Stream of Consciousness [Hara]

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see Good afternoon, Hara-san. I'm waiting at the corner near the entrance of the hot springs. Thank you. Yumeko's finger hovered over her phone in hesitation before finally pressing it, a soft beep and gentle vibration confirming the delivery of the message. In a half-dazed state, Yumeko pocketed the phone, her clouded grey eyes staring out into nowhere as her mind drifted. Normally, Yumeko would have at scouted out the location where she was going to go to get the proper directions and locations and if possible, with family. But this trip was so impomptu that the author never got a chance. She knew she was on the block where the hot spring were, but had no clue where the entrance was or what it would feel like to pass in front of it. Granted, Yumeko knew of it through her cousin, Misha, who did recommend visiting, and Yumeko was no stranger to such facilities, though she only went with family. This time...it was with Hara. A friend. A really good friend. A really really good friend that Yumeko trusted. Right? So it wasn't going to be so bad. That said... Yumeko shook her head. What happened last time? The writer's memory seemed fuzzy. Just a few days ago, the two of them visited Select Fantasia, a giant bookstore inside a sprawling Western-style mansion. They found the books they wanted...then what? The only thing Yumeko could remember was waking up rather embarrassed after falling asleep atop Hara on the bus ride back. Now that she thought of it, the novelist remembered falling asleep on Hara when they were reading together in the Music Building. "Grr...am I just not sleeping well...?" Yumeko asked aloud through whispers. Her teeth started to grind in frustration as she blushed. But it was nice, being able to sleep next to he- wait what? Yumeko shook her head. No, no, no, what is she thinking? Hara is a friend. Someone who shares her interest in literature, someone who Yumeko trust and cares about and enjoys being taken care o- -tap- Yumeko had to force her train of thought to derail by tapping her cane against the ground. "Let's not go there..." Yumeko softly growled. And for a little while longer, silence reigned until the sound of footsteps took Yumeko's attention. She turned her head a little and listened. This pattern...it was familiar. "Hara-san?" Hara Kitakami | 402 | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

"No, that might be a little too informal... even if we're just going to check out a hot spring," Hara remarked critically of the tank top and shorts she held up in front of her.  It was part of a process that had been going on for the past ten minutes straight.  

Such indecision wasn't typical of her when it came to clothing.  Nobody would pay attention to the particular outfit she wore so long as she was the Prince of the Performing Arts department; the force of personality was enough to override even the most informal of attire.  Why then was she so anxious about picking the most appropriate clothing for an outing like this?  One that would, most likely, include a brisk walk, tour of the hot spring in question and then maybe some relaxing reading with their feet in the hot spring water.  Her eyes narrowed as she stared at the reflection which dared to suggest that weekend lounging wear was something to wear for this kind of outing.  No, this wasn't going to do at all!  Something more formal would be better - not too formal since Yumeko may catch on and chide her for a choice on that extreme of the spectrum.  Casual clothes were tossed onto the ballerina's bed as she changed her mind once again - just in time to fumble around her shoulder bag for the object which was rumbling within.

Once she finally fished out the phone she found there was a notification of a message.  A message from Yumeko which was fairly formal in tone, as she expected of the author's writing.  Something about the word choice was just so fitting for Yumeko that Hara could hear the author's voice reading the words in her mind.  A smile crossed the tall dancer's face as she set her phone down, but it quickly changed to a frown again.  What to wear?  Hara was quickly a blur of activity as she picked items out of her drawers, looked them over and then cast them aside as unsuitable.  Minutes later she finally settled upon a knee length brown skirt, brown flats, and a short sleeved off white blouse under a green jacket.  Semi-casual but not overly so.  After straightening her hair for the fifth time she packed up her shoulder bag and headed out to meet the other girl.

It wasn't so far to their meeting point, but every step felt like it was taking an eternity.  They had been out looking for books at an old mansion recently, but even a few days between meetings was a bit trying for Hara.  Yumeko was a very close friend to her, maybe the most important friend she had.  Others would be around to listen to her problems, but Yumeko had something more about her which those others did not.  It was impossible to define yet inexorably strong in its pull; Hara could not help but fall into orbit around this girl, and she felt more contented in Yumeko's company than at nearly any other time.  This made 'just a walk to the hot spring' into an important outing worth dressing properly for.  And finally, at the corner ahead, Hara spotted the girl she'd made plans to see.  Of course Yumeko detected her before Hara said anything, which made the dancer chuckle - Yumeko had memorized the sound of her footsteps.

"Yumeko-san!  I'm sorry to have kept you waiting," Hara apologized as she stepped up next to the author and gently offered her hand (brushing against Yumeko's in the process), "How about we head inside and see if this place is worthy of the hype?"

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see The sound of Hara's voice was instantly soothing, and Yumeko's shoulders visibly dropped as Hara kept getting closer and closer. The writer up onto that point was incredibly nervous, and if her cane wasn't made of metal it would have snapped from the strain. But there was something about Hara's...aura that Yumeko felt rather drawn to and made her smile in a way that she normally wouldn't. "No, no, Hara-san, it's okay, I haven't been waiting too long." Yumeko replied, waving her hand enthusasitically towards Hara. Reflexively, Yumeko reached out for Hara's hand once she felt it brush against her. At first, the author caught the New Zealander by the edge of her jacket sleeve, pinching the cloth gently before letting her fingers trace down to Hara's hand, holding onto it gingerly. "Oh...if it isn't too much to ask, please lead the way. With how...impromptu this trip was, I haven't actually scouted this area. I can't actually tell where the entrance is..." Yumeko gave her thanks they started to walk down the sidewalk, reversing her grip on her cane and using it as a walking implement instead of a means of looking in front of her, entrusting navigation entirely to Hara. After a few steps, Yumeko refocused her mind on Hara's note on the hype. "Well, Misha-nee did describe it as being mostly what was expected, that being '...something well-run, organized, and being simple without being too sparse. Overall relaxing, fine on your own, but good company makes it better...'" Yumeko recited. "So...I did bring a change of clothes and some bath stuffs with me." Blushing slightly, Yumeko unfurled the small bag hanging under her other arm and held it in front of her in demonstration for only a moment before pulling it back under her arm again. Not a moment too soon, the writer felt a sudden change in temperature at her side, wincing in surprise. "Oh...is this it?" Hara Kitakami | 341 | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

A brush of fingers against her sleeve told Hara that Yumeko was reaching out for her hand, and soon they were joined again.  Though the author's condition prevented her from seeing the outward expression, Hara's cheeks got a tiny bit rosy at the feeling of holding hands.  When they did this it felt like the rest of the world around them could pass by tranquilly with no harm done.  It was a sign of trust to give your hand to someone else and allow them to lead you somewhere you'd never visited before.  Upon their first meeting Yumeko had been fairly cool to Hara's offer  of help, and she assumed it might have something to do with not wanting to be treated like she was helpless.  Yet at Select Fantasia she'd asked for help in reading the titles off the higher shelves; there was a clear growth of trust apparent in the change of attitude to assistance.  Being trusted by Yumeko made the Prince of the Performing Arts feel warm inside - it showed the girl was fond of her enough to allow that, whereas Hara had grown fond of the girl behind the initial cool exterior.  This was going to be a highly enjoyable outing to the hot spring!

"I'm grateful to Misha-san for recommending this place, but I think I'm more grateful for the weather today being so pleasant so far.  And for your company of course.  This probably wouldn't be as enjoyable place to visit without someone to go with," Hara remarked as they walked, "Thank you for agreeing to try this place out with me."

Soon the temperature around them rose sharply, and they stood before the hot spring itself.  It really did look about what you expected a local hot spring to appear and they even catered to Fukui students on special days!  At least that was what she had heard from Misha when they'd talked about this particular hot spring.  How many other girls had come in here holding hands like they were?  Probably a good few, she'd wager.  With a smile she tugged at Yumeko's hand a little and stepped through the front gate and gazed up at the traditional sliding door at the front of the building proper.

"We're here, Yumeko," she confirmed to the other girl, then with a gentle tug of the hand led the way up the path to the entrance building itself.

Once there she held the door for Yumeko, "Here, after you, my favorite author!"  And a moment later after stepping in she looked to Yumeko's bag and laughed a little, "Ne, Yumeko-san.. in my rush to get here, I seem to have forgotten my own change of clothes.. and bath goods.  Maybe they have rental options?"

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see With a quiet nod, Yumeko acknowledged Hara's gratitude. Though the more she thought about it, it was Misha too who had pushed the author into going into this trip. Misha of all people would have known what sort of trepidation and issues Yumeko would have going on a trip like this. Sure, Hara and Misha were good friends, but a creeping suspicion seemed to grow in the back of Yumeko's mind. But that all fell away immediately as Hara confirmed that they had arrived at the front entrance. Yumeko followed at Hara's side, walking rather confidently at the dancer's side so much that she had stopped using her cane until she passed through the door, giving Hara a cheerful thank you as she stood to the the side of the door. "Well, if you don't mind using some of my shampoo and soap, I'm okay with...it." Yumeko replied, slowing down as she started to realize the possible implications. Trying to hide her embarrassment, the writer quickly continued. "Anyways, I think there are towels available, I just chose to bring my own since...well. Though...well, even if I had another additional set of clothes on me, I'm not entirely sure you'd fit in them." A sigh escaped her lips as she swept her cane around the floor. Two metallic taps confirmed to Yumeko that she was standing in some sort of corner. "And once again...you'll...need to guide me..." Yumeko said softly. "Well, unlike last time at the bookstore, I truly have no idea what the layout of this place is like." Slowly, she held out her hand towards Hara, but she smiled a little even as her cheeks started to get a little red. "...and again, thank you for bringing me here." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

Hara typically was  far more prepared for outings than she'd been for this day trip to an onsen.  Chalk it up to the particular company she had, the short notice of it all or just simply her own anxiety over looking acceptable for it, it'd happened.  A moment of reflection reminded her how absurd it was that she was concerned about her attire when her date.. er.. company wasn't really in a position to visually appreciate the gesture.  Even so she'd increasingly become focused on her outings with Yumeko being as pleasant as possible - she to make sure that everything went just right for the author she cared about so much.  Appearance was part of that regardless of if the shorter girl could see how she was dressed.  The confident ballerina was therefore a bit embarrassed by the offer of sharing some things with Yumeko, only mollified a little when she noticed Yumeko's mutual embarrassment at the idea.

"That's very kind of you, I appreciate it.  They probably have shampoo and soap available for us to use but it means a lot that you'd offer to let me use yours.  Thanks," she gave Yumeko's hand a squeeze as she laughed and led the way inside, "I'll borrow one of their yukata, don't worry.  And guiding you is no problem for the ace ballerina of Fukui!"

She chuckled at her exaggerated bravado and gently led the way inside the hot spring's exterior building.  Within was a waiting room with chairs, a few magazines and the front desk just adjacent to a vending machine.  Towels and robes were folded up on a rack behind the older woman at the counter, ready for quick distribution to visitors.  Hara took charge and explained their situation to the woman, flashing her student ID card to prove her status as a Fukui girl.  Once she had the towel and robe from the woman, Hara turned back to Yumeko and smiled, face a little extra warm.

"Okay, we're all set to head in.  Did you want to wait a little bit out here or just go un.. undress..." Hara asked, blushing more at how she sounded, "Um.. I mean, should we just head to the onsen itself or maybe enjoy something to drink first?  There's a vending machine here with warm and hot drinks."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see With a gentle smile, Yumeko returned the squeeze of the hand and giggled at Hara's flashy bravado. She held her cane at her side as they walked, enstrusting the way entirely to Hara. Every now and then, the author would turn her head to hear how their footsteps echoed. Among the sounds that reached her ears was a soft mechanical whirring, one that Yumeko guessed was a vending machine. Not expecting to stop, Yumeko took an extra step further in front of Hara before taking a step back to stand side by side with the ballerina. Confused, Yumeko squeezed Hara's hand again, but her unspoken question was answered as Hara began to talk to someone. Though the writer had no expectations, she was unsurprised by the voice of an old lady responding to Hara, and as they talked Yumeko let her cane gently slide down in front of her, subtly telling the novelist just how far away she was from the front desk. At the mention of a student ID, Yumeko smartly pulled the cane back and took out her wallet, opening it up to reveal her ID in a plastic sleeve, put there to save her the trouble of trying to fish it out. For Hara to get her towel and robe, Yumeko had to let go of the dancer's hand, though it lingered in the air, unconciously longing before retreating to hold her cane with both hands. While Hara's question on what to do did conveniently confirm that the mechanical whirring from earlier was indeed a vending machine, the way she phrased the sentence was...curious. "I myself am not too thirsty," Yumeko replied, tilting her head in confusion. "I don't hear a lot of footsteps around, and if you're worried about me taking a peek, well..." The author laughed as she waved a hand in front of her eyes. "Besides, doesn't Hara-san have to get changed around others? Well, I suppose you don't completely disrobe. And sadly, I think I make a poor sentinel. If you want to get a drink, please, go do so. Besides, I'm more or less at your mercy when it comes to navigating this place." Cane in hand, the writer spun around, tracing a circle on the floor. "Not that I can't escape myself, but..." There was another chuckle and smile as she turned to face Hara. "On that note, I'm afraid I may not be too useful in washing your back either." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

"Well, we'll see where it comes to washing backs I suppose," Hara remarked with a bit of a grin, though an anxious one as she thought of the girl at her side attempting such a thing.  For one thing she was pretty sure that should such a thing would be a bit awkward for both of them.  Why should it be?  She was entirely uncertain of the reasons for her gut feelings on the subject, but those feelings didn't go away with any amount of self-assurance.  The idea of this girl whom she thought so well of washing her back caused the ballerina to blush more than the most intimate rumors might have.  Should she expect Hara to wash her back, it would probably cause her just as much pause.

Of course the very fact that the author was comfortable enough to joke about her inability to see things was a different matter.  It was why Hara didn't feel entirely awkward about the whole situation.   Once again she was reminded of how much their relationship had grown from a simple encounter in the library where Yumeko had been defensive about her disability.  Now she was openly quipping about how she couldn't do peek in on Hara even if she wanted to - that was a sign of trust.  And if the girl trusted her, then Hara was going to do her utmost to live up to that trust.  Which started with ensuring that this hot spring outing being the best day trip that it could be!

She tried her best to ensure that mentally getting ready did not take so long that Yumeko would be busy waiting.  There wasn't much more that needed to be done but head into the hot spring proper now.  No other expectations needed to be had now beyond relaxing and enjoying the spring's wonderful properties.  After a deep breath she shook out her hair and sighed; it'd been a long time since she'd been to a hot spring and now she was going with a girl she cared for.  The company made the outing that much better.

"I'm ready, Yumeko-san," she remarked as she offered her hand, "Shall we proceed further into the hot spring to enjoy its relaxing qualities?  It's been a while since I've been to an onsen, but I'm sure this one will live up to its reputation."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see Hara was right. There was no need to worry about trying to arrange things until you were sure they were going to happen. Now that Yumeko thought about it, it had been a long time since some had washed her back. The writer had insisted for so long that she was able to wash herself that now it was strange that she was actually looking forward to having Hara wash her. Wait. Useless eyes blinked. Why did she want to have Hara wash her back. I mean sure, she trusted her enough with tha- Another blink. It was a revelation to Yumeko that she trusted Hara that much, if at all. Not that it was a problem, it just was...novel. Someone who wasn't family, or someone who had been around the family enough that they were effectively family. It was...nice, really. Hara's voice broke Yumeko out of her contemplative state, and there was enough sound made by the moment of the dancer's hand that Yumeko was able to lock onto it and grasp it in a single motion. "Well, if this onsen has stayed open this long, it ought to be some good somehow, right?" Though she did not meet Hara's eyes, the writer nodded and smiled as she squeezed Hara's hand to signal that she was ready to move on. Yumeko seemed to sway slightly, happily following Hara into the changing room. She could hear a few pairs of footsteps other than her own and a few familiar voices chatting in the distance, but otherwise, the pair might have been invisible. An uncertain hand seemed to reach out to gauge the height of the cubby holes, but once she had the right height, the novelist sprung into action. Not wanting to slow Hara down, Yumeko unpacked her back and changed out of her outfit, then prepped her basket of soap and shampoo. "Hmm...I'm not sure if it is a good idea to bring my cane with me," Yumeko said, looking over to Hara as she wrapped herself up in a towel, ready for the showers. "Especially if I'm sitting down for much of the time. You really don't mind me sort of having to be holding onto you for much of the time, do you? And...I'm asking it again." There was a sigh as she shook her head. "Again, thank you. I really do appreciate it..." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

Yumeko's trust was going farther than Hara had expected it to, which itself was reassuring to the New Zealander.  That the author was willing to leave her cane behind was the latest evidence of that trust's reach, a reach that suggested a fairly deep level of it.  Hara was being given permission to take over the direction they went, the guidance of Yumeko and overall to be the prince that she acted like for the sake of others.  Her hand closed around Yumeko's as she gently began leading the way toward the showers.  She was concerned that going too fast would cause the girl to slip up or even fall, so each step was taken a little slow and very deliberately.  Sounds from other girls in the onsen did little to speed up their pace; Hara would rather shield Yumeko from unwanted attention than to panic and cause the girl harm.  Eventually they reached the shower area and she pulled up one of the stools with her free hand.

"I don't mind being of assistance to you, that's a promise.  A person can't always do everything themselves, and those are times when the noble prince should arrive to be of service to others!" Hara proclaimed, barely holding back a snicker at her overly grandiose proclamation.  She tapped the stool with her foot as she added, "Your throne, my lady.  'Tis not as fashionable as you are accustomed to, but still something that should provide excellent support."

The process of actually washing up seemed to get going rather uneventfully, with Hara's ears paying special attention for anyone who might be coming up upon their spot.  Not that she thought anyone would cause them trouble of course.  This was a somewhat small city with a majority of the onsen customers in this particular spot being girls from their school.  Nobody was liable to be here for much other reason than to relax and let things go more slowly around them.  In other words, nothing too much different from why Hara and Yumeko had come to this place.  The ballerina found herself extra cautious, extra gentle in her preparations - as if hurrying anything was going to ruin her skin or hair.  Despite all appearances she actually worried about her looks a good deal, so it was important to do this right; in an odd way it was because Yumeko was there with her too.  Even though the other girl couldn't see Hara wanted to look good for her.  It was a realization that caused her to blush deeply - she'd never felt that way before.

"Let me know if you need any assistance, Yumeko-san," she offered, not quite daring to look over out of her own embarrassment.

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see As nervous as she was to be beside Hara and as excited as she was to try out a hot spring after a long while, it ended up being a good think for Yumeko that Hara was walking slowly. The soundscape changed drastically as they left the changing room and entered the showers, the sounds of other footsteps and flowing water echoing more strongly, enough to make the author turn her head in reflex. The floor changed too, and the further she got into the showers, the more Yumeko could feel the slick wetness of the tiles. The sound of a moving stool pull Yumeko's attention one final time. Carefully, the writer leaned over and reached out to feel for its textured top, chuckling as Hara declared it as her throne. As if to play along, Yumeko did her best to sit as queenly as possible, but the facade crumbled quickly under another spell of soft chuckles and a shake of her head. "Thank you, Hara-san, for your help," Yumeko said, taking off her towel and placing it in her basket, withdrawing the shampoo and soap in turn. "Really, if I didn't know you any better, I would have poked you with my cane for such a remark. But, I should be okay for the most part." Perhaps Yumeko spoke too soon, realizing that she had little clue where the faucet was, but thankfully it was within reach of a single arm swing. Taking a deep breath, Yumeko braced for the impact of water, and found that it was only a light and very soothlingly warm shower, allowing her to quickly wash her hair and body without waiting for the right temperature. The sound of water crashing and flowing around her drowned out most of the writer's senses, but she could still tell that Hara was nearby and could not hear any other footsteps, even as Yumeko turned off the water to her shower. Fully washed, Yumeko swapped her shampoo and soap for her towel once more, but as she pull the towel from her basket, she could ear the sound of plastic falling against ceramic. Yumeko turned her head left and right to try to hone in on where the clip bounced to, but to no avail. "Oh for...argh..." Yumeko growled, immediately understanding what happened. "Ah...Hara-san...I'm really sorry..." the writer muttered, starting to at least wrap herself in her towel. "My hair clip...I fell out of my basket and...I can't hear well where it dropped...it's a simple white barrette..." Yumeko explained, frowing as she looked at Hara's direction, tacking on another, "I'm so sorry..." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

Cleaning up ahead of entering a bath shouldn't have been an activity which drove a girl's anxiety through the roof, but it got awful close for Hara.  Yet every bit of lather, rinse and repeat had been filled with extra care and uncertainty.  Lest she somehow disappoint a girl who wasn't really in a position to appreciate her appearance due to certain limitations.  Maybe it was just that Hara wanted to everything a little more carefully for Yumeko.  Someone she was subconsciously holding herself to a higher standard for, and that was why Hara was pushing herself so much to clean up extra thoroughly.  Hara didn't dare look over toward the author lest she invade the girl's privacy too much with a poorly timed glance - she really wanted to be as respectful as possible in this situation!

Then Hara heard the clatter of something light and plastic hitting the floor.  She'd been keeping an ear open in case Yumeko asked for anything or someone unexpected came into the shower room.  Instead she heard her companion's flustered voice explaining the situation, which provided a welcome distraction for the nervous ballerina.  No need to worry about looking pretty when she could do something heroic for the girl instead!  Retrieving a barrette wasn't really that heroic of course, but Hara was happy to have an action to be taken rather than just wondering what she should be doing.  Still she didn't dare steal a glance at Yumeko for the same concerns of privacy which had motivated her earlier.

"Don't worry, Yumeko-san, I will find your wayward barrette.  Leave it to the Prince of the Performing Arts to rescue it from the bath house floor!"  she proclaimed as she turned off the flow of water she'd been rinsing with, then stooped down to have a look at the floor.  

As with many things it was more easily said than done.  Her quarry was a simple white barrette, and the ceramic floor of this room was also an off white color which would make things difficult on its own.  Add to that the white soap suds in the runoff from their showers and this was more of a challenge than it had any right to be.  Still the dancer was undeterred and she fished around the water while trying to spot the hair accessory with an eagle eye.  It took several moments but she managed to spot something incongruous with the rest of the floor and soapy water.  With a grin she reached down and picked up the barrette.. and then stood up triumphantly so fast that she smacked her head on the shower head. 

"Gah!  What the he.." she yelped in English before remembering where they were and laughing a little as she returned to Japanese, "Sorry about that, I just did something a little stupid."  She then pulled her towel on with one hand while reaching out to Yumeko with the barrette in the other, "Here, I think this is it..." after a moment she blushed a tiny bit and added, "I think that bath is going to be even more relaxing than it'd normally be today.."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see Ah, there was that flowery and showy language from Hara again. Yumeko found it so strange that she was enjoying it so much, even as she chuckled. It...it was for her sake, in a way. Not that she needed the reassurance that Hara could get it done, but it was still nice to know that Hara was rather willing to help. As the Prince searched, there was a smile on Yumeko's face as she seemed to gaze downwards, trusting in Hara. Having someone who could help her like this was nice after all, and it really wasn't like Yumeko was taking advantage of Ha- The sound of flesh against metal followed by an outburst of English broke Yumeko's cheerful reverie, causing the author to shift her head in panic, trying to figure out what was going on. Even though Hara tried to assure her, Yumeko groaned softly, taking the verbal cue to carefully reach out and take the barrette. "Well, it better be relaxing after that heart attack you just gave me..." Yumeko said. There was almost a sense of pain in her voice as she panted softly, trying to steady her breathing and calm down. She fiddled with the barrette for a few moments before putting it in the basket. "I'm sorry, I'm..." Yumeko started, then she shook her head. "J-just be careful, okay?" The author tried to smile, looking into the general direction of Hara's movements, but there was no way to erase that sense of panic and worry from her face. Without her cane, Yumeko held her hand out to Hara and followed the dancer's lead over to the main area of the baths. It was difficult to mask the shaking of her hands and arm as they walked, and Yumeko wasn't sure she was able to hide it at all. Thankfully, the change soundscape was enough of a distraction. With the wider space of the baths changed the way the voices and water echoed. Slowly and subtly, Yumeko turned her head to take it all in as she let Hara pick out the spot where they would enter the baths, taking a shaky breath in as she slipped into the water. Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

Hara didn't notice the concern her companion had for her at first, but that was probably due to being distracted by other things.  Things like an innate nervousness at heading into the bath proper with a person she was so close to.  They had gone on an adventure to find books before, but this was somehow more intimate and nerve wracking than that bus journey had been.  This had to go just right.. it was something they were doing to relax, so Hara didn't want to cause Yumeko more anxiety or stress rather than alleviate it.  So she kept an watchful eye on the floor every now and then, trying her best to identify more dangerous spots where one or both of them might slip and fall.  It was during this that she noted Yumeko's hand reaching for hers, and without hesitation the dancer joined hands.  In doing so she felt a rush of warmth to her cheeks, which made her all the more distracted from what Yumeko had been saying.  

They were actually setting foot into the water of the bath before the words hit her in full.  The author was concerned about her, that much was clear from the words and the look on her face.  It was probably due to that little accident with the shower head, if Hara had to wager a guess.  In hadn't been painful after the initial impact, really, and Hara had experienced way worse just in the course of learning to dance.  Sprains, pulled muscles and the like were all far more annoying to deal with than a simple thing like what she'd done moments before.  Still it was somehow comforting that the girl she held hands with was concerned about her well being to that degree.  Without thinking about it the dancer gave Yumeko's hand a little as they slipped into the bath itself.  Thankfully there weren't any other girls around anywhere close to them, so their corner was somewhat private.

"No need to worry about me, Yumeko," she remarked with a kind tone, smiling cheerfully, "Sometimes things happen just because I'm a bit taller than your average Japanese girl, and this was far from the first time that's happened.  I'm pretty used to it by now."   She slide a little closer to Yumeko and added, "Just try to relax, that's what we're here for right?  We don't have a chance to do that as much when we have to study.. and practice.. and work on outside projects.. and I can't think of anyone I'd rather relax with."

She then laughed awkwardly and tried to change the subject, "Soo.. um.. do you have any new brainstorms for stories to write?  I'm always happy to hear about your ideas."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see The water around Yumeko was warm, yet it wasn't enough to calm the nervous writer. Besides the splashing sounds beside her coming from Hara, there were no other noises nearby, with the chatter and gossip of the nearest group of girls muddied by the ambient sounds of the bath, telling Yumeko that for all intents and purposes, anything they said here would be heard by them and them alone. And still, it was not enough to calm Yumeko down. In fact, Hara's quip made her wince and shiver, and even the deep breath in she tried to take was a shaky one. There was a pause as Yumeko pondered how to answer Hara's question, but in the end, the maelstrom in Yumeko's mind made it difficult to focus on writing. "...baka..." Yumeko finally whispered, shaking her head. She kept her useless eyes facing towards the water, even as she trembled, sending light ripples though the bath. "I'm sorry...just...it's already a problem and a half to try and take care of my own injuries. I've cut myself or bruised and never noticed until someone pointed it out to me. And I'm next to useless when it comes to tending to someone else..." Yumeko explained. Slowly, she turned her head to Hara. Even though her grey eyes were clouded, there was still a sense of panic and anxiety inside them. "I-If you get hurt, w-what am I going t-to do?" Yumeko blinked, then began to rub her eyes and shake her head as she noticed herself tearing up. "Y-you're right, you're r-right...we should be here to relax," Yumeko said, still struggling and stuttering as her breathing turned a little pained. "I...I don't understand...really, why I'm just...really upset. I just...don't want you to get hurt...Hara...?" Unable to stop the tears, Yumeko looked up, weakly reaching out to where she had last heard Hara's voice. Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

This Yumeko was a far different person than the author Hara had attempted to help in the library.  That seemed to be light years away as the New Zealander heard such words of vulnerability coming from the girl next to her.  She already knew how much trust it took for Yumeko to be open about her limitations, so Hara instinctively moved closer to try and ease the resulting anxiety.  Worrying about hypotheticals wasn't going to help her to relax, so Hara wanted to see if she could put those worries to rest.  Noticing Yumeko's hand reaching up to her, the ballerina moved to weave her fingers between the author's, uniting their hands as she moved closer still.  Just reassuring her that everything was fine didn't seem like it would be enough to totally ease the concerns.  A more in depth approach might be needed.

"Yumeko, we're here to relax sure.. but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be honest with yourself.   You're upset, and I don't want to see you hide that and just make yourself even more upset," Hara told her, gently patting the back of their joined hands, "I'll take extra care from now on if that helps you feel any better.. and if I might say, I'm happy that you care so much about me.  I care about you a lot too.."

She paused there as a sudden realization came over her.  Amidst her drive to ensure that Yumeko was all right Hara's thoughts hadn't caught up with her words, and now she wasn't sure what it was she was going to say to the girl.  Nothing she'd said was anything but the truth, but where did you go from there?  Changing the subject crossed her mind but it didn't seem like that would be all that helpful.  It might just send the wrong message to Yumeko, suggesting that she wasn't interested in discussing their feelings.  Instead Hara let go of Yumeko's hand and put her arm around the girl's shoulders to draw her into a side hug without really thinking about it.  Hara didn't know where she was going with this but she did know that this girl meant a lot to her, and that right now maybe she wanted to hold her close.

"Don't ever be afraid to tell me how you're feeling, okay?  I'm here to do whatever it takes to help you feel happy," she promised, "And if sometimes you need to just let yourself cry, that's okay with me too."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see Warm... Yumeko could still feel the warmth of the water that she was still immersed in, but it was overtaken by the warmth that met her hand. It was not a blazing warmth, but a calm and soothing one that seemed to melt around her fingers as she felt Hara's fingers weave in between. The author didn't expect this reaction, and the shock seemed to linger for a moment before the grey-eyed girl found that she really couldn't care about it anymore. Weakly, Yumeko let her fingers wrap around Hara's hand. Why was she originally hiding the fact she was upset? Was she hiding it? Yumeko pondered as her face seemed to unfocus. She wanted to enjoy the time she had with Hara, that was it. Now that she thought of it, this was the first time in a long time that Yumeko seemed to really care about an outing or even...another person outside of her family. Speaking of family, the writer's thoughts drifered to her cousin Yuki when Hara mentioned that she would be more careful. If only it were so easy. Yet, Yumeko smiled softly and nodded in understanding. It was another strange feeling, to have someone be so...considerate. But just as Yumeko began to calm down, she felt the warmth in her hand depart. An expression of confusion mixed with fear passed through Yumeko's face for just a moment before she was pulled in for a hug. It was a bit awkward to be leaning from where she sat, and without thinking further, Yumeko scooted closer so that she could more easily lean against Hara inside that hug. "...Thank you, Hara..." Yumeko said softly. After another breath and a sigh, a slight smile spread across her face. "Normally, I am not wont to cry. Not because I really hold myself back but more because...it's only when I get incredibly scared and upset." Yumeko explained. "Sadly...injuries tend to scare me easily. But...thank you." Slowly, Yumeko closed her useless eyes. "...for what it's worth...I'm glad you're here. And not just 'here' as in this hot spring, but...as a good friend." There was another awkward pause. This was...relaxing, and as Yumeko calmed down, a sense of embarrassment seemed to take hold. Either embarrassment or confusion, but once more, Yumeko decided to leave it for now. She was happy, and as long as Hara was okay, there was nothing more to consider. Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

Hara let the awkward pause continue, only pulling the girl a little closer to her as she sorted through the complicated thoughts she was having about this all.  It was a relief to see that the author wasn't crying any longer.  She even seemed to be feeling a little better now since she was smiling a little bit.  The word choice Yumeko applied to her explanation did cause Hara to smile a little on her own; only a thoughtful author like Yumeko would have worded it that way.  All part of what made her a very charming young lady with whom the ballerina enjoyed spending time with no matter the circumstances.  Yet it was that close enjoyment and connection that made her uncertain about the final words which Yumeko spoke to her.  

Good friend.  Two words that wouldn't have seemed at all odd as a descriptor for the experiences that they'd shared together since meeting awkwardly in the school library.  At the surface level Hara took no issue with the thought of them just being good friends and companions for one another.  For the first time she could recall, though, it didn't feel like that kind of assessment was enough to properly describe what she felt as she held the other girl close.  Friends could certainly do a lot of the things they'd done together without there being anything more to it.  Yet there was something unspoken about how she felt toward Yumeko that transcended the notion of  friendship alone; she couldn't describe it, but she did know that it was deeper than just being a friend.  But if Yumeko thought they were just good friends then it might be best not to push it beyond that for now.. at least not until Hara was totally certain what her own heart was trying to tell her.

She sat there embracing Yumeko for an oddly long time, resting her chin on the girl's shoulder as she attempted to get herself under control.  Her heart beating faster than normal, jumbled thoughts about what this situation meant and the warmth of such another girl whom she cared for was all a bit overwhelming.  Even if she did know what this was, she couldn't just take charge and dictate what they did.  Hara didn't want to be rash, so she just enjoyed the moment for what it was worth.  They were together at a relaxing place where they could let go of the stresses of life at a school that demanded much out of them.  Why not enjoy it?

"Well, I suppose we should let ourselves relax a bit, huh?" she asked in her non-princely voice while still holding Yumeko, "Otherwise we kind of came here just to get wet and bump into shower heads."  An awkward laugh was followed by her squeezing Yumeko a little in the hug, then Hara blushed and let go so that she wouldn't get too far ahead of herself, "The last time I went to a place like this it was some of the other girls in my ballet class.. how long do you stay in one of these to get the benefits of the water?"

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see There was no resistance when Hara pulled Yumeko closer. The author was no stranger to hugs, nor the physical sensation that came with it. In the calm silence between them, Yumeko gave into her curiosity and reflected, shifting through memory. She was hands-off for sure, and the writer mused that it would be the case even if she wasn't so reliant on her sense of touch to navigate. Hugs from family were...not rare, yet most of them tended to be more for greeting. And even among her tiny ring of friends, they seemed rather adamant in avoiding unnecessary contact. Grey eyes seemed to slowly close, staring towards wherever as Yumeko dove deeper into her thoughts, unconciously starting to curl up in Hara's arms as the ballerina rested her chin against the author's shoulder. Yumeko regarded her friends as reliable, but on further examination, she had never relied on them as much as she did with family. Logically speaking, would that put Hara on the same level as family? Yumeko blinked. Either something was wrong in her underlying logic, something she had immense pride in as a detective novelist, or Hara couldn't be put in the same box as 'friend'. With a jolt, Yumeko seemed to catch herself nodding off, taking note of just how...relaxed she was. Was it the hot springs? Or Hara? There wasn't any time to ponder further as she felt Hara letting go of her, causing Yuemko to grumble reflexively at first before grinning at Hara's quip. "Let's not bump into anymore showerheads, please," the writer said as Hara let go of her, allowing Yumeko to sit up properly again. Even though Yumeko had an imprint of Hara's face, she had forgotten that Hara was born abroad and moved. With a hum, Yumeko crossed her arms and starting to think. "Hmm, I would say...half an hour," Yumeko said after another moment, looking to Hara again with an ever so slight but relaxed smile. "Again, varies from person to person, and there's far too many variables for me to be able to give any sorts of rules of thumb and so on. But the important thing to remember is to not stay too long. You can overheat, pass out, and...even die," Yumeko explained. "But usually, cases like that have been due to..." Yumeko paused, her expression clearly showing that she was searching for the right words. Once she found it, there was an amused expression as she more candidly said, "...unrestrained individuals seeking meanless competition." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

Speaking to an author seemed to guarantee an interesting conversation no matter the topic.  Hara had been seeking simple input on the proper amount of time to spend in a hot spring since she hadn't totally gotten used to them herself.  What she got in addition to that was a very interesting way that Yumeko worded her explanation of people who stayed in too long for silly reasons.  Competitions of endurance were what Hara assumed that Yumeko meant by 'unrestrained individuals' getting themselves into trouble while in an onsen.  Really, she couldn't understand the reasoning behind putting yourself at risk like that unless perhaps it was to impress someone special.  The close bonds of affection tended to dull the common sense of even the most practical person. 

"Got it, so we're looking to not compete with each other meaninglessly and not bump into any more shower heads.  I think that those things are certainly within my capabilities," Hara joked, grinning even though her head did still kind of smart from the incident earlier, "I'm hoping this will be of as much benefit as some of the other girls in the dance course claim.  Sometimes the stress of mastering difficult techniques can lead to sore joints, knots in your muscles.. and I guess just fatigue in the head as well as the body.  Even a gallant prince can suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous overexertion."  The ballerina chuckled at her turn of phrase as her hand moved over to take hold of Yumeko's again.


Hara sat there for a little while holding hands, letting the warmth of the water seep into her body.  She'd recently been rehearsing a special role that one of the teachers had given her, one she'd been trying to hide her interest in.  After all if the Prince of the Performing Arts suddenly was found to be daydreaming about the role of a princess, then it would cause quite the rumblings among the other girls.  Once she'd gotten it Hara had practiced extra each day after classes, in addition to an extra training regimen before school in order to maximize her physical fitness.  This was as much for her own benefit as it was to spend time with the author next to her.  After another moment or so, she took Yumeko back into her arms and smiled gently.

"You bring out the best of me," she admitted sheepishly, "I don't force myself to be anyone for you, just the New Zealander who does ballet and talks fancy some days.  Thank you."