Disclaimer: Dekaranger is not mine
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The only reason Hoji let Ban come with him to the bookstore in the first place was because he wouldn't shut up about. He figured if he couldn't leave him at DekaBase, he could at least lose him in the manga section while he browsed.
However, that hadn't been the case.
Not only had Ban stuck with him, he actually showed interest in what Hoji was looking at. He was asking questions. He'd assumed he would have to shush him while he laughed over the comics the entire time they were there, but he was, God help him, actually having an intelligent conversation with Ban-- and enjoying it. There had to be some irony in there somewhere.
He left the store with empty pockets but with an armful of books and Ban by his side. And while he had no doubts that Ban would return to his overzealous self the second they set foot back on base, he allowed himself a smile, fully prepared to appreciate this while it lasted.