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[dereban]

Inaban

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[dereban]

I'm not athletic, so I'd probably fall a lot. Watching is enough for me.

[spacialeyes]

You wouldn’t fall. I’d be there to catch you a lot. [But he doesn’t push more than that. Yuuto looks longingly at the rink again, then seals his desires behind a cheerful smile.] It is really pretty to watch. People are so beautiful when they’re together. I wonder how the colours work..?

[dereban]

But catching me all the time would be a pain, wouldn't it? I'd rather let you have fun. Besides, it's not like ice skating is a two person hobby all the time.

[spacialeyes]

If you don’t want to, then we don’t have to do it. I’m happy doing anything as long as we’re together.

[He says this all too bluntly.]

We still have a lot to see… What other Christmas Eve traditions do we have left?

[dereban]

Ah...

[ Her face reddens before she jerks her head away. ]

W-Well, back home, one of the traditions is to eat fried chicken and a particular Christmas cake-- it's like, a sponge cake with strawberries.

[spacialeyes]

That sounds so weird... I want to try it! May we? I can make both those foods if that is a concern?

[dereban]

Huh? You don't need to do that!

[spacialeyes]

Then where should we go to get them?? Are they sold anywhere? Do you think we’ll be able to find them this late on Christmas Eve?

[dereban]

I don't know if this world has it, actually. If we're lucky we might find some. But I don't have the ingredients to make it from scratch, you know...

[spacialeyes]

We could easily grab ingredients on our way, if you'd like. It's really not that complicated of a recipe.

[dereban]

You know how to cook?

[spacialeyes]

Yes. I am decent at it as well. [That's as close as he can let himself get to self-praise.] Frying chicken and baking cakes are both within my 'wheelhouse.'

[dereban]

Well, I guess that's our plan for today. We'll buy cards and get the ingredients and cook at home.

[spacialeyes]

Okay! That sounds amazing! Thank you, Inaba! [Yuuto steps closer, prepared to take her hands in a grateful hold. But he stops himself. Touching him is bad. He's gross and broken.] Can we find cards at a grocery store?

[dereban]

Some grocery stores would sell them in their small toys section, but not all of them do, so we might have to make a second stop if that's alright.

[spacialeyes]

That's fine. As long as we stay together the whole time? Is that alright?

[what is he? a child?]

[dereban]

[ How did this go form being a date to her being a babysitter... ]

I'm not your mom, you know.

[spacialeyes]

[He holds his tongue and omits a snarky comment, realizing it comes from a place of hurt and not happiness. Can't have that!]

No, you're not. You're my date. Someone far more important. I don't want to be apart just yet. Is that alright?

[dereban]

Ah-

[ What does he mean by that!!!!!! ]

Um. Y- Yes. That's fine.

[spacialeyes]

[It has taken him all night, but something clicks: Inaba can be really cute when she gets like this- And that thought is not allowed in his head!

Yuuto turns to look away, pretending to be preoccupied with spotting a grocery store,] Sooo store! Groceries! Let's get some chicken!

[dereban]

Right, chicken-- let's get some.

[ Yep, this is what they need to do. ]

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto takes one last look at the skating rink, then instinctively reaches for Inaba's hand in an attempt to keep them together.]

The store I usually go to isn't actually that far, so... Th-This way, please.

[dereban]

[ She'll take his hand. There's a warmth that she feels there, something that she doesn't usually feel all that often- or rather, hasn't felt properly in a long while. Honestly, Inaba isn't sure if that feeling is just how this world works with physical touch or if there's something more to it.

Those feelings, however, are ones that she'll bury in her heart for the time being as she tries to soften her smile. ]

... Alright. [ Anyway, try to change the subject a little while he leads the way! ] You said that cooking fried chicken and cakes were within your wheelhouse, didn't you? What else can you cook?

[spacialeyes]

[Likewise, Yuuto is confused by how different it feels to hold her hand. It's calming and grounding, making each step feel more centered than the last. He's able to calm down enough to lose the shy note to his voice.]

If there's a recipe, I can cook just about anything? I like recipes with a science to them. It's a bit relaxing, I think..? So a lot of baking. Sometimes I'll cook pressure cooker recipes too.

What do you like cooking, Inaba?

[dereban]

[ The mention of science reminds her of a few people in the Foundation... maybe she should count her blessings that they're not here to meet Yuuto.

In fact, she's sure at least one or two of them would be a mess to see together. ]

Curry.

[ It's a simple admission. ]

A friend of mine- [ Oh, wait. She needs to correct herself. ] Or rather, a few were experts. I didn't know the secret recipe that they had, but I decided to make it. Plus, it's Taichi's favorite. But I didn't mind making other things as well, though I leaned a bit on more simpler recipes. Cooking isn't exactly my forte, but I learned it because I wanted to make the people I love happy... and one of my partners enjoyed eating a lot so I sometimes had to make large portions for him.