[LE 0] Rainy Wander

[Isawa Kiriko]

"Sea stacks. There are big natural pillars of stone off the coast that have been battered by the sea for the whole history of the Empire without breaking down. Since we're being battered by expectations, meditation can help us become like those sea stacks," she explained. "So... yes."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

The Crab clearly appreciates the concreteness of this example, grinning that she easily tracks the Phoenix's thinking this time.

"That sounds like a good example to follow," Mitsuko affirms. "Still holding up after 1,000 years? Huh. Steady as the Wall," she marvels.

[Isawa Kiriko]

"Yes, exactly," she agreed with a smile. "Nature contains many lessons on who we could become."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Mitsuko thinks for a moment, scrunching her face, and then sighs.

"Well, within nature's limits, of course. A bird can't make itself a fish, no matter how strong willed it is, and the reverse is true for the fish." The Kuni scrunches her face again, squeezing the umbrella handle harder.

[Isawa Kiriko]

Kiriko seemed to consider that very seriously. "That doesn't mean a bird could never be a fish. It would just need help," she suggested after a long pause. "Do you suppose birds want to be fish often?"

[Kuni Mitsuko]

The Crab looks very distressed, which is a feat given her makeup.

"But... It... No, I mean like me!" Mitsuko blurts. "You can't fix some things, no matter how hard you work." And if it's possible, the Kuni girl turns even paler than her white makeup.

"Er... I didn't... I didn't say that," she stammers in a rush. "I'm... Everything is fine. It's good. This is all going to be good," she says firmly but unconvincingly.

[Isawa Kiriko]

"Hmm... by that logic, it means that you, too, might just need some support to get where you want to be," she replied with a smile. "We are all connected through the Void, so it's natural that we can't do everything alone either."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

"Buh... It..." The Kuni looks overwhelmed and sways very faintly, like her instinct is to sit but she can't here, with the umbrella and rain and all. She clamps her lips together and gives a muted yell of frustration.

"I'm a Kuni who can't talk to the kami, Isawa-san. The only one of my super-talented mother's children who can't. There's no fixing that." She closes her lips tightly again, but the sound this time is much closer to a whimper.

[Isawa Kiriko]

Not sure what to do in this situation, Kiriko fell back on what her father had done. She reached up and pet Mitsuko's hair. "Oh, I see what you're saying. I'm sorry, Kuni-san. All your siblings are swimming, but you can't."

"... I don't know what my parents did... Or my siblings, if I have any. I think I don't do anything like they do, though. So I guess we'll both just have to try to be the best fliers we can."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

The Crab's mouth opens and closes several times without her saying anything. The gentle touch on her hair is completely unexpected, and Mitsuko really has no idea how to proceed.

"We... Um... I should... Sit... Somewhere..." And the taller girl somewhat confusedly begins to maneuver herself, the umbrellas, and Kiriko toward a bench up the path a short distance. It's probably soaked, she thinks. But it's sit or fall down at this point.

[Isawa Kiriko]

Kiriko takes off the outer jacket she wore over her outfit and put it down on the wet bench before they sat down. Then it would be less wet, even if she was a little cold. It was the least she could do. "I'm sorry."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Mitsuko nods in thanks, not really able to speak or feel more guilty or embarrassed than she already does. She keeps her eyes on the ground, but sits close to the Phoenix both because size of coat as well as for support. After a time, she says quietly, "Um, the... The hair thing was nice." And she very nervously looks at Kiriko's for a moment. "I'm, um, sorry that I... I got upset," she says tentatively. "But you, um... It was better... when you touched my hair." Her eyes flick back to the ground, her shoulders hunched a little in worry.

[Isawa Kiriko]

"I was the one that ran a cart right over your problems, so I think it's pretty reasonable you got upset," she said. "I'm glad it helped, though." With that, she pet Mitsuko's hair again. If it helped, more was better, then.

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Mitsuko glances furtively at Kiriko as she continues, the Crab's shoulders slowly relaxing. Her breathing becomes very calm, and then Mitsuko has to catch herself to not lean her head into Kiriko's hand like a cat seeking attention. After a time, the taller girl feels her head drooping complacently into the Phoenix's hands and reluctantly straightens.

"Ah, hrmm," Mitsuko grumbles, clearly unhappy to lose the contact. "I, um..." The Crab clearly doesn't know what to say. "It's... Not so bad, talking about things with you," Mitsuko quietly grumbles. "I mean... With..." She waves a hand toward the smaller girl's hand. "With that."

[Isawa Kiriko]

She lowered her hands to her lap and nodded. "Head pats are a widely underrated skill."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Mitsuko's eyes follow the other girl's hands.

"Um. I wouldn't have guessed. But... Yeah." The Crab's eyes drift pout to the ground in front of them.

"So, are you... excited to be here?"

[Isawa Kiriko]

"Hmm... Yes. Of the myriad potential outcomes, I'm pleased to be experiencing this one," she replied with a nod. "I haven't left my school since I became a Phoenix, so I am enjoying being able to get out and meet a wide variety of people. And yourself?"

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Mitsuko stops to consider that.

"Yes, I'm excited. It... It could be very... positive, if I do well," she says. "I, um... I think I've been a good student, and that's why I'm here. And if I study, and work hard, then... It should be ok." The Crab sounds like a nervous person trying to sound positive.

[Isawa Kiriko]

"Well, of thousands of students, they picked you to come. That's pretty good so far."

[Kuni Mitsuko]

Mitsuko looks nervously sideways at her new friend.

"That's... You're very kind, Isawa-san." The Crab sighs heavily. " I will try to remember that. It... It is not exactly the way that I am used to interpreting things."