Family? Found!

Crush

Something weird is up between Frederick and Simon.

That, is the thought that made Kioshi's curiosity kick in and resulted in this series of events that led to an even more confusing outcome.

~A few hours ago~

"Hey, Mark-san... why does Simon always turn into a strawberry when he is with Frederick?" Drinking water sweetened by fruits, Kioshi lays lazily in his hands as he curiously observes Simon and Frederick's interactions.

"Simon is... just a 'tiny' bit smitten is all, dear." Answering gently as he puts their dishes away, Mark smiles back lightly before sweat dropping as the confusion on Kioshi's face only grows. Walking over and sitting down next to the curious boy, Mark signs lightly before asking with a whisper. "Do you... know what love is?"

"Is what you are supposed to feel with your family, isn't it?" asking with a light head tilt, Kioshi's answer is met with a sign. Standing back up and just lightly patting him on the head, Mark smiles lightly before walking off.

"It's a little different when it comes to what people call... a crush. You'll just sort of have to wait and see how things play out, I guess. Though I'm rather sure that it is going to take a while."

Feeling his confusion adding to his curiosity, Kioshi nods lightly to himself.

He'll wait and see. But he isn't patient enough so....

Let's see how he can speed it up.

~Back to present~

"Hey, Simon-san?"

"Yes, Kioshi?"

"What is a crush?"

"E- eh? W- why do you want to know, exactly?" letting out a nervous laugh as a tint of red reappears on his cheeks, Simon asks lightly as Kioshi leans against the door frame nonchalantly with a small shrug. "Heard the word from somewhere and just got curious, I guess."

"W- well... I guess it's umm... when you like someone and..." not sure how to put it at all, Simon fiddles around with the dagger in his hand as he sits on his bed crossed-legged. "Well... being in the other's presence makes your heart race... and your mood restless... I guess you would also want to be by the other's side more often?"

"Heh? Sounds like a pain."

"T- then why did you ask?!"

Ignoring the defensive yelp from the strawberry red boy, Kioshi stares the other right in the eyes with a light head tilt. "And does it make you turn red?"

"Eh?"

"I mean, every time you are near that certain someone, you suddenly turn very red like a strawberry."

"I don't have a crush on Frederick."

"I didn't say who, Simon-san."

Smirking lightly as Simon stares at him in disbelief, Kioshi shrugs lightly before walking out the room with a small wave. The interrogation techniques he had learned from observing Tyron on their mission can even help in situations like this, huh? Interesting.

Next is Frederick. Finding the boy fishing with his claws in the water, Kioshi sits himself down on a nearby rock, tilting his head curiously, wondering if the response will be different for everyone.

"Hmm? Crush?" blinking in surprise as he turns over to Kioshi, Frederick lets a small smirk slide onto his face as he crosses his arms. "What? Did our little Kio find someone they are fond of?"

"No. And the idea of that happening to me, judging by the previous response I've gained, is detesting."

"Hmm? Then why do you ask?" tilting his head back with confusion, Frederick throws another fish up to shore as Kioshi just shrugs lightly.