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[ Sure, they could have ignored the announcement... but not for long, right? After the festival, the desire to spend another quiet evening melting into the couch with him at home is undeniable, and it sure would be nice if she could, maybe, not think about that for just a few minutes. It would have also been nice if she had maybe gifted him the prize she managed to win, among other things, while she still had a chance to in private, but looking at the hill he indicates now... well, it could still work. ]

Yes, of course.

[ Her pace slows thanks to the uphill climb, but thankfully, it also meant that others were less likely to make it. The crowd becomes a faraway quiet hum, and she finally comes to a stop, seeming satisfied that this will surely be a good enough vantage point for the show.

Kazuma may not be a fan of small talk, but Susato instigates it anyway as she finally lets go of him and starts to unwrap the royal purple picnic blanket she had been carrying. It was lucky, perhaps, that she had been able to tuck it away in her cloud, but without it, she was starting to feel the extra weight.

She wanted to give them something to lay on, but seemed to be carrying something in the blanket until now, almost as if it were a makeshift bag, though it's not easy to see what. She simply tucks it away under her arm as she spreads the blanket out. ]

By the way, I... I should finally give you this.

[So that's what that was for.] You certainly came prepared.

[Was this planned all along? He notice her shuffling away a bag while she spreads the blanket out. At the mention of giving him something, he remembers he been carrying around something for her.] Do you? I have something for you as well. [He swings around the bag he had with him, but he stops before taking out said gift.]

Do you want to share at the same time?

[ To be fair, she didn't anticipate needing the blanket again, but it was delightfully convenient, and it kept his presents hidden. Once the blanket is spread out, she has the doll in her hands, but stops just before she gives it to him. She winds up holding it behind her back, turning around with something of a surprised look on her face.

You do? [ Though somehow, it's... not that surprising. Something about this feels right, which is odd, considering the butterflies fluttering around in her stomach right now. ] S, Sure. Yes...

Then shall we, on three?

[A nod.] On three then. One, two....three! [Little lantern lights lit up around the field as the day light disappears. Under these lantern lights, Kazuma reveals to Susato, a plush white rabbit, holding a book in it's hands.]

[ At the same time, Susato's arm swings around and reveals a plush samurai cat, just a little larger than her palm, carrying a sword. At the very least, not giving it to him right away allowed her to tie a small red ribbon around what's revealed of the sword's hilt. It probably looks a little unnatural, since the plush didn't come that way, but There Was An Attempt. ]

............

[ Just. Just give her a second. ]

[ Is. Is that...?

She might have let out a familiar squeal as the petals on her sakura hairclip started to glow. Don't perceive her. ]

Oh, he is adorable. The hat... it could be a deerstalker! And— [ What is he reading? Probably an issue of the Randst magazine. (Who cares?!) ]

Edited 2022-05-07 04:53 (UTC)

[Well. He knew she would probably like it, but it turns out she really likes it. Between her excitement and the hairclip he had given suddenly lighting up, it's a lot. But...it's cute seeing her act on her feelings.]

I'm...glad you really like it. [He fought tooth and nail to get that thing. Stupid geese statues. Now he's trying to focus on the gift she had gotten for him, mildly amused by certain features on it.] Is that supposed to be me?

[ ...Oh, right. Susato manages to take her eyes off her new bunny rabbit for just a moment to regard the cat, still snug in her hand. She looks it over, trying not to overthink her answer. ]

I, If you like it. [ ...... ] If not, it is... um... your grumpy twin. Mr Meowgi.

[ That's the name the booth aide told her when she picked the prize at least, but she wasn't going to hold him to that, OK. ]

[Mr. Meowgi. His thoughts couldn't help but wander to Hyde at the mention of his twin, but he was more than just grumpy. He hums quietly, putting out his hand to take the plush from her.]

Well? [He raises the cat so it was on level with his "grumpy" face.]

[ In exchange, Susato will happily take bunny Herlock. Distantly, she is reminded of the charm Iris once made for them, only to be used when they had no other options, but it feels like forever ago now. She holds the plush close, peeking up as Kazuma held Mr Meowgi next to his face.

Sometime in their distant future, there would probably be multiple studies about how pets wind up looking like their owners. She grins, amused at the sight, though the petals in her hairpin just barely dim. She knows what he must be thinking about, and she won't make it worse by bringing it up. Not here. Not now.

Been there. Done that. ]

Well... perhaps you will make each other smile, one day.

[ Someone should. She is certainly trying hard enough. ]

[Well, his intent was to be funny, and it looks like it worked? Before he could say anything more, there's a loud boom as the first flowerwork goes off in the air. Rather than explode in colorful flames like normal fireworks, glowing flower petals burst from the source and fall among the oohs and awes of the crowd.]

Ah. They're really flowerworks. [While they admire another batch of flowerworks going off, Kazuma will just casually slip his arm around Susato's waist.]

[ Susato beckons them to sit just in time for the first boom, and her head whips up to the sky so fast that she can feel the whiplash. She’s just in time to see a burst of red as she catches one of the falling petals in her mouth, which had been wide open in wonder, as more glow all around them.

She barely registers the hand around her waist, the move is that casual, but she still responds by scooting closer to him as she lightly coughs up that petal. With Bunlock held loosely in her lap, she tries not to laugh. ]

Ah! Tastes like— [ Strawberries, on a summer evening? …Rose? ]

[ She licks her lips, turning to Kazuma to see his reaction, but then forgets whatever she’d been about to say. ]

…It’s everywhere.

[ Her expression softens as she reaches to pluck the petal she sees on his nose, and more fall from his hair—or hers. Another explosive burst sounds above them, followed by cheering. She’ll miss the display this time, but the red petals are quickly joined by pink ones, their glow blending in with the glow of her hairclip. ]

Edited 2022-05-08 05:27 (UTC)

[He glances in her direction when she starts coughing. He starts brushing some of the petals off of her, not really caring about the ones falling onto him and Mr. Meowgi on his lap. Susato already has it covered already.]

Do they have a taste? You could keep a collection of them for the Harvest. [Their faces are so close right now.]

. . . [ Did he say something? Whether she can't hear because of the flowerworks or just because she doesn't seem to be retaining anything, she doesn't know. She just stares, frozen, and for the first time she's noticing how close their faces are. She tries to lean back, feeling self-conscious, but in the end, whatever large part of her that wanted this seems to keep her in place.

She might be a little shaky from the anticipation, not knowing what might happen. Her hand grips whatever it could at the time; she thought it was Bunlock, but she honestly can't tell, and he might have fallen off her lap and onto the blanket. ]

Uh... I, I don't... [ know? ...She somehow manages to laugh. Nerves danced as she bit her lip. Something about taste? Sure. ] You'll have try one, and... and tell me.

Hm...? [He could feel her breath from her flustering. He dips in closer to her, a growing desire to have more than what they had two days ago, but then-

Another wave of flowerworks go off behind them. You can't. He blinks, her lips right there. The corner of his own twitch and for a moment, there might have been a frown. His attention goes to the few petals resting on her head. Suddenly he puts a little space between them as he samples one of the petals.]

Huh. There's not much taste to them.

[ To be fair, the flowerworks are pretty distracting. She may have been waiting, and her hairclip may have reflected a disappointment that even she didn't understand. She'll sit up slightly to give him space in return, more petals falling off her when he puts the one in his mouth, though they're still sitting quite close. She looks at him with a different kind of anticipation, waiting for his reaction, and—

Well. At least they're in agreement. ]

Hmm. [ A hum of acknowledgement. She looks away, thinking. ] I have something else for you, actually. But you can't eat this one.

[He does have a feeling of disappointment of not following through. He still had a lot to fix about himself and he just couldn't, not to her. ]

Oh? [He blinks, snapping out of his thoughts for a moment. Something else for him?] You have a flower for me...? [DAMN MAKE THIS HARDER ON HIM.]

[ SHE WILL, SURE.

She's already ruined the surprise anyway. There is a quiet sigh, and she closes her eyes as if she's psyching herself up for this. No more hesitation, no never minds. She can't take anything back anymore.

. . . She gives him a nod, and then holds out a single yellow lily. ]

[ That's not enough though, is it? It's time for her to follow through. ]

I made a new friend yesterday. And... she told me that where she is from, lovers used to give each other this flower when they were reunited.

I thought...

[ Three years.

...... ]

I think you've waited long enough.

[Certainly not enough. He would have thought it was a simple gift one would expect at a festival with flowers. Hearing it's actual purpose, definitely gives the lily more of an impact. Slowly, he reaches for the lily, sliding down to hold her hand in both of his.

"I think you've waited long enough." The sounds around him seem to grow distant and muffled. Even the explosion of the flowerworks seem far away. He could only hear himself breathing, and see the woman before him. It's as if her words managed to reach deep inside him, a part that had sunk into acceptance of what can't be had, back to the surface. A shaking hand squeezes hers as he gently pulls her into a hug.]

. . . . . .

[ Well, now it's her turn to look at him as if he can't see her. She felt brave, a moment ago, but now she might be shaking a little bit. She's faced criminals, both accused and true, stood in court, and she can't remember the last time she'd been afraid like this.

When she thought she might lose him, maybe. That night...

But before she can take herself back there, she feels that gentle pull, and she topples forward. Her gasp is cut short. Her eyes are wide, and her entire body is stiff. Her eyes might have started to water. She actually can't tell. But she melts, suddenly not shaking quite so much.

She's... She's safe. ]

[What has he done to ever truly deserve her after everything, he does not know. But no matter how he feels, he still wants to be loved, and to be able to love another.

Taking a deep breath, he gives himself moment to regain his composure. He leans close to her ear and whispers.] I am yours.

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