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“Please stop! I said no!”
Kokomi looks up from the book of plans she’s been rereading for the umpteenth time. The voices of two other people follow Gorou’s, both trying to tease him into letting them touch his ears. She frowns. There are several ways she could go about this – direct confrontation, pretending she heard nothing – but ultimately she stands from her place at the table and exits the tent.
“Ah, Gorou, you’re here,” she says calmly. The soldiers hastily backstep away from Gorou and salute her, while the general himself stiffens up and looks away. His face looks flushed, and his ears are pressed flat against his head in obvious discomfort.
Kokomi puts on a serene expression and stares down the soldiers. “Thank you for accompanying General Gorou here,” she says. “It would be terrible if he suffered some misfortune on the way to this very important meeting. You are dismissed.”
“Yes, Your Excellency!” they chorus, turning to leave and laughing about something between themselves.
When they’re out of earshot, Kokomi turns all of her attention back to Gorou. “Are you okay?” she asks softly.
“Yeah.” Gorou rubs the back of his neck and avoids eye contact. “Can we just move on to the meeting? Please?”
“Of course.” Kokomi holds the tent flap open, and the two of them enter and sit across from each other at the table.
In deference to Gorou’s wishes, Kokomi launches into a description of the several plans she has created in preparation for a confrontation she expects to happen soon. However, merely a few minutes in, she’s mid-sentence when Gorou’s posture suddenly droops. He covers his face with his hands and mumbles, “I’m sorry. I can’t do this right now.”
“-and flank them from the north,” Kokomi finishes automatically, before her brain catches up with what Gorou said. She sets the book of directives aside and folds her hands neatly on the table. “That’s okay. Take your time.”
Several moments pass in silence before Gorou audibly sighs. “It’s like they see me as a pet, not a leader,” he murmurs. “It makes me feel so... inadequate.”
Kokomi hums, considering his words. “May I hold your hand?” she asks. “Only if you want to.”
Gorou glances up at her through his fingers, and then silently extends one of his hands out to her.
Kokomi takes it gently in her own. “You are not inadequate,” she says kindly but firmly. “I think the soldiers truly look up to you and appreciate the work you do for them. They’ve just chosen an inappropriate means of expressing their admiration. Would you like me to have a word with them?”
Gorou immediately shakes his head. “No, no, I couldn’t ask that of you. I need to be strong enough to deal with this on my own.”
Kokomi squeezes his hand. “You are never on your own, Gorou.”
He chuckles a little, and tries to subtly wipe his cheek with his other hand. “Yeah. You’re right. I’ll... think about it.”
She smiles at him fondly. “Good. Are you okay to continue now?”
“Yes, Your Excellency.” They let go of each other’s hands, and Gorou sits up straight and takes a deep breath to settle himself. This time, when Kokomi outlines each of the Resistance’s possible courses of action, Gorou is ready to listen and respond thoroughly.