I think the only person who would even try is Shimizu. And we know how that would end up. [ There's always time for nostalgia like this he thinks, but it's also an affirmation that he wouldn't let anyone else get close to his hair. Or any other part of him, really.

Just for insurance, he sneaks another quick kiss wherever's most convenient between the braiding, cuddling, and feathers. The past seems so far away now, and the names of those in Sotoba are starting to grow fuzzy, something he didn't think was possible but is welcome. There's a few he'll likely never forget, including the aforementioned Shiki splat on the ground, his dad, Ozaki, ah- ]

Actually maybe Kaori would on a dare. But I wouldn't let her either. [ This name is new which may not be surprising considering how many names he's thrown out during all their talks (how did Sotoba seem so crowded while being empty all at once?), but what is markedly different is how he says it. There's no malice or hardness in this denial, and while it's not soft, it might have been at one point, worn down by age. ]