Nakahama

“We’re almost back. You can pet me when we get there… Heh…” There’s an amused chuckle as Nagisa has them turn a corner, her apartment building now in sight. “I know where your mind went there.”

“Uhhh…” That was a good question. Nagisa never quite thought of it before, but the first thing that came to mind made sense. “Maybe some kind of a dog? That… sounds right.”

“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 ...

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 ...

That’s broke Nagisa. She starts to laugh hard, hard enough to stop her in her tracks as she needs to calm herself down. “I guess I did!”

“Heh… Kitten.” She’s clearly still amused.

“Heh…” Nagisa somehow is able to stifle a laugh. Drunken poetry like this is a classic Crab pastime, but the mechanic never expected it to ever be for her specifically. “That’s pretty good. You’re becoming more like a Crab with each… Passing moment!”

Another pause before a slight chuckle escapes ...

“No, you don’t have to do the piggyback thing.” She didn’t quite believe Ichitaiyo would come out unscathed from attempting such a feat. “Poem? Huh? What kind of poem?”

“Residential area… I know where we are. Not much farther, now.” It’s a good thing that Nagisa was leading them the entire time or they might have gotten lost!

“Soon we will be back. I think the stairs might be the biggest challenge.”

Oh. That’s not quite something Nagisa knew how to answer. Not the way to answer the question but the answer itself. “Huh. That’s… A good question.”

She steadies herself on her feet, patting Ichitaiyo for good measure. “Enough for me to not worry about you.”

Nagisa squints, looking up at Ichitaiyo with an amused smirk. “I mean, that would happen, too. But both gotta happen.”

“Thanks. Though, maybe you won’t be much of a twig after living here for a while.” Despite her dizziness, Nagisa is able to steady herself enough to poke Ichitaiyo’s cheek. “We batter and fry everything.”

“Heh… What? I think you’re waaaaay too drunk tonight. I mean, I am toooo.” Nagisa shakes her head, which was a mistake, as it makes her a tad bit dizzy. “Ugh… Almost took a tumble there.”

Leaning more and more into Ichitaiyo, Nagisa gently pats her cheek. “Yeah, I know all of that. I just can’t help myself…. Help myself… Uhhhh… Help from doubting myself.”

A sigh, “Oh, he would’ve liked you.”

“My grandpa.” There’s a solemness to Nagisa that contrasts her earlier silly mood. “I hope… I hope he’s still proud of me.”

She pushes on, still trying to hold up the Kitsuki despite her own coordination being hampered by her own inebriation.

“I could!” That protest comes out surprisingly loud, the Kaiu’s face flushed with a little more than the alcohol in her system. “I can behave myself! I can… Behave…. uhhh… Well?”

“Someone, not mentioning… Who… Someone! Put some very nice mental images in my mind that had me distracted alllll day!” Nagisa returns the poke, though it hits her stomach and not her chest.

“Thankfully my apartment is in this part of town!”

“I gotta… Get a license first.” The Crab leans in a little closer, her voice lowering to just above a whisper. “I think we might get a liiiiiittle distracted all alone out there, though.”

The drunken Kaiu stifles a laugh as she pulls back. “I’m distracted now, even.”

“Hanten for fireworks traditionally come in blue…” Nagisa motions towards the jacket she is wearing. “But I can make it green for you.”

The Kaiu offers a thankful smile to the Dragon, “I would love some instruction on such techniques. Thank you for such a generous offer and also for sending Agasha Sorato-san my way. He was able to help me quite a bit yesterday with the fireworks. He even let me see his brother-in-law’s personal ...

“I have not had the chance to visit lately. I might have to treat myself…” She really could use a soak, she feels tension between her shoulder blades again from all the sitting over the warimono shells and filling them all day. “I honestly need to take better care of myself in that regard. I don’t ...