Entry 001

[chippedsoul]

Sender: Kazuma Asogi
To: Everyone
Subject: Apology

A few days ago, a coward led some people uninvolved in the situation to confront me in the forest, despite being aware of how dangerous that was. I would like to take this moment to apologize to those that I've caused harm to. It was not my intent and that outburst won't happen again.

Locked To: Castmates Only
If you're worried I will come after the Prosecutor again, don't be. I have questions that need answers, not from that man.

Locked To: Soldier: 76
76. How are you doing? And are you available to meet?

Comments

[judicialassistant]

Oh, my. [ She claps her hands together. Of course, he could've said anything, and she would have thought it was amazing. ] ...That sounds divine. Did you hunt it yourself?

[chippedsoul]

Haha, no. The credit goes to 76. The same goes for the honey. [He'll go ahead and stand up, walk into the kitchen to bring back a jar filled with a rainbow swirl of liquid inside.]

This is some dream honey. [He thought maybe Susato would like to see something like this.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Somehow this answer doesn't surprise Susato... though she has to admit, the mental image of Kazuma, taking down unsuspecting critters with his sword, all cool and collected... it's very fitting.

When he goes to the kitchen, she peers after him curiously. It takes some effort not to follow him around, like when they were young, but eventually he returns. She lets out a very audible gasp, so much so that she has to cover her mouth. ]

I, It's-- dreamy. [ Wow, nailed it. ] I mean, colorful! Does it still taste like honey?

[ She must try it at once. And also possibly keep some for herself. For science. ]

[chippedsoul]

Of course, mostly. [He'll twists off the lid, taking a nearby spoon to scoop some for her to try. It's base is definitely honey, but there are hints of different flavors pending the coloration. It can be more sweet, fruity, flowery, or sour. Whatever one can imagine it would taste, it's likely a flavor.]

[judicialassistant]

[ 'Mostly' ... That only makes her more curious. Once the lid is off, she gently takes the spoon and takes a small sample, licking it tentatively.

For her, there is a fruity texture to it, which satisfies her sweet tooth immensely. ]

Mm. Tasty, and pleasing to look at. Someday I must thank Mr. 76 in person.

[chippedsoul]

You can ask him for some if you like. He doesn't mind sharing it. [He gets a lot, and he needs them taken so he can cut back on the moonshine. He'll pick up the jar.]

Not sure what else I have we can use. The world didn't have much when I first arrived.

[judicialassistant]

[ Well she’s not going to ask him on their first meeting!!! But it is something she makes a serious mental note to consider... ]

We can use this to marinate the deer though, correct? That would be a good start.

I can light the stove.

[chippedsoul]

[He nods.] I don't have any coal, but there's plenty of wood you can use. [And he'll show her where the wood is stashed. Afterwards, he'll proceed to take out what ingredients they had. He did have a few herbs and vegetables from the communal garden, which has him thinking.]

Have you been to the communal garden yet? [He pulls off his gloves, not wanting to stain them while preparing the food. From a certain angle, a faint scar can be seen in his right hand.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Heavy-lifting! Susato never did get to do much of that when she was younger, so she's rather excited at the chance. She pulls out some wood from his stash until she feels like they have enough. ]

Ah, the garden right outside the residential district? With the singing fish?

[ She tosses the wood into the stove, brushing her hands off from the dirt. ]

Only once, I'm afraid. But I should like to go back. [ From the way her expression is lit up, she quite enjoyed it. Once she got over the shock of said singing fish. ]

[chippedsoul]

[Clearly this is why Kazuma is letting her freely handle the stove. Although he's checking occasionally to be sure she doesn't actually need help.]

...That be the one. [He didn't want to think about the singing fish again.] I go there often to help tend the plants. Maybe you can come with me next time.

[He slices the deer meat into more manageable pieces, setting them into a tray as starts to pour the honey over it.] When you're finished with the stove, you can prepare the garlic for me.

[judicialassistant]

[ Somehow she manages the wood without getting a splinter, or breaking a nail, or other such girly things. She takes a moment to get a fire going, and then turns her attention to mincing the garlic.

...But not before admiring the honey being poured over the deer meat, of course. She stops, mid-chop, mesmerized by the colors again, before--what was she doing again?--oh, yeah.

She brings the garlic over when she's satisfied. ]

I think I'd quite enjoy seeing you get your hands dirty, actually. [ She smiles innocently-- ] I take it that's where these vegetables come from?

[chippedsoul]

Is that so? You just pick up on a lot of things when you're living on your own. [That honey is making the deer meat look out of this world with all the colors. He'll take the finely minced garlic afterwards to add to the honey.]

I did grab some out in the forest, but yes that's where I mostly got them.

[judicialassistant]

[ She nods. Even as he says that, she is still grappling with the idea that he has lived those years all by himself--but then, she supposes it is not so different from losing your memories, being left for dead and having to find your way from there. ]

I suppose I am lucky. Here, I have father with me. [ As he's adding the garlic, she's poking around at the other vegetables he's brought out, washing and prepping them to be cut. ]

[chippedsoul]

...I'm glad the both of you arrived together. [Being on his own wasn't really that bad. It's just the stuff the worlds would throw at him that are a pain to deal with.]

Even if it wasn't the case, I'd look out for you.

[judicialassistant]

I know. [ Selfishly, she is ecstatic to have him here for her own benefit, but also because she would not have known what to do, if she didn't have him to turn to when it came to van Zieks. ]

Even so, I can't trail behind you forever. Being in Great Britain has really taught me about being on my own, but I'm realizing just how much I still have to learn.

Especially with someone counting on me.

[chippedsoul]

Well, I've always known you're capable of doing anything when you put your mind to it. [Damn social status when it came to what a woman should do. He'll set the tray near the stove for now, waiting for it to reach the right temperature before putting it in.]

Thinking about it, I never did ask about how your time in Great Britain has been for you. You and Ryunosuke.

[judicialassistant]

[ ...Suddenly she wonders if she should tell him about 'Ryutaro.' About the chat she had with him before that mess. Technically, she wasn't in Britain for that though... ]

It was... stressful. I was actually called back to Japan for part of the year. I can only imagine how stressful that was for Ryunosuke-san, but... I think you would be proud of him.

[chippedsoul]

Oh, I don't doubt his abilities at all. [He was the one who insisted he had the talent for it. Going by what he knows after his time, Ryunosuke turns out just fine.]

But why were you called back to Japan...?

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato freezes. For a moment, she thinks of her father, who she believed was ill with a fever for the entire month-and-a-half of her journey, but now she knew better. ]

My father made a promise, you see. [ Susato is still keeping busy with the vegetables, adding what she can to the dish as she finishes. ] ...Before Klint van Zieks died, he left behind a wife who was with child, and very ill. My father promised to do what he could for her, but unfortunately, she died, leaving behind a healthy baby girl.

...He also promised to protect this girl. Even from her own family name. So he gave her to someone he trusted, where she has been safe and happy ever since.

When it looked like Ryunosuke and I might discover the truth about her, my father lied to me and called me back to keep his promise.

[chippedsoul]

[He forgets what he's doing, listening to Susato. Whatever he had been expecting her to say, was definitely not this. Where does he even begin to process all this? This girl must be deeply involved with both Susato and Ryunosuke. And how did Mikotoba even know they were about to discover the truth? He was not in Great Britain yet, was he?]

. . .The part in the letter Klint Van Zieks said he couldn't commit to paper, is it about the girl? [. . .] Does Prosecutor Van Zieks currently know of her?

[judicialassistant]

[ Funny thing about telling a story like that: it tends to leave you a little dehydrated. Susato wasn't expecting it either, but once she started, she couldn't stop--even though she had inadvertently left out a few things (case in point, Soseki Natsume's role). She clears her throat. ]

...Yes. [ To both. ] He told us everything.

He named her after my mother... Iris.

[chippedsoul]

. . .Hm. [He's never met this girl, but Mikotoba choosing a name like that...unsurprising.] I take it you and Ryunosuke are well acquainted with Miss Iris?

[judicialassistant]

[ She nods. At this, her face brightens just a smidge. ]

We lived with her and Mr. Sholmes. [ In the attic, mind you, but details. ] ...He was the one my father trusted to raise her. She really is a bright little girl.

[chippedsoul]

[Wait. Hold up-] Your father's trusted friend is... [That nosy self-proclaimed famous detective? He frowns, trying to imagine that man raising a child...]

...I'll take your word on that. [If Susato believes it, he's not about to dismiss her claim.]

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato tilts her head. It's hard for her to know what he may be thinking nowadays, but she just knows he would be impressed, too, if only he could meet her. ]

...Well. My apologies. I know that was probably more than you bargained for.

[ She bows. ]

...Shall we put everything in the stove?