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

[chippedsoul]

[There's a moments pause, before a sigh escapes him.] Yes. I do recall he did it to protect me, before he worked out the true purpose of my travel.

[. . .] I've probably already told you this, but I never planned to go through with it. [He says, after nearly cutting down his target]

[judicialassistant]

...You did. [ There is a tired smile, as she recalls the concern with which he gave Ryunosuke the Karuma. ] Though, I think I could have figured it out, even if you didn't. You were not yourself, but your heart was in the right place, too.

[chippedsoul]

....Maybe so. [He gaze falters, his voice gone low.] Had it happened though, murder is still murder, regardless of the reason.

[He let those words linger uncomfortably, longer than necessary.]

. . .The deer should be ready soon.

[judicialassistant]

[ Susato would have likely thought she imagined it, if she hadn't felt it before. A gentle heartbeat, like a discord in Kazuma's heart that was trying to tell her something--or rather, trying to hide something. Gosh, that was going to keep happening, wasn't it?

While it should have been easy to agree with him, she finds that it... isn't. ]

...Do you think there is enough to share with father as well? I think he would be proud that we worked together on it.

[chippedsoul]

[He takes a deep breath, that warm smile back on his face.]

Yes, of course. The recipe itself is rather simple, but if you want me to write down the ingredients for you I can.

[judicialassistant]

[ Psh. Pssshhh. Who does he think he's talking to? She smiles warmly in return, gently pulling out a notebook from her sleeve, seemingly from out of nowhere. ]

That won't be necessary. You know I always come prepared... but if you'd like to dictate, I'd be happy to listen.

[ Always. But first, food. She sets the notebook down where she presumes she'll be sitting, and then walks around to nose about any cabinets or drawers, to see what she has to work with in terms of containers, plates, and utensils. ]

[chippedsoul]

[Goodness, she's going around his kitchen like she's right back at home again. There's hardly much, since he lives on his own, but at least there's the bare minimum of plates and such when there's a possible guest or two.]

Heh. Well then, I'll just tell you the secret to making it taste good. Besides the honey, a little bit of sage and rosemary helps. [And while she's preparing the table, he'll go ahead and check on the deer. The savory aroma of cooked venison fills the kitchen.]

[judicialassistant]

Ah, so that's what you added before.

[ Her head pokes out from behind a cabinet when she hears the metallic door of the stove opening. She stops what she's doing for a moment to take in the aroma, but then appears at the table with a small stack of plates, silverware, and chopsticks for both of them.

She's setting two places at the table, but when she gets to her notebook, she opens it one-handed to a blank page, scribbling hurriedly: Kazuma-sama's (secret?) recipe.

...Then she will finish what she's doing, placing the utensils in their proper place, exactly as she'd been taught to do. She's brought out a couple extra plates, just in case--and for something to carry Yujin's portion home with her, failing better options. ]

[chippedsoul]

[Kazuma can handle taking the tray out of the stove himself, setting it on the counter to let it rest for a moment before cutting into it. His attention turns to Susato for the time being, already nearly finished setting the table and then some.]

If I didn't know any better, I would think you were actually staying in this home.

[judicialassistant]

Oh? [ For a moment, she wonders if she's made herself just a little too comfortable. Once the table is set, she stops; but she does swallow down that self-consciousness, and the urge to apologize for no reason. ] Well... you haven't made it terribly difficult to figure out, if you don't mind my saying so.

I could stay with you, of course, though that might leave father quite lonely.

[chippedsoul]

Hm. I do only care to keep the essentials. [Why his home is pretty bare bones at the moment.]

Now we can't have that. He only just arrived along with you. [It's been some time, so he'll start cutting into the venison.] . . .I know what you're thinking, but I must politely decline.

[judicialassistant]

...! [ A small falter betrays her emotions, but she recovers quickly enough. Still, it hurt more than she expected. ] I see you retained a few things after all from the Mikotoba school of mind reading.

...At least, Ryunosuke-san seems to think we have one.

[chippedsoul]

I guess the two of you did rub off on me. Then again, Ryunosuke is an open book. [Heck he even mumbles his thoughts.]

. . .I'm sorry, if you were hoping we could have what we did before. [He transfer the cooked meat onto a large plate, coming over to set it in the middle of the table.] But Professor Mikotoba has left the door open for me, whenever I choose to return, or at least visit.

[judicialassistant]

...Yes, I told him as much, too.

[ Perhaps it was not so much that we were good at reading minds, so much that the Naruhodos were bad at concealing theirs? Something like that. She nods, though she finds it difficult to meet his eyes for the moment. ]

No need to apologize. You will always have a home with us.

[chippedsoul]

...Come. [He'll walk over to her side.] Let's enjoy a meal we made together before it goes cold.

[judicialassistant]

[ She senses him closing the distance between them, and only then is she able to look up at him with a smile. Pushing her notebook and quill aside for something far more important, she nods, taking a seat in what feels like her second home. ]

Let's! It smells delicious.

[ ...And even though he'd told her they couldn't have what they did before, it felt like he gave it to her. At least--for the moment. ]