- Invitation Status
- Looking for partners
- Posting Speed
- 1-3 posts per week
- Writing Levels
- Beginner
- Elementary
- Intermediate
- Adept
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Genres
- fantasy, scifi, horror, magical, drama
Hanako stood in the center of the kitchen as Reo started to pulled out the fish from the fridge and Itsumi was setting up the table for three. Itsumi had taken a chair from the room adjacent to the kitchen; it was like the other chairs but had been stashed away, hidden from sight. Hanako even noticed that Itsumi had only taken two plates, out of habit, before correcting herself with three. Hanako was frozen in place unsure what to do with the two bustling around her.
"How can I help?" said Hanako.
"You should rest some more." said Reo. "I'll call you when supper's ready."
"Alright." Hanako cast her eyes aside and shifted along a wall to get out of the kitchen.
She made her way back to the guest room where she had woken up, and lay on top of the covers in a sideways position. The pillow felt good against her throbbing temple. She closed her eyes, but she didn't sleep. She heard the door as it softly closed. Hanako tried to control her breathing as her mind strained to fight off the thoughts that she didn't belong here, that she would eventually crumble under the pressure to seem normal to the people she had just met. The thoughts seemed like they would never pass, until a sudden wash of warmth came over her, and she could feel the muscles around her eyes relax. It was rare to not have anything be asked of her to do. It was nice, even if it was only for a time.
"Hanako, supper!"
The time really passed so quickly? Hanako opened her eyes and went to the kitchen where she saw the plates laid out on the table. She pulled back a chair and tucked her dress as she sat down, while Rea and Itsumi were looking at her. Hanako touched her hair. Was it messy?
"Something the matter?" said Hanako.
"If you're still tired, I can reheat it for you later." said Reo.
"I'm alright." said Hanako. "Thank you." She did still feel very empty.
The two started to eat their fish, though Reo was continuing to take glances at Hanako, who didn't pick up her utensils. Hanako watched as Reo and Itsumi ate, trying to learn the procedure well enough to mimic them. Ayako shoving processed crackers in Yori's face and having him gulp down vitamins with water was nowhere close to this. She held the utensils very carefully, lightly, making a cut on the fish like it was an incision, then placing the morsel in her mouth like she saw. The new sensation of taste overwhelmed her. She pressed down her lips hard and swallowed before coughing.
"It's bad?" said Reo.
Hanako shook her head.
"Daddy's sweet fish is the best!" Itsumi chirped, her face covered in sauce. Reo raised his hand with a napkin and started to dab his own face. Itsumi mimicked him, understanding the cue.
Hanako continued to make incisions into the fish, and although she was quicker to get morsels in her mouth for the taste, the procedure remained very methodical.
"There's no need to be so polite, Hanako." Reo chuckled.
Hanako relaxed and cut bigger pieces. This eating thing was getting to be fun. Before she knew it, however, the experience ended.
"All gone." said Itsumi.
"Go on, then." said Reo. "Wash your face."
"How can I help?" said Hanako.
"You should rest some more." said Reo. "I'll call you when supper's ready."
"Alright." Hanako cast her eyes aside and shifted along a wall to get out of the kitchen.
She made her way back to the guest room where she had woken up, and lay on top of the covers in a sideways position. The pillow felt good against her throbbing temple. She closed her eyes, but she didn't sleep. She heard the door as it softly closed. Hanako tried to control her breathing as her mind strained to fight off the thoughts that she didn't belong here, that she would eventually crumble under the pressure to seem normal to the people she had just met. The thoughts seemed like they would never pass, until a sudden wash of warmth came over her, and she could feel the muscles around her eyes relax. It was rare to not have anything be asked of her to do. It was nice, even if it was only for a time.
"Hanako, supper!"
The time really passed so quickly? Hanako opened her eyes and went to the kitchen where she saw the plates laid out on the table. She pulled back a chair and tucked her dress as she sat down, while Rea and Itsumi were looking at her. Hanako touched her hair. Was it messy?
"Something the matter?" said Hanako.
"If you're still tired, I can reheat it for you later." said Reo.
"I'm alright." said Hanako. "Thank you." She did still feel very empty.
The two started to eat their fish, though Reo was continuing to take glances at Hanako, who didn't pick up her utensils. Hanako watched as Reo and Itsumi ate, trying to learn the procedure well enough to mimic them. Ayako shoving processed crackers in Yori's face and having him gulp down vitamins with water was nowhere close to this. She held the utensils very carefully, lightly, making a cut on the fish like it was an incision, then placing the morsel in her mouth like she saw. The new sensation of taste overwhelmed her. She pressed down her lips hard and swallowed before coughing.
"It's bad?" said Reo.
Hanako shook her head.
"Daddy's sweet fish is the best!" Itsumi chirped, her face covered in sauce. Reo raised his hand with a napkin and started to dab his own face. Itsumi mimicked him, understanding the cue.
Hanako continued to make incisions into the fish, and although she was quicker to get morsels in her mouth for the taste, the procedure remained very methodical.
"There's no need to be so polite, Hanako." Reo chuckled.
Hanako relaxed and cut bigger pieces. This eating thing was getting to be fun. Before she knew it, however, the experience ended.
"All gone." said Itsumi.
"Go on, then." said Reo. "Wash your face."