[Oh. Whatever she was expecting, it wasn't that and there's a period of quiet surprise as she stares at him from behind her mask. She doesn't quite know what to say, but settles for a soft laugh.]
I know. [Fondly. Assuredly. She pauses again when he presents the little bundle, and as she opens it she holds it up to get a better look.] ...these look amazing! [Her free hand moves, pointing excitedly at the green one.] Matcha and...what's the other one?
[So yes, Love is a fan of sweets and it's probably why so many offerings are sweets.]
[ This is probably one of a very, very few times in his life where he's actually thought why did I say that?! It's a fairly new feeling. And then she says I know, so fondly, and he's pretty sure she could tie him around her little finger like a bow and he'd be fine with it.
Rein it in, Narukami.
Her excitement over the chocolates has him grinning, that rare boyish look he sometimes gets. ]
Cinnamon. I wanted to try something different for yours. They're not as perfect as the ones you get in the store, but I'm pretty happy with them.
I don't care if they're not perfect. It's really sweet of you to try. I can't wait to test them later. [The bundle is placed in her lap and she claps her hands together in delight.] Thank you, Yu-kun. You didn't have to do that.
[The chocolates go to the side to somewhere safe and she just shrugs.] The view's really nice, isn't it? I thought a break from the studio and some fresh air could be good for us.
[...hahaha.] Plus it's kinda romantic, isn't it? [Hahahahaha.]
[ Man. She says "romantic," and he turns his head to look at her, and while his expression doesn't change almost at all, there's still somehow something very intense in the way he looks at her. Not angry, or searching, just ... focused.
But then he'll look out over the lake again, and the moment is gone. He leans back on his hands. ]
It is, [ he'll agree easily, with faint humor. ] Does that make this a date?
[She may be blissfully ignorant at least, looking at the lake and fiddling with the bento in her hands now. It's fine if he looks at her this way. It's fine to be together and just spend time trying not to think about the four dead people and the impending trial tomorrow.
But the same tone's there when she speaks.]
I dunno...you've been pretty busy with a lot of other dates, huh? [Yes, she can see all of that.] This one would have to be extra special then.
[ God. He's aware!!! He hasn't stopped being aware!!!
There's just no way he couldn't also be impossibly aware of her.
The temptation to joke is there, to point out what she certainly already knows in that they weren't really dates, but instead he's quiet. He sits forward, pulling the bento box she gave him into his lap. And he's silent for a long moment, running his thumbs along the side of the bento box. ]
It could be. [ a barely voiced murmur as he finally lifts his gaze to her mask once more. ] If you'd like.
[Another pull of silence, but this time it's shorter as she turns her head just slightly, as if she's looking at him from the corner of her eye. It's not hard to see the change in him.]
...it'd be nice to pretend, wouldn't it? Just you and me. We could pretend that everything's okay instead of what it really is and that we're on a perfect date on a perfect day.
It's going to be hard. You're going to have a lot to work through, but I know you guys can do it. Just don't get stuck on one thing. You can't quit just because you solve one part.
Right. We have to be quicker and more thorough than last week. We can't afford to leave evidence undiscovered until the very end. We've got some plans to move things along, if we need to, so that should help.
A lot of you have a really organized info-sharing ring going on. It's sort of impressive how fast information moves. I hope you're all on the same page though.
[...but she nods.] Tomorrow should be fine. Just don't forget! Okay?
I was hoping you guys were still working together. [She sounds pleased.] Ray's the best. He's so, so smart and he works really hard to get all of his information. I'm just glad he's actually sharing with other people now. We've been working on that since the first day.
[It's not hard to tell she cares for this brat very much.] I used to worry about that, but...he's really strong. And he's learning to ask for help when he needs it. Now I'm just worried about somebody targeting him for knowing too much.
[But the fact that she doesn't comment on Yu's promise is also enough. She'll hold him to that. Maybe today can be a day they just talk in general.]
There's a reason I chose all of you. It took you a liiittle longer than I'd have liked for you guys to get it together, but you eventually found each other. That's all I can really ask.
We definitely plan to stick together. [ there's a faint smile. ] And I trust your judgment. If you wanted to pick them, then I know they're people I can rely on, too.
[ a huff of a laugh. he didn't expect a real answer, anyway. ]
I'll think on it. Hopefully I won't let you down.
[ but a thought seems to occur to him, and he'll look at her squarely, his expression open. ]
Actually, there is something I'd like your advice on. I haven't used my power yet this week. [ musingly ] I asked the others their thoughts, since Hopelessly Devoted could be useful in pressing someone for information. But the team [ he doesn't trip on the word this time ] didn't have any concrete leads outside of what we already know for sure.
...I can't tell you who to use it on, but what I can tell you is to watch for the people who seem like they aren't taking this trial seriously. If you can catch them stumbling on their own story, it might be a good idea to use the power on them.
We have more than one liar going into the trial tomorrow. It just depends which one you want to go after.
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I know. [Fondly. Assuredly. She pauses again when he presents the little bundle, and as she opens it she holds it up to get a better look.] ...these look amazing! [Her free hand moves, pointing excitedly at the green one.] Matcha and...what's the other one?
[So yes, Love is a fan of sweets and it's probably why so many offerings are sweets.]
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Rein it in, Narukami.
Her excitement over the chocolates has him grinning, that rare boyish look he sometimes gets. ]
Cinnamon. I wanted to try something different for yours. They're not as perfect as the ones you get in the store, but I'm pretty happy with them.
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I should be thanking you for setting this up. It's nice. [ the picnic. the food. ] Why here, anyway? Not that I'm complaining.
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[...hahaha.] Plus it's kinda romantic, isn't it? [Hahahahaha.]
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But then he'll look out over the lake again, and the moment is gone. He leans back on his hands. ]
It is, [ he'll agree easily, with faint humor. ] Does that make this a date?
[ hm, ]
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But the same tone's there when she speaks.]
I dunno...you've been pretty busy with a lot of other dates, huh? [Yes, she can see all of that.] This one would have to be extra special then.
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There's just no way he couldn't also be impossibly aware of her.
The temptation to joke is there, to point out what she certainly already knows in that they weren't really dates, but instead he's quiet. He sits forward, pulling the bento box she gave him into his lap. And he's silent for a long moment, running his thumbs along the side of the bento box. ]
It could be. [ a barely voiced murmur as he finally lifts his gaze to her mask once more. ] If you'd like.
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...it'd be nice to pretend, wouldn't it? Just you and me. We could pretend that everything's okay instead of what it really is and that we're on a perfect date on a perfect day.
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Instead, five people died this week.
[ He heard about Lightning. ]
Tomorrow, we have to find Ruin's killer. We're going to have another "easy" culprit, and if we get sidetracked again...
[ His eyes narrow slightly.
But after a moment his gaze falls. ]
... Love, there's something I'd like to ask you. After the trial tomorrow.
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[...hm.] ...after the trial?
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Right. We have to be quicker and more thorough than last week. We can't afford to leave evidence undiscovered until the very end. We've got some plans to move things along, if we need to, so that should help.
[ ... more gently: ] Yeah. That okay?
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[...but she nods.] Tomorrow should be fine. Just don't forget! Okay?
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Your followers are.
[ the five of them. ]
It's all thanks to Ray-san. He's really incredible. I just worry about him taking on too much by himself.
[ plus that child is like ... two. he's two years old. ]
I won't forget. [ more warmly. ] Promise.
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[It's not hard to tell she cares for this brat very much.] I used to worry about that, but...he's really strong. And he's learning to ask for help when he needs it. Now I'm just worried about somebody targeting him for knowing too much.
[But the fact that she doesn't comment on Yu's promise is also enough. She'll hold him to that. Maybe today can be a day they just talk in general.]
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He's got us, now. We're all determined to support him as best we can.
[ ... ]
And we'll try to protect him, too.
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...it's nice to have a team though, isn't it?
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Was he avoiding thinking of the word? It hits him right in the center of his chest. His jaw works.
... but he'll still nod, even if there's something a little achy about him. ]
It is. [ barely voiced.
He'll try a smile, pushing past it. ] No hints, huh?
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...if you think on it, I think you'll see it, too. Trust your instincts a little. You seem good at that.
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I'll think on it. Hopefully I won't let you down.
[ but a thought seems to occur to him, and he'll look at her squarely, his expression open. ]
Actually, there is something I'd like your advice on. I haven't used my power yet this week. [ musingly ] I asked the others their thoughts, since Hopelessly Devoted could be useful in pressing someone for information. But the team [ he doesn't trip on the word this time ] didn't have any concrete leads outside of what we already know for sure.
[ ... he'll smile, soft and crooked. ]
I guess what I'm asking is, any advice?
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We have more than one liar going into the trial tomorrow. It just depends which one you want to go after.