Happy Birthday, Dork | Backdated to August 31

[crouching_sin]

Sender: Naoya
To: Everyone
Subject: Birthday boy

My cousin, who recently arrived, has a birthday today. Wishing him a happy birthday is encouraged.

He's 18 now after all. In many places that makes you an adult, Kazuya.

Yes, I know you can see me writing this.

Comments

[crouching_sin]

Me? Odd? Now that's a strange idea. Do you often let first impressions color how you feel about someone?

[whatsamada]

No, not really but I have to admit, it does cloud my judgement sometimes.

[crouching_sin]

I suppose that's only natural.

Feel free to go through my things, by the way. I have nothing to hide.

[whatsamada]

Of course I wouldn't! That's an invasion of privacy!

[crouching_sin]

As if I don't see the two of you plotting over there.

[not here]

[belheir]

[Kazuya blows an obnoxious sounding raspberry at Naoya.]

[whatsamada]

...

It was his idea.

[crouching_sin]

Just because it was his idea doesn't mean you need to encourage him.

[whatsamada]

I'm starting to see why he said those things about you.

[crouching_sin]

What, that I'm a jerk who doesn't care about other people?

He's not entirely wrong, but he's not entirely right either.

[whatsamada]

I meant the jerk part.

Although, I never assumed you didn't care about people.

[crouching_sin]

A usually equals B to most people, but fair enough.

I do care about him, for the record.

[... In a way, at least.]

[whatsamada]

I know. You two are family, aren't you?

So you would have to care about him. Or at least in your own way at least

[crouching_sin]

Well, family doesn't have to care about each other. It's better when they do, however.

[whatsamada]

You make it sound like it's a bad thing to care.

[crouching_sin]

Sometimes it can be.

[whatsamada]

Yes it can but it's not always a bad thing. It can be good when it gives you a reason to protect someone.

[crouching_sin]

And I assume you have people like that?

[whatsamada]

Yes, more than I can count on both of my hands. And I have learned a lot from them too.

[crouching_sin]

How lucky for you.

You can be sure that having anyone like that is rare. Having that many even more so.

[whatsamada]

Let's just say that my friends and I went through a lot. That's how we made sure to protect one another no matter what.

I FEEL SO BAD I'M SORRY KEN

[crouching_sin]

How nice for you. To have people you can rely on entirely.

While I care about my cousin, it's not the same.

[not here AGAIN]

[belheir]

[... He genuinely has no clue if this is a positive or a negative comment about him.]

HOW DARE HE

[whatsamada]

...I feel like there is something I don't understand.

Is there a reason why?

[crouching_sin]

It's Complicated.

And I don't really feel like explaining. But suffice it to say that we have a unique relationship.