( There's a fluttering in his own chest at the response, and the way Kaede's looking at him โ he knows the subtle tells of her expressions by now, at least most of them, he thinks. He used to be reminded of Migi with her cool surface calm, that detachment that keeps her apart from things and people, and back when he'd first known her maybe he tried to respect it in the same kinds of ways (and maybe it unsettled him for awhile, because it reminded him of Migi), but... it's different now. He knows she's not like that. Not something alien, looking at humans through some clear lens. Not someone to treat clinically. She's not anything like Migi. She's... someone he can only ever imagine being so soft to; that's all he'd ever want to be with her. As soft as he possibly can, gentle and comfortable and warm. He's still learning her, but there are ways he knows her, too. The same as she knows him after all this time, after everything they've been through together. He can see that little bit of lightness there, no matter how subtle it may be. He's felt it before.
And it fuels him, makes the waves of his own shyness and even the lingering nerves feel less sweeping, more like pleasant little ripples in his stomach. He wants to make her happy, and he's smiling wider, perking up. She wants to go with him.....! He's excited... )
Okay...! We can go together.
( Gloved hands reach for the thick line of rope connected to the thing and he's pausing for a moment, thinking about it... Should she sit in front or back...? Clearly, he's never done this with two people before. In the movies, it seems like the girl is always in the front, but... what if they go over a bump or something and his weight hurts her from behind...? (He has literally seen Kaede kill a man and yet Shinichi is worried about her being squishy, okay....) )
I can sit in the front. That way I won't squash you.
( He gives a soft laugh, moving to sit on the wood with his knees bent. Of course, that flush to his cheeks is only growing as he realises it means Kaede will be behind him.... and he's sure she'd think to hold on, but he needs to clarify just how tightly.... If this were anyone else, he might be in danger of sounding cringey or smooth or flirtatious or a number of things, but judging by how red the tips of his ears are... it comes out sounding considerably uncool. )
Ahโ you should probably hold onto me pretty tight. So you don't fall off....
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And it fuels him, makes the waves of his own shyness and even the lingering nerves feel less sweeping, more like pleasant little ripples in his stomach. He wants to make her happy, and he's smiling wider, perking up. She wants to go with him.....! He's excited... )
Okay...! We can go together.
( Gloved hands reach for the thick line of rope connected to the thing and he's pausing for a moment, thinking about it... Should she sit in front or back...? Clearly, he's never done this with two people before. In the movies, it seems like the girl is always in the front, but... what if they go over a bump or something and his weight hurts her from behind...? (He has literally seen Kaede kill a man and yet Shinichi is worried about her being squishy, okay....) )
I can sit in the front. That way I won't squash you.
( He gives a soft laugh, moving to sit on the wood with his knees bent. Of course, that flush to his cheeks is only growing as he realises it means Kaede will be behind him.... and he's sure she'd think to hold on, but he needs to clarify just how tightly.... If this were anyone else, he might be in danger of sounding cringey or smooth or flirtatious or a number of things, but judging by how red the tips of his ears are... it comes out sounding considerably uncool. )
Ahโ you should probably hold onto me pretty tight. So you don't fall off....