“Hm… I see…” he mumbled. “Then, I shall prepare something for when you least expect it.”

“Any time, huh?” he hummed softly as he thought, tilting his head to the side. “… … Then, if I said now, you would agree?” he asked hesitantly.

Ume smiled softly, a soft look of admiration on his face. “I would love to marry you, though I’m unsure when would be too soon.” he laughed slightly.

“You act like I have a 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚, Adam.” he frowned. “I only have certain amounts of free will. But, so be it. Have fun.” he huffed.

“Ghk….!!” Ah. He’s been caught redhanded. “S—so what if I am a bit lonely?” he finally admitted, although very begrudgingly. “It matters not. I am… I am a busy person.”

Ume’s brows furrowed as he glanced away. “I am 𝙣𝙤𝙩 jealous.” He kind of is, actually. But damned if he admits it. “Besides, I like neither of you all like that,” he lied.

“I have been tasked with divine purpose as well. Can you say the same? Surely, you do not think of us as on equal footing because of this… You lack a purpose.” Yikes.

“Think about it like this, Adam: you think your better than animals, do you not? Surely you do not see 𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙨 as an equal. Humans are just like domesticated animals to me. Cute, but definitely not my equal.”

“I am not! Besides, I 𝙖𝙢 better than a lot of people.” Ume, you’re proving his point…

“Uh-huh… So you admit its one of the reasons, then.”

“Is this just what you do? Is bite people? No wonder Tomio likes you so much.”

“Too hard!!” he frowned, glaring at Adam. “So cruel.”

“Fuck—!!” Well, he’s in enough pain to swear! “I said I’m not into it like Tomio is, so quit it!!”

“Hngh—!!” Ah. He’s swatting at Adam with his free hand. “𝘽𝙖𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙜."

“I would hope you would want both! We already 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙞𝙩, so I would hope you want to marry me as well.”

Ume just 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙, slightly taken back. “What do you think you are doing?”

“I would not cry!” h u f f.

“My… And here I hoped for a genuine marry. I’m hurt.” his grin says else wise, though.

“Oh? But is that what you 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙮 wish to give me?” he mused with a small grin of his own.

“Well, probably not to the degree Tomio does, at least.” he shook his head.

“Hot.” Now it’s Ume trying to make him uncomfortable—.

“This is hardly arousing. You suck at this.” he teased, the most amused look possible on his face.

Ume doesn’t take it personally at all. He knows Adam’s pretty much just shitting out his mouth. He does, however, sigh out his nose with a smirk. “Cute.”

“See? Cowardice.” he looks so smug…

“Uh-huh… Then, go ahead. Degrade me.”

“Why would you even 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 to degrade me? Besides, what if I’m into it?” he sneered. “I bet you would chicken out then.”

“D—do not degrade me…!” Yeah, because he likes that. I mean— “I am not!! It is not my fault you purposely worded that strangely!”

It’s true… Ume is a pervert. Not like he’d ever admit it. “I am not!! B—besides, with that kind of phrasing, I— 𝙪𝙜𝙝!!” he’s too embarrassed…

𝘊𝘢𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘮.ᐟ ㅤ IM DEAD JJDUHDBDHD // Ume immediately flushed a bright shade, reclining back. “I beg your pardon—-!? I—I regret to inform you, but I am waiting until marriage, so there will be no such activities…!!”

“If you wanna what?” he narrowed his eyes slightly.

“….Do not get so full of yourself.” he huffed.

Ume tensed, but slightly relaxed and patted Adam on the back.

“… … Why do you wish to hug me so bad? Ugh… Fine… Do as you wish…” He gave in quick.

“I simply do not wish to be touched—.” Excuses, excuses.

“P—please refrain.” he shifted awkwardly, glancing away.

“Urk….!!” Ume’s so mad at himself that it managed to make him flush. “Y—yes, right. Um. At least there is that. I am glad you are making progress, Adam.”

“Fake it til you make it, as they say.” Cue a bright smile.

“…… I suppose so, yes—.” He can’t argue with that. “Hmpf. Well, like I said, at least you have started to gain self confidence.”

“Mm—.” You sly dog, you almost got Ume to admit he thinks Adam’s cute! Too bad he realized it before blurting it out. “You never know for sure. Most do not randomly call others attractive.”

“To Tomio, correct? Well, I imagine. You two are together. Though, I am sure there are… Others as well.”

Ume reached over to pat Adam on the back. “What did I tell you? It just takes time.”

“Oh, good, you finally gained self esteem!” He looks proud???

God is coming. Behave yourself.

god, please let the deer who died on the highway find some kind of heaven. something with tall grass and sweet reunion.

Ume gave a curt nod of his head as he began to glance around the shop for something of worth. “Hm…” Nothing really catches his eye. “Well, I cannot say I care much for anything here. I do not need the statue, so perhaps I can just donate it to your collection?”

Ume thought for a moment with a light hum before an idea popped into his head. Uncaring if it may freak them out, Ume held out his hand where a bright white light would manifest— the light dissipated and left a cute and small lucky cat statue beckoning its paw. “What will this get me?”

𝘊𝘢𝘦𝘭𝘶𝘮.ᐟ ㅤ youkai ocs……… pspspspsp—-

“A trade shop, huh?” Ume repeated idly. Well, that was new. He hasn’t seen one of those in a good while. “What sort of things do you accept as adequate trade?”

{ @eyes-for-disguise.bsky.social } Ume knocked on the door to Rose’s apartment, swaying back and forth on his heels a bit nervously. He had a small culinary box in his hands of his 2nd attempt at candying flowers for Rose. The 1st attempt was burnt and therefore discarded…

mun has nothing else to do, sooooo—.