[ Not at the beginning, and truly, not even when he's gotten used to it. Endo doesn't expect it to be world-class acting; he isn't anticipating that he'll truly feel wanted. He just wants to be able to convince himself for a while, and to do that, he needs Yukimiya to put on a good show. ]
But I'm not gonna wait forever, either. You'll practice like this [ he squeezes his hand ] every day and we'll work up to it. But if you're not trying, or you're not making progress, that's it for you. Got it?
[ Endo doesn't expect him to commit to the bit so early, so the squeeze is a little surprise, enough to make him drop his smile and widen his eyes a little — after which he gives a much stronger squeeze. And grins, naturally. ]
Of course you do! 'Cause I picked right.
[ He is a bad judge of character, though, so who's to say what this will look like long-term. Still, the early squeeze is promising. They may work up to what he really wants after all. ]
Something else you gotta know — I live with another guy. Stay out of his way.
[ And don't ever make commentary about Endo's relationship with him. But Endo doesn't elaborate beyond that. ]
[How awkward a situation is he being brought into? Is this like when a couple on the verge of divorce adopts a dog to try to solve relationship issues?]
[ He'll probably run into plenty of rules that Endo doesn't personally view as such along the way. That's the kind of thing that happens when you have a whole system dedicated to living with one person, and then you drag someone else into it.
[ That's it! No frills, nothing indulgent, not even a title. Just a name! But that's because all of this is eventually supposed to feel as real as possible. How could he believe it, if all he's hearing is master or sir or whatever else people have their slaves call them?
With that, Endo lets go of his hand. No use overdoing it before they even get home. Instead, he stretches out, just shy of entering Yukimiya's space, and says: ]
[It's a skill most soccer players cultivate, sleeping in a moving vehicle. Yukimiya takes off his glasses, clips them to the front of his shirt, crosses his arms and tucks his head. And yes, drifts off to sleep.]
[ When they arrive, Endo pokes him awake — literally. He steps out of the car with a yawn, stretching his arms and then folding his hands behind his head. ]
Bring your leash.
[ He isn't going to lead him in with it — for now. Just in case Takiishi's home. He may not care about what Endo does or doesn't do, but it'd still be weird to just waltz in there with a guy in the position of a dog. It'd be better for him to explain it first.
He waves Yukimiya in front of him so that he enters first, just in case he gets a surge of courage now that they're in society again. ]
[Once inside, Yukimiya takes his shoes off on autopilot, as if he could pretend for a moment he's just over at a friend's house, instead of wearing a collar and holding a leash as a pet bought by some psycho.]
[ What a good pet. Endo removes his shoes, too, and heads deeper into the house. ]
I'll give you a tour so you know what's off limits.
[ It's simple enough: living room, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms. But before he takes Yukimiya to the room that will be his for the foreseeable future, he pauses before Takiishi's. ]
Whatever you do, don't go in here. Even if the door is open.
[ Lest Takiishi get upset to find something out of place. He wouldn't want anyone in his space.
Endo doesn't care about that kind of thing. His room is relatively plain, all things considered. And if Yukimiya is going to serve him, he'll be in and out of there, anyway. ]
[He is wondering what the mysterious other party here is going to think about him being here. Maybe...maybe he'll be sympathetic? Help Yukimiya escape? But he isn't going to try anything stupid without meeting the guy.]
[Well, it wasn't like he had many personal effects within Blue Lock. At least there's a bed and a little bit of space. Everything else will be a luxury.
But. Playing along will be better for now. Right? So he reaches out and touches Endo's hand lightly, as if that can be a casual gesture at this point.]
Thank you, for giving me my own personal space. That's really thoughtful and generous.
[He had expected to be sleeping at the foot of Endo's bed or something.]
[ Oh, the day will come when he sleeps near or on Endo's bed. But Endo believes in slow and steady. Baby steps that lead to full integration, where everything becomes natural before Yukimiya knows it's happening. It's all about the long game.
That said, he's very impressed with Yukimiya's initiative. Similar to him, he had his own expectations, and one of them was that Yukimiya would be slow to adapt to these new expectations.
He grins. ]
Good work. Keep it up and I'll let you pick dinner tonight.
[ Because Takiishi will be home late. Otherwise it would be his call. ]
Get settled, take a shower, and don't try to leave. I'll give you an hour.
[ And he will time him.
But he'll also put fresh clothes near the bathroom door. There's no need for him to carry around the grime of that place. ]
[Most of that hour is spent in the shower, and at least some of that time goes into crying. But he is good enough with timing to emerge from the bathroom and dress before the hour passes completely.
And there is no immediate attempt to flee. There wouldn't have been, even without Endo saying anything.]
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[ Not at the beginning, and truly, not even when he's gotten used to it. Endo doesn't expect it to be world-class acting; he isn't anticipating that he'll truly feel wanted. He just wants to be able to convince himself for a while, and to do that, he needs Yukimiya to put on a good show. ]
But I'm not gonna wait forever, either. You'll practice like this [ he squeezes his hand ] every day and we'll work up to it. But if you're not trying, or you're not making progress, that's it for you. Got it?
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I understand.
[Or at least, he thinks he does. It'll take some doing, in practice.]
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Of course you do! 'Cause I picked right.
[ He is a bad judge of character, though, so who's to say what this will look like long-term. Still, the early squeeze is promising. They may work up to what he really wants after all. ]
Something else you gotta know — I live with another guy. Stay out of his way.
[ And don't ever make commentary about Endo's relationship with him. But Endo doesn't elaborate beyond that. ]
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[How awkward a situation is he being brought into? Is this like when a couple on the verge of divorce adopts a dog to try to solve relationship issues?]
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[ This was an impulse buy. Takiishi has no idea.
But: ]
He won't care.
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[He doesn't understand a damned thing. But he'll learn quick!]
Any other rules or things I should know?
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[ He'll probably run into plenty of rules that Endo doesn't personally view as such along the way. That's the kind of thing that happens when you have a whole system dedicated to living with one person, and then you drag someone else into it.
But! That's a later problem. ]
Just relax. You got it easy with me.
[ Debatable. ]
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And...what should I call you?
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[ That's it! No frills, nothing indulgent, not even a title. Just a name! But that's because all of this is eventually supposed to feel as real as possible. How could he believe it, if all he's hearing is master or sir or whatever else people have their slaves call them?
With that, Endo lets go of his hand. No use overdoing it before they even get home. Instead, he stretches out, just shy of entering Yukimiya's space, and says: ]
I'm gonna take a nap. We're a ways out.
[ Question time is officially over. ]
You better take one too.
[ Not an order. Just a friendly warning. ]
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Bring your leash.
[ He isn't going to lead him in with it — for now. Just in case Takiishi's home. He may not care about what Endo does or doesn't do, but it'd still be weird to just waltz in there with a guy in the position of a dog. It'd be better for him to explain it first.
He waves Yukimiya in front of him so that he enters first, just in case he gets a surge of courage now that they're in society again. ]
Door's unlocked.
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Nice place.
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I'll give you a tour so you know what's off limits.
[ It's simple enough: living room, kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms. But before he takes Yukimiya to the room that will be his for the foreseeable future, he pauses before Takiishi's. ]
Whatever you do, don't go in here. Even if the door is open.
[ Lest Takiishi get upset to find something out of place. He wouldn't want anyone in his space.
Endo doesn't care about that kind of thing. His room is relatively plain, all things considered. And if Yukimiya is going to serve him, he'll be in and out of there, anyway. ]
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[He is wondering what the mysterious other party here is going to think about him being here. Maybe...maybe he'll be sympathetic? Help Yukimiya escape? But he isn't going to try anything stupid without meeting the guy.]
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This'll be yours. If you wanna decorate it or get some stuff of your own, you'll have to earn it.
[ By doing the one thing he was hired to do, of course. ]
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But. Playing along will be better for now. Right? So he reaches out and touches Endo's hand lightly, as if that can be a casual gesture at this point.]
Thank you, for giving me my own personal space. That's really thoughtful and generous.
[He had expected to be sleeping at the foot of Endo's bed or something.]
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That said, he's very impressed with Yukimiya's initiative. Similar to him, he had his own expectations, and one of them was that Yukimiya would be slow to adapt to these new expectations.
He grins. ]
Good work. Keep it up and I'll let you pick dinner tonight.
[ Because Takiishi will be home late. Otherwise it would be his call. ]
Get settled, take a shower, and don't try to leave. I'll give you an hour.
[ And he will time him.
But he'll also put fresh clothes near the bathroom door. There's no need for him to carry around the grime of that place. ]
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And there is no immediate attempt to flee. There wouldn't have been, even without Endo saying anything.]