ryuwrighthistory | Empatheias IC inbox

[ He huffs! But he still sits down next to Naruhodou, tea in hand, giving him a good-natured smirk. ]

Some people would be offended by that, you know. [ Some people. ]

I suppose, but you live with one, so you're most definitely not one of them. [He leans into Asougi, nudging him teasingly.]

Ahh, you've caught me. I should have been more careful.

[ He's teasing right back though, just like how he's leaning into Naruhodou as well. ]

Naturally. [He's got a smug grin on his face, but he's not being serious.]

. . .You know, Wagahai doesn't actually belong to us either. Her previous owner was one of my clients, an exchange student like us name Natsume Souseki. When he left for Japan, he couldn't bring her onto the ship, so we've been taking care of her.

. . . I didn't know that. [ At that, he glances back at the door. ] So you and Detective Holmes took her in. And somehow, she's here now?

Wagahai isn't even her name, but yea...we all actually arrived together. [He shrugs.] I couldn't tell you how she followed us.

So she's been here for nearly two years as well . . .

[ He considers that quietly. Two years is a long time, after all. With his free hand, he reaches over, searching for Naruhodou's. ]

Yea, she even had kittens at one point. [And Sherlock made him the bad guy when he told him they needed to be given away. He'll notice the hand reaching for his and gladly complies, a small smile on his face.]

. . .It's almost close to two months now.

It doesn't feel like it.

[ Because it feels longer and shorter at the same time. Two months? How strange . . . ]

Hm. To be honest, it doesn't feel like it's been two years either, unless someone asked me how long it's been. [And then gets a little worrying. He looks to Asougi.] But that means, you've at least made up for the one month after, on the SS Alacrez.

Hmm? What do you mean?

[ He looks over at him at that. ]

Well...after what happened to you, we were still forty days away from reaching Great Britain. We hadn't reached Hong Kong yet.

Still that far . . . I see.

[He frowns, squeezing his hand. He leans forward slightly.]

Susato-san. . .you really had the best legal aide in the world, you know. I learned a lot thanks to her, in those forty days.

Naturally. I'm glad that she was there to watch over you in my stead.

[ Though he would have liked to have watched Naruhodou grow as an attorney firsthand. ]

She had an intense course. . .but I did ask her not to hold back. [He goes quiet after that, taking a sip from his mug. He's trying to keep the subject light, but it's hard to ignore the sense of loneliness he felt, remembering that time on the ship without his best friend there.]

That's just like her.

[ He chuckles a bit, leaning in. They could dwell all night long, but . . . he's been trying to press forward. ] . . . And then you've been learning quite a bit here too, apparently.

[He laughs quietly.]

I don't know if I've learned much. I've only had one real trial here.

You learned how to cook, Naruhodou. You can make things yourself.

[ Maybe they were talents that were looked down upon back home, but he'd never quite understood why. They required a lot of skill and effort, after all. ]

Oh. [That surprises him. He averts his gaze, staring down at his tea. He never really thought of either of those like that. Everyone can cook to some extent, and the crafting was just a hobby. But...it does make him smile, to be recognized for it.] That's what you meant. . .

Learning things like that in a short amount of time . . . it takes a lot of concentration and perseverance. It's impressive.

[ It's actual praise from him, with no strings attached, no backhanded compliments about it. ]

Ah, but...well- [This is too much. He's starting to question if he deserves this. He has to put down his mug so he could sheepishly rub the back of his head.]

It hasn't been that short! I've been cooking for a while, and I can only make simple things! And it doesn't really help anyone- [He's so red in the face now.]

Hmm. Are you saying I'm wrong to compliment you?

[ He gives Naruhodou a sidelong glance, smiling a bit more at that. ]

No! I--UWAH! [Why did he just scream? Because he just tipped over his mug when he lowered his hand. Even as he goes to put the mug back up, it's already too late to salvage the tea now. The grass under the snow can enjoy it now.

He sighs heavily, running his free hand down his face and hangs his head. Well, that was embarrassing.]

[ Okay, that gets a laugh out of him — one of those full, real laughs that he hasn't quite let out in awhile. ]

Naruhodou! Are you trying to sabotage yourself now?

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