"Yeah," Steven says. "So's she, really, especially... when she smiles..."

Cute when she smiles.

T-chan.

Akane. Who doesn't like guys. Who's sweet otherwise. Who's a good fighter.

It's different when it's a flesh-and-blood person and not a samefaced manga drawing which is why it took him this goddamn long, but--

Fuck.

He. Knows exactly who Connie's friendcrush is now. He was an anime fan in the 90s. How could he not?

God-fucking-damnit.





Luckily, he's able to mostly hide the moment of realization, except for a sudden flaring of his pupils, but still.

He's going to have to tell Dirk about this.

And he can never, ever tell Connie. Thanks a lot, Robert Heinlein.