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 nods, and sets her chopsticks down next to her bowl. Making the noodles proved more difficult than he thought it would be, given that Hannibal Lecter stopped by, but Autor isn't about to tell her that.

"Yes," he says shyly, ducking. "I hope it suits. I wasn't sure what to top it with, so I asked Bar."

[halfemptyglasses]

"I didn't know you would bring it so soon," she says, picking up her chopsticks. "Thank you."

[herr_bookman]

"Neither did I," Autor admits, and warmth floods his cheeks. "But I had the opportunity to make it, so I took that and ran, I suppose."

He sips his remaining peach juice, wondering if she'll approve of his efforts. His very friendly efforts. His not crush-like at all efforts. Friends can make each other dinner and eat it in their rooms together. Sure.

[halfemptyglasses]

Mirai picks up some of the noodles, careful how she moves in case they're overcooked. She takes a bite...

"I like it," she tells him.

[herr_bookman]

Autor's shoulders relax. "You do?" he asks, easing into a smile. "I'm so glad."

He sips his broth, and licks his lips, surprised. Autor considered using the milder shiromiso, but he's glad he sprung for the dark, rich awasemiso. The salty, earthy taste is something he's never experienced before, and he absolutely plans to make more recipes with it--especially since Miss Kuriyama seems to approve.

"Do you often have miso, then? I'd never heard of it before this. Or tofu. Or udon."

[halfemptyglasses]

"Oh sure. Those are all pretty common. And seafood, but that's kind of a given since Japan's made up of islands."

The last part spilled out of her mouth almost against her will, and she watches Autor for his reaction.

[herr_bookman]

Autor doesn't react in the way she might expect. He nods, listening to what she has to say, and takes a bite of his noodles. He's clearly practiced with chopsticks enough to get the food to his mouth, but no more than that.

"Oh, that makes sense," the boy says. "By the way, I brought a third bowl of udon if you finish the first one--and, well, if you liked it enough to finish the first one and want a second."

[halfemptyglasses]

She gives an internal sigh of relief and continues eating.

"How much udon did you make, Autor-senpai?"

[herr_bookman]

Autor chuckles, noshing on his noodles. "Just three bowls. Oh, yeah, and dessert."

Friends make each other dessert, right?

"How are your practice sessions with Tahno-san coming along?"

[halfemptyglasses]

"You made dessert, too?"

Mirai wonders if she should invite Autor to study with her more often if this is what she's going to get out of it.

"I haven't had another yet. I wanted to get this done, too."

[herr_bookman]

"Well, I didn't make it this time--I picked it up from Bar, but maybe next time I will," Autor admits, sipping his delicious broth. He likes that better than the noodles, which are thick and heavy.

"Ah, I see," he says, nodding. "Do you know when you'll be testing for your license?"

[halfemptyglasses]

"I don't know. I should probably go while it's all still in my head. Who knows if it's even going to matter? I- I still don't know what the Nase clan is going to do."

[herr_bookman]

Autor rests his chin on his scarred knuckles and his chopsticks in his bowl. "Unfortunately--and this is stating the obvious--you won't know what will happen in your life there until you go live it. I'm sorry if not knowing worries you," Autor murmurs. "And I don't blame you at all; I'm... sort of the same way. I went home less than twenty five times in my almost two years here."

[halfemptyglasses]

"Really? Only about once a month?"

[herr_bookman]

"Well, I was Bound--twice!--for a great deal of time, too," Autor says, taking another bite of his spinach. "But yes, thereabouts. I'd spend enough time at home to get done what I needed to do, and then come haring back to the bar."

The truth is, Autor spent so long reliving the same day that he was ready to die due to lack of variety, and didn't want to go back home once he found the bar. Thankfully, time and the Story started again for him, and he aged properly.

"So I don't blame you for wanting to stay and try to figure things out, or even just rest for a while, or whatever you wanted to do."

[halfemptyglasses]

"...you know? I don't even know what I want to do." Mirai leans back on her hands a moment, glancing up to her ceiling. "I- I mean, I could do whatever I want in the universe. And I don't know."

[herr_bookman]

"That tends to happen when you're spoiled for choice, yeah," Autor murmurs sympathetically, having been there before. He carefully plucks up a cube of tofu and pops it into his mouth. "What do you like doing? You like tending bonsai, and eating apricots, and writing. Is there anything else? Do you want to learn anything? The library is fantastic for that, and you can ask Bar anything."

[halfemptyglasses]

"I wouldn't know where to start there, either. Just... It'd be nice to get a completely new life." She holds her hand out like she's offering something to the empty space in front of her. "Just say, 'Thank you, but I need a new one.'"

[herr_bookman]

"This is one, kind of," Autor says, setting his chopsticks down. "I've always thought of my time in Milliways as a completely separate life, where I go flying and deal with magic and cook udon. Then there's the old life at home, with work. It's not as glamorous, but it needs done, and there will be opportunities there that I'd be a fool to pass up."

He tilts his head, murmuring softly, in the tones of one who has considered the same for himself, "I mean, I suppose you could never go back."

[halfemptyglasses]

"And just stay here?"

[herr_bookman]

Autor shrugs, holding his hands up in a helpless gesture. "I'm probably supposed to be telling you to go back out of some sense of obligation to your old life. But if it's that toxic, why not come to a better place where you can make yourself as you see fit?"

Autor can't deny that there's a selfish part of him that wants them both to stay in Milliways forever, and not face anything in their respective worlds. But he doesn't think that's what's fueling his advice now. "Of course, you could probably make a life for yourself in your world currently, too."

[halfemptyglasses]

"I'm not sure that's the part that's toxic," she says, certain that she doesn't have to explain further. "Besides, it feels like cheating."

[herr_bookman]

She doesn't have to elaborate. "Just for the record," the boy says quietly, "you are not unpleasant."

He picks up his chopsticks again, and goes after his spinach. "Cheating?" Autor says. "Mm, that's fair."

[halfemptyglasses]

Mirai lets out a sigh. "I should at least find out what the Nase clan will do."

[herr_bookman]

"That's a good plan," Autor says, finishing his noodles and leaving the delicious broth for last. "They might just want to establish their presence as an authority and not do anything to you at all."