X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
XX Minami Kaori
"If you don't mind me asking, are you and your brother not close?"
Kaori stares at Chiaki for a long moment, completely floored that he actually cares. Even Kaori's parents have never taken the time to ask about her and Kenji's strained relationship. Kaori's not sure they've even noticed how much their son has changed, and if so, it's clear they don't care. Even Naoko, the person Kaori goes to for everything, has been little help when it comes to Kaori and her brother- all the women ever seems to say is "be patient" or "he's hurting, forgive him."
Chiaki apparently notices her shock and indecision, because he fidgets a little, suddenly anxious.
"Ha, I know you literally just met me, but you seem like a pretty cool person, Kaori-san. I'd love to be your friend. And hey, like I said, I know we just met, but if you ever wanna talk about anything, my door's always open." And Kaori can see in his face that he means it.
"You're pretty damn smooth, you know that?" Is the first thing Kaori says, a smirk playing on her face. "But c'mon, do you really think I wanna discuss personal business with you?"
Kaori knows she's being too harsh, can see it in her grandmother's watchful gaze, but she forces herself not to care. Chiaki, nice as he is, is a complete stranger- sweet and charming and clearly the kind of person who cares too much for everyone around him, strangers or not. Kaori likes him, but there's no way she's going to be won over so easily. He'll have to try a little harder.
She can practically hear her friends chanting "tsundere" in a circle around her and Kaori frowns.
Gathering her things with a dramatic sigh, Kaori bows politely to Chiaki, then makes her way out of the room, barely pausing to greet a few regular customers as she passes them by.
XX Minami Naoko
Naoko can't help the frown that coats her face as Kaori instantly pushes back against Seongjae's questioning. She knows her granddaughter is private, that she doesn't trust easily, but she's known the girl too long to not see what this really is: a test. To see how Seongjae reacts to being rejected, if he'll pursue her and try to make amends, or simply give it up as bad luck and spend the rest of his time in the household pretending his offer never existed in the first place.
Naoko has known Seongjae less than three hours, but she doubts he'll pursue that last option.
For the sake of her grandchildren, she truly hopes he doesn't.
"If you don't mind me asking, are you and your brother not close?"
Kaori stares at Chiaki for a long moment, completely floored that he actually cares. Even Kaori's parents have never taken the time to ask about her and Kenji's strained relationship. Kaori's not sure they've even noticed how much their son has changed, and if so, it's clear they don't care. Even Naoko, the person Kaori goes to for everything, has been little help when it comes to Kaori and her brother- all the women ever seems to say is "be patient" or "he's hurting, forgive him."
Chiaki apparently notices her shock and indecision, because he fidgets a little, suddenly anxious.
"Ha, I know you literally just met me, but you seem like a pretty cool person, Kaori-san. I'd love to be your friend. And hey, like I said, I know we just met, but if you ever wanna talk about anything, my door's always open." And Kaori can see in his face that he means it.
"You're pretty damn smooth, you know that?" Is the first thing Kaori says, a smirk playing on her face. "But c'mon, do you really think I wanna discuss personal business with you?"
Kaori knows she's being too harsh, can see it in her grandmother's watchful gaze, but she forces herself not to care. Chiaki, nice as he is, is a complete stranger- sweet and charming and clearly the kind of person who cares too much for everyone around him, strangers or not. Kaori likes him, but there's no way she's going to be won over so easily. He'll have to try a little harder.
She can practically hear her friends chanting "tsundere" in a circle around her and Kaori frowns.
Gathering her things with a dramatic sigh, Kaori bows politely to Chiaki, then makes her way out of the room, barely pausing to greet a few regular customers as she passes them by.
XX Minami Naoko
Naoko can't help the frown that coats her face as Kaori instantly pushes back against Seongjae's questioning. She knows her granddaughter is private, that she doesn't trust easily, but she's known the girl too long to not see what this really is: a test. To see how Seongjae reacts to being rejected, if he'll pursue her and try to make amends, or simply give it up as bad luck and spend the rest of his time in the household pretending his offer never existed in the first place.
Naoko has known Seongjae less than three hours, but she doubts he'll pursue that last option.
For the sake of her grandchildren, she truly hopes he doesn't.