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[ Akira is quick to try to get the sock back after he pockets his phone, carefully scooping the black kitten from Belle and taking the sock. Gold sure is rambunctious, but so are all of them. While he's at it, he's going to take a sticker out of his bag and presses it onto the cat's forehead.

Ta-da! Putting Gold down, the phone comes back for a quick snap to send. The sock, now back in his domain, is thrown across the room. ]

It's good that they're around the same age. It helps them get accustomed to other animals and people. It's a lot harder when they're older...

[ Will one of them bring the sock back? Akira will wait for a bit. If it doesn't come, he'll head back into the kitchen. ]

Mm, that makes sense. Though an old cat would've been calmer...

[Belle will!!! Gracefully rocketing after the sock and leaping over the heads of her companions, though she is momentarily stopped by Gold. Tails flick. Fur raises. Belle makes a noise low in her throat before dodging around the smaller cat

and she's absolutely climbing Akira I'm sorry, hello.]

[ Oh, kitty!! Kitty. Kitty, no. Akira almost falls over when Belle clambers onto him, but he's got this. He gently pries her off once he has the sock again, but he has to reply to Silver's ~secret~. Jesus Christ. ]

You can't just skip parenthood, Goro.

[ Should he tell Goro? Should he not tell Goro? Silver says this would be a secret between them, a way to repay for his earlier slight. Yes. He's keeping quiet with a smug smile on his face. Falling over onto his back, he looks over to the kitchen as the little critters attack him.

They will all get pets, one scratch at a time cause he only has one free hand. ]

Oh, yeah... Do you want to have a spa day with Sena this weekend? For his birthday.

[ ... ]

And to console his single heart.

[Kitty yes, purr purr. Sock!! Sock.

-- Oh, shit, a spa day. When was the last time he was treated to a spa..? A reward from work, maybe? Too long. And they ended up breaking up, huh. Goro doesn't answer at first, caught in his thoughts, but he will after a moment.]

I don't see why not. It'll be fun, and the past months have really put some knots in my back. And shoulders. And neck. And every other part of me save my hair, actually. And there's exams to think about on top of all of this...

[... ah.]

But yes, I'd love to. I might actually cry at the thought of such relaxation with two of my favorite people...

[ Shhhh, kitty. Akira is giving her a lot of affection here—rubbing both of her cheeks, scratching the back of her ears, clicking his tongue to soothe her. What a beautiful girl you are. Healthy, lively, and lethal like your dad in the kitchen. ]

If you ask me, even your hair seems stressed. Still fluffy, but stressed. I don’t think breaking down into tears will help.

[ He thinks about whether it’d be nice if they went to the spa for a date in the future, just the two of them; it’s a hopeful thought as he gently pulls Belle’s cheeks outwards then smushes them back. Sock has been abandoned to Gold and Potato to play with. ]

So... How old is she?

[ He can guess Potato’s and Gold’s age, plus they’re in the same range, but he’s so. doubtful. no matter what Goro says. about her age. SHE’S BIG IF SHE’S IN THE SAME AGE GROUP AS THE OTHER TWO? ]

Half a year, despite her size. Though I've been assured that this is as big as she's getting. I guess she's something of an early bloomer?

[... This is a fucking lie, she is like, getting several more inches and many more pounds by the time she's full grown. She will rest her paws on the counter. Big girl. Big girl who is enjoying this attention as much as her dad does, honestly, purring louder and making one of those cracky noises at the force of it, pushing into his hands and face and laying across him.]

I don't think it'll be a problem if she gets a little bigger, though. She'll just take up more space in the bed.

[Which is not a downside in his book? That just means he and Akira can be closer...]

Half a year.

[ And she's already Morrigan's size? If not even a tad bigger. He's impressed and finds it weird to feel such a weight on his body, but just pretends she's a dog. She's definitely affectionate like one and it forces a smile on his face. What a good cat—but he also wants to play with Gold and Potato. Are they still here? Come here, children. ]

My only concern is that you might roll her over in your sleep when you have nightmares. At least she can deal with your sleep talking.

[ Of course this isn't true, probably. He's teasing Goro again. ]

[They are, but they seem to be engaged in a tug of war with Elizabeth's sock, which is going to end poorly. Please stop them.]

I don't really sleep talk, do I?

[DON'T MAKE YOUR BF WORRY WITH YOUR TEASES.]

You sleep talk about how much you love me, obviously.

[ It should be obvious that this isn't true. Akira tries to reach over to take Elizabeth's sock away from the puppy and cat only to far short. Now he has to wiggle his way to snatch it, squirming with Belle splayed on top of him.

BAD CHILDREN GIVE HIM THE GRIM REAPER'S SOCK ]

Oh, of course. There's not a minute of the day where I don't gush about you, why would it be any different at night?

[It's... maybe a joke? It's said playfully enough.

Belle, for the record, loves her new moving bed? She is so happy about her moving bed. Potato lets go of the sock (Gold rolls back in the process, darting away with it into the kitchenette with Goro) and hops onto Akira too, wagging his tail excitedly.

... Goro is picking up Gold to put on his shoulders, that is better, the sock is now on the counter and the black cat is amusing himself with the ponytail instead.]

The troublemakers seem to have taken to you too. Two of three, anyway, though Gold'll warm up to you. You're of the same breed.

[ Not a minute...? Akira doesn't talk back about that because he's thinking it over. While he doesn't mind at all that Goro likes him—liked him for so long—he never considered that maybe he gushes about him. Not talk about him. Gushes.

... That's so embarrassing. Who has heard Goro ROMANCE IS MY PASSION Akechi? Thank god he's buried in these cute little troublemakers. Even if Gold doesn't love him yet, it'll ONLY BE TIME. He pets Potato a bit before lifting the puppy into the air like they're playing some kind of lift off game. Up and down. Up and down. ]

Meow. [ Can't deny his catitude. ] Would you consider yourself a cat?

[ Dropped the other topic like it's hot. ]

[Potato loves this? Potato loves this. And if Goro notices the dropped topic, he doesn't say a word.]

Not at all. They're more aloof than I could ever pull off... the exception being Belle, but I was told that her breed tend to be more dog-like than most. I don't really know what I'd put myself as.

[He remembers being a rabbit in his dreams, but he........ doesn't want to say that...........]

[ Up and down the bungee ride, little puppy. When he's done with that, he rests potato onto Belle as he looks up, trying to catch Goro within his line of sight. Unfortunately, there are plenty of things obscuring his vision. Boo.

Please come back. ]

I would put you as a puppy because you tend to beg for extra food in your own way.

[ Called Out, but he does see Goro kind of like a rabbit, too. What a dilemma? ]

I do not.

[The most offended tone?? Excuse you. It does get him to lean over the counter between them with a frown though, hello.]

I remember you thinking of me that way back when our thoughts appeared too. I was quite dismayed about it.

You were trying to flirt your way to more hotcakes at the cafe earlier this week.

[ Don't even try him? Akira has been a victim of the begging! He smiles innocently in return, not at all feeling any remorse for his words. It's just the truth, Goro. Don't heckle him over it. ]

That? Was it really that surprising to you...

[ Have this incredulous look. Goro was practically beaming as he waited to him that day, okay? ]

[... Well--]

Begging and flirting are two different things. [Jeez. But it seems he'll acquiesce to that for now, taking a chopped carrot and beaning Akira with it.] And of course it was. I was worried that you might... um, nevermind.

[Back to... cooking. Right, cooking. Whatever. It'll be quick after this.]

Don't you think that dogs just try to weasel their way into your heart, especially at key moments during dinner, so they can guilt or charm you into more food?

[ Because Akira thinks so... It's so hard for him not to. Cats don't seem to do it so much, especially Morrigan, so he has been spared of such a harsh life. He has enough proficiency to dodge this carrot, but he can't. With the little demons on him, he can only tilt his head to one side.

And still get hit by the carrot. Ugh. ]

Rely on me.

[ TELL HIM. ]

[... Belle does that too, though she's more prone to just climbing into your lap and trying for scraps... The smell of onions and meat is enticing enough to bring the other two pets to him, so Akira's free again.]

It's not anything worth saying, Akira. Certainly not now. Don't worry about it.

[ Don't worry about it? Don't worry about it.

If only it were that easy. Those are the exact words that spur worry, doubt, and curiosity. Even if the demons have left him, he's still here, brow furrowed and squint directed towards Goro. Or towards Goro's direction, at least. ]

Goro.

[Mrrr. He nuzzles Gold a little, humming softly. It really was a stupid worry, and he knows Akira will think so too, but he's not going to give up until Goro says something, is he...]

A dog isn't a very flattering mental image to have of someone waiting for you, you know.

[But that doesn't really answer the question. He hesitates a moment more, then sighs.]

I just... Well, at the time I knew you didn't necessarily mind my feelings towards you, and while I had... different reasons for not believing you returned them, I often thought that they might be annoying or just humored. As in you not taking them seriously.

[Sort of in the way that a teacher might humor a kindergartner's precocious crush on her? That way.]

Stupid and silly. Not worth mentioning, as I said, and nothing I'm worried about now. I really should've just asked you out when you called out my crush and saved myself months of trouble.

No, that's fair. I'm sorry—I just thought you were really cute. It made my day.

[ He isn't going to justify it at all, merely adding tidbits, even though he doesn't find being similar to a dog as low. They're loyal... They're balls of sunshine. They wait for you, they love you unconditionally. That doesn't mean he should have thought of anyone akin to an animal, however.

He understands that. The tangent catches him off-guard. He didn't think that had anything to do with this? He clasps his hands over his stomach, merely looking at the plain ceiling. What a boring color. ]

No. It would have been better if you waited. I... Wasn't in the right state of mind. I did actually pick at your crush to distract myself from something I didn't want to think about.

[ He feels a familiar warm yet dreadful swell in his chest as his nerves burn up—ugh. Talking about it is harder than he thought. Still, he has to be clear and transparent about it. ]

I'm sorry...

... Oh.

[To both things, really, and he waits a quiet minute as he puts the heat down to just keep everything warm, taking Gold off his shoulders and putting him down beside Belle. Good kitties. Good Potato.

Then he goes over to Akira, kneeling down beside him to play with his hair. The pets follow, part curious and part because that's just what pets do.]

You're forgiven. For both things. I'm not mad about them, you know, the latter's actually quite funny when I tell those curious. [... Which is a number growing by the day. Should he not talk about it, then..?] What didn't you want to think about?

[Like, he should probably properly finish the meal first, but. Akira's more important.]

[ AKira's is awkwardly smiling, but he doesn't want Goro coming over here. It doesn't show on his face. Instead, his body is just stiff, but he enjoys the pets. It's still soothing in their own right. ]

I know, but still. [ There's a nervous chuckle as he closes his eyes now, worried that the tension can be seem in them. ] We can talk about it when you're done cooking.

[ He wants to stall, but shows signs of being cooperative. There's only person he has told the memory to, but he knows he should talk about it. It doesn't hold anything over him anymore—at least not as much as before. ]

I'll be fine.

[Goro stares down at him, frown growing as he tugs Akira's hair a little firmly.]

There's no way I can believe that when you're so stiff, you know. [But his edges soften, as does his tone, and he looks more concerned than anything.] Rely on me. I have to wait for the rice to go off anyway.

[So he's got a minute, essentially.]

[ He groans before lightly swatting Goro's hand away. Stop!! ]

I'm not that stiff. [ He just would rather not talk about it. ] I think it'll take longer to explain than a minute, but you asked for this.

[ Mentally crossing his fingers that the rice cooker will play its little tune in the middle of this conversation. A sigh escapes him before he starts. ]

Have you visited my nightmares last month? It's probably familiar if you have, but I received a memory that month where reality fused with Mementos... Since the Phantom Thieves failed to stop the process, we started to fade out of existence. It was scary, but I think the worst part is seeing fear in their eyes before they vanish.

[ Quiet, he twiddles his thumbs as he keeps his gaze at the ceiling again. ]

There was more after that, but it was hard to piece together at the time. For a while, I thought it was... [ "my fault." ] The end.

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