melodiesofkupo | Video [With bonus linkshell issues]

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Video [With bonus linkshell issues]

[Hey, it's some guy standing in his bedroom wearing street clothes. But in the next moment, with a rush of power, he's adorned in a set of armor. It's a mingling of steel plating, chain, and coarse fur draped over the shoulders, topping a cloak down the back. The giant hammer was lifted, swung like it weighed nothing, and settled against the fur-covered pauldron. The grin he gave the camera was pretty toothy.]

Yo! Name's Kanji. I said I'd go all out and be myself, so here I am.

I make stuff! Y'know, dolls, knit blankets, a whole bunch of cute shit. And there ain't a damn thing wrong with that, y'hear me? But I'm officially offering my services in makin' stuff like that for... y'know, birthdays or whatever.

But this right here's my gear for my Berserker Asterisk, and I can put somethin' together for you guys, too. I'm takin' commissions for job outfits, either to make 'em myself or work up design sketches to have made later once your mind's all made up.

...Uhhh... [He paused, and his expression faltered as he tried to think of something. Then a gloved hand went to mess with his hair as he gave a small, unsure growl in his throat. He had to be forgetting something, and it wasn't coming to mind.]

Yeah, I think that's it? Never advertised before. But I gave it a good shot.

[He nodded to someone off-camera, and the feed cuts.]

[An hour or so later, it's time for a private message. However, it was a technical oversight sort of evening. In contrast to the guy showing up earlier with slangy, slouchy confidence, he seemed a bit fidgety this time around.]

Y-... yo, Naoto! So this ain't a huge deal, but I'm almost done with your birthday present and I, uh... I need to make sure it fits. Normally the person would put the stuff on and see if somethin' needs to be looser or tighter and I'd just fix it no problem, but I wanna keep the final outfit a complete surprise.

So that means... w-well, it... that means I'd...

[His eyes turned away from the camera, his face an awkward pink.]

I-I need to take a couple measurements later if- if that's cool with you!

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[News to him. She really was way more observant than him, but she was also the detective that cops beyond their years called on when THEY were stumped.]

Huh. Shit, that all makes sense, then. Makoto talked about bein' from a few years in the future, too, so whatever Izanami-no-Okami did, it was only the beginning. Tch... Somebody's always gotta be screwin' around with Shadows without realizing how damn dangerous they are!

[But the Ren question. He shrugged.]

Ren seems pretty harmless. He reminds me of Senpai, too. But Makoto had worries that we'd make you uncomfortable somehow, as the only girl in the house.

Something about a 'complicated relationship', too. I dunno what that means.

[Yet his heart couldn't stop that uncomfortable pounding.]

So I thought of work I could take on that'd let me grab a house somewhere out there. I did a lotta number-crunching- Dad kinda shoved it in my head a lot before he died, sayin' it was important- and I worked out that I could get a place in a month or so.

But it made me kinda twisted up inside, thinkin' about it, too. I dunno why... I guess the thought made me kinda lonely? Like at first it was an option to fall back on in case stuff did somehow get uncomfortable. But it turned into an option to do good on the promise that we'd all find a place to live before Curti Center kicks us all out.

But it's still... I dunno... [He ruffled his hair and sighed.]

I can't figure it out. But it feels like a hole burning in my stomach.

Yes. There's about four or five years between our incident and whatever occurs in the city.

[And... now that she said that, she stared at Kanji, trying to envision what he would be doing years down the line.]

She was concerned the two of you would make me uncomfortable? I have no issues, and it's not like I'm purposely hiding myself from Amamiya-san.

[What 'complicated relationship'? Perhaps she should inquire Makoto herself...]

[Meanwhile, in regards to his personal housing crisis, she hummed. Despite appearances, Kanji was much more sociable than herself and liked having the company of people he knew close.]

It isn't peculiar. The feeling of uprooting yourself from a place you've been comfortably living in for some period of time can be somber.

... Would you feel better about considering housing knowing someone or some people would be moving in with you?

[He nodded, as that's what he'd figured. Naoto wasn't really hiding things at all, and as he'd thought before, Ren seemed pretty harmless. In fact, he made Kanji miss Senpai quite a bit. He and Ren'd be damn good friends, share fashion tips or something. Maybe trade hair advice.

But talk of housing had left him feeling... somber. That was the perfect word. He had so many people around him and he realized all too quickly that he thrived in being around people. He adored his friends, he trusted his friends. He couldn't be away from them.]

...Yeah. I think so. I mean, I made all these friends after so long bein' an ass, and now it feels kinda spooky potentially bein' in a big new place with nothing but my thoughts, y'know?

The first few times you move somewhere on your own, it can be unsettling. You learn to get used to it though, to travel lightly, and shop sparingly. But, if you intend on staying in a place for more than a year, there's room for some more comforts.

[That was her personal experience anyway.]

... If you want to continue living together, I don't mind. All you need to do is ask.

[He just looked at her, then. He'd lived in his home his whole life so far, and had intended to take up the business, continue living in the home he grew up in. She traveled, but he never really thought about the possibility that she never really grew roots anywhere... not when she had to get up and get going perhaps at a moment's notice. Everything about that, always moving, seemed like freedom in a lot of cases... but there was everything about having a place to call home, too.

'All you need to do is ask.'

That sounded so simple. Maybe Makoto was wrong, maybe they weren't complicated. That gave him a little solace. But it also gave him an idea. It fought the knot in his stomach over how simply she noted she didn't mind living with him.]

...W-well...!

[He clenched his fists. Let's be a brave boy. Suzette had made popcorn in the living room, and waved to Cristo to come on over, share and press an ear against the door.]

'Course I wanna ask! But- but I don't wanna push how I feel about bein' by myself on ya! ...It's...

H-how about instead I ask if ya wouldn't mind havin' a home to go home to?

[Cristo was at the door with some Kupo Nut butter for the popcorn. This was getting good.]

[Naoto stood still, watching Kanji and waiting. Both eyebrows raise at the turnaround question, and she considered.]

... I can accept that.

By the way, you're not pushing how you feel on me... if anything, I was doing that to you. This might sound foolish given my tendency to relocate, but I do like having a place I can return to - a home that will be there. It's something my grampa always made sure to provide.

I bet five kupo nuts there will be aprons made for the occasion, kufufu...

Then I'll pick it right up, no sweat! Uhm... I-I guess that's it.

Thanks for hearin' me out.

Five kupo nuts? I'll take that bet.

[Naoto nodded, unaware of a deal being made outside the door.]

You're welcome, Kanji-kun. And... if you ever want to speak again concerning these matters, just message me. We'll speak in private.

Barring any other weird glitches, anyway. I'll keep the messages vague n' brief.

[He turned, realizing he was up for making a bite to eat, but when he opened the door, there was a stream of popcorn and two fluffballs tumbling inward.]

That will work.

[Stepping off the stool, her head snapped up when Kanji opened the door and two familiar moogles fell into the room... with popcorn.]

... Suzette-san, Cristo-san.

[Suzette scrambled upright onto tiny paws, brushing off her chest fluff and playing it cool. She looked between not one, but two pairs of laser eyes. Uh oh. Play it SUPER cool, then.]

D-detective Shirogane! Why, it's a surprise to see Kanji's invited friends into his room, kufufu...! He's usually such a private guy!

[Naoto's expression does not change...]

Y-Yes! And... we just wanted to make sure he was being a gentleman, kupo!

And what's that supposed to mean?

Well, the network message had you worked up, so we wanted to make sure... thaaat... ooh... kupopopopopo-

Cristo! Dear, we ought to... calibrate... the iMogs! Yes, kupo, after that error we ought to make sure this won't happen again!

[Cristo might be sweating under his fur especially since Naoto's glare intensified.]

Y-Yes! Calibrating the iMog! Sounds like a wonderful idea!

[He was gone like a bat out of hell.]

[Suzette has never fluttered faster in her life. Kanji was NOT kidding about the Shirogane Stare. Kanji sighed, and hunkered down to pick up the popcorn. Great. So much for that whole 'no snoops' thing.]

Tch... well, fear of god's in 'em now anyway. I guess it never ends with us, huh?

No, it apparently does not.

[She sighed, shaking her head.]

I'll head back to my room.

Sure. Seeya later, Naoto.

See you later, Kanji-kun.

[She nodded and headed out. There's some moogles she needs to speak to...]

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Video [With bonus linkshell issues]

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