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[ The first time he had met Lili had been around the shopping district, the second time...had been at the school -- he figured the accessory shop was an easier place to look for Lili instead of the post cultural festival school grounds. The shop bell does its usual little ring when he enters, Mikazuki not having to look too terribly hard to find the dark haired girl. ]

Lili! [ A+ for effort for managing to resist squishing her cheeks like he had wanted to. He's been so touchy feely lately...now is really no different except for the fact he restrains himself because Lili strikes him as the type to slap his hands and scold him for it! ] Aha, sorry to come over during work but I think you're the best person to answer my question...do you mind?

[Touch her and die-

Except not... really. Not lately. Lately Lili hasn't flinched nearly as strongly when someone that she knows touches her, even though that's something that she finds... odd, it's not enough to register to her. Not when she sincerely doesn't mind it. Could it be that she's actually adjusting to... people?

(Haha, as if.)

Rather, she's admiring some set of diamonds in front of her, looking up when she hears her name.]

Oh, it's you. [Though she already feels a little better, hearing that she could be the best person for.... anything! How nice to hear....] What is it?

[ He'll return her comment with a small yet happy wave of his hand. When he had this concern bubbling in the back of his mind, Mikazuki knew that Lili was the only one he could ask! So far, she's shown herself to be a very straightforward person. She's not someone who would try and sugarcoat things for an old man like him...at least that's what he thinks. ]

Forgive me, I'm not sure how to word this and it's quite the loaded question. [ nod, nod ] Lately I've been worrying about others. As if...if I don't see them in front of me and I'm not able to hold them then I'll never see them again.

Aha, what's strange is that things like that never bothered me before too much. It happens...people die, swords break. [ He's all very used to it so it's strange to him that he's suddenly not anymore??? ] What I wish you can enlighten me on is -- how would you deal with something like that? I'm not very good at understanding human emotions like this yet, aha.

[Well, he's right. Lili wouldn't know how to sugarcoat things if she tried and there's no denying that that's a loaded question. The surprise is clear on her face as her very first question is:]

Why me?

[Ah... Too open as always, Lili.

. . . That said. She's not going to hesitate with her answer afterward either. It's an ungraceful answer and she doesn't really know how to mark her words well, but she's going to try.]

Doesn't that mean you should treasure them more? If you want to hold them - ... well, you should ask first if you can hold them. But if they truly mean that much to you, then it's important to let them know. [Though that maybe the fact that just lately she's been seeking that validation, that confirmation more herself. But it's not.... selfish, is it?] While you still have them.

[And her expression may grow a bit dim by the end - Yona left the colony not too long ago, after all. Lili is still trying to figure out how to deal with this loss of her most important person as well.]

Several reasons. [ Of which he can go into later, going silent to listen intently to the answer. He's not sure what he was expecting but Lili's answer seems...right. The answer begs another question however, Mikazuki is ever the curious sword. ]

What exactly should I say to let someone know they're important to me? Deep things like that are a bit...strange for me. [ Ever since that Mirror Room™ though, he's been trying to understand how all of these human emotions are supposed to work. His fingertips flinch upon seeing her darkened expression, wholly unsure but he moves to very gently pat her hand in what he hopes is comforting. ] Ah, if what I'm asking is too much to answer then please do let me know.

I tend to not be able to gauge what is considered "too much" sometimes --

[ . . . . . so this is the part where it's clear that Lili is Trying to Learn to be Human just as much as the other swords.

Her hand tenses a little bit when he pats it, but she doesn't pull away because it's... a reassuring gesture, even if she doesn't know what to do with it. It's weird how lately she's been so much more prone to letting people comfort her - and she doesn't know what to make of it.]

No, I want to help.

[Clearing that up first but... then she flounders a little bit.]

But I... I don't know how to find words for that either. [It's always been too scary, too embarrassing.] Perhaps you can... tell them what you've always wanted to hear too?

[That's just logic speaking though, she has no idea if it works.

Send help.]

What I might say... [ HMMMMM! ] ah, I tend to be a special case with these things but I suppose I would like to be reassured that when everything comes to an "end" that I won't be left alone? I'm not entirely certain what can be done about the future, it's uncertain yet...I would like to hear such dedicated promises to not allow anyone to take me back where I do not wish to go.

I think that's all. [ Maybe? Mikazuki certainly has other feelings sitting in his heart but he can't exactly pinpoint what they are or why they're there. He even pressed a hand to his chest, over his heart, as if that'll help him figure all of this out. It doesn't but points for trying -- ] What about for you then, Lili? Are there things you would want to hear from others?

How can that be "that's all"? [Honestly... Even before she talks about what she wants to hear, she frowns.] It's not acceptable for you to go anywhere that you don't wish to - I'm sure Haru and the others won't let that happen.

[Lili won't let it happen either - but that's more out of her firm sense of justice than anything. Not to mention... she doesn't want to see Mikazuki sad. She doesn't want to see any of the other swords sad.

Normally she wouldn't answer this question either but... well, indulgence truly is taking her now and she's left looking away rather shyly. Even as she's... well. Honest.]

I.. Mm, perhaps... Being told that I've... done a good job. Or if someone can listen to me and not tell me that I'm being irrational, that what I feel isn't wrong. [Basically everything that her father never did for her - often doing the exact opposite.] ... I - I want to earn those things though.

[ Mikazuki listens thoughtfully to Lili's own confession. There's a lot of truth to her words, aren't there? As there usually is. Mikazuki is unable to stop himself from offering a slight smile as if to say that he understands...on some level. He'll goes as far to pat her hand again, even squeezing it once, tightly so to reassure her in some, small way that it's okay. ]

From what I know of you, you may have already earned those things without realizing it. [ He gives a sagely nod...yes. ] You appear to be very earnest and honest, Lili. It's quite admirable, haha. Most nobles I knew in my time were not as upright as you are...it's refreshing and I truly enjoy your company because of it.

Ah, I rambled on for a bit? Forgive me, as an old man I tend to like to talk for awhile, aha. [ Still! All of what he said is definitely his honest feelings. Mikazuki has since been learning to be a bit more honest with himself...if not embarrassingly honest. ]

[TOO HONEST. WAY TOO HONEST.]

You.... You say a lot about a person that you don't even know that well...!

[No, she's just embarrassed and her face is turning appropriately red - and there's probably a lot of emotion in her voice too because it's.... it's odd, to be told that sort of thing to her face. Even though that's what she's working toward, even if she wants to be different from all the bad nobles that haunted Tsuru and the ones that plague her own country....

Being told that to her face is still Too Much.]

[ It wasn't his intention to tease her with his very honest words but! Mikazuki can't deny that he's enjoying Lili's reaction, it's very adorable and it somewhat reminds him of Kashuu? Are they both the "tsundere" type? HE'LL JUST KEEP ALL OF THAT TO HIMSELF FOR NOW -- ]

Sorry, sorry! Ahaha, I tend to talk a lot and others tell me it's often embarrassing...but I do mean what I say, Lili. I may be a lot of things but I'm not a liar to others. [ To himself maybe, but he's very forthright when speaking to others! He reaches over to now path both of her hands with his, quick and happy little pats from Grandpa sword. ] I likewise am interested in getting to know you better. Perhaps next time over a cup of tea, I talk a little less when I'm drinking a warm cup of tea --

[JIJI JUST MAKES EVERYONE TSUNDERE and the quick and happy little handpats just confuse Lili more like ???? why is he doing that, what's the purpose of it, oh dear god someone please send help]

Tea.

[CUTTING HIM OFF]

Next time... we can have tea and -

[why does she feel compelled to say this, why, someone stop this is embarrassing]

I... I wouldn't lie to you either.

[ggghhhh]

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