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[dereban]

Inaban

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[dereban]

You really don't need to... but yeah, sure, go for it.

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto would like to insist that he owes her a proper gift. One that is consistent with everything he’s trying to tell her and himself about wanting to keep their relationship a chaste friendship. One that won’t confuse him. But thinking deeply takes a backseat when he unpacks the gift that she got for him. Yuuto slowly removes it from the bag, awed by it almost immediately.]

… It’s so pretty. Like a small world.

[He looks from the snow globe to Inaba.]

And it’s our season?

[dereban]

Yeah. To be honest, I wasn't sure if you'd like it... but I wanted to get you something compact that you'd be able to bring around with you.

[spacialeyes]

[He can’t stop staring at it. Yuuto is already unused to receiving gifts, but it’s even more rare to receive a meaningful one. Looking at it, he can’t help but think about he’s the only Yuuto who can receive this gift. None of the others have a reason to associate with Autumn.

Looking back to Inaba, Yuuto’s grin is big and goody. It’s a good thing that he cannot cry.]

I love it..! Thank you. I’ll take very good care of it, I promise! I’m sure my cactus will love it too!

[dereban]

. . .I'm glad you like it.

[ Let her bury her face behind the scarf a little more. ]

Um, anyway...did you have any plans for today's date?

[spacialeyes]

[The gift seems to have completely repaired his mood, because Yuuto is all smiles again.]

Yes! Are you ready to head out? There’s so much that I’d like to show you..! I hope that you’ll enjoy yourself.

[dereban]

Let me grab my bag real quick and then we can go.

[ Which she is going to do. It's a black singe strap crossbag that she puts on. ]

Okay, lead the way, Yuuto.

[spacialeyes]

Right! [He waits patiently before leading her outside.] I have done some research into this world and some traditions. Though I assumed we would not want many chances to be exposed to mistletoe again.

[Yuuto points ahead,] This way! There is something neat in the city!

[dereban]

[ She'll easily enough follow him outside, trying to wear as much of a smile as she can. ]

Oh, for sure... I mean, if we did see mistletoe or anything, we can just run before it gets us. Hopefully.

[spacialeyes]

I can be pretty fast when I need to be. And I can still teleport short distances. [Not that that helped him before.] Did you really manage to avoid it all month? I kept getting caught.

[dereban]

I think I got lucky. But yeah, I didn't get stuck under any mistletoe.

[spacialeyes]

I didn't realize that mistletoe was such an aggressive plant. Or maybe it's... what is the word that my sister uses?

"Shipper?"

[dereban]

It usually isn't, but these ones have magic.

[ Which is absolutely awful. ] They could be shippers, yeah. Wouldn't surprise me. And explains why I haven't gotten caught.

[spacialeyes]

Explains why I did get caught...

[He sighs.]

But it'll probably be over soon. I hope they had their fun, at least. It must be hard to be a plant.

[dereban]

That just means that the plants really wanted you to get kissed and felt like you deserved it.

[ Ignoring the reverse implications on that one-- ]

And yeah, they'll probably be gone by the end of the month.

[spacialeyes]

[Even just a few days ago, Yuuto would argue that this was a terrible thing. But today, he quiets thoughtfully.]

... Mm. I think that Nen want some. I wonder how I can grow it safely.

[dereban]

Well, you'd have to be pretty careful since mistletoe is poisonous.

[spacialeyes]

So I shouldn't eat it? That's easy enough.

[dereban]

That's basically it. Otherwise it's just the same as any other plant, I'd think.

[spacialeyes]

... I wonder what it tastes like though. [no.]

[dereban]

Please do not eat poison.

[spacialeyes]

Well, I guess since you said "please." [is he joking? we don't know.] Oh- We're here!

[Or at least, close enough. He motions ahead to one of the firework making booths, passing a Christmas tree along the way. Something that will come back to haunt them later.]

Look! It's fireworks! I found this when I was out shopping.

[dereban]

Please don't eat poison...

[ Her mouth makes a surprised 'oh' shape when she notices the firework making booth. ]

Oh, I didn't know they'd be doing that now. You'd expect those closer to New Year's eve, at least.

[spacialeyes]

Isn't it amazing though? You can make your own fireworks! They said we can pick shapes, colours, even words!

[He smiles,] I wanted to make one with you.

[dereban]

Okay, but if you pick embarrassing words, I'm leaving.