Beach. Everyone has been working so hard lately so why not take a break and enjoy the beach? You can make sand castles, play in the water, and there are even umbrellas for those who'd rather just relax in the shade. There's a nice row of water melons ready to be smashed later in the day and when the sun goes down, that's when the sparklers come out.
Suffering. It's the hottest time of the year and the citadel doesn't have central air conditioning. The few air conditions that were installed have given up on life after being used so much and now, we really have to make do with what we can while the Konnosuke try to fix it. There's a limited number of fans, plenty of ice cream to go around, and the citadel should be built to circulate air, right? ... Right?!
Spooks. In Japan, summer is a time for horror. Gather around the camp fire and hear some spooky ghost stories or maybe head out into the woods just outside the citadel for a good ol' fashioned test of courage. It's all good, harmless fun! Of course, with so many spirits gathered in one place, what's to say a stray or curious outsider spirit won't join the mix...
Rain. Summer is also known for sudden and torrential downpours of rain. The clouds always seem to grown and darken suddenly and the next thing you know, it's raining sheets and the ground is shaking from thunder. Once it starts, it never seems to stop. Maybe you were caught out in the rain or maybe this is day 7 stuck inside.
Other! It's summer and there are tons of things to do. Go to the general store and stock up on ice cream, wake up in the middle of the night uncomfortable with heat, or run around screaming because cicadas are dying and flying at your face.
[ Ichi-nii!! Can’t you see that he’s hard at work handing out towels and treating sunburns and slipping starfish down unsuspecting adults’ backs and totally not shooting the occasional glances at the sparklers or anything?
The offer totally catches him by surprise, and he flushes, pursing his lips as he looks down. ]
[Nonsense! You'll always be a kid to him! You are all his precious children!
Ichigo just smiles.]
They aren't just for kids, Yagen. You've worked so hard today already helping me with the others and deserve a break. [He puts a sparkler in Yagen's hand.] Here, go enjoy yourself.
[Don't make him pet your head. Or do you secretly want a head pet, Yagen Toushirou~?]
[ Yagen accepts that sparkler reverently, with both hands, his eyes wide and dancing in the face of this new toy.
Wait, no!!! This is so uncool! With deep regret, he wrenches his gaze away from the sparkler to look up at Ichigo, his cheeks puffed in childish indignation. ]
This isn’t really necessary, Ichi-nii…
[ Why yes he would very much like a headpat. He would like ten headpats, even, but he has enough dignity or stubbornness in him not to just ask for it, gosh. ]
[Ichigo just keeps smiling then he places a hand lightly on his stubborn little brother’s head. He saw the excitement in your eyes earlier, Yagen. You can’t hide it from him.]
[ He can’t…resist…that smile. That perfect Ichi-nii smile that practically guarantees that the tachi will have his way, no matter what. Yagen is weak to it, despite all pretenses, and he has as much of a tantou’s craving for fraternal affection as any of his brothers, to boot.
Besides…Ichi-nii’s warm hand upon his head feels really…nice. Yagen bows, partly to hide his embarrassment. ]
[ Why are you like this, Ichi-nii!! This is too much for his heart!! ]
A—All of them?
[ He looks up in alarm, his incredulity distracting him for the moment from his desire to be seen as an Adult™. Never mind that such concepts don’t really apply to swords like them ]
But you’ve brought so much…shouldn’t…shouldn’t you be giving them away to the others? [ He shrinks back into himself a little, then, as he adds: ] They would appreciate getting spoiled like this…
[Give in to your Ichi-nii already, Yagen. Let him spoil you~!]
Yes. We can try all the different kinds. Don’t worry, Yagen! I’ve got multiples of the different kinds. I’ve already made sure all of you get a set to try. [Buying stuff for all of you is where most of his allowance goes... Ichigo shakes his head and crouches down to look into Yagen’s eyes.] You deserve to be spoilt too, Yagen. For you are my brother and are just as precious to me as the others. Please indulge me?
He’d refused to break after being smashed into a medicine bowl. He’d stood at Oda Nobunaga’s side as the Honnouji Temple burned. He’d stared down countless enemies and cut them to ribbons without even flinching.
But he cannot resist his older brother and his smile full of pure and honest conviction. He has no defenses against that. He stares back at Ichigo with wide eyes, lips trembling as he clutches that lone sparkler between his hands like a lifeline. Why him? But he knows why. Ichi-nii is like that with all his siblings, but it never stops feeling special anyway. That’s just how Ichi-nii is.
At last, he slumps his shoulders with a sigh of resignation. What else should he say but a “yes”? ]
[Ichigo watches the struggle in Yagen’s face with concern and reaches out to touch his cheek tenderly, still smiling lovingly at him.]
I’m grateful as well, Yagen. I’m sorry it took so long for me to come here. It must have been hard for you to have to look after everyone in my stead. Thank you.
[ No!! Not a hug!! How is he supposed to pull away now when he’s drawn into an embrace like this! Yagen can only splutter something incoherent and toss his sparkler aside as Ichigo’s arms close around him, and he feels himself on the verge of embarrassment and tears, still unsure as to which one he should default to.
Family is hard. ]
I—Ichi-nii!!
[ What does he even say to all of that? They’d had their little chat when Ichigo finally came home already, but this is different. Even with Ichi-nii finally here, Yagen doesn’t know how to give up being the one their brothers have looked up to for so long… ]
[Ichigo hugs him close. He needs this hug himself actually. He’s been having trouble sleeping due to bad dreams. Then there’s suddenly finding out that he’s apparently married and not remembering his husband though he does still feel something for him. But he only found out about this after receiving and accepting a love confession from someone else. His personal life is an absolute mess, but of course he can’t tell his brothers. They’re too young to understand and surely, this isn’t an appropriate topic to discuss with them, and he just doesn’t want them to worry. Plus he wants to be the perfect big brother for them. So let him hug you a bit longer, Yagen, before letting you go.
When Ichigo finally lets go, he laughs and gives his little brother another hair ruffling.]
Sorry about that, but you looked like you needed a hug, Yagen!
And Yagen, at least, finally cases to flap his arms about uselessly and return that hug, wondering why Ichi-nii’s embrace feels especially tight today, as if he’s trying to hold something in.
But he doesn’t get a chance to question that with another hair ruffling. By now Yagen’s flustered and blushing and completely speechless and pouting up at his older brother because look what you’ve done. ]
D—Don’t be sorry!
[ He feels that it needs to be said. But he glances at his discarded sparkler, now safely doused in a nearby puddle of water, and mourns silently for it. ]
…I should be the one to apologize. I spoiled your gift.
[ Even though he was trying to deny it earlier on… ]
[He has been... But you know how naturally sweet, affectionate and charming your big brother is, Yagen. You're not the only one who is weak against it! Your large family is getting larger as you now have at least two, maybe soon three, brothers-in-laws... It just happened...
Well, at least Ichigo is now smoothing back the hair he's ruffled up. Ah, why are his little brothers all so so cute~ ♥ Stop looking like that, Yagen, or he'll have to cuddle you again!]
Thank you, Yagen. [Have a headpat!
Ichigo follows his gaze, then he takes out another sparkler from the bag he's carrying. He places it in Yagen's hands with a reassuring smile and he's not taking no for an answer.]
Not to worry. You can have one of mine. [This is one of the ones he'd originally set aside for himself. Treasure it well!]
[ Yagen can’t help being a headpat magnet, apparently, just as Ichigo can’t seem to stop collecting more family members where his current siblings aren’t looking. Not that Yagen would have objected to anyone who brings Ichi-nii happiness, but more importantly… ]
But what about you?
[ He stares down at the new sprinkler in his hands, knowing that he’d received something infinitely precious and yet craving for more still. ]
If you don’t have one for yourself, then we can’t…
[ …play together, he wants to say, but is too embarrassed to continue. ]
[It’s up to Yagen then to look after everyone in the mornings when Ichigo isn’t there because he’s sneaked off in the night to find comfort in someone else’s arms when he can’t sleep due to nightmares... He’ll be there at bedtime to tuck everyone in.]
Me? Well, I don’t have another of the type that you have but I have others. [Then he smiles gently, guessing what his stubborn little brother probably wanted to say.] We’ll be able to play with them together.
[Oh, Yagen, just relax and leave the big brothering to your Ichi-nii and be the cute little brother that you are!]
[ Yagen is at least mature enough to know just what the grown-up swords do when they stay up past curfew…but seriously Ichigo, ‘fess up about it already! At least it’ll give Yagen an excuse to be the reliable one again. ]
Don’t you find it…childish?
[ He says as he holds onto that sparkler for dear life. This time he’ll be sure not to let go!! ]
You don’t have to stoop this low for my sake, you know. A—And besides, you’re always so busy lately…you don’t seem to be getting enough rest lately.
[ Just casually trying to assert his position as the Citadel’s medical expert here, no big deal. ]
[All in good time, Yagen! He still has to figure everything out...
One of the three has been friendzoned for now. (Sorry, Mitsutada, he’s really fond of you and there is definitely chemistry there but...! Yagen might notice that Ichigo’s portions are mealtimes sometimes have extra little treats in them courtesy of Mitsutada and they might share a glance across the dining hall.)
One is, of course, a certain Tenka Goken that he’s found out he’s married to and they both still love each other very much and will most probably continue with this relationship. Yagen probably knows about this marriage from before? Dear husband might write Ichigo some secretly lewd love poems though but at least his brothers won’t be able to understand them if they happen across them!
Then there’s the crane he’s lived with for over 300 years who has always been there for him but only recently finally decided to confess his love. Ichigo loves him a lot too, so it’s complicated...
Anyway! Ichigo is genuinely surprised when he hears what Yagen says. He’s never thought of playing with his brothers as ‘childish’. They are all precious to him as they are one of the few things he remembers and he just loves spending time with them.]
... childish? ... stoop this low ...
[Ichigo usually has the patience of a saint, especially when dealing with his brothers, but he’s rather annoyed now. How could Yagen say something like that?? It breaks his heart to think that Yagen thinks his love for them is some sort of act!
He kneels down and looks his brother straight in the eyes, the hurt he feels clearly reflected in his eyes of amber gold. His tone is stern but calm.]
Yagen Toushirou. How dare you say something like that? Do you not know how much I love you and your brothers? Do you not know how much I treasure all of you and enjoy spending time with all of you? When I first woke up again after the fire and ... my retempering... and could barely remember by own name. The only other thing I could remember was that I had brothers and how you are precious to me. So how dare you...
[Tears start filling his eyes as all the stress he’s been trying to hide overwhelms him... What have you done, Yagen??]
[ Let’s just say that Yagen’s been judging the anatomical inconsistencies in those lewd poems for quite some time now. In private, of course. ]
Wha—Ichi-nii?!
[ Taken aback, Yagen freezes up at that glare, seeing the sorrow behind it and feeling very, very awful about it all of a sudden. Yet he stands there uselessly, mouth agape as Ichigo finally vents his frustrations and then it’s the tears—it’s the fucking tears—that get him to relent.
He quickly throws his arms about his brother’s neck, now that it’s conveniently within reach, his hand still clinging tight to that sparkler he’d been given. ]
I’m sorry…
[ What else can he say? He’s never been terribly good with words. Words and feelings, even. After all, he’d felt neither love nor hate for his final and most infamous master. But for his brothers, for Ichi-nii…there is no describing that very real and very human in his chest—one which defies medical knowledge, if only because this knowledge cannot tell him the shape and breadth of love. ]
I’m sorry; please don’t cry, Ichi-nii. I…more than anyone else, I only wanted to see you smile…
[Yagen Toushirou! Why have you been going through your big brother’s private things??
Ichigo hugs him back tightly, openly sobbing against his younger brother’s shoulder, unable to hold back all the pain, sorrow and disappointment he feels. Ichigo is a very passionate person who feels and loves deeply. He has only cried like this twice before - when his beloved late master died and when he found out he had to be separated from Mikazuki. All this time, he has been trying so hard to be the perfect big brother, the perfect parental figure to all of you and this is how you repay him? With such hurtful words that sliced through his heart??]
... don’t.... don’t you ever say... anything like that to me... ever again, Yagen Toushirou...
[He will, of course, forgive Yagen. He will always forgive his brothers and never stay angry at them. But he still feels so disappointed in you right now, Yagen. He thought you would be mature enough to know how hurtful words can be and he hopes you haven’t been behaving like this to other people. He raised you better than that!]
[ To think that his words would cut so deeply…all he’d wanted was to give Ichi-nii an out, to give him the chance to spend time with their other brothers or their fellow swords without guilt. But the true reason is that Yagen’s trying so very hard in his own way to seem reliable, and that…clearly backfired on him.
He can only sigh, burying his face in Ichigo’s shoulder and hating how his human heart feels when he’d inadvertently hurt someone he loves. It feels a little like turning on his master, even though he’s the type of sword that would do anything but. ]
[ Well, he’s certainly never seen this vulnerable side to his brother before. In a way, he’s sorry that he had to bring it about this way… ]
No.
[ Firmly. ]
You…needed that. I think I did, too.
[ There are times when he needs to be reminded that they’re all human on the inside as well as the outside now. And humans are such fragile things; even words can cut them deeper than swords. ]
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beach!
The offer totally catches him by surprise, and he flushes, pursing his lips as he looks down. ]
Ichi-nii…I’m not a kid anymore.
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Ichigo just smiles.]
They aren't just for kids, Yagen. You've worked so hard today already helping me with the others and deserve a break. [He puts a sparkler in Yagen's hand.] Here, go enjoy yourself.
[Don't make him pet your head. Or do you secretly want a head pet, Yagen Toushirou~?]
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Wait, no!!! This is so uncool! With deep regret, he wrenches his gaze away from the sparkler to look up at Ichigo, his cheeks puffed in childish indignation. ]
This isn’t really necessary, Ichi-nii…
[ Why yes he would very much like a headpat. He would like ten headpats, even, but he has enough dignity
or stubbornnessin him not to just ask for it, gosh. ]no subject
Let’s light some together.
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Besides…Ichi-nii’s warm hand upon his head feels really…nice. Yagen bows, partly to hide his embarrassment. ]
If…that’s what you’d like, Ichi-nii.
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Yes, that’s what I’d like, Yagen. Let’s go! I brought many different kinds of sparklers with me. We can try them all.
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A—All of them?
[ He looks up in alarm, his incredulity distracting him for the moment from his desire to be seen as an Adult™.
Never mind that such concepts don’t really apply to swords like them]But you’ve brought so much…shouldn’t…shouldn’t you be giving them away to the others? [ He shrinks back into himself a little, then, as he adds: ] They would appreciate getting spoiled like this…
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Yes. We can try all the different kinds. Don’t worry, Yagen! I’ve got multiples of the different kinds. I’ve already made sure all of you get a set to try. [Buying stuff for all of you is where most of his allowance goes... Ichigo shakes his head and crouches down to look into Yagen’s eyes.] You deserve to be spoilt too, Yagen. For you are my brother and are just as precious to me as the others. Please indulge me?
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Yagen Toushirou is fucking dead.
He’d refused to break after being smashed into a medicine bowl. He’d stood at Oda Nobunaga’s side as the Honnouji Temple burned. He’d stared down countless enemies and cut them to ribbons without even flinching.
But he cannot resist his older brother and his smile full of pure and honest conviction. He has no defenses against that. He stares back at Ichigo with wide eyes, lips trembling as he clutches that lone sparkler between his hands like a lifeline. Why him? But he knows why. Ichi-nii is like that with all his siblings, but it never stops feeling special anyway. That’s just how Ichi-nii is.
At last, he slumps his shoulders with a sigh of resignation. What else should he say but a “yes”? ]
…I’m grateful, Ichi-nii.
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I’m grateful as well, Yagen. I’m sorry it took so long for me to come here. It must have been hard for you to have to look after everyone in my stead. Thank you.
[Have a hug, Yagen. You know you need one.]
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Family is hard. ]
I—Ichi-nii!!
[ What does he even say to all of that? They’d had their little chat when Ichigo finally came home already, but this is different. Even with Ichi-nii finally here, Yagen doesn’t know how to give up being the one their brothers have looked up to for so long… ]
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When Ichigo finally lets go, he laughs and gives his little brother another hair ruffling.]
Sorry about that, but you looked like you needed a hug, Yagen!
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And Yagen, at least, finally cases to flap his arms about uselessly and return that hug, wondering why Ichi-nii’s embrace feels especially tight today, as if he’s trying to hold something in.
But he doesn’t get a chance to question that with another hair ruffling. By now Yagen’s flustered and blushing and completely speechless and pouting up at his older brother because look what you’ve done. ]
D—Don’t be sorry!
[ He feels that it needs to be said. But he glances at his discarded sparkler, now safely doused in a nearby puddle of water, and mourns silently for it. ]
…I should be the one to apologize. I spoiled your gift.
[ Even though he was trying to deny it earlier on… ]
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Well, at least Ichigo is now smoothing back the hair he's ruffled up. Ah, why are his little brothers all so so cute~ ♥ Stop looking like that, Yagen, or he'll have to cuddle you again!]
Thank you, Yagen. [Have a headpat!
Ichigo follows his gaze, then he takes out another sparkler from the bag he's carrying. He places it in Yagen's hands with a reassuring smile and he's not taking no for an answer.]
Not to worry. You can have one of mine. [This is one of the ones he'd originally set aside for himself. Treasure it well!]
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But what about you?
[ He stares down at the new sprinkler in his hands, knowing that he’d received something infinitely precious and yet craving for more still. ]
If you don’t have one for yourself, then we can’t…
[ …play together, he wants to say, but is too embarrassed to continue. ]
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Me? Well, I don’t have another of the type that you have but I have others. [Then he smiles gently, guessing what his stubborn little brother probably wanted to say.] We’ll be able to play with them together.
[Oh, Yagen, just relax and leave the big brothering to your Ichi-nii and be the cute little brother that you are!]
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Don’t you find it…childish?
[ He says as he holds onto that sparkler for dear life. This time he’ll be sure not to let go!! ]
You don’t have to stoop this low for my sake, you know. A—And besides, you’re always so busy lately…you don’t seem to be getting enough rest lately.
[ Just casually trying to assert his position as the Citadel’s medical expert here, no big deal. ]
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One of the three has been friendzoned for now. (Sorry, Mitsutada, he’s really fond of you and there is definitely chemistry there but...! Yagen might notice that Ichigo’s portions are mealtimes sometimes have extra little treats in them courtesy of Mitsutada and they might share a glance across the dining hall.)
One is, of course, a certain Tenka Goken that he’s found out he’s married to and they both still love each other very much and will most probably continue with this relationship. Yagen probably knows about this marriage from before? Dear husband might write Ichigo some secretly lewd love poems though but at least his brothers won’t be able to understand them if they happen across them!
Then there’s the crane he’s lived with for over 300 years who has always been there for him but only recently finally decided to confess his love. Ichigo loves him a lot too, so it’s complicated...
Anyway! Ichigo is genuinely surprised when he hears what Yagen says. He’s never thought of playing with his brothers as ‘childish’. They are all precious to him as they are one of the few things he remembers and he just loves spending time with them.]
... childish? ... stoop this low ...
[Ichigo usually has the patience of a saint, especially when dealing with his brothers, but he’s rather annoyed now. How could Yagen say something like that?? It breaks his heart to think that Yagen thinks his love for them is some sort of act!
He kneels down and looks his brother straight in the eyes, the hurt he feels clearly reflected in his eyes of amber gold. His tone is stern but calm.]
Yagen Toushirou. How dare you say something like that? Do you not know how much I love you and your brothers? Do you not know how much I treasure all of you and enjoy spending time with all of you? When I first woke up again after the fire and ... my retempering... and could barely remember by own name. The only other thing I could remember was that I had brothers and how you are precious to me. So how dare you...
[Tears start filling his eyes as all the stress he’s been trying to hide overwhelms him... What have you done, Yagen??]
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Wha—Ichi-nii?!
[ Taken aback, Yagen freezes up at that glare, seeing the sorrow behind it and feeling very, very awful about it all of a sudden. Yet he stands there uselessly, mouth agape as Ichigo finally vents his frustrations and then it’s the tears—it’s the fucking tears—that get him to relent.
He quickly throws his arms about his brother’s neck, now that it’s conveniently within reach, his hand still clinging tight to that sparkler he’d been given. ]
I’m sorry…
[ What else can he say? He’s never been terribly good with words. Words and feelings, even. After all, he’d felt neither love nor hate for his final and most infamous master. But for his brothers, for Ichi-nii…there is no describing that very real and very human in his chest—one which defies medical knowledge, if only because this knowledge cannot tell him the shape and breadth of love. ]
I’m sorry; please don’t cry, Ichi-nii. I…more than anyone else, I only wanted to see you smile…
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Ichigo hugs him back tightly, openly sobbing against his younger brother’s shoulder, unable to hold back all the pain, sorrow and disappointment he feels. Ichigo is a very passionate person who feels and loves deeply. He has only cried like this twice before - when his beloved late master died and when he found out he had to be separated from Mikazuki. All this time, he has been trying so hard to be the perfect big brother, the perfect parental figure to all of you and this is how you repay him? With such hurtful words that sliced through his heart??]
... don’t.... don’t you ever say... anything like that to me... ever again, Yagen Toushirou...
[He will, of course, forgive Yagen. He will always forgive his brothers and never stay angry at them. But he still feels so disappointed in you right now, Yagen. He thought you would be mature enough to know how hurtful words can be and he hopes you haven’t been behaving like this to other people. He raised you better than that!]
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I won’t; I promise.
[ To think that his words would cut so deeply…all he’d wanted was to give Ichi-nii an out, to give him the chance to spend time with their other brothers or their fellow swords without guilt. But the true reason is that Yagen’s trying so very hard in his own way to seem reliable, and that…clearly backfired on him.
He can only sigh, burying his face in Ichigo’s shoulder and hating how his human heart feels when he’d inadvertently hurt someone he loves. It feels a little like turning on his master, even though he’s the type of sword that would do anything but. ]
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... good...
[After a while, Ichigo finally calms down and he pulls away to wipe his face with a handkerchief. He, of course, carries one with him at all times!]
... I’m sorry for losing control like that just now, Yagen...
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No.
[ Firmly. ]
You…needed that. I think I did, too.
[ There are times when he needs to be reminded that they’re all human on the inside as well as the outside now. And humans are such fragile things; even words can cut them deeper than swords. ]
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I suppose so... Please don’t tell the others though. [They don’t need to know just how fragile the big brother they idolised really is.
Then he laughs lightly.]
I’ve made your clothes all wet...
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[ Quite frankly he feels as though he’s done worse damage to his brother than simply getting his own clothes all tear-stained. ]
About…anything, I mean. I’m used to looking after everyone by now.
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I think we can wrap this up?
Sure!