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[dereban]

Inaban

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[spacialeyes]

[He gasps in excitement when she agrees and begins leading the way over. He’s so happy and comfortable with her that he speaks too freely;]

I haven’t been able to see the stars with all of the lights, so I’ve been going crazy… I wish I could align with this one.

[Though even once they’re at the booth, Yuuto doesn’t get to learn about stars. He’s getting an explanation of the missing tradition here: The one where they’ll get gifts if they kiss under the tree. Yuuto looks dejected for a moment, because stars aren’t involved. Then he brightens with excitement.]

A gift! Another present for you!

[dereban]

Wait-

[ Her face is red at this point and she can hear her voice crack into higher pitches. A rarity for her. ]

You're okay with this sort of thing!?

[spacialeyes]

[A part of him does resist the idea. He can’t kiss Inaba. He’s not completely sure why, but he’s pretty sure that it’s taboo. Probably because, to Yuuto-]

Mm. Friends kiss all of the time, right?

[So he shouldn’t be shy about kissing Inaba. She’s a friend. It shouldn’t feel strange. It should be normal.

But he can feel his heart rate picking up. That… That’s not how it should be for friends.]

Do you want to try? They said it’s a tradition and you’ll get some jewelry out of it. I can help if you want it?

[dereban]

Friends don't kiss all the time!

[ It's an immediate retort. Her face is burning and she can hear the way her voice screeches but she is trying real hard to pull herself together. ]

I certainly don't kiss my friends unless we're doing some stupid shit!

[ She has, in fact, played spin the bottle before. So it's not like she hasn't kissed her friends before, but it was more of a "haha funny icebreaker as a distraction from all the awful shit" versus a tradition. ]

B-Besides, I'm sure you wouldn't want to kiss me...!

[spacialeyes]

[He won’t say that she’s wrong. People can have all sorts of boundaries after all. Honestly, Yuuto wouldn’t kiss just anyone- Even when he has started to misunderstand certain social rules.

But he is beginning to suspect that something is wrong with him. It’s her retort about whether he wants to kiss her or not that finally explains the way his heart is racing. Yuuto’s smile becomes shy and he nods.]

I want to. If you do too… Ah, I’d be quick so I don’t… hurt you, of course. [He can’t forget that his soul is disgusting!] It’s alright if you don’t want to… We don’t have to try it.

[dereban]

It's...

[ Ugh.

She can feel herself cursing internally. She's done this sort of thing in public before in front of cameras with a live audience. In front of people who can see it all. So why is it now that she's found herself frozen in fluster?

No, don't answer that question.

She already knows the answer.

It's because the situation is different. She's not in duress; under some life or death situation where you've got to take your shots. This world is different from the Foundation. She's so keenly aware of that, now.

It's Christmas Eve, and they're under a Christmas tree. Just because she doesn't act like it all the time doesn't mean that she isn't a bit of a romantic at heart. ]

If you really don't mind, then... it's okay if it's you.

[spacialeyes]

[He recognizes the privilege of those words right away. It clicks that, likewise, he’s only able to offer because it’s her. Inaba is so easy to be around. Even when he’s feeling flustered like this, it feels nice when she’s the cause.

There is no time to question why that is!

Yuuto moves his hands; Breaking contact, but only so he can test their mutual interest by putting a hand on her cheek.]

I’ll be quick, okay? You can close your eyes? [He laughs quietly, feeling nervous.] Just long enough to get you a present.

[dereban]

[ Her heart is thumping so loudly in her chest to the point where she can hear it.

But she nods quietly as she takes a breath in to reign her emotions in. Don't be nervous, Inaba Himeko! she tries to tell herself; after all, it's not like it's her first or even second time that she's kissed somebody.

Although it certainly is a first to have it under the tree like this... ]

Okay. I'll trust you.

[ Words that aren't given freely. Not from her. ]

Tell me when it's... done.

[ She'll close her eyes. It doesn't help the thumping of her heart. Removing a sense - even temporarily - actually makes it louder in her ears, the pounding heavier in her chest. ]

[spacialeyes]

[It’s hard to explain it.

There’s a new feeling in his chest and he can’t explain it. He can’t ignore it either. Hearing her say that she trusts him and seeing this other side of her lights a match in his heart. Yuuto feels warmer and calmer. He doesn’t want to betray her. He wants, so badly, to give Inaba something nice for Christmas. He figures that will be the magic gift that comes from kissing her. She must really want it, he reasons, to put up with his touch.

The kiss is quick. Yuuto gently tilts her cheek and meets her lips with his, lingering only until he feels the gift appear. His spatial awareness and power make it easy to tell when the lockers have materialized. When they do, Yuuto pulls back while his power makes the trinkets float upward. This was the goal, he reminds himself. While his cheeks burn red and his heart fails to settle.]

There. Thank you for your patience. It’s done.

[dereban]

[ There's a sense of... what is it? Relief? Happiness? Eventually, warmth settles in the center of her chest. Of course she's very keenly aware of what it means, but she chooses to ignore it for now.

It might be short, but she's already feeling a neediness in the pit of her stomach when she opens her eyes back up and has to ground herself by putting her weight on her heels. ]

Right...

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto takes a half step back and grabs the locket from the air, which he presents to Inaba in his outstretched hand.]

Here you go. Merry Christmas, Inaba.

[His tail wraps around his ankle to ground himself and he forces himself to look away. Maybe that was a bad idea..? Now that he’s kissed her, he can’t ignore the thoughts and feelings spreading like weeds in his chest. Yuuto doesn’t want to get hanahaki for this too.]

[dereban]

[ She takes the locket in her two hands, face a bit red. She knows how bad she is with this sort of supernatural stuff, but it's even more embarrassing that it showed up because of the kiss.

A hand reaches to the nape of her neck, rubbing at it a bit awkwardly. ]

Ah... thank you. Um, shall we go?

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto is the dumbass who opens the locket immediately and is delighted to see the picture inside.]

Inaba! It's you! Your face is here! You're so cute!

[dereban]

Huh-

[ Oh no. Oh noooo. ]

What do you mean it's me? [ Girl who is in distress: is in distress. ]

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto gasps when the portrait changes.]

Now you're blushing..! This is the cutest gift ever!

[dereban]

W-W-Wait a second, maybe you should just give me that one...!?

[spacialeyes]

Isn't yours the same? [...] Oh. Are you a narcissist? [He holds it out. Totally not judging!]

[dereban]

I'm not a narcissist. But it's embarrassing.

[spacialeyes]

O-oh... Um. Even if I said "please?" It's small and has your picture in it... I might be able to take it home with me... [His posture does shrink nervously. Yuuto isn't used to asserting his wants like this.] Maybe I'd be less lonely...

[dereban]

Couldn't it at least be a better photo?

[spacialeyes]

This is already the best photo. You're so cute when you're blushing.

[dereban]

What kind of weird compliment is that...!?

[spacialeyes]

A sincere one?

[He tilts his head, smiling hopefully.]

So? Can I keep it? Then we'll both have lockets of your face. [Because he assumes that they match.]

[dereban]

Uuugh...

[ Actually, she's going to open her locket-- ]

This one doesn't have my face on it.

[spacialeyes]

What? Did they give you an empty one??

[Yuuto asks with concern, feeling like maybe he's cheated her out of a cool gift.]