[ And, well. Once Maya tells him where to go, he's making good on his promise— it doesn't take him more than a few minutes, given that they're both in the same district. Convenient!
Easy strides take him to Maya's front door. He taps an upbeat rhythm against the wood. ]
—Hey, hey! Special delivery for Maya, did you order a Momo today?
[ and as Maya opens the door, Momo might quickly realize that she's been knee-deep in some kind of handicrafts... thing. There's thread and stray bits of fabric clinging to her, but she's smiling as strongly as ever, so there's probably nothing to worry about. ]
[ Ah yes, the patented Maya Smile. Momo mirrors it with a grin of his own, but it fades a little to make way for curiosity when he notices that Maya looks like she's taken a dive into a crafts bin.
Thanks, he says as he makes his way inside, and follows it up with: ]
Hope I'm not interrupting something important...! Haha, you've got a piece of string in your hair.
[ A light chuckle, and he's flicking the offending strand off of Maya's bangs. ]
[ Maya misses this obviously shoujo moment in favor of laughing, just embarrassed enough to realize she maybe should have dusted herself off first, but not embarrassed enough to be flustered by it. ]
Ah, thanks-- I was working on a sewing project, but I ran out of buttons, so you're not interrupting anything at all!
[ Indeed, there are some rather small lumpy shapes over by the couch, but Maya's leading him over there anyway. ]
So what color are you having me touch you up with today?
Right, the buttons! I only had 2 extras, but they're all yours.
[ They're the gold buttons that were on the skirt portion of his Halloween 'costume'... but a button is a button!!!
He meanders over to the couch and leans forward, palms on his knees to see the cute lumps better. ]
—I have Momo-chan's signature red polish! I found it in my room last month, randomly. [ A gift from the town, maybe? He pulls the bottle from his pocket. ]
Red nail polish is your staple? I guess that's something we have in common.
[ Except Maya really only applied it out of routine, and she is certainly not wearing nail polish at this point. Still, she holds her hand out for the bottle.
As for the lumps, they turn out to be the beginnings of little plush animals! A bunny, a dog, a cat, a turtle... it's not expert craftsmanship by any means, but Maya's not gunning for that. ]
Haha, really? I'd offer to do your nails after you do mine, but I guess you're busy making these super-cute little guys...!
[ He hands Maya the bottle, and then settles on the floor dutifully next to the mini menagerie. His eyes narrow in vague fondness, before he's reaching with curled fingers for the bunny.
Manners dictate that he ask before he touches, so he tips his head in silent questioning. May I? ]
I'd hate to mess up a paint job of yours so quickly.
[ He's not wrong. But as he reaches out and inclines his head just slightly to ask-- Maya nods, just as silently, and settles herself across from him. They're not particularly fragile. ]
[ !! Once he's granted permission, he scoops up the plush rabbit and holds it over his own face. Maneuvers its arms to wiggle them in a wave, side to side and front to back.
In a high-pitched voice: ]
Hi, Maya-chan! I'm Pyonkichi— thanks for making me a super-ikemen rabbit!
[ This is probably about the time any other adult would ask why a grown-ass man is speaking for a shoddily-made plush in falsetto, but this is Maya, who made said plush in the first place and is also the person who breaks into the pharmacy theme song whenever she's in the store.
This is just par for the course. ]
Aww, you're welcome! I have to hop to it and help your ikemen friend Momo-chan for a little while, though, so I hope you'll be okay waiting for me!
[ And then, in his normal voice, as he sets the bunny down: ]
Oh, you flatterer!♪ [ Ah. At least he's holding his hands out, still and poised as if he's done this a hundred times. ] Pyonkichi's a good buddy, so he can wait...! I'm all yours. ☆
You would be good buddies with someone after only one meeting. I'm kind of impressed.
[ Ulala's the more makeup and fashion-savvy one here, but Maya's at least capable of this much and even hums a little, cheerfully, as she twists the lid off the nail polish bottle and slides one hand under Momo's to steady it. Painting time!
Carefully. ]
But this place has really made me appreciate colors. Especially the bright ones.
[ For someone who looks like he couldn't sit still for more than small pockets of time, Momo is surprisingly well-behaved. Posture relaxed but straight, legs folded. ]
—Yeah, I definitely get that. Seeing everything in black and white makes you feel a little low, doesn't it? [ A half-sigh, even if he doesn't look upset at all. ] I miss bright greens! Blue-blue skies! Turquoise water!
[ ... Wow. As expected of a professional. Thanks for making her job easier, Momo!!
Maya settles into it, concentrating just enough, but still able to converse. ]
Mm, I do too. But I think that's kind of the best motivation there is... remembering bright colors and wanting to show this town what it's like. And besides, a certain someone's got a black and white color scheme going on with his hair and it doesn't make me feel gloomy at all!
[ A second to blink his surprise out of his eyes, and Momo breaks into a grin. ]
Ahh, what's going on with you today?! You're being so smooth!! [ He'd headbutt her with said two-toned hair if she wasn't currently busy doing him a favor. No squirming, on his end. ] What's black and white and red all over...!! The answer is Momo-chan when Maya says something nice about him...!!
[ Defeated so easily at his own game...! Momo groans under his breath, stewing over his teaspoon of embarrassment and tablespoon of amusement. ]
It did!!! You have to warn me before you do something like that, so I can calm myself and hit you with a cool response, too...!! My heart nearly stopped!!
[ Maya blinks, then glances over at the animals. For just a second, something darkens her eyes, a glimpse of sorrow-- but then she smiles. Maybe not as strongly, but still. ]
I said goodbye to an old friend and it kind of made me nostalgic, so I thought I'd try a fresh start.
[ There it is, that blink-and-you'll-miss-it waver. Momo identifies it for what it is because he does the exact same thing when certain topics are broached; he doesn't call attention to it yet, because he's capable of treading lightly when he needs to.
This is a good time for him to hold out his hand, and to let Maya do a second coat. This time, he cheats a little: his pinky curls just enough that it semi-wraps along one of Maya's fingers.
(it's okay.) ]
Ah... it's always more fun to say "hello" than "goodbye".
[ Subtle. Honestly, it's a subtlety that surprises her, because the Momo she's been interacting with is loud and cheerful, harmlessly flirtatious. And this could also be harmless flirting, but much in the way that Momo seems to have realized that this was a painful topic, Maya realizes that it's a comforting gesture instead.
Something like support, and after a few seconds, she chooses not to comment on it and lets her finger bend towards his a little more while she works on the second coat. ]
I wouldn't call it bad. I think it was something I should have done a long time ago.
[ Back when it had first returned to her. Back when she wished it could have protected the one person who had been the biggest part of her world, when it was a tiny weight in her hands that could never replace the growing hole inside of her. ]
But we'll never meet again. I wasn't the one he needed to be with, in the end.
[ Momo's missing context. For one, he doesn't know that Maya is talking about a bunny— she really could be talking about a person, for all he knows. But if what she's making as replacements are stuffed animals, he figures that she had to let go of something, not someone.
Not that that miraculously makes things any better. Even worse is the reality that his hands are metaphorically tied; he can't do anything tactile with wet polish settling on his nails. Frustrating. ]
You think so?
[ A low hum. He doesn't want to assume, but he doesn't want to stay silent, either. ]
Even if you two can't be together anymore, I hope he remembers all the things about you that made him smile.
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[ And, well. Once Maya tells him where to go, he's making good on his promise— it doesn't take him more than a few minutes, given that they're both in the same district. Convenient!
Easy strides take him to Maya's front door. He taps an upbeat rhythm against the wood. ]
—Hey, hey! Special delivery for Maya, did you order a Momo today?
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[ and as Maya opens the door, Momo might quickly realize that she's been knee-deep in some kind of handicrafts... thing. There's thread and stray bits of fabric clinging to her, but she's smiling as strongly as ever, so there's probably nothing to worry about. ]
Here, come in.
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Thanks, he says as he makes his way inside, and follows it up with: ]
Hope I'm not interrupting something important...! Haha, you've got a piece of string in your hair.
[ A light chuckle, and he's flicking the offending strand off of Maya's bangs. ]
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Ah, thanks-- I was working on a sewing project, but I ran out of buttons, so you're not interrupting anything at all!
[ Indeed, there are some rather small lumpy shapes over by the couch, but Maya's leading him over there anyway. ]
So what color are you having me touch you up with today?
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[ They're the gold buttons that were on the skirt portion of his Halloween 'costume'... but a button is a button!!!
He meanders over to the couch and leans forward, palms on his knees to see the cute lumps better. ]
—I have Momo-chan's signature red polish! I found it in my room last month, randomly. [ A gift from the town, maybe? He pulls the bottle from his pocket. ]
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[ Except Maya really only applied it out of routine, and she is certainly not wearing nail polish at this point. Still, she holds her hand out for the bottle.
As for the lumps, they turn out to be the beginnings of little plush animals! A bunny, a dog, a cat, a turtle... it's not expert craftsmanship by any means, but Maya's not gunning for that. ]
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[ He hands Maya the bottle, and then settles on the floor dutifully next to the mini menagerie. His eyes narrow in vague fondness, before he's reaching with curled fingers for the bunny.
Manners dictate that he ask before he touches, so he tips his head in silent questioning. May I? ]
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[ He's not wrong. But as he reaches out and inclines his head just slightly to ask-- Maya nods, just as silently, and settles herself across from him. They're not particularly fragile. ]
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In a high-pitched voice: ]
Hi, Maya-chan! I'm Pyonkichi— thanks for making me a super-ikemen rabbit!
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This is just par for the course. ]
Aww, you're welcome! I have to hop to it and help your ikemen friend Momo-chan for a little while, though, so I hope you'll be okay waiting for me!
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Oh, you flatterer!♪
[ And then, in his normal voice, as he sets the bunny down: ]
Oh, you flatterer!♪ [ Ah. At least he's holding his hands out, still and poised as if he's done this a hundred times. ] Pyonkichi's a good buddy, so he can wait...! I'm all yours. ☆
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[ Ulala's the more makeup and fashion-savvy one here, but Maya's at least capable of this much and even hums a little, cheerfully, as she twists the lid off the nail polish bottle and slides one hand under Momo's to steady it. Painting time!
Carefully. ]
But this place has really made me appreciate colors. Especially the bright ones.
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—Yeah, I definitely get that. Seeing everything in black and white makes you feel a little low, doesn't it? [ A half-sigh, even if he doesn't look upset at all. ] I miss bright greens! Blue-blue skies! Turquoise water!
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Maya settles into it, concentrating just enough, but still able to converse. ]
Mm, I do too. But I think that's kind of the best motivation there is... remembering bright colors and wanting to show this town what it's like. And besides, a certain someone's got a black and white color scheme going on with his hair and it doesn't make me feel gloomy at all!
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Ahh, what's going on with you today?! You're being so smooth!! [ He'd headbutt her with said two-toned hair if she wasn't currently busy doing him a favor. No squirming, on his end. ] What's black and white and red all over...!! The answer is Momo-chan when Maya says something nice about him...!!
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[ why is Momo so Momo, we just don't know. She's still grinning, quietly amused as she shifts over to his other hand. ]
Did that make your heart flutter, Momo? I'm pretty smooth when I want to be!
[ Maya, no. You weren't trying. Stop. ]
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It did!!! You have to warn me before you do something like that, so I can calm myself and hit you with a cool response, too...!! My heart nearly stopped!!
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[ Right up there with "get involved with stopping cults" and "cause many a shenanigan." ]
You'll just have to train for the unexpected!
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[ Weak. He brandishes the hand Maya finished with the first coat of nail polish, blowing over his red-tipped nails with a few puffs. ]
Or maybe you should keep going, so I can get stronger and build resilience ☆
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[ And second hand done, but she's going to wait a minute for his nails to dry before Round Two. ]
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[ A hum, and he blows on his nails again. ]
—What are the cute animals for, by the way? Gonna have a tea party, later?
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[ Maya blinks, then glances over at the animals. For just a second, something darkens her eyes, a glimpse of sorrow-- but then she smiles. Maybe not as strongly, but still. ]
I said goodbye to an old friend and it kind of made me nostalgic, so I thought I'd try a fresh start.
[ the abridged version. ]
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This is a good time for him to hold out his hand, and to let Maya do a second coat. This time, he cheats a little: his pinky curls just enough that it semi-wraps along one of Maya's fingers.
(it's okay.) ]
Ah... it's always more fun to say "hello" than "goodbye".
—Was it a bad goodbye?
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Something like support, and after a few seconds, she chooses not to comment on it and lets her finger bend towards his a little more while she works on the second coat. ]
I wouldn't call it bad. I think it was something I should have done a long time ago.
[ Back when it had first returned to her. Back when she wished it could have protected the one person who had been the biggest part of her world, when it was a tiny weight in her hands that could never replace the growing hole inside of her. ]
But we'll never meet again. I wasn't the one he needed to be with, in the end.
[ This is still a bunny and not a bad break-up. ]
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Not that that miraculously makes things any better. Even worse is the reality that his hands are metaphorically tied; he can't do anything tactile with wet polish settling on his nails. Frustrating. ]
You think so?
[ A low hum. He doesn't want to assume, but he doesn't want to stay silent, either. ]
Even if you two can't be together anymore, I hope he remembers all the things about you that made him smile.
[ And vice versa. ]
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