D4EE, Noodling Around (Expecting)

[Seppun Urusai]

Tell her yes, boy! says the voice in his mind.

Urusai coughs, swallows quickly, coughs again.

After a moment, he says "It's looking like it might be that way, yeah."

His eyes flicker over her.

"Might well be that way."

[Asahina Sakura]

An expression of concern washed over Sakura's features, and it was an effort not to reach out to check that he was alright.
Then his words, his apparent affirmation sunk in and she flustered, "Oh! Um, that's, well, she should count herself fortunate as to blessed by Benten in having the attention of one so ...um, so endearing?"

[Seppun Urusai]

A bird calls out, squawking harshly.

Endearing? Urusai thinks.

The voice in his head says Urusai takes after his uncle in some ways.

"Some might say such a person would be the blessing," he says. And then he eats more of his noodles.

[Asahina Sakura]

A diced egg is speared and Sakura considers it carefully before taking a bite. She swallows then her gaze ticks back to the boy across from her.
No one has ever called me a blessing...
None have looked at you the way he does, either. Pay attention, child. Tread carefully.

She took a breath.
"What, um, where, where do you see yourself? After this over? You mentioned talking to people, this morning? Who might you approach, after we're adults? Can this one help? Maybe convince Tenshin to put in a good word?"

[Seppun Urusai]

"I fully expect to be assigned to the Legions," Urusai replies. "I can hope for the Seventh or the Nineteenth, but that will not be up to me.

"And I can hope that...someone...might be willing to be near the headquarters of one of those, did I receive such an appointment. I begin to think such a someone is known to you, maybe?"

[Asahina Sakura]

She nodded, listening, setting down the fork and lifting her cup of tea to her lips-- before promptly coughing and sputtering.
"You're not meaning Tenshin, are you?" Colour hit her cheeks once more.

[Seppun Urusai]

"Asahina-bugyo is a fine man," Urusai replies. "But...my tastes are otherwise."

A magistrate's sister, even? says the voice in his head, before noting the youth's ambition.

[Asahina Sakura]

She nodded thoughtfully, "I- I don't know where I'll end up, after this? I suppose wherever I'm needed?"

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai nods in reply.

"As will we all, of course," he says.

Should I talk to her brother? he thinks. Or is that precipitous?

Probably precipitous, the voice in his head says, but who ever gained without risk?

[Asahina Sakura]

"I um, I- thought about approaching you, you know, this morning? After the, event? I'm.. I'm very glad you approached me? And that, we've, um, ended up here, I mean," she said, glancing up from her tea once more and searching Urusai's face for a spare moment.

[Seppun Urusai]

Urusai shows it to her, letting her look at him as he returns the favor.

"Oh?" he asks. "May...may I ask why?"

His tone is gentle, deliberately so.

[Asahina Sakura]

"I! Uh! Well! You see!" she flustered as her eyebrows shot up a bit, caught off guard maybe? "I just, find your company enjoyable?" Was it a question? It sounded like a question.

[Seppun Urusai]

"I'm glad," Urusai replies. "And I'm glad the feeling's mutual."

[Asahina Sakura]

She nodded slowly, "And how did Seppun-sama find his dinner? This one hopes it was to his liking."

[Seppun Urusai]

"Hunger is the best seasoning, they say," replies Urusai, "but good company has to be next. The Crane have ensured I need not worry about the first, but they've given me the second in abundance."

[Asahina Sakura]

She smiled widely. "Have you met the other Cranes here? They're delightful!" .... Oblivious.

[Seppun Urusai]

"I've had the pleasure of acquaintance of Yuji of the Kakita," Urusai says.

She sidesteps deftly, says the voice in his mind. It's a good quality, to a point.

"Did you contribute a poem to him? He's working on a project this tournament, collecting the verses of contestants. I endorse it."

[Asahina Sakura]

"Is that right? He's an acquaintance of mine as well, and a fair one," she compliments, and then nods excitedly! "I haven't yet, no! I mean I've written the first, but was holding onto it for now."

[Seppun Urusai]

"Best get that to him, then," Urusai suggests. "Though if I could hear it first, I'd be obliged."

He looks at her again, smiles.

[Asahina Sakura]

"In the morning, then!" she offered.