[Day 12, EN] Confidence is Koi

[Yasuki Honoka]

Sun set. Honoka travels down to the Kuni gardens and makes her way through to the Koi pond. Tonight, she has an old friend to tell something very special. Hiroto was behind her, as always, but would never dare intrude on the intimacy of any moment. Tonight was a night for Honoka and her closest confidant, and one that surely would remain with Umiko traveling off.

Knelt by the edge of the pool of water she looks for Ruisu. Spotting the koi, she would smile brightly and warmly. Holding the emotions close in her heart, still warm from last night. An ember she would nurse forever if she needed to. Placing palms down on a couple stones lining the edge of the pond.

Honoka would say softly, "She loves me back, Ruisu."

The air surrounding was the natural breeze as she'd turned off her temparator. Stars shining ever so brightly in the sky above her reflect in the pond. Stars she couldn't help but connect to Umiko now, and would always think of her when seeing them.

[Kaiu Nagisa]

Not some place that Nagisa normally visits, but the gardens are a wonderful place to clear the mind and just exist. The sounds of water and the gentle rustle of the occasional breeze, soothing to a racing mind. It’s no longer too hot to enjoy this, as well.

A familiar form, even in the dim light, brightens the Kaiu’s day. She approaches, slowly, a bit of excited energy to each step. “Honoka-sama. Beautiful night to enjoy the gardens.”

[Yasuki Honoka]

Honoka is surprised to not be alone, and she sharpens quickly in expectation to have to be on better behavior. However, once she See's and processes it was Nagisa's voice her surprise softens into a smile. Looking down at herself briefly to make a determination, her casual yakata dirtied by the surrounds. Knelt before the pond like she was would hardly be the way she would wish most anyone else to see her.

For a friend like Nagisa though?

"Yes, a beautiful night indeed," she says warmly, her thoughts going elsewhere a moment. "Would you like to join me by the pond, Nagisa-san? Or shall I join you by the bench?" she says, giving a casual wave to a nearby bench she has often found the need for. This cozy little patch was well visited by her, after all.

[Kaiu Nagisa]

“I will join you, Honoka-sama. The air by the pond is likely even more pleasantly cool.” Nagisa takes a few steps closer, a smile of her own forming. She motions towards the pond itself before continuing, “I see you enjoy watching the koi. Do you have a favorite?”

There’s a relaxed quality to the Kaiu that’s been increasingly rare for Honoka to see. But at the same time, there’s an underlying sense of melancholy.

[Yasuki Honoka]

"Ruisu," she would say, indicating with her eyes the eldest of the koi in the pond. Careful not to move too suddenly lest she accidentally disturb the water by knocking something loose.

"I come here a lot to lay off some of my worries with it. A very good listener," she says warmly. "Though I suppose today is a little different. Telling it about my good fortune," she says, and allows herself that same little bit of melancholy. "What brings you out to a pond this late, Nagisa-san?"

[Kaiu Nagisa]

Nagisa rubs at the back of her neck, trying to figure out a good way to explain her random wanderings. “Ah, well, I wanted to center myself after this very… Eventful couple of weeks. I think that’s the best way to put it.”

A pause as her eyes gaze over each fish she could make out in the pond in this light, thoughtful of her own positioning. “Honoka-sama, I… Have kept some things from you the last week.”

[Yasuki Honoka]

Eventful. Yes, that was an apt enough description. Enough to have warranted a nod from Honoka when it was said. Then, the raise of her brows as Nagisa admitted to keeping something hidden from her. Shifting ever so carefully as to face her a little more.

"Well, thank you for wishing to tell me now. I am certain whatever it is, you had good reasons to withhold it," she says, offering a calming smile, "so don't worry.

[Kaiu Nagisa]

“Well, there’s a couple of things. One good, one… Bad.” Nagisa raises a hand to the back of her neck, eyes moving from the pond to Honoka. Seeing that she had turned to face her, Nagisa turns to do the same.

Taking in a deep breath, the Kaiu opted to admit the worse of the two events. “Remember the meeting with the Dragob we had? The topic of the tragic passing of Yasuki Kaito came up? Both Tamori-sama and myself… Were there. When it happened. We were taken with him.”

[Yasuki Honoka]

"Oh, Nagisa-san," she says, softly. Letting the worry she would have felt, and the concern she now feels settle into the moment. Honoka knew well how to take her time, and be certain of her next step forward. As such, there is a contemplative silence for a little longer than likely would have been exactly comfortable.

Still, she would break it just as that discomfort might have sank in, "I know only some of the fright that being involved in such a thing might inspire. But to have been targeted in such a way? You have gone through something terrible and I feel guilty to admit I am just gladdened to know you are unharmed."