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[ Susato answers him with a solemn nod. ]
It is... but there is a time and place, and I do believe I've troubled you enough for one evening. And we've certainly been dealing with enough.
[ She sighs, but manages a smile when she looks up from what's left of the snacks. ]
I should shower. Then... I don't know. Perhaps I'll see how he's getting on. [ There's another weary glance towards the room they gave to Kazuma. Maybe she'll at least make sure he has enough Dawn petals around, given that Yujin has likely been monitoring his healing. ]
It is... but there is a time and place, and I do believe I've troubled you enough for one evening. And we've certainly been dealing with enough.
[ She sighs, but manages a smile when she looks up from what's left of the snacks. ]
I should shower. Then... I don't know. Perhaps I'll see how he's getting on. [ There's another weary glance towards the room they gave to Kazuma. Maybe she'll at least make sure he has enough Dawn petals around, given that Yujin has likely been monitoring his healing. ]
[She's got a point there. Just because they need to accept the truth, it doesn't mean they need to fret over it every single moment. Life goes on. He nudges her arm with his elbow, smiling.]
That sounds like a feat of excellent planning. Go on, then. I'll tidy up here.
That sounds like a feat of excellent planning. Go on, then. I'll tidy up here.
[ The nudge, small a gesture though it may be, actually does a lot to pull her out of her thoughts. It's not exactly in her nature to just leave all the tidying to her father, but before she can fight him on that, she stands, and Yujin definitely gets a hug from his daughter. ]
. . . Thank you. [ For everything. ]
. . . Thank you. [ For everything. ]
[Oh goodness. He was not expecting a hug to come out of that. He certainly won't complain, though. Instead, he wraps his arms around Susato's midriff, his eyes slipping shut.]
It's no problem at all. [He'd add that he's sorry he couldn't do more, but he knows she won't take it well. That doesn't change the existence of the sentiment, though.]
It's no problem at all. [He'd add that he's sorry he couldn't do more, but he knows she won't take it well. That doesn't change the existence of the sentiment, though.]
. . . Father?
[ Susato calls out, opening Reverein's clinic doors slowly. Things have calmed down in the days since the Flower Festival, yet after coming home from Kazuma's, Susato still hasn't been able to bring herself to say anything about what's happened. At some point, even she realized she was making excuses, and today she's found yet another one.
This is where she finds her father nowadays. Even during the festival, it was difficult to tear him away, and she's just realized why. ]
I... I just realized Dr Mathis is no longer here. You should have said something... Do you need help?
[ Susato calls out, opening Reverein's clinic doors slowly. Things have calmed down in the days since the Flower Festival, yet after coming home from Kazuma's, Susato still hasn't been able to bring herself to say anything about what's happened. At some point, even she realized she was making excuses, and today she's found yet another one.
This is where she finds her father nowadays. Even during the festival, it was difficult to tear him away, and she's just realized why. ]
I... I just realized Dr Mathis is no longer here. You should have said something... Do you need help?
[There's a moment of silence, then Yujin emerges from the nearby office, looking a bit... Well, not surprised, but certainly in a light bit of disarray. Distracted. He'd just been writing some more in-depth notes on an idea to distill the Glowing Dawn into a tincture, and while he's not as bad as Sholmes when it comes to getting absorbed into his work, it's still a bit of a struggle now that he's torn out of it. Or perhaps he's just tired.]
Oh, Susato. No, no I'm fine. There aren't any patients in today.
Oh, Susato. No, no I'm fine. There aren't any patients in today.
[ She can tell when he's distracted, and she very certainly isn't helping matters. She should feel better, knowing that he isn't interrupting a patient who needs his care, but instead she sounds almost like she doesn't know what to say. Maybe she's a little distracted, too. ]
Oh. [ She mutters quietly. She almost leaves it at that, but then she feels the weight of the bag she'd been carrying, bringing it around so that it's in view. ] Well, I've brought some lunch for us. Would you like to take a break?
Oh. [ She mutters quietly. She almost leaves it at that, but then she feels the weight of the bag she'd been carrying, bringing it around so that it's in view. ] Well, I've brought some lunch for us. Would you like to take a break?
[He frowns and takes out his pocket watch, but his eyes widen with surprise when he's taken note of the hands. It's really that time of day already? He quickly slips the watch back where it belongs and shoots a smile Susato's way.]
Yes, that would be lovely. Thank you. We can have a seat in the cafeteria.
Yes, that would be lovely. Thank you. We can have a seat in the cafeteria.
[ She'll give him a more confident nod upon seeing that smile. After three days of festival junk food (delicious as it was), she decided to go with something else, despite the fact that there were already discussions about new menu items. Inside the bag, there is a spread of different flavored sandwiches, not unlike the ones she made for 76 upon his recovery from being a noctaere.
She'd added those to the Wild Harvest menu, too. Maybe she's hoping it'll go over just as well, but for now she just nods, giving a wary glance at the door where she'd just come in. ]
Of course. I remember where that is.
[ So she's not shy about leading the way. Perhaps she's still going over the words in her head, but it's not long before they're there. She automatically sits, unwrapping the bag to reveal the box of sandwiches, and also both flavors of cookie (sakura-shaped and dawn-shaped). ]
I . . . Um, did you enjoy the rest of the festival?
She'd added those to the Wild Harvest menu, too. Maybe she's hoping it'll go over just as well, but for now she just nods, giving a wary glance at the door where she'd just come in. ]
Of course. I remember where that is.
[ So she's not shy about leading the way. Perhaps she's still going over the words in her head, but it's not long before they're there. She automatically sits, unwrapping the bag to reveal the box of sandwiches, and also both flavors of cookie (sakura-shaped and dawn-shaped). ]
I . . . Um, did you enjoy the rest of the festival?
[Yujin glances into the office before leaving it, just to be certain he hasn't left anything that cannot go unattended for a while. There's nothing in there that actually falls into that category, but there's always that nagging feeling of paranoia which leads to questions like 'have I left the stove on?' and 'have I remembered to lock the door?' Speaking of which, let's lock that office door before leaving it.
When Susato sits at the table, he follows her lead, making himself as comfortable as possible. There's a very light ache in the small of his back, which likely came from a bit too much gardening in the greenhouse the other day.]
Yes, of course. Though, I will admit, the grandest enjoyment came when that costume was replaced by my normal clothing once more. [Which was followed by a different enjoyment soon after, but... Well, he should tell Susato about that soon, he knows that. He simply doesn't know how to tell her.]
When Susato sits at the table, he follows her lead, making himself as comfortable as possible. There's a very light ache in the small of his back, which likely came from a bit too much gardening in the greenhouse the other day.]
Yes, of course. Though, I will admit, the grandest enjoyment came when that costume was replaced by my normal clothing once more. [Which was followed by a different enjoyment soon after, but... Well, he should tell Susato about that soon, he knows that. He simply doesn't know how to tell her.]
[ She may have noticed a slight wince when he sat. Susato does what she can to help him when she notices him working around the greenhouse, but some aches and pains here or there are unavoidable, she supposes. She lets it be and cracks a smile as she sets out everything, and she pushes one of the sandwich boxes Yujin's way. ]
I miss my cloud already. Still, the flowerworks were more than enough to make up for the loss.
[ Among other things... She truly doesn't know how to tell him either. Truthfully she was probably only half-paying attention to the show by the end, but here it is. Her best attempt. ]
There's... something I should tell you about that... actually.
I miss my cloud already. Still, the flowerworks were more than enough to make up for the loss.
[ Among other things... She truly doesn't know how to tell him either. Truthfully she was probably only half-paying attention to the show by the end, but here it is. Her best attempt. ]
There's... something I should tell you about that... actually.
[He takes that sandwich box with a bright smile and a grateful nod of the head. Susato's cooking never misses the spot it's meant to hit, and he hadn't noticed just how hungry he is until he was snapped out of his work. Still, he doesn't dig in just yet, instead listening to her as she speaks. He still thinks it's a shame that cloud disappeared. He really wanted to keep it.]
Oh? About the flowerworks? [His brow raises a bit. He has his own memories associated with that event and for a few paranoid seconds, he wonders if that's what Susato wants to talk about.]
Oh? About the flowerworks? [His brow raises a bit. He has his own memories associated with that event and for a few paranoid seconds, he wonders if that's what Susato wants to talk about.]
[ Susato catches that brief moment of paranoia, but it passes so quickly she thinks she might have imagined it. She definitely doesn't have the time to process it. Maybe that was just him realizing how hungry he was again? (Did he even eat breakfast this morning?)
Nah, she's just dragging this out. She shakes her head to keep her eyes from going wide, and manages to resist slapping herself in the cheeks. ]
No... Well– [ Yes? Wait. No. Nope. ] Not exactly the flowerworks themselves. But I...
[ ...She'll quietly let Yujin sweat it out for a few seconds more before she gathers herself. ]
Nah, she's just dragging this out. She shakes her head to keep her eyes from going wide, and manages to resist slapping herself in the cheeks. ]
No... Well– [ Yes? Wait. No. Nope. ] Not exactly the flowerworks themselves. But I...
[ ...She'll quietly let Yujin sweat it out for a few seconds more before she gathers herself. ]
[ No regrets, right? ]
I kissed him. I kissed Kazuma-sama.
I kissed him. I kissed Kazuma-sama.
[Oh, he was ready to sweat it out, alright. That's why the actual revelation feels like a thump to the back of the head in several ways. He'd noticed that Susato and Kazuma had been growing closer, but even so, he hadn't quite expected it'd take that turn. Should he have seen it coming?]
Oh! Ah... [What... What does he say to that? What does any father say when their daughter tells them they kissed a boy?"That's rough, buddy"?] I see.
Oh! Ah... [What... What does he say to that? What does any father say when their daughter tells them they kissed a boy?
. . . [ Well, it's not like she was planning to go into detail, but that reaction still somehow seemed... reserved. Maybe it just hasn't sunk in yet, but that also seems so very much like her father.
Fingers tense around her box of sandwiches, which remain uneaten. ]
Maybe I shouldn't have said anything, but I vowed to keep no more secrets.
[ She can still hear Reaper's laugh through his armor when she mentioned that she told Yujin everything. That it was easier, better for Reaper to keep secrets from his own parents. She refused to believe it, of course, but she still hates the vague feeling that he's right. ]
Fingers tense around her box of sandwiches, which remain uneaten. ]
Maybe I shouldn't have said anything, but I vowed to keep no more secrets.
[ She can still hear Reaper's laugh through his armor when she mentioned that she told Yujin everything. That it was easier, better for Reaper to keep secrets from his own parents. She refused to believe it, of course, but she still hates the vague feeling that he's right. ]
[No more secrets... Yet another unintentional harsh blow. He's already hidden so much from his daughter for most of her lifetime, and even so, she's the one being frank with him. And it's not as if he means to hide any more from her now, but he hadn't known how to address the latest development with Sholmes. ...Well, he'd have to address it in the same manner Susato had, he supposes. There's truly no sugarcoating something like that.
His head tilts forward a bit. He can't quite look her way anymore.]
... I'm glad that you told me. And it should go without saying that I have no objections. Kazuma is a good man. [His fingers begin to drum against the side of the sandwich box.] For the sake of transparency, you ought to know that... I'm in a similar situation.
His head tilts forward a bit. He can't quite look her way anymore.]
... I'm glad that you told me. And it should go without saying that I have no objections. Kazuma is a good man. [His fingers begin to drum against the side of the sandwich box.] For the sake of transparency, you ought to know that... I'm in a similar situation.
[ He is a good man. It does go without saying, though hearing it from Yujin, she can't help but visibly relax her shoulders, a feeling of relief coating her like a blanket. That feeling still persists, even through Yujin's next words, though Susato does find herself stopping suddenly in the midst of playing with a flap on the box.
She'd been just about to open it-- ]
What? [ Genuine, innocent confusion. ] You mean you also...?
She'd been just about to open it-- ]
What? [ Genuine, innocent confusion. ] You mean you also...?
[He chances a quick glance towards Susato's face, sees those innocent doe eyes and feels even more flustered about it all. 76 told him a lot about the future and about acceptance- about Pride, but... Well, they aren't from that future, now are they? And Susato had a mother who Yujin loved very much. It's a bit difficult to admit to her that he would feel that way about anyone else.]
Yes, I... Ah... I suppose I'm in a relationship of sorts now. [He doesn't know what else to call it.]
Yes, I... Ah... I suppose I'm in a relationship of sorts now. [He doesn't know what else to call it.]
[ . . . Mother is dead. As much as Susato wishes things were different, that she could at least remember her face, it's a fact, and she would not be so cruel to assume that Yujin could never love anyone else in that way.
She was furious, thinking he had fathered Iris, but that's something different entirely. You can't cheat on someone who's dead.
That said, Susato really doesn't know how to react. Her mouth hangs open, and she feels a pang in her chest, like she's being left behind again, though she quickly realizes that's not the case. (In the first place, wasn't she the one who wanted to tell him that...? Sure feels distant now.) ]
That's...! That's wonderful! A, A bit... a bit sudden, perhaps? [ Should she have seen this coming? She's confused. ] Um... isn't it wonderful?
She was furious, thinking he had fathered Iris, but that's something different entirely. You can't cheat on someone who's dead.
That said, Susato really doesn't know how to react. Her mouth hangs open, and she feels a pang in her chest, like she's being left behind again, though she quickly realizes that's not the case. (In the first place, wasn't she the one who wanted to tell him that...? Sure feels distant now.) ]
That's...! That's wonderful! A, A bit... a bit sudden, perhaps? [ Should she have seen this coming? She's confused. ] Um... isn't it wonderful?
[Yujin had been fearing anger, or at the very least some indignation, but... In a way, Susato's confusion feels just as awful to him. His fingers play with the sandwich box, rotating its angle from left to right and back again.]
It is wonderful. Truly. However, I don't believe it's apt to call it sudden. One ah... [He trails off for a second, then tries again.] One might say it was almost seventeen years in the making.
It is wonderful. Truly. However, I don't believe it's apt to call it sudden. One ah... [He trails off for a second, then tries again.] One might say it was almost seventeen years in the making.
[ Seventeen years. There's a bit of a pause as she considers this oddly specific time frame. That's just about as long as she has been alive, and she opens her mouth to say as much, but as the thought crosses her mind, so does an epiphany of a legendary partnership.
Oh. ]
Oh. ]
[ No, wait. She's probably wrong. She is hesitant, but speaks the name like some sort of taboo. ]
Mr... Mr Sholmes?
[ She might have assumed it was a lady, at first. Surely Yujin met plenty of women across their various cases, and maybe one would have had an impact on his life as much as Ayame did. It's not like Susato would have ever known.
She closes her mouth, still unable to say anything more, but the more she thinks about it, the more sense it makes, and her expression seems to ease to match. ]
Mr... Mr Sholmes?
[ She might have assumed it was a lady, at first. Surely Yujin met plenty of women across their various cases, and maybe one would have had an impact on his life as much as Ayame did. It's not like Susato would have ever known.
She closes her mouth, still unable to say anything more, but the more she thinks about it, the more sense it makes, and her expression seems to ease to match. ]
[... Yes. Hum. This is uncomfortable. At the very least, he can take a bit of comfort in the notion that it's out in the open now. She knows. He doesn't know how she feels about it, but at least he doesn't have to carry it around as a secret.]
... I'm aware it sounds odd, given that we're both... Well. However, such a thing does not change my feelings. [His fingers are still fiddling with the sandwich box as he speaks, tips digging into the corners.] And I hope... that you can come to accept it for what it is. A partnership built on care and trust, that is.
... I'm aware it sounds odd, given that we're both... Well. However, such a thing does not change my feelings. [His fingers are still fiddling with the sandwich box as he speaks, tips digging into the corners.] And I hope... that you can come to accept it for what it is. A partnership built on care and trust, that is.
[ Susato stays quiet for a while while Yujin speaks, and probably for a little while after. Everything is still sinking in, but she feels compelled to speak, because she'd rather not leave her father lingering in that uncertainty for any longer. It's not as if this changes anything about how she feels either.
It's just... unexpected. Though the fact that it feels as such is probably a failure on her part. ]
No, it's not... it is not that odd. You already had a very strong partnership, did you not? One that you were able to pick up right where you left off, after ten whole years. Not even most marriages could withstand that. Not even with the most dutiful of wives.
[ Though who is she to speak of marriage, anyway, or being a dutiful wife...? ]
It's just... unexpected. Though the fact that it feels as such is probably a failure on her part. ]
No, it's not... it is not that odd. You already had a very strong partnership, did you not? One that you were able to pick up right where you left off, after ten whole years. Not even most marriages could withstand that. Not even with the most dutiful of wives.
[ Though who is she to speak of marriage, anyway, or being a dutiful wife...? ]
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