ryuwrighthistory | Empatheias IC inbox

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?

T-That's not it at all! You know it's not! [Stop. And the most aggravating thing about this is that he can't. He can't bring himself to tell Asougi to stop laughing, not with that kind of laughter that he hasn't heard from him in a long time. So instead, he's just scowls, scooping up some snow nearby and tossing it at him. Chill.]

[ He's taken aback only briefly, shivering and shaking the snow off, before he eyes Naruhodou, grin getting a bit more mischievous. ]

Is that what we're doing now?

[ And he gathers up some snow, still looking at his best friend straight in the eye. ]

-!! [Oh. He didn't think this through very well. After a moment, he'll match his friend's grin and picks up some more snow. There's no backing out now once Asougi gets going.]

I guess we are. [He immediately toss the snow in his hand so he could get up and put some space between him and Asougi.]

[ He was ready for that, whipping an underhanded snowball at him in the process. ]

Be ready to finish what you started, Naruhodou! [ And he's ducking behind something nearby, packing together another snowball before whipping it in his direction. ]

Ack-! [That snowball managed to hit him in the back of the head as he was running. But it's fine, he's not down for the count yet.]

Of--Of course I will! [He ducks behind a bush when another snowball comes his way. He didn't see where Asougi had hid himself, so all he can do is prepare some snowballs until he outs himself. It's a snowball fight, he can do this.]

[ Two more get lobbed in his direction in rapidfire succession. Asougi's trying to pinpoint exactly where Naruhodou's hiding out. ]

You don't sound too sure of yourself.

[There's actually no sound coming from Naruhodou right now. He's trying to figure out where those snowballs were coming from.]

(One more. . .just one more and I can find you.)

[ It's quiet, too quiet — which means Naruhodou's planning something. There's no way he wouldn't rise to the bait like that. Asougi frowns, back pressed against his cover as he gathers up more snow. Knowing him, he's trying to figure out where he is, probably. And there's no cover that he can easily move to either, which means Naruhodou basically has him pinned down. ] . . . hmm. Well-played.

[ Leave it to his best friend to turn the situation around like that, and Asougi nearly walked head on into it. Well. That's fine. If Naruhodou had an idea of where he was, then he might as well go all out. Fortune favors the brave and all. Asougi snaps up, vaulting over his cover and making a rush for Naruhodou's position, armed and ready with snowballs. ]

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