Kaede does not pretend not to sneak glances whenever the opportunity arises.

"I kinda just want to not be home for as long as I possibly can."

"… So I haven't actually asked you."

"Hm?"

"About your dad."

"My father's a homophobic, transphobic asshole and I hate him," Kaede says cheerfully.

"… And that doesn't sound like a very healthy environment…"

"It's not, that's why I spend as long away from it as I can. When he mentioned summer camp I honestly thought he was sending me to a pray-the-gay-away camp."

"… Which fortunately this actually wasn't." Pause. "Any idea why he didn't?"

"Maybe didn't find any? Maybe thought this one was one of those? Not really." Pause. "Oh it would be amazing if what I got out of summer camp was a boyfriend, he would be so pissed."

"… Got anyone in mind?"

"Gee, no idea actually."

"The distance could be a bit inconvenient."

"I'm not in principle opposed to long distance and emails. Or polyamory. If there's anything my father would hate more than me having a boyfriend is me having multiple partners."

"… You might need to explain that to me."

"Polyamory? It's the thing where we're not monogamous but not just in a regular open relationship where both people can kiss whoever they want, there's also the possibility of multiple actual genderfriends with meaningful romantic relationships et cetera."

He squints a bit. "I thought there were laws against that?"

"There are laws against polyamorous marriages, I don't think they can have laws about how many people I'm in a committed relationship with!"

"… I mean I'm sure they could try, but yeah, okay."

"I'm not married to the idea—pun intended—if you're strictly monogamous. I'm way more into you than the vague notion of dating other people."

"I don't know my opinions on it."

"Mine are 'vaguely positive.' Any way I can help you form yours?"

"… Not sure? Wait for me to puzzle through it?"

"That's fair."

Anthony swims around a bit more.

Wow he is really cute and kissable isn't he.

Sigh.