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[dereban]

Inaban

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[dereban]

H-H-How do you know it's not!? And maybe it's something else entirely...!

[spacialeyes]

Enlighten me then? [He still has her hand for now, and turns to face her directly,] What would you like? Your happiness is my top concern right now, so please do not hold back.

[dereban]

... it's okay, I don't need it.

[spacialeyes]

[That only serves to worry him. Yuuto tries to catch her gaze again.]

What do you want?

[dereban]

[ And Inaba is trying to avoid it, her face red. ]

Fine, you were right earlier...

[spacialeyes]

[Even though he had guessed this, Yuuto is surprised when she admits it. He’s already decided that he should take this take more seriously, so Yuuto doesn’t fluster and try to talk her out of her words. He does take a second to process his reaction.]

… I see.

Would you regret it though? If it was me… You can still have standards.

[dereban]

[ Okay, fine, that's enough for her expression to sour as she squeezes his hand tighter and not in the kind way.

(Although it's not very strong, given that she's not exactly athletic.) ]

I have good enough standards, thank you very much. We already kissed earlier. If I regretted that, I would have gone back home alone by now.

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto doesn’t protest. He knows that he deserves this. He winces only briefly before managing to neutralize his expression. It reminds him of the way that Nen and Shigeru scold him when he says bad things about himself. Even if it hurts, Yuuto wouldn’t call it unkind.]

I-I’m sorry..! It’s just, I- I’m…

[What? A monster? A being with a shattered soul? He doesn’t know how to explain those in a way that will be taken seriously. But she’s squeezing his hand tightly, rather than trying to hush away his insecurity. Somehow that’s reassuring. He doesn’t doubt that she’ll push him away if he’s really a problem.]

… I’m sort of… tainted. And I want you to be happy. [It his mind, these things cannot co exist.]

[dereban]

And who says that I can't? If you're tainted, then we'll just have to find a way to fix it.

[spacialeyes]

[Something about the way that she can brush by that without challenging him is refreshing. And confusing.]

But it won’t be fixed in the next hours… I’d still be kissing you like this. Doesn’t that bother you?

[dereban]

Do I have to shine the "we kissed earlier" bat signal for you to get it?

[spacialeyes]

[Yeah. Kinda.

Yuuto thinks back to how many other people he’s kissed in the past six months and does think he’s being ridiculous. It sucks to not be able to shed this feeling.

He meekly looks back at her.]

Let me… get the cake in the oven…

[dereban]

I'll wait in the living room. And, ah... you really don't have to if you don't want to.

[spacialeyes]

[She hasn’t actually made him feel bad yet. Yuuto doesn’t feel like he’s being corrected or made to hide himself. So as he lets her hand go, he admits it with far too much honesty:]

I’m afraid that I’ll like it too much… Ah- I mean, uh… Sorry.

[dereban]

Is that such a bad thing? To enjoy yourself.

[spacialeyes]

I’m not sure. I’m not usually- [He catches himself.

He can’t say that. That he’s not usually happy. He’s not sure how to be happy. It’s scary. Not now and not here.

But he does decide to try. Yuuto steps closer and puts his free hand on her arm, holding her steady while he experiments with kissing her forehead.]

I’ll be right back. Thank you, Inaba.

[dereban]

Ah--I didn't do much, but you're welcome. I'll wait for you, alright?

[spacialeyes]

You would say that… Mm. Be right there.

[Prepping the food gives him a chance to sort his thoughts properly. It isn’t her job to keep him steady after all. By the time that he has the cake baking and the fried chicken set to cool, he’s made his decision. It would be stupid not to take advantage of this chance to attempt happiness after all.

Yuuto knocks on the entryway frame to alert her of his return.]

Thank you for waiting. Do you still need something?

[dereban]

I haven't changed my mind, if that's what you're asking. But... I don't want to pressure you into it.

[spacialeyes]

I wouldn’t have come back if I felt pressured.

[so we all that is generally a lie. but let him have it this time. he did put some work into it this time.

Yuuto sits next to her, his expression still shy despite all of his efforts.]

I… I thought about this, even when I asked you out at the beginning. I didn’t want you to be lonely on a night like this.

[dereban]

I've been alone plenty of times before, you know.

[spacialeyes]

Then I should turn back time and kiss you then too, hm? [He exhales quietly to calm himself, reaching out to take her hand again.] It’s weird… Since we met? I’ve wanted to listen to you. So… If you have any other requests, I’ll listen for them too. Okay?

[dereban]

You don't have to do that.

[ She does allow him to take her hand in his, at least. ]

I don't really have anything else...right now, anyway.

[spacialeyes]

Hmm? [He can feel his nerves become tight. Yuuto tries to will himself to relax, but it’s hard. He’s aware of how she’s made him feel all night. Kissing seems dangerous when his feelings are already so reckless.

Yuuto puts his other hand on the couch to support his weight as he leans in.]

Then… Close your eyes? And tell me… when to stop?

[dereban]

You better not ruin the food because you're distracted.

[ Inaba...... ]