003. Video; Unfiltered

[notyourtsukkomi]

[When the feed turns on Oshitari gives it a half-embarrassed wave, smiling sheepishly.]

Well, Reims, I seem to have a bit of a dilemma on my hands.

He shifts his laptop to point the webcam at the rest of his desk, where an open box containing quite a large sheet cake sits. Red frosting over the top reads 「お誕生日おめでとう侑士！」 ("Happy birthday, Yuushi

Comments

[mini_martillo]

Is it your birthday or somethin'?

[ He can't read what the cake says, but what other occasion calls for a giant cake? ]

[notyourtsukkomi]

[A good-natured sigh.]

That it is.

[mini_martillo]

Then Happy Birthday! How old are you now?

[notyourtsukkomi]

Thank you.

And sixteen, now. Let's hope the year treats me well.

[mini_martillo]

Huh. You know, I thought you'd be a lot older.

But, yeah, good luck.

[notyourtsukkomi]

Really? How old do I seem?

[mini_martillo]

Honestly? Pretty darn old.

[notyourtsukkomi]

...I suppose you're not trying to tell me that I seem mature and dignified.

[mini_martillo]

[ He pauses to think that over. ]

I'll give you mature.

[notyourtsukkomi]

How old are you, Mr. Prochainezo?

[mini_martillo]

[ He can't help but smile a little at being called Mr. It's rare that he gets treated his age and even rarer for him to be treated older. ]

I'm seventeen.

[notyourtsukkomi]

[Don't feel special, Firo. Oshitari is just Formal to Everybody.]

Hmmm, is that so? I hadn't expected that.

[mini_martillo]

[ He can dream!

His smile fades at Oshitari's remark. ]

Whaddaya mean by that?

[notyourtsukkomi]

You seem younger somehow.

[mini_martillo]

[ He gets that a lot; that doesn't make it easier to accept. He frowns and crosses his arms. ]

Well I'm not, okay?

[notyourtsukkomi]

Of course you're not. But you're light-hearted enough that it's not apparent. I'm used to people who take themselves far too seriously.