.

.

.

You

"Yeah no, you definitely don't have any matters. Not at all. See! Look at that Kazuha, he's slouching in his chair."

Kazuha

"Hehe, that is definitely not proper table manners."

Scaramouche

"Oh come on, now you're both teaming up on me! How rude."

You

"Come on, sit up properly."

Scaramouche

"I am."

He said, annoyed.

Kazuha

"... No, you are not."

Scaramouche

"I'm not?!"

You

"Look, just straighten your back. Like... This."

You ridiculed his posture then straightened your back. Scaramouche's posture didn't change one bit when he tried.

Scaramouche

"Oh... Oh! Haha, I did it!"

Kazuha

"... I see no difference."

Scaramouche

"Wh- Are you fucking kidding me?!..."

*Sigh*

"I've been sitting in chairs with a slouched back for hundreds of years, I'll be fine."

You all chuckled.

As much as you and Scaramouche hated to admit it, having Kazuha at the dinner table was far more amusing. He didn't do much, but he laughed along with your jokes. Scaramouche ate a spoonful of his bitter food, which he enjoyed. 

And, as you expected, Kazuha wasn't picky regarding his meal and finished the sandwich in no time.

You

"So, how's the cooking? I don't really cook often, Raiden would always do the cooking."

"Her food was always so bland."

Kazuha

"It was good."

Scaramouche

"I hate it."

Even though his empty dish was in front of him, he teased. He enjoyed his bitter meal so much that he was embarrassed to confess he liked something.

You

"Aww, that hurt my feelings, Scaramouche."

You started talking in that baby voice again, the same voice you used when you were calling him those deadly pet-names.

Scaramouche

"Oh no, please don't start with this again."

You

"Hehe, I'm too lazy to come up with different ones this time."

Scaramouche

"Good."

Kazuha

"Y/N, where did you get the painting?"

You

"Hm? What painting?"

Kazuha

"The one displayed in my bedroom."

You

"Oh. I think a local around the island just gave it to me, I don't really remember. But all the paintings I set up in this home were never bought with mora, not once."

Kazuha

"It's beautiful."

You

"Heh, you think so? I just thought that it was some boring boat. I mean- Then again, you do seem to have some weird connection with boats or whatever."

Kazuha

"Huh?... Weird connection with boats? Where'd you get that from?"

Scaramouche

"Heh, Kazuha reminds me of a pirate. Are you trying to flirt with Y/N?"

Scaramouche's words were not even on the same topic; he abruptly changed them.

Kazuha

"Woah- What? If anything, it would've been better to say that I was flirting with the painting. The painting is what I called beautiful after all. And, if you were to say anyone is a pirate, you should refer to Captain Beidou."

You

"... Moving on, I'm trusting my home in the hands of you later, Kazuha."

Kazuha

"What's happening?"

You

"I just have some evening plans with Scaramouche, is all."

Kazuha

"And... If anything bad were to happen, what do I do then?"

You

"Defend this house with your life. This is the only place where Raiden and the rest of our opponents can't find us. So, protecting this place is the key."

Kazuha

"Defend it... With my life?"

You

"You heard me."

Kazuha

"... For you guys?"

You

"Not only for us but for you too. You're affiliated with us now, remember? That's something not to be taken lightly."

Kazuha

"Right... Right."

Scaramouche

"You heard them, with your life."

Kazuha

"What are your plans?"

Scaramouche

"Just eating out."

Kazuha

"Wh- But you already have all this food! Why go out when everything's already here?"

You

"Because I told him I'd like to try different foods. Besides, I've already cooked lunch, I'll probably be too tired to cook dinner."

Kazuha

"I don't believe that's how it works..."

You

"Just eat whatever you want in that bag over there if you're hungry besides anything that's bitter; that stuff's saved up for Scaramouche."

Kazuha

"Understood... But- Even if you're too tired to cook dinner, wouldn't it still mean that you have to spend mora on food?"

You

"Are you forgetting something, Kazuha?"

Kazuha

"... Huh?"

Scaramouche

"We don't spend mora. I thought that point was cleared up."

Kazuha

"..."

"Oh."

It took him a while to realize.

Kazuha

"Heh, right."

You

"... Yup. It took you quite a while."

Kazuha

"Yeah, hehe..."

You

"Well, doesn't that sound great? You've got the house to yourself for a good... What, two hours?"

Scaramouche

"Yeah, we shouldn't take too long."

You

"If you find that we aren't home in two hours, we're either causing more trouble, or we've been caught."

Kazuha

"But... How do I know which one is keeping you behind?"

You

"The second possibility that I listed is unlikely, so just expect the cause of trouble to be the reason for delay. Understood?"

Kazuha

"Yeah... I think?"

Scaramouche

"Great!... I'm going back to bed."

You

"Again?... You must be tired. You got enough sleep last night, right?"

Scaramouche

"Pfft, of course."

Kazuha

"..."

Scaramouche had left, leaving you alone at the table with Kazuha.

Kazuha

"Isn't he a puppet?..."

You

"... Yeah, why?"

Kazuha

"How come he needs sleep?"

You

"Well aren't you full of questions."

Kazuha

"..."

You

"He may be a puppet, but he still needs to do basic human needs. I thought that too when I first saw him sleeping. But, it seems like he can cry, sleep, and eat just like a human."

Kazuha

"... I see."

You

"So what, any more questions you have for me?"

Kazuha

"... Why did you choose to escape with Scaramouche?"

You

"Because I like him."

Looking at you, Kazuha had a slightly shocked expression on his face.

Kazuha

"That was rather... Bold."

You

"What other answer were you looking for?"

Kazuha

"I..."

You

*Sigh* "It doesn't matter anyway. Knowing the kind of person he is, I don't think he's into dating."

"What about you? Do you have a special someone?"

Kazuha

"Not really."

it's gorou guys 😘

You

"Heh, lucky. You don't have to stress about the way they feel toward you and whatnot. I never thought I'd end up this way."

Kazuha

"Hm..."

You

"Ugh..."

"..."

"Agh! Love is so stressful!"

Kazuha

"Oh no... Glad I haven't fallen in love recently."

You

"Yeah, yeah, good for you."

.

.

.

-THE NIGHT OF, 7:00PM-

You were sat on the wooden stairs of the porch, waiting. Your elbow was propped up on your knee, and your chin was resting on your palm. Scaramouche finally stepped out the door, looking for you.

Scaramouche

"Oh. There you are."

You

"Here I am. What took so long?"

Scaramouche

"I was taking a shower."

You

"Ah... So that's why you look so fresh."

You removed his hat and tenderly ruffled his hair.

You

"Wow! So fancy! You're like a city boy."

Scaramouche

"Ew... Don't say that."

You

"Is the shower nice?"

You asked as you two took off.

Scaramouche

"It's okay, I guess."

You

Why isn't he attacking me? 

He was so relaxed, and even though you had just messed up his neatly done hair and yanked his hat off his head, he didn't seem to be bothered.

Kazuha was standing just outside the door, watching you two as you walked across the grass to the boat.

Kazuha

"Y/N is in love..."