A Thank You

[redstray]

Who: Eric and Nanako
When: July 21st
Where: Nanako's temple
What:  Eric managed to get some advice on presents and finally decided to give them to the person in question.

[ Eric slowly walks over to a certain temple, still debating if this had been a good idea. He shifts the bag he was carrying to his other hand.

Everyone had been so nosy, wondering who this was for. Not that he minded telling them it was for Nanako, but then he would have to explain why...and he really didn't want to have to explain that whole ordeal to anyone. Not yet at least. Even thanking her for what she had done was more nerve wracking then he cared to admit. But, he still felt like he should. So here he was..

He knocked on the door once, then twice. He half wished she was not home. He could come back another time...even if perhaps one of these things wouldn't be the freshest of food... ]

Comments

[welcome_home]

[ He's in luck! Nanako is at her temple today, although she'd been out feeding the fish at the dock. Hearing the knocking on her way back to the temple, she pauses and then peers around the corner of the shrine to see who had come to visit.

Spotting Eric, her face breaks into a bright smile as she bounces towards him cheerfully. ]

Eric! Hi! Did you come to visit?

[redstray]

Ye-yeah...

[ He stiffens a bit at the sudden happiness, almost considering just giving her the presents and running in the other direction. But, he'll be brave, he wanted to try and do this properly at least. ]

Is that okay?

[welcome_home]

[ Eric, why would you run away from a six-year-old? The worst she will do is hug you. Even if she does restrain herself for the moment because she picks up on how nervous he seems. ]

Yeah! You can always come visit, I don't mind. Are you feeling better today?

[redstray]

[ He's not the most social person in the world, especially when it comes to kids. And last time they met they basically reversed ages.

At the mention of feeling better he falters a but but he nods. ]

Yeah, how are you?

[welcome_home]

I'm good! I was feeding the fish! [ She looks very happy about this. ] Do you want to come in?

[redstray]

You have fish here?

[ He didn't seem them before. But it was nice to see Nanako was holding down the fort at least. At the invitation he does get a bit awkward again. ]

Ah yes, sure...if you're not busy.

[welcome_home]

Yeah! The lake is full of them. Nanshe really liked fishing, I think. And the pellycans like to eat them.

[ Still, she motions for him to follow her towards the door. ]

I'm not busy! I have to go practice later, but it's not time yet. Are you hungry? I have snacks!

[redstray]

Are they big?

[ He follows her along, shifting with the bags a bit. ]

Uhm...I'm not hungry but I, brought something?

[welcome_home]

Some of them are! They stay out deep in the water though. The little ones come up close to the shore, though.

[ She pauses at the doorway when he mentions that, glancing back in surprise at him. ]

For me? Really?

[redstray]

Sounds like a good pond.

[ He starts a bit at the glance, reaching up and playing with his hair. ]

Uhm...Y-yeah. If you want...

[welcome_home]

It is! I like it.

[ Nanako giggles softly at his expression. ]

That's really nice of you, Eric! [ Although she pauses, looking concerned for a moment. ] Although I didn't get you anything. I didn't know you were bringing presents.

[redstray]

Uhm, n-no, that's fine...you don't have to. I just...uhm...these are...you..

[ Words, how does one explain things? ]

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako crosses back to where he stands, coming to a stop in front of him and reaching out to pat his hand comfortingly when he stumbles over his words. ]

It's okay, Eric. You don't have to be scared here, remember?

Lil Nanako patting tall Eric's head is a very cute image I can't even

[redstray]

[ Eric leans a bit, letting Nanako not reach so much so she can pat him on the head. ]

I remember...that's why...

[ He passes her the bag, all she could probably see is some glittery paper. ]

Th-thank you! These are...to thank you.

:D

[welcome_home]

[ She takes the back with a wide-eyed look, wrapping her arms around it carefully. ]

Oh! You didn't have to get me a present, Eric! But thank you! Should I open it now?

Too cute

[redstray]

Su...sure.

[ He nods. Once she does open it, there's some glittery paper around three roses, a box with a chocolate cake, and a small gliterry paper covered hairpin. ]

I wasn't..didn't know what you like so, a little bit of things.

[welcome_home]

[ The cake gets an exclamation of delight as she carefully lifts the box from inside, cooing over it. ] Ooooh, it looks so yummy! Will you have some with me? And oh, there are flowers! You got me flowers? [ She beams, lifting them to smell. ] They're so pretty! I will put them in water right away!

[ And then she pulls out the hairpin and her eyes go wide in wonder. ] Is this for me? Really? It's soooo cute, Eric!

[redstray]

[ Eric was not exactly expecting any of that reaction. His face is a bit red, well a lot of red. Nanako really seemed to like the presents, but the reactions had him a bit flustered. ]

Ah...uhm...I'm glad you like them. Izumo helped me with the cake and ah...if you need help?

[welcome_home]

[ Still carefully clutching her gifts, Nanako giggles and throws her arms around his middle in an exuberant hug. ]

These are the best! Thank you, Eric! And yeah, I wanna share it with you! Are you hungry?

[redstray]

[ Eric jumps as Nanako collides with him and wraps her arms around him. He freezes as he feels his face get even more red, not sure what to do or think. ]

Ah...uhm...It's n-nothing, uhm...

[ Not sure what to do with his hands he puts one on her head and pats(?) it a bit awkwardly. The other still in the air. At the question he mumbles a bit before something finally comes out. ]

Sure?

[welcome_home]

[ She giggles and releases him, only to reach up and latch onto his hand, giving him a tug towards the door of her temple. ] Come on, then! We can eat it out back by the pond.

[redstray]

Ah, wha--

[ He feels the hug stop but then gets startled with the holding of his hand. He stumbles as he's tugged towards her temple, bending down as the small leader didn't let go. This was...new. ]

[welcome_home]

[ Completely oblivious to how startled he was to the contact - or maybe insisting on it for exactly that reason - Nanako leads him into the temple and then out back, where a low table is set up to overlook the pond, cushions scattered around it for seating. ]

here! We can have it here!

[redstray]

[ He follows along at her pace, still wondering exactly how it came to this and why she was like this for these gifts. He picked out something good he guessed but he never thought it would have this kind of reaction. Girls really were kind of strange, huh? ]

Uhm, okay...

[welcome_home]

[ Tugging him towards the table, she drops down on an empty cushion and sets the cake on the table for them to share. ]

Do you know how to cut it? I'm not very good at that yet.

[redstray]

[ He nods, though he gestures towards inside awkwardly/ ]

Ah yeah, hang on...uhm...utensils? I can go...

[welcome_home]

There's some in the drawer there! [ She points to one of the nearby cabinets along the wall at his question. ]

[redstray]

Right...

[ He goes over there and begins to take out some plates, utensils and sets up the table before he grabs a larger knife. He studies the cake for moment before slicing it up nice and neatly. He looks up at her once finished. ]

Is that okay?

[welcome_home]

Yeah! It's perfect!

[ She beams brightly at him as she balances on her knees on the chair to watch. ]

[redstray]

[ If he was Izumo he would probably chuckle and ruffle the girls hair. But, being Eric, he only nodded in response and slowly placed a slice on a plate and giving it to her. ]

Here, you go.

[welcome_home]

Thank you, Eric. This looks really yummy! [ Although she waits until he gets his own slice of cake before she starts to eat. ]

[redstray]

[ Eric makes his own slice, although it is smaller than Nanako's it was her cake after all. ]

I hope, it tastes good, for you...