No, nothing like that. I'm really healthy, promise.
[He gives her a small smile, though it drops not too long after.]
Um... The decorations that you chose for your cafe... They're really festive, but- well, I wouldn't say it's a weakness or anything, but me and mistletoe don't really get along. I'm not sure if you know, but it has another name, "Devil's Fuge". It wasn't an issue when I was human or anything, but once I absorbed the demon Beldr, it makes me really... Anxious to be around? I guess I'd liken it to a kind of repellent, just for me. I can be around it, but it's not comfortable.
[ She briefly recalls him mentioning his discomfort the last time, but not so much why it bothered him to that length.
Haru is very still when he provides his explanation, her face fighting back an embarrassed blush before she finally does jerk and rocks Juniper in her lap accidentally. ]
My, I had no idea! [ Her voice is laced with sympathy, but also a hint of shame. ] Is it that troubling for you? I can go take them down if you would prefer.
[ She had wanted the cafe to look festive for the holidays, but not at the expense of a friend's discomfort. ]
[Poor Juniper is rocked, makes an annoyed meow, bapping Haru's chest with a soft paw as if to reprimand her gently, before settling in again.]
No, it's okay! I can't ask that of you. Besides, it's a me problem, and it doesn't bother anyone else. It'd be pretty rude to ask you to take it down just for me. Besides, it looks nice too! And you went through all that effort to decorate it.
It's when it's near me. The farther away the easier it is for me to deal with.
[It's nice of her to offer to move it, but he shakes his head.]
It's really okay. I don't want you to change anything just for me. You worked hard, and I know people really like it. It was really nice to look at when I did stop by before.
It's not really me or my powers, but rather one of the demons who I absorbed back home. He was an Immortal demon, and the only thing that could kill him was mistletoe. It's that sort of latent... Fear, I guess? That makes it so uncomfortable. It doesn't hurt me, or anything like that.
[He doesn't want her to think that he's in pain or anything. It's just uncomfortable, and it's not like that's terrible to deal with overall. And besides that, it makes more sense for him to avoid it instead, rather than have Haru change everything she worked so hard on.]
I appreciate your concern, though. It's really okay, I promise.
Yeah... Definitely no risk of anything like that happening again.
[He still feels a little awkward, considering what had happened between them. More so because of her reaction and how she had felt both at the time and afterwards about it.]
Though... I doubt you'd knowingly put something like that up! So I think it'd be safe anyway, right?
[ Her face is still warm when he says that, memories of how soft his lips were against hers lingering.
It's difficult not to accidentally take a gander at his lips either, but she quickly draws her attention back to those endlessly blue eyes instead. Strange, how he looks kind of like Minato... ]
Christmas is rather romantic, so I thought it would be nice to have it in the cafe. No magic, of course! So it's safe.
Not yet... But I'm not sure if he's going to be doing anything with his other partners or not either. And I need to figure out something to do with Minato too now.
[He rubs the back of his neck, sheepish.]
But um... Even if you're not dating anyone, you can still spend time with the people you care about too, right? It doesn't have to be something romantic...
Yeah... It's pretty recent that we got together, though.
[He hadn't known Minato had felt that way about him to begin with, and he hadn't really considered his own feelings in that matter until... Well, everything happened.]
She can't pinpoint where it's come from, though it's curious it started when Kazuya explained his relationship with Minato.
She shouldn't be so surprised, realizes; the doujin makes a lot more sense now and well... the boys are quite handsome, so it's not exactly a shock they would be interested in one another. ]
Hm?
[ She waves a hand. ]
I don't think I'll be alone for it. Maybe I'll find something to do with Akira-kun or the others from home.
That's good. I'd hate for a wonderful person like you to be alone on Christmas Eve.
[Really, he would. Haru is too nice to be alone on such an important holiday, so he's really glad to know that she has people to spend time with on it.]
I'm also glad you have good friends from your home to spend time with too. It must be nice, to have people from your home with you for the holidays.
[ Haru nods with a small smile, her eyes a touch brighter than before now. ]
I'm glad Akira-kun is here, even if it's a bit selfish to admit.
[ But somehow, it makes the most sense. Finding herself lost in this strange new land and her leader appearing as the beacon she needed, just like she did last fall. ]
I don't think it's selfish of you to want someone you care about with you. I think... That's just human nature. To want to be with the people you care about the most.
[And even though he has so many people here that he cares about, there are those who have shown up and left just as fast that his heart hurts to think about. He's lucky to not be alone, that's true, but at the same time... He also misses the people from home too.]
[ She glances over at the newly gifted scarf from Akira, her heart blooming in her chest again, just as it had when she had unwrapped the gift in the first place.
How lucky she is, not only to meet precious people, but people who have no demands of her aside from wanting her to be happy. ]
Yes, you're right. Not being able to leave here so easily isn't something I would want to put the people I care about through, but I do miss them.
[ A beat. ]
You know... we should do something for the holidays, Kazuya-kun.
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It's too bad Mona doesn't like being touched there. He's a fussy cat sometimes. ]
Are you not feeling well? I could have brought soup, too.
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No, nothing like that. I'm really healthy, promise.
[He gives her a small smile, though it drops not too long after.]
Um... The decorations that you chose for your cafe... They're really festive, but- well, I wouldn't say it's a weakness or anything, but me and mistletoe don't really get along. I'm not sure if you know, but it has another name, "Devil's Fuge". It wasn't an issue when I was human or anything, but once I absorbed the demon Beldr, it makes me really... Anxious to be around? I guess I'd liken it to a kind of repellent, just for me. I can be around it, but it's not comfortable.
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Haru is very still when he provides his explanation, her face fighting back an embarrassed blush before she finally does jerk and rocks Juniper in her lap accidentally. ]
My, I had no idea! [ Her voice is laced with sympathy, but also a hint of shame. ] Is it that troubling for you? I can go take them down if you would prefer.
[ She had wanted the cafe to look festive for the holidays, but not at the expense of a friend's discomfort. ]
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No, it's okay! I can't ask that of you. Besides, it's a me problem, and it doesn't bother anyone else. It'd be pretty rude to ask you to take it down just for me. Besides, it looks nice too! And you went through all that effort to decorate it.
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[ She likes Kazuya, so for her to accidentally barricade him from entering her cafe makes her feel terrible about the entire ordeal. ]
Is it when it's near you or does it not matter where in the cafe it is? I can always move it if that's easier.
[ Right now there are only two, one where customers sit and one closer to the counter, but she could put them elsewhere. ]
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[It's nice of her to offer to move it, but he shakes his head.]
It's really okay. I don't want you to change anything just for me. You worked hard, and I know people really like it. It was really nice to look at when I did stop by before.
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[ She strokes Juniper gently and apologetically for rocking her earlier.
She meets Kazuya's gaze, lips curved slightly downward as she adds: ]
I feel terribly for hurting my friend in that case. I had no idea your powers were that sensitive.
[ Even if she doesn't quite understand what he is outside a demon king. ]
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[He doesn't want her to think that he's in pain or anything. It's just uncomfortable, and it's not like that's terrible to deal with overall. And besides that, it makes more sense for him to avoid it instead, rather than have Haru change everything she worked so hard on.]
I appreciate your concern, though. It's really okay, I promise.
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[ She won't push the topic anymore, but something else does come to mind that leaves her with a more sheepish expression: ]
Well, at least you won't have to worry about the mistletoe making you... you know.
[ Not that hers are magical in any way. ]
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[He still feels a little awkward, considering what had happened between them. More so because of her reaction and how she had felt both at the time and afterwards about it.]
Though... I doubt you'd knowingly put something like that up! So I think it'd be safe anyway, right?
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It's difficult not to accidentally take a gander at his lips either, but she quickly draws her attention back to those endlessly blue eyes instead. Strange, how he looks kind of like Minato... ]
Christmas is rather romantic, so I thought it would be nice to have it in the cafe. No magic, of course! So it's safe.
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[He gives a small laugh, hiding it behind his hand. Maybe... If he can just brush off what happened, it'll make her more comfortable about it too. ]
... Do you have any dates planned for the holidays?
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[ She blinks profusely, like he may as well have asked her in Greek or something. ]
Um, no! I am not dating anyone, so...
[ It would be nice to spend a romantic Christmas with someone, though. ]
What about you and Basil-kun? Do you have any plans?
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[He rubs the back of his neck, sheepish.]
But um... Even if you're not dating anyone, you can still spend time with the people you care about too, right? It doesn't have to be something romantic...
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Haru visibly perks up, head tilting with curiosity as Minato's name is mentioned.
She thinks about that explicit doujin she found, but she hasn't given it much thought since. ]
Hm? Are you planning on hanging out with Minato-kun?
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[But what to do with him...? How should he split his time between Basil and Minato?]
Last year I spent time with Basil, but dating two people makes things a little more difficult. Not impossible, though.
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[ She's definitely surprised to hear this, evident from the way her brows arch and her mouth hangs slightly agape.
She closes it quickly, shaking her head. ]
I didn't know Minato-kun had a boyfriend...
[ Is that why someone drew porn of them?? ]
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[He hadn't known Minato had felt that way about him to begin with, and he hadn't really considered his own feelings in that matter until... Well, everything happened.]
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Her heart skips a beat and she stops petting the cat, somewhat alarmed her chest felt so strangely in that moment. ]
I see.
[ It's a distracted response as she tries to focus on both Kazuya and the sensation that's burrowed itself under her ribs.
... strange. Maybe that curry she ate earlier was too spicy after all? ]
Oh! I suppose... congratulations! I hope you both are happy.
[ Minato deserves that kind of happiness, doesn't he? ]
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[It feels appropriate to say, though admittedly, it feels a little strange too.]
But going back to you, you should still spend time with someone you care about too, you know? It's important to not be alone on Christmas Eve.
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She can't pinpoint where it's come from, though it's curious it started when Kazuya explained his relationship with Minato.
She shouldn't be so surprised, realizes; the doujin makes a lot more sense now and well... the boys are quite handsome, so it's not exactly a shock they would be interested in one another. ]
Hm?
[ She waves a hand. ]
I don't think I'll be alone for it. Maybe I'll find something to do with Akira-kun or the others from home.
[ Except Akechi. ]
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[Really, he would. Haru is too nice to be alone on such an important holiday, so he's really glad to know that she has people to spend time with on it.]
I'm also glad you have good friends from your home to spend time with too. It must be nice, to have people from your home with you for the holidays.
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I'm glad Akira-kun is here, even if it's a bit selfish to admit.
[ But somehow, it makes the most sense. Finding herself lost in this strange new land and her leader appearing as the beacon she needed, just like she did last fall. ]
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[And even though he has so many people here that he cares about, there are those who have shown up and left just as fast that his heart hurts to think about. He's lucky to not be alone, that's true, but at the same time... He also misses the people from home too.]
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How lucky she is, not only to meet precious people, but people who have no demands of her aside from wanting her to be happy. ]
Yes, you're right. Not being able to leave here so easily isn't something I would want to put the people I care about through, but I do miss them.
[ A beat. ]
You know... we should do something for the holidays, Kazuya-kun.
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