questionably active

——Darius' POV——

[BLACK]

A swallow is treated as a symbol for love and fortune,

but it is also said they symbolize a heart of loyalty.

[LONDON - VOGEL BASE - MEETING ROOM]

The clock hand ticking was the only sound in the room.

Darius: …

Ring: Um, Dari…

Darius: What?

Ring: Uh, well, I think you should maybe check to see how Kate is doing?

I let out a sigh, which made Ring's shoulders jump.

But Nica was quick to cover for him as he wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

Nica: You know, it's natural we'd be worried for her too when she's been out cold for the whole day. The least you can do is make sure she's okay.

Nica: Especially since you banned everyone but yourself from entering her room, right?

Darius: Of course I did. I wouldn't tolerate it if something happened to the hostage while she's sleeping.

The plan to capture Crown had failed, and in their place I had brought Kate after making her inhale a strong drug.

It was a drug made for military use, designed to dull the mind and rob bodily freedom.

Originally, its use was banned as it was too strong on regular civilians, so I was planning to use it on Cursed ones.

Nica: Speaking of sleeping, did you not even bring a regular sleeping drug with you? Why did you use that on her?

At Nica's question, I uncrossed my legs.

Darius: It was on purpose. If I used that, Kate wouldn't be able to get away from me, no matter if she wanted to, no?

Darius: It would be a pain if she ran away from me in the middle, you see. I needed that so she would do as I say.

The twins seemed to want to say something in response, but I purposely turned a blind eye to that.

(I know what you guys want to say: probably something like "what about its aftereffects?")

A regular human wouldn't be able to move properly for a few days after using that drug.

Even if they were conscious, they wouldn't be able to move their body. Such a sensation would without a doubt be frustrating, to the point it couldn't be expressed in words.

(But the moment I let my eyes off of Kate she goes and stirs up trouble, so it's better if she can't move.)

I needed to take away her bodily freedom, so she would never again press a knife to her neck.

(…My heart had never felt so cold before.)

——Thoughtscape——

[CROWN CASTLE - FOREST - MONOCHROME]

Even now, I remembered when she had put a knife to her neck.

Her trembling hands held the blade tightly; one wrong move, and that blade would have slit at her carotid artery.

(Blood would have spilled out…Kate could have died.)

If her hand slipped even a little bit, there was a possibility Kate would have died before I chose her.

Even now, I would get chills thinking about that time.

——End thoughtscape——

[LONDON - VOGEL BASE - MEETING ROOM]

I couldn't care less about human lives, and yet when it came to her, I couldn't see her that way.

I had probably gotten too close to her, to the point I had ended up thinking her life precious.

I might have gotten too attached…to my pet.

(This is ridiculous, truly.)

Just then, I heard a loud sound from above.

Ring: —? What was that? (O_O)

Ring was about to go check that moment, but before he could my body moved on its own.

(Based on the vibrations, that sound came from the room Kate's sleeping in now.)

Did she wake up? Or did someone sneak in to harm her?

[BLACK]

Because if it was the latter, I would have no choice but to kill them. With that thought, I left the twins in the strategizing room.

[LONDON VOGEL BASE - BEDROOM - DAY]

But, the only thing I saw when I arrived was Kate crouching on the floor.

Darius: …So why are you sprawled on the floor like that?

She raised her head, on the verge of tears.

The moment I saw myself reflected in her eyes for the first time in a day, I felt like a happiness I couldn't quite put to words hit me.

Kate: Da…rius…

Darius: Or well, I guess if you remembered what happened before you lost consciousness and was trying to get out of bed, you'd turn out like that for the most part.

Darius: Are you hurt anywhere? And don't you go saying you got injured just now, okay? I don't need the hassle that'll come after.

Kate: Wah…

I hoisted her still-slack body up and lowered her on the bed.

(What in the world am I doing, seriously…)

I checked her arms and legs, and after confirming there were no wounds or bruises, I pulled the sheets over her.

While it was true such marks would lower her value as a hostage, I was also simply worried for her.

(If a pet gets injured, that would be from its owner's lack of attention, after all.)

Kate: …Where…is this?

Darius: A base in London that Vogel uses to strategize.

Darius: This is one of the rooms.

I took a lock of her hair and brushed it to the side. It had a feel that made me want to keep touching it forever.

Darius: The drug you inhaled was pretty strong; I imagine you won't be able to get out for the next two or three days.

Darius: You probably won't be able to move much properly, so I think you should just do as I say and sleep here in that time.

Her mind was probably not working well from the drug, as her gaze wandered and she grabbed onto the sleeve of my clothes.

Kate: Is…Crown alright…

Darius: …I released them in place of you. They were paralyzed by an ability, but that should only be temporary.

Darius: So I think they're all better now.

Perhaps relieved from my words, her hand loosened around my sleeve.

But I didn't like that at all, so while brushing her hair I started talking about what had gone down while she was asleep,

and feeling the need to clear my name, I purposely spoke in a venomous tone.

After knowing everything, Kate made an apologetic face, but that only made me more irritated.

(Make that face all you want, but that doesn't change the fact you doubted me.)

(And…it doesn't change that you didn't take me in too.)

That day, if only she had taken me in—

I was thinking I could believe that stupid "like" of hers she kept going on about, but she never did.

Darius: It's not like I'm hurt by it or anything. This is far from the first time a human didn't trust me.

Darius: And besides, I don't really have any expectations from you at this point, so.

But then Kate held onto my hand weakly.

(…What the heck, and after you're the one who didn't believe me.)

She was nothing but an annoying robin, without an ounce of loyalty in her, pushing me with this one-sided love.

(…Ahh, you're so frustrating, I swear.)

[BLACK]

And yet— I couldn't bring myself to let go of that very bird.

t. b. c ⸝⸝

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——Darius' POV——

[BLACK]

The mallard's mating season lasts from spring to summer.

The offspring follow their parent, seeking feeding grounds and moving together toward the waterside.

Even when invaded or the group scattered, they would always form a line, with the offspring following after the parent—

[PALACE - ENTRANCE GARDEN - NIGHT]

Kate: There you are, Darius…!

Darius: Oh my god, you're so stubborn. ("¬_¬)

—And this felt quite similar to that.

A few days passed since I did the milk puzzle with Kate, and since then she had been chasing me all around.

(She really is persistent. I wish she'd just give me a break already.)

Every single day, from morning until evening, she would never tire to find me. And when she did she would run up to me,

and no matter how much I pushed her away, she would follow me without fail, almost like a baby mallard following after its parent.

That annoyed me so much, I walked at a brisk pace to leave her behind, which caused Kate to run after me in a panic.

When she could no longer see me, she wandered and looked around for me before her shoulders dropped and she went back the way she came.

Even when she grabbed my sleeve, even when she went around in front of me, I would turn around without brushing her away—

And at times I found myself watching from afar as she chased after me…probably because I found that a tad bit amusing.

(She's still a hindrance and annoying…but I guess I'm getting used to this too.)

To think the day would come I would understand how a mother mallard's feelings…

While thinking those mediocre thoughts, I left her in a brisk pace today as usual.

I turned a corner, where Kate's reflection in the window lost sight of me. She seemed to give up then as she returned to her room.

[BLACK]

—All the while unaware of how the corner of my lips naturally lifted…

[PALACE - OUTER CORRIDOR - DAY]

And then on a certain day, Kate was searching for me as she usually did today.

(Ah, there she is.)

The moment I found her in the palace's outer corridor, I debated whether I should turn on my heel,

but did not do so, perhaps because Nica was together with her.

A conversation bloomed between the two, and as for Kate she looked rather happy.

(…Wow, so she can make such a face for someone other than me too.) (¬⤙¬ )

Somewhat uncharacteristic of me, I grew frustrated and ended up wedging my way in between the two.

Darius: What are you two talking about?

Kate: —Darius!

Kate blinked in surprise, while Nica wore a grin like he was scheming something.

Nica: About you, Dari~ ( ^ω^ )

Kate: Ah, Nica, that's—

(What's with that attitude?)

Nica: The Spatzi here, you see, she's been saying she likes you oh so very much, her heart might burst.

Kate: I-I never said that!

My irritation worsened when I saw Kate hastily deny that.

Darius: You "never said that", huh. (¬_¬)

Kate: Ah, uh, no, I mean…yes, I didn't say that…but that doesn't mean it's not true either…

(All you have to do is say you like me in front of Nica like you always do.)

(Or what, do you have a reason you can't?)

I guess she wanted to hide it only out of embarrassment, or if not that, did she have some other ulterior motive?

I was feeling uncertainty at Kate's vague attitude, when all of a sudden Nica took her hand.

Nica: Say, Spatzi, what do you say you ditch Dari over here for me?

Kate: Wha…

Nica: I'm pretty nice, you know. And I never miss with expressions of love…be it kisses or taking it to a room, whatever you want.

Kate: —!

Kate held her breath again at Nica's words, which held enough charm to probably bind a normal human.

Nica: Wouldn't you prefer me over someone who won't even entertain you?

Nica: I figure you probably have some bottled up tension too, so what do you say? —And don't you worry, I'm an expert. (๑ o◡o)

At any rate, I didn't find that amusing at all, and the moment Nica tried to use his ability on her—

Darius: This isn't funny. ( ,,⩌⤙⩌,,)

Without thinking, I tore her away from him.

Darius: Isn't that you-know-what the fruit of your long-term intelligence work?

Darius: After doing things to make the other happy, you play their hearts and throw them out. That's how you end the job.

I hid Kate behind my back, throwing strong words at my family, which was unlike me.

Nica: Ouuch, you're so mean. You know I'm doing this all for the sake of the organization.

But the reason he had said this much was because he was charming Kate on purpose.

Darius: Uh, no, you've almost always acted for yourself.

Darius: You wouldn't lay your hands on some pet you have no reason to do it with, now would you.

(For someone smart like yourself, you wouldn't act provocative and whatnot against me, now would you?)

When Nica caught that hidden message, his face stiffened for a moment.

That was when Kate triedt o peek out, but I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and turned our backs to Nica.

Darius: We're going.

Kate: Wh— ah— wait…!

I knew Kate gave a small nod to Nica in farewell, but even that wasn't at all amusing—

(A white swan isn't suited for a robin.)

(All she has to do is chase after me like a baby mallard.)

[BLACK]

She probably noticed the way I tightened my hold around her shoulder.

[PALACE - GARDEN PATH - DAY]

Darius: Even if I don't say it out loud, as a pet you should follow.

Darius: Or what, are you saying a human needs this to be put to words? Even a dog knows to follow its owner.

And then, so that the baby mallard would never again leave me, I put pressure in my smile to make her understand who her owner was.

Darius: Hurry along now. (^ᗜ^ )

Though Kate looked perplexed, she ran to my side before gently pulling on my sleeve.

[BLACK]

Her happy face from that time etched itself in my memory…and I felt my irritation ebb away at last.

t. b. c ⸝⸝

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Even as word about the world ending spread amongst the people like wildfire, Crown continued its operations in the shadows as ordered by Her Majesty. 

And so when Liam and I stormed the hideout of a scam syndicate during one of our missions, what greeted us was — 

A small mountain. Made entirely of unconscious scammers. 

Liam: Whoa… they’re all out cold. 

Liam crouched down, poking at the cheeks of the unconscious men with visible amusement. 

Kate: H-How did this happen…? 

And then, from behind the pile of bodies, Ring casually popped his head out. 

Ring: Oh, you’re here. Kate and… Mr Sparkly Pink. 

Kate: Wah! You scared me… did you do this, Ring? 

(Vogel assisted with the investigations midway because there was a possibility of Cursed Ones being involved.) 

(It’s not strange that Ring would know the date of our mission or the location of this hideout, but…)

Liam: Why did you complete a mission for Crown, Ring? Could it be… you’re thinking of joining us? 

Ring: No, it’s not that. I came to pick Kate up, but I got here too early, so I decided to take care of the problem first. 

Kate: Pick me up…? Did we have plans for today? 

Ring calmly shook his head in response to my question. 

Ring: We don’t. It's just — the world’s ending tomorrow. 

Ring: I want to be with you on the day the world ends. 

Ring: That’s why I’m here.

Ring’s sincere gaze made my heart race, but… one thing he said etched in my mind. 

Kate: Umm… the world’s really ending? 

Ring: …… Huh? 

Ring: Wait. Don’t tell me… that whole thing about the world ending was lie…!?!? 

… 

After the mission, Ring was brought to the lounge, and upon being told that the “world is ending” thing was purely a false rumour… 

He turned bright red with embarrassment and shrunk into a corner of the room. 

Roger: You can tell it's false just by looking at Darius. He’s not the least bit panicky about this. 

Ring: B-But Dari grabbed my hand, hung his head, and told me… “make the most of whatever time you have left”! 

Ring: Nica too! He turned away and said, “don’t worry about me, go spend it with the Little Robin”…!

Alfons: Head lowered, face turned away — sounds like both of them were trying very hard not to laugh. 

Ring: Ggh… I got tricked again…! This is so embarrassing… 

Kate: It made me happy, though. You came straight to me when you heard this was the last day before the world ends, right? 

Ring: … Yeah.

Kate: The fact you chose to spend your final moments with me truly means a lot. 

Kate: So please don't stay hiding in a corner. Will you come out now? I want you next to me. 

When I took his hand and gave it a small tug, Ring hesitantly stood up and shuffled to my side. 

Alfons: So, Ring, how were you planning to spend your final day on earth with Kate after whisking her away?

Liam: OMG. Were you thinking of spending the whole day with Kate, doing— 

Ring: C-Cut it out! Fine if you want to have dirty ideas about me, but you’re not allowed to fantasise about Kate! 

Ring hid me protectively behind his back. 

Liam: “Dirty ideas”~? I haven’t specified anything yet, though?

Alfons: You gave yourself away with that. 

Ring: It’s really not like that, Kate! Mr Sparkly Pink and that perverted mirror guy set the mood with their inappropriate nonsense, and it got to me…! 

Ring: I-I thought about it only for a split second! I’m not always— um, not never, but not right now! I’m not thinking about that stuff right now! 

Roger: … Don’t tease the poor guy too much. Dogs aren’t meant to be bullied, you’re supposed to dote on them. 

(That’s rich coming from Roger, who messes with Ring PLENTY…) 

Liam: AWWWW, but now I’m curious how red his face can get! 

Liam was practically vibrating with curiosity. 

Ellis: … Since it's already come to this, why not the two of you spend the whole of tomorrow together? 

— Ellis threw Ring a lifeline with that. 

Ring: Huh!? But it turned out to be a lie… 

Ellis: Didn’t you finish all your pending work so you could spend the last day on earth with Kate? 

Ring: Y-Yeah… I mean… 

Ring nodded and turned to me. 

Ring: Although the “end of the world” was fake… will you still spend the day with me? 

Kate: Yes, of course. 

There wasn’t a single reason to refuse. 

——Darius' POV——

[BLACK]

Blackbirds were the calling of spring, singing with their beautiful voice.

[NEARBY INN - ROOM - NIGHT]

Darius: …Shut your mouth.

(Saying things like you know me…when you don't know a thing.)

All she had to do was listen to what I said, nod meekly—

And yet, Kate would always talk back at me, hitting me with her version of what was "right."

(Sure, it might be right in the world you've lived in, but it's not for the one I've lived in.)

I should have killed her before she started running her mouth.

I tried squeezing her neck again— but I changed my mind, instead biting her lips hard and pushing her down.

Kate: —!?

(Killing her would be easy. But the aftermath would be a pain to deal with.)

(In which case I've got no choice but to make her as disgraced as possible and control her with fear.)

Kate's face was scrunched from pain at having been bitten.

Darius: You are a pet. Nothing more, nothing less.

I bound both of her arms, stealing her breath with countless kisses and tearing roughly at her blouse.

Kate: Hah…Da…ri—!!

At that moment, a strong sense of fear showed in Kate's eyes.

Darius: If I humiliate you, maybe it'll finally get through to that thick head of yours?

I would make her feel shamed from getting pushed down by force, and make her into an obedient pet.

To carve that shame in her body, I left marks on her body, but unexpectedly, Kate's body started to sweetly tremble…

And when I saw her on the verge of tears, her face reddened— I came to.

(Wait, what? Why am I also feeling it?) (O_O)

I was meaning to break her down more. It was supposed to be a punishment for this filthy human.

And yet when I saw her in the mess she was, I felt myself go hard in my pants.

(…Maybe this atmosphere's gotten to me?)

This had never happened to me once before, and yet now it pained me to the point it was unbearable.

At some point I found myself wanting to go inside her— to feel her heat.

(Why do I want to do it with her? What is that pain in my chest?)

(Is it because of my annoyance? If I disposed of Kate, would it go away?)

Unable even explain why I felt turned on,

I thought to make rough love to her, positioning myself at her soaked spot.

But—

Kate: It's because…you were right…I realized that I like you.

As tears flowed from her eyes, she said she liked me.

Kate: I know I'm a fool for realizing in this time and place, but…but I actually don't hate you touching me.

Kate: In fact, I even end up thinking I want to take you in…

Kate: It's just, even if I do take you in now, it's not like…you'll believe my feelings.

(What in the world is this human saying?)

At her words, said through her tears, I was so bewildered my head went blank.

(You like me? You? Like, genuinely?)

(No, there's no way. Every single "I love you" has always been—)

——Flashback——

[HAUS - LABORATORY]

Vogel director: Darius, I love you dearly—! So stop this at once—

——End flashback——

[BLACK]

No matter what—

——Flashback——

[GERMANY - THRONE ROOM - DAY]

Darius: Do you love me?

German emperor: Yes, I love you.

——End flashback——

[NEARBY INN - ROOM - NIGHT]

They were always empty.

(No, her "like" isn't genuine.)

(She's just saying that because she doesn't like being pushed down like this and to not make my mood worse. That's all.)

It's alright, I understood completely.

She was surely lying; this affection she had was all but fake.

(And yet, why…) (≖_≖)

My body stopped moving, unable to go any further.

Just let her cry, let her spout those outlandish lies.

Because all of this was empty.

And yet the sound of her quiet sobs beneath me, for some reason, seemed so beautiful.

(…How is it even her crying sounds so pretty?) (・_・?)

I was aiming to make her cry and instill fear into her,

but I was taken by the beauty of her crying voice…and I started to feel frustrated.

(I don't get it.)

I couldn't bring myself to make her cry any more, so I crawled off of her and brushed myself down.

Darius: …That's enough.

I threw my coat at her, perhaps as an expression of pity.

Darius: I just don't get you.

[BLACK]

But, even more than that, I felt an emotion I didn't know budding from within me— and that disgusted me.

[CITY STREETS - NIGHT]

I left Kate behind, leaving the inn with a brisk pace.

(It should be fine just leaving her behind, and yet why…)

My head was a mess as I walked down the less-than-safe street.

While walking my ear could still recall the sound of Kate's crying…

(…If she leaves on her own in that state, she'll definitely get attacked.)

(Crown is probably monitoring her…but would they go as far as to protect her safety?)

Just before I reached the main street, I stopped and let out a sigh.

Darius: …Why should I care what happens to Kate? What's that got to do with me anyway?

But still, when my eyes fell upon a boutique with a dress inside at the corner—

Darius: …Maybe I've lost my mind. (´• ◡ •`)

[NIGHT SKY]

I forced the shop to open and bought a dress that seemed to suit her.

Then I put money in a coachman's hand…

[BLACK]

…instructing him to bring Kate to the palace. And to think I did all of that— something was probably wrong with me.

t. b. c ⸝⸝

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[BLACK]

The starling was an evil species that would form groups, spreading damage of their deeds.

And the place known as an orphanage was where the starlings called humans multiplied…

…not unlike a dirtied nest.

[ORPHANAGE - LOUNGE - DAY]

In order to investigate the case about the silver butterfly, Kate and I paid a visit to a certain orphanage.

Darius: This is the place that now-missing embassy member came over and over to these last few weeks.

Darius: They explained to others that it was as a sort of philanthropic act, but the frequency at which he came was high for that.

Kate: So you wanted to check on the orphanage he was supporting then?

She crossed her arms while deep in thought, not privy to anything, and meanwhile I came here only to confirm the state of the trap I had set myself.

(I wonder what sort of face you'd make if you found out the one behind it all is standing right beside you?)

I purposely used the butterfly wax seal as a way to draw in William's attention, so I had Nica forge handwriting and send a letter to the viscount.

And subsequently I had wanted to deal with the embassy member who was participating in human trafficking,

so I sent a messenger to Nox Liberator to incite them to threaten the member.

I had chosen that fool of a party who sought for republicanism on account of learning Victor's caution toward him.

(Victor was in the way of pulling William in as family.)

(I was thinking of causing some havoc, so I sent a messenger over to the party…but really, it's fools left and right with them.)

It was probably to be expected that the embassy member's family would get slaughtered.

(There's no way they'd let his family go unscathed, when he himself participated in human trafficking, selling people on a large scale.)

(I was curious when they'd get killed, so I had sent Ring to check up on them, but maybe that wasn't a good thing.)

I hadn't told Ring about this plan either.

I never really give the entire rundown from the start; he's so honest it shows right on his face.

(I'd like him to learn how to be at least a little more cunning.)

As we were waiting for the director, the door suddenly opened and I felt some looks— and the moment our eyes met, I felt fed up.

Kate: —? Ah…

Kate saw them and waved her hand, to which the kids' eyes sparkled, hoping we would play with them.

(Spending time with kids who are inferior humans…what a joke.)

Darius: …You do something about those.

Kate: Those…you mean the children?

I gestured for her to shoo, to which she blinked.

Kate: Could it be…you're not good with kids?

Darius: It's not that I'm not good, I just don't like them. They don't listen and they're useless. They're just annoying little creatures.

Kate: Did you have to put it like that…they're full of energy and quite adorable, no?

Darius: If they were Cursed, I would happily take care of them. But these are just regular humans, no?

Darius: They're not worth spending any of my valuable time on. So you do something about them, as a fellow human.

[BLACK]

Though Kate looked a bit perplexed, she stood up, squatted before the kids, and gave them a smile.

[ORPHANAGE - OUTDOOR SPACE - DAY]

After I finished the small talk with the director, I walked through the garden to pick her up.

(I should tell Victor about the orphanage and how the member participated in human trafficking after this.)

(I suppose I should continue keeping up the cooperative act.)

As I thought of all kinds of things, I searched for Kate.

And when I came across an ant nest at my feet, I remembered my childhood.

(Come to think of it, I'd play around by pouring water down the nests.)

I stopped where I was and stared at the nest.

As a child, I was always alone.

——Flashback——

[ORPHANAGE - OUTER SPACE - DAY]

The humans around me feared my predictions, calling me creepy and keeping their distance.

And being alone, I always had an abundance of time on my hands, so I spent all of that time finding living beings outside.

When I looked at how the ants writhed and struggled as I poured water down their nest, I felt alive,

and when those small creatures' bodies fell dead, I would dissect them to try to learn what was inside.

Doing such things may have always been a part of my character,

but I suspected that I had wanted to feel the life of a living being— its heat.

(It was always boring being alone, and I didn't really know much of the warmth of human skin.)

And so, I sought warmth from something other than humans.

——End flashback——

[ORPHANAGE - OUTER SPACE - DAY]

But ever since I had come to know how filthy and cruel humans were, I've long lost the desire to experience their warmth.

(Ah, there she is.) (O_O)

Amid the sea of evil starlings, I found "my" robin.

But it looked like she was mediating a fight between the children.

As I looked on from a distance, one of them started crying that nobody would believe him.

(That human kid knows no shame. He may very well be lying for her attention.)

It was like the other child said, and I agreed…but she alone seemed to think otherwise.

Kate: I believe his words.

That moment, it felt like a single breeze blew in my heart.

(She believes him…) (O_O)

There was no basis whatsoever, but still, she believed his words.

And then, just as she had believed, a small bird flew by, and the children happily ran after it.

But I…just couldn't get past it.

Darius: Kate.

Kate: Ah, Darius! Did you see, just now a small bird…

Darius: Why did you believe that kid's words?

(There's just no way she didn't have a single doubt. I can't believe that— or understand that.)

It was very possible he was lying, and yet here she was, openly believing every word he said.

Darius: I don't get it.

In my whole life, there was nobody who ever trusted me.

And I, in turn, never trusted them. Much like a devil who didn't trust others, I hated people and continued to form relationships out of interest for both parties.

I've heard people claim on the surface they "trusted" me countless times.

But the human named Kate trusted others just like that.

She gently reached out, twining her fingers around my hand.

The moment I felt her warmth, an emotion I couldn't quite put to words hit me—

[BLACK]

I felt as though the child within me peeked out then, biting his lip as he gave a happy smile.

t. b. c ⸝⸝

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