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Hakuri stares at the paper praying mantis on his bed and the paper praying mantis stares right back.
Hakuri tilts his head and the mantis tilts its little head as much as it can — which is not far, just enough to be kinda freaky and unnatural, but also… cute.
“Huh, what—” Hakuri starts to wonder out loud, then realizes.
Sorcery.
More specifically: Hiruhiko’s sorcery.
Hakuri has only witnessed it once and in the context of battle, with the explicit intention to maim and kill, but there’s no doubt in his head about what this could be.
Hiruhiko has stopped trying to kill Hakuri for stealing Chihiro’s attention away from him weeks ago, maybe longer, but of course Hakuri has to wonder if this could be an attempt to spy on him? Or rather, on Chihiro?
He has to be responsible. He can’t risk putting everyone into danger because he misses a pet.
The mantis slowly crawls closer, as if sensing his hesitation, stopping at the edge of the bed. It has no eyes, but Hakuri definitely feels stared at with familiar anticipation.
His hand extends without him realizing, pointer finger reaching out like he used to do with Samurai. He stops himself, then flinches when the origami mantis crosses the rest of the distance, its head nuzzling his finger pad.
Samurai had never done that.
“Hiruhiko?” He feels stupid for asking, but then the mantis hops a few times, its tiny arms clapping. That can’t be anything but a yes, right? “Um, so— how did you—?” he starts, and then, “Oh, right— duh. You can’t reply.”
The praying mantis’ little arms flail again, before it climbs on Hakuri’s hand. It feels dry like paper, because it is paper, but it moves so smoothly and gracefully that it can’t be anything but a masterful display of sorcery.
With no hostile intentions, Hakuri can now tell.
He caresses the mantis’ wings with a finger. It feels sturdier than paper should be, so he pats its little head — it seems happy about that.
“Thank you, Hiruhiko. This is very sweet, and kinda unexpected,” he says. “I can’t wait to show Chihiro my new Samurai.”
Dispelling any lingering doubts, the paper mantis starts dancing again hearing that name.
Hakuri smiles. He leans down to press his lips to Samurai’s little head. A quick, happy, and grateful kiss.
“Think he’ll be jealous?”
Samurai dances again.