#i feel like cain and mitile have interacted all of like Twice before. wild

[cainluvr69]

"His Large Hand Stroking My Hair" Cain SSR Card Story - The Same Relationship As Always

That day, we'd come to the City of Skyblue to check up on the abnormality that <the Great Calamity's> influence had caused. During our initial investigation, the thoughts of a girl who had died young, Ciel, had taken root in my heart… And to let her pass on peacefully, my wizards had to let me dote on them.

Cain: Master Sage, let me know if you aren't feeling well. Don't push yourself, alright?

Akira: Thank you. I'm still feeling in control of myself right now, so don't worry.

Cain: You sure? Well, good to hear. You're putting a lot of effort into what Ciel wants. Y'know, that whole "doting" thing.

Akira: Yes! …Although, to be honest, I really can't imagine you of all people getting doted on, Cain.

Cain: Haha, same here, honestly. To be honest, I'm worried I'm not gonna take to it well at all. I only want you to see me at my coolest, after all.

Mitile: Master Sage, Cain! Are you taking a walk? I saw a beautiful rainbow bridge over that way! I thought it'd be nice if you saw it too. If you want, I can take you there!

Mitile took both my hand and Cain's. It was so simple and innocent a gesture that both of us smiled at him.

Akira: (…Oh, I know!) Um, Cain. What if you tried acting like Mitile did just now?

Cain: Like Mitile?

Mitile: Like me?

I told Mitile what Cain and I had been talking about.

Mitile: …I see, I see. So you want to let yourself get spoiled for miss Ciel's sake, but you don't know the first thing about how to do that. So you wanted to mimic me…but I don't see how those two things go together?

Akira: Err, um, I was just thinking that the two of you are kind of alike. You're both active, assertive, and shine like little suns. But you have an older brother, so you're used to having someone look after you in a way different than Cain does… So I was thinking he could talk to you about it.

Mitile: Mmf. Doesn't that mean you think I'm acting like a child?

Akira: Oh, no no, that's not what I meant. I mean, there's a totally different reason why I find myself wanting to look after you…

Cain: I get what you're trying to say, Master Sage. Being around Mitile and Rutile makes me start wondering what it'd be like to have a little brother, and it makes me wanna start spoiling him rotten. …Like this.

Mitile: Wah.

The corners of Cain's eyes crinkled up in a smile, and he ruffled Mitile's hair with one hand. Mitile was startled for a moment, but then he smiled, too.

Cain: So, Mitile. Will you teach me how to let other people take care of me like that?

Mitile: … Umm, I'm not sure if I'll be able to teach something like that, but… I'll do my best to help you and miss Ciel out!

✦✧☾✧✦

Mitile nodded. He didn't seem upset about it, but he did look a little embarrassed.

Akira: Thank you, Mitile!

Cain: It's reassuring to have someone like you to rely on for this. Shall we start going to the rainbow bridge? You can hit me with some pointers on the way there.

Mitile: Sure, that sounds good. I'll lead the way!

Mitile took my right hand and took a step forward. Cain observed the simple gesture and nodded, having come to some sort of internal understanding about it, and extended his hand to me as well.

Cain: Akira. Is it okay if I hold your hand too?

Akira: …! Of course!

I had a flower on each arm, their hands warm enough that their body heat made it all the way to my heart.

Akira: (Alright, I need to work hard at doting on Cain, too!)

✦✧☾✧✦

The rainbow bridge was a bit far, so we took it easy so we could take in the sights and sounds of the town as we walked together.

Mitile: Th-the juice at that stall over there looks really good!

Akira: Ooh, and they've got all sorts of other drinks, too!

Cain: Since we're here, let's all get something. Pick whatever you want.

Mitile & Akira: Yay!

Akira: (…Wait, crap!) I'm so sorry! Isn't this the type of situation where I should be the one paying for your drinks instead to properly spoil you…?!

Mitile: You have a point… It's usually my brother treating me and not the other way around, so…?

Cain: Sorry, I'm really used to treating, too…

Akira: Alright, then it's time for me to shine! Pick whatever you want, you two. (…But will they really let me? Mitile especially doesn't like being treated like this by me…)

Cain: Thanks. Be sure you get something too, though. Let's see… I guess I'll just get a coffee.

Akira: (Oh, is he picking something out first so that Mitile doesn't feel bad about picking out what he actually wants?)

Cain's gesture of consideration made me gasp a little (just a little!) in admiration.

Akira: (Wait, no. I need to be doing better.) What do you want to drink, Mitile?

Mitile: I'll get the juice! The one on the menu, the special. It says it's made with a rare kind of fruit that's only found in the area.

Akira: Ooh…! So it's something that's totally unique to this town!

Cain: Man, I guess I'll get a cup of the apple juice, then. Listing to Mitile got me wanting some, too.

Akira: Of course. Alright, here we go…

✦✧☾✧✦

After we got our drinks, we continued our walk. Mitile immediately took a sip of his juice, eyes glittering with excitement.

Mitile: …Uu.

Akira: Oh, do you not like it?

Mitile: Well, it's just, a little too sour for me… I'm so sorry. You even went out of your way to get it for me…

Cain: Then let's trade. I don't mind sour stuff at all.

Mitile: Are you sure? Thank y-- …Wait, Cain! I mean, I'm happy for the offer, but…!

Akira: Cain, you've been the one trying to spoil us this whole time…!

Cain: Huh?! I can't even do something like this?!

Akira: (Me when I'm in a spoiling people competition and my opponent is Cain Knightley…!)

✦✧☾✧✦

As we continued on our way, we tried out different ways to spoil and how to be spoiled--and to be frank, I just couldn't get used to it. But we kept experimenting all the way to the rainbow bridge.

Akira: Woah, it's beautiful…!

Cain: This is amazing work… They turned the bridge itself into a canvas.

Mitile: It's so pretty, right! I'm so happy I got to show it to you. …Hm? Hey, Rutile's over there.

Akira: Oh, you're right. Heeeey, Rutiiiile!

Mitile: …He's not responding. Did he not hear you? Do you mind if I go get him? I want to show this bridge to him, too.

Cain: Sure, go for it. Thanks for bringing us here.

Mitile: Ehehe, you're welcome!

We saw Mitile off, and now that we were alone again, just us and the bridge, a reminder of what we were doing washed over us.

Akira: Trying to dote on others and trying to let yourself be doted on are a lot more difficult than you'd think, huh.

Cain: For real. I didn't think it'd be something I'd struggle with like this. But looking at you and Mitile just makes me want to start looking after the two of you, y'know?

Akira: Ahaha, I guess you're just a natural older sibling-type of person.

Cain: I dunno if that's what I'd call it, but… At the very least, I don't think that Ciel would be happy with us trying to force the issue of who's the one who gets doted on and who's doing the doting. …So can we go back to how we always are?

Akira: Yeah, we'd be kind of missing the point of doing this if it wasn't sincere on both our parts… Not a good stage for stilted acting, and all that.

Cain: Right? So, here.

Cain extended his hand to me. It was a gesture he clearly had a lot of practice doing, and yet it didn't come off as sleazy or insincere.

Cain: Since we're already here, let's walk across the bridge. May I take your hand?

Akira: …Of course.

I gently laid my hand on top of Cain's, and he squeezed it tightly.

Cain: …Yeah. This feels a lot more natural.

Akira: (It's true. This feels so much more comfortable…)

That sense of comfort, of safety and security in what we usually do, wrapped around me like a warm blanket, and I felt myself relax. I let myself stay a single step behind him, and looked up at his back with unguarded admiration.

Akira: Umm, Cain? I know that trying to intentionally get doted on would be a bit difficult, but, um… If there's anything you want from me, anything at all, just tell me and it's yours. And I don't mean just because of this situation! Any time at all, okay? You're always so kind to me, and I want to repay you for it.

Cain: Don't even worry about that kind of thing, c'mon. But…thank you. …Alright, I know. I do have one thing I want from you.

Akira: …! Of course, anything you want!

Cain leaned towards me, a smile flickering across his lips. He held up our connected hands almost…reverently.

Cain: Let me always escort you just like this. Will you accept my selfish request?

Cain's eyes, golden honey and ruby red jam, were so soft as he asked me that. His smile was the same as always, and he was still taller than me, of course, but something about his expression made it feel like when Mitile looked up at me with those shining eyes of his. My heart skipped a beat.

Akira: Of course, I'd be happy to. I'll be sure to remember.

And at that, Cain smiled so, so happily. The way we already were was the best way for us to dote on each other, wasn't it?

Training Episode: Good At Doting, Good At Being Doted On

Akira: (I'm feeling hungry… I think I'll drop by Shylock's bar and ask him for something.)

Cain: Master Sage? What are you doing up this late?

Akira: Oh, Cain. I'm just feeling a little hungry… Wait, what are you doing with that big basket this late?

Cain: What, this? Let's just say the bar's customers got a little too carried away at the bar tonight.

Akira: Carried away…?

Cain: Yeah. I was actually out doing some evening training in the woods when I started getting hungry, so I stopped by Shylock's bar and they all gave me this. There's all sorts of stuff packed up inside.

Akira: Woah, you weren't kidding!

Cain: Let's see. This bottle of wine is from Shylock, this bottle of water is from Faust, and these sandwiches are from Nero. And then Snow and Rustica packed them all into this basket to turn it into a picnic set.

Akira: Ahaha, that sure sounds like something they'd all do. I dunno if I'd call it them getting carried away, though… It sounds more to me like they all wanted to dote on you a little bit.

Cain: What, really? If I try to eat all this "affection" my stomach's gonna rip open again. Would you want to join me? We can have a nighttime picnic together.

Akira: Of course! That sounds lovely.

Cain: Nice. Off to the courtyard we go, then.

Akira: (Cain really is just plain good at doting on people, but he's pretty good at getting doted on, too…) (But I suppose that's why we all love him.)