorry... I was asleep. I didn't realize.

[It takes him a moment, where he has to close his eyes and actively divide himself between 'Yuuto' and 'kami,' before he answers:]

If that's a wish that some spirits have, then... Mm. A way to contact them would be good. I didn't realize they were so upset... [And Yuuto probably talks to the spirits more than anyone.]

[dereban]

I don't know for certain if the wish was written by a spirit. The wishing board is accessible to anyone, so it could be an actual person trying to sabotage it, too. But that's why I want to rewrite the coding--so that there's some moderation to what can be shown on the wishing boards.

[spacialeyes]

That might help, just...

[He breaths in, trying to settle his fears. It's difficult, but he can stay calm until he's alone.]

If someone really wishes harm upon a kami, we should listen to their complaint. But I don't want to corner anyone can leave them feeling threatened either.

[dereban]

Mm. The reason I want the moderation is so that messages like that don't get publicized. It would be bad if the whole city saw it and started a Rumor that way, right?

But I don't think it's a bad thing to find out the truth behind their intentions and handle it that way.

[spacialeyes]

That's true. We haven't had any new Rumors in a while, have we? It's been so peaceful.

[Of course, Yuuto can't actually escape the fear of his timeloop. But he was certainly starting to feel more comfortable living here.]

I'm sorry. I can't help very much with that anymore. Beyond giving you the program files and talking to the spirits before I leave, I'm... [ah. Saying this is admitting that he can't actually be there 'any time' either.

Yuuto sighs.]

Leaving you to do everything alone isn't an option either.

[dereban]

...

[ That's suspicious as hell. But she notices it. ]

It's fine. Like I said. I'll do it all myself if I have to. That won't change.

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto is quiet as he sorts through his thoughts. He knows that he can't change her mind: This is Inaba. She's stubborn and they've already discussed this enough.

But he feels uneasy for entirely selfish reasons.]

What I think isn't changing either so... Let's do what we can while I'm here? I can probably buy... 12... or 24 hours? What can I do to lighten your load in that time, Inaba?

[dereban]

[ ... ]

What are you even buying time for?

[ She doesn't answer his question. Not yet. ]

[spacialeyes]

[He really doesn't want to stress her out... but then again, she isn't necessarily going to care as much as he does. He's probably being a baby about this and making a big deal about nothing.]

I'll just... be away for a while. I'm staying out of the way until Wish Maker isn't in the city. It'll be better that way.

B-But until then, I'm happy to help. I'll do whatever I can, really.

[dereban]

...I see.

[ She doesn't believe that it'd be better that way. But she should be arguing anymore. If she does, she'll just get hurt more. ]

I don't really have much else to work on besides the projects I just stated, really.

[spacialeyes]

Mm... I'll only be sleeping.

[He supposes that makes it better. He's terrified of waking up in another world or to people in this one being hurt, but it isn't like that matters.

Yuuto inhales his steady his calm, then focuses on being useful:]

That's... the security system, cameras, and some authorization or moderation? So two of those rely mostly on new equipment and the other will be a matter of programming.

If we can figure out what exactly it is that you need equipment-wise, we can send someone else out to buy what's on your list. And then... If you're going to be really focuses, then someone could be helping with your meals?

[dereban]

I can easily write down a list. I was hoping that I could make the cameras discreet so that they're not easily noticed.

[spacialeyes]

You still live alone, right? If anyone asks, they're just for home security.

So that leaves food? I can make some meals before I go away.

[dereban]

...Yeah. Well, I guess I should add that to the list, now.

I can just heat up food in the microwave. It's not a big deal.

[spacialeyes]

I-Iiii! [Yuuto bristles when he remembers his crime-] I-I'm so sorry, okay? You were hurt, I..!

[no. he's awful for breaking in.

Yuuto's shoulders sink.]

So much microwaved food can't be making you feel very good, can it? They're not very nutritious...