048 [Voice | Action]

[ahappylie]

...oh. They really did leave me in the woods.

...

I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

[Souji's back from his mallynap as a kid; a kid totally opposite of what he's usually like. He vaguely remembers Luceti and is wandering around in the woods on the edge of town, confused and dragging his journal around.]

Comments

[cookingninja]

[The house may be emptier than usual, but Ayumu is still going through her usual daily routine. Those who are missing will be back soon enough, and it's the time of year when someone new might appear, and if dinner isn't ready on time she simply isn't doing her job.

As she's making her way to the shop to get something to make for dinner, however, she notices the small child and pauses to frown at him thoughtfully. He's... rather familiar, isn't he.]

[ahappylie]

[Someone is staring at him. He turns and stares back, frowning.]

....

[He doesn't know this person though...or does he? She seems familiar for some strange reason.]

Do you need something?

[cookingninja]

I? No.

I'm not the one who seems lost in the snow, however.

[ahappylie]

I'm not lost. [He stares down at the ground, however, a little put out by how cold it is.] I was just left here.

[cookingninja]

Oh, dear, that doesn't sound very nice. Left here by whom?

[ahappylie]

[He shrugs and looks away. Saying who would be rude to Kondou since it was his parents. And besides, he doesn't really know if it's them. He's just been left. Maybe someone else left him there.]

I don't think it matters.

[cookingninja]

It matters if you don't have anywhere to go. It's a bit cold for you to simply be out walking like this, don't you think?

[ahappylie]

...It's not too cold for you to be out here, so why is it too cold for me?

[cookingninja]

Hm, were you on your way somewhere warm? Because I was.

[ahappylie]

.... [HNNNGH he wants to go with her, but she's a stranger and that would...be a bad idea. So instead, he just stares and then looks at the ground. After a moment, he sighs.]

I don't have any money. If you're thinking of robbing me. Neither does my family so I'm useless for ransom.

[cookingninja]

[She just laughs quietly at that, amusement clear to be seen.]

Oh, is that so? Mm. But do you have a name?

[ahappylie]

[Geh, rude. The kid obviously looks a little miffed at being laughed at.]

...It's rude to ask for a name without giving yours first.

[cookingninja]

It's a good thing I didn't ask for yours, then, but simply if you had one.

[ahappylie]

...[Geh. Souji looks at her, bows his head and turns to leave.]

[cookingninja]

[She starts to turn away as well, talking to the air as she does.]

Ah, that's too bad, then. I'd thought that you might want to go somewhere warm and have something to eat. I must have been mistaken.

[ahappylie]

[Hnnnnngh. He stops and looks back over his shoulder. He wants to go so badly, but he has no idea where he is or who these people are and if even Kondou's family had no use for him then why would complete strangers?

His stomach rumbles and he crouches in the snow, biting back a sniffle.]