(no subject)
Characters: Tezuka Kunimitsu and Ryuuzaki Sakuno
Rating/Warnings: G
When/Where: August 17th after this thread. / Gardens
What: Tezuka invites Sakuno out for a stroll in the gardens.
Authors comments: Lovely conversation..? XD
It was a beautiful day outside, the skies were clear and it wasn't too hot out as one would expect from a summer's day. Sakuno patiently waited beneath the shade of a tree just outside the entrance of the Dawn Dorm. She was happy to have been asked out to go for a stroll, especially to the garden.
Ever since starting her club she had been so enthusiastic about up-keeping everything that she hadn't exactly stopped to enjoy it herself. It was equally nice to enjoy it with someone else, especially someone from class. She hadn't had much time to really speak with Tezuka during the meteor shower as they all enjoyed the event rather silently. However this would be a good chance to get to know one another and if nothing more it would be a pleasant outing.
There was no need to bring a coat or anything to that extent, Tezuka thought after a quick glance at the outdoor temperature. Instead he packed a bottle of water and some wet napkins, just in case it would get too hot. Deciding that he was done, he carefully locked the door behind him and went down the stairs, throwing a glance at the names on the doors at first floor. Ryuuzaki Sakuno. She was a pretty girl, with the longest hair he had ever seen. He wondered why anyone would care to grow their hair that long, wasn't that a burden? Maybe not. Maybe she wore it like other girls wore jewelry. Not that he had any intention to ask her about something as personal as that.
He stepped outside into the sunlight, taking a moment to enjoy the heat against his face, before he walked down the stairs and over to the tree where she waited. He nodded at her as a greeting.
"Good day, Tezuka-san." she greeted back to him. She was aware he was a person of few words, it wasn't that hard to notice. Sakuno didn't mind at all, after all the first person she had met at the academy was Sanada and the two of them seemed quite alike in that manner. She also couldn't help notice he was quite handsome as well. If she was like any other high school girl her age she would probably be enraptured with all of the pretty boys around her. However Sakuno was a simple girl with simple pleasures; it just so happened there were lots of boys around her who also enjoyed them.
"Shall we get going?" she offered with a friendly smile.
Another nod, and he reached out a hand as if to drape it around her shoulders, but he pulled back at the last second, looking slightly embarrassed for a second, before simply walking ahead of her, his strides long and focused.
Sakuno wasn't quite aware of what had happened. To the young girl all she had really seen was the boy next to her one minute and then headed off in long strides in front of her. Blinking a few times, she realized he was leading the way and quickly followed behind. It took a bit of effort for her to fall in line with his steps but eventually she got the hang of it. Once she finally caught up with him she figured she'd try to strike a small conversation to be polite.
"So... how are you enjoying classes, Tezuka-san?" she asked after catching her breath and keeping up with his pace as best she could.
"They're interesting enough," he replied, glancing down at her. Maybe he was walking a little too fast. He slowed his steps, but not so much so that it was painfully evident.
"I see... I suppose they are." she smiled up to him. She noticed keeping up with him became a lot easier as they continued, but perhaps it was just her imagination. Either way, she figured she should still try to continue a conversation with him. "Have you joined any clubs yet?" She hoped she wasn't bothering him with the idle conversation, she honestly just wanted to get to know him.
"Yes, the track club." He enjoyed running. "How about you?"
"I made the gardening club. There wasn't one around and I thought it would be nice to help tend to the gardens here because I enjoy them." After all she did love nature, especially flowers. It was a good way for her to step out of her comfort zone and attempt to socialize a bit more as well. (Not that one could really call a gardening club a social event.)
"The track club you say? That must be rather hard in the summer. I always admired the runners though, I've never been very good at running because I'm so short and don't have a lot of stamina." Which was the truth; she had barely been average in her physical education classes back home.
"Aa, it has its downsides. But I'm guessing it's fairly hot in the gardens during the high peak of summer as well?" He agreed that she really was petite. He wondered how easily his arms would fit around her waist. She reminded him of a doll, or a fairy. It felt appropriate that she enjoyed nature.
"Yes it is, that's why I try to go early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Though days like this are always perfect as well, heh~" She was happy to get a bit more than a simple response from him, not that she would have minded either way. It just always brought a smile to her face whenever she could speak with someone. Sakuno never could have imagined she would be able to meet so many people in just the first few weeks of school so easily.
"The weather's quite agreeable today, yes," he mused, pushing his hands down into his pockets. He preferred it like this; not too hot, but still beautiful and relaxing. Homework was all done so nothing stressed, meaning he could enjoy the moment for all it was worth.
Sakuno took a few moments to enjoy the weather and green around them. After all she had also come on the walk to appreciate some of the work she and her fellow club members had put in. Sure they weren't completely in charge of the whole campus but they did do their part and it was rewarding. However she didn't want to ignore the person beside her too long; that would be rude.
So... He supposed he should try and keep some sort of conversation going. The problem was that he wasn't entirely good at starting one, or upholding one for that matter. Maybe, just maybe, he could try and talk about general things, like the flowers. "Any plant you like more than the others?" That probably sounded lame...
"I suppose my favorite would be sakura." she smiled, a bit surprised to hear the boy speak up but happy at the same time. "My parents named me partly after them and I've always loved that but they're very beautiful flowers as well." Sakuno paused for a moment and couldn't help feeling slightly embarrassed about it. "I-It's kind of silly, isn't it?" The young girl blushed a bit.
"... No." Tezuka thought for a moment. "The sakura is a symbol of purity and the very image of Japan itself. At least in a way. It's beatuy and innocence and perfection. And yet so frail and fleeting. It has its own level of attraction, certainly."
"Do you like plants, Tezuka-san?" she couldn't help but ask. She was slightly awestruck by the way he had spoken up about sakura that she wondered if perhaps he was a poet of some sort. Not that she would ask him something so strange.
"I do," he said, stone hard features softening ever so slightly.
"May I ask what your favorite is?" Sakuno was quite happy to find so many people who liked nature as well; it was refreshing to say the least.
"The..." He thought. "Ah. The heather, I think. It's very resilient."
"Oh, I see." Sakuno was slightly surprised at his answer; normally people gave her generic plants common in Japan but his answer was quite different. She couldn't help but smile, "They are very abundant in many parts, aren't they? And I believe it's the time of year they're in full bloom now. Though there aren't any here on campus..." The girl paused a moment and added, "But if you'd like I could try to grow them..?"
"I wouldn't want to give you extra trouble, Ryuuzaki-chan." He meant it, not just words said out of courtesy. "But if you feel you'd give me that honor..."
"It's no trouble. In fact I was having a bit of a hard time deciding what else to plant to add more color." she admitted a bit shyly. Despite all of her extra time in independent study trying to come up with ideas she wasn't horribly creative with them. It wasn't easy finding different plants for different seasons so something would be blooming each season in the gardens. It was equally difficult finding suitable plants for night as well. Ah, but that was all beside the point.
"It would be nice to have something everyone loves in the gardens here anyway." she smiled sweetly up to him once more.
Was she including him in that 'everyone' part? People never tended to do that. He looked over at her, fleetingly, then nodded. "Thank you." Simple words, but they were difficult to get past his lips.
Her face flushed pink slightly at his simple words. Sakuno was a bit surprised to be thanked for that. She thought it was something that anyone in her position would do. (Or so she had grown up to believe.) "N-No need to thank me, anyone would do the same I'm sure."
"No." Another simple word. But it was true, at least in his experience. People did not do things for him. He did things for them. Or they simply ignored him. Or worse. Kindness wasn't something offered easily, but yet this girl... She was beautiful. Kind. Words foreign to him, but true none the less.
"No..?" she couldn't help repeating, tilting her head and slightly confused.
"People aren't usually that nice," he said courtly.
"I-I see..." though she couldn't quite agree with him. Normally she took others' words to heart but she did stand by her simple, albeit naive, belief. "I don't think so... I think everyone is, they just don't always show it or know how to I suppose."
He was silent for a while, tracing his fingers through a canopy of leaves. Still only using his right hand, the left hung limply off his shoulder. "I'm glad that is what you believe." That meant she still nurtured hope.
She looked up and couldn't help watch as the leaves danced by his touch. A few of them began to fall gently and one landed on her forehead as she looked up. It took her a bit by surprise and she stumbled, but managed to catch herself before she lost her footing. "S-Sorry." she apologized for not paying attention to what he had been saying.
His hands reached out instinctively to steady her, but apparently there was no need, so he withdrew his hands again, instead adjusted his glasses, pushing them further up on his nose. "It's quite all right," he murmured.
"If you don't mind my asking... why did you decide to come to school here, Tezuka-san?" Sakuno questioned, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I've heard good things about it," he replied honestly. "And the campus is beautiful."
"Oh, I see." She didn't know why exactly she was under the impression everyone had different reasons for attending the school. Perhaps it was just the fact she was so used to ending up at private schools without question before. "It is a beautiful campus, I've never been to such a big school before." she smiled, thinking back to all the nice people she had met so far.
He nodded slowly. It was, indeed, beautiful and inspiring, even though he really wondered what could be going on underneath that neatly polished surface of the school. It was a pity he hadn't been placed in the night class, he thought, then he would have been a lot closer to the core; his instincts told him that.
"Having two different classes is pretty different too. It's nice to meet people I probably would have never met otherwise." She was of course referring to the Night Class. From everything she knew they were students who were raised nocturnally or had bad health to where they were weak or not very active during the day. Sakuno never knew there were so many people who grew up like that but she was happy she did now and could interact with them.
Another nod. Having two different classes like this wasn't normal, and ever since he learned about the drug experiments being conducted on the Night Class students he had become convinced that something was most definitely off in this school. He wanted to know what.
"I've never been to a public or co-ed school before so this kind of experience is really new to me." she laughed lightly, a bit embarrassed about being so new to everything. Though she wasn't naive enough to think such a thing as a Night Class was normal she didn't see the need to really question it. Besides, the girl was too busy getting used to everything else.
"You're from an all girls school?" He glanced down at her.
"Yes, all my life." she replied with a small nod.
"I see. This must be quite the different environment then."
"It is... but I think I'm starting to get used to it." she smiled shyly. "And it's nice to be able to meet so many new and different people as well."
He stopped to pick up an apple that had fallen down from a tree. It felt a bit hard, but it was hardly any discoloration or bug marks on it.
"Oh, I didn't know we had apple trees here... I need to get working on the gardens more." Sakuno approached the tree and was happy to see the rest of them apples quite healthy along with the tree. Perhaps she'd look into planting more fruits and vegitables around later on. "They're just ripe, you should go ahead and enjoy that one."
"Why don't you have this one?" He handed it over to her. "It's your garden." More or less. "You should be the first one to enjoy the harvest."
"But it's here for everyone to enjoy." Though she was happy that he had taken her into consideration first. She didn't really want to argue with him though, as that would be rude. "Why don't we split it then?" she offered as a better solution instead.
He nodded, crouching down to pick up two small rocks from the ground. He hit them together hard enough to make a chip fall off from one of them. Picking up the chip, he started to cut into the apple using it.
Sakuno was a bit surprised by his craftiness. She had thought they would simply walk back to the dorms to get knife in the kitch to slice the fruit but he had come up with something on the spot.
Without a word he handed her her share of the apple, the cut surface slightly jagged, but it actually didn't look too bad.
"Thank you, Tezuka-san." She took the slice and bowed her head in thanks as she took a small bite. It was one of the best apples she had ever tasted; so fresh and ripe. Her satisfaction was as clear as day on her face as she cupped her cheek with one hand and couldn't stop smiling. "It's delicious~"
He bit into his own slice and couldn't actually hold back the hint of a smile as the sweet taste exploded against his tastebuds. "Indeed," he agreed after swallowing. "Thank you," he continued, turning to the tree and giving the trunk a careful pat.
After Sakuno had finished her slice she too pat the tree and said her thanks. "I'll be sure to come back to pick up any other apples and share them with everyone." The best joy of helping the campus gardens was always moments like this; where she could share something with everyone to enjoy.
"I'm sure people will appreciate that." He looked around at the garden, right hand moving the left one into one of his pockets, before he turned around. "I should be heading back."
"Oh, I see." They had been out for quite the while. She did hope she hadn't kept him from anything with all of their small side trips. "Shall I accompany you back?" she offered. Though she had planned to head to the gardening shed and start picking up the stray apples she didn't want to be rude. He had invited her out in the first place, it was the least she could do, especially if she had imposed on his time.
"No, I'll be fine." She probably couldn't wait to share those apples with the students; she seemed like that kind of girl. And he'd get back faster if he walked by himself anyway; longer legs, faster pace.
"Alright then... It was nice walking with you, Tezuka-san." she smiled and bowed politely. No doubt she really had been keeping him from something. She would probably just have slowed him down anyway. No need for her to insist upon coming along if she would be a hindrance. Sakuno was more than content that they had been able to get to know one another even if it was just a little bit.
Rating/Warnings: G
When/Where: August 17th after this thread. / Gardens
What: Tezuka invites Sakuno out for a stroll in the gardens.
Authors comments: Lovely conversation..? XD
It was a beautiful day outside, the skies were clear and it wasn't too hot out as one would expect from a summer's day. Sakuno patiently waited beneath the shade of a tree just outside the entrance of the Dawn Dorm. She was happy to have been asked out to go for a stroll, especially to the garden.
Ever since starting her club she had been so enthusiastic about up-keeping everything that she hadn't exactly stopped to enjoy it herself. It was equally nice to enjoy it with someone else, especially someone from class. She hadn't had much time to really speak with Tezuka during the meteor shower as they all enjoyed the event rather silently. However this would be a good chance to get to know one another and if nothing more it would be a pleasant outing.
There was no need to bring a coat or anything to that extent, Tezuka thought after a quick glance at the outdoor temperature. Instead he packed a bottle of water and some wet napkins, just in case it would get too hot. Deciding that he was done, he carefully locked the door behind him and went down the stairs, throwing a glance at the names on the doors at first floor. Ryuuzaki Sakuno. She was a pretty girl, with the longest hair he had ever seen. He wondered why anyone would care to grow their hair that long, wasn't that a burden? Maybe not. Maybe she wore it like other girls wore jewelry. Not that he had any intention to ask her about something as personal as that.
He stepped outside into the sunlight, taking a moment to enjoy the heat against his face, before he walked down the stairs and over to the tree where she waited. He nodded at her as a greeting.
"Good day, Tezuka-san." she greeted back to him. She was aware he was a person of few words, it wasn't that hard to notice. Sakuno didn't mind at all, after all the first person she had met at the academy was Sanada and the two of them seemed quite alike in that manner. She also couldn't help notice he was quite handsome as well. If she was like any other high school girl her age she would probably be enraptured with all of the pretty boys around her. However Sakuno was a simple girl with simple pleasures; it just so happened there were lots of boys around her who also enjoyed them.
"Shall we get going?" she offered with a friendly smile.
Another nod, and he reached out a hand as if to drape it around her shoulders, but he pulled back at the last second, looking slightly embarrassed for a second, before simply walking ahead of her, his strides long and focused.
Sakuno wasn't quite aware of what had happened. To the young girl all she had really seen was the boy next to her one minute and then headed off in long strides in front of her. Blinking a few times, she realized he was leading the way and quickly followed behind. It took a bit of effort for her to fall in line with his steps but eventually she got the hang of it. Once she finally caught up with him she figured she'd try to strike a small conversation to be polite.
"So... how are you enjoying classes, Tezuka-san?" she asked after catching her breath and keeping up with his pace as best she could.
"They're interesting enough," he replied, glancing down at her. Maybe he was walking a little too fast. He slowed his steps, but not so much so that it was painfully evident.
"I see... I suppose they are." she smiled up to him. She noticed keeping up with him became a lot easier as they continued, but perhaps it was just her imagination. Either way, she figured she should still try to continue a conversation with him. "Have you joined any clubs yet?" She hoped she wasn't bothering him with the idle conversation, she honestly just wanted to get to know him.
"Yes, the track club." He enjoyed running. "How about you?"
"I made the gardening club. There wasn't one around and I thought it would be nice to help tend to the gardens here because I enjoy them." After all she did love nature, especially flowers. It was a good way for her to step out of her comfort zone and attempt to socialize a bit more as well. (Not that one could really call a gardening club a social event.)
"The track club you say? That must be rather hard in the summer. I always admired the runners though, I've never been very good at running because I'm so short and don't have a lot of stamina." Which was the truth; she had barely been average in her physical education classes back home.
"Aa, it has its downsides. But I'm guessing it's fairly hot in the gardens during the high peak of summer as well?" He agreed that she really was petite. He wondered how easily his arms would fit around her waist. She reminded him of a doll, or a fairy. It felt appropriate that she enjoyed nature.
"Yes it is, that's why I try to go early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Though days like this are always perfect as well, heh~" She was happy to get a bit more than a simple response from him, not that she would have minded either way. It just always brought a smile to her face whenever she could speak with someone. Sakuno never could have imagined she would be able to meet so many people in just the first few weeks of school so easily.
"The weather's quite agreeable today, yes," he mused, pushing his hands down into his pockets. He preferred it like this; not too hot, but still beautiful and relaxing. Homework was all done so nothing stressed, meaning he could enjoy the moment for all it was worth.
Sakuno took a few moments to enjoy the weather and green around them. After all she had also come on the walk to appreciate some of the work she and her fellow club members had put in. Sure they weren't completely in charge of the whole campus but they did do their part and it was rewarding. However she didn't want to ignore the person beside her too long; that would be rude.
So... He supposed he should try and keep some sort of conversation going. The problem was that he wasn't entirely good at starting one, or upholding one for that matter. Maybe, just maybe, he could try and talk about general things, like the flowers. "Any plant you like more than the others?" That probably sounded lame...
"I suppose my favorite would be sakura." she smiled, a bit surprised to hear the boy speak up but happy at the same time. "My parents named me partly after them and I've always loved that but they're very beautiful flowers as well." Sakuno paused for a moment and couldn't help feeling slightly embarrassed about it. "I-It's kind of silly, isn't it?" The young girl blushed a bit.
"... No." Tezuka thought for a moment. "The sakura is a symbol of purity and the very image of Japan itself. At least in a way. It's beatuy and innocence and perfection. And yet so frail and fleeting. It has its own level of attraction, certainly."
"Do you like plants, Tezuka-san?" she couldn't help but ask. She was slightly awestruck by the way he had spoken up about sakura that she wondered if perhaps he was a poet of some sort. Not that she would ask him something so strange.
"I do," he said, stone hard features softening ever so slightly.
"May I ask what your favorite is?" Sakuno was quite happy to find so many people who liked nature as well; it was refreshing to say the least.
"The..." He thought. "Ah. The heather, I think. It's very resilient."
"Oh, I see." Sakuno was slightly surprised at his answer; normally people gave her generic plants common in Japan but his answer was quite different. She couldn't help but smile, "They are very abundant in many parts, aren't they? And I believe it's the time of year they're in full bloom now. Though there aren't any here on campus..." The girl paused a moment and added, "But if you'd like I could try to grow them..?"
"I wouldn't want to give you extra trouble, Ryuuzaki-chan." He meant it, not just words said out of courtesy. "But if you feel you'd give me that honor..."
"It's no trouble. In fact I was having a bit of a hard time deciding what else to plant to add more color." she admitted a bit shyly. Despite all of her extra time in independent study trying to come up with ideas she wasn't horribly creative with them. It wasn't easy finding different plants for different seasons so something would be blooming each season in the gardens. It was equally difficult finding suitable plants for night as well. Ah, but that was all beside the point.
"It would be nice to have something everyone loves in the gardens here anyway." she smiled sweetly up to him once more.
Was she including him in that 'everyone' part? People never tended to do that. He looked over at her, fleetingly, then nodded. "Thank you." Simple words, but they were difficult to get past his lips.
Her face flushed pink slightly at his simple words. Sakuno was a bit surprised to be thanked for that. She thought it was something that anyone in her position would do. (Or so she had grown up to believe.) "N-No need to thank me, anyone would do the same I'm sure."
"No." Another simple word. But it was true, at least in his experience. People did not do things for him. He did things for them. Or they simply ignored him. Or worse. Kindness wasn't something offered easily, but yet this girl... She was beautiful. Kind. Words foreign to him, but true none the less.
"No..?" she couldn't help repeating, tilting her head and slightly confused.
"People aren't usually that nice," he said courtly.
"I-I see..." though she couldn't quite agree with him. Normally she took others' words to heart but she did stand by her simple, albeit naive, belief. "I don't think so... I think everyone is, they just don't always show it or know how to I suppose."
He was silent for a while, tracing his fingers through a canopy of leaves. Still only using his right hand, the left hung limply off his shoulder. "I'm glad that is what you believe." That meant she still nurtured hope.
She looked up and couldn't help watch as the leaves danced by his touch. A few of them began to fall gently and one landed on her forehead as she looked up. It took her a bit by surprise and she stumbled, but managed to catch herself before she lost her footing. "S-Sorry." she apologized for not paying attention to what he had been saying.
His hands reached out instinctively to steady her, but apparently there was no need, so he withdrew his hands again, instead adjusted his glasses, pushing them further up on his nose. "It's quite all right," he murmured.
"If you don't mind my asking... why did you decide to come to school here, Tezuka-san?" Sakuno questioned, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"I've heard good things about it," he replied honestly. "And the campus is beautiful."
"Oh, I see." She didn't know why exactly she was under the impression everyone had different reasons for attending the school. Perhaps it was just the fact she was so used to ending up at private schools without question before. "It is a beautiful campus, I've never been to such a big school before." she smiled, thinking back to all the nice people she had met so far.
He nodded slowly. It was, indeed, beautiful and inspiring, even though he really wondered what could be going on underneath that neatly polished surface of the school. It was a pity he hadn't been placed in the night class, he thought, then he would have been a lot closer to the core; his instincts told him that.
"Having two different classes is pretty different too. It's nice to meet people I probably would have never met otherwise." She was of course referring to the Night Class. From everything she knew they were students who were raised nocturnally or had bad health to where they were weak or not very active during the day. Sakuno never knew there were so many people who grew up like that but she was happy she did now and could interact with them.
Another nod. Having two different classes like this wasn't normal, and ever since he learned about the drug experiments being conducted on the Night Class students he had become convinced that something was most definitely off in this school. He wanted to know what.
"I've never been to a public or co-ed school before so this kind of experience is really new to me." she laughed lightly, a bit embarrassed about being so new to everything. Though she wasn't naive enough to think such a thing as a Night Class was normal she didn't see the need to really question it. Besides, the girl was too busy getting used to everything else.
"You're from an all girls school?" He glanced down at her.
"Yes, all my life." she replied with a small nod.
"I see. This must be quite the different environment then."
"It is... but I think I'm starting to get used to it." she smiled shyly. "And it's nice to be able to meet so many new and different people as well."
He stopped to pick up an apple that had fallen down from a tree. It felt a bit hard, but it was hardly any discoloration or bug marks on it.
"Oh, I didn't know we had apple trees here... I need to get working on the gardens more." Sakuno approached the tree and was happy to see the rest of them apples quite healthy along with the tree. Perhaps she'd look into planting more fruits and vegitables around later on. "They're just ripe, you should go ahead and enjoy that one."
"Why don't you have this one?" He handed it over to her. "It's your garden." More or less. "You should be the first one to enjoy the harvest."
"But it's here for everyone to enjoy." Though she was happy that he had taken her into consideration first. She didn't really want to argue with him though, as that would be rude. "Why don't we split it then?" she offered as a better solution instead.
He nodded, crouching down to pick up two small rocks from the ground. He hit them together hard enough to make a chip fall off from one of them. Picking up the chip, he started to cut into the apple using it.
Sakuno was a bit surprised by his craftiness. She had thought they would simply walk back to the dorms to get knife in the kitch to slice the fruit but he had come up with something on the spot.
Without a word he handed her her share of the apple, the cut surface slightly jagged, but it actually didn't look too bad.
"Thank you, Tezuka-san." She took the slice and bowed her head in thanks as she took a small bite. It was one of the best apples she had ever tasted; so fresh and ripe. Her satisfaction was as clear as day on her face as she cupped her cheek with one hand and couldn't stop smiling. "It's delicious~"
He bit into his own slice and couldn't actually hold back the hint of a smile as the sweet taste exploded against his tastebuds. "Indeed," he agreed after swallowing. "Thank you," he continued, turning to the tree and giving the trunk a careful pat.
After Sakuno had finished her slice she too pat the tree and said her thanks. "I'll be sure to come back to pick up any other apples and share them with everyone." The best joy of helping the campus gardens was always moments like this; where she could share something with everyone to enjoy.
"I'm sure people will appreciate that." He looked around at the garden, right hand moving the left one into one of his pockets, before he turned around. "I should be heading back."
"Oh, I see." They had been out for quite the while. She did hope she hadn't kept him from anything with all of their small side trips. "Shall I accompany you back?" she offered. Though she had planned to head to the gardening shed and start picking up the stray apples she didn't want to be rude. He had invited her out in the first place, it was the least she could do, especially if she had imposed on his time.
"No, I'll be fine." She probably couldn't wait to share those apples with the students; she seemed like that kind of girl. And he'd get back faster if he walked by himself anyway; longer legs, faster pace.
"Alright then... It was nice walking with you, Tezuka-san." she smiled and bowed politely. No doubt she really had been keeping him from something. She would probably just have slowed him down anyway. No need for her to insist upon coming along if she would be a hindrance. Sakuno was more than content that they had been able to get to know one another even if it was just a little bit.