We interrupt your regular shitposting for...

[strawberrypunch]

Tatsuma Hiyuu shared a photo. 4/21/2017 near Viea Village

🍓❤️ 18 now

[...Well, okay, it's still pretty shitposty, but at least it's in a wholesome way?]

Comments

[tarotcards]

Can I visit you then? At your house, I mean.

[ Nope... this isn't suspicious at all... ]

[strawberrypunch]

[Not... in the slightest...]

If you really want to

Do you have my address?

[tarotcards]

I don't so if you don't mind sharing, I'd appreciate it.

[strawberrypunch]

[Have an address, Souji! Hopefully no one here is nefarious enough to record it for ulterior motives or anything.]

[tarotcards]

Thank you. I'll drop by shortly. ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ

➟ action (from the shortest text convo)

[tarotcards]

[ And look! Souji does eventually show up on Tatsuma's doorstep, holding a bag filled with ~goodies~. This isn't a surprise at all. Souji was the most unsubtle thing in his texts but what matters is that he's here and he politely knocks on the door. Open up before he channels his inner Jake Muller and kicks down the door. ]

[strawberrypunch]

[Hey now, be nice to his door and don't you dare shit on his couch.

Tatsuma answers the door soon enough, still carrying a bowl of strawberries with him. There were leftovers from the cake, and, well.

At least the family doesn't have to worry about them going to waste.]

Hey.

[tarotcards]

[ Don't tell Souji what to do. He can shit on a couch if he wants to. He'll shit everywhere and betray everyone. ]

[ When Souji sees Tatsuma open the door with the bowl of strawberries, he can't help but smile. Souji feels very confident in his gift for Tatsuma now. ]

Hey. I got something for you.

[ He holds up the bag, which is actually a nice gift bag. He'll hand it to Tatsuma if he can take it, but if he looks inside, he'll find one box of a slice of strawberry shortcake (have more cake, buddy), one of these phone cases, and a typical birthday card. What's inside that birthday card though... It's just this. ]

[strawberrypunch]

[He actually sets the bowl down on the little stand they have near the door. It's meant more for a vase, but if he sticks it on the corner, it can totally balance there it's fine.

But then he opens up the bag and his stance tenses just slightly as he makes sure he keeps the bag properly upright - he's just noticed the cake in there. Carefully, he picks out the phone case and the card, his expression growing frankly touched as he takes it all in.]

...Thank you.

[Just two simple words, but they aren't the quiet, often flat words he usually gives. There's a little more strength behind them, even a little husk. It's...

It's not often others celebrate his birthday, too.

He tries not to gape too much though - he can do that plenty later. Swallowing quickly, he looks up again.]

--Would you like to come in?

[tarotcards]

[ Souji's used to short and simple words, especially by having a brother like Yu. He knows to look out for the little things that matter, like a change in tone or small gestures, so Tatsuma doesn't need to go out of his way to say a whole thank you speech. Just those words are enough, along with the offer to come in. ]

If that's okay. Are you done celebrating with your family already?

[strawberrypunch]

Yeah. We keep birthdays simple.

[A favorite meal, followed by favorite cake. But that's enough for him.

He steps out of the way, stuffing the card and phone case into his pockets so he can carry the bowl in one hand and the cake in the bag in the other. There's plenty of room to leave shoes at the entrance, and he'll linger long enough for Souji to do so before he leads the way in.

The house still smells suspiciously of freshly baked cake, the scent mingling with another... Some sort of savory sauce, perhaps?

Oil paintings line the walls, many of them bearing the same signature, should Souji care to examine them so closely. Apparently they are Mrs. Katou's various works.]

[tarotcards]

[ Souji walks in, taking off his shoes at the entrance (because he's not some sort of monster who wears them inside) and glances around. The paintings definitely catch his eye and he turns back at Tatsuma. ]

These are nice. Where did you get them?

[ The Narukami dorms may need a little more paintings or things to put on their walls. They're pretty plain. ]

[strawberrypunch]

[Well at least we know he's civilized.

He tilts his head somewhat at Souji's question, a small smile forming on his lips as it clicks.]

Grandma painted those.

[tarotcards]

[ Did the bowlcut and old man hair colour give him away? ]

She's talented. Has she ever considered selling her paintings?

[strawberrypunch]

Yeah. She sells her paintings and grandpa sells his pottery. [They're an artist duo! Speaking of, there is quite a lot of pottery on the shelves inside.]

They show them in the gallery here, too.

[tarotcards]

[ This place is like a child's paradise... so many things to break and ruin. ]

I should drop by the gallery and take a look then. But do you do anything like this too? Something artistic?

[strawberrypunch]

[Ah. Well!]

I paint a little... but just for fun.

[tarotcards]

Really? You should show me a few of your paintings then.

I thought about maybe trying painting but as you saw, I only draw these days.

[ Mostly cats... he draws cats... ]

[strawberrypunch]

Grandmother’s better. [Naturally; she’s the one who makes a job of it.]

I like pottery better, but there’s not much space for it. […Especially when he doesn’t particularly have any drive to sell or donate anything he makes.

At any rate, kitchen! They are here now. And that cake from the message earlier is clearly missing a chunk from it, but there’s still plenty left. It seems they thought ahead and already cut the rest of it into slices.]

The plates are…

[--In one of the upper cabinets, apparently. As with the hallway, this room is full of pottery and paintings. Most of them are made with an obvious technical skill, but if Souji’s being nosy, he can probably find a wobbly pot in a myriad of colors; about what you’d expect of a kid going overboard with all the color options available.]