week four | dates

[marriagebroker]

Get dressed up, go on the town, this is your last week for romance!

Comments

[ordimame]

[. . . eh??]

[sitting up a bit, surprise washing across his expression before it fades into a lopsided, wistful smile]

Well. . . no. I have work to get back to, and so does he.

[a small shake of his head]

But we plan on collaborating on some future projects, so we'll see each other again. And it's not like we won't make time to just hang out! I want to help him with his work as an exorcist, even though I'll be pretty. . . limited in what I can do.

1/2

[irreversal]

[ ... wait a second ]

[irreversal]

[ She grabs him by the shoulder. ]

Makoto. Can you drive? Do you have a driver's license? If so—

Come work with me instead.~

[ not her attempting to poach Edamura from his own boyfriend— ]

[ordimame]

[HELP—]

— I can't! I never learned. . .

[USELESS BEAN]

. . . but I can still come help you, too! My schedule is pretty flexible, so long as I'm not on a job.

[irreversal]

[ when will she ever meet a useful man... tch. ]

Ehhh, forget about it!

But working with Shindou, huh...? That sounds like a good fit for both of you.

[ordimame]

[keep hoping Shoko. . .]

[. . . but he does perk up a bit at that]

Really? Does it? . . . for me, especially?

[IN ALL OF HIS NORMAL MAN. . . NESS]

[irreversal]

[ The way he perked up... cute. ]

I mean, you might have to get used to all the supernatural stuff, and you'll probably end up seeing some horrifying things, but... there's a lot of marketing involved with being a content creator, right?

I bet you'd have an easy time selling Shindou's services and merch, hehe...

[ordimame]

[please compare this to how he flat out told Rom on week two that he would never do a job involving spirits]

. . . he did say he needed help in the "gathering funds" department, and I am pretty good at that. . .

[SHE KNOWS WHY]

. . . but I want to help him with the rest of it, too! Even the things that are more-- [. . .] -- dangerous.

[the things he knows Rom is going to keep far, far away from him, normie as he is]

[irreversal]

[ . . . . . . . . . . . . ]






Tch. What the hell...? I'm jealous...

[ Playfully. It's good, that Makoto's willing to step so far out of his comfort zone now, when he'd been so bewildered by everything their first week here. Look at him now... ]

[ordimame]

[he laughs, though it's more like a sharp exhale of breath than anything else. he knows he is deeply unsuited for the work he wishes to do, but. . . he has his reasons]

Don't be! I'm probably going to be pretty crappy at it.

[a lopsided smile]

. . . what about you and Poppy? Will you two stay in touch?

[irreversal]

I probably don't need to tell you, but just be careful. Spirits and curses aren't to be taken lightly, though I'm sure Shindou can protect you. If something happens, I'll be too far away to save you.~

[ But, at his question, she hums thoughtfully. ]

...I'd like to. But I'd like for Poppy to voice her preference, too.

1/2

[ordimame]

[something. . . sobers in his expression at her reminder, though he does nod along with her words]

. . . I'd like to be good enough so he doesn't have to.

[. . .]

[ordimame]

[but he perks up seconds later!]

I can't imagine a world in which she wouldn't want to. You guys finally talked about your curses, right?

[irreversal]

[ she nods ]

We did. Last week, at the onsen. She... took it well. Told me she wouldn't have held it against me if I never told her, but... I'm glad that I did.

[ordimame]

[. . . good]

Do you think she sees all of you now. . .?

[irreversal]

...Mmh. Yeah. It's— a start. But it's a good one.

[ She hums thoughtfully. ]

I want her to see what my life is like at home, at some point. Maybe not right away - when things are safer.