[ it's with the ease and confidence of someone used to locking up every single feeling he doesn't want to look at that charles bundles up the way he still feels like his heart should be pounding, the way he still wants nothing more than to lean down and pull junpei to him and kiss him silly — and then he throws all of them into a part of his mind that's like his bag of tricks, endless and jumbled, and pulls the metaphorical drawstrings shut.

and just like that, when he looks at junpei again, it's with an entirely normal, bright smile, like absolutely nothing whatsoever has been amiss in the past couple of minutes. ]

Sure, let's go. [ and then glancing down at himself, lifting his arm and brushing his fingers against the fabric as though he might somehow be able to feel it, ] You know what, I think I'll leave it like this. I mean, don't wanna waste all your hard work, do I? And besides, then I don't have to focus on maintaining it.

[ new clothes are always a bit trickier, and he kind of wants to not have to think about it. and anyway, who's going to mind, when he's entirely visible to everyone here? pulling the curtain aside, he aims one more grin at junpei, ] Thanks, really. Now wait a tick, I'll go pay, then we can go. Wasted enough on our time on this, haven't I?