[Ryuji's just standing there mapping new horoscopes on his shoulders, and Dave's also left there letting him, enjoying the touch, suddenly feeling a little silly for wanting to hide it in the first place. but then, Ryuji had hid his, too, so ... chalk it up to the both of them behaving similarly when it comes to the serious moments they share with each other, as they're always wont to do.]

You think so? [Dave is used to being called cute by this point. beautiful is kind of a new one, though — new enough that it lingers, like an August heat wave in Texas on his cheeks.]

[he sort of wonders if Ryuji would still be doing this if they were the regular freckles he used to have. honestly ... probably. that's what he would figure.]

I guess I wouldn't mind standing out in the open shirtless if you were ever lost and needed a lighthouse. [Dave. what? that's not very romantic, nor is that the purpose of lighthouses.]

I mean ... I get what you're saying there, I think. There's pretty much nothing to like about everything that happened last month.

But I do really like the way you look right now.