[ While Cloud could continue to lament his own inability to protect Ayaka from being injured in the first place, he also knew that the better solution was to keep moving forward. Push himself harder. Get stronger. Make sure that something like this never happened again as long as he had anything to say about it. She'd sworn to be there for him...and yet where was he? Again, he has to shake his head and dispel those feelings as fast as possible, least they drag him down and he make her worry.
Hearing how bright her voice was upon getting his call? That was a good start. He smiles as she fills him in on the condition of the estate. And honestly?
...
Yeah, her answer wouldn't have changed his decision no matter what she said. ]
No need. I just wrapped up at my place. [ A beat. And perhaps a little more pep in his voice when he adds, ] I'll come do it.
[ She couldn't have him to all that! It's a lot of work, and no doubt he would be tried after it all. The estate is big and it'd be impossible for one person to take care of it, lest he portion the snow and give himself a week or so to do it. ]
Please, there's no need. I would rather hire some helping hands than to have you do work for us...
[ If he wants to get paid, however, then that would be even better. ]
Oh, Cloud... [ He's so silly. ] You don't need a reason to come visit.
[ If they could live together, that would even be better! Cloud can take the guest room and make it his own! But she also understands how improper that is... It is but a dream. ]
I'll prepare some tea and snacks, then. Would you like your tea to be a thick or thin blend?
[ Don't think he hasn't thought about it. He's already this close... But that was also a conversation for another day. Within a dream, for the time being. Until it was time to wake up and make it real. ]
Think I'll go for a thick blend this time. I'll have your place cleared in no time.
[ Cloud, don't uproot the ground beneath the snow please... He's already walking down the street, shovel over his shoulder like another Buster Sword. Walking and talking. He's not ready to hang up quite yet. ]
[ She'll still prepare the tea in front of him, just like how one does in a proper tea ceremony. But it's not so bad to prepare the menu beforehand! Now, for the snacks... ]
Would you like something savoury for the snack, or would you prefer a dessert?
[ He'll decide. He promises. But he's also curious and thinking of her, knowing that she hasn't been back to work yet on orders of her school. That didn't mean she wasn't keeping busy, however. ]
Maybe savoury. But- have you had anything to eat recently?
[ He can be heard audibly huffing on the other end of the line, though there's a smile to his voice when he softly reminisces, ]
An old classic...
[ At least, the tuna reminds him of when he made her breakfast as a cat. ]
Right. Sounds good, Ayaka. [ Despite the weather and the heavy snow that still remains in certain spots along the way, none of that was going to slow Cloud down. In fact, ] Be there in a few.
Love you.
[ And so, long enough to wait for Ayaka to respond or say something back, he hangs up shortly after to focus on dashing through the snow. It's still just cool enough that his breath can be seen on the afternoon air, huffing as he picks up the pace and runs. Wearing his old SOLDIER boots, they have plenty of traction to help him avoid slipping on any wayward ice as he races to the Estate.
Huh...
It's true. The pathway leading up to her home was cleared up already alongside what'd already begun melting. As he approaches the front entrance, boots thoroughly soaked in snow and water, the blond slows for a moment before shaking his head. These were the days he fought so hard to protect...he just booked it under the pretense of shoveling her place. But they both knew he didn't need an excuse to come. The only one that mattered was that he was her boyfriend, and he was simply fulfilling that little wish he had granted to him.
But, a deal's a deal. He'll shovel in a little bit- perhaps with Ayaka in tow. He'll come inside first. And despite the fact that he's practically a floating resident of the Kamisato Estate by now, Cloud still knocks, leaving the shovel outside and resting against a support pillar. After knocking, he slowly opens the door, ]
[ She loves him too! And she refuses to let the call end without telling him!! It is as she told him before: she does not wish to waste a moment in telling him! So she will do so in every possible opportunity.
Once the call has finished though, Ayaka expects that Cloud should be at the estate in fifteen minutes, give or take. The first thing she would need to do is make the tea, so that he can relax after the cold walk outside with something warm. She continues to work first, finishing up a scene she'd been writing, only getting up ten or so minutes past their phone call. Heading to the kitchen, she begins to prepare onigiri from scratch while water boils.
Cloud will hear his girlfriend's voice when he opens the door. She cannot welcome him in proper, but she does peek out of the kitchen. ]
Hello, my love! Just a moment, please. I must wash my hands.
[ He calls from the front entrance as he kicks the tips of his boots to knock off any stray snow. Cloud takes one step inside before realizing that, yeah...he'll just track and leave the front lobby wet and mess with the beautiful wooden finish of the flooring. Plopping down on his butt, he pops his boots off and opts to leave them outside. It's not that cold out, anyway. Once he's safely inside and slides the front door shut, he settles into a pair of indoor slippers and makes his way across the hall, past the living room (but not before taking a moment to pay his respects and bow his head at her parents' shrine,) and towards the kitchen.
Her little secret when they first met... She would sneak into the kitchen back home all the time when she was little. But now she and her brother have made this space their own. Ayaka's really come into her own.
Any other time, any other pretense, and her beau might have made good on that little 'promise' he made to her one passionate night. But he's anything but stealthy right now. Nor was he trying to sneak up on her in the first place. ]
[ She still has rice on her hands!! She is busy shaping the onigiri! ]
Hehe, I'm alright, and I will be done soon, too.
[ Ayaka would give him more attention now, if she could, but she has her hands full and is quite busy preparing their snacks. π₯Ί She'll wash her hands right after this one excited onigiri, she promises... ]
[ He hears it every single day...but to see her up and about, as if nothing was amiss after all, leaves Cloud's breath catching in his throat. Thankfully, it's silent as his eyes widen. His heart races as he moves closer. And whether or not Ayaka can sense him coming or not, that wasn't going to stop him from granting her pause for just a moment when he slips his hands around her waist, before more closely pressing himself against her back as he gently hugs her from behind.
Despite the fact he was luckily prepared when she was in such dire straits last month...he was still rattled. Only now did he finally stop shaking when he touched her like this. She doesn't have to do anything back...
And he'll let go again shortly. But for just this solitary moment in time, Cloud just wants to hold her. His safety net. His reason for being normal. His head bowed, he draws the scent of her hair, finally loosing a sigh as he closes his eyes. ]
[ Her beau really is so sweet, and she is so lucky to have him. She would hold him now if she could, but she's unable to. Instead, she lets herself melt in his arms.
Cloud will feel her relax some, her shoulders slumping a little as she leans on him. ]
[ He wanted to make a dry remark about her being better than having a Pyro or Cryo Vision for the cold, but having said that outloud and listening to himself, he huffs with a soft chuckle before kissing the top of her head. One last squeeze of her relaxed in his arms before he slowly lets go and steps back. ]
[ Cloud really knows how to charm this girl. It's one of those "When you say and do things like that..." kind of moments, and she can't help but look away while her cheeks turn as red as her ribbons. ]
What a silly thing to say... [ Heh...
But as Cloud lets go, she takes it as an opportunity to wash her hands! It's gotten quite sticky with the rice, after all! And she's done with the onigiri, anyway. Little rice balls with nori faces! Her students love it a lot... While it may not be Cloud's style? She hopes it will brighten up his day some and put a smile on his face! ]
And I'm alright. [ Facing him now as she wipes her now clean hands dry on a towel. ] I really would like to be able to work again soon, but it is unfortunate that I am being told to rest...
[ Cloud may have taken a step back initially, but it wasn't long before he was inching closer again, peering over her shoulder as she finishes making the little onigiri. It's not Cloud's style, no. But it's made by her...and he's already imagining what the look on her face was while she was making it on his way here, and he can't help but gently sigh through his nose. ]
Cute.
[ She faces him then, lamenting how she couldn't do anything but rest at home rather than return to work. To say that she's fine now...
Cloud's healing magic made sure of that, yes. But that still didn't stop him from worrying. Instead, he places his hand on his hip and lightly smiles. ]
Take it from me. You know how stubborn I am about the whole 'not resting' thing.
[ ...and thanks to a certain Shirasagi Himegimi, he was doing that more often. ]
Give it a couple more days. Till the snow's gone and you can hit the ground running.
[ That comment about not resting gets her to laugh a little. It's true, he is very stubborn when it comes to it. ]
If you won't be busy these next couple of days, would you like to stay over?
[ Not that she'll be busy with him specifically, but the company is always appreciated. ]
If there's any work you should be doing, perhaps it can be done here? [ It gets lonely. It's not so bad, really, but having nothing to do sucks! Ayaka takes the time for herself, yes, but she would rather be doing things for others.
And... besides that? Since they didn't see each other yesterday, she wants to make up for the time lost. Her cheeks redden and she looks down, a small and shy smile on her face. ]
[ Save for shoveling her place? There's still too much snow needing to melt away before he can really do much of anything else. That, and...well, he didn't need an excuse to want to be with her, after all. ]
Sure. [ There was no hesitation. She did say next couple of days...and he's not far away in the first place, so, ] I'll grab a change of clothes in a bit.
[ If he was going to be spending the night at the estate and spending tomorrow with her also. ]
Can't really do too much with all that snow kicking around... But I can keep busy here.
[ Cloud used to get restless if he wasn't working on a commission or taking work as a mercenary before. This world has taught him a lot in both being patient, and taking just a little more time for himself. The path he walks is much different from what would await him back home. And seeing the little shy smile on her face when his girlfriend says how she missed him...
It's easy to see why he doesn't regret a single moment or choice he's made since coming here. He's already come to Kyoto, but at times...it still feels like he's so far away. Melodramatic? Perhaps. But it's as they've both thought about too.
What would happen if he was truly accepted into this house? A discussion for another time. Much farther down the road as he takes these little moments and cherishes them. ]
A day still feels like too long sometimes...
[ But it wasn't. Aerith had once retorted back to him how she wasn't some princess who needed to be coddled. And Cloud wasn't about to be a proverbial mother hen to Ayaka. Still...he's happy and lucky seeing her as healthy as she is now. It just means he was going to work harder to protect her in the future. ]
Right. That settles it. [ A calming smile. ] I'm staying put.
Thank you very much. I'll prepare your room right after this, too.
[ Hehe, she's so excited!!! Little sakura blooms appear around her now when she smiles. ]
I will prepare the tea now. Would it be okay if you brought the onigiri to the dining?
[ There's a bunch made! Ayaka would probably just be able to eat one or two with how big they are, so the rest? For Cloud. He needs his carbs and his energy! ]
[ Just as happy as she is when little sakura blossoms manifest around her, particles of mako gently hover above him briefly also. ]
Never get tired of seeing them...
[ She asks him to take the onigiri, and he doesn't dare hesitate as he steps up to grab the full plate of rice buddies. ]
Gotcha.
[ It's so quiet and peaceful here now, that even as he leaves the kitchen to go set the onigiri down in the living room, he doesn't have to really yell to reach Ayaka as he calls back, ]
You do these little faces for the kids often?
[ Now that he's got the snacks set, Cloud decides to wait for Ayaka in the hallway leading to the kitchen. ]
[ Whether Cloud hears her voice clip or not, her cheeks redden in embarrassment. The answer? No... but she thought it was cute and fun to try. But now she doesn't know if she should share that with Cloud. ]
A- Actually, it's my first time doing something like that...
[ Pot of hot water, matcha powder in a container, and all other paraphernalia ready, she brings it in a tray to the kitchen and sits down. ]
[ Sharp as his ears are, he doesn't catch the clip in her voice. At first, he doesn't think he's embarrassed her until she brings the tray out with the matcha and matching paraphernalia. Her cheeks are a little red... It's easier to tell with her, what with how pale her complexion was. (Like Cloud was any better...) ]
[ "Do you think it is childish?" she asks of him as she sits down, Cloud following shortly behind her. As he prepares to take his seat at her side, patiently waiting for her to commence with the tea prep, he wants to answer what she said earlier. About it being her first time doing something like this with the onigiri. ]
Well you coulda fooled me. [ He sighs coolly as he settles in beside her. ] They look good for your first time.
[ But...childish. He wonders about that...and about his initial reaction when he asked if she showed these to her students. He half frowns, more at himself than anything else. The last thing he ever wanted to do was stifle her creativity or freedom. He doesn't touch the plate of little rice buddies yet, still getting a better look and wanting to wait for Ayaka to finish so they can start together. It was tradition at this point...and also something Cloud had learned when it came to adopting manners of this world and hers.
Was making little faces on the onigiri childish? ]
And... Not really. [ Onigiri plain, with little faces, in the grand scheme of things it didn't matter, he decided. ] Food's food, but... You don't just stop liking cute stuff when you get older.
[ Look at Cloud. Even if he's not the type to fawn over puppies or gush about things, he still couldn't help softly mutter that the little rice snacks she made were cute earlier. His hand briefly settles on her lap reassuringly as his smile returns with confidence. ]
[ Ayaka would have started with the matcha powder and the water now, if not for the conversation that they are having. She is embarrassed, yes, and even worried that Cloud may find her actions childish. He's already seen her do other things that she's deemed to be childish, but never once judged her or told her that she was wrong. With his hand on her lap, she gives him a small smile, while one hand rests on top of his and gives it a squeeze.
Not once has he ever failed in giving her strength. ]
I suppose you're right.
[ She does like him, too, after all. :) But of course, she doesn't say that out loud!
Not long after, she begins the little tea ceremony with Cloud, mixing the water and the matcha powder to create a thick blend, as he's requested. Normally, she concentrates on making the blend, but this time? She asks him: ]
Do you think the children will like it? I do give them snacks when they come here. Unfortunately, I don't think I can bring that many to school once I'm back, but I can at least make more like these and serve it if they visit today or tomorrow.
[ No. Cloud's not gonna beat them up. ASDLKJ ...but he will let some of that rough & tumble Ex-SOLDIER come on through while dressing them down for mocking her. ]
They're wowed by you already. This'll just be another bonus. [ He hums then, as he patiently watches her commence with the little tea ceremony. Cloud doesn't worry about interrupting her or disturbing her work. ]
If...you did wanna bring more to the school, lemme know. [ He can help her carry them! ]
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mistsplitter) wrote2022-04-20 09:38 pm
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Hearing how bright her voice was upon getting his call? That was a good start. He smiles as she fills him in on the condition of the estate. And honestly?
...
Yeah, her answer wouldn't have changed his decision no matter what she said. ]
No need. I just wrapped up at my place. [ A beat. And perhaps a little more pep in his voice when he adds, ] I'll come do it.
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[ She couldn't have him to all that! It's a lot of work, and no doubt he would be tried after it all. The estate is big and it'd be impossible for one person to take care of it, lest he portion the snow and give himself a week or so to do it. ]
Please, there's no need. I would rather hire some helping hands than to have you do work for us...
[ If he wants to get paid, however, then that would be even better. ]
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Ayaka, your beau is like anime Captain America on crack, you know his staminaβ I MEAN]I wanted to come over anyway.
[ There's a little bit of a pause as Cloud decides to shut his door to his home behind him, locking it as he keeps his shovel in hand. ]
Pay me in tea and time with you?
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[ If they could live together, that would even be better! Cloud can take the guest room and make it his own! But she also understands how improper that is... It is but a dream. ]
I'll prepare some tea and snacks, then. Would you like your tea to be a thick or thin blend?
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[ Don't think he hasn't thought about it. He's already this close... But that was also a conversation for another day. Within a dream, for the time being.
Until it was time to wake up and make it real.]Think I'll go for a thick blend this time. I'll have your place cleared in no time.
[ Cloud, don't uproot the ground beneath the snow please... He's already walking down the street, shovel over his shoulder like another Buster Sword. Walking and talking. He's not ready to hang up quite yet. ]
I'll come inside first.
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[ She'll still prepare the tea in front of him, just like how one does in a proper tea ceremony. But it's not so bad to prepare the menu beforehand! Now, for the snacks... ]
Would you like something savoury for the snack, or would you prefer a dessert?
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[ He'll decide. He promises. But he's also curious and thinking of her, knowing that she hasn't been back to work yet on orders of her school. That didn't mean she wasn't keeping busy, however. ]
Maybe savoury. But- have you had anything to eat recently?
[ What's she in the mood for! ]
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[ And she has tea, too! But if Cloud wants to eat something else, then of course she'll prepare it for him. ]
I can make some onigiri for you. Perhaps with tuna and cheese inside?
audio -> action
An old classic...
[ At least, the tuna reminds him of when he made her breakfast as a cat. ]
Right. Sounds good, Ayaka. [ Despite the weather and the heavy snow that still remains in certain spots along the way, none of that was going to slow Cloud down. In fact, ] Be there in a few.
Love you.
[ And so, long enough to wait for Ayaka to respond or say something back, he hangs up shortly after to focus on dashing through the snow. It's still just cool enough that his breath can be seen on the afternoon air, huffing as he picks up the pace and runs. Wearing his old SOLDIER boots, they have plenty of traction to help him avoid slipping on any wayward ice as he races to the Estate.
Huh...
It's true. The pathway leading up to her home was cleared up already alongside what'd already begun melting. As he approaches the front entrance, boots thoroughly soaked in snow and water, the blond slows for a moment before shaking his head. These were the days he fought so hard to protect...he just booked it under the pretense of shoveling her place. But they both knew he didn't need an excuse to come. The only one that mattered was that he was her boyfriend, and he was simply fulfilling that little wish he had granted to him.
But, a deal's a deal. He'll shovel in a little bit- perhaps with Ayaka in tow. He'll come inside first. And despite the fact that he's practically a floating resident of the Kamisato Estate by now, Cloud still knocks, leaving the shovel outside and resting against a support pillar. After knocking, he slowly opens the door, ]
Ayaka?
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Once the call has finished though, Ayaka expects that Cloud should be at the estate in fifteen minutes, give or take. The first thing she would need to do is make the tea, so that he can relax after the cold walk outside with something warm. She continues to work first, finishing up a scene she'd been writing, only getting up ten or so minutes past their phone call. Heading to the kitchen, she begins to prepare onigiri from scratch while water boils.
Cloud will hear his girlfriend's voice when he opens the door. She cannot welcome him in proper, but she does peek out of the kitchen. ]
Hello, my love! Just a moment, please. I must wash my hands.
[ Or he can join her in the kitchen! ]
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[ He calls from the front entrance as he kicks the tips of his boots to knock off any stray snow. Cloud takes one step inside before realizing that, yeah...he'll just track and leave the front lobby wet and mess with the beautiful wooden finish of the flooring. Plopping down on his butt, he pops his boots off and opts to leave them outside. It's not that cold out, anyway. Once he's safely inside and slides the front door shut, he settles into a pair of indoor slippers and makes his way across the hall, past the living room (but not before taking a moment to pay his respects and bow his head at her parents' shrine,) and towards the kitchen.
Her little secret when they first met... She would sneak into the kitchen back home all the time when she was little. But now she and her brother have made this space their own. Ayaka's really come into her own.
Any other time, any other pretense, and her beau might have made good on that little 'promise' he made to her one passionate night. But he's anything but stealthy right now. Nor was he trying to sneak up on her in the first place. ]
Need a hand with anything?
[ Before his own get preoccupied momentarily? ]
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Hehe, I'm alright, and I will be done soon, too.
[ Ayaka would give him more attention now, if she could, but she has her hands full and is quite busy preparing their snacks. π₯Ί She'll wash her hands right after this one excited onigiri, she promises... ]
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Despite the fact he was luckily prepared when she was in such dire straits last month...he was still rattled. Only now did he finally stop shaking when he touched her like this. She doesn't have to do anything back...
And he'll let go again shortly. But for just this solitary moment in time, Cloud just wants to hold her. His safety net. His reason for being normal. His head bowed, he draws the scent of her hair, finally loosing a sigh as he closes his eyes. ]
Letcha go in a sec...
[ He's okay, Ayaka. More than okay. ]
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Cloud will feel her relax some, her shoulders slumping a little as she leans on him. ]
Was it cold outside that you needed a hug?
[ Ayaya tease. π₯Ί ]
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[ Beau sarcastic. π ]
Lucky me, I got an Ayaka.
[ He wanted to make a dry remark about her being better than having a Pyro or Cryo Vision for the cold, but having said that outloud and listening to himself, he huffs with a soft chuckle before kissing the top of her head. One last squeeze of her relaxed in his arms before he slowly lets go and steps back. ]
How're you feeling now?
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What a silly thing to say... [ Heh...
But as Cloud lets go, she takes it as an opportunity to wash her hands! It's gotten quite sticky with the rice, after all! And she's done with the onigiri, anyway. Little rice balls with nori faces! Her students love it a lot... While it may not be Cloud's style? She hopes it will brighten up his day some and put a smile on his face! ]
And I'm alright. [ Facing him now as she wipes her now clean hands dry on a towel. ] I really would like to be able to work again soon, but it is unfortunate that I am being told to rest...
[ She shakes her head slowly. ]
I feel fine now.
no subject
Cute.
[ She faces him then, lamenting how she couldn't do anything but rest at home rather than return to work. To say that she's fine now...
Cloud's healing magic made sure of that, yes. But that still didn't stop him from worrying. Instead, he places his hand on his hip and lightly smiles. ]
Take it from me. You know how stubborn I am about the whole 'not resting' thing.
[ ...and thanks to a certain Shirasagi Himegimi, he was doing that more often. ]
Give it a couple more days. Till the snow's gone and you can hit the ground running.
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If you won't be busy these next couple of days, would you like to stay over?
[ Not that she'll be busy with him specifically, but the company is always appreciated. ]
If there's any work you should be doing, perhaps it can be done here? [ It gets lonely. It's not so bad, really, but having nothing to do sucks! Ayaka takes the time for herself, yes, but she would rather be doing things for others.
And... besides that? Since they didn't see each other yesterday, she wants to make up for the time lost. Her cheeks redden and she looks down, a small and shy smile on her face. ]
I missed you.
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Sure. [ There was no hesitation. She did say next couple of days...and he's not far away in the first place, so, ] I'll grab a change of clothes in a bit.
[ If he was going to be spending the night at the estate and spending tomorrow with her also. ]
Can't really do too much with all that snow kicking around... But I can keep busy here.
[ Cloud used to get restless if he wasn't working on a commission or taking work as a mercenary before. This world has taught him a lot in both being patient, and taking just a little more time for himself. The path he walks is much different from what would await him back home. And seeing the little shy smile on her face when his girlfriend says how she missed him...
It's easy to see why he doesn't regret a single moment or choice he's made since coming here. He's already come to Kyoto, but at times...it still feels like he's so far away. Melodramatic? Perhaps. But it's as they've both thought about too.
What would happen if he was truly accepted into this house? A discussion for another time. Much farther down the road as he takes these little moments and cherishes them. ]
A day still feels like too long sometimes...
[ But it wasn't. Aerith had once retorted back to him how she wasn't some princess who needed to be coddled. And Cloud wasn't about to be a proverbial mother hen to Ayaka. Still...he's happy and lucky seeing her as healthy as she is now. It just means he was going to work harder to protect her in the future. ]
Right. That settles it. [ A calming smile. ] I'm staying put.
no subject
[ Hehe, she's so excited!!! Little sakura blooms appear around her now when she smiles. ]
I will prepare the tea now. Would it be okay if you brought the onigiri to the dining?
[ There's a bunch made! Ayaka would probably just be able to eat one or two with how big they are, so the rest? For Cloud. He needs his carbs and his energy! ]
no subject
Never get tired of seeing them...
[ She asks him to take the onigiri, and he doesn't dare hesitate as he steps up to grab the full plate of rice buddies. ]
Gotcha.
[ It's so quiet and peaceful here now, that even as he leaves the kitchen to go set the onigiri down in the living room, he doesn't have to really yell to reach Ayaka as he calls back, ]
You do these little faces for the kids often?
[ Now that he's got the snacks set, Cloud decides to wait for Ayaka in the hallway leading to the kitchen. ]
no subject
[ Whether Cloud hears her voice clip or not, her cheeks redden in embarrassment. The answer? No... but she thought it was cute and fun to try. But now she doesn't know if she should share that with Cloud. ]
A- Actually, it's my first time doing something like that...
[ Pot of hot water, matcha powder in a container, and all other paraphernalia ready, she brings it in a tray to the kitchen and sits down. ]
Do you think it is childish?
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[ "Do you think it is childish?" she asks of him as she sits down, Cloud following shortly behind her. As he prepares to take his seat at her side, patiently waiting for her to commence with the tea prep, he wants to answer what she said earlier. About it being her first time doing something like this with the onigiri. ]
Well you coulda fooled me. [ He sighs coolly as he settles in beside her. ] They look good for your first time.
[ But...childish. He wonders about that...and about his initial reaction when he asked if she showed these to her students. He half frowns, more at himself than anything else. The last thing he ever wanted to do was stifle her creativity or freedom. He doesn't touch the plate of little rice buddies yet, still getting a better look and wanting to wait for Ayaka to finish so they can start together. It was tradition at this point...and also something Cloud had learned when it came to adopting manners of this world and hers.
Was making little faces on the onigiri childish? ]
And... Not really. [ Onigiri plain, with little faces, in the grand scheme of things it didn't matter, he decided. ] Food's food, but... You don't just stop liking cute stuff when you get older.
[ Look at Cloud. Even if he's not the type to fawn over puppies or gush about things, he still couldn't help softly mutter that the little rice snacks she made were cute earlier. His hand briefly settles on her lap reassuringly as his smile returns with confidence. ]
no subject
Not once has he ever failed in giving her strength. ]
I suppose you're right.
[ She does like him, too, after all. :) But of course, she doesn't say that out loud!
Not long after, she begins the little tea ceremony with Cloud, mixing the water and the matcha powder to create a thick blend, as he's requested. Normally, she concentrates on making the blend, but this time? She asks him: ]
Do you think the children will like it? I do give them snacks when they come here. Unfortunately, I don't think I can bring that many to school once I'm back, but I can at least make more like these and serve it if they visit today or tomorrow.
no subject
[ No. Cloud's not gonna beat them up. ASDLKJ ...but he will let some of that rough & tumble Ex-SOLDIER come on through while dressing them down for mocking her. ]
They're wowed by you already. This'll just be another bonus. [ He hums then, as he patiently watches her commence with the little tea ceremony. Cloud doesn't worry about interrupting her or disturbing her work. ]
If...you did wanna bring more to the school, lemme know. [ He can help her carry them! ]
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