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You laugh softly when he tugs awkwardly on your sleeve, looking away from you in embarrassment. “What is it?” you ask gently, but he seems startled by the question, and immediately lets go.
You’re pleasantly surprised by it, though.
~
The next day brings new surprises with it, to the point where Tsurumaru might just find his reputation getting threatened with its events.
First is Honebami talking at the breakfast table.
Not once in your whole entire life have you ever heard your brother talk during meals, not even before that (or so you believe). Yet, today, for some reason, Honebami chose to comment about the koi fish in the pond before taking the next bite of his onigiri.
Naturally, everyone choked on their food when his voice suddenly cut through Yamanbagiri and Tsurumaru’s heated ‘hood or no hood’ discussion.
The next incident came when you were about to leave for yet another sortie. They were routine by now; the saniwa was careful not to get you and the others injured. But just as you were about to step outside and join the others, Honebami rushes out of nowhere - yet another shock since he almost never runs - and you barely manage to steel yourself in time before he’s there hugging you, asking you to please stay safe, and you can’t help but worry about him.
~
That night you ask him if something’s bothering him, but he just looks away from you, not meeting your gaze. You sigh softly, frustrated by his silence, and stride over to him, forcing him to look at you by grabbing his shoulders.
But instead of running away, you find him leaning into your arm, cautiously watching your reaction. You’re still with shock, and he seems to take that as a good sign, leaning further into you, now resting his head (awkwardly) on your stomach.
So you laugh (awkwardly) and kneel down, pulling him gently towards you. You can feel him smiling slightly into your shoulder, and you relax almost instinctively, letting the warmth rush over you at the feeling of really, actually holding Honebami this close for once (he’s usually too shy for these things unless he’s asleep…)
The two of you stay that way for a while, then your feet start to go numb, so you climb into the bed with him and hold him until he falls asleep.
You stay up long after that, listening to him sleep. Watching over him.