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With these questions running circles through her mind, Peppa looks her cousin hard in the eye… and then gets her answer.
Izumi’s eyes reflect the same iron that Peppa’s experienced from her aunt and uncle. She’s stern, but only because she has to be. And Peppa is the reason she will be, because Izumi will look out for her.
And that would be appreciated by Peppa, were these any other circumstances. Sure, it's a touching reminder that her cousin's got her back, but right now it's a royal pain in her ass.
At the very least, Peppa puts the thought of her cousin betraying her right out the door, and her shoulders slump in defeat. "Okay, you have a point."
Pen asks her, “So, does that mean we can go?”
“No."
The class groans in response.
Peppa explains, as much to herself as to the class, “I need to find it, I need to find the thief, and I need you all to help me.”
“But Peppa,” Izumi says, kneeling down and placing a hand on the shorter girl’s shoulder, “You won’t let me help you. You won’t tell me what it looks like.” Gah, now it's the warm sun melting Peppa's obstinacy like butter! Then, she telepathically transmits to Peppa, <span class="mu-i">“Not even like this? No one would overhear us.”</span>
Peppa considers that. After all the time and effort she spent working her chocolate from the concept into a physical form, she definitely knows what it looks like, and can envision such perfectly in her mind. Were she to share that image with Izumi, Izumi would also know it backward and forward, with every nook and cranny! So with a smile, she telepathically transmits back to Izumi, <span class="mu-i">“Hard pass!”</span>
Izumi snarls, and growls out, “Peppaaa!”
Quickly, Peppa whispers, “I can’t share it with telepathy! …just, hear me out for a moment.”
Obviously confused, but thankful that she’s finally getting her cousin to share, Izumi leans in to hear Peppa’s explanation.
Peppa hisses, “promsnotel.”
She agrees, “Yeah, I promise.”
“gud.” Peppa then explains to Izumi what her chocolate looks like in a word.
“Oh, that's cute! I don't know why you'd be so upset about," Izumi says, nodding along, but then whispers a question, "...so wait, we're talking about the kind with whiskers, right?"
Peppa shakes her head, saying she took care to have perfect hygiene before going through with the molding process.
“Mmhmm, hygiene is important when molding… um..."
Doing her best to be vague and clear at the same time, Peppa makes gestures to form an idea of what the chocolate should look like to her cousin.
Izumi blinks. “Wait, you mean you actually-” She pulls back to catch sight of Peppa’s face…
…but Peppa is busy studying the ground.
...
Izumi stands up.