[ He knows exactly what he did and he's a theater kid so he naturally has a somewhat dramatic response: ]
Ruined my whole life because it's been a month since he told me Prismatica probably made him gay instead of having feelings for me when I tried to talk to him about us almost kissing after I gave him the gloves and I am only human I can't wait that long without my soul leaving my body impatiently so at least he's decided to just step on it with Hitachiin-brand fashion heels.
Sorry I didn't invite you I didn't want to make you sneak behind his back again...
[ Not even emoji... he's just a mopey boy until the next morning. ]
Taichi doesn't respond. He goes to bed way earlier than the twins so unless it's before around 8:30 that Kaoru gets back to him, it won't be until morning he sees if Kaoru texts him again... ]
[ Much, much later, Taichi still hasn't heard back on this ominous threat. He assumes things are... Okay?! Since he hasn't been told otherwise, but you can never be too careful around a hitachiin. Revenge is likely waiting in the wings of he doesn't make this right somehow...
So Taichi shows up sometime when he knows Hikaru is out specially for Kaoru. He has a plan! Sort of! Well, he has a plan A and a plan B. From outside the door he calls out: ]
[there is... some trepidation, and Kaoru takes his time getting to the door, although Kicchi rushes ahead and pokes her face out of the door as soon as he opens it.
There have been no more flash mobs, so that's good? But today might be the day?]
[ When Kaoru and Kicchi open the door, Taichi's super obvious plan is revealed. There's towels in his hands and a wood basket that's got a shampoo, conditioner, soap, and moisturizer in it.
At the very least, all the products seem new and to be of good brands. Not rich people level, but Taichi finally got a steady role at a theater so he can afford better stuff now and as soon as he reached that level of better product, he came to Kaoru. At the very least, he's confident he's leveled up enough that he'll only get mild nose turning. (And it's still way better than what comes free with the inn rooms.) ]
[slowly, deliberately, and with a perfectly-timed headtilt to go along with it - counterpointed by Kicchi's excited, snuffly circuit about him, giving Taichi a thorough once-over.
All nine tails are wagging - it may just be an excited fox thing, or she may be making sure each one thumps against Taichi like an excited dog's]
I mean-- I do get it, Taichi-san, but we only have, like, a standard commoner-sized bathtub here. I mean, it's barely even deep enough to soak in...
[ That is a problem. Taichi doesn't really mind being packed into a bathtub with other guys like sardines, but...
Oh, oh!! After about 2 seconds of thought, he has an idea! He sets the bucket down (not the towels, they shouldn't be dirty) so he can start petting Kicchi with equal excitement if Kicchi allows him to. If Taichi had a tail himself, it would be wagging. It doesn't last long because he stands up to reach for Kaoru's wrist to try to tug him to come with. ]
That's not a problem, come on!
[ The castle guest rooms had huge tubs! And he's pretty sure he knows how to sneak both of them in! ]
[between being pulled by Taichi, and Kicchi - the traitor - rounding him up and nudging him from behind, there's not really any escape, though he holds onto the door frame just long enough to s-t-r-e-t-c-h back into the room and snag his key.
[ At the very least, once Kaoru's actually coming, Taichi let's go of his wrist. He likes holding hands but that's moreso a thing he likes to do with the other twin. ]
Are you okay with running? We'll get there faster.
[ And it'll make it seem like it's more urgent, which will help sell the story Taichi's planning in his head, even if Kaoru's not an actor. It's better not to tell Kaoru so he doesn't get in his head about it or like.. blatantly reject his idea. It'll work. ]
It's not a hurry, but... Hikaru said you two aren't actors except for your specific thing, so it'll help us if it looks like we ran all the way here. I'm gonna need to do a little acting to get us through the front door, then from there we're in the clear!
[ Taichi is pretty sure he loves Kicchi already, she gets it!! The excitement!! Kicchi can come in the bath too. (Taichi's familiar doesn't run so he's not yet making an appearance.)
Also it's a little more complex than he's explaining, but at the very least, he won't need Kaoru to act with him once they get through the first guards. ]
[there's an indignant huff at that - excuse you Taichi, just because they do more improvisational skits doesn't mean they can't act. There is a movie and everything - they pulled off a complete role reversal for crying out loud...]
All right, fine, yes, blow me away with your acting skills.
[...Kicchi intends to join them, whether invited or not. Onsen culture or no onsen culture, someone has to defend Kaoru's modesty.]
Does Hikaru know you're trying to get me naked in a bath with you?
[ Don't be mad at him!! He asked Hikaru if he wanted to act with him for fun! Because Taichi loves acting, of course he wanted to share it. It's entirely possible that Hikaru was just trying to be nice to Taichi or didn't want to do what he wanted to do, though. Taichi falls for his shit a lot.
He at least breaks into a run so they can get a head start toward the castle, since Kaoru doesn't know where they're going. Taichi doesn't actually run that fast, so regardless of how fast Kaoru runs, it'll be easy to keep up. ]
Does he need to? Autumn troupe takes baths together all the time, and there are 6 of us. It's about skinship, not.. you know! Which is why I can't bathe with Hikaru yet!
Uh huh. Sure. You can't bathe with Hikaru yet, so you're trying to get a preview; got it, got it.
[this is starting to feel like a worse and worse idea by the minute, Taichi.
This is... also possibly not a conversation they should be having while running, with Kicchi bouncing along with them, but whatever. Kaoru is more than used to letting people come up with their own conclusions.]
No way, no way! It's different! Obviously you look the same, but I don't want to kiss you! You're too intimidating to even look at like that!
[ Taichi's having to yell to keep up while they're running too so he's clear. The reason is unclear. In his head it makes sense to be louder while you're running. ]
[it's absolutely necessary that they shout over their own thudding footsteps, the wind rushing past as they go. Even if strangers can hear them just fine.]
I mean, you know our family is as discerning, if not even more so, right? What if it were an army of Hitachiins?
[omg]
Wait, would you invite them all to the bath as well?!
To look at like that, not in general! I'll bathe with every Hitachiin man it takes if I have to [ He's not bathing with women ] but I just meant like, I look at you and I don't feel all warm and fuzzy and I don't want to touch butts like I do with Hikaru!
[ He was trying to be vague about that, but if Kaoru needs him to explicitly state that he feels the need to touch Hikaru's butt when he looks at him and not Kaoru, he'll say it. Before his brain kind of backtracks on this conversation, as if there's a record scratch. ]
Wait-- an army!? How many Hitachiins are there anyway!? An army won't fit in the bath!
[there's a shout of laughter at that. Oh, he is telling Hikaru later that Taichi wants to 'touch butts' with him. Not even touch Hikaru's butt. Touch butts.]
Our mother, our grandmother, and the pressing weight of history. Haven't I been quite clear about what you're getting yourself into? Hitachiin men are the least of your worries - technically there are only two, and you're dating one of them.
Yeah, but I'm not bathing with women or history! I'll learn the whole history and where the silverware goes, but I have to impress you first!
[ One step at a time, Kaoru!! He's grinning though, he's confident he will impress him today! It will be the most luxurious experience Kaoru has had since arriving here!!
If Kaoru hasn't figured it out, they're definitely heading toward the castle at this point. ]
Can't I just meet with them normally?! We can go in a swimming pool, but I definitely can't get naked in front of women!
[ Bathing involves getting naked. He's fine with meeting them and swimming with them normally! Taichi may be stuck in the idiot version of this conversation. ]
No, but I met a guy in the kitchens who can get us into one of the guest rooms, and they have big baths. We just have to get the guard to take us to the kitchen first, because the guard's not going to let us in if we tell them we want to take a dip.
[ That gets them some looks for sure. What are these two boys yelling about...
Taichi does slow down once they're almost there. ]
One of the kitchen chefs is named Dorisan-san and we're going to say that he came out with me the other night to a karaoke party, but left his very important [ Taichi digs through his pockets fast and pulls out.. a sword pen he bought earlier! ] S-Sword pen! It was a gift from their little sister who went on a long journey to see a man who lives in the woods, so it's very important we see it returned personally.
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Backdated to guess when?
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Ruined my whole life because it's been a month since he told me Prismatica probably made him gay instead of having feelings for me when I tried to talk to him about us almost kissing after I gave him the gloves and I am only human I can't wait that long without my soul leaving my body impatiently so at least he's decided to just step on it with Hitachiin-brand fashion heels.
Sorry I didn't invite you I didn't want to make you sneak behind his back again...
[ Not even emoji... he's just a mopey boy until the next morning. ]
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WILL DEAL W/U L8R.
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Taichi doesn't respond. He goes to bed way earlier than the twins so unless it's before around 8:30 that Kaoru gets back to him, it won't be until morning he sees if Kaoru texts him again... ]
After time passes...
So Taichi shows up sometime when he knows Hikaru is out specially for Kaoru. He has a plan! Sort of! Well, he has a plan A and a plan B. From outside the door he calls out: ]
Kaoru-san! It's Taichi!
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[there is... some trepidation, and Kaoru takes his time getting to the door, although Kicchi rushes ahead and pokes her face out of the door as soon as he opens it.
There have been no more flash mobs, so that's good? But today might be the day?]
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At the very least, all the products seem new and to be of good brands. Not rich people level, but Taichi finally got a steady role at a theater so he can afford better stuff now and as soon as he reached that level of better product, he came to Kaoru. At the very least, he's confident he's leveled up enough that he'll only get mild nose turning. (And it's still way better than what comes free with the inn rooms.) ]
Let's take a bath together to make up!
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[slowly, deliberately, and with a perfectly-timed headtilt to go along with it - counterpointed by Kicchi's excited, snuffly circuit about him, giving Taichi a thorough once-over.
All nine tails are wagging - it may just be an excited fox thing, or she may be making sure each one thumps against Taichi like an excited dog's]
I mean-- I do get it, Taichi-san, but we only have, like, a standard commoner-sized bathtub here. I mean, it's barely even deep enough to soak in...
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Oh, oh!! After about 2 seconds of thought, he has an idea! He sets the bucket down (not the towels, they shouldn't be dirty) so he can start petting Kicchi with equal excitement if Kicchi allows him to. If Taichi had a tail himself, it would be wagging. It doesn't last long because he stands up to reach for Kaoru's wrist to try to tug him to come with. ]
That's not a problem, come on!
[ The castle guest rooms had huge tubs! And he's pretty sure he knows how to sneak both of them in! ]
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[between being pulled by Taichi, and Kicchi - the traitor - rounding him up and nudging him from behind, there's not really any escape, though he holds onto the door frame just long enough to s-t-r-e-t-c-h back into the room and snag his key.
It would suck to let himself get locked out.]
Okay, I'm coming, sheesh--!
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Are you okay with running? We'll get there faster.
[ And it'll make it seem like it's more urgent, which will help sell the story Taichi's planning in his head, even if Kaoru's not an actor. It's better not to tell Kaoru so he doesn't get in his head about it or like.. blatantly reject his idea. It'll work. ]
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[Kicchi doing an excited little jump at his side - Kicchi loves running!]
I mean, sure? What's the hurry?
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[ Taichi is pretty sure he loves Kicchi already, she gets it!! The excitement!! Kicchi can come in the bath too. (Taichi's familiar doesn't run so he's not yet making an appearance.)
Also it's a little more complex than he's explaining, but at the very least, he won't need Kaoru to act with him once they get through the first guards. ]
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All right, fine, yes, blow me away with your acting skills.
[...Kicchi intends to join them, whether invited or not. Onsen culture or no onsen culture, someone has to defend Kaoru's modesty.]
Does Hikaru know you're trying to get me naked in a bath with you?
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[ Don't be mad at him!! He asked Hikaru if he wanted to act with him for fun! Because Taichi loves acting, of course he wanted to share it. It's entirely possible that Hikaru was just trying to be nice to Taichi or didn't want to do what he wanted to do, though. Taichi falls for his shit a lot.
He at least breaks into a run so they can get a head start toward the castle, since Kaoru doesn't know where they're going. Taichi doesn't actually run that fast, so regardless of how fast Kaoru runs, it'll be easy to keep up. ]
Does he need to? Autumn troupe takes baths together all the time, and there are 6 of us. It's about skinship, not.. you know! Which is why I can't bathe with Hikaru yet!
[ Because that would be Different. ]
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[this is starting to feel like a worse and worse idea by the minute, Taichi.
This is... also possibly not a conversation they should be having while running, with Kicchi bouncing along with them, but whatever. Kaoru is more than used to letting people come up with their own conclusions.]
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[ Taichi's having to yell to keep up while they're running too so he's clear. The reason is unclear. In his head it makes sense to be louder while you're running. ]
Italicise. Everything.
[it's absolutely necessary that they shout over their own thudding footsteps, the wind rushing past as they go. Even if strangers can hear them just fine.]
I mean, you know our family is as discerning, if not even more so, right? What if it were an army of Hitachiins?
[omg]
Wait, would you invite them all to the bath as well?!
There's a lot to emphasize right now
[ He was trying to be vague about that, but if Kaoru needs him to explicitly state that he feels the need to touch Hikaru's butt when he looks at him and not Kaoru, he'll say it. Before his brain kind of backtracks on this conversation, as if there's a record scratch. ]
Wait-- an army!? How many Hitachiins are there anyway!? An army won't fit in the bath!
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Our mother, our grandmother, and the pressing weight of history. Haven't I been quite clear about what you're getting yourself into? Hitachiin men are the least of your worries - technically there are only two, and you're dating one of them.
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[ One step at a time, Kaoru!! He's grinning though, he's confident he will impress him today! It will be the most luxurious experience Kaoru has had since arriving here!!
If Kaoru hasn't figured it out, they're definitely heading toward the castle at this point. ]
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...why are we going to the castle? Are we expecting company in the bath?
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[ Bathing involves getting naked. He's fine with meeting them and swimming with them normally! Taichi may be stuck in the idiot version of this conversation. ]
No, but I met a guy in the kitchens who can get us into one of the guest rooms, and they have big baths. We just have to get the guard to take us to the kitchen first, because the guard's not going to let us in if we tell them we want to take a dip.
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[because how Taichi approaches him speaks a great deal for how he will approach the rest of the family, of course of course.]
Right, right. And what's our reason for going into the kitchen? What's our cover story?
[have you thought this through, Taichi]
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[ That gets them some looks for sure. What are these two boys yelling about...
Taichi does slow down once they're almost there. ]
One of the kitchen chefs is named Dorisan-san and we're going to say that he came out with me the other night to a karaoke party, but left his very important [ Taichi digs through his pockets fast and pulls out.. a sword pen he bought earlier! ] S-Sword pen! It was a gift from their little sister who went on a long journey to see a man who lives in the woods, so it's very important we see it returned personally.