Merry neko-mimi nurse 2.

2005/12/26 20:36

Y-KO:	… What’s wrong? Okay, fine, you want me to take the AT field off?
ME:	No, don’t!
Y-KO:	… Huh?
ME:	Er, please don’t… What is an AT field anyway?
Y-KO:	You know, the barrier from Evangelion. It blocks enemy attacks.
ME:	So I’m supposed to be an enemy?

And my glances are an attack?

And you’re talking about Evangelion?

I don’t think they ever aired that show in my hometown, so I never saw it…

But meanwhile, I had noticed something very important.

Rather than acting as a barrier—

I made Y-ko cover up her AT field,

and I pulled the cake I had bought earlier out of the fridge.

It was a convenient little pastry I had bought in the department store basement, a perfect serving for two.

The only light in the room came from the candle.

Its small, wavering light illuminated the pair of us.

A pair of cups with tea bags steeping inside sat on the table.

The pleasant scent of the tea drifted throughout the room.

The mood was perfect—

Y-KO:	You know the term tea bag…
ME:	Yes?
Y-KO:	It sounds kinda sexy, doesn’t it?
ME:	… I don’t know why you’re bringing this up at this particular moment…

It’s ruining the mood.

… Okay, the mood was ruined from the moment she put on the neko-mimi nurse outfit.

Y-KO:	Plus, if you’re going to call yourself Sebas, you need to prepare some real tea.
	What kind of butler uses tea bags?! Don’t we have any tea leaves in here, Sebas?
ME:	I don’t call myself Sebas, and this is your apartment.
Y-KO:	You’re getting a fresh mouth, know that? I never raised you to be that way!
ME:	You never raised me at all. Come on, let’s eat.

The repartee ended.

We began to eat the cake.

Y-KO:

Ooh! It’s good!

It is? I’m glad you like it.

Y-KO:	How would you describe this? In English, you might call it tres bieeen!
ME:	That’s actually French.
Y-KO:	Or was it… trombooone?
ME:	That’s an instrument.
Y-KO:	… Umbreeellaaaa.
ME:	That’s the thing you carry when it rains.
Y-KO:	………
ME:	…………
Y-KO:	……… Is it just me, or are you being really cold today? Your usual snide put-downs are really sharp and mean-spirited this time…
ME:	Ha-ha-ha. Whatever do you mean, my dear?
	My put-downs are always done half out of love and kindness.
Y-KO:	No way! Usually, when I say something like “umbreeellaaaa,” you come back with
	“Yes, yes, that’s right, umbreeellaaaa—not! That’s what you carry when it rains!” You know, real playful, like you’re going along with my joke…

… Sigh. I don’t have a choice.

I’ll have to be honest…

ME:	Okay, look… You know the outfit you’re wearing right now?
Y-KO:	Hmm? The neko-mimi nurse?
ME:	Yeah. It’s, well…

I’m pretty nervous at the moment.

I don’t think I can even taste the cake.

Y-KO:	Aha… Say no more. I understand.
ME:	…?
Y-KO:	You’re feeling shy because of my costume!
ME:	… Well, if you want to be perfectly blunt, yes.
Y-KO:	And to be perfectly blunt, you want to cosplay, too!
ME:	To be perfectly blunt, no!
Y-KO:	Don’t worry! My present is a suit!
ME:	Wha… Are you listening to me?!
Y-KO:	It’s got a nice, crisp shirt and a slightly loose necktie…
ME:	Um… Y-ko?
Y-KO:	… Suit… moe!
ME:	… Can we at least talk to each other rather than over each other?
Y-KO:	I don’t think you’ll ever find another present—
	that combines my interests with practical benefit in a better way…

… But I was the one who asked for it.

I was the one who told you that I wanted a suit.

This display of open excitement is starting to frighten me, dear.

Y-KO:	Go ahead! Put it on!!
ME:	But… the cake’s only half-eaten…
Y-KO:	Suits are more important than cake.
ME:	Why do you say that like it’s a well-known adage?
Y-KO:	Okay, fine. Wear half of it!
ME:	Half?! What do you mean, wear half?!
Y-KO:	Isn’t it perfectly obvious?
	You will be half-naked. I just love collarbones.

… And that was how our Christmas eve unfolded…