ryuwrighthistory | Empatheias IC inbox

Oh...? [Ok that could mean just about anything, Asougi. He opens this one a little bit more quickly and looks impressed when he sees the black coat inside.]

W-Wow this...(this looks expensive.) [He keeps that remark to himself. He doesn't need to hear another lecture. He stands up and proceeds to take his blue coat off. He only had a dress shirt underneath so he easily gets the coat on over it.] Um, does it look okay? [It fits him at least. As he waits for Asougi's verdict, he looks to the open presents, puzzled.]

That was only three... [He said quietly, as if to himself.]

[ Asougi practically beams with pride when Naruhodou puts the coat on. He'd been a bit uncertain, concerned that he'd gotten his size wrong potentially or that it would be ill fitting at best. But on him, it looks . . . ]

It suits you. [ His smile softens a bit at that. Of course it suits him. He was meant to stand in court, to defend people, to be taken seriously in the pursuit for the truth. ] You needed something here, just in case. You've already had one case here, right?

[ The comment about there only being three gifts makes him shake his head. Was he really that oblivious? He'd even asked for the last one, too . . . ] There's four.

[Asougi's approval makes him smile, as he rubs the back of his head sheepishly.] Y-Yea...thanks.

[He recounts the gifts again and frowns.] I'm sorry, I only count three. Did the fourth get misplaced? [...Yes, he is that oblivious.]

[ Aaaand now he just looks unimpressed. Asougi sighs deeply. ]

. . . It's me. I'm the fourth gift. Or have you already forgotten your best friend?

.......[Oh. Oh.] A-Ah no! I didn't-- [He is so red in the face now. He's so embarrassed that he can't do anything but laugh.]

I'm sorry, I didn't think--you took it so literally! Of course! B-Because it's you! [He flops himself down beside Asougi, leaning himself up against him, an arm around his shoulders. He's still laughing, but not as hard as before.] Truly, you are the best gift I could ever receive.

[ And he's mildly embarrassed all over again, only slightly mollified when Naruhodou puts an arm around him. ]

That's not—! [ Asougi huffs softly again, shaking his head. ] A day, Naruhodou. You get an entire day where you determine what we do. I have to go along with it. Though I'm starting to reconsider that part of it.

R-Really!? [Now he's really taken aback and staring incredulously at Asougi. Of course he mentions reconsidering and that leads Naruhodou to cross his arms with a smirk on his face.]

Are you saying you don't want to spend any time with me? [And then returns his sass with his own sass.]

[ The sass catches him off guard. It's nice, but he hadn't been expecting it. ]

Th-that's—! [ He lets out an exasperated sigh, lifting a hand to his face. ] Well now I'm rethinking that decision as well. [ Though his slightly teasing tone says otherwise and he's not trying to pull away. ]

[He snickers, oh how the great Asougi has fallen to the whims of this boy. He leans up against him again.] Don't worry, I'll make it enjoyable for us both. [Most of it anyway.]

Ah, but maybe your gift applies tomorrow? My feet are too sore to go anywhere else today... [Saying as he massages one of his foot. He still hasn't even taken off his socks.]

It's too late for any of that anyway. [ He shakes his head at that. ] You were out for quite awhile. I'm not surprised your feet hurt.

Mm, I had to deliver a lot of gifts to people. [At least he doesn't have to lug around all those boxes now.] Oh, I was going to start on the cake--

[Up on his sore feet he goes, getting his new coat off and carefully setting it on the bed for now.]

[ He frowns, looking up at him with concern. He seemed ready to fall on his feet — how exactly did he plan on baking tonight? ]

That can wait until the morning, can't it? You look awful. [ spoken like a true friend. ]

You could help me. [Rather than point out he looks terrible. There's still a bit of day left to get this done bro.]

...There hasn't been anyone who arrived here from home in a long time. I want to make something for the occasion this Christmas.

[ Asougi pushes himself up, shaking his head. Of course he'd insist on doing something for the occasion. If Naruhodou was going to insist on doing this tonight after all that, he was going to do more than help. ]

Fine. You tell me what to do, then. And I'll put it together. [ Despite all of that being entirely out of his wheelhouse, he sounds completely confident in himself. ] That way, you can relax.

...(For some reason, that doesn't make me feel more relaxed)

[He looks to Asougi, hands on his hips.] No, I'll be the one putting it together. You'll help me prepare the ingredients. [He looks to the tin box of sweets and decides to take another for the trip down to the kitchen.]

[ Where was all this coming from all of a sudden? Then again, it probably wasn't "all of a sudden" for Naruhodou. For him, it had only been nine months, but it had been nearly two years for Naruhodou, where he'd been through a lot — without him by his side, thinking he was dead, and without Mikotoba's influence as well. Asougi huffs again, but his stance softens as he steps out to go downstairs. ]

You're letting me do most of the work, at least. I've had more time to rest than you, so my hands are steadier.

[~~Naruhodou is a strong and independent man now~~]

We're just baking a cake... [He mutters while chewing on his candy. As they enter the kitchen, there was already a bag full of ingredients he had purchased earlier today already set on the counter in preparation.] You want to cut the strawberries?

[He says as he looks for the kitchenware and the remaining ingredients they'll need.]

[ He nods firmly, going to get them out as well as a knife. He'd been around for long enough now to learn where everything was, though try as he might, he couldn't seem to overcome their "little" clutter problem. They'd have to deal with that in the future, eventually. In the meantime: strawberries. ]

I can take care of that.

[ If there was one thing he knew he was good at, without a doubt, it was cutting things. ]

[It's exactly why Naruhodou assigns him to the strawberries for now.]

Just save a few for the topping. The rest are going inbetween the layers. [Naruhodou is going to get the oven preheated and get the dough prepared for the time being. Before that though, he puts a small bowl near Asougi.] Here, you can put the sliced strawberries in this bowl and then mix some suger in.

[ When he says that, Asougi sets a few aside for the toppings before going to town on the rest of the strawberries. He's quick and efficient as he cuts and really, it's amazing that he doesn't accidentally cut himself in the process. He doesn't even really need to focus on it as he chop chop chops away. ]

Define "some" sugar for me. [ At that, he glances over at Naruhodou and raises an eyebrow. If they're going to make this cake together, he's going to cover all their bases. ]

[...Ok then, Asougi chopped those strawberries far quicker than he does He shouldn't really be surprised honestly.]

Oh, um... [Let's be real, he kind of guesses half the time.] Just enough that there's a light layer on top of the strawberries. [He better get this flour ready before Asougi finishes.] I'll have you stir the flour once I've gotten all the ingredients in.

Light. Alright.

[ He nods firmly, setting the knife aside and reaching over for the sugar. And to his credit, despite his intensity, Asougi takes it seriously, carefully sprinkling what can absolutely be called a "light" amount of sugar on them. When he finishes, he sets the sugar aside and steps back, crossing his arms and moving over to hover over Naruhodou and watch what he's doing. ] And this is . . . ?

[Naruhodou has been observing on and off what Asougi was doing, how he just goes at those strawsberries with such intensity. He can't help but smile a little, trying to stiffle a bit of laughter. He's so serious, it's hard not to find it amusing.]

It's...well, it'll be the cake batter. [He slides the large bowl over to him once he had finished putting in the eggs. He then offers him a large mixing spoon.] You just need to stir all of the ingredients together.

[ Asougi raises an eyebrow at Naruhodou's stifled laughter, but says nothing otherwise. At least he's happy, which is more than well earned at this point. He takes the bowl and the mixing spoon, starting on that with an admirable amount of restraint. ]

I see . . . so this is how it's made.

... [Hehe, he nods. He then walks away, in search of the pan and cutouts for the batter to go on.] Have you ever cooked anything before today?

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