... I can't hurt people with it. That much I already knew. I can only prevent things from happening to me, or things touching me. Or at least, that's what I thought.
[ Yoshi could never read her mind with her nullification on, after all, even if he didn't touch her. ]
It's like how the Wish Maker... how they knocked me out during the stakeout...
That, and... I can't be near them. The Wish Maker can affect spirits--and. Their goal... I have a wish that would get them to that. I can't have them grant my wish.
Mm. A spirit is just a soul with no body… and we know they can grant the wish of a soul wit a body, like mine.
[His tail does flick nervously. Yuuto finally drops his gaze to the tatami flooring.]
If you can get the cameras up and running, then it would be safer for you to stay here anyway, right? You would have a wider view of the city than anyone else.
Yeah. And... while my SOUL is powerful when it needs to be, it's still...
[ She trails off. ]
It's already done, [ since it's Christmas Eve ] so all I need to do is just have them set up. I'll have that done by the end of tomorrow and then test them out back at the house on the 26th.
[Yuuto sighs. He’s relieved to know about the cameras and that Inaba won’t be putting herself in danger. He also feels guilty. The talk of her soul only reminds him of his own uselessness.]
I have to go back to sleep tomorrow. I might not be awake for a long time… Wish Maker already got to me.
I know that you won’t… [But the ‘unnecessary’ part is why he’s still worried!
Yuuto covers his ‘Rumor’ again. It’s so easy to talk to Inaba. He could show this side of himself to her without fearing judgment. But it’s also Christmas and probably his last day with her for a long time. Rather than hide away in his despair, Yuuto wants to spend his time happy. He wants the same for Inaba.
So he slowly lowers his hand, trying to let his fears go.]
Thank you for telling me that I was hurting you, Inaba. I’ll be more careful in the future.
It makes me feel better knowing that you could tell me…
[He looks down at his hands, resisting the urge to smell his shirt and confirm that he isn't stinky. And as he's finding the words to express himself, Yuuto's belt makes his fear obvious by curling around him loosely.]
It would be 'okay' if I was. My blood is made of that goo and I'm neither human nor kami. I've been disliked for less...
[Though he knows Inaba's reactions to him aren't because of the Distortion. Yuuto sighs.]
I understand that we're... our relationship is kind of complicated... Because I got selfish. I understand why you'd be uncomfortable around me. I'm just not sure how to help. It feels like I'm hurting you sometimes...
[Yuuto pouts,] Talking about my best friend that way... I could beat you up, you know.
[Except everyone knows that Yuuto is incapable of violence against anyone, especially not a friend.]
I was really fine. I'm used to it. At least you came back. Most of the time I... [No, he's not going to speak ill of his family. They're all he has. If Yuuto lets any resentment build up towards him, then he really will be alone.
So he leans into the childish pouting to distract himself.]
You're a good person. I don't say that lightly, okay?
But you won't because I'll kick your ass. But, I'm not putting myself down or anything; I'm just stating simple fact. I'm a very dark person--someone finds it difficult to think positively.
[When Yuuto walks to the kitchenette, he’s followed by most of the greedy kittens, who want food— Except two of them, who are napping by Inaba. He doesn’t actually have a fridge yet, but Yuuto does open the modest oven to retrieve a cardboard box.
He returns to set it on the table, so that Inaba can inspect the contents of the little cake box. He’s prepared a tiny strawberry shortcake, with a sugar cookie sticking out of it. Of course, it has her name written on it in chocolate. Clumsily so, as Yuuto will never be good at handwriting.]
They probably don’t sell Christmas cake in the stores here, right? So I made you one. Just in case?
[… There’s a cat halfway up his pants leg;] Okay, okay. Let me feed you… Ah, be back again, sorry…
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[ Yoshi could never read her mind with her nullification on, after all, even if he didn't touch her. ]
It's like how the Wish Maker... how they knocked me out during the stakeout...
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But his eyes do widen for a second when she draws the comparison between his power and Wish Maker’s.]
Are you worried about them hurting you again, Inaba?
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[His tail does flick nervously. Yuuto finally drops his gaze to the tatami flooring.]
If you can get the cameras up and running, then it would be safer for you to stay here anyway, right? You would have a wider view of the city than anyone else.
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[ She trails off. ]
It's already done, [ since it's Christmas Eve ] so all I need to do is just have them set up. I'll have that done by the end of tomorrow and then test them out back at the house on the 26th.
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[Yuuto sighs. He’s relieved to know about the cameras and that Inaba won’t be putting herself in danger. He also feels guilty. The talk of her soul only reminds him of his own uselessness.]
I have to go back to sleep tomorrow. I might not be awake for a long time… Wish Maker already got to me.
So please be careful, Inaba.
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[ "Unnecessary danger" being the key words here. ]
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Yuuto covers his ‘Rumor’ again. It’s so easy to talk to Inaba. He could show this side of himself to her without fearing judgment. But it’s also Christmas and probably his last day with her for a long time. Rather than hide away in his despair, Yuuto wants to spend his time happy. He wants the same for Inaba.
So he slowly lowers his hand, trying to let his fears go.]
Thank you for telling me that I was hurting you, Inaba. I’ll be more careful in the future.
It makes me feel better knowing that you could tell me…
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[ If she can't control it, if it's out of her hands, she gets frustrated and scared and it just hurts. ]
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[His power relies on formula manipulation, after all. Yuuto needs control and understanding of his surroundings to do that properly.]
May I… tell you something that’s been on my mind, too?
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Even if he’s ashamed of himself.]
… am I gross?
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[ ...
Is that her way of making a joke? Perhaps. ]
But - no. You're not.
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It would be 'okay' if I was. My blood is made of that goo and I'm neither human nor kami. I've been disliked for less...
[Though he knows Inaba's reactions to him aren't because of the Distortion. Yuuto sighs.]
I understand that we're... our relationship is kind of complicated... Because I got selfish. I understand why you'd be uncomfortable around me. I'm just not sure how to help. It feels like I'm hurting you sometimes...
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A compromise then.]
It was our fault, I get it. And I’m sorry. I don’t want to be hurting you anymore, so…
Even if it’s small. If I hurt you, please tell me.
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[ It'll sting. She knows. But it's better to know than to imagine even worse. ]
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For you. Mm. I’ll do my best.
I don’t want to lose you again.
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[Yuuto pouts,] Talking about my best friend that way... I could beat you up, you know.
[Except everyone knows that Yuuto is incapable of violence against anyone, especially not a friend.]
I was really fine. I'm used to it. At least you came back. Most of the time I... [No, he's not going to speak ill of his family. They're all he has. If Yuuto lets any resentment build up towards him, then he really will be alone.
So he leans into the childish pouting to distract himself.]
You're a good person. I don't say that lightly, okay?
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[But he won’t argue too much. Otherwise this will get really embarrassing.]
Ah, that reminds me somehow. Wait here for a moment, please.
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[ She looks at him curiously. What is he planning. ]
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He returns to set it on the table, so that Inaba can inspect the contents of the little cake box. He’s prepared a tiny strawberry shortcake, with a sugar cookie sticking out of it. Of course, it has her name written on it in chocolate. Clumsily so, as Yuuto will never be good at handwriting.]
They probably don’t sell Christmas cake in the stores here, right? So I made you one. Just in case?
[… There’s a cat halfway up his pants leg;] Okay, okay. Let me feed you… Ah, be back again, sorry…
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[ She wasn't really going to be in the mood for cake in the first place. ]
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