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Turning over a new leaf wasn't an easy task. Changing one's name was a step forward to shedding the previous identity. The name 'Tactics' was abandoned, in favor of keeping 'Team 7'. They didn't end up joining Glowing Dawn, but it was close. They cooperated, most times. They shared bounties, even though there was a healthy bit of competition as to who managed to snag a bigger amount.
Things were... pretty good.
Tomoro thought it was even better when Raito stayed behind more often after their shared bounties. Sure, there were times when Raito skulked away after dropping a line or two, but those times were becoming less frequent as the weeks rolled by. It came to the point that Tomoro felt comfortable in setting aside space beside him, so that Raito wouldn't have to fight for a spot around the small table that hosted whatever food they'd manage to buy after a successful mission.
Today's meal was beef sukiyaki. This kind of meal usually led to a more energetic crowd. Tomoro spent time preventing Gekkomon from slurping everything up. Raito sat beside him, eating manners extremely dainty compared to everyone else.
"Do you not like this kind of food," Tomoro asked in a low voice that only the two of them could hear.
There were more people now, but there had been no changes to the seats. This meant that the two of them were crowded together, bodies pressed together from shoulder to knee. It was a comforting kind of contact; it felt like a physical reminder that Raito was here, instead of doomed to have an uncertain fate wandering around in the Mirror World.
"It's too noisy." Raito clicked his tongue. "Is something like this really worth all this fuss?"
His way of complaining reminded Tomoro of a cat, for some reason. Probably because he wriggled a bit as he complained about the noise, like he wanted to spring away from being sandwiched by Tomoro and the arm of the couch. But he ultimately stayed, which was what was most important.
"Beef sukiyaki is delicious," Tomoro pointed out. He picked up some mushrooms from the still-warm pot, and distributed them between his bowl and Raito's. He was oblivious to the twin rolling of eyes that came from Reina and Hotaruko. "It's nice to relax with a warm meal together with some friends."
Raito bristled, much like a cat. "I'm not your friend."
Tomoro picked up a radish and added it to Raito's bowl. He was becoming more used to Raito's acidic temperament, and his responses were more-or-less automatic. "Yes, yes, you're my genius instead. Go on and eat, otherwise Gekkomon's going to gobble everything up and you'll be left hungry."
For a few moments, Raito was very quiet. It was like he stopped breathing entirely. But he recovered quickly, and he sounded like he was wheezing and wrestling with the concept of forming words and breathing at the same time. The warmth of the room and the steam from the sukiyaki were probably factors in causing his face to sweat and flush pink. "I'm! Not! Y-Yours! Tenma Tomoro!"
Something that Tomoro learned over the time that he had spent with Raito was how important it was for the other to hear appreciation and acknowledgement. He saw past the denials and the insults, and went straight to the heart of the matter. "You were amazing earlier. You really are a genius, Raito." He tapped the other's bowl using his chopsticks, and even nudged him a bit using his elbow. "Go on and eat more. It's really good. There's still money left over, so we can grab some ice cream after."
Gekkomon perked up upon hearing those magical words, and Tomoro ended up having to deal with the other's excited bouncing.
That meant that he didn't notice Raito growing completely red, before focusing on burying his face on his bowl, cursing Tomoro about his strangeness all the way.
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