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[He doesn't mind being her designated introvert buddy!! But boy, does he feel unqualified to provide answers, even if Ange thinks otherwise. This seemed to be more Tomoyo's ballpark than his own.]

I don't know if I have the experience to help you out with this sort of thing, though...

[But then he reads the rest of the message, and if he wasn't awake before, he definitely was now. His wariness in regards to Ruby has lessened some since she helped him out last month, but he still cannot fully trust somebody who calls him "Doggoran" unironically!!]

... ah. I can... see how that complicates things, then.

I think the better question here is if she even knows what Valentine's Day is to begin with. I mean... her world sounds a lot different than ours is.

[Although he's not entirely sure how Ange's world is like compared to his, either-- but if she knows about the holiday, then it couldn't be too different, right?]

[ Wow, look at that incredibly diplomatic way of saying things. Good job there, Syaoran.

But he is making a good point. Would Ruby know that? The other didn't mention a thing about Valentine's Day, after all - that's what had Ange only come to the realisation very belatedly in the first place. ]

Surely she knows what it is. Don't people talk about it, even in a place like this? I know some people are entirely unable to shut up about Valentine's Day.

[ To Ange's dismay. Usually. ]

What kind of coincidence would it otherwise be that she'd happen to ask me for a date on the fourteenth?

I don't think there's anything wrong with that. Considering where we are, I think people just want to look forward to doing something nice with the people they care about, that's all.

[Of course, she probably picked the wrong person to gripe about people being grossly romantic, because Syaoran is for SURE one of those ooey gooey types-- he's just VERY good at hiding it!!]

Anyway, you did say there was a party happening that day, right? Maybe she just wanted to take you over there to have a good time, and didn't realize the holiday behind it.

... I mean, she DID drag you into a photobooth once, didn't she? This seems pretty in-line with her thinking.

I guess. Maybe it's nothing and I'm overthinking it.

[ It's a very real possibility, considering how little Ange knows about.. well, any of this. Maybe a normal person wouldn't have read this much into it in the first place?! Not like she can tell. ]

Now I just feel like I'm being embarrassing for potentially misunderstanding. [ Thank god Syaoran is like the one (1) person she knows wouldn't make fun of her over it. ]

I don't think you are. I mean... it's hard to think otherwise when someone asks you to a Valentine's party and calls it a "date", after all. But this is Ruby we're talking about, so...

[So nobody can blame Ange for wondering if she was being facetious and oblivious about this, or honestly intended it to be a date. Although, that said...]

Did you... want it to be an actual date, though? I thought you didn't like it when she made you go to places with her.

[Or, at least, that was his impression of their relationship, anyway! He's not asking to tease her or anything, either-- he's just genuinely curious, that's all. Ange wouldn't be worrying quite this much if she only saw Ruby as a friend, right?]

[ Why do you have to be genuinely curious, Syaoran. Is this not the first rule of tsundere club? You don't discuss a tsundere's feelings, especially when they're already a complicated enough mess for just Ange herself to deal with. Because.. what does she feel? What is it supposed to feel like? She has absolutely no idea. ]

It's complicated.

[ But as she stares at that answer, she slowly realises she can't leave it at just that. Not when she was asking Syaoran for advice in the first place.

But apparently saying 'I don't mind her dragging me around as much as I pretend to' is beyond her, so.. ]

I have no idea about dates. Or what it's supposed to feel like when you like someone. We cuddled in bed a few times and I'm very fond of her, but does that mean I like her? How am I supposed to know?

[NORMALLY IT WOULD BE, but Ange just seems so thrown off balance by the whole thing that it seems like something that needed to be asked. After all, she DID text him in the middle of the night for his opinion about this, so obviously this was stressing her out in some kind of way.

... of course, all this really hammers home how unqualified he is to help her through this situation, as he can't even say the word "date" to his girlfriend without turning as red as a tomato. But he's going to do his best to answer, anyhow!]

I can't say I know a lot about it myself, but...

[God, how does he phrase this without absolutely embarrassing himself in the process as well--]

When you're around her... does your face grow hot? Or do you feel like you're having a heart attack, but... in a good way? [Excellent phrasing there, Syaoran] Do you think about her and wonder what she's doing, even when she's not around? Do you feel happy when you see her smile, or when she's having fun?

It's hard to figure out when you like like someone, but... if you look inside your heart with a clear mind, you'll be able to find the answer, I think.

[Thanks Yue, for providing him this wealth of knowledge he can call back on years later!!]

[ Thanks for your brave sacrifice in talking about love due to this difficult situation, fellow introverted soldier.

Maybe that'll even be a thought actively going through Ange's head once this whole talk is over and she'll realise how far Syaoran is going out of his fellow introvert easily embarrassed ways for her right now.. But right now Ange's head is way too drawn in by all this information to really consider anything else. ]

Lately.. Maybe? I think so?

[ IF THIS WAS ANYONE BUT SYAORAN, SHE'D NEVER ADMIT THIS. But she's putting some real trust in him here. ]

She got really hurt last month. I found that out the other day, before she even asked me on this whole date, and I keep thinking about it even when she's not there. Wondering if she's doing alright. Thinking about how I don't want to see her of all people feeling sad or hurt.

I was even thinking about finding ways to cheer her up because of it, but I couldn't think of anything that didn't feel dumb or really embarrassing.

[It certainly helps that they're not talking face to face about all of this right now, because otherwise he'd probably not be able to say all of that without writhing in embarrassment!! But as awkward as this is at the moment, he can definitely empathize with what Ange is dealing with-- after all, it wasn't all that long ago that he had been struggling with his feelings, too. But Ange, at least, has had the good sense to ask for advice about it, which was something he had been too shy to do. Maybe this was his way of thanking Tomoyo and Yue for all of their kindness and insight, by passing it along to somebody else in need-- even if it was more or less the blind helping the blind in this situation.]

... then I think you may have already come across your answer, Ushiromiya.

It's only those we hold number one in our hearts that we want to protect the happiness of, no matter what.

[THOUGH IF ANGE EVER TELLS ANYONE ELSE HE SAID SOMETHING AS SAPPY AS THIS, EVEN THROUGH TEXT, HE'LL STRAIGHT UP DIE]

[ Please, if she ever reveals that, she'll have to reveal what she asked him in the first place!

Which means they're both in this together now. A conversation that can't be leaked, because it will definitely take both of them down at once. Just straight up murder them better than anything else in Deerington could.

But for the moment? Ange's kind of touched by the answer. Sure, it's a lot more sappy than anything she'd usually hear from Syaoran - but she knows that just means that he means what he's saying. Which is why her own answer, in turn, is also honest. ]

You must be right then.

[ Because even as fellow introverts, it sounds like he's got some more experience than her. ]

... I can't believe it. This is the worst.

I bet she did mean it as just friends, and then here I am, liking her beyond that like a huge idiot. [ WHY DID THIS HAVE TO HAPPEN TO HER. ]

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