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[ ...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.

[ Susato might have started shaking again. She doesn't know, either. Goosebumps run down her spine, and the hairs at the back of her neck stand at attention, as do the ones all along both her arms. She has to bite her lip to keep it from quivering—

Had she heard right?

She eases off Kazuma slightly, trying to meet his eyes, but she has to wipe at her own before she can actually see.

She cracks a very tired smile after everything. What can she possibly say to that? Nothing, she decides.

Curse all the formalities, t he doubts that are no longer there, the fear. Fingers grip at him hungrily and she pulls him in for a kiss on the lips, unapologetic and cathartic. In his hand, the yellow lily starts to glow. ]

[He keeps his eyes on her while she's trying to look at him. There was a moment where neither of them seem like they knew what to do next, but then Susato came forward and their lips soon meet. Ah. He suppose this was only the natural response.

Rather than recoil from her actions, he returns the favor in kind. The hand not holding onto the lily, runs up along her neck as gets right into the kiss. Warm, unfamiliar, yet he didn't want it to stop. He felt lighter than air, lips and body pressing against hers. Truly sharing an unbreakable bond with another.

Though the kiss cannot last, as he'll eventually need to stop to get a bit of air, licking his lips. Had he had a little more forewarning, it probably would have gone on for longer. But as a first...it was nice. His face is still pressed against hers regardless, wanting to touch her soft skin, maybe wanting a second go now that he's gotten a feel of it.]

[ Susato also needs to breathe. Even though she wound up initiating it, she feels equally unprepared, panting as her forehead remains pressed against his. It was the only way to ensure she wouldn't back out: act quickly, act decisively. And now that it's done, she also feels lighter, like they are floating on her cloud again.

Still hasn't noticed the lily, but her hairpin sure lights up to the point of sparkling. She smiles, knowing that she was able to reach him, pull him out of the darkness where he'd trapped himself, at least in part.

She still doesn't have the words. She just closes her eyes, feeling satisfied, and then she'll open them again, staring at him just because she can. He is hers. But she is his, too. ]

[All these indications from the hairpin and the flower, she's clearly happy. Even the lantern set beside them seems brighter than usual. A smile plays on his face as he runs his hand through her hair. What a rush of feelings, like they've just done something impossible.]

Do you wish to continue...? [He whispers and already leaning toward her lips again.] Or...perhaps we should wait until we have some more privacy. [Her room, his room, actually the guest room? Who cares, just a room.]

[ She glances at the lily at last, finally catching its glow out of the corner of her eye. Perhaps it is not so unusual, with the flowerworks show still going on above them and the glowing petals falling like confetti, but it is pretty telling. She notices him leaning in closer, and the way she sees it, there isn't really a choice, even though he gave her one.

Of course she'll lean up and kiss him again, even if it is just a teasing peck on his lips. ]

I, um... I just want you to be happy.

[What was that little tease? A sly grin on his face as he tickles her nose with his. For his happiness huh...only for his sake?

He lifts the hand with the now glowing lily. Is that how it's suppose to work...? Glowing when he's feeling happy. He closes his eyes, thoughts about whether it is earned or not wander in the back of his mind. He takes Susato's hand with the other, so they're grasping the lily together.] Only as long as you're happy.

[ She's already happy, knowing that he isn't an ocean away. She has shown it, too, and she thinks he knows, but this is beyond some shallow, fleeting interpretation of happiness. What she wants is for him to be able to forgive himself, and see himself the way she does. Doesn't feel like he's there yet, but at the very least, this weekend felt like a step in the right direction.

A soft sigh as she admires the lily, and the way they hold it together. ]

It looks even more brilliant than it did when she gave it to me. So bright, almost like the moon. But I suppose I don't need the moon to express how I feel anymore.

...Maybe... I never did.

Heh, no. You've already made your intentions clear even before now. [Even as he smiles, it felt like there was some sadness behind it. His eyes revealing a somber look. His fingers gentle rubs against hers.]

I've had these feelings as well, but...I don't know if I have any right to act on it. [Even now, he hasn't told her those three simple words. His voice apologetic, because he cannot bring himself to say it yet.]

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