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[Mizuki's gullibility is pathetic enough to make Saito laugh. But he schools his expression not to react externally, upholding his offended act instead.]

See, there's nothing surprising. Well, maybe except for the fact they're judging me for indulging in my hobbies. That's just absurd.

[And he's telling the truth. Or more like, telling the truth hiding behind a fabricated truth.]

[ Absurd is right.

Her investigator training kicks in and she finds herself running over the words on the page with her finger. At a glance, it seems identical to hers aside from the obvious, and she doesn't have Aiba to tell her otherwise.

She rolls her eyes, then kind of gently shoves the parchment back at him. ]

Figures. [ Why should SHE get hit with something like murder while he gets something like fucking porn? Whatever. ] That's suspicious if you ask me, but who knows? I guess you're just a suspicious, shady guy.

[ Aaand she is going to plop back down against her blankets again, closing her eyes. Five more minutes, please. ]

[...That's it? Sure, this is Date he is impersonating, of course he wouldn't be taken seriously. But what's with this boring reaction?

Poking her cheek with a finger now. No, no, no, you're not allowed to go back to sleep yet! He could really use an outlet for the stuff that went horribly wrong in the tavern just now. Entertain him some more!]

... Wait, why are you calling me a shady guy? Just because I'm wearing the face of a crazy serial killer, it doesn't automatically make me suspicious!

[Calling himself out, unbeknownst to her!]

[ SHE WAS TRYING TO SLEEP???? She is exhausted?! Entertaining him is entirely too much goddamn effort. Get a porn mag or something. She casually bats at his finger poking at his cheek with her hand. ]

Yes, it does. [ She's getting annoyed now. ] I should rip that thing right off you.

[ She is pointedly not doing that. See: effort. ]

[Maybe it's the leftovers of the oxytocin Aiba would give this body before Saito got it back (not that he actively knows that), or maybe it's the dopamine from succeeding in the present step of his plan after all the things that went right (and wrong) that night.

Whatever brain chemical it is, it's making him more... annoyingly sociable in the middle of the night?! ~~No, he doesn't even have any alcohol in his system, so how is that even a thing...?~~ And don't think he'll give up just because she's giving a half-assed attempt at shooing him! He's even shifting to sit down in front of her bed, now.]

You wouldn't dare. Besides, you're not even one to talk. You tried to hide your crime from me, of all people.

[Touché. Being a tad more sociable doesn't mean he can't (lowkey) try to be his usual jerk self.]

. . .

[ He'll probably see her tense under the blankets, though she betrays little else about what she is feeling. She doesn't really move, not even to prove him wrong (she could and would pull off that mask). Maybe if she stayed like this long enough, he would get bored and leave her alone. Or maybe she would finally fall asleep.

There is an easiness in her voice when she speaks at last. ]

I didn't do anything... [ She still sounds like she's convincing herself. ] But the fact that you think I did sure says a lot about you and how much you know me.

Maybe I should change my last name...

[ Is she even serious? She doesn't know. She mumbles, trailing off, not lending much credence to the idea. Sleepy. ]

It's not that I think you've suddenly become a mass murderer. It's just that you can rely on me more. I told you earlier, right? I'm here for you.

[Rather than her small form tensing under the blankets, what makes Saito change the way he's approaching that subject is the accusing comment about knowing her. There has to be a balance between having fun at her expense and making preparations for his plan to work. Too much of the former and the balance breaks, exposing him. And he needs her trust for the latter.

And that last line? It will always be cringeworthy to him, no matter how many times he says it. At least the chances of him getting punched in the shoulder again should be pretty low now, with how sleepy she seems.]

[He doesn't make any audible comment on her remark about her changing her last name before muttering something — two words, under his breath; then chuckling quietly to himself.]

... No way. It would sound horrible.

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