ryuwrighthistory | Empatheias IC inbox

I can't imagine why.

[ It's a dry response. He knows exactly why. ]

[He nudges him. How funny.]

Some warm tea and milk, or even amazake would go nice after this. But I don't think anyone really knows what the latter is here. I haven't seen anyone sell it at least.

I'm sure we can get something somewhere. If not here, then while we're shopping.

[ Amazake, huh. That would be nice — if anyone knew what it was. He'd have to poke around quietly about it later. ]

[He nods.] There is one place we could check out while were in the marketplace.

[They're just about finished with their noodle bowl. A lone piece of beef awaits to be eaten by someone at the bottom of the bowl.]

[ He scoops it up, though he dangles it above the bowl before actually eating it, glancing over at Naruhodou and raising his eyebrow. He has approximately five seconds to object before he eats it because Asougi is a very kind friend like that. ]

[Five seconds? He looks to the beef, then to Asougi. He smirks and then leans forward to swipe that beef off of him by taking a bite.]

Mm, thanks. [You're a great friend.]

You're not even going to split that with your partner?

[ He huffs! ]

Mmf? [Oh, he already ate the whole piece.] You had more than me. . .

It was still the last piece.

W-Well, you always get the last piece. [. . .] Most of the time.

We could have split it.

Uh. . .sorry? [What can you do now?]

[ He's pawning the tray off onto Naruhodou's lap entirely now. You took the last piece, you take care of this. ]

[He frowns at that and then sighs. It's only fair he suppose. He'll get up and return the tray without any complaints and then waits for Asougi to join him, hands in the pockets of his coat.]

[ He'll step over after a moment, slightly mollified at least as he glances around. ]

Was there anywhere else you wanted to show me in here?

Uh...[Well, he's talking to him at least. He shakes his head.] Not at the moment. We can always come back when we're not not doing anything. [He lets out a bit air, still tasting that spiciness on his tongue.]

The marketplace is going to be at the other end of the park.

[ Yes, but you're carrying your own stuff back now. ]

Mm. It's bigger than I thought it was.

[How cruel.]

Yea, probably because there isn't much nature in the city besides this park. It's kind of like how Great Britain is. It's so gray and full stone buildings everywhere. . .

That's true. I hadn't really thought about that . . .

[ Mostly because all of his time in Great Britain had been spent around the prosecutor's office, or shadowing Van Zieks. ]

[As they're walking, a sad expression forms on Naruhodou's face.]

. . .You know, it's been two and a half years since I was last in Japan. [He says it quietly, as if it just hit him again, how long he's been here, along with being in Great Britain back home. All this talk about nature has him feeling kind of homesick.] Hah...we've really traveled far from home this time.

. . . hmm. That's an understatement if I've ever heard one.

[ But he's not wrong. There isn't much more he can really say to that. Even if it had only been about eight or nine months away from home for him now, it's all something of a blur. ]

Wouldn't it be a great story to tell everyone, if we could remember this place? Studying abroad in another world, full of magic and creatures straight out of fairy tales.

[He tries to make light of their situation, but he was still feeling pretty down about it all. He sighs.] There are some things that are familiar here, but it's just not the same as home.

No one would believe us if we did, Naruhodou.

[ He reaches over to try and take his hand again at that, finally. ]

Well what if we somehow find a way to bring back proof? [He feels Asougi's hand trying to coerce his hand out of his pocket. He'll gladly do so to hold his hand again without any complaints, honestly happy his friend was in a better mood now.]

. . .I'd like to at least come home with the knowledge that you're alive. [He glances up to Asougi. Their reunion hasn't exactly happened yet, at least for Naruhodou.]

. . . I'd like that too, at the very least.

[ He meets Naruhodou's gaze for a moment before glancing aside. ]

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