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 wraps the blanket around his shoulders with a nod of thanks--and instantly regrets it. The covering smells like artificial strawberry. Like Mirai.

Think on my shoes, think on my shoes, he thinks. He's grateful for her distracting question, and nods again.

He turns away for a moment, and messes with something. When he turns back to her, he presents a plate full of green tea and apricot mochi, pastel balls artfully arranged with mint leaves.

[halfemptyglasses]

"Ah, they look good," she says, taking a seat again. "I-is it all right if I have one now before the rest of our dinner?"

[herr_bookman]

Autor sets the plate down near her. "Of course. They're meant to be eaten," he says, and plucks one up for himself.

The mochi is sweet and chewy, with a subtle flavor of matcha. Autor decides that he really enjoys all the Japanese food he's tried because of Mirai, and vows to learn how to make more of it.

"Next time, I'll make us some of these."

[halfemptyglasses]

"Ah, it's sweet," Mirai says in approval at the apricot mochi. "C-could I take some of these with me when I go?"

[herr_bookman]

Autor sits up. "Of course. I... didn't realize that you were leaving so soon," he says. "Is there... Can I do anything for you before then? Or are you pretty much prepared?"

[halfemptyglasses]

"Well... I mean, if I just leave it alone, it... it won't get better. I don't really know what else you can do, b-but you have been helping." She looks at her hands a moment before going, "I don't really know how I'll ever be able to thank you, Autor-senpai."

[herr_bookman]

Autor holds up his hands. "Oh, no, don't worry about that. Just come back safely, that's all," the boy says, and then wraps up in the blanket again. "You're quite welcome, though. I've enjoyed being here for you."

He nibbles on his mochi a moment more, considering her. "Miss Kuriyama, have you ever been sledding?"

[halfemptyglasses]

"Hm? No, not really. Why do you ask?"

[herr_bookman]

"Well, Mrs. Bonnie Murdock--do you know her?--had the idea to get the young people of Milliways together in a sled-building contest, and then race them down the mountainside when it snows," he explains. "I'm thinking I might try, because it sounds like a lot of fun to me."

[halfemptyglasses]

"Ah, yes, I've met Murdock-san. I wouldn't know how to build a sled, but I... if I'm here, I guess I could check it out?"

[herr_bookman]

Autor relaxes into a small smile, finishing his mochi. He thinks of a winter with her, of making her lebkuchens and hot cocoa and eggnog, and possibly building a snowman with her, too.

"I look forward to it, then, if you're here," he says, inclining his head. "I've never been sledding, so we'd be in the same boat with regards to building one."

[halfemptyglasses]

"It's funny," she says. "It wasn't that long ago that we had last year's Christmas. And here we are heading into winter again."

[herr_bookman]

Autor nods. "It's April in my world now," he says, plucking up another green tea sweet. "Frankly I've been keeping track of my birthday here, too, given how much time I spent here. Thankfully no one noticed back home."

[halfemptyglasses]

"Oh! I wonder how that will work with me. I guess mine's not too far away in either place, but it's much closer on the other side of the door."

[herr_bookman]

Autor blinks. "Oh? When is your birthday, Miss Kuriyama?"

[halfemptyglasses]

"March 31st. Oh, when is yours?"

[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."