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[ Aww. :) She'll hold out the box with a smile ]

All right ... where would be best to eat these?

Thank you.

[He takes it carefully, like it's something precious.]

We can eat in the kitchen or in my room, if you'd like. I managed to fit two chairs in it.

[ Hmm ... this should probably be a private conversation. So ... ]

Your room is fine, I think.

Follow me, then.

[She probably knows where it is, but he wants to be a good host and whatnot, so he leads the way. Poor kid has no idea what he's getting into.]

The food smells delicious. If I had no self control I would be eating it right now.

[ She laughs ]

They're not really that great. And besides, I wouldn't have been able to make them without your help!

[That makes him duck his head. Even if she can't see it from the back, it's obvious he's blushing.]

W-well... of course I'd help.

[ BEL YOU'RE SO CUTE. ]

Next time we stop somewhere with good supplies I'll see if I can't make you something good to make it up to you.

Y-you don't have to make me anything.

[Honestly he doesn't know what he wants or likes.]

You already agreed to train me. As far as I am concerned, I still owe you a great deal.

Eh? But it's not like I wanted anything in return for that ... it's just good stuff for you to know.

I... I know I am not the easiest student. I am difficult and... [He glances down at the box for a moment, then goes back to looking where he's going.] There is no other way that I might be able to learn how to heal people. That's-- it's a dream I gave up a long time ago, but you have given me a path.

I don't have many dreams left.

[ ... She pauses, before she puts a hand on his shoulder ]

You're a perfectly fine student, Bel. But I'm glad I could help.

[HE'S ALWAYS KINDA DEPRESSING THAT'S HIS LIFE. SORRY INO.

But he doesn't pull away from the touch, which is pretty nice development. Usually he tries to smack people... seems he's grown out of that.]

Um... anyway, we're here.

[He's kind enough to open the ... door... hatch... whatever and motion for her to go down first.]

[ Aw, thanks Bel! She'll let go to hop down there and sit down in one of the chairs. ]

[He cheats a bit since he's carrying stuff. There's a little trail of white sparkles from the box, which he drops-- and it floats nicely over to the table, settling down beside the teapot and accessories.

Belth skips the last ladder step mostly by accident. He's not that graceful. But he does manage to get to his chair without tripping, so that's something. He begins pouring tea for them both without prompting.]

Sugar?

[ Watches all impressed!! Ooh, ahh. And then she's sort of reaching out instinctually like she might catch him when he almost falls.

Oh right, the tea ... ]

No thanks, it's fine how it is.

[ She'll lift the cup to blow on it a little to cool it down ]

[Belth nods. He has a wicked sweet tooth, so he puts both milk and sugar in his... welp.]

I am sorry it isn't good tea. [Fleet tea is edible, at least, but still sad.] I haven't been able to find any that isn't disgusting.

[ She takes a sip and smiles ]

It's alright. I'm just thankful we have stuff like that available at all!

Ah... yes...

[He did spend a long time without tea. Rest in pieces, Exsilium. YOU WON'T BE MISSED. His eyes shift to the box, and he can't really control himself anymore-- he knows these are good-- so he opens it.]

What was it you wanted to talk about?

[ She takes an amused sip as he pulls out the dango ...

Oh, right. She came here to talk. ]

Ah ... yeah. It's about Hiro, actually.

[He's already got the dango halfway to his mouth when she says it's about Hiro. There's a pause. The deer-in-headlights look is strong with this one. He decides not to take a bite.]

Is something wrong? He didn't seem sick the last time I saw him, but if there is something he isn't telling me--

[Oh no. Maybe Hiro has some kind of awful chronic disease. All the chicken noodle soup in the world wouldn't help with that, and the very thought is enough to get Belth upset. This is why having an overactive imagination sucks.]

[ This level of concern from him ... she's trying not to grin at how cute it is. ]

Oh, no no! No, Hiro is fine. It's nothing like that, don't worry.

It actually has more to do with your relationship with Hiro. You guys are pretty close, aren't you?

Oh, good. [Thank the Light.

If they're just talking about friendship, he can manage to eat. He opens his mouth and shoves the dango in whole. HE DOESN'T EAT THE STICK TOO, BUT HOLY SHIT. This is his special talent: cramming food into his mouth because he doesn't know when he'll get more.

... So yeah, give him a moment, he needs to chew. And swallow. He's not going to talk with his mouth full like a peasant.]

Hiro is... my first friend. I didn't want one since I've never been able to make friends at home, but he saw it as a challenge. And... admittedly I am somewhat competitive, so I thought I could win if I made him give up.

[That was kind of why he was mean to Hiro that one time.]

He hasn't left, though. And I've stopped trying to push him away, so I suppose he's won.

[He turns the stick between his fingers, so pale against black sleeves, and falls silent.]

[ Hmm ... ]

A challenge, huh ... that does sound like him.

I'm really glad you've decided to be friends with him, Bel. I think he needs someone like you around!

[Belth doesn't quite agree with that last statement. His ears flatten against his hair.]

You don't think he deserves better?

[ She frowns, remembering his comment from the other day when he woke up. ]

Bel, I'm very lucky to have you as a friend, and so is he. There's no reason to feel like you aren't worthy of it.

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