reveilation | IC INBOX

[ Hearing that is enough to make Kido's steps falter, because when it comes to it, Terry was always the one saying it clearly: "I like you" and "I love you" while Kido would rather die than say it to his face. She tried to show it in other ways, but even holding hands like this is something she had to muster up the courage for, when Terry does it so easily that she doesn't think it means as much to him as it does for her.

But it's not like she didn't love him, in those ten years where she admittedly never thought about him, outside of a vague sense of having somebody who would always always always have her back. But even if her families kept crumbling and falling apart, even if society kept rejecting her and made it hard to be around others, she never had the sense that she was alone in it all. Like Kano and like Seto, Terry was always there for her too, in those ten years she struggled through to get this this point. So seeing him again after a long time, it didn't feel like that at all, the feeling didn't really change, even as Kido's feet slow to a stop and she chews on her bottom lip because this is really sappy and she knows it, but she doesn't want Terry to think his feelings aren't reciprocated. ]

...Stupid. Why would it be different for me? Even if I did forget all about you, I'd just fall in love with you all over again.

[ It really is sappy. The only reason why Terry can say and get those sappy feelings out easily is because he feels no shame in expressing himself that way. He does genuinely feel a lot with each handholding, hug, bridal carries--everything that would suggest to be more couple-like, but...

It's very different when he has those actions reciprocated.

When Kido's steps come to a halt, he stops too, looking back at her. His eyes widen when she says that and he turns his head away, a bit red in the face but not as bad as before, and covering his mouth with his other hand. He feels so touched and yet, his heart also feels like it's going to explode. He eventually lowers his hand from his mouth though and looks back at Kido again with a small smile. ]

I'm really glad to hear that, Kido. I feel happy... and I hope I can keeping making you happy too.

[ "Keep making you happy" is a step up from last month's "All I do is make you anything but happy" but has Terry accomplished that? When will I get to use a smiling Kido icon again? Who knows. Even when he says stuff like this, Kido feels more embarrased than happy, though there's both. ]

You were laughing at me.

[ There's also some anger, because why else would Terry turn his face and cover his mouth? ]

No! I didn't know what to say at first because I didn't... expect...

[ nnnnnnnnnmmmchdjdndms

Terry's head is getting jumbled. ]

I didn't expect you to say something like that! I was so shocked but I was touched too! Hearing that really made me happy, but I was also embarrassed...!

It's... not like... I'll get to hear stuff like that from you often, so...

[ Damn right she won't, not with that sort of reaction. ]

Did you want to...?

[ Hear sappy things that make them both want to die?? ]

... Yeah...

[ His voice is quiet, making Terry actually seem shy for once in his life... lmao. ]

But you don't need to force it or anything.

[ If she kept doing that to him, he might not be able to live. ]

Alright. I'll never say something like that ever again.

[ She's surprised he actually admitted it. Then again, he doesn't have any problems saying that sort of thing, even though sometimes he's high or drunk for it to happen, and she can't tell if he even remembers those times. It's been ten years, but the longer Kido's back here, the more she remembers. ]

But I can say this: I love you.

[ She says it as "suki," like that one time in the hospital where Terry said it and Kido's immediate reaction was to run away. Like she wants to do right now, but being forced doesn't mean she doesn't mean it. ]

But I--

[ He'd like to hear it again!! But then Kido says "suki" and he's so easily embarrassed. Kido really improved in terms of speaking things out, is what Terry thinks, and it's honestly really refreshing. He likes it, but right now, it's not good for his heart. Getting told that by someone you love is... well, it's a nice experience. He really likes it. ]

... You got better at saying those kinds of things, Kido.

[ He smiles despite the slight redness in his face. ]

I love you too. C'mon, let's go before the shop closes!

[ For some reason, the praise makes her think of her sister, Rin, who said something like that too and patted Kido's head when she was finally able to say something as simple as "good morning" without stuttering the syllables. Like "I love you" is that easy to say, simple words but so difficult to get out because of all the weight behind it.

Kido decides to never say it again either. ]

Running away, huh? We might as well, seeing how much time we spent standing around.

I'm not running away! What would I even be running from?! Unless you didn't want me to just prove with words??

[ ??? ]

No! You don't have to prove anything!!

[ NEVER MIND Kido's the one trying to pull her hand free so she can run away haha ]

[ Nope. Though Terry doesn't do whatever he implied and instead, he just leads Kido to where the store is, even if he has to drag her there. His grip is strong, but it shouldn't hurt and he's careful so that her arm doesn't pop off her shoulder or something. ]

Here we aaaare.

[ Thanks for looking out for her shoulder. Kido makes a weak attempt to shake him off once they arrive and step inside the store, feeling the air conditioning hit her in the face and it's heaven. The summer heat sucks, and it's a display of how much she treasured her old hoodies for wearing both jackets in the middle of summer. ]

Why don't you look around for your own stuff? I'll be over there.

[ She points at the racks with her free hand towards where the unisex hoodies hang. Her pants got pretty singed too and she'd had to throw that pair out when she got home, so she thinks about looking for pants too, maybe a shirt, whatever. Depends on if Terry's going to look around, because all she needs is the hoodie and doesn't want to keep him. ]

I don't really need anything in particular, so I can look at things with you.

[ He doesn't know if that's weird or not, but he'll say it anyway. Despite being in so many battles with his own fists and such, he has enough clothes to wear for the next week or so, so he's fine. ]

... Or do you want some time alone?

Not really, but it's like I said. It'll be quick and boring.

[ aka she finds a plain black hoodie in her size, and then take the one one size up. After two jackets, the second worst thing to wear in the summer is a solid black one that'll absorb all the heat. No wonder Kano's is short sleeved. ]

This is all I need.

Are you going to wear both at the same time?

[ Terry is Concerned. He really wonders sometimes about the lengths Kido would go to do things because she wants to. ]

... Won't you need more than that though? Some more shirts and pants...

[ Terry picks up a pair of sunglasses that are off to the side and puts them on but immediately takes them off as if he just saw something hideous right away. ]

These are like reading glass sunglasses...! Awful.

[ Kido is absolutely going to wear two jackets at the same time. Her wardrobe might as well be her black t-shirt, red turtleneck jacket, and now a black hoodie to throw over all of that. Black and red. Edgy colors. ]

I should be alright with what I own now, unless you threw everything out of my closet for some reason.

[ She was dead, so it would have been valid. ]

I think I had a pair of glasses before, though... It'd suit you. I'll have to find it.

... Huh?

[ He absolutely did not throw out any of their possessions. It honestly never crossed his mind while he was grieving for several days without hope. Got other things to think about. ]

You wore glasses?

Nope. Which is why I want you to have them. No give backs.

[ It's a pair of ridiculous p4 glasses so he'd better treasure them and wear them everywhere all the time ]

[ Terry looks confused, but now he's imagining Kido with glasses and a high ponytail and wow... Terry looks over at the fashion glasses, takes one with a very thin red frame and puts that on Kido. ]

... Cute.

...Did you miss the part where I said I don't wear glasses?

[ She doesn't take them off, but also, they're not buying this. She doesn't need this. ]

Nope, didn't miss it. [ Terry looks so happy, and his smile still stays even after taking off the glasses from Kido. ]

I never understood why shopping was fun, but if it means you can try out all the stuff and not buy them, I think that's pretty fun! Kinda like a small scale fashion show.

[ Yeah he just realized this right now. Took him 20 years. ]

[ Terry's discovering the joys of playing dress up, oh my god. That's cute, but Kido's not cute and she just sort of gives him a look. ]

Trying on a bunch of clothes and not buying them just makes a lot more work for the workers here, having to refold and hang things back up.

Well, it's their job... besides, it's not like I'll have a full lineup.

[ He wants to see Kido in different clothes!! This is his rare (?) chance!!! ]

Let's do it.

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