dreamcrystals | 2nd Wish

[ matters held closest to the heart, when you're at your most vulnerable, make the most impact. it's the second time yato has come to her rescue when it comes to her grandmother. family is so important to her. friends are important, too. gods and shinki.

hiyori didn't realize just how much it was dragging her down in the background until she was made to confront it here in front of yato. she's so, so grateful he's here...

what mixed signals, though?? slippering is a funny word is all!

just like now. he might think he's going to get smacked, but a grin tugs her lips as well. fufufu, just as keikaku!! without a word, hiyori reaches into her pocket and pulls out... a five yen coin?! no, it can't be. it sure looks a lot like one, though. just not as bright or shiny.

or it's a homemade one. made of clay. using his grip on her fingers, she turns his hand so it's palm facing up so that she can place the clay five yen into it. ]

I'm ready this time!

[And to him, all he's done is be there and be as honest as possible with her, trying to gently break the news without crushing all of Hiyori's hope or her heart. Hardly anything worth mentioning, really, but he supposes that's what gods (and friends) are for. To help people through the tough times, whatever they may be.

That's why if he can help ease her burden even a little bit, he'll consider that to be a success. Just as she's glad he's here, so is he that she is too; she gives him strength and a sense of purpose. Truly a fine substitute guidepost. And best friend.

W-Well, she went from laughing to being all serious on him...! What was he supposed to think??

As he certainly does expect to get a thwack over the head, or at least a headlock for his little joke between them. What he doesn't think will happen is her being absolutely prepared for this inevitability and presenting him with a... handmade coin?

He blinks as she presents it to him and manipulates his hand in order to pay him with it. Color slowly rises to his cheeks once again, his fingers clutching protectively at the little charm. He holds it to his chest while glancing away, a smile still playing at his lips.]

Y-You aren't kidding. Thank you for your payment.

[M...Maybe they ought to move out of the bathroom before Kazuma gets any weird ideas about what they might be doing in here...]

[ as a friend (her best, and as a god), hopefully, he's learned that sometimes all people need is someone to listen. someone to show comfort and care with a simple hug or a thoughtful word. yato did it naturally with her, even through his doubt. he's always had compassion. since he was little, it was just... lost for a little while.

looking extremely proud of herself, she beams as brightly as he did. as bright as his beloved coins.

don't mind that she's ESSENTIALLY counterfeiting money. it doesn't count in dreamland. the coin isn't a perfect replica by any means. she's done her best, but it might say 'YA TO GA MI' on the back. for funsies. who else is she going to give them to? ]

I've been trying to think of a way to surprise you with one. This works out!

[ they're having TOTALLY NORMAL CONVERSATIONS in the bathroom, remember!! if kazuma thinks anything else, he's the weird one! as hiyori sees nothing wrong with this. at all. nope. ]

You keep asking for five yen, so I wanted to make sure I could pay you when I made a wish here. N-not that it's actually worth anything, haha...

[It's a fact that he's slowly learning, or rather relearning, that oftentimes it isn't help so much as support that is necessary to help someone overcome difficult times. That opposed to doing stuff for somebody, giving them the strength they need to do it themselves is better.

Because for sure Hiyori is strong enough to stand on her own two feet. If she stumbles, he'll be there to catch her, but she doesn't need someone to carry her all the way.

The coin may be handmade and hold no monetary value to society as a whole, but to him it's the most precious change he's ever received. It has meaning. He'll never forget where it came from, or what happened to earn it. It's a special piece of their memories now, counterfeit or not. It's real to his heart. And it's going right on the collection box of his new shrine, to make him smile even more every morning.]

I-It does! I appreciate it. It's more than I tend to get for any other wishes here, monetarily speaking.

[Absolutely normal conversation where they're squeezed into the room with the loo, yup. Nobody would think them strange! Or if they do, they're the ones with dirty minds. Sheesh.]

You really do know me too well... [Which is a good thing in his mind.] N-No! It's worth plenty! To me, at least... Thank you, Hiyori.

[He opens his palms to glance down at the coin, a soft expression coming over him. Like it's Christmas all over again.]

[ that's an important thing to remember and will take him far. has already brought him a long way. he's become a source of support and comfort for hiyori. ever since the hospital attack.

maybe even before that.

this is just another small token of her support for him. his dreams -- helping him build his shrine here in reverein. whatever else he wants to do, too. besides, you know, get rid of mirrors.

currency doesn't exist here. when yato put up his advertisement, asking for five yen, she imagines most people probably commented on it. still, she knows how much the gesture itself means to him. five yen is the standard offering to a god. he SHOULD up his prices, but if this makes him happy...?

what else does he like? she'd like to know him better. why? couldn't tell you. ]

You're welcome, Yato. [ she smiles, feeling light on her toes that it's worth something to him as just a clay mimic of their country's coin, and folds her hands behind her back. there are no splinters or bandages for her to hide away, this time. ]

[ ... their surroundings, the fact that she's with yato in the BATHROOM (NORMALLY), settles in. so belatedly. ] U-um, so! I'll go start thinking of a design and leave you b-EEE?! [ she nearly runs into the door as she turns, banging into the bottom of it with her toe. stubbing her poor toe. ] Owowowowowwwww...!

[ CRUMPLES INTO A BALL, IN TEARS. PAIN TEARS. ]

[Really, they've both come so far from that fateful day where their eyes locked onto to one another and the following weeks when they got on each other's nerves all the time. It's almost difficult to imagine that's how this all started when now they provide support to each other and a shoulder to lean on in tough times.

Like when Hiyori turns on a dime and promptly smacks her foot into the door. He instantly winces in sympathy and drops down to grip her by the shoulders, in fretting mode.]

H-Hiyori...! You okay? D'you need an ice pack? Pain killer? Here-- let me...!

[Without waiting for an answer, he scoops her up in both arms, pushing the rude door further open with his own foot so they can get out into the hallway and head down towards her room.]

Shit, I'm sorry... Let me have a look at it, okay?

[Once in her room, he sets her carefully upon the bed and crouches down to pull the sock off her injured foot. Taking it in his hand, he checks for any blood or busted nails. Fretfretfret~!]

[ it's even more difficult to imagine now that they've spent months (MULTIPLE) living together under one roof, too. yato still gets on her nerves, but not nearly as often.

there are some... other feelings involved, too.

like this, yes. how she sometimes is made to deal with overprotective, fretting, overdramatic yato. despite the tears in her eyes, ] W, wait. I'm fine, don't--!

[ before she can finish, he's already picked her up and she yelps in surprise. what is he doing?! it's just a stubbed toe. sure, it hurts a LOT and throbs something awful but she's not going to die from it!! just put some ice on it to bring down the swelling and call it a day. yato all but rushes them from point a (bathroom) to point b (hiyori's bedroom). TO HER BEDROOM. she jolts at the door shutting behind them, and being put on the mattress, and at her sock being pulled off. what?

WHAT?? ]

Wh, whuh-eh? Eh??? [ I mean, her toe is a little red from hitting it too hard but no blood or busted nails. she's trying to catch up mentally with what's going on. why is he apologizing? why are they in her room? why is he TAKING OFF HER SOCK. WHY IS SHE BLUSHING!!! ]

Y-You're s, sorry? W... why are you...?

[They're true blue housemates now...! It's certainly a strange development from where their relationship was back home, but there's no way Yato can say he hates it. In fact, he's grown to quite like the closeness, even if it comes complete with Complicated Feelings in the package.

Ones he's still learning to navigate appropriately. Obviously. His dumb lizard brain still instantly thinks Injured Hiyori = Panic Mode, no matter how minor the infraction against her well-being. Point in case: stubbed toe.

It should've been a simple task, but he has to go and over-complicate things. Like a simple accident. Here he is, getting all teared up himself for reasons currently only known to him as he physically checks each of her toes to make sure they're not busted. (Over dramatic, much, Yatogami?)

When he finally glances up at her face, he looks utterly downcast. Like he accidentally kicked her cat or something.]

It's my fault. If I hadn't been messing with the mirror in there, you never would've been in the position to hurt yourself. ...sorry.

[At least there's some ~~questionable~~ logic at play here and not just him feeling the need to take responsibility for anything that befalls her?]

[ not a development that would have happened (anytime soon) on earth, that's for sure.

hiyori can't say she hates it either. perhaps at first, she felt some trepidation about sharing space with yato but with no other choice she went along with it. he was probably lonely, too. yukine told her some horror stories about living with yato. leaving candy in his pockets and ruining his clothes. all the capyper merch. how lazy he could be. how he had to do everything. it hasn't been like that. not completely. not as awful as was made out to be.

besides the Complications. they're both doing their best to navigate that. around that. she isn't quite sure how to--

... IS HE CRYING!? YATO. ] D-don't cry!! [ IT'S JUST A STUBBED TOE HE IS SO

blaming himself? ] Your...?

[ all of the bluster and embarrassment and nervousness bleeds out of her instantly. questionable logic, indeed. but she knew his logic wasn't ever sound. such as: trying to get rid of mirrors to deal with his issues with them. ]

Don't be so silly. [ she says softly, not unkindly. ] It was just an accident. That's not anybody's fault. [ hers. if anything. for being clumsy. ]

That's like saying being around you means I'm always in a position to hurt myself and that's not true.

Edited 2024-01-08 05:46 (UTC)

[She may not have noticed the way he'd been a lazy bum those first few weeks after their arrival, but as they settled in and it became apparent that he'd have to start pulling his own weight, he gradually began doing just that. He couldn't leave it all to Hiyori, after all. She's still human; her time alive is precious and he doesn't want to waste it, be it on trivial things or him. In fact, he's found himself wanting to take care of her, rather than being pampered by his shinki. It's certainly a change from his usual self. But then, surroundings do affect people greatly.

Like he suddenly seems to register they're now alone in her room and a blush colors his face even as he tears up a bit, cradling her foot in his hands.]

But-- [He clams up quickly, though, determined not to talk over her. And he has to admit it's nice hearing from her that it's not his fault. However difficult it is for him to believe that. Still... He wants to try to. Nodding slowly, he hazards a shy glance up at her.] I guess you're right. That's more likely to happen if you hang around Kofuku.

[He can't help a small smile at that, rubbing over her toes with care to help work the pain out.]

Though there is some truth to how we could end up tripping over each other in close quarters like that.

[ oh, no, SHE NOTICED. she also noticed when he took it upon himself to change, too. the first time she came into the kitchen and yato was washing dishes or cleaning up after himself. when he took it upon himself to get food and other essentials. after that, it truly felt like they were cohabitating rather than yato bumming off someone. again.

like kofuku and daikoku, yes. which reminds her of THAT conversation they had. she curls her fingers into her bed cover, clutching at it and watching yato massage her feet gently, working out the pain. it's working. it's leaving her foot and racing up to her chest. to her heart. is it pounding there where it's supposed to be or is it in her ears? either way it nearly drowns out his words. ]

W-well, that was... my fault, then. If you want to blame someone. I barged in on you, but it was to stop you. It's not like we're going to start hanging out in the bathroom together a-anytime soon or... any close quarters or...

[ or she should STOP. TALKING. ]

No, um... future tripping over each other.

[ only her own tongue. yep. ]

[If there's one chore he enjoys above all else, it's grocery shopping for them. He gets to check out all the latest additions to the shops and sometimes poke his nose into places where he doesn't necessarily need anything, but might want to pick up a little gift for Hiyori (or himself.) Thankfully he has kept the random good luck trinkets to a minimum and on the smaller side. No huge jars this time!

Instead it's been Woo Hiyori Time with the Twelve Days of Christmas, and reminders of that are everywhere, from her beanbag to the books on her desk. As he's rubbing her foot, it occurs to him that maybe he should get - or make - some extra fluffy socks for her. To keep her warm and pad her feet from any further injuries. He'll have to look into that. Gradually, his hands slow to a stop until he's just cupping her foot, thumb running over her big toe.]

N-No way...! It wasn't your fault. Everything was fine until the end there when you were getting ready to leave. ...I'm just glad you didn't hit your head instead, heh. [His laughter tapers off as her words finally sink in, deepening the flush on his cheeks.] Of course not--! There's no call for us to be squeezed into such a tight spot like that again!

[Abruptly, he releases his hold on her and stands up, eyes avoiding her face.]

Only in the kitchen, maybe. B-But we can work around that.

[Like by him giving her warning about moving to stand behind her.]

[ while she may also get the urge to pick something up for someone when it reminds her of them, she's still surprised when yato comes back with these little gifts that range from weird to sweet.

foot rubbing sits somewhere in the middle of that scope. strangely enough, the pain is gone. she's not sure if that's a result of his massaging or her pain tolerance. nor is she sure if she should pull her foot away when yato continues...

he does it for her. her eyes drop to her lap and she wriggles her bare toes against the floor. she can't bear to look at yato's blushing face without feeling incredibly embarrassed herself. more embarrassed. there is no call to be close to yato.

neither is there for her to sit by him so closely on the couch that their sides touch as she tends to his sickness or they open christmas gifts.

no call at all. ]

Can we...? [ even with warnings. it's not a BIG kitchen. ] I've bumped into you more than once in there. And remember that one time you snuck up behind me while I was making food and you scared me?

[ more like he flustered the hell out of her by standing right at her back and put his hands over hers. she almost lost it. ]

[At least their place is already feeling homier with all the personal items they've accumulated by now? That's his hope, anyway. To provide some comfort to Hiyori.

Which is why he hesitates on letting go of her foot even once he's fairly sure the pain has subsided. She hasn't hit him or complained, so.... maybe she likes the gesture? He's so uncertain now that he puts some thought into it; he had been going off of instinct this whole time, and now that he puts actual consideration into what he's doing, the doubts come creeping in.

As she wiggles her toes, though, he gradually removes his hands, his eyes seeking out hers to try assessing the situation better. T-Things aren't weird between them, right...?

No. It's totally weird, but in a semi-good way? That's what his fluttering heart says, anyway. He only hopes the same holds true for her, too, and that he's not making her uncomfortable.]

O-Of course! [He's determined to make it work, somehow.] But I didn't sneak up on you that time! I was just... quiet.

[He hadn't intended to startle her then or ever, that's for sure. Especially not when she's doing something that could be potentially dangerous like working at the stove. He's done some growing up since he possessed her body; he puts more careful thought into how he behaves around her now.]

Sorry about that, though.

[ it's not so much the material possessions she finds comfort from...

that said, it's slowly but surely starting to feel more like a home and less like a temporary abode. hiyori isn't sure how to feel about it, at times. there are days, like this, when she misses her family terribly. there are other days when she's simply happy to exist and that yato is safe and happy (??) and well-cared for, himself. that she gets to (sort of) keep her promise of seeing him every day.

once their eyes meet, she glances away hastily. it is weird. it's weird, but no. not in a bad way. in a way she doesn't know what to say or do with herself because this is unfamiliar. in a way that makes her chest hurt. with her heart beating so hard, she's thankful he doesn't have those sharp ears he had some months ago. the cat ones. he would hear it.

act normal, act normal. ]

That's sneaking. [ there's a small glance she throws at him as a smile threatens her. his apology makes her shoulders go a bit more lax and her fingers loose. ]

It's alright. [ a foot curls around her ankle and she leans forward slightly. ] ... It's like I said before. I know you're just trying to look out for and help me. It's not like I don't do the same thing. [ just less... YATO-Y. ]

... While we're here, I... guess we could work on the mirror cover idea. Could you get my sketchbook on my desk? [ and then

AND THEN

she pats the spot next to her on her bed. decidedly not working on her, what did he say, half-assed job of dealing with threats? but it's been a long time since he's felt any kind of threat. ]

[It's these more emotional days that Yato worries about Hiyori most, fearful that if she remains in Reverein it'll be detrimental to her, yet selfishly afraid of what might happen to himself if she were to go home. The only solution he sees is to try making her stay as comforting as possible, in the only way he really knows how.

He's equally quick to search out something else to focus on, and ends up back at her feet. Which in itself is weird, but then they are very pretty feet-- No, Yato, no! Get a grip! Flushing deeper at his ridiculous train of thought, his gaze flicks back to hers in time to catch that smile, making him ache with longing.]

Is not. [It's a childish retort that he offers with an embarrassed smile of his own.] Yeah, you just seem to manage it a bit better. [He can admit that much, at least.]

Ah, sure...!

[With that offer on the table, he hops up in an instant, hurrying over to her desk and back again so he can nervously take a seat beside her on the bed. He passes over the sketchbook with a nod as he resists the urge to lean closer; she has to have room to work, after all. Can't do that if he's hovering too close.]

Do you have any ideas already?

[ ~~now we know why shiro ended up there...~~

hiyori playfully rolls her eyes at his argument first. she does not manage it better, though. maybe she's doing better here, but back home that doesn't feel like the case at all. the three of them have always made up where another is weak. it's no use to keep pining. they haven't been doing bad, either. yato with his fumbling and figuring her out.

he's doing better than she remembers him doing.

she could have gotten up and grabbed the sketchbook herself, but assigning yato to the task feels like the better choice. she doesn't freak out or scoot away when yato sits next to her and hands over the book. she opens it to the right page and pulls out her pencil, sketching the mirror they use in the bathroom. ]

Hmmm, yeah, maybe. I was thinking... a sort of blanket thing? To drape over the mirror. Something light and easy but can still hide the reflection. I don't know. What about you? Any ideas?

[ after a pause, she holds out the pencil to offer and tilts the sketchbook toward him. inviting him to lean in and draw or take the sketchbook or whatever he wants. ]

~~foot fetish foot fetish~~

There's a slight pout when she doesn't bite to his playful argument, but he gets over it quickly enough. He's learning to adjust more swiftly to situations that don't favor him or his preferences, it seems.

Watching her intently with a slight smile on his face, Yato nods along to her words. And when given the chance to offer his own input, he eagerly takes the pencil and sketchbook to draw up a hasty curtain thing, something that looks out of a Victorian mansion with a flounce on top and braided cords to hold back the dual fabric panels. (That are being pulled by little Hiyori angels in this drawing.) Hardly simple.]

How about something like this? We could get fabric in your favorite color, or to match the decor in there if you want!

[ ~~show me them toes~~

BECAUSE SHE KNOWS IT'S SNEAKING.

where yato didn't lean in, hiyori does slightly. the side of her arm bumping his she watches him draw something much faster than she did. the general idea is good! but why the angels? ]

O, oh. Y-yeah, I like that. I... was thinking of something simple and light, somewhat flowy. Like a sheer fabric. And, um...

[ points at those tiny hiyori angels with a finger. it reminds her of that one drawing she stumbled upon. one done by yato. cat hiyori. her name written over and over and over. "I want milk". it's best to ignore these things. ]

Are these little statues or?

[ does she want to know DOES SHE WANT TO KNOW ]

[~~don't give him ideas; he might want to paint them~~

IT WAS BEING STEALTHY...

For his part, he finds himself subtly shifting so their shoulders end up touching as well. It's not quite snuggling, but it's pretty darn close. Enough so that his cheeks take on a reddish tinge.]

We can do that, easy. Whatever fabric you like, be it lacy or gauzy or silky--

[His gaze follows her finger to the angels but shoots back up to her face with a sparkle in his eye at the suggestion of them being statues. That's brilliant...!]

Y-Yeah! We can attach them to the wall where they can hold back the curtain panels--!

[SHE DIDN'T WANT TO KNOW, DID SHE]

[ ~~he has enough of those on his own HONESTLY~~

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE??

they're just!! putting their heads together for ideas!! not almost snuggling. hiyori is doing her best to keep everyone who lives in this treehouse happy. in the only ways that she knows how. ]

G-gauzy? [ WHAT.

also WHAT. NO. that wasn't her throwing out ideas, she was asking him what the heck he's drawing so detailed! it's so familiar. THEY CAN'T HAVE TINY ANGEL HIYORIS HOLDING THE CURTAIN BACK. ]

Th, those will take a while to make! Why don't we just... use simple hooks? It doesn't have to be anything fancy!!

[~~Imagine the trouble they could get into if they teamed up!~~

SNEAKING IS DELIBERATE, STEALTH IS INHERENT!

True. If they were actually snuggling, Yato's head might implode from the implications alone. This is just a normal, professional creative working relationship...! A very close one. Physically, anyway.]

Yeah! Breezy, billowy~

[Like what the angel Hiyoris are wearing! Thankfully he has more sense and decency than to leave them in the buff right in front of Hiyori herself. That makes them more acceptable as a bathroom fixture, too, right?]

Hmm... I suppose that's true. Although we can always swap them out once they're made! [At least he didn't think to make them a matching set with himself included?? Or would that have been better...]

[ ~~they get enough trouble with just him!!~~

STEALTH IS INHERENT TO BEING SNEAKY. ]

Oh. Gauzy. [ doctor's daughter thought of gauze and had trouble imagining a fabric like that to make curtains but BREEZY AND BILLOWY. yes, exactly. they're on the same page. for everything but one thing.

just two friends hanging out. on the bed. making domestic house decoration plans together. nothing extraordinary!

nothing acceptable about having herself as an angel as bathroom fixture, either. zero. that's the thing they're on different pages with. thank goodness those statues aren't naked. angel in the buff hiyori is for his private collection, huh...

if there was a yato on the other side, there's no way she could convince herself that the angels weren't her. like she is currently doing. ]

I-I don't know. We may find that we like the ones we have just find. They may really... [ gulp. ]

Hook us. [ SHE IS MAKING BAD JOKES JUST TO DISTRACT HIM FROM THOSE POTENTIAL STATUES. SHE'S DESPERATE.

DON'T DO IT, YATO. ]

[~~He doesn't invite it, it just finds him...!~~

....OKAY THAT'S TRUE. POINT IS, HE WASN'T TRYING TO SNEAK.]

Yeah! Oh-- Right, not like, hospital gauze. [He finally catches up with her train of thought and grins, having forgotten that that's where her mind likely would've jumped to first.

Kind of like how anyone peeking into her bedroom would simply see a god and his follower doing bathroom planning. Just normal, everyday things all housemates do! Right? He's never had one before. House or housemate. It's actually pretty fun, getting in on this domestic thing.

Which is why he wants to go all out on even something as small as covers for the mirrors - how often will they get the chance to do anything similar once they're back home? Although it has sort of inspired him into maybe asking Kofuku if they can jazz up their his and Yukine's room.

Thankfully he's sorta switched to making his affection for her less... overt. Now that he's almost accepted it for what it is. L-Lov....]

... [Did she just-- She DID. That gets a snicker-snort from him as he nudges her elbow.] Nice one, Hiyori~!

[Thinking to spare her somewhat, he sketches in a couple of simple ribbons to hold the curtain. There. No angels. For now.] Like that?

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