“I still said no, many times, I didn’t want to, period, that should still be enough, he /knows/ I’m not childish.”

(…Okay, childish might not be the right word. More… unreasonable. And stubborn when you get an idea in your head, whether it’s right or wrong or biased. He tries to meet you with reason, but you never seem to hear it. And how many times did you say no in the past? Push him away? Run away yourself? You do realise he’s had to break past your ‘nos’ at times, so he didn’t think that much differently this time. We understand your general reasons for disliking Heiji, but at the same time, know you can tolerate each other. And while you don’t normally open up to people, it’s Kai. Talk to him if you think he’s not getting something. I know you’re comfortable enough around him to do it.)

“I did tell him, I even told him if it was just us, me and him, that maybe I would change my mind…”

(Yeah. ‘Maybe’. That’s going to clue him in to anything, or make him confident you even would. And no, you never did say why at the time, just that you didn’t want to in front of Heiji. And to be perfectly frank, without the knowledge of what you’re upset with exactly, it just sounds like the childish ‘I don’t like him, so no’. Not something that would keep Kai from trying. He’s smart at times, oblivious at others, so if you’re getting upset, tell him outright, else he may not get it until later, and then he gets guilty at making you upset. You aren’t the one who has to deal with a sullen thief, most of the time.)

“It shouldn’t matter. I’ve put up with him pushing my boundaries often, so when I say no, it should still mean no.”

(Like I said, he’s sorry. But you’re the Hakuba he felt most comfortable with asking to do something like that in the first place, and he did want to do that and have fun, so he was more persistent that he might be otherwise if you were uncomfortable. He just thought it was the usual animosity towards Heiji, and something you could deal with. He wouldn’t have asked if he’d known you were that upset with the Osakan. And you should know by now that he doesn’t even push boundaries much unless he thinks it won’t hurt people. Could’ve just said outright why you didn’t want to do anything involving Heiji.)

Hakuba nodded. “Yes.”

[Okay, then. *sets out the tea stuff for Hakuba before stepping to the side and smiling* So, how’re you doing?]

“Any tea is fine, no need search around.”

[*Oh, well okay, then. The black tea is easy enough to get out* Well, easy enough to find this here, at least. Sweet tea in the south and all of that. I guess you’ll be making it youself?]