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[tradesecret]

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[melodyoflogic]

Of course. It is getting to be just about lunch time.

[Not that he was feeling hungry, but he already had the ingredients prepped regardless.]

[tradesecret]

[ since food is involved, she'll really make her way to his place quickly ]

Hi hi~ I'm here!

[melodyoflogic]

[Ayumu answers the door, offering her a smile as he steps aside to allow her in. Something smells good and savory, at least, so lunch must be in progress somewhere--]

I'm just finishing up lunch. Feel free to relax while I bring everything out.

[Or she could follow him into the kitchen, where he's plating some sweet and savory smelling chicken. There's also a refreshing looking salad with leafy greens and what looks like nuts and pomegranate seeds or something similar, and a decent sized bowl of steaming rice. He'll bring everything out to the table, already set for two.

Odd, perhaps, that no one else would be joining them today.]

[tradesecret]

So, where're Hizumi-kun and Frisk?

[ Gosh, his cooking always smells amazing and it reminds her exactly why he wants to make him her bride. . . but the two place settings are rather suspicious. . . ]

Is this a date or something?

[melodyoflogic]

[There's a faint, faint tint of pink in his cheeks, but it fades fairly quickly as he shakes his head. Really? He knew what she was doing, but really?]

Of course not. They're both out this afternoon, that's all. They'll be back in time for dinner tonight. We're having curry.

[Probably the reason for that pressure cooker going back on the kitchen counter. He sets out the dishes, all in easy reach so Hiyono can serve herself. He'll serve himself salad more than anything, not really all that hungry. In reality, he'd nudged them both into activities that would keep them out until evening.]

[tradesecret]

Curry, huh?

[ Is what her response would sound like, if she wasn't stuffing her face while serving herself. Mmm, chicken.

This is the woman you've hitched yourself to, Narumi Ayumu. Are you sure you want to proceed? ]

[melodyoflogic]

Mmmhm. A warm curry will be nice after a chilly day like today.

[Listen, he isn't going to stop now..... though he might wait until she's gotten a decent bit of lunch in before actually proceeding to the talking bit. She certainly seemed hungry. In the meantime, he'll nibble his salad for awhile, perhaps seeming a little restless.]

[tradesecret]

[ If he's not going to make any moves, she's just going to keep derailing the inevitable by eating him out of house and home. He should know that she's capable of this. ]

I might have to try a bit of that.

[melodyoflogic]

If you'd like to stay for dinner, you're certainly welcome to.

[Though that would all depend on how she reacted to his upcoming questions..... and he wasn't going to let her derail forever.]

That is, after we've discussed something.

[tradesecret]

[ She takes this opportunity to swallow and employ a better way of distracting him ]

Are you still trying to figure out how to get some serious alone time with Hizumi-kun? I'm cool with babysitting, y'know?

[melodyoflogic]

[....She wasn't going to make this easy, was she? His cheeks might be a little pink, considering the timing, but his expression is unimpressed with her blatant attempt at misdirection.]

That's a nice offer, but no, it's not why I asked you here.

[Uuuugh, what a turn of conversation--] But I think it goes without saying that you already know what I want to ask, right?

[He sets down his utensils, leaning back to look her in the eye.] Even before I got here, I'd had my questions... But I never wanted to ask them.

[tradesecret]

I suppose you're right. Wow, this is kind of awkward. . . isn't it?

[ There's half-hearted laugh, before she kicks the energy into high gear ]

I'm definitely not experienced at giving "the talk," but I'll do my best to explain everything!

[ She'd never make things easy for him, gosh. She's even busting out the trusty puppets for this. ]

Let's start with the importance of using protection!

1/??

[melodyoflogic]

[.....really.

She's actually pulling out the--

really?!]

2/????

[melodyoflogic]

[Damn it his face was heating up this was not how he--

Ugh.]

3/???

[melodyoflogic]

[She was definitely not making things easy, especially with how hard this was already. Couldn't she just--

No, of course she couldn't. She probably didn't want anything to do with this discussion, because....]

4/4

[melodyoflogic]

[His previously flustered expression softens, a sigh escaping his lips. This wasn't going to be easy.... for either of them, but they had to talk about it. They had to be honest with each other.]

.....Who are you trying to protect, right now?

[tradesecret]

[ She laughs the way she always does, too loud and obnoxious, with black sparkles manifesting all around to make it clear she's enjoying herself in the worst way. ]

What're you talking about, Narumi-san? This is for you. Always!

[ And the Ayumu puppet waves ]

[melodyoflogic]

[She really wasn't going to make this easy, was she? His hands clench where they're resting on the table.]

If it's to protect me, you don't have to lie to me anymore.

[tradesecret]

[ she's so casual, even at ease. ]

How about this, Narumi-san? Tell me what the worst case scenario is. If it were true, what would you do?

[melodyoflogic]

Honestly?

[He sighs, closing his eyes as he collects his thoughts.]

There's two possibilities. At first, I'd started to believe my brother had something over you, and you've been at risk...

[A worry he'd had certainly, back home-- her involvement, how close she'd gotten to him. 'Hiyono' was a piece on the board his brother would have noticed immediately and taken advantage of.

But he hadn't. At least not in any obvious way. And with her not telling him anything, even here of all places.....]

Or he hired you, and your involvement in my life was by his hand all along.

[No one remembered the events of this world when they returned home-- it was a harsh fact, and a perfect excuse if she so chose to dispel of the artifice. but she hadn't.]

I'm going to assume your silence here confirms the latter?

[tradesecret]

[ oh man, he actually said it. She laughs, though it's a lot more feminine and soft. Her fingers comb through her braids, loosening them to fall straight. ]

You didn't answer my question, Narumi-san.

[melodyoflogic]

No, I didn't. To be honest, my answer depends on you.

[He leans back, a soft, wistful smile on his face as he looks up to meet her eyes.]

Would you think poorly of me if I said it doesn't change much, for me? At least when it comes to you.

[Spy or not, hired by his brother or not, when it came to her.... Ayumu still desperately wanted to believe there was something genuine here. He couldn't feel betrayed.... at least, not by her. There was definitely anger felt towards his brother, but...]

Everything you said, and did... Maybe it was at my brother's behest that you came to be involved with me, but I want to believe that what's between us wasn't a lie. And you not telling me here, when you had every opportunity to do so without ramifications to your job back home, makes me believe you were trying to protect me.

[And, just a little, it gave him hope. As always, her presence was like a light to him.]

[tradesecret]

Ahh, so that's how it is. . .

[ She muses to herself, as she enjoys a bit more of her lunch. Finally, everything makes sense. Why would Kiyotaka want her to stand by Ayumu's side while he's getting attacked from every angle instead of lending a hand himself? Why was Ayumu's failing health and eventual deterioration of his body kept a secret from her? Kiyotaka was aiming for a big reveal of everything. He hired a spy solely to out her as such. ]

That older brother of yours really is the worst. [ She smiles brightly and a rainbow of sparkles manifest around her. While she still hasn't answered outright, her reaction should be enough. ] I hate him so much~

[melodyoflogic]

He really is quite the troublemaker, isn't he?

[Maybe he couldn't quite muster up hatred on a personal level, but he could feel anger, at least. The many people his brother had manipulated and hurt, used and abused, that was certainly something Kiyotaka needed to make up for.

if it did come to that and he ever went home, he intended to make sure that his brother spent his life doing just that.

But right now, he couldn't feel anything but relief at her response. Did that mean.....?]

He wanted you to be so important to me that hearing it was all a lie would break me. He didn't count on that plan working so well it couldn't.

[His smile remains.] You're still my first friend. You held up my heart when I couldn't and believed in me when I couldn't believe in myself. You're the reason I hold my head up more now.... and the reason I could learn to be happy.

[Instead of despair, she'd given him the most precious gift.]

[tradesecret]

[ W O W. For a person more accustomed ruining lives, or slipping in and out of them with little regard for her impact or the aftermath, she doesn't expect him to say that, knowing full well that she was hired to betray him.

She's. . . touched in a way, not to tears, but it makes her more comfortable with telling the truth. She's pleasant enough, but detached, like a cup of lukewarm tea. ]

I was given instructions to support you in any way you asked and believe in you without question. While it did start off as a job, it was your work that made my faith in you real.

So, Narumi-san, now that I've confirmed your suspicions, what will you do? Those in my line of work tend to leave when their identity is compromised, but since my employer is not present and the island is a relatively small place, I'll let you make the judgement call.