whenyouneedme | INBOX

[Technically hers could also be paired with a smooch. Just saying. It could happen. Kai was very aware that would go over Actually Good.]

Asking for help is being responsible, you know!

[Hold on, he's making a careful turn. They were going the long way, just so they could avoid going by Rawna's where there were high chances of Shinjis.]

You're not paying me!

[ Unfortunately for everyone, Kyoko was probably not ready for this forbidden knowledge just yet. Maybe next year. ]

Paying for services is responsible! If you won't take money, at least let me barter with something else!

[Kai huffed as he drove. Why'd she always have to be such a stickler for this.]

If you're gonna be pushy about it you can take me on a date or something.

Fine! Deal!

[ If she could treat him, that was like paying, even if it didn't really make up for time he could have used doing his actual job.

They could figure all that out later, though, once this tree hiding business was taken care of. ]

Deal.

[Sealed and ready to go. No take backs, etc. Someday he'd get these two to understand that time spent with them was far more important than a job he didn't actually need here. There'd be plenty of time to focus on trying to juggle a job for real in their ideal hypothetical futures.

For now, with unnecessary payments taken care of, Kai just focused on the drive. There wasn't any reason for Shinji to head inside either of their old houses, so it didn't really matter which one they checked first. He pulled up to her old place first.]

Guess we should check inside first, make sure we're not actually breaking and entering.

Ah... right. [ Hopping off the bike, Kyoko took off her helmet and then edged over to the door. From the outside, at least, it did not look particularly lived-in? And it unlocked usual when she tried the door--that shouldn't happen if someone else lived here, right? Probably? A quick peek inside, and then she looked back at Kaito. ] I think it really is empty... I guess Havenwell's kinda cleared out a little since I lived here.

[He was right behind her, one hand at her back as he peeked around her inside. Yeah, that looked like the bare bones set up he remembered first hanging around in.]

Mmm, yeah. I mean there's no shortage of houses either, people might have just not picked this one again yet.

[He glanced back at the tree waiting for them.]

... Do you think a window or a door would be easier to wiggle through?

[ Kyoko also looked back at the tree. And then she looked at the house. ]

... Why... would a window be easier?

In case its a wide window, y'know?

[He stretched his hands out a bit. Y'know. Wide window.]

For the branches.

[ Oh. That did make sense. Kyoko turned to stare at the tree again for a long moment.

And then she fell to her knees. ]

Both options... are kinda bad, aren't they... Why did I get us into this situation...

[What. No. Kyoko, please.

Kai dropped down a bit, clapping his hands on her shoulders.]

Hey, we'll figure it out. C'mon. Maybe we can just do the sign thing and leave it around back or something.

[ Still cursing herself for getting this so! wrong!, Kyoko moped for another moment, but then met Kaito's eyes with a nod. ]

It's risky, but that's probably for the best. A tree like that shouldn't be inside anyway, I would think.

Yeah... probably.

[He gave her shoulders a pat, then lifted his hand to give her hair a warm ruffle.]

I'm sure it'll be fine. We can both drop by and check up on it.

[ There was a pitiful look up from under his hand. ]

Really... thank you for helping me. I don't know how I would have handled this by myself.

[ There would probably be a tree wrapped in a tarp in their yard by this point. ]

Any time. I'm sure you woulda figured something out though.

[Even if it was just a tarp.]

C'mon, let's check the back.

[ There was another nod, and then Kyoko took Kaito's hand as she returned to her feet. Time to take a quick jaunt around the house! Wow that sure was just a boring empty backyard huh. Whirling back around, she pulled Kaito along with her again. Let's get that tree! ]

Bringing it back again on his birthday without him noticing might be kinda tough too... Jeez, I really do know how to choose the hardest path.

[Here we go...! ... There they go! Kai let her lead him around, humming a bit as they headed back towards the tree.]

You are always looking for a project. This fits right in. D'you think he'd believe a delivery excuse this year even if it really was one?

[ There was a tiny, pouty huff at that remark--she didn't mean for this to be such a project, okay!!--but she moved on quickly in the name of planning the project she had actually gotten them into. ]

You mean we should just take him here with us to pick it up? That might work--I don't think we can surprise him just with a celebration anymore anyway. Whoever has to share the sidecar with the tree on the way home might kinda have a hard time, though...

[ Hm, hm! Many things to consider as she stooped to pick up this tree yet again. ]

Hmm... That, or I can just come get it at some point. Oh no, looks like I got an order. Oh no. Guess I gotta gooo.

[Just like this tree, outta this sidecar! Kai shifted around to get a better grip, making sure they were good before nodding back towards the house.]

Ready?

Ohh! You could even make a show out of it, being sorry to leave on his birthday, and so on-- [ hup, off they go with a tree in their arms ] --though he still might not fall for that.

[Heave ho.] Maybe not. S'not a bad thing though, I think. Sure it's fun to surprise him, but...

Mmmm. I think it's a good thing if we can't 100% surprise him anymore, cuz of course we're gonna treat him. Means we made it normal, right?

... Mm. [ Kyoko sent him a soft little smile from around the tree's slender trunk. ] I don't know how many more years it'll take to make him look forward to it, but if he's getting used to it, we can only call that good progress, huh?

Yeah. [He met her smile with a small one of his own.] Looking forward to it's probably a real lofty goal, but at least enjoying it when it's around is real good too.

Right! Little by little, let's turn it into a day he can be happy about.

Mnn. Step one, hide a tree.

[Around the corner of the house they went. Over here in this corner seemed pretty good??]

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