“Hey Philip, have you seen-”

Shotaro stopped in his tracks. He stared at Philip, who was lying on his stomach, reading a novel that Akiko had gotten him hooked on yesterday. “Didn’t I buy you proper hairclips like two days ago?”

Philip glanced up from his book.

“I saw Fang run off with them.”

Shotaro stepped over to the couch, crouching down next to Philip to examine his hair. “So you just decided to use Akiko’s paper clips instead?” He tapped the flowershaped wire paper clips. “You could’ve at least grabbed your old binder clips, these are gonna pull your hair out.”

Judging by the look on his face, Philip hadn’t really thought about that. He seemed to decide that it was no big deal, however. “It’s fine. It’ll only hurt for a second.”

Shotaro flicked Philip on the forehead, Philip’s hand coming up to rub at the sore spot. “Do it enough and you’ll go bald.”

He straightened back up, eyes scanning the room for Fang. “Why’s Fang stealing your hair clips anyway?”

“Jealousy, I think.”

“Of what?”

The long stare Philip gave him made him finally raise a finger to point at his own face. “Of me? Why? ”

Philip turned his eyes back to his book. “Maybe it doesn’t like that you kiss me all the time.”

Shotaro sputtered, face growing pink. “That’s- that’s none of its business.”

“It is, a little bit.” Philip tapped the toes on one foot against the heel of the other. “It’ll give them back eventually. I’m not worried about it.”

Shotaro sighed, dropping down into an armchair.. “Fine, I’ll leave it for now.”

He watched Philip return to reading out of the corner of his eye.

At least the paper clips looked cute on him. Even if it would cost him a bit of hair.

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