Study Session

[halfemptyglasses]

"Oh, good evening, Autor-senpai," Mirai greets when she opens the door to her sparse room. "I'm sorry there's not much."

The plush bed sits unmade, the comforter piled on the end. A small stack of books and papers wait on the low table that serves as her desk next to a few canned juices. Living on the fund for minors provides the necessities but not much else. Still, Mirai can't complain.

"We'll pretty much have to work from the floor," she says, padding over there with stocking feet. "Ah, and please help yourself to something to drink."

Comments

[herr_bookman]

Autor smiles a little, nibbling his mochi. "March 12th. So a little sooner than yours, but only a little," he says warmly. Then he remembers Lucas. "Do you want to do something for your birthday?"

[halfemptyglasses]

"I don't know. I usually don't."

Her mochi finished, Mirai opens up the third bowl of udon and dishes some up for herself.

[herr_bookman]

"I usually don't either," he admits, inclining his head. He follows suit, dishing up some of the udon for himself as well. "Bar usually gives you a cake, though."

Autor already knows exactly what he's going to get her for her birthday. He just hopes it won't overwhelm her.

[halfemptyglasses]

"Like an entire cake? Or just a cupcake?"

[herr_bookman]

"Depends on her whimsy," Autor says, sipping his miso. "Sometimes it's a small cake, sometimes it's a slice, and occasionally it's a cupcake. But it's usually good. I had a coconut angel food cake with strawberry glaze once. You know? I bet I could make that."

[halfemptyglasses]

"....Autor-senpai? Do you want to cook? Like, for a living?"

[herr_bookman]

Autor considers this. "Probably not. My mother does, and it's a highly stressful profession. I like the challenge of it, of course, and I like having my friends eat what I cook, but to do it professionally would be... There's too many other things I am destined for; I have little time for it except as a fun hobby," he explains. He smiles a little. "My mother doesn't even know I can make anything aside from latkes. I learned it all here."

[halfemptyglasses]

"She'd probably be proud of you."

[herr_bookman]

Autor's cheeks warm, though it's not an unwelcome feeling. "You think so?" he says softly, almost wistful. "Thanks. That'd be... That would be nice."

He returns to his udon, keenly aware that Mirai doesn't have a mother, and aware that he keeps bringing his own up around her. Too easy to talk to, indeed.

"I'm... I'm sorry I keep talking about her."

[halfemptyglasses]

Mirai shakes her head a little. "You don't have to be."

[herr_bookman]

Autor retreats to his udon, snacking on the tofu. "When are you leaving? Not that I'm chasing you off or anything, heaven forbid."

[halfemptyglasses]

"I don't know. Soon, I guess. I could tell you when? It might be good to tell someone before I go."

[herr_bookman]

"If you don't mind," Autor says quietly, almost shy. "I'll be waiting for you, Miss Kuriyama."

[halfemptyglasses]

She smiles just a tiny bit. "No one's waited for me before. I mean, I guess Yui would sometimes, but... not like this."

[herr_bookman]

Autor's heart leaps in his chest when she does. "Well," he says, still soft, still smiling himself, "this time you have someone. Come back safely, all right?"

[halfemptyglasses]

"....all right," she answers, her own voice soft.