[ Taiga takes the bag gingerly, pulling out the pink scarf to admire it. So this is what a well-knit scarf can look like... There's a gentle smile on her face as she wraps it around her neck, pulling her hair out from underneath so she can get the full effect of its warmth. ]
[It looks so good on her..! Yuuto smiles softly. Knowing it’s temporary and knowing that Ryoko’s scarf will be much better, but happy in seeing that she’s warm and safe for now.
He can rest peacefully now.]
It’s a tradition in this world, powered by Satou-san’s magic. Scarves made by people who love you are a bit warmer… and I love you, Aisaka-san. I still want to learn to love you more and more, so… Stay warm and healthy until we can hang out again! Okay?
[ Have you ever seen a tiger short circuit in real life? Now you have! Her expression shifts rapidly as she stammers, face reddening to match the scarf Yuuto made. She's embarrassed, she's confused, she's angry, she looks like she might cry? It's almost impressive how utterly broken her brain has become.
Finally, she manages to thrust out a single finger, demanding that he stay still. ]
She’s lucky that Yuuto has two brain cells. He can allocate one of them for remembering what Ryoko said about the L-word. Taiga’s reaction is so cute… It’s so tempting to tease her, but he’s too scared to try. He needs to behave. He can’t risk making Taiga hate him. Ryoko would hate him too.
So he waves his hand slowly, resisting the urge to laugh. Only being good.]
Sorry, sorry… I meant is platonically. Like the way I love Ryoko.
[… He looks at the scarf again.]
The scarf is to keep you warm. If you find one that’s warmer, then don’t feel bad for replacing it. Okay?
[ In a flurry, Taiga spins on her heel and rushes inside, slamming the door shut perhaps a bit louder than she intended. Surely, she must hate Yuuto with such a strong reaction. It's a logical conclusion to come to, and her plodding footsteps can even be heard as she comes back to the entry.
As quickly as she left, she's back again, clutching a small knit square in her hand. That's right, not a scarf, just a square. It's made of a white yarn that has a subtle golden shimmer to it. ]
If it weren't for someone acting like I could only m-make one scarf, maybe this would be finished already! But s-s-since you're here now, if I don't give you anything I'll be a j-j-jerk so take this until I can make a full scarf!
[ She shoves it out towards him. Seriously, she isn't mad despite how it may seem. ]
[When she slams the door that way, Yuuto does indeed begin to fear that he's pushed too far. This is it. He's crossed the line. Now Taiga knows that he's not actually a good person. Ryoko is going to know that he's an awful person. Everyone will know and everyone will leave, just like always, and he deserves it--
He flinches out of his thoughts when she opens the door again, breathing again after being breathlessly scared. Yuuto's brain is so fried with self hatred that he looks so a weapon. What he sees, for some reason, is a knit square.
Though he accepts, he looks very confused.]
Is it okay? This is... [He looks down at the square, fighting back tears.] You're not angry?
W-why would I be angry?! Do I seem angry?! I'm not angry!
[ Quick, damage control time! ...How do you do damage control? ]
I-It's just! Why do you think I'd just toss your scarf away, if I got a different one? Th-there's a lot of--[ love ]--l-l... a lot of care that goes into these things, r-right?! It'd be like kicking over a snowman someone made in front of them? A-a-and anyway, what if I want to match a scarf with a coat? Then it's better to have more of them, and it shows that, uh, that there's people that appreciate me! What if it's too warm for a warmer scarf but not warm enough you don't need a scarf?!
[As she goes on with damage control, Yuuto is making sure to steady his breathing. He can't go crying here-- It'll make everything sad! And worse yet, it'll worry her worse. He can see Taiga is trying to make up for his careless comment and he doesn't want to make things more stressful for her.
But he does hold the square to his face for a moment, hiding his pitiful expression as he gets his feelings under control. Just a few months ago, receiving something like this was an impossible fantasy.]
Mm... Mm, mm. You're right.
[With his happy tears under control, Yuuto lowers the square and smiles.]
Aisaka-san... Thank you so much. So so much. I'll treasure this forever! It's so cute and pretty... I love it so much!
[ Taiga doesn't even seem to realise that Yuuto was close to tears, she's so wrapped up in her own rambling. ]
Wait, I didn't mean you had to keep m-my-- [ Taiga Aisaka has been defeated by her own words. She lets out a sigh, trying to pull herself together before they attract unwanted attention. ] I'm glad you like it... But you are getting a full scarf, okay?
Eh? But wouldn’t that take a lot of time and e… fort…
[It clicks.
Wait-
Friendship..! This is friendship..!
He looks awed by his discovery.]
That would make me so happy! I can’t even imagine being happier than I am right now..! Please um- Don’t pressure yourself. Okay? I’m already so lucky- I don’t know what I’d do with so much happiness??
[ If such a tiny, shitty square was enough to elicit this kind of overenthusiastic response, could he even handle getting a full scarf? Is she bringing on a kind of responsibility that she's completely clueless of with this promise? Taiga's almost certain she'll find a way to regret this later, but something about how earnest Yuuto is... It's a bit nostalgic. ]
I mean, it is getting to be the holiday season! The best thing to do is spread the happiness around, so everyone can feel that warmth! I have it on good authority that Santa would be proud.
[He’s not sure if he could ever explain how much this means to him. For so long, Yuuto has lived a life where he receives gifts meant for someone else. He’s always been receiving the love intended for another person, and he’s learned to accept it on their behalf. Because he knows that showing love feels good. He doesn’t want to make anyone sad by telling them that the person they love never existed. His empty existence has been filled with gifts, but he cannot keep them for ‘himself.’
This is one of the first times that he’s receiving a gift for himself. Taiga probably didn’t plan it, but a small square like this is something that he can keep in his pocket: He’s going to be able to carry it to any world that he ends up in. It’s a little piece of the happiness he’s found here and Yuuto is going to treasure it forever.
He’s still holding the square carefully as his expression turns to a softer smile. He even laughs a bit.]
I’ll do my best to make Santa-senpai proud, then. You’ve shown me so much kindness… I’ll pass it on too! Until happiness covers the whole city like snow
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ Taiga takes the bag gingerly, pulling out the pink scarf to admire it. So this is what a well-knit scarf can look like... There's a gentle smile on her face as she wraps it around her neck, pulling her hair out from underneath so she can get the full effect of its warmth. ]
It's so soft! How did you do that...
no subject
He can rest peacefully now.]
It’s a tradition in this world, powered by Satou-san’s magic. Scarves made by people who love you are a bit warmer… and I love you, Aisaka-san. I still want to learn to love you more and more, so… Stay warm and healthy until we can hang out again! Okay?
no subject
[ Have you ever seen a tiger short circuit in real life? Now you have! Her expression shifts rapidly as she stammers, face reddening to match the scarf Yuuto made. She's embarrassed, she's confused, she's angry, she looks like she might cry? It's almost impressive how utterly broken her brain has become.
Finally, she manages to thrust out a single finger, demanding that he stay still. ]
WAIT FOR A MOMENT!
no subject
She’s lucky that Yuuto has two brain cells. He can allocate one of them for remembering what Ryoko said about the L-word. Taiga’s reaction is so cute… It’s so tempting to tease her, but he’s too scared to try. He needs to behave. He can’t risk making Taiga hate him. Ryoko would hate him too.
So he waves his hand slowly, resisting the urge to laugh. Only being good.]
Sorry, sorry… I meant is platonically. Like the way I love Ryoko.
[… He looks at the scarf again.]
The scarf is to keep you warm. If you find one that’s warmer, then don’t feel bad for replacing it. Okay?
no subject
[ In a flurry, Taiga spins on her heel and rushes inside, slamming the door shut perhaps a bit louder than she intended. Surely, she must hate Yuuto with such a strong reaction. It's a logical conclusion to come to, and her plodding footsteps can even be heard as she comes back to the entry.
As quickly as she left, she's back again, clutching a small knit square in her hand. That's right, not a scarf, just a square. It's made of a white yarn that has a subtle golden shimmer to it. ]
If it weren't for someone acting like I could only m-make one scarf, maybe this would be finished already! But s-s-since you're here now, if I don't give you anything I'll be a j-j-jerk so take this until I can make a full scarf!
[ She shoves it out towards him. Seriously, she isn't mad despite how it may seem. ]
no subject
He flinches out of his thoughts when she opens the door again, breathing again after being breathlessly scared. Yuuto's brain is so fried with self hatred that he looks so a weapon. What he sees, for some reason, is a knit square.
Though he accepts, he looks very confused.]
Is it okay? This is... [He looks down at the square, fighting back tears.] You're not angry?
no subject
W-why would I be angry?! Do I seem angry?! I'm not angry!
[ Quick, damage control time! ...How do you do damage control? ]
I-It's just! Why do you think I'd just toss your scarf away, if I got a different one? Th-there's a lot of--[ love ]--l-l... a lot of care that goes into these things, r-right?! It'd be like kicking over a snowman someone made in front of them? A-a-and anyway, what if I want to match a scarf with a coat? Then it's better to have more of them, and it shows that, uh, that there's people that appreciate me! What if it's too warm for a warmer scarf but not warm enough you don't need a scarf?!
no subject
But he does hold the square to his face for a moment, hiding his pitiful expression as he gets his feelings under control. Just a few months ago, receiving something like this was an impossible fantasy.]
Mm... Mm, mm. You're right.
[With his happy tears under control, Yuuto lowers the square and smiles.]
Aisaka-san... Thank you so much. So so much. I'll treasure this forever! It's so cute and pretty... I love it so much!
no subject
[ Taiga doesn't even seem to realise that Yuuto was close to tears, she's so wrapped up in her own rambling. ]
Wait, I didn't mean you had to keep m-my-- [ Taiga Aisaka has been defeated by her own words. She lets out a sigh, trying to pull herself together before they attract unwanted attention. ] I'm glad you like it... But you are getting a full scarf, okay?
no subject
[It clicks.
Wait-
Friendship..! This is friendship..!
He looks awed by his discovery.]
That would make me so happy! I can’t even imagine being happier than I am right now..! Please um- Don’t pressure yourself. Okay? I’m already so lucky- I don’t know what I’d do with so much happiness??
no subject
I mean, it is getting to be the holiday season! The best thing to do is spread the happiness around, so everyone can feel that warmth! I have it on good authority that Santa would be proud.
no subject
This is one of the first times that he’s receiving a gift for himself. Taiga probably didn’t plan it, but a small square like this is something that he can keep in his pocket: He’s going to be able to carry it to any world that he ends up in. It’s a little piece of the happiness he’s found here and Yuuto is going to treasure it forever.
He’s still holding the square carefully as his expression turns to a softer smile. He even laughs a bit.]
I’ll do my best to make Santa-senpai proud, then. You’ve shown me so much kindness… I’ll pass it on too! Until happiness covers the whole city like snow