He was so intent on clashing blades and winning that he did not look at Izaya. Had he done so he might have been surprised to find Izaya following the unfolding duel with interest.
Kida attacked first since he wanted to have an idea about his opponent's skill level. Shizuo surprised him by lowering his centre of gravity and knocking out Kida's rose in one go.
"What do you know, this dueling business is harder than it seems. Guess I lost completely."
Shizuo did not wonder how Kida could be so nonplussed and smiley. Shizuo led Izaya out of the arena himself. Erika handed Shizuo the neatly folded fur jacket and made herself scarce.
Shizuo placed it on a bench.
"I won't tell you to take the jacket with you. I won't tell you to leave it behind either. I leave it entirely up to you, Izaya."
For the first time in a long time Orihara Izaya hesitated. Shizuo folded his arms to make sure he was not about to give Izaya any instruction whatsoever.
At length Izaya slipped into the comfortable jacket and pulled over the hood. Only then did Shizuo hold his arms around him. Izaya rested against his chest without a word.
"Let's just go home, Izaya."
Namie appeared on their path and instinctively Shizuo placed himself between her and Izaya, protectively.
"What do you want now?"
Namie tossed over her hair.
"I want to tell you something,"
"I don't care about these duels, I don't know how many times do I have to-"
"It's not about that. It's about Orihara there. During my time with him I analyzed his brainwaves and you do not need to glare at me, the procedure is non-intrusive. I wanted to see if there was any reaction at all to emotional stimuli. So I showed him pictures of everyone in the Student Council and there was no reaction. Then I showed him yours. And there was a reaction. A very minor one. Almost unnoticeable. But very much there."
Shizuo started.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Namie shrugged.
"Who knows? Perhaps I admire your protective ways."
"So you're on my side?"
"I'm on my side."
And she had just showed the entire world that it was indeed so. Shizuo was still frowning in suspicion.
"As long as you don't get in the way we can be friends."
"Orihara, I decided not to demolish the greenhouse."
"Thank you, Yagiri-san."
Namie's smile was cryptic as she walked away. It was wonderful that Shizuo was willing to protect Izaya but she could not help wonder who would protect Shizuo from Izaya. Namie put her hands in her pockets and hurried her step. She too had someone to come home to.
"What was that all about?"
"I don't know, Shizuo-sama."
"Back to '-sama' again, huh…oh well. Let's take it a little at a time. It's a shame but we missed our show already. Wait here for a sec."
They had arrived home. Shizuo left Izaya at the threshold and stepped inside, reemerging almost immediately.
"Welcome back."
"I'm home."
Shizuo closed the door behind them.

The next day Shizuo decided to have a picnic style lunch. After all the drama he decided that they both needed to unwind. They placed a cloth towel under a tree in a grassy spot and Shizuo and Erika sat around the basket that Izaya produced.
"What will we be eating! I'm like, so excited."
"Izaya is sharing his favorite food with us."
Shizuo was committed to getting Izaya to develop a greater sense of personal identity without being forceful about it. Shizuo did not word it to himself in such terms, he simply thought that he needed to help Izaya feel better being whoever Izaya was.
"I wonder what that is."
Shizuo was curious as well.
"Ootoro. There is enough for Shizuo-sama and Erika-san to enjoy."
They both stared as Izaya arranged generous slabs of deep red fish meat.
"Wow, that looks like great sushi!"
Erika all but jumped up and down.
"Isn't this kind of sushi really expensive?"
"No worries, Izaya is an oujo-sama. I bet he has a noblewoman's laugher that he practices when there's no one around."
Izaya smiled neutrally enough.
"Ootoro is the fattiest part of the tuna. Do try some, Shizuo-sama."
"Thanks. I never ate this kind of fancy food before…"
Shizuo was a bit at a loss as how to eat. Izaya picked up a slab.
"Shizuo-sama, use your hands. Like this."