[Once again, Hiyori Tomoe has managed to escape death, disgrace, and dismemberment by running his mouth. Just because the danger's passed doesn't mean he and Fuuta are friends now, though. The other boy (er, lizard boy? Dragon boy?? Ugly-unspecified-monster boy???) makes that clear when he thuds his tail against the floor, causing Hiyori to jolt and clutch Hina-chan protectively. His worried eyes seek out the red magpie—that tail didn't hit him, did it?? Sure, the bird inherited some of Rinne's more obnoxious traits, and Rinne's a total deadbeat dad. Plus he didn't have as much time to bond with it as he did Hina-chan... but it's still a living creature! One that Hiyori feels responsible for!
True to his word, however, Fuuta doesn't harm the bird. He just won't engage with him, either, which Hiyori supposes is fair enough. The red magpie, however, proceeds to squawk in response to Fuuta's words: another string of chirps that sound like "Gyahaha!," followed by some indistinct cheeping. If you asked ChirpGPT to translate those cheeps into human speak, they'd probably sound something like "Yer a tsundere as always, Fuu-chan!" But neither one of them can understand bird, so who's to say?
In any case, the bird flies off, presumably in search of more shiny things. Hiyori calls after him:]
Be careful! Stick to the ceilings!
[And then he watches it fly off. It's a tad nerve-wracking, letting the bird go with all these monsters on the loose. But he has a feeling this particular bird will be fine; he's more nervous about letting go of Hina-chan. But for the time being, she stays perched on his shoulder, so he'll cross that bridge when he gets to it.
... and now back to Fuuta.
After calling him out on being annoying, Fuuta tells him to stop bragging about his friends "or whatever." It's not enough to offend him or completely sour his mood; he's still glad to be alive! But Hiyori watches his face for a moment, and as he does so, he notices that Fuuta no longer looks "monstrous." He looks more like a sullen child. And that observation, combined with Fuuta's last words, lead him to a certain conclusion.
Is Fuuta jealous that he has someone like Nagisa in his life? Someone to hold hands with, who wishes him goodnight?
That's what it seems like. Given Fuuta's personality and his eye situation, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he's not the most popular. Still, Hiyori thinks, he must have someone who cares for him here, whether he's noticed it or not. Like that Tohsaka girl. She might be secretly in love with him! But even if she's not, she still showed concern for him. And he knows several people who've found love here: Weiss, Topaz—even Esikko-kun, who's probably the most pitiful person in the whole resort. Even Kirma-kun, Esikko's kidnap-happy dog, is apparently dating someone! If he can find love, anyone can!
He does know better than to open his mouth and say any of that, though. Wisely, he keeps silent, until Fuuta gets them back on track by broaching the question of how they'll escape the Vale. He wants Hiyori's help—or rather, he wants them to work together. Hiyori wouldn't object to that, even if he was in a position to do so, but...]
That's fine, of course. But what sort of help are you looking for? Normally I'd volunteer to create a diversion, but in this case, I'm sort of worried I'll get attacked.
[Fuuta, who has that spiked tail and can apparently breathe fire, is better at defending himself. Hiyori, on the other hand, is a mere human, and it's so dark in the Vale he can hardly see.
Yet right as he has that last thought, something happens: a third pair of wings flaps towards the treehouse. He watches as another familiar face enters through the treehouse door: a third magpie, with an elegant curved beak, green with a patch of purple feathers around its throat, its plumage shiny and sleek. Like, literally shiny. It sparkles in the dark, that plumage does. It's his third bird: the one who was born to him and Vil Schoenheit!]
Hm? Goodness, everyone's out today!
[He stretches out an arm, and the bird perches on his hand, depositing something shiny into it. (It looks like a sparkly nail decal.) Much as he loves spending time with his magpies, he knows Fuuta won't be amused by this turn of events. He needs to think of how they can escape here.
And then, looking at his magpie's shiny plumage, something occurs to him.]
... that's it!
[He whirls his head towards Fuuta.]
He could light the way for us! ♪ Or, actually, he might be able to help create a diversion. Nothing that would put him in harm's way, of course. But maybe if he sang...
[At these words, however, Hina-chan pipes up. Squawk squawk squawk squawk. It sounds a lot like she's volunteering to distract the guards and the other monsters, too! Even Hiyori, who can't speak bird, can tell that's what she's getting at! But she's his precious daughter, and his face turns a bit grim.]
Well, I know you can sing too, but...
[... But he's ridiculously protective of her, Fuuta should be able to infer.]
no subject
True to his word, however, Fuuta doesn't harm the bird. He just won't engage with him, either, which Hiyori supposes is fair enough. The red magpie, however, proceeds to squawk in response to Fuuta's words: another string of chirps that sound like "Gyahaha!," followed by some indistinct cheeping. If you asked ChirpGPT to translate those cheeps into human speak, they'd probably sound something like "Yer a tsundere as always, Fuu-chan!" But neither one of them can understand bird, so who's to say?
In any case, the bird flies off, presumably in search of more shiny things. Hiyori calls after him:]
Be careful! Stick to the ceilings!
[And then he watches it fly off. It's a tad nerve-wracking, letting the bird go with all these monsters on the loose. But he has a feeling this particular bird will be fine; he's more nervous about letting go of Hina-chan. But for the time being, she stays perched on his shoulder, so he'll cross that bridge when he gets to it.
... and now back to Fuuta.
After calling him out on being annoying, Fuuta tells him to stop bragging about his friends "or whatever." It's not enough to offend him or completely sour his mood; he's still glad to be alive! But Hiyori watches his face for a moment, and as he does so, he notices that Fuuta no longer looks "monstrous." He looks more like a sullen child. And that observation, combined with Fuuta's last words, lead him to a certain conclusion.
Is Fuuta jealous that he has someone like Nagisa in his life? Someone to hold hands with, who wishes him goodnight?
That's what it seems like. Given Fuuta's personality and his eye situation, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he's not the most popular. Still, Hiyori thinks, he must have someone who cares for him here, whether he's noticed it or not. Like that Tohsaka girl. She might be secretly in love with him! But even if she's not, she still showed concern for him. And he knows several people who've found love here: Weiss, Topaz—even Esikko-kun, who's probably the most pitiful person in the whole resort. Even Kirma-kun, Esikko's kidnap-happy dog, is apparently dating someone! If he can find love, anyone can!
He does know better than to open his mouth and say any of that, though. Wisely, he keeps silent, until Fuuta gets them back on track by broaching the question of how they'll escape the Vale. He wants Hiyori's help—or rather, he wants them to work together. Hiyori wouldn't object to that, even if he was in a position to do so, but...]
That's fine, of course. But what sort of help are you looking for? Normally I'd volunteer to create a diversion, but in this case, I'm sort of worried I'll get attacked.
[Fuuta, who has that spiked tail and can apparently breathe fire, is better at defending himself. Hiyori, on the other hand, is a mere human, and it's so dark in the Vale he can hardly see.
Yet right as he has that last thought, something happens: a third pair of wings flaps towards the treehouse. He watches as another familiar face enters through the treehouse door: a third magpie, with an elegant curved beak, green with a patch of purple feathers around its throat, its plumage shiny and sleek. Like, literally shiny. It sparkles in the dark, that plumage does. It's his third bird: the one who was born to him and Vil Schoenheit!]
Hm? Goodness, everyone's out today!
[He stretches out an arm, and the bird perches on his hand, depositing something shiny into it. (It looks like a sparkly nail decal.) Much as he loves spending time with his magpies, he knows Fuuta won't be amused by this turn of events. He needs to think of how they can escape here.
And then, looking at his magpie's shiny plumage, something occurs to him.]
... that's it!
[He whirls his head towards Fuuta.]
He could light the way for us! ♪ Or, actually, he might be able to help create a diversion. Nothing that would put him in harm's way, of course. But maybe if he sang...
[At these words, however, Hina-chan pipes up. Squawk squawk squawk squawk. It sounds a lot like she's volunteering to distract the guards and the other monsters, too! Even Hiyori, who can't speak bird, can tell that's what she's getting at! But she's his precious daughter, and his face turns a bit grim.]
Well, I know you can sing too, but...
[... But he's ridiculously protective of her, Fuuta should be able to infer.]