[Aya stops, her brows wrinkling in utter confusion now. This is not making sense. He's staying home to take care of his parents, except there's nothing seriously wrong, there just isn't much ... between the eight of them? What does that even mean? Surely they don't all six still live there? To care for parents who aren't really incapacitated...?
It seems rude to question him, though.]
Oh... That does seem like a lot to spread things around for.
[Except it really shouldn't be... Even if she were to accept that they were all still living there, eight people sharing one place might be crowded but it meant pretty massive savings on housing. If even half of them worked that should leave plenty of extra money. What was going on here?]
[Don't worry Aya, Karamatsu is sweating both on the inside and outside enough to make up for your confusion. He knows it sounds weird and bad but he can't take it back now...and there's no way he can tell her that he's a jobless layabout who really shouldn't still be living at home...
So, you know. Maybe he'll just be able to get away with it. M-Maybe...]
We manage well enough, though...please, do not worry about me!
[Karamatsu nods in agreement, trying to keep his eyes off Chibita, knowing his gaze is boring into him for being a little less than honest. Meanwhile, the cart owner decides to interject briefly just to save Kara's ass, something he's actually appreciative of.]
[Aya is a bit appreciative of the interjection herself, since it does the job of getting them completely off family and that's likely helpful for both their sakes. She smiles cheerfully.]
I live in the Kaigan district of Minato. It's not that far, so I'm visiting for the afternoon. I met Karamatsu by chance a few days ago and he recommended your oden. I'm never one to turn down a good meal!
"Keh heh. Well, the idjit's got good taste sometimes."
[Karamatsu eyes Chibita as he takes a long, slow drink from his glass, his foot bouncing beneath the edge of the cart. This isn't going quite as well as he'd hoped, but at least Aya seems to be taking it in stride so far.]
Why of course, my dear friend...one could not visit our humble town without coming to sample your wares.
I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR DOING THIS but I'm also not sorry.....
[By and large, Aya feels pretty good about the outing. There have been a few really awkward moments, and it did almost turn angsty there for a minute, but Karamatsu did have a good sense of taste in food, and Aya hadn't approached it with greater designs than having lunch and maybe getting to know him a little better. To that end, the afternoon is a success.]
It is quite good-- any lucky girl you're attached to? I know I'd sure love a guy who knew how to cook!
[Both Chibita and Karamatsu answer Aya in unison, resulting in them looking at each other in tense silence for a long moment before Chibita turns his ladel over in his hand. It seems to take him a moment to answer, even though he pretty much knows what he'll say while Karamatsu is hiding behind his glass.]
"Ehh...I've had'a few flings, here and there. But oden is my one true love."
[What's with the tension? Did she say something wrong? A flirt and tease by nature, Aya hadn't meant anything at all by the question except to be social and flatter the guy.
There's not really a lot she can do about it now, of course, so she rolls with it.]
You should find someone who loves it as much as you do! But being single is cool too.
[And without any hitch of awkwardness, she shifts back to Karamatsu.]
[Let's just say Chibita's last actual relationship ended...a little poorly. But he won't elaborate, not when this isn't even about him. He just smiles at Aya until she turns away before breathing a sigh and returning to tending the broth of his oden.]
Ah, I thought you would never ask! Have you visited the park yet?
It's a very nice place to go visit if you want to find some quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the city. There is a playground as well that many people frequent. And on down from that way is where my family lives.
[He seems so surprised... Was he expecting this to be a second outing? It makes more sense to do it now if it's close, since she's already in the area.]
Yeah, let's go now.
[She takes her wallet out and places out payment for her meal along with a tip.]
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It seems rude to question him, though.]
Oh... That does seem like a lot to spread things around for.
[Except it really shouldn't be... Even if she were to accept that they were all still living there, eight people sharing one place might be crowded but it meant pretty massive savings on housing. If even half of them worked that should leave plenty of extra money. What was going on here?]
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So, you know. Maybe he'll just be able to get away with it. M-Maybe...]
We manage well enough, though...please, do not worry about me!
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No. I think it sounds nice to be so close to your family. It's important to be with them while you can.
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"So how long are y'gonna be in the area for?"
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I live in the Kaigan district of Minato. It's not that far, so I'm visiting for the afternoon. I met Karamatsu by chance a few days ago and he recommended your oden. I'm never one to turn down a good meal!
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[Karamatsu eyes Chibita as he takes a long, slow drink from his glass, his foot bouncing beneath the edge of the cart. This isn't going quite as well as he'd hoped, but at least Aya seems to be taking it in stride so far.]
Why of course, my dear friend...one could not visit our humble town without coming to sample your wares.
I FEEL REALLY BAD FOR DOING THIS but I'm also not sorry.....
It is quite good-- any lucky girl you're attached to? I know I'd sure love a guy who knew how to cook!
IM
Him?
[Both Chibita and Karamatsu answer Aya in unison, resulting in them looking at each other in tense silence for a long moment before Chibita turns his ladel over in his hand. It seems to take him a moment to answer, even though he pretty much knows what he'll say while Karamatsu is hiding behind his glass.]
"Ehh...I've had'a few flings, here and there. But oden is my one true love."
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There's not really a lot she can do about it now, of course, so she rolls with it.]
You should find someone who loves it as much as you do! But being single is cool too.
[And without any hitch of awkwardness, she shifts back to Karamatsu.]
Any other places you like to go in town?
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Ah, I thought you would never ask! Have you visited the park yet?
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[It's interesting that he made note of it, Aya thinks. Probably somewhere he visits often, too, given his mention that it was close to his home.]
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My brothers and I used to go there all the time when we were kids. We still visit, purely for nostalgia's sake of course.
[That's a lie, you can catch them playing on the equipment like children just the same.]
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I admit, it's been quite a while since I visited a playground. Not since grade school, I don't think...
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I'll have to show it to you then! There is also a fishing hole that is quite popular that I visit a lot.
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How far is it from here? Walking distance?
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[They don't have a car, not that she knows that.]
Why?
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I thought I heard you say you'd have to show it to me. I'm sorry if I misunderstood...
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The second she says that he jolts a little.]
A-ah, you are absolutely right!
[Chibita brings a hand to his forehead in the background, muttering something under his breath.]
Would you like to go now? I think we have about finished our meal, non?
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Yeah, let's go now.
[She takes her wallet out and places out payment for her meal along with a tip.]
Thank you for the oden!