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[ He won't be able to see the way Susato suddenly straightens, alert, but after a moment, she does scramble to reply: ]

No need for violence. His breathing and heartbeat seem to be stable, and I'd like them to remain that way. This apparently can happen on occasion in our world of dreams.

If you'd like to come see for yourself, however, I'll allow it.

[How can something like that just ‘happen’? Ryunosuke thinks about pressing her further through the journal system, but reconsiders just as quickly. If she’s inviting him up… Better to just talk about it face to face.]

Alright. I’ll be there in just a few minutes.

[And true to his word, he arrives within the next 10 minutes or so; he doesn’t explain to anyone else at the restaurant what is going exactly, sharing Susato’s sentiment that it would be better not to panic anyone. He just says he needs to go help her with something, and that he’ll be right back. Whether or not his white lie is actually convincing is another matter…

Anyway. He lets himself into the house, announcing his arrival in case she misses the sound of the door opening.]

Susato-san? It’s me, Naruhodo… [As if she wouldn’t know.] Where are you?

[The bedroom, he assumes, but he doesn’t want to just go barging in until she gives the OK. Once she does though, he’ll just head up without any further delay.]

Edited 2023-03-11 21:38 (UTC)

Over here, Mr Naruhodo.

[ Susato's voice calls, and indeed, it is coming from their bedroom. He will find that the door is cracked open, and when he enters, he will be greeted with a piece of what feels like their own little sanctuary. At the center of it all is a sakura bonsai tree, and a single potted yellow lily. In the back corner of the room, there's a reading nook: shelves full of books from the Tree of Stories, as well as two comfortable chairs (on the rare occasion that they finally have time to read together).

On the bed is all manner of stuffed animals, including the takonyaki he is already familiar with, a black rabbit, and another rabbit that looks suspiciously like Mr Sholmes.

And there, sleeping peacefully, is Kazuma himself. His chest still moves up and down with every breath, and Susato clings to that fact. When she sees Ryunosuke, she lets go of Kazuma's hand and moves to greet him. ]

Edited 2023-03-12 02:00 (UTC)

[Depending on how troubled or upset she looks, he'll open his arms to offer a comforting hug when she approaches, should she want it. But otherwise, he's staring across the room at his best friend, his brow furrowed in concern.]

He really is just... Asleep, isn't he? [He spares Susato a questioning glance.] And you said this just happens sometimes...?

[Details would be appreciated, if she has them.]

[ Honestly, their luck would dictate that Kazuma would wake up and see the exact moment they hugged, and things would end up exactly like last time or worse. That said, she does appreciate the gesture, and though she is not as terribly upset as one might think, she still snakes her arms around him in a quick hug.

Then, as she turns her attention back on Kazuma, she nods, still lingering closely enough that she can feel the warmth coming off Ryunosuke. ]

Yes... Sometimes it lasts a whole month. I can think of at least two who've suffered it. [ Then she approaches their bed. She runs a hand along Kazuma's arm affectionately before she tugs the blankets up a little further. ] Whatever dream he is having, I hope it is a pleasant one.

[...That WOULD be their luck, wouldn't it. Although at the moment, it seems like maybe Ryunosuke would accept the fallout from that gladly, if it meant that Kazuma would at least stir. He's clearly very alarmed by the timespan Susato tells him, and doesn't bother trying to keep his voice to a whisper:]

A month!? Surely you're not serious--!? I mean, how...?

[He himself had gone down for quite a while after his accidental walk through Van Zieks' one dream, but... An entire month? And entirely unprompted?

Ryunosuke's shoulders sag, then he walks a little closer to the bed, shaking his head worriedly.]

Kazuma... Good grief. What-- [...] Ugh. You really ought to leave the oversleeping to me...

[He almost says:'what are we supposed to do without you', but... That hits a little too close to some painful memories.

Maybe that's why this is really disturbing to him, beyond the expected reason of just... Being bummed that his best friend is in some kind of dream coma.]

Now, don't you go getting any ideas, Mr Naruhodo. I can't have you both asleep!

[ Princess and the Frog was enough, she doesn't want to have to act out Sleeping Beauty, too. That said, she can see how worried he is. The situation does already hit a little close to home, even without him saying that, but her tone is playful nonetheless, trying to keep their spirits up. ]

I will need your help to keep the Harvest running smoothly until he wakes.

...Hopefully it is before his birthday...

[He gives her a small, grateful smile at her attempt to raise the mood. It's enough to inspire him to at least shake off the melancholy a bit, even if the idea of Kazuma missing his birthday due to this is a bit depressing.]

...Are you completely sure you don't want me to try slapping him awake?

[He says it with the cadence of a joke, and it is one? But also he's like, 99% sure Kazuma would try that on him in a heartbeat if their roles were reversed.]

[ ......Yeah, that's true. She could see that easily, which is the only reason she seems to waver a bit. She does take it as a bit of a joke, and her lips twitch appropriately as if she's ready to laugh off the idea, though there's a part of her that wonders: what if it works? ]

Well, if anyone would be able to wake him in such a manner, it would be you.

[ ......It's not a no... How badly does Ryunosuke want to try that? ]

[That's...! A rather startling display of confidence. He blinks at her a few times owlishly, like he was expecting a more scolding reaction. Then he looks back down at his sleepy sleepy friend for another long moment, one corner of his mouth twitching wryly.]

...Susato-san? I... I don't think I have it in me, to actually slap him like that.

[He sounds almost apologetic about it. So you ask: how badly does he want to try it? APPARENTLY, not very badly at all! But can you really blame him? Just LOOK at Kazuma... Snoozing all peaceful like, his expression gentle and totally devoid of his usual resting bitch face. Awww.

Ryunosuke feels fairly certain it likely wouldn't work, anyway.]

[ To be fair, he likely would have gotten a scolding if he actually tried it. Since he has decided against it, however, Susato actually seems a little relieved. Unfortunately, this still does not solve the problem, but she seems to be taking comfort in the fact that he is safe and she can watch over him. ]

Well, thank you. I'm sure he appreciates that.

[ She sighs. ]

...Actually, I could use a second opinion on his gift, while you are here. If you'd like to see it?

A second opinion?

[He frowns curiously. If it's some kind of garment or fashion statement of some kind, he might be out of his depth... But it's also not in his nature to turn Susato down when she asks for assistance, so.]

Well, alright. I don't know if I'll be of much help, but I'd love to see it regardless.

Edited (i shouldn't write tags half asleep) 2023-03-26 01:42 (UTC)

Well...

[ Regardless of what Ryunosuke thinks, perhaps she just wants a fresh pair of eyes on it. She lingers for a moment, eyes on Kazuma like she's wondering if he's going to pop awake again suddenly; but just as Ryunosuke might think she's hesitating, she decisively leads him to one of their bookcases that make up their reading nook.

She carefully removes some of the books, setting them aside in a neat stack...

...and then pulls out a familiar-looking plushie. The cat(zuma) bears an obvious likeness to Kazuma's Halloween transformation in the dollhouse. Susato has meticulously tried to replicate it, including the ponytail, though it lacks a mask. It is imperfect in some ways: some seams that are a little loose, and she wonders if the ponytail appears too long. With a little dreamotion, however, she notes that at least his eyes aren't crooked anymore.

She may have fixed some other things along the way, too. It was certainly a labor of love. She shakes the plush in her hand affectionately, then offers it to Ryunosuke to hold. ]

Oh my goodness...

[Ryunosuke takes it, blinking in wonderment. He certainly doesn't seem to notice any imperfections... Really, he just looks impressed.]

You made this yourself? From scratch?

[He really shouldn't sound so surprised. It's not like there isn't precedent; he knows Susato is pretty handy with a needle and thread, after all.

He takes a moment to rotate the plushie slightly and admire all of her handiwork, but he looks particularly delighted when he lifts one of the toys paws to examine and, yes... The most PERFECT LITTLE PAW BEANS...

He is a grown man. He's pretty sure he shouldn't be cooing over a doll. But even so, his eyes go a bit sparkly for a moment, looking at those paws. The whole thing is just... So cute.

Inspection complete, Ryunosuke lets out a little huff through his nose, like he's about to say something very important. He balances the toy in one hand, the other hand squishing down slightly on its soft little head.]

...I have no idea what you could possibly need my opinion on. He's already absolutely perfect in every way. An improvement on the real thing, even... This version seems much more cuddly.

[ The paw beans are important, it's true... Susato grins, stopping just short of a laugh. The real thing... Well, she would probably beg to differ. She finds him quite cuddly, but if they think about it, really think about it, there is probably a reason the carnival dollhouse turned him into a cat, of all things.

She wonders if that means she has some qualities of a rabbit, then, and Ryunosuke a mouse—but she forgoes thinking on that too deeply. ]

G, Good! I am glad to hear it. I just wasn't sure if...

[ if it's good enough? But she decides not to invite the objection and just accept the praise. ]

...Anyway, if you like it, then... then I have a surprise for you, too.

[ When she reaches behind the books a second time through the gap she's created, however (apparently she's been hiding whatever it is back there, too)—she freezes. ]

Hmm?

[He's about to question her on that. A surprise for him? But his birthday isn't even until July...!

Something else has caught her attention though, apparently, so now he's distracted too.]

...Susato-san? Is everything alright...?

[While saying so, he straightens up a bit, trying to peer around her and see what it is that's got her so curious.]

[ It's odd. She lingers there for a moment without answering him, then pulls her hand out to peer her head through the gap to see if she can find out what's unusual. There's just that familiar shade of blue, as she expected.

She frowns. ]

No... I'm sorry, I thought I felt a strange wind coming in through from behind the shelves.

[ Almost like...?

She'd rather not think about Kazuma keeping more secrets, so she just shakes her head. ]

...Um, here.

[ She reaches into the gap one final time and pulls out another plush doll made with equal care, and just as soft to the touch. Most notably, the Karuma is missing from both plush dolls, but perhaps she plans to do something about that... ]

[He'd maybe be more insistent about her suspicions, but... Something tells him that it isn't his place to be nosy about that right now.

Besides, Susato is handing him another doll, and seeing it he lights up with surprise and delight and... Slight confusion, but only slight.]

It's... A mouse?

[Yes. That much is obvious enough. This must be based on his appearance while he was in the doll house... Which in turn must have been based on the little felted toy that Iris made for him, to go with his suit. But it's still sort of strange to see when he hasn't seen that toy in a while, and he really never got THAT good of a look at himself while transformed.

The huge ears certainly are familiar though; Ryunosuke gives them a little flip, waggling one between thumb and forefinger. He can remember seeing these sticking into his peripheral vision...]

Is this... Really what I looked like while I was changed? [He breaks into smile, chuckling lightly.] I had no idea I was this adorable...

[ By now, Susato recognizes that look of confusion on him (though it is missing the wide, terrified eyes this time). She is a touch concerned; perhaps he is offended by this representation of him, but, well—he would have to blame this dream world.

She breaths out a sigh and smiles softly when she looks satisfied. There is a nod, both to agree with him and to answer the question. ]

It is easy to say that now that we are back in human form, I suppose... but yes, you were.

[ She grins, allowing the compliment to sink in for a moment before continuing. ]

I have been hiding both of them here until I'm able to give Kazuma his, but now is a good a time as any for you to take yours. I figure he can have a space next to your daruma doll.

[ The mouse in one hand, and the cuddly cat in another... They do look cute together, she must admit. When Ryunosuke sees them next to each other, he may notice his mousey form is a little rougher around the edges than the cat, simply because his was made first. ]

[It's not egotistical if he calls himself cute when he's talking about a form that looks nothing like his regular self and that he will probably never even take again, right? RIGHT?

...If Ryunosuke notices a difference in quality between them, he certainly doesn't indicate it. Which... Probably means he hasn't, because it would show if he did 8/]

You've read my mind again; that's precisely where I was just thinking I might keep it.

[ Ah... It's nice to know she's still got the ability. It really is the same old Ryunosuke, even after all this time, and after they'd been separated for months. She grins, figuring she'll allow him to be egotistical just this once. (Especially since she encouraged it.) ]

Make sure to keep the dust off him. I will come over to make sure, when I have the chance.

In the meantime, may I put Catzuma back in his hiding spot?

[He lets out a small, surprised chuckle.]

Catzuma, huh? Yes, of course. Here you are...

[He hands it back over to her, his now empty hand moving to rest musingly on his chin, the little mouse version of himself tucked under his other arm.]

...That's very charming pun. Although personally, I would have gone with something cat related that better echoes the 'ah' sound in his name. Like... 'Claw', maybe? Clawzuma. [...] Clawzuma Nyasogi.

[ . . . At her core, she still prefers Catzuma, though she seems to be giving it careful consideration anyway, if only playfully. She takes the cat and places it back in its hiding spot. Following that, she replaces the books, and it looks like the gap was never there.

The strange sensation she felt is forgotten. ]

Nyasogi... I like it! Perhaps we can simply leave it to him to decide.

[ inb4 neither ]

[Now he's gonna read your mind.]

Why do I have this sense that it's going to be a terse 'neither'...?

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