#ouxvrx

      ❛ What have you been up to ? ❜

               despite hweji’s constant refusal of his advances, chiyong’s determined to use valentine’s day to his advantage. he’d made sure to get to school early to sneak a card into hweji’s desk before anyone else arrived, and he’s waiting until break time to give him his real gift. does he feel a little stupid spending his allowance on a gift that, more likely than not, is going to end up in the trash? yeah, but at least he can say he tried. he just has to wait ten more minutes...

Jaeseok snickered as he dropped his arms back to his sides. “I’m starting to look all muscular, just like you, my love!”

     The iced americano was mostly just ice now, but Kitae had been unable to pull himself from the café. He had things to do, places to be, but dark eyes had been tracking Xilin across the shop for longer than was probably polite. Kitae’s cards never lied, and they certainly hadn’t lied when they said the strife in the cafe owner’s life was more than he could handle alone. Whatever was troubling Xilin, the cards hadn’t been specific – but it was enough that his brow had stitched together in worry, creases forming along his forehead.

“Xilin…when you have a minute can we talk?” He had an idea, a suggestion that had come about from passing conversation a few days before – a way to separate Xilin from whatever it was that was causing him suffering.

While out on a very brief stroll ( he barely made it two blocks before panicking and turning back ), Byungjoo spotted the tiny creature nestled in a small patch of grass under one of the planted trees on the street corner. He wasn’t quite sure what kind of animal it was ( it looked like a fox but it was far too small to be that– maybe a baby possum??? ) but it looked cold and honestly he was desperate for any for of companionship even if it was a stray animal. Extending a gentle hand for the animal to sniff, Byungjoo slowly coaxed the small creature out of the grass and into his hands, a successful smile forming over his lips as he quickly headed home. Once inside his home, the gamer let the small animal out of his arms to allow it to familiarize itself with the small apartment. Unbeknownst to him, the hybrid-looking animal found its comfort on his bed.

Once settled in, Byungjoo made his way to his room to stretch out on the mattress, a small sigh of relief parting his lips as his back hit the cool blankets. That relief was only brief as a shrill and very unmanly scream ( it wasn’t his best moment ) soon ripped passed his lips at the sound of a voice, collapsing onto the floor as he quickly scattered away, pressing himself against the nearest wall as if he were trying to become part of it. “You can speak??!” Was the only thing Byungjoo could think to say as he spotted the small animals head popping up from under the blanket, hands soon coming to the sides of his head as his fingers tangled into his hair in disbelief. “I-I must be dreaming….or I’m going crazy–”

 These easy stunts were almost insulting to his intelligence. Getting into somebody’s house took no effort for him. Even better -- people invited him in. Had it not been for the fact that he really liked his job, he would have long given it up and settle for the life of little pleasantries like this one right here.

The young man was so naive, he didn’t question anything and brought him to his home. As soon as they passed the threshold, the yokai was quick to jump off his arms and to the desk, then to the floor only to run off and settle himself between the sheets of the bed. The sound of the bell around his neck disappeared, muffled by the soft fabrics.

He’s watching, attentive eyes scanning the room, and thinking what move to make next. The kid’s not wealthy but judging from the house decor, he’s got enough money to live a decent life. Noboru could stay there for a while, use the hospitality, cause some mischief and disappear from his life as easily as he came in.