[Hanako] Chapter 12: Idyllic Days

Throndir · April 23, 2019, 07:42:11 PM

《Chapter 12: Idyllic Days》

Location: Klein's Estate
Date: Day 10 - 1 PM

When you finally left, you ensured that Falah was fast asleep. The day's drama or perhaps the fact you were comforting her made her sleep soundly even though it was just about afternoon. Lunch was already being served, with most people finishing up. When Trudy noticed you, she quickly pulled out what looked to be a tray of food.

"How was it?" She asked as she put the tray in front of you. After you pick it up, or not, she would either put it to the side and then pick up a second tray.

"I usually hand Falah her lunch and then from there we decide if she would like to help clean up. The dishes or other things mainly." Trudy explained.

You also noticed the Valkyrie sitting on a chair, sipping away at tea. She had her eyes on you, but simply kept a silent watch.

Asta · April 23, 2019, 10:57:32 PM

Hanako picked up the tray so she could give Trudy a hand. "About as you could expect I guess. Shes upset and apologetic and I did what I could to make her see that its in everyone's best interest not to try and contact her father. I'd appreciate if you could keep steering her in that direction. She's not inherently bad or duplicitous, she just wants someone to accept her for who she is. Desperate people do desperate things, so lets give her what she needs."

She brought her shoulders up and let them fall again in the universal sign of "I don't know".

"She was asleep when I left her room, cried herself into exhaustion I guess. We should try not to wake her."

Throndir · April 24, 2019, 11:27:03 AM

Location: Klein's Estate
Date: Day 10 - 1 PM

"I see..." Trudy said. "Don't worry, you can count on me." She said a moment later as she smiled at you. Bring the second tray with her she began to move to Falah's room. The guards at the door saluted at the both of you as you neared, and Trudy gently opened the door, while placing the tray of food on a nearby table.

Falah was still in bed, wrapped up in her blankets in a fetal position. Trudy sighed. "I never thought I would be taking care of a demon myself." Trudy said. "But... I almost feel like I'm taking care of a little sister, bringing her food like this, helping her clean and guide her around the house." With that, Trudy began making her way out the door again as she glanced back at Falah one more time.

"Let's let her sleep."

Asta · April 24, 2019, 04:21:34 PM

A little sister huh... Hanako thought absentmindedly.

After they closed the door, she remembered she was holding a tray full of food. "Oh right, where is this going to?"

Throndir · April 24, 2019, 10:12:25 PM

"That's ours!" Trudy declared. She began to point at each of the items on the tray. "Everyone decided it would be trying out people's home-made recipes, so there were a lot of chefs in the kitchen earlier while we were talking with everyone in the basement, and during that time you were with Falah in her room. All of these are everyone's special recipes. I tried to get a little bit of everything, but since it's a lot of food, I was waiting for you to finish too."

She looked towards you with a slight blush on her features.

"Would you like to eat lunch with me?" Trudy asked. "I would get Minette too, but she's been busy trying to get captain Dietrich setup with the proper learning materials to teach Akime correctly."

Asta · April 24, 2019, 10:56:57 PM

"Oh! That sounds good, I'm starving so lets go find a spot and eat!" Hanako replied excitedly. It wasn't much of an exaggeration, the day had been painfully long and full of excitement and was barely halfway over, so she had become very aware of her own hunger once she had seen the food. There was still a lot left in the day she needed to get done, as well as some minor planning. The thought of what was down in the mine marked on Klein's map was constantly picking at the back of her brain.

"Lead the way my dear!" she said cheerfully.

Hanako will take her lunch with Trudy. If there's nothing major happening then, she'll resume training on firearms, two normal sessions. Afterwards, if nothing major happens she wants to run some ideas past Trudy and Minette prior to whatever mischief Minette has planned for the evening.

Asta · April 24, 2019, 11:07:12 PM

Training Firearms Prof.

Rolled 1d20+7 : 8 + 7, total 15

Training Firearms Prof.

Rolled 1d20+7 : 15 + 7, total 22

Throndir · April 24, 2019, 11:45:50 PM

Location: Klein's Estate
Date: Day 10 - 9 PM

Soon evening, evening came, and you found yourself alone with both Minette and Trudy.

QuotePresumably this is in the bedroom? But feel free to state otherwise.

Training
Firearms: 6/8

Asta · April 25, 2019, 12:51:37 AM

Hanako plopped down on the bed without changing, falling backwards and spreading her arms wide. She let out a long slow sigh as she let herself feel the accumulated fatigue of the day.

"Long day..." she said, to nobody in particular. After a minute she rolled to her side. "I'm thinking of outlining my entire plan in detail so I don't have to micro manage as much... It would be good if I could spend some time looking into that mine that was marked on the map without having to worry that I'll come back to the mansion being on fire or something. Thoughts?" The question was directed at both Trudy and Minette, whom Hanako, her most trusted (and probably first) friends.

Throndir · April 25, 2019, 10:37:30 AM

"Oh... Well... The day to day business... It was mainly run by me with guidance and final approval from Klein for any transactions and deals... We still... get reports from the other sites like normal which let us know decisions each site has made, along with requests, updates, and up-to-date information..."

"Perhaps... I could train with Aldric more... so that he can have a better feel of Klein's business... and general business sense..."

"There is also Sofia... With her sending people over to our estate, she must have something planned in order to run the business without the demons knowing. That's why we got Aldric and captain Dietrich in the first place."

Asta · April 25, 2019, 06:54:53 PM

Hanako scratched the back of her head lazily with the hand she wasn't propping herself up with. "Good points. I think I'm gonna talk with them tomorrow about doing things with a little more autonomy. As long as they don't deviate from the escape plan, they'll probably do things carefully enough not to get caught."

She flopped back on the bed again and stretched out with an exaggerated "Hnnnnnnnnnngh!"

"I guess you should give him the rundown so he can do things on his own. There's nothing coming up tomorrow I don't think so it'll be a good day to talk to them both. I should probably start working on getting Kari to trust me as well... We're gonna need all the combat specialists we can get in the future. I'll worry about that tomorrow though, now is time to relax a bit..."

Throndir · April 25, 2019, 09:05:45 PM

The both of them began to change as well. Trudy was still slightly embarrassed, so she had turned around like the times before while she changed into her pajamas. Minette on the other hand simply changed in front of you.

"There's... something we want to give you." Minette said softly as she looked towards you. She then moved her eyes towards Trudy.

"Don't be so modest Minette... This was your idea." Trudy said smiling gently.

"You helped too..." Minette replied back. With that, Trudy reached for the short desk next to the bed, and opened a drawer on it. She had her hands over it, then moved her cupped hands over to you. When she finally dropped the item into your own hands. You saw their gift.

Spoiler

It was a locket. A picture of both Minette and Trudy inside.

[close]

Asta · April 25, 2019, 09:20:56 PM

Hanako clutched the locket tightly in her hands, they trembled slightly as she felt herself becoming a little overcome with emotion. She brought her still tightly closed hands to her face and wiped away a tear that was forming in one of her eyes, threatening to break the carefree persona she wore all the time. "Th- *sniff* thank you, girls. I've... never been given anything like this before. It means so much to me. I'll wear it forever!"

With that she brought the chain up and over her head, letting the locket hang down off her neck. She placed her hand on it again, pressing it gently into her skin. "You two... are the best!" Hanako said, eyes starting to water again. Her voice was almost a sob of happiness. The gift was simple, but its emotional value was beyond compare. It was both a validation of Hanako's existence and an affirmation that other people cared for her deeply enough to solidify it in an object to be treasured.

Throndir · April 25, 2019, 09:42:35 PM

Both girls smiled gently. Trudy stepped into the bed and pulled you into a hug, though Minette followed soon after with a hug from behind.

"There, there..." Trudy said quietly. Minette on the other hand was silent, though, you could feel her squeeze you tighter. After however long it took, eventually the other two girls would let go, their eyes gentle and warm as they stared upon you.

"You... are the one... that's the best..." Minette finally said.

Asta · April 25, 2019, 09:53:53 PM

"*sniff* I dunno about that... but I'm happy you think of me like that." Hanako said, smiling and wiping the last of the dampness from the corner of her eyes. She grabbed the two of them in a tight three way hug and fell backwards onto the bed.

"You're too good to me." she whispered.

At the very least, no matter how hard things might be in the future, this was worth getting hit by a truck.