Mitsunari followed Nanfeng into her home and shut the door behind him, giving the simplistic interior a once-over before finding a place to stand off to the side. He was tense, despite feeling he had little reason to be. The thing was, nobody knew, really, what he did for a living. An accountant, was what he’d told them. That wasn’t actually the case. And while he could argue that it was for their protection that he never said anything – and he would stand by that argument without faltering – he knew that he would get some criticism regardless for not saying anything.
Despite having known Nanfeng for a long time, though they weren’t the closest of friends, he felt almost like a stranger once again. Three years was a long time, and it didn’t help that he hadn’t been entirely honest about who exactly he was from the start. Though he had changed little in personality – save for, perhaps, the fact that he had ceased taking the precious things such as friendship for granted – he was no longer the Mitsunari that everyone had known him to be. He only wondered how his love would take it.
“Any tea you may have will suffice,” he replied at last. “I know I owe you an explanation; and you’ll get one. I’m just… not quite sure whether or not you’ll enjoy what I have to say. You’re the first one of those close to me that I’ve spoken to in three years.” So, naturally, he had little idea of what sort of reaction this may bring. He’d have to gauge hers to judge how everyne else would take it. “May I have a seat?”
❝Oolong it is, then. An explanation would be nice, and I’d rather face the hard truth than sugarcoated lies. And, um, you can seat yourself at the table. Or… uh… the couch if you want. I suppose that would be more of a relaxed environment. Just move my cat over, he doesn’t care if strangers touch him.❞
She sensed the tension he felt, but she figured it’d be best to not react to it. Whatever had him vanish for three years must have taken a toll on him, even though she spared little sympathy for him at the time. As she prepared the tea and boiled water on the stove, Nanfeng thought on all he had said, until realization hit her. Slowly, she turned around and gazed at him with concern in her eyes.
❝While I’m happy you think of me like that, I don’t understand how I am the first you have come to. That doesn’t make any sense, all things considering… Does… that mean you don’t know what’s been going on at all?❞