(D3, LA, Baths) Do The Otter Paddle

[Kitsu Murato]

He smiles widely and mischievously at that. "So... there is someone here that you wish to follow your heart towards?"

"If you look away shyly like that you'll make me think it's me. Better to tell me that someone else has stolen your heart so you don't break mine."

He teased unabashedly. True, it was most likely not him, he'd likely have noticed signs. But if she had a chance to find happiness with someone else he did not want to stand in the way.

[Usogawa Narumi]

Inner walls would've normally slammed into place at the Lion's poking, but the fact was Narumi was too tired. Instead, she looked back at him again and brushed errant locks of dark hair from her face.
Her patiently friendly if neutral smile slid into place. "I'm afraid it's not you, one thousand apologies." Her chest still ached, and she rubbed at her throat absently.

[Kitsu Murato]

"Don't apologize to me," he said, with a happy smile. "You saved me from putting in the effort to trying to steal a heart already stolen. And you've instead given me a chance to support you. I don't know if you wish to reveal who it is, but I can tell you with certainty that if he does not return the feeling that he will eventually or he is daft. But you have to make sure he knows for him to be able to."

[Usogawa Narumi]

"You mean it isn't obvious? I was sure at the play that one as observant as Kitsu-san would've figured it out. That everyone would've figured it out." she replied cynically, and rolled her shoulders to relieve the tense muscles therein.

[Kitsu Murato]

"I was a bit occupied during the plays," he replied, shaking his head. "If you did anything I might have noticed, it went unseen due to my conversations. Apologies if I should have noticed. So what did I miss?"

[Usogawa Narumi]

She realized her error and rubbed her face in exasperation with herself. "Not the play. After the gift giving ceremony. With Kuni-san.
We were talking about the gifts when I spotted him... and she determined he was cursed with a misaligned spirit, given my overly-dramatic reaction, for which I apologize to you for having had to put up with."

[Kitsu Murato]

"Ah, Asahina-san," he says with a nod. "I didn't suspect that he had any evil spirit, but I had no clue how to explain such a drastic reaction. So he's got that tight a hold on you, eh? You know, you are probably going to have to be pretty direct with him. We were at lunch together yesterday. He's a sweet guy, but I don't think he's been allowed by his family to read a pillow book."

[Usogawa Narumi]

"Hai, I had breakfast with him this morning. Moreover, he made me said-breakfast, and it was very nice."

[Kitsu Murato]

"Well, the most important thing to keep in mind is that, you are great and should not feel the concern that you did during the gift giving ceremony," he says, supportively. "I don't doubt that he thinks highly of you, and I suspect that you only feel that way because you simply haven't been able to confirm the truth. Plus, if he messes up and you need someone to set him straight, you can just ask me. It may take a few years but I'll find someone bigger than him to set him straight." He smiled widely at that.

[Usogawa Narumi]

That earned a laugh, at least, though it was followed up by half a groan of pain and she put a hand to her chest to soothe it. It did nothing.
"Don't make me laugh! But really, thank you, Kitsu-san. How can this one repay you? You've said some things I needed to hear and got me thinking. I am bidden to thank you for that."