[ somehow, eventually, haru is going to find a way to break this belief of his sword-spirits. this.. absolute certainty that their only worth is in their ability to fight. certainly, they may have started out as steel and wood and cord, but don't they have thoughts and emotions and personalities now? they're alive, well and truly, and it doesn't matter to him that they aren't actually human. it's impossible for haru to look at his blades and think of them as dispensable, and maybe that really does make him a bad sage. they do what they have to do, absolutely, but haru won't risk them unnecessarily. he hadn't been joking when he'd said he hoped never to have to grieve for another of them.

the mixed expression on yamato's face earns the quiet huff that serves as haru's laugh, expression warming with amusement. it's.. kind of cute on the blade, and haru's long resigned himself to finding many of the spirits cute. he's.. honestly not even self-conscious about such an un-masculine thought, not considering how attractive literally all of the spirits are or how they interact with him. it's just.. a part of how their relationship works. he's getting used to it. ]

It's okay. Any time you want to borrow a book, you can let me know. I keep them in my room. [ yamato's never shown an interest in reading much before, though, so he's not sure that it'll last this time. even so, he's kind of happy to be able to share his interest with at least one other person. ] .. I have a lot of kids' books, though. I used to read to my brother and sisters.

[ the offer makes him blink, then brighten, pale eyes widening with pleasure. ] Oh, um. Yes, please. That'd be nice.