Post by Souji Seta on Mar 26, 2009 2:12:16 GMT -5
Souji leaned back in his chair, blowing his bangs out his face in irritation. He'd finished his homework twenty minutes ago and was now, as luck would have it, bored as hell. With all that was happening lately, TV diving and midterms to be exact, Souji didn't believe there would be time enough to spare for boredom. He was very wrong.
He was also very hungry.
Glancing up at the clock, Souji noted with a frown that Dojima-san would probably be late that night, if he came home at all. The rash of murders and disappearances meant that the two cousins rarely saw their guardian these days. Souji was alright with the arrangement, somewhat, if only because it meant that his own activities weren't being monitored as closely as they might have been under different circumstances. But Nanako..., Souji's face fell a little as he slid out of his desk chair. Sitting alone in his room staring at the ceiling wasn't helping anyone. The two cousins had gotten close in the past month but there was still a wall of unfamiliarity between them. Maybe a night making dinner would help change that.
And besides, he was hungry.
Padding silently down the stairs in his socks, Souji smiled a little upon seeing Nanako absorbed in her quiz show. "Hey, Nana-chan," he smiled, sinking down beside her, "Getting the answers tonight?"
---
Nanako sat in her usual spot, legs folded up under her and hands resting in her lap as she stared at the TV. Her homework book sat open in front of her, the last problem having been completed an hour before. But once the TV was on, she tended to forget to clean up her homework mess.
"Alright, next question!"
The little girl's face was placid in concentration, and she was so absorbed in following the question that her cousin startled her when he started talking. Nanako turned around, eyes wide, to watch as Souji crossed the room to sit next to her, before turning back to the TV without answering. Only this time, her full attention wasn't on the screen, and the slight trace of shyness colored her cheeks. After the contestant affirmed his answer and was rewarded with the ding ding ding of a correct answer, Nanako turned back towards Souji and offered him a small smile. "Mmm, yes!"
Suddenly, her eyes were drawn towards the clock and she gasped. "Oh no! I haven't started dinner yet!" she lamented, scrambling to her feet and quickly cleaning up her homework. "I'm sorry, I lost track of time--" The little girl had on a troubled expression. "And Dad hasn't called either..." she added with a sigh, slowing her pace slightly as she put the homework books away.
Nanako turned back around to look at her cousin, then quickly looked down at her feet. "Umm... Is there anything you would like for dinner...?"
---
Souji couldn't suppress a warm smile as he watched the little girl sit in deep thought. Turning his gaze forward towards the TV as well, the two cousins sat as mirror images of each other. The only differences being the rather large size discrepancy and the pink dusting over the small girl's cheeks (which Souji noticed but kindly refrained from commenting on). Turning to face each other while the contestant on screen celebrated, Souji returned Nanako's smile with one of his own. His lips parted to congratulate her but Nanako's sharp gasp promptly cut him off.
Souji remained seated while the little girl fretted, hands folded in his lap while he watched her with a mixture of confusion and awe. Souji didn't remember much in the way of his own childhood details, but he certainly had never been worried about making dinner at the age of seven. However, once her tone changed, his expression did as well. Sympathetic frown firmly in place, Souji uncrossed his long legs and moved over to help her tidy up silently.
"Me?" he asked, carefully tucking her notebook into her backpack, "I can't say so, no." Stretching briefly, assuming his full height, Souji seemed to tower over his cousin for a moment -- but the moment was a short one and before too long the older boy was kneeling down next to her with a kind smile, "How about you? Isn't there anything you'd like?"
---
Nanako was surprised when she noticed Souji helping her clean. It had just been her and her dad for so long she was still taking some time to get used to other people actually being able to help around the house. She stopped, halfway to the kitchen, and simply watched her cousin curiously. She was half tempted to tell him to stop trying to clean and to sit down and relax and would he like any tea while he waited for dinner? but held her tongue as her dad's words came into mind.
He's part of the family now. Not a guest that's only staying for a few weeks.
And yet, while she felt terribly rude thinking that just because he was family now, he should be put to work helping maintain the house in her dad's absence, Nanako couldn't bring herself to tell Souji otherwise. Instead, she allowed herself a small smile while his back was turned to her and he mused over the question of dinner. But then he came and stood next to her, and she tilted her head back to stare up at him. Then he was kneeling next to her, and asked what she would like for dinner.
"...M-me?" Nanako asked curiously, suddenly realising that she ever put a thought to what she wanted to eat for dinner. At least, not for a very long time. It was always "what is easier? What would Dad like when he gets home?" She returned her cousin's stare for a long time, merely thinking over the question carefully in her head.
When she noticed that she had been staring, the little girl quickly lowered her head and bashfully played with the hem of her dress. "U-umm...... Fish, maybe?" she muttered to her feet, wondering if the sole was still in the fridge or if it had been eaten already. "A-and... fried rice..." Nanako looked back up at Souji, though her head was still lowered, and offered a small smile as well. He had such a pleasant smile, compared to her dad's rough and often distracted one. The girl lifted her head all the way now and the smile on her face grew as she let out a tiny giggle.
---
Souji waited patiently while she fidgeted and stared, his smile not faltering. He was an only child but children had always gravitated towards him, whether he wanted them to or not. His nanny had always said it was because he was quieter than most older boys and it flared their curiosity, but regardless of the reason, their interest in him had developed a sense of understanding. Although he hadn't seen himself in a parental situation quite like this for quite some time (ten years, at least), the little girl in front of him stirred his fraternal instincts.
His smile grew as she looked away, offering a friendly, "It's alright," before waiting on her answer once again. Fish and fried rice? Easy. Souji had been making his own dinners since he turned twelve and knew his way around a kitchen better than most, so he'd been told. Maybe he and Nanako had more in common than he thought.
"Good choice," he chuckled, straightening up, "It'll go faster if we make it together, don't you think? But only if you don't think I'll get in your way." There was playfulness in his voice but no condescension. He had no doubt that Nanako would do just fine without him, and that was the truth. But the little girl deserved some fun, not another night as an indentured servant.
---
Nanako looked up suddenly, eyes wide in surprise at his offer to help make dinner. Without saying anything, she shook her head frantically, then stopped and gasped. "I mean, no you won't get in my way!!" she hurried to correct, hoping he hadn't gotten the wrong idea. A small, shy smile played across her face as she looked up at him. "It will go faster!" she said, hands playing with the bottom hem of her dress (it was going to become a habit, she knew it. Her mommy always scolded her for picking up new habits so often).
The little girl spun around and hurried into the kitchen, moving the footstool over so she could was her hands in the sink. It made her really happy that he offered--she had been afraid that he would be as distant as he looked most of the time. But his smile, even if it was a bit lonely, was very warm. And so she was happy, because it would mean she could start being less shy and nervous and embarrassed in her own house around her own cousin.
At that thought, she looked over at him over her shoulder and offered a cheerful grin. Maybe he felt the same way. And if that was the case, it was mean of her to act so distant. It wouldn't hurt to try, after all.
---
Souji grinned back, biting his lower lip slightly to keep a laugh from bubbling forth. Her welcoming attitude coupled with obvious nerves made for a cute, albeit fragile looking little package and Souji couldn't help but react in a similar fashion. He was nervous too, though in a less open way. He had a rule when it came to his transfers; 'Don't let them get too close'. But the heartbroken expression she wore whenever a plan was canceled, an evening was ruined by a sudden departure, or another chore was piled upon her small shoulders made him want to get involved.
He had to get close this time.
"So what do we do first, leader?" he asked with a small wink, rolling up his sleeves before plunging his hands under the faucet.
He was also very hungry.
Glancing up at the clock, Souji noted with a frown that Dojima-san would probably be late that night, if he came home at all. The rash of murders and disappearances meant that the two cousins rarely saw their guardian these days. Souji was alright with the arrangement, somewhat, if only because it meant that his own activities weren't being monitored as closely as they might have been under different circumstances. But Nanako..., Souji's face fell a little as he slid out of his desk chair. Sitting alone in his room staring at the ceiling wasn't helping anyone. The two cousins had gotten close in the past month but there was still a wall of unfamiliarity between them. Maybe a night making dinner would help change that.
And besides, he was hungry.
Padding silently down the stairs in his socks, Souji smiled a little upon seeing Nanako absorbed in her quiz show. "Hey, Nana-chan," he smiled, sinking down beside her, "Getting the answers tonight?"
---
Nanako sat in her usual spot, legs folded up under her and hands resting in her lap as she stared at the TV. Her homework book sat open in front of her, the last problem having been completed an hour before. But once the TV was on, she tended to forget to clean up her homework mess.
"Alright, next question!"
The little girl's face was placid in concentration, and she was so absorbed in following the question that her cousin startled her when he started talking. Nanako turned around, eyes wide, to watch as Souji crossed the room to sit next to her, before turning back to the TV without answering. Only this time, her full attention wasn't on the screen, and the slight trace of shyness colored her cheeks. After the contestant affirmed his answer and was rewarded with the ding ding ding of a correct answer, Nanako turned back towards Souji and offered him a small smile. "Mmm, yes!"
Suddenly, her eyes were drawn towards the clock and she gasped. "Oh no! I haven't started dinner yet!" she lamented, scrambling to her feet and quickly cleaning up her homework. "I'm sorry, I lost track of time--" The little girl had on a troubled expression. "And Dad hasn't called either..." she added with a sigh, slowing her pace slightly as she put the homework books away.
Nanako turned back around to look at her cousin, then quickly looked down at her feet. "Umm... Is there anything you would like for dinner...?"
---
Souji couldn't suppress a warm smile as he watched the little girl sit in deep thought. Turning his gaze forward towards the TV as well, the two cousins sat as mirror images of each other. The only differences being the rather large size discrepancy and the pink dusting over the small girl's cheeks (which Souji noticed but kindly refrained from commenting on). Turning to face each other while the contestant on screen celebrated, Souji returned Nanako's smile with one of his own. His lips parted to congratulate her but Nanako's sharp gasp promptly cut him off.
Souji remained seated while the little girl fretted, hands folded in his lap while he watched her with a mixture of confusion and awe. Souji didn't remember much in the way of his own childhood details, but he certainly had never been worried about making dinner at the age of seven. However, once her tone changed, his expression did as well. Sympathetic frown firmly in place, Souji uncrossed his long legs and moved over to help her tidy up silently.
"Me?" he asked, carefully tucking her notebook into her backpack, "I can't say so, no." Stretching briefly, assuming his full height, Souji seemed to tower over his cousin for a moment -- but the moment was a short one and before too long the older boy was kneeling down next to her with a kind smile, "How about you? Isn't there anything you'd like?"
---
Nanako was surprised when she noticed Souji helping her clean. It had just been her and her dad for so long she was still taking some time to get used to other people actually being able to help around the house. She stopped, halfway to the kitchen, and simply watched her cousin curiously. She was half tempted to tell him to stop trying to clean and to sit down and relax and would he like any tea while he waited for dinner? but held her tongue as her dad's words came into mind.
He's part of the family now. Not a guest that's only staying for a few weeks.
And yet, while she felt terribly rude thinking that just because he was family now, he should be put to work helping maintain the house in her dad's absence, Nanako couldn't bring herself to tell Souji otherwise. Instead, she allowed herself a small smile while his back was turned to her and he mused over the question of dinner. But then he came and stood next to her, and she tilted her head back to stare up at him. Then he was kneeling next to her, and asked what she would like for dinner.
"...M-me?" Nanako asked curiously, suddenly realising that she ever put a thought to what she wanted to eat for dinner. At least, not for a very long time. It was always "what is easier? What would Dad like when he gets home?" She returned her cousin's stare for a long time, merely thinking over the question carefully in her head.
When she noticed that she had been staring, the little girl quickly lowered her head and bashfully played with the hem of her dress. "U-umm...... Fish, maybe?" she muttered to her feet, wondering if the sole was still in the fridge or if it had been eaten already. "A-and... fried rice..." Nanako looked back up at Souji, though her head was still lowered, and offered a small smile as well. He had such a pleasant smile, compared to her dad's rough and often distracted one. The girl lifted her head all the way now and the smile on her face grew as she let out a tiny giggle.
---
Souji waited patiently while she fidgeted and stared, his smile not faltering. He was an only child but children had always gravitated towards him, whether he wanted them to or not. His nanny had always said it was because he was quieter than most older boys and it flared their curiosity, but regardless of the reason, their interest in him had developed a sense of understanding. Although he hadn't seen himself in a parental situation quite like this for quite some time (ten years, at least), the little girl in front of him stirred his fraternal instincts.
His smile grew as she looked away, offering a friendly, "It's alright," before waiting on her answer once again. Fish and fried rice? Easy. Souji had been making his own dinners since he turned twelve and knew his way around a kitchen better than most, so he'd been told. Maybe he and Nanako had more in common than he thought.
"Good choice," he chuckled, straightening up, "It'll go faster if we make it together, don't you think? But only if you don't think I'll get in your way." There was playfulness in his voice but no condescension. He had no doubt that Nanako would do just fine without him, and that was the truth. But the little girl deserved some fun, not another night as an indentured servant.
---
Nanako looked up suddenly, eyes wide in surprise at his offer to help make dinner. Without saying anything, she shook her head frantically, then stopped and gasped. "I mean, no you won't get in my way!!" she hurried to correct, hoping he hadn't gotten the wrong idea. A small, shy smile played across her face as she looked up at him. "It will go faster!" she said, hands playing with the bottom hem of her dress (it was going to become a habit, she knew it. Her mommy always scolded her for picking up new habits so often).
The little girl spun around and hurried into the kitchen, moving the footstool over so she could was her hands in the sink. It made her really happy that he offered--she had been afraid that he would be as distant as he looked most of the time. But his smile, even if it was a bit lonely, was very warm. And so she was happy, because it would mean she could start being less shy and nervous and embarrassed in her own house around her own cousin.
At that thought, she looked over at him over her shoulder and offered a cheerful grin. Maybe he felt the same way. And if that was the case, it was mean of her to act so distant. It wouldn't hurt to try, after all.
---
Souji grinned back, biting his lower lip slightly to keep a laugh from bubbling forth. Her welcoming attitude coupled with obvious nerves made for a cute, albeit fragile looking little package and Souji couldn't help but react in a similar fashion. He was nervous too, though in a less open way. He had a rule when it came to his transfers; 'Don't let them get too close'. But the heartbroken expression she wore whenever a plan was canceled, an evening was ruined by a sudden departure, or another chore was piled upon her small shoulders made him want to get involved.
He had to get close this time.
"So what do we do first, leader?" he asked with a small wink, rolling up his sleeves before plunging his hands under the faucet.