whenyouneedme | INBOX

[He frowned.]

You don't have to be sorry for caring, Kyoko.

Not... not that, but...

[ Her hands were fidgeting a bit in her lap again, fingers twisting lightly. ]

Scolding somebody I don't know well is... probably kind of a bad habit. And I should have found a way to just talk to you quietly, instead of making everything difficult. If Cliff doesn't like me now, that's one thing, but... I should have thought more about the effect on you, and Shinji too.

Pretty sure Shinji's on the same page as you. And...I mean... yeah, things could have gone better. We're talking about it though, I know where you're comin' from.

[And the parts that had hurt, well. There was still a part of him that couldn't honestly blame her for it.]

If anybody needs an apology, it's not me.

... Mm. [ Her head dipped in a little nod, but there was no hiding this time. ] I should properly apologize to Cliff too.

[Kai gave a little nod in turn. Cliff was definitely the one who'd gotten the worst end of the situation, but... Kai reached over, carefully taking hold of those fidgety hands in her lap.]

... You need one too. [He gave her hands a soft squeeze.]

I shouldn't have put you in that position in the first place.

[ Oh.

Something warm and quivery swelled in Kyoko's chest. Carefully, she turned her hands to rest more snugly in his. ]

... You didn't mean to. I know that.

Doesn't make it less bad. [He took a breath, lowering his voice a little.] 'Specially if I can't promise something like that won't happen again.

[He looked down at their hands, brows knitting slightly.]

... But I'll try.

... I meant what I said, you know? About believing in you.

[ Her thumb traced lightly against his hand. ]

But since I can't promise for sure I won't mess up like that again either, I guess that kinda puts us in the same boat.

[There really wasn't any reason to doubt her. He didn't want to. She believed in him, so he'd believe in her.]

Guess so. But if you'll be listening to me, then I'm gonna be listening to you too. It won't be too bad if we can make it back to this, right?

Right. [ There was another quiet nod, before Kyoko went on. ] And you'll call me out like this too, right? If I do something out of line like that again.

Mmhm. [There was a soft puff from his nose.]

Unless I deserve it. We'll find out.

Kaito...

[ There was a little moment of hesitation--would this even be wanted?--but then Kyoko leaned up to press a very soft kiss to his temple, staying close afterwards as she murmured to him. ]

Getting hurt isn't something you deserve. I don't want that.

[The level of gentleness there was so unexpected that whether he would have wanted it or not wasn't even a factor. It was taking him a moment to process this, the surprise lingering on his face as the confusion rippled to his core. How... huh? No. That felt incorrect. What had he been trying to say?]

... You're... You're not gonna hurt me by being mad.

[ Was that too much? It didn't seem like it was an unwelcome gesture, but maybe she should've held back after all? Kyoko worried her lip a bit, fretting. ]

But... not understanding you did hurt, right? So, if there's something like that, I don't wanna just leave it alone.

[It was a fine gesture. His fluster was just delayed, muddled up in being baffled. His surprise was easing though, leaving a tender look in its wake.]

Don't worry about that, [he murmured low as he tipped his head to hers again.]

This is already enough to be good.

[ That sweet look in his eyes as he leaned in had her relaxing, though a warmth stayed gently in her cheeks. Good, then, they were both good. ]

Thank goodness. But then, if I mess up again, I'd want to get to this part as soon as possible, you know? So, you still have to talk to me right away, if I don't realize something is wrong on my own.

[They were both good.]

Mmm. Gotcha. We'll get it sorted.

[Surely this had shown they could, right? Kai thought so. This... this was good. He pulled back just enough to press a small kiss of his own to her cheek, because that had been very nice. Sorry he didn't appreciate it more in the moment.]

'M glad we talked.

[ That kiss was received quietly, just a soft inhale and her fingers curling warmly against his. Her head tipped gently against his again when it was over. This was good. ]

Mm... me too.

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