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I'm not offended. [He takes a huge bite of his cookie.] But I'm sure I'm not. I have a birth certificate and my mom's talked about it to Gongenzaka's mom before.

[Pregnancy stories, probably?? He didn't actually stick around for any of those embarrassing mom conversations lest they steered into embarrassing baby photos. The worst.]

... So, do you get along with the person who gave you powers? Like, are they nice? [Or should Yuya be ready to get into a fight with a daemon or fae over Kano's soul.]

[ Pregnancy stories... It's a good thing Kano didn't have to suffer through that sort of embarrassing thing, though he doubts he even has any pictures from before he lived in the orphanage, and not many even then. Actually, the most times he's gotten his picture taken must have been the two or three Nana and Toki took on their phones. A strange concept. ]

Hmm... Well, it's like this! We've known each other for a long time, so getting alone and being nice, those sorts of thing aren't necessary.

[ Does that make sense at all... It's like his relationship with his mother, who could be all sorts of mean but he would still cling to her, because she's all he had. With Michael, he'd spent most of his younger years absolutely terrified and pushed himself to work his powers so he wouldn't disappoint, never mind the caveat that the Contract came with. Michael is a lot of fun, and he'd learned a lot looking up to Michael, and he can be nice too, but... They aren't as close as they probably should be. Not like Yuya and Odd-Eyes. ]

[Not... quite what he meant.

Yuya sets his cookie on his leg so he can put hinds on Kano's shoulders and look at him very seriously.]

A contract doesn't change you to me. But if someone's going to come for your soul or blood will you tell me now so we can be ready when the time comes?

[He doesn't know what Kano gave up but given things with Wist, he wouldn't not put it past Kano exchanging something that would ultimately kill him.] I meant it when I said I'd protect you.

[Even if that means fighting a daemon. A fae. Don't tell Michael.]

[ Against Michael, Yuya doesn't stand a chance. Nobody in the school does, so Kano really is playing a dangerous game these past few months, going into this one. ]

How 'bout I tell you when things get hairy and I need somebody to save me? As of right now, I'm still useful, so I won't die~

[ It's words like that, that make people distrust the Contracted, maybe. ]

I'd be a lot easier to prepare if I knew sooner... [Then he'd know what he needs to start researching so he can have kill methods ready. God, it's already on his mind.

Yuya chews on his lip.] Is it a daemon or a fae? I'm already reading things things about daemons.

[ This is another reason why he doesn't want to tell!!! People cannot run off to fight Michael, it's nothing that will end well. ]

Ahh, I've started looking into daemons and stuff too! Have you learned anything interesting? I want to hear, I want to hear~

[The reality is that nobody will have to because only Kano thinks Michael is going to kill him.

Yuya deflates a little, dropping his hands.] I don't know if it's interesting. Professor Valvatorez gave me a book. Not for his class, for something else, but it's so old and it's in English so I don't understand all of it.

[It's been a lot of using the translator trying to figure out old terms he's not used to hearing.] It's about kinds of daemons and possession and stuff. Did you know you can actually be part daemon? Like if your dad was one.

[Kano's hypothetical dad, not Yuya's hypothetical dad because there's no way, right...]

[ It was a valid concern when you're six and carried that belief for ten years. But everything Yuya says is interesting, and he would really like to get his hands on that book if he's able to, and Yuya gives him the in- ]

If it's in English, let me read it. I wonder... Hey, can't you see me being part daemon?

[ Just look at him... poster boy for a daemon child. ]

You wouldn't need a contract for magic if you were part daemon, would you? [Since he'd probably naturally have magic, being part Outlander.] But you are pretty chaotic.

[He stuffs the rest of the cookie in his mouth before grabbing his tea.] I'll ask Professor Valvatorez, but I don't think he'll mind you reading it after me. Unless you want to read it together? [He takes a sip.] What're you reading about daemons for?

[ He wouldn't know, not being part daemon, but he thinks if he were and didn't know about it, he would be fool enough to make that exact Contract with Michael given the same situation anyways. ]

Yep, let's read it together~ You can summarize all the stuff you've already read so I don't have to start all over from scratch! [ It's tag-team laziness, they'll be a good team. ]

As for daemons... I was talking to Professor Yang about it before, actually! Something like... "know thy enemy"? It seems like a good idea just to know, doesn't it?

Somehow, I'm feeling less confident about your contract hearing that... [Please Kano, his heart can't take this.]

You can come over to read it this weekend! Or come down, if you finished that hole in your closet.

[That he woke him up for. He hopes it was worth it.]

It's Nightfall prep, Nightfall!! Never mind contracts~ As for the hole... [ It's still just a hole. There's a chair in Toki's closet where one can climb up into the Kano's room, but he hasn't done anything else with it yet. It's serviceable, it doesn't have to be pretty. ]

It's finished~ But I was also thinking! Toki and I were talking about it, how there's nobody living in the room sharing your bathroom. So! I'm going to take it~

You are? I guess if nobody's using it, it doesn't really matter. [Yuya puts a finger to his lips.] We're not telling anybody so they don't find out, right? Toki's guards are a lot closer lately, too.

[Rightly so, in Yuya's opinion, mostly because somebody needs to be there to stop him from ripping his eyeball out.]

[ Yeah... Kano hates his guards, but he's also secretly glad there's always somebody nearby on hand to help Toki out. ]

Yep~ You'll help me move things around, right? I was thinking, if we push the beds and desks together just so, and get a couple extra bed sheets, we could make one hu~ge blanket fort and it'd be really fun to just hang out there! Something like that, not even the guards can object to, right?

You need to lift some weights too. [Yuya moves to poke Kano's arm.] It's not very manly if you can't even move furniture! But sure, I'll do it as long as you invite me into the fort.

[It's be fun, Yuya's all for it.] We should decorate the Dan's hideout too. Since it's spring, it'll be a lot warmer up there.

Ehh, I don't need to get any stronger, when I have you, right? You're invited, you're invited~

[ Of course Yuya's invited. There would be no fort unless he had Yuya's help. ]

That old hideout up on the roof, though... I've sorta missed it, yeah! [ It used to be just his place, and then he'd emptied it out, and then other people have been finding it. The roof's become more popular after the bars were put up there, but it's not like it's some secret hideout there they do secret things in. ]

[Yuya thinks it's more secret than it really is.

He leans back, sipping his tea while Odd-Eyes has his face shoved at the cookie box--he's had like five so far while they haven't been looking.] If we can't get furniture up there... maybe rugs and pillows? In a lot of fun patterns!

[Tacky patterns. Kano's seen Yuya's wardrobe, he has no taste.]

[ Hmm, Kano might have to use his secret closet passageway to sneak into Yuya's side of the room and burn all his clothes and replace them like he did with Maverick's old socks.

Kano gives Odd-Eyes the remains of his de-M&Med cookies, and looks over the box to make sure it's still more or less intact. Yuya promised it to him, so be gentle with it, Odd-Eyes! ]

Hm... I'm thinking~ what if we fill the entire floor with bean bag chairs?

[ They're fun for two seconds and annoying to get up from but if Toki seizes in the middle of the room he can fall as hard as he wants and will be okay, probably. Also, note to self, invite Toki into the Dan. ]

[Kano wears like one outfit, how fashionable does he think he is.

Yuya's expression lights up immediately.] Yes. That's the best idea. We'll do that!

[With money from... somewhere. Probably Toki.] And you know those glow in the dark stars and planets and stuff? We can put them on the ceiling since it's so dark!

[ He likes to believe his one outfit is cool enough to excuse him from fashion!! Also, yes, another reason why they need to recruit Toki ASAP, the Dan is going to see expansion in the next coming months, from fixing up the dorm room, to the rooftop shed, to a treehouse in the forest, all those abandoned mountain bases that can be cleaned up, and his little places around the town too. Beanbag chairs everywhere~ ]

Aah, yeah! I've always wanted those when I was little! Then we wouldn't have to set candles everywhere around the room~

[ He was prepared to set 3094853 candles all around the perimeter for light and warmth, but Yuya's idea is better. ]

[Sounds dangerous.] All right!

[Yuya pumps his fists in the air with a laugh, spilling some of his tea. He's quick to set his cup down and wipe his hands off on his jeans.] It'll be fun! Let's keep having a lot of fun here, okay?

[Make moments that are going to be worth protecting when the time comes, and things that remind them they're people and they have lives to live.] I'm glad we became friends, Kano. I'm glad I met you.

[Where did his mental filter go though.]

[ Yeah, what happened to that filter which was always barely there? This is getting mushy and gross and Kano also feels mushy and gross inside hearing that, ugh, he's smiling a real smile and that's no good, so he squashes that down immediately and flicks some more cookie crumbs at Yuya. ]

Yeah, it's the same for me~ Sometimes, I think I'd be dead without you, you know? You being here really saved my life~

[Yuya will only wish Kano was the most embarrassing thing that day.

But he's really happy to hear that. He grins wider as it sinks in, warm and a little red in the face. Him being here saved Kano's life. He could do something for him.]

I'm glad... I'm really glad! [He reaches for Kano's hands, trying to hold them and give them one firm squeeze.] You got another chance, and I want to make it worth it to you. I don't want you to ever be alone.

[ No..... he wants to run away but his hands are trapped. ]

Heh... There's no way I'll ever be alone, right? Too many people in the school~ Aah, but once summer breaks comes, and everybody clears off campus! Then I'll be able to have some more breathing room~ Summer can't come fast enough!

That's not what I mean. [Of course they're surrounded by strangers, or only passing friends.]

I mean you matter. A lot! So I want you to stay, but it's selfish to ask that without giving you anything. So I want to make it worth it.

[Well, not just him because he's sure others, like Nana and Ellie, also treasure Kano and want him to exist. He just can't speak for them directly right now.] Really worth it, so you don't want to stop existing or--think that's really better. Because it's not!

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