[ How unfortunate. He truly does know Katsura too well, doesn't he? ]
It's not Zura, it's Zurako.
[ She scoffs, and it's both indignation and a little bit of embarrassment, because she did in fact plan to also pay Hijikata a visit today (or maybe already has, depending how late a morning it is) and it's definitely not a date and she thought they have reached that conclusion before already, with Gintoki being the one to deny it being dating, but apparently that all goes down the drain the moment he thinks he needs to annoy her. ]
[ In fact, it stings a little that that's apparently the only "date" option Gintoki can think of for her, but she's not going to get into that right now. ]
And no, I'm not going on a date. Actually, I wanted to give you something.
[ She's getting up-- ]
[ (Does Gintoki even know what day it is? Doubtful, considering it's morning for him and he's forgotten his own birthday before. But he should put it together soon enough.) ]
[ What's all that suspicion for, Gintoki? When has he ever given you reason to doubt-- yeah, okay, nevermind that. ]
[ Zurako closes the distance between them with a few elegantly small steps and stares, as she does. ]
[ She is really damn grateful she decided to go with full foundation layer today because she can feel her cheeks burning under it. This is a terrible idea. Probably the worst. But now she can't back out or it will look even suspicious-- ]
[ It's now or never!! ]
I--
[ No. No way. She's going to suffocate or have a heart attack or something. She lifts a hand to delicately clear her throat into her fist, then reaches into her sleeve. ]
[ And she's holding out a package with both hands, even bowing slightly and everything, all proper-like. (The redness might have reached her unpowdered ears at this point, but at least they're mostly hidden behind her hair.)]
[ The package appears to be... a mass of chocolate in the shape of a heart, roughly the size of one and half hands. The base of it is a heart, anyway, and it's covered in rolled up lumps that are probably meant to resemble rose buds (he must have made this himself), making it an actually a fairly solid amount of chocolate, decorated with some glaze and colourful sugar stars. ]
[ It's definitely looking a little too elaborate for a friendship chocolate, but then, Zura does love overdoing things like this, doesn't he? And Zurako didn't say anything that would hint at it being anything more than that. She's just being weird and extra which honestly isn't anything new. ]
[ What the actual hell is going on right now? Zura's dolled up for him, apparently, and he's acting all weird and ... flustered? Is he flustered? But why would he be? None of this makes any sense.
Gintoki's still in the same position he stopped, one hand reaching for the fridge, as he looks down at the package.
[ Most of the suspicion washes away, but he's still obviously confused, even as he turns to accept the package with both hands. It's heavy, and he stares down at the chocolate heart, noting the amateurish look of it, finally. Did-- Did Zura make this with his own hands? ]
[ Wow. Wow. Here he goes, pouring his entire heart out (okay, not... quite) and slaving away in the kitchen (he probably did it with The Girls TM so it's not like it wasn't fun, but still!!) and this is the reception he gets. ]
[ He presses his lips together into a small pout and takes a long suffering breath. Hang in there, Zurako, men are famously pigs and imbeciles so this shouldn't be surprising. ]
I... want to express my appreciation as per tradition?
[ Somehow she manages to get both the confused and the "do you seriously have the emotional IQ of a cucumber" tone through simultaneously. ]
[ Okay, if Zura had had some kind of ulterior motive, he probably would have reacted differently. Rather than a pout, he most likely would've huffed and scowled and asked how Gintoki dares assume he wants anything.
Something like that.
Not this confused response (insult aside). ]
Tradition?
[ The gears are visibly turning in his head, but he just woke up so they're definitely also whining and chugging. They haven't had their strawberry milk and/or breakfast lubrication just yet.
It was Christmas and New Year's not too long ago. And after that ...
He once again looks down at the chocolate, and back up at Zura. No, Zurako. Zura didn't decide to dress up just for fun or for some unrelated reason, but specifically to give Gintoki this. ]
[ She's honestly not sure what she expected, but it's... not this? He didn't need to thank her or anything, but something like a smile on his face or that glimmer of light in his eyes that usually sparks up when he's about to devour some chocolate would have been nice? ]
[ Well, that's one way to make him snap out of this daze, or whatever it is. He starts, blinks, and turns to the side as he holds the box closer to himself like he's worried Zura will decide to take it back. ]
What? No! Are you crazy? It's chocolate, nobody hates chocolate!
[ THAT WAS CERTAINLY A PASSING THOUGHT!! But at least now that Gintoki finally clutches that frankly somewhat obscenely thick lump of chocolate closer, Zurako at least has the confirmation that he does want it. ]
[ Was it really so shocking to do this? Sure, they've never done it before, but they've never lived together in their own house either. This seems like a logical next step?.. ]
I'm not crazy, I'm Zurako. [ tortured pause. ] You deign to tolerate it, then.
[ And then he's stepping yet further away, closing the box on the way, then puts it on the kitchen counter. And he puts himself in front of it, well aware that he's inviting some kind of retaliation by acting the way he is, and he does not want that aimed at the chocolate. ]
[ Okay, you know what, this is actually hurtful!! Zurako stares back at him, and her bottom lip maybe trembles a little, but she spent way too much time on her makeup to ruin it now-- ]
[ Why would he cry? This isn't complicated! Obviously Gintoki likes the damn chocolate! Surely, Zura should understand why the hell he's more confused than anything. This is infuriating. ]
[ Because he's an emotional wig and Gintoki just had an extremely underwhelming reaction to his genuine attempt to make him happy for a moment!! ]
[ Also it's still not Zura but Zurako. (It's getting a bit wobbly right now, honestly. Mostly because both Zura and Zurako have feelings for Gintoki, so it becomes difficult to differentiate in an emotional moment like this.) ]
[ Sure enough, Gintoki catches her attempt to snatch the gift back, not that it stops her from still wrestling against his hold, trying to reach it, small strained noise of frustration leaving her throat. ]
Oh, so now you want it?! I thought it was barely worth tolerating!!
[ Damn it, Gintoki, why are you so strong. And maybe Zura could pull himself free if he truly wanted to, but... it's a bit annoying, but it also feels weirdly nice? ]
[ Which is absolutely not something to focus on right now. ]
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action; 2/2
Oh. Zura.
[ Aaand he heads immediately for the fridge. ]
What're you all dolled up for? Are you going on another date with Hijikata after all?
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It's not Zura, it's Zurako.
[ She scoffs, and it's both indignation and a little bit of embarrassment, because she did in fact plan to also pay Hijikata a visit today (or maybe already has, depending how late a morning it is) and it's definitely not a date and she thought they have reached that conclusion before already, with Gintoki being the one to deny it being dating, but apparently that all goes down the drain the moment he thinks he needs to annoy her. ]
[ In fact, it stings a little that that's apparently the only "date" option Gintoki can think of for her, but she's not going to get into that right now. ]
And no, I'm not going on a date. Actually, I wanted to give you something.
[ She's getting up-- ]
[ (Does Gintoki even know what day it is? Doubtful, considering it's morning for him and he's forgotten his own birthday before. But he should put it together soon enough.) ]
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Haa?
[ What? Zura's all dolled up to give him something? What's the deal with that? What kind of ploy is this? ]
1/2
[ Zurako closes the distance between them with a few elegantly small steps and stares, as she does. ]
[ She is really damn grateful she decided to go with full foundation layer today because she can feel her cheeks burning under it. This is a terrible idea. Probably the worst. But now she can't back out or it will look even suspicious-- ]
[ It's now or never!! ]
I--
[ No. No way. She's going to suffocate or have a heart attack or something. She lifts a hand to delicately clear her throat into her fist, then reaches into her sleeve. ]
2/2
[ And she's holding out a package with both hands, even bowing slightly and everything, all proper-like. (The redness might have reached her unpowdered ears at this point, but at least they're mostly hidden behind her hair.)]
[ The package appears to be... a mass of chocolate in the shape of a heart, roughly the size of one and half hands. The base of it is a heart, anyway, and it's covered in rolled up lumps that are probably meant to resemble rose buds (he must have made this himself), making it an actually a fairly solid amount of chocolate, decorated with some glaze and colourful sugar stars. ]
[ It's definitely looking a little too elaborate for a friendship chocolate, but then, Zura does love overdoing things like this, doesn't he? And Zurako didn't say anything that would hint at it being anything more than that. She's just being weird and extra which honestly isn't anything new. ]
[ Right? ]
1/3
Gintoki's still in the same position he stopped, one hand reaching for the fridge, as he looks down at the package.
And back up at Zura.
And down.
??? ]
2/3
3/3
What do you want?
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[ He presses his lips together into a small pout and takes a long suffering breath. Hang in there, Zurako, men are famously pigs and imbeciles so this shouldn't be surprising. ]
I... want to express my appreciation as per tradition?
[ Somehow she manages to get both the confused and the "do you seriously have the emotional IQ of a cucumber" tone through simultaneously. ]
1/2
Something like that.
Not this confused response (insult aside). ]
Tradition?
[ The gears are visibly turning in his head, but he just woke up so they're definitely also whining and chugging. They haven't had their strawberry milk and/or breakfast lubrication just yet.
It was Christmas and New Year's not too long ago. And after that ...
He once again looks down at the chocolate, and back up at Zura. No, Zurako. Zura didn't decide to dress up just for fun or for some unrelated reason, but specifically to give Gintoki this. ]
2/2
[ That's ... not something they usually do.
He's not sure what to do with this. ]
I see.
[ Well, obviously he's going to eat it. Obviously. But aside from that, he's not sure what to do with it. ]
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[ She's honestly not sure what she expected, but it's... not this? He didn't need to thank her or anything, but something like a smile on his face or that glimmer of light in his eyes that usually sparks up when he's about to devour some chocolate would have been nice? ]
You hate it. [ tragically. ]
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What? No! Are you crazy? It's chocolate, nobody hates chocolate!
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[ Was it really so shocking to do this? Sure, they've never done it before, but they've never lived together in their own house either. This seems like a logical next step?.. ]
I'm not crazy, I'm Zurako. [ tortured pause. ] You deign to tolerate it, then.
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Yeah, exactly.
[ And then he's stepping yet further away, closing the box on the way, then puts it on the kitchen counter. And he puts himself in front of it, well aware that he's inviting some kind of retaliation by acting the way he is, and he does not want that aimed at the chocolate. ]
1/3
2/3
3/3
[ TRYING TO REACH PAST HIM ]
1/3
Is Zura about to cry? Did his lip just tremble? Or is Gintoki imagining that? But why would he ... ]
2/3
3/3
No!
[ He immediately tries to grab both hands. ]
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[ Also it's still not Zura but Zurako. (It's getting a bit wobbly right now, honestly. Mostly because both Zura and Zurako have feelings for Gintoki, so it becomes difficult to differentiate in an emotional moment like this.) ]
[ Sure enough, Gintoki catches her attempt to snatch the gift back, not that it stops her from still wrestling against his hold, trying to reach it, small strained noise of frustration leaving her throat. ]
Oh, so now you want it?! I thought it was barely worth tolerating!!
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Of course I want it! Did your wig finally eat what was left of your brain? Why are you being so weird about this?!
[ He shouldn't need to explain it! Isn't Zura supposed to know him better than anyone? Honestly. ]
1/2
[ Which is absolutely not something to focus on right now. ]
2/2
[ And then there come the waterworks. ]
B-because I just wanted to do something nice for you, and you're being all-- you about it!!
[ She might now instead be trying to punch his chest a little bit. Truly a classic couple's fight right there. ]
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