Prompt: "Shirou and Oui Hokusai (plus Katsushika) go on a date to an art gallery." — Skell

"I don't get it."

Shirou stared deeply at the painting until he felt his eyes strain, trying to extract any kind of meaning from it. He consciously knew that art was supposed to have inherent meaning, but every time he actually tried to grasp that from a piece of art, it slipped out of his hands.

"What don't you get?" For—no, Oui asked him. Somehow it was still troubling him, even weeks into their relationship, that he used to be contracted to his girlfriend. That he used to have power over her.

"What's the point?" He waved at the colors splashed on the canvas. "What am I supposed to understand from this? It's just... someone threw a few buckets of paint on the canvas and now it's here."

A small burble was his only warning, but it was enough. Shirou ducked as an inky projectile sailed through the spot his head had occupied. Further angrier burbles emitted out of the small floating octopus that shoved itself right into Shirou's face.

"He says that you're an uncouth boor, and that he's—hey!" Oui grabbed her father by his head and shook him. "No! That's too far!"

"The usual, then..." Shirou sighed. After some hissing complaints from the creature, she threw him aside.

"He'll get over it in time," she said, curling her fingers in between his. "I know you're worth it."

Her touch helped him relax a little more.

"Do you see how the shadows are drawn?" she asked. "It's a gradient. Our eyes are naturally inclined towards light and away from dark, and thus things in the dark usually have more negative connotations. Yet here, the artist subverted the idea. Look at that red. It feels warm, no? A comforting warmth from a fireplace?"

"I... yeah, I think so."

"Because we so often return home exhausted from our lives, the greatest thing we can find when we return is the comfort of family. Of enjoying the presence of your loved ones. One of the small joys in life."

She squeezed his hand.

"It's about love, Shirou. Even in the darkest of nights, we can take solace in our love."