#milkteaghost

Like! First of all, just the fact that Sampo even brought her along! He didn't have to do that at all, he was only in the event to sell the Holy Grail. He was just there to do business. And he sneaks around so much, I feel like he could have easily slipped out of Belobog with no one knowing where he'd even gone. But no, instead he brought Hook with him, and he even promised her they'd record everything for all the people back home.

(That has to be a big deal to Hook, considering Jarilo-VI is still very isolated, and a lot of people don't seem to have been able to make trips off-planet yet. She's wildly adventurous by nature- exploring a whole new planet must be really exciting for her! And Sampo is helping her share her elation joy with everyone!)

Which, that is so so sweet and endearing and all, but. Actually my favorite part is when they get caught trespassing, and both of them quickly become slimy little shits together FJKDSLAJFKDL

There was not even a moment's hesitation there! Hook even spoke up first trying to smooth talk the lady into not throwing them out! They're so alike in this scene, both immediately on the same page and with the same reaction, just two awful little peas in a pod, and it's so damn funny and I love them so much. Hoyo please, I need more of Hook and Sampo getting into shenanigans together so bad orz

(and then it didn't even work!!)

He’s acting like he really doesn’t have a clue. Kei gives him a sideways look, some of his initial glee fading. There’s dense, and then there’s Nishimura dense, and he hadn’t thought Kitamoto was the latter. 

Because he’s not that type of person, not anymore, Kei looks around to make sure they won’t be overheard and even leans in – he doesn’t want to make trouble for his friends. 

“Natsume, obviously. You think I don’t have eyes?”

Kitamoto’s mouth works for a moment, before he bites the inside of his lip. He looks like he’s struggling with what to say, and Kei starts to feel bad for him. 

“Hey – I shouldn’t have brought it up, I guess? I just wanted – you know, I don’t want you to think I’m not cool with it or anything – and it must be especially awkward, you know, ‘cause of your competition.” 

“My competition?” 

“Well – Nishimura likes him, too, doesn’t he?” Kei rubs the back of his neck. “I mean, having a crush on your friend is one thing, but having a crush on the friend your best buddy also has a crush on is like, Olympic levels of “I’d rather not,” honestly.”

Kitamoto buries his face in his hands and probably would have fallen into his bento if Kei didn’t yank it out of the way. His shoulders are shaking silently, with something suppressed – and he better not be crying, holy shit – 

“What – “ Kei stares at him. “Wait, are you laughing?”

“I’m sorry,” Kitamoto wheezes, not sounding sorry at all. “It’s just – you don’t – I can’t even – hold on a sec,” he adds, visibly wrestling for a handhold on his composure. He turns his eyes on the rest of the classroom, and calls Nishimura over when he spots him. 

Nishimura comes to them with a bright grin, feeding off Kitamoto’s energy already. “What’s so funny, what’d I miss?”

“Apparently we both missed something,” Kitamoto says, wiping tears out of his eyes. “Did you know we – as in the two of us, independently – have a crush on Natsume?”

“Get outta town,” Nishimura replies, raising his eyebrows. Kei has the sinking feeling he’s on the outside of a joke. “I feel like we probably need to have a serious talk about that.”

Kitamoto laughs again, and Nishimura lights up just a little at the sound. And then he’s moving closer, sitting in Kitamoto’s lap like it’s the most natural thing in the world, and Kitamoto is putting a hand around the small of his back so he doesn’t fall, and Kei stares. 

No one else in the room reacts. A few people shoot them incredulous looks – as if to say “really? right now?” – but for the most part the scene seems to be as incredible to their peers as a piece of plain furniture. 

“Close your mouth, Adachi, or you’ll attract flies,” Nishimura says, so prissily Kei is one hundred percent sure he’s quoting Tsuji. Kei does as he’s told, mostly out of shock. 

“What,” Kei says weakly. “But I thought – “

“Natsume’s totally crush-worthy,” Kitamoto says in the name of fairness. “And we are pretty affectionate with him?”

“Of course we are,” Nishimura scoffs. “He likes it.” 

“But we’ve actually been dating since middle school,” Kitamoto concludes with a wry smile. “I think everyone we grew up with already knows. My mom calls Nishimura her son-in-law, and I’m not sure she’s totally joking.” 

Kei tries to process this. At the same time, the door rattles open and a familiar voice reaches to them from across the room.

“There you are,” Natsume says, looking exasperated. “Tanuma and I have been looking for you everywhere. Why are you in this classroom, none of you are in this class.”

Nishimura doesn’t get up, and Kitamoto doesn’t retract his arm from around Nishimura’s waist, and Tanuma and Natsume don’t look surprised at all. This is largely unfair, because they’re new here, too, if not quite as new as Kei is – 

So Kei blurts, “You two knew about them?”

Natsume blinks, as though it’s the strangest question he’s ever heard. “I – yes?”

“They didn’t tell us and keep it a secret from you,” Tanuma adds kindly, maybe guessing that it’s something Kei would be upset about, once he has a chance to think that far ahead. “We just sort of picked up on it.” 

“He’s being nice,” Natsume says dryly. “If you’d ever come to one of the sleepovers we invite you to, you’d pick up on it, too. Within five minutes, I’m sure. They’re not subtle.”