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Nope.

[ He gets up from his seat and starts walking towards the door... ]

Just wanna show you something. Be right over. Love you.

[ He'll at least wait for her to say something back before hanging up. He opens his door and jogs that short little distance up to her door. And right when he's about to knock- ]

[ The door opens as soon as she's about to answer. Oh!! There he is! What would have been a happy "I love you" ends up being an even happier one, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him despite how he doesn't... look at all that way. ]

Hehe. I love you.

[ That's when she hangs finally hangs up, ending the call, and stepping aside to let Cloud in. ]

[ There she is. Standing in her doorway, Ayaka's still on the phone like he is. He was waiting for her to say something back, after all. He's gotta say. It's sweeter in person, seeing her smiling so bright and saying it to his face. She steps aside to let him in, the blond slipping his phone away as he sets foot back into her apartment. Her own place! But he doesn't get too far before leaning down for a kiss inside the doorway. Just a quick little "hi" one. ]

'Kay, maybe nothing the "matter" but.

[ He still would like her advice all the same. Then he can proceed. ]

You run into Yoimiya yet?

Yes, I did! [ :D But if Cloud's asking her, that means he's met her, right? That's amazing!! ] Did you come from just seeing her? I hope the two of you get along!

Not in person. And so far so good, but...

[ Cloud pulls out his phone, taps the screen and unlocks it, and opens up Yoimiya's post in the ~~Seasons Subreddit~~ Hot-or-Not thread. Opens up their conversation before passing it to Ayaka to read. ]

I, uh...let slip that I know about Inazuma.

[ And no number? ... And you left her on 'Read'?! ]

[ ??? ]

But you do know about Inazuma.

[ Cloud, you're confusing her. But she at least reads the thread for context, and yet... ]

I'm afraid I don't understand what's wrong.

I'm from a different world. Met you and everyone else from Teyvat in Nippon. Then wound up here with you. Wasn't sure if me going, "I world hopped twice and met Ayaka who talked about you-" would be too confusing—

[ Suddenly stops. Holding his breath. ]

Am I overthinking it?

[ See? Moments like these, she truly does think he is one of the most kind and considerate people she's ever met. Shy, yes. Awkward? Others would say so, but it is part of Cloud's charm. Right now, if he doesn't want to confuse her friend and is troubled about it, then she must be the one to catch him this time. ]

No, those are reasonable thoughts to have. [ She still has his phone, but she takes his hand with her free one and gives it a gentle squeeze. You're good, Cloud! ]

When Yoimiya and I met, I told her that I had found myself in a different world outside of Teyvat, prior to this one. It should not confuse her so much if you told her that we've met before, and I told you about her.

[ There she goes again. Preventing him from drifting off too far, her guiding hand squeezing and keeping him secure. Any tension he felt in those broader shoulders of his is alleviated with a loosed sigh. ]

Just like that, huh...

[ Slowly nodding his head, a half-smile returns to his face as he holds out his hand for his phone. He'll message her leisurely then. And in the meantime, keep taking Ayaka's advice while spending time with her. ]

Here goes.

[ He has nothing to worry about! But it is as she's said — they were reasonable thoughts. But she is glad he went to her, because now she can set his worries aside.

Handing him back his phone, she tugtugs on his hand so he can have a seat if he's inclined to stay. ]

Perhaps something along the lines of... "I'm a prince from a faraway land, and I've stolen the heart of your nation's Shirasagi Himegimi".

[ He was indeed inclined to stay. If he wasn't interrupting anything? It'll be like reliving another day in Kyoto. Keeping in one another's company, silently or talking about what may come next. Following Ayaka, he has a seat on the couch in her apartment. It...felt weird at first, sitting on a...would it be called 'western'? Sofa. But he can't deny that it's extra cushiony by contrast to how he'd normally sit in Nippon. ]

...

[ She's serious. Isn't she. If he thought she were kidding, he would have shot it down a lot more swiftly. He blinks at her, whilst finishing up his first message finally as he taps away on his phone. ]

You think that'll go over well with her?

[ meaning: "You really want me to tell her I'm a prince?" afdjkhs ]

Why wouldn't it? I think she would find it romantic.

[ She's serious. He could very well just say that he's her beau, but that just sounds too plain. Besides, Ayato already knows that she calls Cloud her Prince. It isn't so bad to call him that in front of other people, is it? ]

Would you rather keep it between us?

[ That he's her Prince, she means. ]

[ Did he find it embarrassing? He's not ashamed of their relationship. Far from it. In fact, should Ayaka come up at any point in a conversation, and his relation to her was questioned? Cloud wouldn't pull his punches in telling them who she was to him. Even if he was rather direct in how he said things. ... Usually. But then, Ayaka saw what he could accomplish with a script in his hand. What he could say when they were words exclusively for her. It was all things that he never would have imagined him thinking about, let alone feeling before she came into his life.

Ayaka really did change so many things for him. ...frankly, for the better. Cloud wasn't a bad person before, but she'd already helped him become something more. Somebody so much better. Someone he could be proud of if he had to look himself in the mirror and see where he was. Where he was going. So when she asks...

"Would you rather keep it between us?" ]

[ He quietly tells her to hold on. And he types back. Then deletes. Types some more...backspaces one more time. He looks focused, but his cheeks are turning a faint shade of red. And yet he doesn't sigh. Or wince. Cloud may not be shouting it from the rooftops. He was shy. Awkward. Still working on his social skills. But if there was one person who saw him through every step on this path to being better. Learning who Cloud Strife really was. It was Ayaka.

More importantly, he trusts Ayaka. How could he not, when she already had all of him to begin with. So finally, hitting send and washing away his doubts, he half smiles to himself as he looses a sigh through his nose, at the same time humming softly as he looks back to her, showing her his phone and the message he just sent. ]

How's that?

[ Ayaka just... sits there for a moment, not saying anything, nor does she move closer to Cloud to see what he's typing. He should be given the space he needs, when that is his conversation with Yoimiya, and not theirs! She hopes he isn't pressured by her words, which was why she asked if he wanted to keep it between them.

When Cloud is done texting and shows her what he sent? That's when she inches closer to see, eyes widening slowly upon reading the entire message.

She looks away then, cheeks red. A hand covers her mouth as she tries to calm herself down. It's just a text! But he made her heart skip again!!!

Oh Cloud... when you do and say things like that... ]

It really was just one look...

[ And she fell for him instantly.

A deep breath later, and she pushes herself up. She needs some tea to calm herself down. ]

Would you like some tea?

Edited 2023-03-05 09:30 (UTC)

[ Was it pressure? A little, if he was being honest. But. It was also something that he really needed to be asked in the first place. Because he was serious about her. He'd follow her to any world he had to if it meant protecting and being with her. That wasn't the intent of a coddler, but something that ran far deeper. A promise to 'stay' from her beau. And if he was going to stand behind his beliefs and how she makes his heart race? Than he was going to tell Yoimiya exactly what one of her best friends means to him.

It wasn't like he was publicly getting down on one knee and professing his love for his 'princess'. But when somebody asks what Ayaka is to him? ]

Mm. You're kinda unforgettable.

[ Damn right she's his princess. That's his girl. ]

Sure.

[ ... Oh! ]

You wind up finding matcha here? [ A beat. Two beats. ] Or sencha?

You are the same, Cloud.

[ This guy...

Just for that, she leans back down to give him a kiss. A reward from his princess for being so good to her. Ayaka could never become this comfortable with someone else. She admires him from the bottom of her heart, thinks he's so amazing, but at the core of it all? They're friends. They're on the same level, and she wasn't someone who was put on a pedestal. She gets to learn from him, and she gets to teach him new things, too.

Now then! Up she goes for real. ]

Mm, I found a shop that sells matcha powder, but I didn't buy some yet. I will need to save up and procure a nice tea preparation set before anything else.

I hope it will be okay to drink just sencha for a little while.

[ Even as Ayaka leans back down to give him a kiss, Cloud can hear his phone vibrating in his hand. It must have been from Yoimiya. He'll read it after. Something more important's happening right now. Such as her beau leaning up in his seat a little so he can receive his just reward. He closes his eyes, unable to help humming contently with a smile against her lips. She's the one who brought out and nurtured this side of him.

He might not have fully known it yet when they first met, but...he wasn't lying in his text, either. One look was all it took. And he was on the path to eventually taking this white heron's heart. And giving his to her in turn. And look where they are now. ]

So tea ceremony set for you, and a rice cooker for me. [ As their priority purchases. ] Got it.

[ "I hope it will be okay to drink just sencha for a little while." ]

Honestly? Kinda like sencha from time to time. [ He starts reading what Yoimiya sent to him, a light sigh of relief leaving his lips. ] I like when you make matcha more, but...sencha's easier for me.

I'm no good at tea prep like you.

[ So just taking crushed leaves and creating a pot was easier for him to do in comparison. ]

[ She can't help but giggle when he lists the things they need to buy. Cloud's not wrong! But now they're even... they need to save up for two things! And if Cloud ever wanted to learn tea preparation? She'll lend her tea set to him. No problems there. ]

Then, please let me serve you tea whenever you like.

[ If he's not good at it, then she will do it for him. Not because she is capable, but... it is a romantic thought— to cover the bases, do something that your partner isn't able to, as a means of support. She would like to do this for him. ]

I'll be back soon. Please make yourself at home.

[ He can be as comfy as he likes while he heads to the kitchen to heat some water. They have a water kettle!! It is actually really amazing... ]

I'd like that.

[ Not that he won't take her up on an offer to teach him some of the steps for Tea Ceremony! After he sends a text back to Yoimiya, he indeed does good in making himself at home. There's not a whole lot to this home quite yet. Same goes for his apartment just down the hall. Rather than twiddle his thumbs and sit on his phone, however, Cloud decides to get up from the couch, calmly pacing as he watches from the living room as she heats some water. ]

Looks like you're getting used to things pretty quick. [ Whether Ayaka asks him what he means by "things" or not? He elaborates anyway, his attentions between her and his phone which is currently being blown up with texts in his hand. ] The technology in this place.

[ S'just a water kettle, but. They also have new phones now. With better cameras on them. Among other things! What else did she discover since they got here? He wonders. ]

Teleporting is still very scary, but I must do my best in this world.

[ So she has to learn what she can as soon as possible! And... maybe she's a little bit excited, being able to experience so many new things once again.

Oh, speaking of technology!! ]

How much is a motorcycle? Perhaps we can buy one here for you, too!

[ 🥺 she can pitch in and save up for it with him if he likes ]

Yeah that's not something we see much of back home either.

[ When she brings up the idea of a motorcycle, something that he'd mentioned to Zack as well, he stops pacing in the living room, blinking over at her from where she is in the kitchen. We? She was gonna help procure him one? ... He can't stop her. But, she must know, especially if they're being treated like ordinary people here beyond their purpose of 'saving this world', ]

Not sure what the currency exchange rate is here compared to Yen...or Gil...

[ Or the third currency which he'll use since it's what she knows best. ]

Brand new they cost a pretty Mora.

[ Money was hardly a problem for Ayaka, but she also liked to keep things simple in Inazuma. Despite the elaborate furniture they have, or the fact that she collects fans and kimonos, she also liked to buy small and simple things. It is her natural grace and elegance that makes her the way she is. Even if she wore that white dress from when she woke up, she'd still look like a princess, and not some ordinary girl.

It is daunting, though! And she pauses for a moment, because she also needs to buy groceries and other things for her house... Or maybe she needs to figure out what she truly needs, and separate her wants in a different list. This does not get her down, but she does feel a little intimidated. ]

Then... I must find a job soon.

Don't rush. They said they'll pay us enough to keep us comfy for a little bit.

[ As for what kind of work would be good for Ayaka... Cloud still needs to discover what this world has to offer. What kind of locals exist here. ~~If there's kids to teach.~~ He crosses his arms, tapping his foot in thought. ]

This city's pretty huge. If we don't find something while we're out, [ and he's by himself, ] I'll tell you if there's places hiring.

[ After all, if he's going to start offering his services to everyone, it's only natural Cloud would be on the go quite often. ]

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