lieabilities

Right? He and Splat could be cousins!

[Right, because it's Splat they're talking about. Not Kleken.]

But you're not the only one. It seems to remind Hiro-kun of someone *he* knows. Or at least I assume so, since this is what he's been doing.

[And then Hiyori sends one more thing over. This time it's a video. In one side of the screen stands the octopus, shades attached, and in front of it sits Hiro, the red magpie who resembles Rinne. He's not doing anything much, nor is he squawking. He's just perched there on the floor, watching the octopus in silence. The video lasts for about 10 seconds, long enough to get the point across, and then stops.]

See? Just this! He's been at it for a while. What should we make of that, I wonder?

[ Definitely Splat and not Kleken. ]

[ The video gets a much more sincere smile out of Kleken than he'd every admit, hidden away in the privacy of his rooms as he was. He'll save it even, since he's still terribly disinclined to make the trek out to the Vale on his own to see the creatures living there in person. ]

My, I do wonder. Perhaps he is intent on having a staring contest with the small statue in order to establish a proper pecking order?

[It's a shame he can't see Kleken's face, but he hopes the video made him smile. The man may hold his cards close to his chest just like Rinne did, but Hiyori knows he has a heart that can be reached!]

So you think it's a dominance thing, huh?

[How unsentimental. Time for him to offer a different idea.]

I guess it could be, but you should know he paid that statue no attention when I first brought it. He gave it a look like "What's that?" and then went back to hoarding coins.

Once I added shades, though, everything changed. Now he keeps looking at it! Which means it must remind him of something or someone, no? Something or someone that left a strong impression in his heart.

Or at least that's my theory. What do you think of that idea?

[ The blatant fishing is rather amusing, enough to have Kleken tracing his fingers along a nearby tentacle in thought for a moment before he responds. ]

I hadn't been aware he was so fond of Splat. I'm rather jealous.

[.......

Yep. He did say "Splat" a minute ago. He got played! Or rather, he played himself!]

I had no clue either! But you mustn't get discouraged. If you work a bit harder, I'm sure you can win his love!

In fact, I have an idea for how you could do just that! Ready to hear it?

Enthusiastically so.

[ He really is interested in whatever idea Hiyori might have. ]

Go see him!

Or better yet, start seeing him regularly.

[Surprisingly simple.]

It doesn't have to be every day. Or even every week, since I'll have other people looking after them. But if you could drop by every now and then, that'd put me at ease. I'm sure it'll help him feel less lonely.

[ This sounds suspiciously like effort. And then it sounds rather suspiciously like something else, to which Kleken carefully considers his words before putting his reply into text. ]

Oh? You won't escort me yourself? I might be more inclined with agreeable company.

I'm in the treehouse now, so if you want to join me right now, you can! Or we could go next week, or the week after.

But I won't be around too much longer. Jun-kun disappeared, so as his partner, I have to go look for him.

[ Can't believe Kleken has to climb that stupid tree again. Can't believe he has to go climb that stupid tree again now. ]

Oh? Looking for him where?

Excellent question!

I haven't the slightest clue, I'm afraid. All I know is he's not here. But wherever he did end up, I should be able to find him again. Someone here gave us a "red string of fate" that'll always lead back to each other, so once we're in the same place, I should be able to find him that way.

[Heaven, home, purgatory, the cold void of space. He can't guess where Jun's consciousness might have ended up. But it isn't in that statue, or so he thinks.]

That sounds like quite the tenuous mission you'll be departing on. I assume you won't be returning until you've completed it?

My guess is it'll take another month or so to embark.

[And by "embark" he means "start turning to stone from lack of sex." He only started withholding it recently.]

As for "returning," I guess that's completely out of my hands. Some people have disappeared and then come back, so I truthfully don't know what'll happen.

All I know is that Jun-kun is out there somewhere, so I have to follow Jun-kun. That's what the string connecting us is for, and that's what partners do.

But I do want to make sure those birds are taken care of. They're all adorable, including that badly-behaved one, and it would be horrible if they got lonely. You think so too, right? Yep, I'm sure you do!

[Laying it on strong again...]

[ Kleken has his suspicions about that very specific time frame, but he'll carefully not be pointing them out. ]

Hmm, I see. Well, I have no doubt you'll do the best to your own abilities.

And I would add that they have all the charm of the individuals they take after.

[ How much that is remains pointedly vague. ]

So you find me and the birds charming! Yep, I knew you would! 😘❤️💕💖

And you must find Rinne-senpai charming, too. I'm sure he'd love to hear that! 🥰❤️💕💖

This confirms you'll visit them, right? I knew I could count on Kleken-kun!

I suppose I could make an exception for them.

Have they installed elevator clouds yet?

Nope! Sadly they have not, so here are some other ideas!

1. Ask Baku-kun to shoot you up to the treehouse with his explosion powers! He's the hero kid with the spiky hair. I've had him shoot me up the stairs a few times before. It's scary at first, but you get used to it!

2. Ask Loki-kun to teleport you there! His teleportation skills are super convenient.

3. Ask Baizhu-san to lift you with that magical platform thing! You two are having a lovey-dovey affair, right? So asking for something like that should be no problem.

When you need something, it doesn't hurt to ask others! And those three are all totally reliable. They should be visiting the birds too, so I'm sure you'll run into at least one of them.

I'm fairly certain 1 and 3 would perhaps leave me dangling off a tree branch for some time before depositing me at my preferred location. Though I had no idea why.

[ They both know why. ]

2 is perhaps the most plausible and I've never met the man. Still, no better time to negotiate a favor than with first meeting someone.

Baku-kun may be rough, but he's a good boy!

Does that mean you and Baizhu-san are on the outs, though? Feelings and relationships *are* rather hard to navigate in this place. But I have faith you'll work it out somehow, just as Rinne-senpai did with his spouses, and just like I did with my partner!

You really should meet Loki-kun. As it so happens, I know the perfect icebreaker! Why not approach him and say, "Want to see how many wine glasses I can hold at once?" And then you can demonstrate! That should definitely grab his interest.

Oh, I quite agree about 1.

[ He mostly gets the rough side of him, but he's seen enough of him to agree with that 'good boy' assessment. ]

[ Regarding Baizhu however, he'll just continue to lie his ass off there. ]

Oh yes, we're going through a rough patch at the moment, but we're working hard to mend the rift. We have the children to think about, after all.

But perhaps a fresh conversation with a new person will help in clearing my mind of the worries. I'll be sure to offer a few glasses in that case.

I've never heard of a trickster god serving as a relationship coach, but whatever works!

You could also try getting on Changsheng's good side. She's the white snake who likes to wrap herself around his neck. You must have met her, right? I bet that would help!

Not that any of this is really my business. But I do wish you all the best. You're both people I've grown quite fond of, after all.

[ He somehow has not and that's frankly a tragedy. ]

The snake? Perhaps I'll pay more attention to her in the future then, if it is the way to reviving our relationship. I'm quite desperate to do whatever I can.

I do appreciate your advice as well, as a co-conspirator.

[ And maybe as a friend. ]

Yep, you're very welcome!

And if you want to meet up and trade info one last time, just let me know. I haven't forgotten the terms of our deal, after all. I have dozens of pages of notes I can share, and I have even more stories about Rinne-senpai.

Oh, then allow me to let you know now. I am waiting for them with my arms outstretched.

[ He has in fact made his way to the Vale and found the appropriate tree. ]

[Wait.]

Right now? Don't tell me you've been here the whole time?

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