"it's okay, you can totally do this!" he whispers, giving tsugumi an encouraging pat on the back as she makes her way over to hishima & shiba. "just go over what we rehearsed!" now that he's taught her about updog, he plans on letting her have the fun with it now.
   was she meant to be laughing this much? they were contained little giggles, hidden behind pursed lips or muffled by her hand. she couldn't remember the last time she had felt so giddy–––– so eager to joke & play around. it was a freedom that she wouldn't take for granted, & that meant saying the words even if she was worried that they may have heard it before.
   ❝ okay–––– okay. ❞
   her delivery had been practiced over & over under fret's attentive stare. it had been rehearsed & perfected. & she knew, if nothing else, even if hishima knew it–––– if shiba knew it–––– her presentation would be perfect. she shot a grin over her shoulder at fret before schooling her expression into something more like confusion as she walked towards them.
   ❝ shiba? hishima? ❞
   she waited until their eyes were on her, a beat after their queries about her wellbeing had faded into the air. a moment, then two, & then––––.
   ❝ have you seen any updog around here? ❞
                             ( what’s up, dog part 2 | @wickedremind )