[ 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. ]
Since it seems Zura doesn't intend to try to grab the box anymore, Gintoki lets his hands go, only to be all the more bewildered when he starts punching his chest with ... far less strength than Gintoki knows he has. ]
How else am I supposed to be about it? What the hell does that mean?!
[ Once she's free, she whips around dramatically so Gintoki just gets to look at her back, sniffing and gently dabbing under her eyes with her sleeve. ]
You could have at least looked happier about it! I've seen how you've reacted to every other sweet in your vicinity for the last twenty years!!
[ If the crying had been less dramatic at first, it might have had a different effect, but it just keeps feeding his annoyance instead. Why are they still talking about this?? ]
You know exactly why I wasn't immediately excited! Most of the time you treat me to things because you want something!
[ Huffs. Unfortunately, she can't really deny that. Outside of holidays or Gintoki's birthday, she hasn't gotten him treats all that often, at least not anything more extravagant than an occasional chocolate candy for good behaviour or a pastry from the bakery on the way home from work in Ellipsa just because it smelled so nice. Nevertheless-- ]
Is that so horrible a possibility? It's not like you listen most of the time anyway!
[ Except for the times when Katsura genuinely needed his help, usually something to do with Elizabeth. But those were not as common as him just trying to bribe Gintoki into the Jouishi, and despite almost daily attempts, he'd just eat the chocolate nmaibou and entirely ignore Katsura's sales pitch. ]
[ He stops himself, because he really shouldn't need to explain himself if you ask him, and he pinches the bridge of his nose with a frustrated sigh. He still doesn't know why Zura decided to do this when they've never done anything like it before, but ...
It doesn't matter.
With a deep breath, he turns back around, opening the box to look down at this absolute monstrosity of a chocolate treat. It's so much chocolate. He could easily eat it all right now and regret everything for the next few hours. Should he? ]
You know I'm glad to have you in my life too.
[ They don't need to say these things, that's what's so nice about having someone who knows him so well. But fine. ]
[ There's always the middle ground where he eats some of it and puts a rest to Zura's complaints, but it seems he chooses a different route-- ]
[ And sure enough, Zurako turns out to him with a wide-eyed stare both because that's not really what she wanted either, and because apparently he took the whole being less Gintoki thing way too seriously because Gintoki does not say things like this, except he just did and what does she even do with that? ]
[ It's true that they don't need to say things like this. She would have been completely happy with him just, like, saying the chocolate looks or smells nice or something. ]
[ But also, she's well aware how much it must have taken from Gintoki to actually say something like this aloud, whether needed or not, and so she's willing to forget the earlier transgressions in favor of just staring at him, her ears glowing pink again. ]
I am aware, yes. [ breathlessly from excitement. ]
[ A moment later, however, she's reaching a hand toward his forehead as if to check his temperature, the apparent giddiness shifting into concern. ]
Wh--? Stop that! I'm fine! Leave me alone so I can have breakfast already!
[ Because he is sensible enough to know he can't only have this chocolate. He will have breakfast, and then dessert. Breakfast with dessert! What a treat. ]
[ She's really getting some mixed signals there... but while being shooed away is a little upsetting, it's also nothing unusual, and he did seem to want the chocolate enough to protect it earlier, so... ]
Very well. [ haughtily. ]
[ She backs away from him slowly, one step at a time, until she disappears through the kitchen's door. ]
[ Except rather than walk away, she's just hovering there mostly obscured by the doorframe but definitely peeking in with one eye. ]
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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. ]
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[ 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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Since it seems Zura doesn't intend to try to grab the box anymore, Gintoki lets his hands go, only to be all the more bewildered when he starts punching his chest with ... far less strength than Gintoki knows he has. ]
How else am I supposed to be about it? What the hell does that mean?!
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You could have at least looked happier about it! I've seen how you've reacted to every other sweet in your vicinity for the last twenty years!!
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You know exactly why I wasn't immediately excited! Most of the time you treat me to things because you want something!
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Is that so horrible a possibility? It's not like you listen most of the time anyway!
[ Except for the times when Katsura genuinely needed his help, usually something to do with Elizabeth. But those were not as common as him just trying to bribe Gintoki into the Jouishi, and despite almost daily attempts, he'd just eat the chocolate nmaibou and entirely ignore Katsura's sales pitch. ]
[ Why would he suddenly care now? ]
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[ He stops himself, because he really shouldn't need to explain himself if you ask him, and he pinches the bridge of his nose with a frustrated sigh. He still doesn't know why Zura decided to do this when they've never done anything like it before, but ...
It doesn't matter.
With a deep breath, he turns back around, opening the box to look down at this absolute monstrosity of a chocolate treat. It's so much chocolate. He could easily eat it all right now and regret everything for the next few hours. Should he? ]
You know I'm glad to have you in my life too.
[ They don't need to say these things, that's what's so nice about having someone who knows him so well. But fine. ]
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[ And sure enough, Zurako turns out to him with a wide-eyed stare both because that's not really what she wanted either, and because apparently he took the whole being less Gintoki thing way too seriously because Gintoki does not say things like this, except he just did and what does she even do with that? ]
[ It's true that they don't need to say things like this. She would have been completely happy with him just, like, saying the chocolate looks or smells nice or something. ]
[ But also, she's well aware how much it must have taken from Gintoki to actually say something like this aloud, whether needed or not, and so she's willing to forget the earlier transgressions in favor of just staring at him, her ears glowing pink again. ]
I am aware, yes. [ breathlessly from excitement. ]
[ A moment later, however, she's reaching a hand toward his forehead as if to check his temperature, the apparent giddiness shifting into concern. ]
Are you feeling alright?
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Wh--? Stop that! I'm fine! Leave me alone so I can have breakfast already!
[ Because he is sensible enough to know he can't only have this chocolate. He will have breakfast, and then dessert. Breakfast with dessert! What a treat. ]
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I was unaware that my presence interferes with you having breakfast, Gintoki. That didn't seem to be the case yesterday.
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You're interfering with it today 'cause you're annoying. Leave me alone.
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Very well. [ haughtily. ]
[ She backs away from him slowly, one step at a time, until she disappears through the kitchen's door. ]
[ Except rather than walk away, she's just hovering there mostly obscured by the doorframe but definitely peeking in with one eye. ]
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