Mountain Date (Yumeko/Hara)

Ah, the mountains!  The welcoming purity of the air up there alone was enough to make a girl happy that she'd ventured up.  When she spent most of her time in the city, even a city that wasn't that big compared to a Tokyo or Osaka, it was a nice change of pace.  At another time Hara Kitakami would have come up here just to get away and maybe see if she could reach the peak and back if she were feeling adventurous.  There were small towns in and around the mountains as well, in which there were plenty of quaint shops and such where you could really get lost if you didn't watch the time.  Today, though, was no day for just some kind of mountain outing where the wandering about was the adventure itself. 

Today she was going to take her dear Yumeko to a specific trail that Hara had chosen for what she hoped would be a splendid outing.  They had been studying a lot for their various classes and creative arts, so any dates had needed to be very local.  Given a break in that schedule Hara had promised herself that they would do something really nice.  Something that didn't require them to rush back to Fukui for any reason.  She'd done some research in her spare time and found some promising leads for their date, but promising wasn't enough on its own.  If a trail were too steep, or a spot too crowded, it wasn't going to work.  Hara wanted this to be fun and tranquil, not something where they would have to contend with who knew how many tourists, hiking enthusiasts and other sorts.  After what had felt like an eternal process of narrowing the options down Hara finally had her answer.  A trail that looked simple enough.  Further down that trail, a nice little picnic spot that seemed out of the way enough to not be swamped.  Best of all that spot would probably have a lovely view of the lands below.

With these things in mind, she had asked Yumeko to accompany her to the train station.  Hara tried her best to play coy about where they were headed, not wanting to ruin the surprise.  Everything had been prepared just right for today and she really didn't want to spoil it now that they were so close to the goal!  What Hara did share was that they were going on a date to a nice town in the nearby mountains.  On the New Zealander's back was a pack that contained all the necessary goodies for 2 people hiking.. as well as a couple of books and some food that Hara had prepared for their lunch.  She'd mentioned before that she wanted to read with Yumeko in a new spot, and that she wanted to do lunch as part of it. The exact spot, the peacefulness of it, was the surprise.

Once they stepped off the train at the closest station to the hiking trail, Hara grinned and took Yumeko's hand, "We have a little ways to go still, my dear author.  But rest assured that your prince will be at your side to ensure you have all the support you need."  Unable to keep a straight face, she laughed, "Okay, cheesiness out of the way.  I promise.  But do feel free to take your time.  We're in no rush.  When we get to the magic spot, I have a gift for you."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see Among the many hobbies of Nakano Rika was hiking in the mountains. Not too far from Sapporo was the Shikotsu-Toya National Park, where she first was inspired to take up photography and later where she would bring her family to enjoy the wonderful views. Even though her daughter would not be able to enjoy the mountainside the same way, her love for mountaineering still rubbed off on Yumeko, who would eventually be able to visit the mountainsides of Hokkaido on her own despite her condition. But outside that island, Yumeko was very much reliant on others to help her navigate. The blow to her pride varied from 'doesn't mind at all' to 'extreme frustration'. Her arrival at Fukui was somewhere in between. Misha and Mashiro were immense help in getting Yumeko oriented since she moved, and the novelist was very much thankful, but outside of the city center, the world around her was very much an amorphous void. Thus Yumeko sprang at Hara's invitation to wander the surrounding mountainsides with her. As far as the writer was aware, the city was indeed in the middle of the valley, meaning they could go in any direction and they'd go upwards somehow. As for exactly where, her girlfriend kept a secret, but Yumeko didn't mind; she found herself happy to just be able to go anywhere with Hara. She got to the train station ahead of Hara, but as soon as she could hear the New Zealander approach, she collapsed her cane and stored it in her backpack before walking towards Hara. The writer reached out blindly, but her arm quickly found Hara's and latched on, holding tight as they made their way onto the train. Yumeko took note of the stations they passed through, listening to the names announced by the train's speakers, but quickly found herself running out of familiar names. Still, she smiled, leaning against Hara's shoulder until it was time to disembark. Yumeko squeezed Hara's hand as it was grabbed, following her off the train at a station that Yumeko didn't recognize. She looked to Hara with a cheeky grin as Hara verbally flourished, laughing along with her and trying to curtsey in return. "Well, I'll try my best to not to slow you down either," Yumeko replied, squeezing Hara's hand again. "Just tell me if I need to step a bit differently. Or if there is a slope I need to take care of. That kind of thing. I know how to traverse...so long as I know it's there." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

Every opportunity that Hara had to see her girlfriend smile was a reminder of just how special their connection was.  There were a lot of things which Hara could do that others couldn't, but the most important to her was making Yumeko happy.  That the author was willing to play along with her occasional princely behavior was just icing on the cake.  Hara gave a little tug to her companion's hand and started to head off into the town their station happened to be in.  A fresh mountain breeze picked up as they moved with a care free gait through the streets toward their destination.  Instantly some of the New Zealander's long locks got blown right into her mouth, and just as she'd been about to drop a clue about what the gift was.  Instead of something flowery or princely, the sounds of spitting came from her mouth as she stopped somewhat abruptly near a small stationary shop.

"Pft!" she spat the last bit of it out of her mouth, letting go of Yumeko's hand briefly to ensure no more strands were stuck in or near her lips.  A bit of patting her face confirmed they were gone and Hara explained, "Sorry about that, something really unprincely happened to me just now.  Give me a moment, m'lady."

With that she fished around in her bag for something to fix her hair so this wouldn't be an ongoing problem.  If she didn't she just knew that she'd get some hair right in the face in the middle of a reading or poem.  As she stood next to Yumeko, bag balanced on one of her knees, Hara thought of how cavernous the bag seemed to be.  Everything which had seemed perfectly organized before was now just a jumbled mess obstructing the path to the thing she expressly needed in this moment.  A bit of muttering in Maori accompanied her fingers pushing items out of the way.  At last she felt them brush against something that resembled a hair accessory.  With a triumphant laugh she pulled the blue-grey scrunchie out of her and pulled her hair into just enough of a ponytail that it wasn't going to be an annoyance for the whole day.  Not exactly the most fashionable way to go about it, but it worked well enough.

"There we are, thanks for your patience," Hara told Yumeko as she took her hand again and stepped forward with renewed confidence, "The wind decided to turn my hair into a weapon with which it sought to slow our progress.  But fear not, for we are venturing forth after all!  And.. be careful here, there's a bit of an incline coming up. It looks like it's got some uneven textures too."

It was a narrow street lined with old shop fronts, most of which had a few local goods on display.  Perhaps she'd stop by on the way back down, provided those shops were still open.  For now though she kept moving gracefully up the cobblestone path that led to their secret destination.  After a couple minutes Hara looked down to Yumeko and teased, "I won't reveal too much, but the gift that awaits you is something hand made.. I do hope you like it."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see Guided by the tug, Yumeko followed, using the sound of Hara's footsteps and the way her hand was pulled to gauge the their pace. The author still wanted to keep up the appearance of being normal, so she endevoured to stand at Hara's side, without her cane and looking as forward as possible. Surprisingly, it was far quieter than Yumeko had expected, but not too quiet. The passing of the occasional car, the gentle breeze, and a few distant voices broke up the silence; a different ambience between the rustle of the mountainside and the hubbub of the city. Indeed...it was a mountainside town, and a soundscape that the novelist wasn't used to. Yumeko immediately turned her head towards the sound of Hara spitting out her hair but wasn't concerned until Hara's hand pulled way. The author immediately stopped in her tracks and reflexively reached out, trying to seek out her girlfriend's hand before letting her arm freely drop to her side once it sounded like Hara was fine. There was a worried expression on Yumeko's face as she heard the sounds of rustled and tapping until she felt her hand being grasped again, once more matching pace with her girlfriend. "Just...be careful?" Yumeko asked weakly with a sigh. She squeezed Hara's hand as they walk. "Don't...get into any trouble that I can't help with? Please...?" She looked up to Hara, trying to smile. Eventually, Yumeko's grip loosened as they walked, though the writer did seem to change her gait a bit, taking larger and more careful steps. The road narrowed, and she could hear their footstepps echoing off the walls, and the bits of conversation floated through the air. Yumeko didn't dwell on the words, her attention taken up by her girlfriend again. "I'm sure I will." Yumeko replied confidently, playfully squeezing Hara's hand and swinging her arm around a bit. "It's something you did for me. I mean...I'd consider taking me out on this trip a gift too. This isn't something I could do as easily on my own." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

For a moment Hara had wondered if her hair accident would lead to awkwardness with her girlfriend.  Since Yumeko was relying on her to help guide the way through a new environment, to drop her hand even momentarily was potentially problematic.  Thankfully it seemed that at most she'd caused some discomfort for the author.  That was something that Hara could make better by what was to come.  As they walked up the street she consulted her mental map of the area to figure out when they should head for the path.  That whole business with getting her hair out of the way had thrown her for a bit of a loop.  Not too far up the road and then they could take a turn up some steps and finally it was time for magic!

"Think nothing of it!  I consider it my princely duty to bring joy and comfort to your life, and new experiences are included in that," Hara laughed a bit at Yumeko's words, flaunting her princely side for a moment again, "Don't worry yourself about helping me out with, this was all my idea after all.  Whatever dangers come our way I will deal with them as we journey to our destination."

That being said, she did appreciate Yumeko's concern for her.  In the past she'd had companions who only saw her as the perfect noble prince.  Someone who could do no wrong and people were afraid to offer their assistance to, afraid of stepping on toes.  As she didn't have to be the prince for Yumeko that wasn't a concern.  Thinking of that made Hara smile widely as she began swinging their joined arms a little.  Not so much that it was going to throw her girlfriend off but enough to create a feeling of playfulness about it.  And as they neared their turn, the scents of a local ramen shop filled her nostrils and made her almost tempted to stop for a bite.  But no!  They had food ready, they just needed to get to the right spot. 

"Ah!  There we are!" Hara remarked happily as she spotted the stairway that led to their final destination, "Okay, we're turning here and going up some stone steps.  But then we'll be... well nearly there." 

Once they reached the steps and were about halfway up she asked, "How're you holding up?  I know it's a lot asking you to go on a bit of hike with me.. but, actually I have a couple of gifts for you once we get there.  As long as you're happy, I'll consider it a successful plan!"

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see Yumeko at first stifled the chuckle before laughing softly in earnest at Hara's antics. She really did enjoy Hara's playful acting, and as their arms swung to and fro as they walked, Yumeko squeezed at Hara's hand with a smile. With a contented sigh capping off her laughter. The author had gotten used to Hara's walking pace, matching her girlfriend's speed even if it wasn't the same exact stride. Even with the turns that they made, Yumeko managed to quicken or slow her steps just to make sure that she still walked parallel to Hara. These were techniques that she had honed by following her family around, and it was point of pride for her. As they rounded another corner, the smell of food reached the writer, who raised her eyebrows in amusement. Hara mentioned that she would bring food, and while Yumeko wasn't particularly picky, the insistence of keeping it a surprise was a growing mystery, albeit one that she was willing to let simmer for a little while longer. When it came to the stairs, Yumeko let Hara take the first step, then judging by what she could hear and how much Hara's hand pulled on her. Sure, she could use her cane, but there was a sense of...pride wasn't the right word. But was still a compulsion to rely on her cane as little as possible. For the first few steps, Yumeko lagged behind a little, but as she got more confident, she found herself on even footing with her girlfriend once more. "I'm holding up fine, especially since I get to hold onto to you," Yumeko said with a chuckle. "Really, Hara-chan, you sound like you're trying to convince yourself more than m-!" Yumeko cut off at the final step of the stairs that was shorter than the rest. Her foot found no ground where she expected it, and so Yumeko's balance tipped her forward. Reflex kicked in and the author held onto Hara's arm with both of her own and in the end she remained standing, only needing a moment longer to get fully upright. "I'm fine, I'm fine, urgh..." Yumeko growled softly and shook her head. "If anything, my pride is what's been hurt..." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

It seemed that both of the girls were prone to somewhat awkward moments while out on this date together.  Compared to what happened at the end of the steps, Hara's hair flying into her face was pretty tame.  She hadn't been expecting it much when suddenly she felt a sudden influx of weight on her arm as Yumeko lost her balance at the top of the step.  The princely ballerina was quick to act on this, stopping mid-stride and preparing to turn and catch Yumeko should the author continue falling.  There was a brief intensity to Hara's expression as she went into a heroic rescue mode but ultimately it would be short lived.  In fact Hara was able to right herself just fine without much if any assistance.  Though it did bring them into a more intimate position, Yumeko holding onto Hara's arm with both of her own. 

For a moment Hara stood looking down upon Yumeko with concern in her eyes, looking over her girlfriend for any signs of harm that might have occurred just then.  What she found was just a slightly embarrassed girl at her side. Upon seeing that Hara felt intense relief and felt the tension leave her body as she began thinking about what would be next.  Just ahead was a fairly short path to travel before they arrived at their ultimate destination.  It would lead to the revelation of her cooking!  After taking a deep breath Hara stepped forward again.  Nothing too fast, just enjoying the company of her girlfriend and the slight breeze that had started picking up as they moved.  Perhaps she should say something to her companion?  Yet for the next few moments Hara couldn't think of anything, save for how important this all was to her.  It should be an unforgettable date, full of memorable moments and shows of love and appreciation for the girl she didn't have to pretend around.  For those moments the sounds of their feet moving along the trail provided a soft beat that moved the pair forward.. and then she saw it.

A simple bench just off the trail up ahead, just as she'd seen it during her scouting of the area.  It was a sturdy wooden construction that would be a perfect spot to sit, read and enjoy their mutual company and surroundings.  Best of all nobody else was really around - they really would have their own private space!  Hara's heart was beating faster in anticipation, this seemed to have worked out just about perfectly.  For a moment all she could think of doing was rushing over to it, hurrying to the next parts she had planned out.  Just before she began to rush off she stopped herself, looking down at Yumeko.  Absolutely not a good idea to run off when someone was counting on her to lead the way.

"I'm glad you're okay," Hara finally remarked, stopping for a moment and turning to face Yumeko fully, "So.. anyway, we're almost to the spot, so I wanted to tell you about the first present.  I'm kind of bad at keeping secrets I guess but.. I'm really excited to share it with you."

Before doing so, though, she thought how cute her girlfriend looked.  With that in mind the only thing that Hara could do was lean down and hug Yumeko tightly, closing her eyes for a moment.  After that lingered a bit, she stepped back and laughed, "Sorry I suppose I couldn't help myself.  But anyway.. the present!  I figured we could use something to eat after kind of a long journey.  So.. well.. I made lunch for us.  Is that all right?"

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see Any look of concern from Hara went unnoticed by Yumeko. Hearing nothing else about the incident was actually a relief for the author - it told Yumko that Hara did have faith in her capability. Thankfully, the awkward silence was averted by the breeze, and Yumeko turned her head every now and then to listen to it. The sound of the wind seemed to be every so slightly different from Sapporo, and it piqued Yumeko's curiosity in the meantime. Hugging Hara's arm, Yumeko smiled and simply followed along the trail. She took an extra step forward after Hara stopped, but then took a step back so that she could still stand side by side with her girlfriend, then looked up with a tilted head to ask what was going on. Even though the author could her Hara getting closer, the hug had caught her off guard for the moment. Still, she happily hugged the dancer in return, swaying side to side before she was forced to let go. A soft giggle preceed a grin as the novelist looked up to Hara. "It's all fine with me, Hara-chan. I'm, for the most part, not picky. So long as the food's smell isn't overpowering." Yumeko put her hands together and rubbed them in anticipation. "Now, you did tell me before we embarked that you were bringing food. Now that you told me that it is something that you made, the surprise is now what it is." Even for something as trivial as lunch, there was a spark in Yumeko's grey eyes. Before her was a mystery to be solved. "So, what clues do I have now? You said something along the lines of 'hope I like it', instead of 'I hope it is good enough'. So really, the question is not one of your cooking ability - you're confident as ever in it. No, no...the worry is...the kind of food it is." Out of habit, Yumeko pulled out her cane and extended it, pacing about as she thought aloud. "I don't think I've ever told you my preferences. Maybe my ever-the-nosy cousins passed to you suggestions based on what we've had together. Mashiro...may actually remember what I've eaten better than Misha, now that I think of it. The twins always had that strange memory capacity. But Misha can extrapolate more." At the edge of the path where it met the grass, Yumeko paused again, looking to Hara with an awkward smile as she realized something. "W-well. I think I'm out of clues there. But...trying to figure it out would ruin the mood, wouldn't it?" Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

There was still some lingering anxiety for Hara as she considered the lunch she'd prepared for probably the fourth time today. Before deciding to put together something for this outing, the most complicated thing she had made was at most something you tossed in the microwave.  Yumeko had assured her that it would be all right but she did still have concerns about whether the right choices had been made.  Maybe she should have asked for a crash course from one of the culinary arts girls that she had run into on occasion at Fukui.  Too late for that, though!  It was a good thing that Yumeko was very much into attempting to discern what might be for lunch.

Hara was heartened to see the spark that had gotten into her girlfriend about the gift of lunch.  Seeing the gears going in Yumeko's reasoning was fascinating, though ultimately she wasn't able to come to any guesses.  Really that was for the best though -  any actual guess would probably have just led to disappointment when the actual meal was revealed.  Keeping it a secret until they were ready meant that there was no getting one's hopes up for something gourmet or even slightly fancy.  Wait, there she had gone and gotten down on herself - this wasn't the time or the place. The ballerina almost went to her princely place out of habit to escape the anxiety, but she caught a glance of Yumeko's smile.  Awkward though it might have been it brought her out of her ruminations.

"It might, but I don't mind you trying to figure it out a bit," Hara replied as she scoped out the area around them.  It seemed like they were alone in the spot after all.  She was pretty sure she'd already checked but at the moment she wanted to be triple sure they had the privacy she had been hoping for.  With the bench she'd been eying up previously within a few steps, she smiled - it was time to go to the next part of her plan for the date.

"And now, m'lady, if thou art prepared for our meal," Hara announced, performing a sweeping bow out of habit, "Our seat awaits over here."

Once she and Yumeko had taken their seats, she pulled out the two bento boxes she had prepared.  They were wrapped in simple cloths she had gotten at the store, simple floral patterns gracing them; though Yumeko couldn't fully appreciate the presentation, Hara felt they were nice and fitting for her cute girlfriend.   The New Zealander handed one bento to her girlfriend along with some chopsticks and explained, "So it's nothing special but I tried making some yakisoba with some chicken.  I got the recipe off a blog so I'm not sure how good it is.. but I hope you like it.  I wanted to do something nice for our little adventure."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see Yumeko smiled and giggled softly, content to leave the mystery intact until the the end. She could hear Hara's voice move as if she was bowing, and Yumeko curtsied in kind before following Hara to the bench. The cane tapped the legs of the bench exploratively as she found the limits of it to see which side was open, then she plopped herself beside her girlfriend, sitting snuggling against her as it was the most sure way to not sit awkwardly. After collapsing her cane and setting it in her lap, she felt a large object placed in her hands. Reflexively, she felt around it, noting it's shape and deducing it to be a bento box of sorts. But before she could open it up, she looked to Hara, surprised by the revelation. "Yakisoba?" the author echoed, her surprise clear in her voice. She lifted the box to her nose and took a sniff. It indeed smelled like yakisoba, and it smelled rather good too. It wasn't hard to mess up yakisoba, and despite all the variations, it was unlikely any online recipe would be something incredibly wild. Deftly breaking the chopsticks apart, she began to eat up, nodding and smiling. "It's good, Hara-chan, thank you." Yumeko said simply, taking deep breaths and sighing contently between bites. Subconsciously, Yumeko started to learn against Hara, looking blankly in the distance and carefully eating the yakisoba. After a bit of silence, Yumeko set the box in her lap and looked up to Hara with a grin. "I'm surprised you went with yakisoba. I thought you'd try and flex your culinary muscles," Yumeko said with a chuckle. "You seemed rather confident in your skills, dancing and otherwise. I'm not disappointed, mind you, but I thought you'd throw me a curveball of some sort." For safety, she covered the bento box again and simply leaned against her girlfriend, feeling more in the mood to sit beside her. "Well, even if it wasn't something I couldn't eat...I still appreciate all the effort." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

Hara had been concerned about the quality of her attempt to cook even something simple like yakisoba.  That Yumeko liked it was a huge relief to her, in fact.  So far so good on her plan for a date in the mountains with  her dear author.  She smiled when her girlfriend suddenly leaned against her and put her arm around Yumeko's shoulders to make the moment more intimate.  They could finish eating the meal later after all.  If Yumeko wanted to just sit with her like this then that was just what Hara was going to do.  A slight breeze  brought some cooler mountain air to them as they sat there together, blowing some of her stray locks of hair about.  Thankfully they didn't get into her mouth or anything, thanks to pulling (must of) it back earlier.

After sitting together for a while Hara finally spoke, "If I'm honest I didn't think I was going to be able to cook much more than something like yakisoba.  And I've been planning this date for a little while so I didn't want the food to ruin everything, you know?  Like we come all the way up here and have a nice quiet place alone together, but then our lunch is absolutely terrible.  Since it turned out well I think I'll try something more complicated next time.  Not too much more complicated, I don't want to push myself too far with this stuff."

She laughed before asking in her princely voice, "Lest there is something which m'lady truly wished to eat.  Then I would venture to the far ends of the earth to bring it to her."

Hara was grinning throughout, fully aware of how ridiculous her princely side sounded.  Every now and then it was nice to bring out just to see if it would bring a smile to someone's face.  Speaking of bringing things out, Hara had some other things to take out now that they were at the place of rest she'd selected.  With her free hand she dug through her bag until her fingers rested on the well worn spine of a paperback book that she'd brought along to read.  Her hand closed around it and gently pulled it out so that she could move to the next stage of her plan for the date.

"For now though, I doth hope that a simple gift shalt be enough for her," Hara continued in full prince voice.  She switched back to her normal tone, though, as too much Prince was never a recommended idea, "I brought something to read to you while we're up here.  I thought it might be nice to share a favorite book with you in a nice private place like this.  Whenever you're ready for me to start."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see It was a little awkward at first, but Yumeko finally was able to settle in again and rest against Hara's shoulder as her girlfriend's arm wrapped around. The air was cool, and with a slight breeze, a lovely contrast to the warmth the author was feeling at her sides. It was all novel to the novelist, and it prompted her to wander down her memories. She had read romance novels before and found them to be rather disgusting - too unrealistic to be remotely enjoyable. Yet, here she was, atop a mountain with her girlfriend. In the silent moments, Yumeko grinned a little. Even now, those books were still unrealistic to her, but she could understand a little more the sentiment it tried to invoke. She looked up to Hara as the dancer broke the silence, and chuckled even more. "Oh my. Dinner _and_ a show? You spoil me," Yumeko said, laughing more and more loudly. "Ufufu...I'm already your girlfriend, who are you trying to seduce?" The question was punctuated by a sigh of relief. Fukui Academy was by no means stuffy, but now it seemed that it was so rare for the writer to relax, or at the very least not have to be all prim and proper. "Well, now you know - I'm not particularly picky," Yumeko continued. "I can cook for myself; my mother did teach me some things that I could cook on my own. So how about this? Next time, we can cook something together? Something that's particularly difficult for me?" There was a slight smile as Yumeko rested her head again so that she could collect her thoughts. A book would be nice, but there were still thoughts swimming through her head. A few moments longer and she was able to speak again. "...you know. I never figured you'd be someone who would plan so extensively," Yumeko said. Her voice was much softer, but no less confident. "You always had that air of confidence, such that you'd roll with the punches, go with the flow. For all the stories I write regarding deduction, I am horrible at reading someone, it seems." There was a sharp sense of disappointment in her self-assessment before Yumeko looked up to Hara again. "Well, speaking of reading...what book do you have? A-and...yes, ready to start." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

Hara was very pleased that her cooking had gone over well, but more so when the author suggested that they cook together sometime.  She hadn't really thought about that possibility and now felt silly for it not occurring to her at some point.  Of course they could cook together!  Plus if Yumeko's mom had taught her some simple recipes then it would be an opportunity for Hara to clandestinely learn some things.  While she had theoretical knowledge about a lot of dishes she hadn't exactly put that knowledge into practice.  The idea floated about her mind of the two of them in front of an oven - well, Yumeko in front of it and Hara behind her, reaching around her.  Wait, that didn't really sound terribly practical when she thought about it.  There wasn't going to be a whole lot of maneuverability for either girl to cook anything if they were standing like that.  Instead they should probably just stand side by side.. even if Hara wanted to just hug her girlfriend like that.  Probably better to just actually hug her instead of making up some  unnecessarily complicated set up.

"It would be my greatest pleasure to prepare food at your side, m'lady," Hara teased in her princeliest voice.  She did continue in her normal tone, "It sounds like something easy to arrange compared to all of this.  Just find a kitchen and get the ingredients.. prepare them properly and make sure that kitchen has the right facilities for what we're going to work on.." 

Hara stopped herself right there.  Otherwise she was probably going to be in overdrive attempting to draft up plans for the best cooking date ever.  She needed to remind herself that the dates didn't need to be perfect, really.  More just something that both of them would enjoy.  Something where they could show each other how much they cared for each other.  Elaborate planning didn't need to be the ultimate goal here.  She moved on to the book she'd picked out and held it up with a slightly trembling hand.  Like everything else for this outing she had spent a good amount of time picking out something which she thought would be suitable for reading to Yumeko in a nice semi-private place.  She looked at her girlfriend and smiled confidently - this was going to be ok.

"Don't worry, I can still roll with any punches that get thrown at me!  Sometimes I just put more thought into a big important thing," Hara explained with an equally confident laugh.  She then began reading from the book of poetry she'd selected; they were assorted poems about love and nature that she'd come across the library.  Hopefully they were to her girlfriend's liking!  Each line saw Hara's voice become softer and more caring, as if she were speaking them to Yumeko rather than reading from a book.   Yet she'd forgotten to tell Yumeko what book it was, so excited was she to read to the girl at her side.

After a few poems, she stopped and asked, "So.. how's that?  Don't think I'm going to start a  side gig as a seiyuu anytime soon, but I hope it's been enjoyable so far."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see The first thought that Yumeko had of a kitchen that would be able to accommodate their needs was the kitchens of the Culinary Arts Department. As much as the novelist understood, you didn't need to be part of the department to reserve a time slot, but you were lower priority. Still, it ought to be more than serviceable for their needs. Though Yumeko couldn't see Hara's smile, the writer could tell that her girlfriend was in a jovial mood and simple shifted a bit so she could lean against Hara's side as she started to read. Much to Yumeko's surprise, it was a poetry book, and she wore that surprise on her face as she looked out into the distance. But eventually, the surprise faded into deep contemplation that persisted as she reached out for Hara's arm to gently cling to. "Thank you...and I think you would make a good seiyuu as well," Yumeko said in reply, giggling softly before sighing and looking distantly again. "To hear poetry...was a bit unexpected, but not unwelcome. Given that you've been able to quote other literary media, I really shouldn't be surprised." This time it was a soft chuckle that accompanied Yumeko's smile before she sighed again, deflating slightly. "Frankly...I've had to remind myself to not look down on poetry. I may not have an ear for it, nor can I consume so ravenously...but it is an art to be respected. And even then. Love poems?" There was a soft scoff as Yumeko shook her hear. "I spurned romantic writing quite early on for being so unrealistic that it was not even worth my time to think about. I chased down mystery novels and detective fiction instead. Those were tangible, solvable, and with an impact on the world, not some flowery...meaningless...thing." Lacking words, Yumeko waved one of her free hands around. "I felt like I was watching someone drowning in their delusions whenever they talked about love. But now that I am here..." Yumeko scoffed again and sighed. "I understand where people come from." She grinned and looked up to Hara. "Don't expect me to start writing romance novels though. Still a lot tr-...low-quality work there that I am so not going to touch." She paused a bit before adding. "T-thank you, though...I'm...glad...and sorry for the rant." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

Hara had had some idea that her girlfriend wasn't a fan of romantic writing, but she'd felt touched by these poems enough to share them.  After reading them she was wondering if the decision had been a poor one all around.  Yet she was given the gift of one of Yumeko's impassioned speeches about what she liked and how her opinions were changing.  Hearing and seeing the author so worked up brought a sly smile to Hara's lips as she listened to the words.  Perhaps romantic poems wouldn't be the first choice for reading, but she couldn't deny that she loved the passion her girlfriend had for books and writing.    When the other girl had finished, the New Zealander put her arm around Yumeko's shoulders and laughed a little.

"No need to apologize!  I love hearing you so invigorated by something, even if it's not something you're super into.  And.. I'm glad that I have such an effect on you," Hara remarked with a big grin.  She squeezed the side hug gently as she added, "You're totally right about romance novels though.  Even a big softie like me can't suspend her disbelief for long enough to get through most of them.  Thanks for putting up with my cheesier side there."

She then reached over and grabbed the other book that she'd brought with her.  Something that was hopefully more in her girlfriend's area of interest while still bordering on what Hara herself tended to enjoy.  After a lot of consideration she'd ended up settling on a sci fi novel that had more of a detective feel to the story line.  Uncertainty behind every corner, surprise turns of events and well crafted characters who grew over the course of the book.  Not that they were at all going to get through the book today, of course, but it'd be wonderful to get started while they were up here in a nice mountain spot with just the winds and nature as company.  If the poems had been the appetizer, this was Hara's main course.

"All right, now that we've had that bit of romance.. let's dive into the strange neon future of.. Fall of Shadows," Hara intoned ominously before beginning to read the book in a more theatrical tone than she usually used.  Before she knew it, she got wrapped up in the story herself and she lost track of time in the process.  Each twist and turn as the down on her luck detective began to realize that this was no ordinary break in ramped up her excitement.  Sure she'd read this book several times, but it never got old for her.  After a couple of chapters, she stopped right as the detective was turning around to face an unknown other calling her name from the corner.

Hara gathered herself before scooting closer to Yumeko and asking, "So.. um.. are you enjoying yourself, m'lady?"

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see When Hara laughed, Yumeko joined in, taking a deep breath after as she felt her girlfriend's arm around it. It was both comforting and nostalgic, and as Hara talked about her views on romantic novels, Yumeko simply nodded, going with the flow around her. Yumeko felt Hara's arm reach for something, and reflexively Yumeko turned her head to keep listening. Thankfully, she needed not ponder long - it was time for another book. The title elicited a rather amused raise of the eyebrow - it seemed a bit too on-the-nose, even though she knew nothing of the plot just yet. Though her expectations were already set by the title, the plot actually managed to catch and hold her attention. Being both a mystery as well as sci-fi, the novelist was taking many mental notes. Not that it was obvious to the passerby - Yumeko listened with her eyes closed and hugging Hara's arm. Aside from Hara's warmth, she could feel the temperature around her peak every so slightly. It was the only indicator of time's passage for her; even if she had her phone telling her the top of the hour, she had no earbuds on relay it. Hara's question seemed to spring Yumeko back to life, hugging her girlfriend's arm and looking up to her with a smile. "I am, Hara-chan. Thank you. Stopping on a cliffhanger though?" Yumeko chuckled teasingly. "Well, I don't mind. I'm actually curious enough to look out for more from this author. See if there is anything I can learn." Then, an idea popped in Yumeko's mind. "If, Hara-chan doesn't mind...I would like to hear something else," Yumeko said. She let go with one of her hands and held up up slightly in the air, the back of her hand tilting as it felt for the sun's warmth. "I can feel the change in temperature. I can hear the breeze as it passes by. The air is smells and even tastes quite crisp. So what's left is..." Yumeko let her hand fall freely as she looked back up to Hara. "Can Hara-chan describe to me...what she can see right now? Just...where we are? The trees are supposed to turning a brilliant colour now. And I am curious...how would you describe it?" Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

The shift into a more poetic topic was quite seamless, Hara following along as Yumeko described what she felt about where they were.  Going any further with the book would have been time consuming and really what she wanted was to enjoy her time with her girlfriend.  Yumeko really had that way with words which had long made Hara believe the girl had a bright future as an author.  So when she was asked to describe what she saw, Hara was a bit taken aback.  Of course her girlfriend couldn't see those things, so she'd have no way of knowing. Even still Hara wasn't sure if she could conjure the words to do the scenery justice.  For a a while she just sat there with Yumeko and took in the whole of their surroundings.  Not being an author or much of a poet in her own mind, Hara struggled to identify words that would be grand enough to paint that picture for Yumeko. Yet when she looked down at the author she knew that she'd have to try.

"Well, I suppose that I'd say it's a picturesque location on a mountain trail  There's an older town nearby but where we've come is.. almost as if it's a world of its own, one out of the distant past.  Currently we're in a clearing with trees nearby.." Hara paused for a long moment as she just stared right at the treeline, trying to find some appropriate verbiage.  Finally she found some and continued on, "It's like they're undergoing a transformation.   The greens.. the healthy colors of life in the spring beginning to shift to rich colors that signal the coming of Autumn.  From a rich healthy shade that goes with the warmth of the middle of the year to.. a whole range of colors that accompany the change to cooler weather with those crisp breezes."

She hesitated, not sure where this train of thought was leading her wordsmithing but willing to let it take its course.   Hara gazed out before them and took in that view as well - something that she just took for granted herself.  But Yumeko couldn't see what she saw.. thus she needed to come up with words to put that view into a context she could understand.  Unlike her initial struggles, this time the words began to flow a bit more freely now that the process had gotten going.  Sure she was no author but at the least she could be the eyes for the girl she'd planned this whole outing for.  Without realizing it her hand reached over and took Yumeko's free hand, as if the connection between them would enable her to more directly transmit the information to her girlfriend.

"Out before us is a forest of trees that are all undergoing the same change.  From here it's like gazing down at the world that we know so well from daily life at school and in Fukui.  The whole city and the area around it are out there, in miniature as they go about their lives as usual.  Meanwhile we can see hints of that life without being party to it.  Like celestial observers in a way," Hara remarked, "But in the same world, just a very different part of it.  Around us up here it's very quaint - some light dirt making up the trail to ascend the mountain, probably toward a shrine.  And our bench is a very solid wood with the nicks and scratches that come with its advanced age.  Each one probably has a story.. and maybe a story like our own - two people coming up here to escape the world they know for a minute, to gaze down on it at the same time.."

She laughed a little, "S-sorry that's probably not what you wanted to know about it.  I'm not great about putting things into words.. guess that's why you're the author and not me."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see It was quiet after Yumeko asked her question, but since she didn't get a 'no' right away, she figured that Hara was getting a good look around first before saying anything. So, the novelist simply leaned back into the arm that she was already hugging and let the rest of her senses fill things in. Then, Hara finally spoke, and Yumeko had to giggle softly at first. 'Picturesque' perhaps wasn't the best term to use, but Yumeko still could understand the emotions attached to the colours that were being described. Yumeko stirred a bit when Hara paused, but smiled when she felt her girlfriend's warm hand take hers, reflexively holding onto to Hara's warmth. When Hara laughed, the novelist gave her hand a reassuring squeezing. "What you told me was exactly what I wanted to hear, Hara-chan. I admit, it was funny listening to your word choice at first but...even without me prompting you, you figured out what I was looking for." Yumeko shifted a bit, still leaning against Hara's arm but looking outwards to the trees. "Grey is for calmness. Green is for life. And warm colours afterwards. What one's eyes see is just the surface level, right? There is always something more to it." The novelist chuckled and sighed, blushing a bit more as she turned her head to bury it against her girlfriend's arm. "Plus...while your creativity was never in doubt, I was curious to how you'd express it outside of the theatre too. So...thank you..." There was a brief silence, punctuated by the soft rustling of the leaves around them. "I feel a bit awkward asking this now, but I really shouldn't assume," Yumeko said softly, untangling herself from Hara's arm to look upwards at her. "Hara-chan? I..." The writer paused and sighed, lost for words. "Can I...rely on you to be my eyes more...?" Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND

It was quite a different experience to narrate what she saw for Yumeko.  From the response she got, Hara could tell that she had done it the best way she could.  All of her body relaxed a good deal once she had that confirmation, and the sign that maybe she shouldn't worry so much about it.  As long as her heart was in it that would be enough to show that she cared.  Her cheeks reddened a little as the author thanked her for expressing her creativity  in such a manner.  With Yumeko so close it was only natural for Hara to put her arm around the author and smile  at the request her girlfriend made of her.

Hara responded with her princely tone, "Why of course, m'lady, it would be my distinct pleasure to be of aid to you howsoever you request!  Your humble prince is at your service!" 

Once again she let the princely feeling linger for a while out of habit.  Even at a time like this it was hard for her to not slip back into the facade that she had spent years crafting in order to fulfill expectations.  Unlike in the past, though, Hara found the strength to move past relying on it too much here.  She hugged Yumeko close and took in the beautiful sights of the valley below and the mountain around them.  After a few minutes she ran her fingers through Yumeko's hair and finally felt the princeliness leaving a bit.  Any concerns of the world below were unimportant while she had this spot, this pocket of space and time with the author.

"Of course you can, Yumeko-chan.  Thank you for your trust in me," Hara added as she leaned close to her girlfriend, "And for helping me find me true voice.  I had such a hard time being anything other than the noble prince around other girls.  You rescued me, you know that?  So if anything you're my hero!  And my adorable girlfriend.  So whatever I can do for you, I'll do without a second thought."

She then kissed Yumeko on the forehead before asking, "Any suggestions on where to go from here?  Your wish is my command."

Kindness is the  language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see An amused scoff escaped Yumeko's mouth as Hara replied in her over-the-top fashion. But as silly as it was, the novelist was relieved, taking a deep breath and resting against her girlfriend. She visibly blinked in surprise as she felt Hara's fngers go through her hair - an unexpected yet still pleasuing sensation, and one that would have had her nodding off if it weren't for the sudden showering of praise. Yumeko visibly fidgeted, caught off-guard and trying to think of a good reply to...everything. Being a 'hero' or rescuing anyone were concepts that never really meshed with the writer - she wrote mystery novels and that was it. She could be professional at work, cordial to friends, and caring for family. But where to go from here? Yumeko was most unbalanced by that question. Rather than taking is as a question of where to physically visit, she pondered more the nature of being someone's girlfriend. "I...I don't know," Yumeko finally replied, her voice full of worry. "I never...put much thought into what is supposed to be...for lack of a better word, 'next'." The author turned her head to look up towards Hara. "Honestly, I defer to you. I think you marginally have a better idea how being a girlfriend goes? Like...we're going on dates and...feeding each other...though I should try cooking for you now. I really...don't know...what is the next step." A defeated groan slipped as Yumeko added, "...I could...ask my cousins...? But even then, only one has a girlfriend..." Hara Kitakami | #WORDS | NOTES:

KAI'K @ WICKED WONDERLAND