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[dereban]

Inaban

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Cursed empty headed reply

[spacialeyes]

Maybe I should spoil you to practice being a better Niisan then! You can rate me!

[dereban]

. . . I'm not your younger sister, you idiot. Having you spoil me would have completely different connotations!

[spacialeyes]

Oh… Oh! Yeah! Well, uh… I mean… H-hauuu. I was thinking… [Now he’s thinking too much, as made evident by his reddening face.] I- um! Mostly mean..! You probably know more about those things than I do…

[dereban]

It's true that I do, but I think you're fine the way you are.

[spacialeyes]

I-I don’t know about that. There’s not much that I do very well… I’ve been acting as a big brother for a few decades now, so I’ve still got a lot to learn…

[dereban]

The fact that you said "a few decades" and still say that you have a lot to learn worries me.

[spacialeyes]

Ehehe… I just feel like I’m not very well suited for it? Maybe it’s because I was the youngest for so long. It feels strange to suddenly be the oldest.

[It does contribute to his identity crisis. Though he isn’t focused on that right now.]

I want to be someone who takes good care of others… But I’m too clumsy right now.

[dereban]

It's okay if you're clumsy. Nobody's perfect. Just... do the best you can, as much as you can.

Anyway... shall we head out?

[spacialeyes]

Yes~! Though before we go… I still haven’t given you your present! May I?

[dereban]

[...]

Why are you giving me a present on your birthday?

[spacialeyes]

I was able to survive a year because I love you! So you deserve a thank you gift. Right?

[dereban]

Ah, well... I suppose I can't say no to that, but you really didn't have to. Can I open it now?

[spacialeyes]

Yes, please! Go right ahead.

[In typical Yuuto fashion, he’s made a gift for her with his talent for metal crafting. Though instead of jewelry, he’s crafted a metal bookmark in the shape of a cat.]

It’s not as amazing as your gift, b-but… For all of the research you do..? So I can keep you company..?

[dereban]

...Oh. This is cute, actually. Thank you, Yuuto.

[spacialeyes]

Really? Thank goodness..!

[His tail swishes happily.]

I’m ‘Yumeno’ here, but my surname is sometimes ‘Kuroneko,’ so… Mm! I want to stay with you for a long time. I love you!

[dereban]

Mmm. I'll keep it safe... but 'Kuroneko', huh. Maybe I should get you a cat hoodie next time.

[spacialeyes]

[Since cats are on his mind now, Yuuto does subconsciously adopt some more cat-like mannerisms. Namely the way that his hair lifts almost like curious cat ears and his tail curls.]

Like one with cats printed on it..? I do like cats. I get along with them well.

[dereban]

More like the hood would have cat like ears.

[ She uses her hands to make a gesture for ears. ]

[spacialeyes]

What a cute idea..! Ah, but- [Yuuto remembers how his power affects his hair and reaches up to pat down his ear-like hair tufts.] My power might make the ears move.

[He says that like it’s a problem.]

[dereban]

That doesn't sound like a problem.

[spacialeyes]

Wouldn't it be sort of weird..? I'd be more wiggly than usual...

[dereban]

Not really...I think it might be cute.

[spacialeyes]

… oh. Well.

[He pats his hair again, aware that he’s going to have fake cat ears again if he’s not careful.]

If being cute meant you’d um… look at me more… I’d be happy…

[dereban]

I mean, I'm not going to look at you less, you know.

[spacialeyes]

[He doesn’t have an immediate response to that. Yuuto actually needs a few seconds to recover from the emotions that just hit him. Usually, being looked at is all that he’s good for. His troublesome soul has value because it is housed in a beloved body.

But the bitterness he used to feel doesn’t surface when it’s Inaba. It strikes him as strange that he wants her to look at him. He likes his body when he’s with her.

When he finally speaks, Yuuto provides no context:]

I want to give myself to you, huh..?