[WEEK 4: Thursday evening two hours before curfew, lounge; Andersen]

[nowyouseeit]

[WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH THIS WEEK]

[at any rate, some two hours before curfew on Thursday night, Kaito is hanging out at the lounge as he usually does when he feels like he needs to brood about things. he has his standard glass of chocolate milk (of course) and is flipping a card back and forth in his hand. every time it swaps from face side to back side, the face changes. from the Queen of Hearts, to the King of Spades, to the Five of Diamonds, and so on and so forth]

[at one point, he drops the card onto the lounge counter and reaches for his ear, idly running his fingers across the shell of it]

[it isn't until he spots Andersen that he lowers his hand back into his lap and quirks an eyebrow]

It isn't past your bedtime, gramps?

Comments

[nowyouseeit]

[Kaito props his elbow on the counter, resting his cheek against his palm]

Ha. You aren't the only one.

[said wryly, with a bit of a crooked smile that doesn't reach his eyes]

We're four weeks in, and I'm exhausted.

[nowyouseeit]

[a nod. he lowers his hand again, placing it over the card and flipping it over. Ace of Spades, this time around]

You know, they usually say a magician never reveals his secrets, but. . .

[flips the card over again, covering it with his palm. before he flips it again, he pulls his hand away and shows Andersen the extra card he has tucked in his palm, between his fingers, hidden by the angle in which he holds his hand]

I s'pose for now, I can make an exception to that rule.

[nowyouseeit]

[flicks the card at Andersen's face]

Nope.

You're just as obnoxious as you were on day one, Tiny Tot.

[he's still grinning]

[nowyouseeit]

[he feels a lot better about life now, thanks]

[the smile fades as he blinks, and reaches out to take that piece of paper]

. . . key. . .

[he repeats the word slowly, gaze flickering across the paper. his eyes slip shut as a small breath escapes his lips]

. . . you really are preparing for the worst.

[god. does this mean Kaito should, too?]

[nowyouseeit]

[he folds the note with one hand, and slips it into his pocket with a snort]

Looks like you took what I said about entertaining me with puzzles and riddles seriously, huh?

[there's some forced cheer for you, Andersen. emphasis on forced]

[nowyouseeit]

You are an author, after all. Being overdramatic is kinda your thing.

[is that what he meant? maybe not, but it's what Kaito is responding to]

[nowyouseeit]

[he laughs, gaze flickering away, and takes a sip of his chocolate milk through a straw]

[. . .]

Oi, Andersen. . .

[annnd he trails off]

[nowyouseeit]

[ha]

[the smile slowly fades, and the silence stretches on for a few seconds more.
he traces the edges of his glass, brows furrowing]

[and then, with a deep breath]

. . . if you had all of the answers, but didn't like them at all, what. . . would you do?

[nowyouseeit]

[dude]

[. . . but no, that's. actually a legitimate question, and it covers the dichotomy of Kaito's dilemma very well]

People.

[he answers without hesitation]

Math might be my best subject, but I've never been a big fan.

[nowyouseeit]

[DUDE]

Are you gonna answer my ambiguous question or not?

[in other words: yes]

[nowyouseeit]

[his answer comes without hesitation]

Others.

[god why is he a self-sacrificial protag]

That isn't to say I don't value myself, 'course. Just. . .

If I can help people, if there's something I can do to save them. . . I'll do it.

[nowyouseeit]

[he considers this response, before giving a slow nod]

I do. I used to read them aloud with my dad when I was younger.