This is where the studio would play canned laughter, but unfortunately... there's no audience to appeal to. Momo turns to no one and nothing in particular, as if there are cameras around.
His poor hallway lamp sits there, a few feet away, as if to say 'you're on your own, buddy.' ]
Waah!? C, can you believe this, guys...?! Maya took the Momo route flag and broke it over her knee... My heart's in tatters!!!
[ Well. Okay. She'll stay right there, as instructed, sans some minor leaning against a wall because she can get away with looking tired when he's not there! She'll correct herself when she hears him coming back, anyway. ]
[ Momo's busy today, huh— up and down those stairs he goes again, agile and light on his feet. He flies up, floats down, and when he's back in front of Maya with his hands behind his back...
...he brandishes his surprise, as if it's something amazing instead of. You know.
Aah, it's not like that!! Don't make me have to worry about tomorrow's tabloid headlines!!
[ He nudges Maya with his foot, but it's all in good fun— he's laughing, because he's gone through this song and dance way too many times to count. ]
But, isn't he?! Michelangelo and da Vinci would probably faint if they ever met Yuki... don't look too deeply into his eyes, Maya! He might bewitch you!!
[ He waves the photo from side to side. ] ...His birthday's on Christmas Eve, so maybe the town wanted to make sure I don't forget. As if I would!
[ Maya smiles wryly, deciding against reassuring him that she's not easily bewitched-- because he probably understands that much by now.
More importantly, it feels like this is the first time she's seen Momo this genuinely happy, happy enough to at least temporarily forget how to type, and it makes her own smile soften. ]
... I'm really glad for you, Momo. You've been doing your best without him all this time, and I'm sure that was rough.
But a part of him came here, and that's great! I bet you'll be seeing him again, properly, in no time!
[ The photo is a reminder of what he's missing, a reminder that he's going to be spending a day that he wants to celebrate without the person he wants to celebrate. It makes him think of all the things he's missing, but beyond that— it gives him an excuse to gather his tapestry of happy memories and share them with the people he's come to care for here, in this strange monochromatic town.
Momo shifts the photo so that he's holding it in one hand, tucked neatly against his side. That leaves one hand open for him to emote with. ]
—Ahh, it's not about that right now, either. Sure, I miss him, and sure, it's been lonely without him.
But I didn't call you all the way over here for that! I already told you, I wanted to share my happy-s with you. [ He breaks into a slow smile, careful but genuine. ] I'm introducing you to Yuki-lite because I want Yuki-lite to see the great friend I made here!
[ Maya straightens up properly, offering the photo a bow in its direction. And, brightly-- ]
Nice to meet you, Yuki-san-lite! I'm Amano Maya, rising star of journalism! Your partner's kind of ridiculous and over-the-top, and I'm sure he needs someone to keep him in line, but I happen to be pretty bad at that myself and I like the way he is.
So all I can really do is stick by him and let Momo be himself until he can reunite with your counterpart one day.
[ Ah... he was going to try to playact 'Yuki-san-lite', but he can't muster the theatrics. He opens his mouth, closes it again, and whistles an exhale from the back of his throat. ]
Ahh... Maya...! You can't say stuff like that when old man Momo's already so emotional...!
[ This reminds him of being at his anniversary live all over again, with his cute juniors celebrating 5 whole years of Momo being Momo. "I like the way he is", huh?
Momo rarely cries for himself, but he cries when he's happy. It's easier to do that, nowadays. ]
Old age really loosens up those tear ducts...!! [ He's not lying, unfortunately. Here he is, water in his eyes and his grin splitting his face. ]
Maya can't help the surge of fondness that follows, though, reaching up slightly to pet his hair. She'd thought it was sweet of the town to give her more canned crab, though with that comes memories again-- of Ulala exasperatedly explaining how weird it was to Katsuya, of Katsuya struggling to be diplomatic about it, how at the time, Maya had finally felt like Tatsuya had stopped distancing himself from her...
And how things had been when she'd come here. How she'd realized what had to come next.
But that's a thought for another time and she merely smiles. ]
I can't believe the town beat me before I could even think of ideas for presents.
[ Maya's palm against his hair reminds Momo to stand back upright, and to reach sideways to put 'Yuki' back down on a flat surface. With that done, he can offer Maya a seat, a flop, or anything else, really— there are blankets on the floor of the living room, scattered around for ease of access as opposed to any semblance of neatness or organization. ]
I know!! But you gotta tell me what you would've given everyone for the holidays— color me curious. ☆
[ A coy tip of his head. ]
...Did you get anything from our mysterious Santa, though? I can't believe I didn't ask that right away!!
Canned crab... [ Momo narrows his eyes, as if he can't quite tell if Maya is joking or not, because??? Canned crab...??? ] —They're really tasty in salads, I guess!!
[ ok momo ]
But, aww, come on! I won't tell anyone, promise— what would Maya-Santa give to all her children?
If I had the time, the money, and way better shopping choices, I'd proooobably get you more nail polish. And everyone else would get something meaningful and important and Guren would get a nap and Wei Wuxian would get six tons of coal.
I told you I can't top a photo of Yuki-san! [ Gosh!!
But after a moment, Maya pauses, and then (maybe a bit unusual for her), she starts to turn red and buries her face in her palms. And, muffled: ]
I met him in that ice palace and he stripped naked and tried to run away while he was suffering from hypothermia so I had to tackle him and literally wrestle him back into his clothes.
[ This is where he starts, cheerfully parroting some of the key phrases from what he's being told. It's hard to digest all of this in one sitting, but it slowly trickles in; the blushing, the muffled syllables from tighly-packed fingers, Maya's exasperation.
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[ As she rests a hand on his shoulder, eyebrows furrowed and gaze serious and searching. ]
Because I am definitely sure that I never even started the Momo-chan route.
[ DON'T YOU FEEL REASSURED NOW, MOMO. ]
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This is where the studio would play canned laughter, but unfortunately... there's no audience to appeal to. Momo turns to no one and nothing in particular, as if there are cameras around.
His poor hallway lamp sits there, a few feet away, as if to say 'you're on your own, buddy.' ]
Waah!? C, can you believe this, guys...?! Maya took the Momo route flag and broke it over her knee... My heart's in tatters!!!
[ Clutching his chest... ]
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It's okay, I'd be a bad romancer anyway.
[ And not the fun Lady Gaga kind. ]
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[ ???
He recovers after that very-strange retort, and dusts himself off as if Maya actually did bodyslam him into the floorboards. ]
Stay right there! I'll be right back!
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[ Well. Okay. She'll stay right there, as instructed, sans some minor leaning against a wall because she can get away with looking tired when he's not there! She'll correct herself when she hears him coming back, anyway. ]
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...he brandishes his surprise, as if it's something amazing instead of. You know.
A framed photo of a dude. ]
—Ta-dah!! Say hi to my super-darling Yuki! ☆
[ Again, this is a grown-ass man holding a framed photo of another grown-ass man. ]
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[ Well. She doesn't swoon or fan her face or clutch at her chest, but at least now things make a lot more sense. ]
This is your partner boyfriend darling!
[ Yes. That. ]
Wow, he's unfairly gorgeous!
[ YES, THAT TOO. ]
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[ He nudges Maya with his foot, but it's all in good fun— he's laughing, because he's gone through this song and dance way too many times to count. ]
But, isn't he?! Michelangelo and da Vinci would probably faint if they ever met Yuki... don't look too deeply into his eyes, Maya! He might bewitch you!!
[ He waves the photo from side to side. ] ...His birthday's on Christmas Eve, so maybe the town wanted to make sure I don't forget. As if I would!
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More importantly, it feels like this is the first time she's seen Momo this genuinely happy, happy enough to at least temporarily forget how to type, and it makes her own smile soften. ]
... I'm really glad for you, Momo. You've been doing your best without him all this time, and I'm sure that was rough.
But a part of him came here, and that's great! I bet you'll be seeing him again, properly, in no time!
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Momo shifts the photo so that he's holding it in one hand, tucked neatly against his side. That leaves one hand open for him to emote with. ]
—Ahh, it's not about that right now, either. Sure, I miss him, and sure, it's been lonely without him.
But I didn't call you all the way over here for that! I already told you, I wanted to share my happy-s with you. [ He breaks into a slow smile, careful but genuine. ] I'm introducing you to Yuki-lite because I want Yuki-lite to see the great friend I made here!
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[ Maya straightens up properly, offering the photo a bow in its direction. And, brightly-- ]
Nice to meet you, Yuki-san-lite! I'm Amano Maya, rising star of journalism! Your partner's kind of ridiculous and over-the-top, and I'm sure he needs someone to keep him in line, but I happen to be pretty bad at that myself and I like the way he is.
So all I can really do is stick by him and let Momo be himself until he can reunite with your counterpart one day.
Failure not an option!
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Ahh... Maya...! You can't say stuff like that when old man Momo's already so emotional...!
[ This reminds him of being at his anniversary live all over again, with his cute juniors celebrating 5 whole years of Momo being Momo. "I like the way he is", huh?
Momo rarely cries for himself, but he cries when he's happy. It's easier to do that, nowadays. ]
Old age really loosens up those tear ducts...!! [ He's not lying, unfortunately. Here he is, water in his eyes and his grin splitting his face. ]
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Good tears, though? She'll accept that. ]
It's fine! Yuki-san-lite and I won't be telling anyone.
[ Obviously. ]
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[ A sniff, and Momo's leaning in for a headbutt to Maya's shoulder. ]
...Mm, I'm really happy right now, you know. [ He breathes a chuckle, head bowed in quiet reverence. ] Christmas came early this year.
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Maya can't help the surge of fondness that follows, though, reaching up slightly to pet his hair. She'd thought it was sweet of the town to give her more canned crab, though with that comes memories again-- of Ulala exasperatedly explaining how weird it was to Katsuya, of Katsuya struggling to be diplomatic about it, how at the time, Maya had finally felt like Tatsuya had stopped distancing himself from her...
And how things had been when she'd come here. How she'd realized what had to come next.
But that's a thought for another time and she merely smiles. ]
I can't believe the town beat me before I could even think of ideas for presents.
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I know!! But you gotta tell me what you would've given everyone for the holidays— color me curious. ☆
[ A coy tip of his head. ]
...Did you get anything from our mysterious Santa, though? I can't believe I didn't ask that right away!!
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It's fine, you were having an emotional meltdown.
[ She... at least says it fondly?? ]
But it's nothing too exciting on my end. Just a box of canned crab.
[ Ah, memories. ]
... I'm not telling you about any ideas I have, though. Just in case I still have to do something.
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[ ok momo ]
But, aww, come on! I won't tell anyone, promise— what would Maya-Santa give to all her children?
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Do you want the fun answer or the truthful answer?
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—Both! In whichever order you want.
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[ Maya is still recovering. ]
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But after a moment, Maya pauses, and then (maybe a bit unusual for her), she starts to turn red and buries her face in her palms. And, muffled: ]
I met him in that ice palace and he stripped naked and tried to run away while he was suffering from hypothermia so I had to tackle him and literally wrestle him back into his clothes.
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[ This is where he starts, cheerfully parroting some of the key phrases from what he's being told. It's hard to digest all of this in one sitting, but it slowly trickles in; the blushing, the muffled syllables from tighly-packed fingers, Maya's exasperation.
When it hits, it.
Hits. ]
—You naked wrestled a guy in a castle?!
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