[Pulls out his phone-- hold on, it's not the same if he doesn't record it for Atsushi.]
And do you want to be with him? As his boyfriend-- or even more than that?
Because that's the thing with Atsushis. You have to be really direct with them, or they'll use whatever wiggle room they can find to assume the worst. So you should ask him directly.
...Even if I want to date him, I can't take him out on dates. Even if I want to call him husband like you do, I can't wake him up with kisses or hold him or do anything a husband would do.
I don't throw around words I can't back up with actions.
And you think Atsushi doesn't already know all of that?
[It's frustrating, because he has a point. What point was there to call it anything else? They didn't need to be dating to be in love. And being in love didn't mean they had to be dating.]
[But that doesn't mean they can't still want it. And it doesn't take being a genius detective to tell that they both do -- desperately. But unfortunately, even Ranpo has his limits. And as much as he's tried to help bring them closer, to bridge that gap that exists between them, this wasn't something within his power to fix.]
[And somehow, that hurts even more. Was it just cruel to have led them this far, knowing they'd eventually hit this roadblock?]
[Or maybe there were just some things he should led them handle on their own.]
[He tucks his phone back under his pillow and sighs.]
I'll talk to Atsushi about it in the morning, but-- could you be the one to sleep tonight? It's late, and I'm tired. I don't want to say anything stupid.
[Since right now-- he feels like he's just gotten Atsushi's hopes up for nothing.]
[And for someone like Ranpo, not being able to do something to help someone hurts in a different way, on top of knowing how much both of them must hurt, knowing they're so close, but still so far from one another.]
[Which is why he just nods, before laying down and curling up and pretending to sleep through the night.]
[...]
[He's still cuddling up with Tiger tho. He's sad, but he's also only human okay.]
[The fact that he punctuates that with a yawn means "a little bit" is probably "not at all".]
[But all that time awake gave him some time to think. And the moment Tiger is awake, Ranpo moves away from him and stands, stretching.]
You know, I think I'll start the day off with a walk. Think you could tell Atsushi good morning for me?
You know how, right?
[They have letters. Their own phones. Prisma-snapchat. Selfies. Videos. At this point, if they don't have some way to more or less recreate slow-but-still-natural conversations, then nothing he says is going to make a difference.]
[And maybe that was the problem all along. He shouldn't be the one pushing them at all. They should do it themselves, in their own way, at their own pace.]
[Neither of them are going anywhere anytime soon, after all. Not with the way they're attached. So really, there's no rush.]
[He's just going to slide on a pair of pants and leave, giving only a silent wave before heading out.]
[...]
[He's totally gonna go for like a ten minute walk and then come back and nap outside the front door. He wants to give them as much time as he can, but like, he's tired.]
Good morning, I love you too. Did I say something wrong last night? Ranpo isn't here...
He's just taking a walk, don't worry. You didn't do anything wrong.
Even though I pressured you to say something...?
I should have been more clear from the beginning. You are the most important person to me. You always will be. I don't know what words we can use for it, but you're my other half.
Thank you. I feel the same way.
Atsushi opens the door and sees Ranpo taking a nap. Carefully, he scoops him up.]
[The other important thing is that when Ranpo does wake up for real, there will be delicious breakfast waiting for him, courtesy of Atsushi's cooking.]
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And do you want to be with him? As his boyfriend-- or even more than that?
Because that's the thing with Atsushis. You have to be really direct with them, or they'll use whatever wiggle room they can find to assume the worst. So you should ask him directly.
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It's not about whether I want to or not.
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[He lowers the phone.]
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I don't throw around words I can't back up with actions.
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[It's frustrating, because he has a point. What point was there to call it anything else? They didn't need to be dating to be in love. And being in love didn't mean they had to be dating.]
[But that doesn't mean they can't still want it. And it doesn't take being a genius detective to tell that they both do -- desperately. But unfortunately, even Ranpo has his limits. And as much as he's tried to help bring them closer, to bridge that gap that exists between them, this wasn't something within his power to fix.]
[And somehow, that hurts even more. Was it just cruel to have led them this far, knowing they'd eventually hit this roadblock?]
[Or maybe there were just some things he should led them handle on their own.]
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[He tucks his phone back under his pillow and sighs.]
I'll talk to Atsushi about it in the morning, but-- could you be the one to sleep tonight? It's late, and I'm tired. I don't want to say anything stupid.
[Since right now-- he feels like he's just gotten Atsushi's hopes up for nothing.]
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[Tiger will never hold a grudge over that.
He leans over and kisses Ranpo's forehead.]
Goodnight, Ranpo. I love you.
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[And for someone like Ranpo, not being able to do something to help someone hurts in a different way, on top of knowing how much both of them must hurt, knowing they're so close, but still so far from one another.]
[Which is why he just nods, before laying down and curling up and pretending to sleep through the night.]
[...]
[He's still cuddling up with Tiger tho. He's sad, but he's also only human okay.]
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It's still him when he wakes up, blearily rubbing the sleep from his eyes.]
Good morning. Did you sleep?
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[The fact that he punctuates that with a yawn means "a little bit" is probably "not at all".]
[But all that time awake gave him some time to think. And the moment Tiger is awake, Ranpo moves away from him and stands, stretching.]
You know, I think I'll start the day off with a walk. Think you could tell Atsushi good morning for me?
You know how, right?
[They have letters. Their own phones. Prisma-snapchat. Selfies. Videos. At this point, if they don't have some way to more or less recreate slow-but-still-natural conversations, then nothing he says is going to make a difference.]
[And maybe that was the problem all along. He shouldn't be the one pushing them at all. They should do it themselves, in their own way, at their own pace.]
[Neither of them are going anywhere anytime soon, after all. Not with the way they're attached. So really, there's no rush.]
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[He reaches for the note paper kept on the bedstand, because of course they have paper on the bedstand for any sudden inspiration.]
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[He's just going to slide on a pair of pants and leave, giving only a silent wave before heading out.]
[...]
[He's totally gonna go for like a ten minute walk and then come back and nap outside the front door. He wants to give them as much time as he can, but like, he's tired.]
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Good morning, I love you too. Did I say something wrong last night? Ranpo isn't here...
He's just taking a walk, don't worry. You didn't do anything wrong.
Even though I pressured you to say something...?
I should have been more clear from the beginning. You are the most important person to me. You always will be. I don't know what words we can use for it, but you're my other half.
Thank you. I feel the same way.
Atsushi opens the door and sees Ranpo taking a nap. Carefully, he scoops him up.]
This can't be comfortable.
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Goodnight, my love.
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[He's still half asleep, but he knows what's important here.]
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Good morn-- er, afternoon, probably.
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[Smooch!]
And thank you.
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Hmm? I don't remember doing anything needing thanks.
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[And maybe they don't have to call it anything more complicated than that. Nothing else fits them so well.]
He's grateful too.
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I'm glad. [His softens.] I love you both so much, so I just want you to be happy.
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