#[before being found by rei and got strings pulled to get adopted or something lmao]

[pyonpyonpyon]

Wowie, Jiro's getting real good at teasing! Ramuda's pretty sure he's wriggled his way into being a decent friend, so he just turns on the watery eyes and upturned lips as he waits.

And--

Huh?

Ah.

For a brief moment, his expression freezes. And then Ramuda gasps, eyes wide as he blinks up at Jiro.

"Really...?" He 'hmmmm's loudly, crossing his arms as he looks down at the ground in thought. Or at least, that's what he wants Jiro to think. "But I'm like, teensy compared to you and Ichi-ichi and Osabusabu! And I have pink hair! And same colored eyes!"

Yep! The answer is always to play dumb! But also-- "Plus, I haven't charmed Sabu-chan yet, so I'm only two-thirds of the way in!"

Jiro cringed at Ramuda’s playful nickname for Ichiro—"cute widdle Ichi-ichi" just felt wrong. Ichiro was too cool for that. Still, he couldn’t shake the memory of those moments when Ichiro sang and danced while cooking for him and Saburo; those glimpses of warmth were surprisingly endearing. Maybe Ramuda had seen that side of him too, considering they were teamed up before.

He returned to the moment as Ramuda’s question broke through, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Friends, huh?” A smirk crept onto Jiro’s face as he closed one eye and crossed his arms, feigning indifference. “You think just because you hang around my bro, you get to be my friend too?” His tone was teasing, but he had to admit that he’d come to see Ramuda as an unofficial member of the Buster Bros!!! with how often he dropped by.

“Kiiiidding!” Jiro chuckled, nudging Ramuda playfully. “You’re like the long-lost Yamada brother.”