Day 8 [EM] A Running Start (Expecting)

[Suzume Rin]

Rin slowly goes through her stretches, humming happily all the while. It was an early start...but not that early compared to her usual. And the kitchen had provided a light breakfast..well two breakfasts...two and a half when she was done. If they were gonna keep serving she was gonna keep eating.

Leaning left and right the Sparrow doesn't seem to notice she's smiling. It probably has something to do with who she's invited.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

A similarly smiley and well-motivated to be punctual Kuni Mitsuko turns up as Rin is stretching in a perfectly innocent way. The young Crab's pace slows almost entirely when she sees the Sparrow, Mitsuko needing to blink her eyes and shake her head while willing her feet to carry on, lest she give away just how distracted she had gotten.

As stealthy about her feelings as the next Kuni, Mitsuko says in greeting, "Rin-chan, you look fun doing that. I mean, we could have fun... I mean, I hope you are having fun? Yes, something like that." Good Kami, I need to carry that omamori all the time.

[Suzume Rin]

A similarly smiley and well-motivated to be punctual Kuni Mitsuko turns up as Rin is stretching in a perfectly innocent way. The young Crab's pace slows almost entirely when she sees the Sparrow, Mitsuko needing to blink her eyes and shake her head while willing her feet to carry on, lest she give away just how distracted she had gotten.

As stealthy about her feelings as the next Kuni, Mitsuko says in greeting, "Rin-chan, you look fun doing that. I mean, we could have fun... I mean, I hope you are having fun? Yes, something like that." Good Kami, I need to carry that omamori all the time.

"Mitsuko-chan! Ain't you just a wonderful sight early in the day. This? Fun? I guess it is kinda fun. Been working harder this past week than I have all year. Watch this, I used to get so stiff I could barely touch my toes. But now."
Biting her tongue as she concentrates Rin bends forward, keeping her legs straight, and manages to get her palms flat on the ground.

"Feeling...pretty pleased about that. Still can't get my elbows to touch though...dunno why that boy said it was easy, that's hard!"
Shaking her head at his foolishness she turns her full focus to the Crab

"How are you feeling? Gonna be jealous if you're a better runner than I am, all the brains and all the brawn? Enough to make a poor Sparrow like me feel second rate."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Mitsuko-chan! Ain't you just a wonderful sight early in the day. This? Fun? I guess it is kinda fun. Been working harder this past week than I have all year. Watch this, I used to get so stiff I could barely touch my toes. But now."
Biting her tongue as she concentrates Rin bends forward, keeping her legs straight, and manages to get her palms flat on the ground.

"Feeling...pretty pleased about that. Still can't get my elbows to touch though...dunno why that boy said it was easy, that's hard!"
Shaking her head at his foolishness she turns her full focus to the Crab

"How are you feeling? Gonna be jealous if you're a better runner than I am, all the brains and all the brawn? Enough to make a poor Sparrow like me feel second rate."

For all her naivete, especially around boys, Mitsuko can't help but notice the... value... of the demonstrated exercise. Her heart flutters, though she doesn't entirely understand why, and it's probably best for all concerned that no one notices Mitsuko's rather attentive inspection of Rin's hakama as she stretches.

"Hard, right, mmhmm," the Crab murmurs supportively. Recovering from the distraction takes a moment, but she clearly hears the Sparrow's words starting at 'be jealous,' and had a smirking response immediately.

"Haaaa," Mitsuko drawls out a self-effacing fake laugh. "You mean like how you have all this historical knowledge and all the performing skills to make people want to listen?" The Kuni girl shakes her head, but her affectionate smirk remains. "I don't think this Sparrow is poor at all. Would make a first-rate Crab, really."

There's a pause before Mitsuko tenses, realizing what she's just said. Eyes full of terror, she looks directly at Rin and motions vaguely with her hands while her brain frantically searches for words.

"I, um. The test. The Crab test... of the body. That you won. Your body won the Crab test." Her eyes clench and she stops trying at that point, keeping her eyes shut because a part of her expects to discover that the Sparrow had run off when she opens them.

[Suzume Rin]

For all her naivete, especially around boys, Mitsuko can't help but notice the... value... of the demonstrated exercise. Her heart flutters, though she doesn't entirely understand why, and it's probably best for all concerned that no one notices Mitsuko's rather attentive inspection of Rin's hakama as she stretches.

"Hard, right, mmhmm," the Crab murmurs supportively. Recovering from the distraction takes a moment, but she clearly hears the Sparrow's words starting at 'be jealous,' and had a smirking response immediately.

"Haaaa," Mitsuko drawls out a self-effacing fake laugh. "You mean like how you have all this historical knowledge and all the performing skills to make people want to listen?" The Kuni girl shakes her head, but her affectionate smirk remains. "I don't think this Sparrow is poor at all. Would make a first-rate Crab, really."

There's a pause before Mitsuko tenses, realizing what she's just said. Eyes full of terror, she looks directly at Rin and motions vaguely with her hands while her brain frantically searches for words.

"I, um. The test. The Crab test... of the body. That you won. Your body won the Crab test." Her eyes clench and she stops trying at that point, keeping her eyes shut because a part of her expects to discover that the Sparrow had run off when she opens them.

Rin's face had run the whole gamut, embarrassment, surprise, confusion, surprise again, then embarrassment part two.

"...."
There's a rustle of fabric and Rin's hand rests lightly on Mitsuko's shoulder
"Not sure if that was a suggestion of engagement, telling me you like my body, a whole bunch of compliments 'bout singing or all of those things. Now I don't know all the historical knowledge and I don't know all the performing, but I know what you said was nice and so there's no need for you to be squeezing your eyes shut like I've pulled a silly face...which maybe I did. You won't know now on account of having missed it."

She chuckles
"Gosh, you sure know how to say stuff that gets my heart racing though. Gonna come and drop all these compliments on me. Well...I'm gonna do the same, reckon you earned this. Lemme see."

Rin cocks her head as if reciting a list
"You know everyone in your family to ever live, and not just the famous ones, everyone. I was in the library the other day and I still don't know how you worked out your great-great uncle was born a Kuni but took the Hiruma name, there was one half record mentioning a hint 'bout that. Then there's your big brain. You know all the strategies and tactics...I mean me."
pointing at herself

"I can lead folks forward and back, maybe get 'em excited. But you actually know what you should be doing with 'em, makes me feel like a child with her toys by comparison. Then there's the fact you're a hard worker, and us sparrow know hard workers. 'Course you're hardest on yourself, which again, a Sparrow appreciates. And! And! you're fierce and tough...but also really really nice, make me feel like I'm the most important person in the world when you look at me."

Smiling wickedly So...you know what, 'cause you said it I'ma say it back at yah. I think you'd make a good Sparrow...if you uh, wanted....Oh, and your body is nice too, that's just a fact, important you should know."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Rin's face had run the whole gamut, embarrassment, surprise, confusion, surprise again, then embarrassment part two.

"...."
There's a rustle of fabric and Rin's hand rests lightly on Mitsuko's shoulder
"Not sure if that was a suggestion of engagement, telling me you like my body, a whole bunch of compliments 'bout singing or all of those things. Now I don't know all the historical knowledge and I don't know all the performing, but I know what you said was nice and so there's no need for you to be squeezing your eyes shut like I've pulled a silly face...which maybe I did. You won't know now on account of having missed it."

She chuckles
"Gosh, you sure know how to say stuff that gets my heart racing though. Gonna come and drop all these compliments on me. Well...I'm gonna do the same, reckon you earned this. Lemme see."

Rin cocks her head as if reciting a list
"You know everyone in your family to ever live, and not just the famous ones, everyone. I was in the library the other day and I still don't know how you worked out your great-great uncle was born a Kuni but took the Hiruma name, there was one half record mentioning a hint 'bout that. Then there's your big brain. You know all the strategies and tactics...I mean me."
pointing at herself

"I can lead folks forward and back, maybe get 'em excited. But you actually know what you should be doing with 'em, makes me feel like a child with her toys by comparison. Then there's the fact you're a hard worker, and us sparrow know hard workers. 'Course you're hardest on yourself, which again, a Sparrow appreciates. And! And! you're fierce and tough...but also really really nice, make me feel like I'm the most important person in the world when you look at me."

Smiling wickedly So...you know what, 'cause you said it I'ma say it back at yah. I think you'd make a good Sparrow...if you uh, wanted....Oh, and your body is nice too, that's just a fact, important you should know."

Mitsuko does open her eyes, and smile - a little silly herself - at mention of silly faces. And then she listens to all that the sweet Sparrow girl has to say, shaking her head as if to argue about some of it, not able to say any words, and feeling a very faint sparkle starting to accumulate at the corners of her eyes.

When Rin's done, Mitsuko tries to reply.

"You... I... It's..." As the Crab feels it getting harder rather than easier to say something, she unceremoniously slides in under Rin's arm for a hug, her face driving against the other girl's shoulder as she puts all the energy she has into not letting her soft sniffles get any louder.

[Suzume Rin]

Mitsuko does open her eyes, and smile - a little silly herself - at mention of silly faces. And then she listens to all that the sweet Sparrow girl has to say, shaking her head as if to argue about some of it, not able to say any words, and feeling a very faint sparkle starting to accumulate at the corners of her eyes.

When Rin's done, Mitsuko tries to reply.

"You... I... It's..." As the Crab feels it getting harder rather than easier to say something, she unceremoniously slides in under Rin's arm for a hug, her face driving against the other girl's shoulder as she puts all the energy she has into not letting her soft sniffles get any louder.

Rin blinks a few times, instinctively going to wrap her arms around Mitsuko in turn.

"Oh..um sorry! Guessing that was something I said?"

Looking at her hand and very very gently using it to pay the Crab's back
"Didn't...umm. You know, you just take all the time you need, I'm not going anywhere. Can stand here all day holding you if I have to, even got a bunch of snacks if we get hungry."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Rin blinks a few times, instinctively going to wrap her arms around Mitsuko in turn.

"Oh..um sorry! Guessing that was something I said?"

Looking at her hand and very very gently using it to pay the Crab's back
"Didn't...umm. You know, you just take all the time you need, I'm not going anywhere. Can stand here all day holding you if I have to, even got a bunch of snacks if we get hungry."

Mitsuko moves just enough that her mouth is free to speak, but her eyes are still pressed firmly to Rin's shoulder. "I, um... You didn't..." She says quietly.

The Crab takes an incredibly large, deep breath, and it creates at least a small window for her to say, not much above a whisper, "I just really like you. Those things... matter more because you said them. I'm nor... Don't know why, but... They do." There's another tiny sniffle, but the Kuni girl seems to start settling down after getting those words out. She still has a tight grip on the Sparrow, but it's not as desperate feeling.

[Suzume Rin]

Mitsuko moves just enough that her mouth is free to speak, but her eyes are still pressed firmly to Rin's shoulder. "I, um... You didn't..." She says quietly.

The Crab takes an incredibly large, deep breath, and it creates at least a small window for her to say, not much above a whisper, "I just really like you. Those things... matter more because you said them. I'm nor... Don't know why, but... They do." There's another tiny sniffle, but the Kuni girl seems to start settling down after getting those words out. She still has a tight grip on the Sparrow, but it's not as desperate feeling.

"Same to me Mitsuko-chan. Someone other than you said what you said to me...I'd be real confused. Maybe even a bit ticked off if we weren't friends. But from you they're sweet."

Rin continues to gently hold the Crab although the Sparrow is starting to wonder...
"We...we never talked about your family. I mean, I've yabbered on about mine all the time. You umm..."
Was there even a delicate way to put this?
"Stuff like hugs and being told you're great...they something that didn't happen much at home?"

[Kuni Mitsuko]

The Crab relaxes a little, lifting her head and saying, still quiet but stronger, "No, um... Haha. We do not." It's not a happy kind of laugh. "When I saw my parents, mother in particular, it was very technical. Business oriented. Report on school, are you doing well? Staying healthy? Good, moving on." The voice that she uses sounds like a stereotype of a Hida drill sergeant, not a mother. "I, um... I was very, very focused on school until I came here." She looks at Rin, self-conscious and eyes slightly hooded, like she's thinking maybe she should run away, but she's still at least lightly holding onto the Sparrow.

[Suzume Rin]

The Crab relaxes a little, lifting her head and saying, still quiet but stronger, "No, um... Haha. We do not." It's not a happy kind of laugh. "When I saw my parents, mother in particular, it was very technical. Business oriented. Report on school, are you doing well? Staying healthy? Good, moving on." The voice that she uses sounds like a stereotype of a Hida drill sergeant, not a mother. "I, um... I was very, very focused on school until I came here." She looks at Rin, self-conscious and eyes slightly hooded, like she's thinking maybe she should run away, but she's still at least lightly holding onto the Sparrow.

"I'm sure she means well. Wants you to succeed, wants children who are gonna be tough enough for anything...but that don't mean folks don't need hugs to, and to be told they're doing well."

Gently
"Pretty sure you can be focused on school and achieving, and still have that, if you want?"
Rin raises an eyebrow, emphasis on what Mitsuko wants.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"I'm sure she means well. Wants you to succeed, wants children who are gonna be tough enough for anything...but that don't mean folks don't need hugs to, and to be told they're doing well."

Gently
"Pretty sure you can be focused on school and achieving, and still have that, if you want?"
Rin raises an eyebrow, emphasis on what Mitsuko wants.

The Crab looks like she's about to speak before diving back into a firm hug of the Sparrow, this time with her chin on the other girl's shoulder. "Want," she murmurs, squeezing Rin close but not too fiercely.

Mitsuko holds the hug for a little while, then takes several deep breaths to calm herself. Finally she slowly withdraws from the hug, her face and body language making clear that she'd rather just stay in the hug.

"I, um..." She looks in Rin's eyes and gives up trying to explain or cover what happened. "Thank you," she says softly. After another deep breath, she suggests, "Maybe, um, we should try that run? Might, ah, help me get ready for today's test?" It could be seen as an excuse for space and to reset the situation - and it is - but Mitsuko also genuinely wants this run, especially with Rin.

[Suzume Rin]

The Crab looks like she's about to speak before diving back into a firm hug of the Sparrow, this time with her chin on the other girl's shoulder. "Want," she murmurs, squeezing Rin close but not too fiercely.

Mitsuko holds the hug for a little while, then takes several deep breaths to calm herself. Finally she slowly withdraws from the hug, her face and body language making clear that she'd rather just stay in the hug.

"I, um..." She looks in Rin's eyes and gives up trying to explain or cover what happened. "Thank you," she says softly. After another deep breath, she suggests, "Maybe, um, we should try that run? Might, ah, help me get ready for today's test?" It could be seen as an excuse for space and to reset the situation - and it is - but Mitsuko also genuinely wants this run, especially with Rin.

Rin smiles extremely happily, squeezing back before gently releasing Mitsuko
"Yeah...yeah we should. Settles the mind a bit, right? Let's make sure you're settled before that test. Want me to set the pace? You can overtake if I'm too slow. "

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Rin smiles extremely happily, squeezing back before gently releasing Mitsuko
"Yeah...yeah we should. Settles the mind a bit, right? Let's make sure you're settled before that test. Want me to set the pace? You can overtake if I'm too slow. "

"Rin-chan," the Kuni girl says slowly, a little chiding about her lack of confidence. Then an idea occurs to her and she smirks. "I think you better catch me to make sure I'm settled!" And Mitsuko turns and trots into the woods at a reasonable but still playful pace.

[Suzume Rin]

"Rin-chan," the Kuni girl says slowly, a little chiding about her lack of confidence. Then an idea occurs to her and she smirks. "I think you better catch me to make sure I'm settled!" And Mitsuko turns and trots into the woods at a reasonable but still playful pace.

"Hey!"
Grumbling happily
"Cheeky Crab."

Rin gives Mitsuko a few seconds head start before jogging after her, and hey, if it gives her an excuse to look at the Crab in peace for a few moments, well there's nothing wrong with that.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Hey!"
Grumbling happily
"Cheeky Crab."

Rin gives Mitsuko a few seconds head start before jogging after her, and hey, if it gives her an excuse to look at the Crab in peace for a few moments, well there's nothing wrong with that.

After a fairly short distance, the Kuni girl realizes that Rin is just as able to have fun in this game as she is. Perhaps more so, and that's hardly what Mitsuko had hoped for with this mischievous idea. With a grin that Rin probably never sees but would have appreciated, the Crab slows her pace a little, then speeds up again, leading the Sparrow down a trail through heavier woods and paying close attention to how she responds to the changes of pace.

[Suzume Rin]

After a fairly short distance, the Kuni girl realizes that Rin is just as able to have fun in this game as she is. Perhaps more so, and that's hardly what Mitsuko had hoped for with this mischievous idea. With a grin that Rin probably never sees but would have appreciated, the Crab slows her pace a little, then speeds up again, leading the Sparrow down a trail through heavier woods and paying close attention to how she responds to the changes of pace.

Rin narrows her eyes in concentration, finding her pace completely thrown off by Mitsuko's speed changes as she hurries along behind her.

That said, it's pretty gorgeous to be out in the woods in the early morning and the Sparrow finds herself relaxing happily in through the excitement.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Rin narrows her eyes in concentration, finding her pace completely thrown off by Mitsuko's speed changes as she hurries along behind her.

That said, it's pretty gorgeous to be out in the woods in the early morning and the Sparrow finds herself relaxing happily in through the excitement.

Getting the sense of Rin's pacing, Mitsuko grins to herself again and spots a curve in the trail that's perfect for her plan. Speeding up almost as much as she can to get ahead of the Sparrow, the Crab gets most of the way around the curve - hopefully out of sight - then cuts into the trees to lie in wait for her companion, hopefully speeding along the trail behind her.

[Suzume Rin]

Getting the sense of Rin's pacing, Mitsuko grins to herself again and spots a curve in the trail that's perfect for her plan. Speeding up almost as much as she can to get ahead of the Sparrow, the Crab gets most of the way around the curve - hopefully out of sight - then cuts into the trees to lie in wait for her companion, hopefully speeding along the trail behind her.

And sure enough when Rin rounds the corner and Mitsuko is out of sight
"Gosh, she's faster than she looks!"
And the Sparrow hurries along the trail, trying her best to catch up to where she thinks the Crab is.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

And sure enough when Rin rounds the corner and Mitsuko is out of sight
"Gosh, she's faster than she looks!"
And the Sparrow hurries along the trail, trying her best to catch up to where she thinks the Crab is.

The tricky Crab grins widely at Rin's remark, and she proceeds to jump right in front of the speeding Sparrow as she rushes along the trail.

"Gotcha!"