An Afternoon Walk Home (Mingxia)

[Kiku Honda]

The bell rang, signaling the end of classes. The students of the school started leaving campus, each with their own plans and intentions. Among these students, Honda Kiku proceeded to make his way home.

'I wonder what I should cook for dinner tonight. Mother has been working overtime for a few days now. I'll make pork and tamarind stew. Mother has taught me well. I'll make her a feast to reward her for her hard work.' Kiku thought, his eyes blazing with enthusiasm.

When Kiku reached the gate of the school he saw a familiar face. She was standing by the gate, a familiar flower attached to her long brown hair and a yellow purse on her person. Her deep brown eyes were wandering. Kiku saw this as a good opportunity to bond with his friend.

Mingxia Chen was one of Kiku's dearest friends. They had known each other for quite a long time. In that time Kiku had come to be familiar with some of Mingxia's quirks. The way she fidgeted with the flower attached to her hair, the way she endlessly worries about certain things, the way she cares just a bit too much about the things she likes. Kiku thought all of it was rather cute. He of hid the fact he had a small crush on her before.

Kiku approached his friend, the sunset illuminating the scene. "Good afternoon, Mingxia." He said, bowing politely. "Would you, perhaps, want to walk home with me?" He said, ever-so-slightly blushing.

[taiwan]

Mingxia fell through the shuffle to get out of the building naturally, grabbing her things from her shoe locker and heading for the gate. It was then that she stopped. Where did she want to go? Did she want to shop for new things to sell in the store, or did should she go home to study and see if Lilli and her mother were working? What a conundrum...

She was about to make her choice when a soft voice greeted her. "Good afternoon, Mingxia. Would you perhaps want to walk home with me?"

She looked up and saw Kiku Honda, one of the boys in her class (not that he was unintelligent, given their age difference; Mingxia was merely on the same level as his class in her studies.) His had been one of the first of her classmates to open up to her when she first transferred into the higher class. His kindness towards her was touching, and she had to admit she had a crush on him. So of course she couldn't say no.

"Y-yes, of course, Kiku," Mingxia replied cheerfully, moving to walk by him. Even with the Highlands School uniform, he had an air of neatness and propriety, yet still he seemed patient and sweet. His whole being was just... nice.

[Kiku Honda]

Kiku smiled at her. "Then let us be on our way." He said as they started to walk. Mingxia was walking with her usual perk in her step. She seemed to be in a good mood today. Kiku started to think about what topic to choose for some leisurely conversation.

'Perhaps I could ask if anything is new with her business life? Then again we tend to converse about that quite often.' Kiku thought. 'Nothing special happened during school today. Nothing interesting happened on Solus in general...' Kiku continued to ponder for a topic. 'Such a conundrum. Is there nothing conversation worthy?' Kiku thought, obvious on his face some kind of inner turmoil going on.

They were on their way towards the park now and not a single word had been said.

A thought popped up in his head. 'Perhaps... the lack of a conversation topic itself could be the topic...!' He thought. He looked at Mingxia, figuring to go with it, and chuckled. "It seems I can't think of a topic, Mingxia. Nothing interesting happened today seemed conversation worthy and the only other options were topics we discuss on a regular basis." He said, smiling at her, defeated by his own thoughts.

[taiwan]

Mingxia smiled, walking with a good spring in her step. It was just too good that he decided to walk home with her. Since that day they had lunch at A Toutes des Sauces, she had been looking forward to the next time she would spend time with Kiku.

She looked at him and noticed that he seemed to be arguing with himself. As he told her that he couldn't think of something to talk about, Mingxia just giggled. "I could tell you what I was going to do today that I couldn't decide on... a-ah, but you probably don't want to hear about it, I'm not very interesting to hear about..." She trailed off. He probably didn't care whether she couldn't decide whether to study or go buy stock for her school store.

[Kiku Honda]

Kiku looked surprised. "Don't be ridiculous, Mingxia. I would much rather hear about you than most other things. I've come to enjoy it when you talk about your life. It's far more interesting than anything that happens to me. Whenever you get a very strange customer or one that causes trouble for you. When you run out of stock during a sale or the radiant smile you put on when you talk about how you sold everything in one night." Kiku said, smiling at her warmly.

They were in the park now.

"I admire it all." He smiled again. "Perhaps it's not just the story that interests me but also the way you tell the story. Even the otherwise boring act of going home early to study seems to interest me when you tell it. You speak so enthusiastically, perhaps that's also something I admire about you." Kiku said, again, an almost unnoticeable blush on his cheeks.

"Please continue." Kiku said, happy to listen to Mingxia.

[taiwan]

Mingxia blinked. Nonono, this wasn't happening... it couldn't really be happening... Mingxia squirmed inwardly in delight. This day just kept getting better, it seemed... "W-well... I was trying to decide whether to go to the West part of the city to shop for new stock, or to just go home and study... I'm afraid I'm falling behind in history," she prattled, hand fidgeting on her flower again. "Since the Spring Festival is this month, I thought I would start selling things with flowers and pastel colors."

She looked around as they came into the park. The scene was beautiful, despite the fact that spring had only barely started- crocus flowers were peeking out between leftover leaves from the fall, and trees were starting to open their buds to the outside world.

'Mrow?'

[Kiku Honda]

Kiku smiled politely as Mingxia spoke. He truly did enjoy just listening to her. As she talked about her plans for the coming Spring Festival, he remembered that he was to help set up her shop. He thought of maybe buying her a present for the festival as a symbol of his gratitude.

To be honest Kiku was a little worried. This would be the third time entering a neutral area. The first being the time his father was killed, the second during the parade where he met Berwald and now he was to go again. The two instances were so different. He had lost a father and then gained a friend in the exact same place. Kiku shook the thought off and looked at Mingxia.

'Right. If Mingxia will be with me I'll be okay.' Kiku thought.

Mingxia's eyes started to wonder around the park. Kiku did the same. The spring scene was truly breathtaking. The flowers were in bloom, the trees were a vibrant green, all of it illuminated by the sunset. To be spending time in such a beautiful place with Mingxia was an afternoon well spent.

Suddenly, a sound entered Kiku's ears. 'Mrow?' Kiku stopped walking and turned around. Following them was a small kitten, no bigger than Mingxia's purse. "Mingxia, It appears we have some company." He said, a soft smile on his face. Kiku absolutely loved cats. They were cute, fuzzy, agile and downright floppy.

Kiku attempted to carefully approach the kitten, taking a small step forward. The kitten just tilted its head and meowed. 'C-Cute..' Kiku thought to himself, as he slowly put his hand out.

[taiwan]

Mingxia blushed a little, glancing at Kiku. Such a beautiful afternoon... it all couldn't have been more wonderful if it was planned. Suddenly, Kiku crouched down, leading her to search for the distraction.

"A-A kitten?" she asked, kneeling gently and putting her hand next to Kiku's meekly. The poor thing was probably a stray... What would they do with it?

[Kiku Honda]

Kiku's hand reached the kitten's soft head. He petted it and scratched it behind the ears. It purred softly. "It's definitely a stray, Mingxia. It seems friendly though. Such a small kitten. I wonder where its mother is." Kiku said, looking around to see if there were any other cats around.

"It seems to be alone." Kiku concluded. He then picked up the cat and held it in its arms. It didn't bite back or scratch but took comfort in Kiku's warm arms. "C-Can we keep it, Mingxia?" Kiku said, sounding almost like a little kid. He immediately flinched. '...What am I, five?' He thought. "E-err, What should we do with him?" He corrected himself.

[taiwan]

Mingxia looked around. Indeed, the poor thing looked like it was alone. "I don't know, Kiku..." she trailed off, blushing. The way he asked if they could keep it was too adorable! "Let's take him to my place until we figure out what to do with him, okay?" she suggested, holding her hand out to hold the cat. Even if they didn't end up keeping it, at least Kiku would have a reason to keep visiting her...

[Kiku Honda]

Kiku's face reddened a little. Go to Mingxia's house? He had never actually gone before. It certainly seemed like a perfectly good option for the poor kitten. But Kiku's face was blushing harder by the second. 'H-her house? Isn't that something... c-c-couples do? Oh my. C-calm yourself.' He thought to himself. He was finger fidgeting now. "T-that certainly is a good option, Mingxia. B-but is that o-okay with you? I've never actually been to your house before a-and..." He stammered, trailing off at the end. His face was as red as a cherry.

[taiwan]

Mingxia blushed too. He brought up a very good point. Not to mention... he'd really only go to her house if they were... "A-ah! You don't have to if you don't want to, Kiku..." she mumbled.

[Kiku Honda]

If possible, Kiku's face was getting redder. "N-no! It's not that I do not want to. It's just..." Kiku trailed off again.

After a few moments of collecting his thoughts he bowed to her. "I'm sorry, Mingxia. It was rude of me to question such a gracious offer. I believe that it really is our best option for us and the kitten here. S-so if there's no objection from you t-then let's b-be o-on our way." He said, trying his best to sound polite and to hide his blushing face.

[taiwan]

Mingxia shook it off, hanging her head to hide her own embarrasingly flushed cheeks. "N-no! It's okay, Kiku, I-I can see why it would bother you..." She stepped ahead before looking up, and looked around without showing herself to him. "My house is only a little further from here..." Please don't see please don't see please don't see.../ she prayed silently as she tried to will her cheeks to even back out.

She brought a hand to her face and, finding that it wasn't as warm anymore, turned to Kiku. "Can I see the kitten?" she asked, approaching the two carefully.

[Kiku Honda]

Kiku noticed Mingxia hang her head to hide her blushing face. Unfortunately for her Kiku was quite observant and so he noticed her face was probably blushing as hard as his. This made him blush even harder. A few moments of silence. Mingxia took a big step forward and put her hand on her cheek. "My house is only a little further from here..." Mingxia said a bit meekly. "O-of course. Let's continue on." Kiku replied.

He was able to calm down a bit and felt his face wasn't as red anymore and so, brought his face up to meet Mingxia who had just turned to him.

"Can I see the kitten?" she asked, taking a few careful steps toward Kiku. That's correct! He'd almost forgotten he had a kitten in his arms. "Ah. Certainly." He said, taking a few steps forward. He held his arms out slowly, letting Mingxia see the poor kitten. It seemed like it was napping in Kiku's arms. It certainly was very cute, cuddling in his arms like that.

Kiku was quite close to Mingxia now. He hadn't noticed he'd approached her this close and took another small step forward. He accidentally bumped into her. The two of them touched for a few seconds. Kiku immediately realized this and took a quick step back, his face red with embarrassment yet again. "A-a-a-h! I-I'm so s-sorry, Mingxia!" He stammered, unable to hid his blushing face due to the sleeping kitten in his arms.

[taiwan]

Mingxia made a little noise as Kiku bumped into her. "A-ah!" she squeaked, jumping back at the same time as Kiku. He was so close just then... Her own face was beet-red- until she saw that she wasn't the only one. She couldn't help but giggle a little bit.

"Kiku, you're blushing..." She murmured, fidgeting with her flower. She hoped the movement would distract him from how red her own face was.

[Kiku Honda]

"A-ah." Kiku muttered. He couldn't think of anything to say. He was much too embarrassed. Seeing Mingxia's face redden only made him blush harder. What's worse is that he could not properly hide his face due to the kitten in his arms.

"Kiku, you're blushing..." Mingxia said softly. She was cutely fidgeting with her flower once more. If it was possible, his face grew even redder. "T-th-th--" He stammered, unable to speak. Kiku, in his fit of embarrassment, held up the kitten in front of him to hide his crimson red face, doing a little dance as he did so.

It was funny, really. Until now, Kiku thought only food could get him this worked up. This definitely solidified the notion Mingxia was someone very special to Kiku.

[taiwan]

Mingxia couldn't help but giggle. "It's okay, Kiku, really... I was just pointing out." They were in the residential area of town now, walking along beautiful lawns and modest but expensively made houses.

She stepped over to Kiku and took the kitten from his hands. "You woke her up..." she said softly, cradling the little animal in her hands.

[[ ACK ANOTHER SHORT POST DDDDDX ]]

[Kiku Honda]

(( LOL IT'S OKEY. I'M NOT REALLY GIVING YOU MUCH MATERIAL ANYWAY. D: ))

Kiku opened his eyes in surprise as Mingxia came closer. She giggled as she said, "It's okay, Kiku, really... I was just pointing out." She came even closer and took the kitten Kiku was holding up. He hadn't realized he'd woken the kitten through his fuss. He let Mingxia take the kitten. Kiku suddenly realized just how tired his arms were. He was dancing around with the kitten in his arms and his, almost feminine, physique didn't help with that.

He shook his head to regain his thoughts and looked at Mingxia. "A-ah. It seems so. I apologize to the little kitt-" Mingxia looked so very cute, cradling the small kitten in her arms. So very cute, in fact, Kiku felt his face flush again. He liked cats and he liked Mingxia. Having both in such a position, rogue illumination coming from the sunset, was a bit too much for him. He had been planning on asking Mingxia out to a date but he had never gotten a good opportunity. It struck him. If he was going to ask her out. Maybe now might be a good time.

In his little gaze at Mingxia he inadvertently murmured, almost entranced, "Mingxia..." Kiku's tinted features only grew redder.

[taiwan]

Mingxia was very taken with the kitten. It was a dark grey tabby, with greenish yellow eyes- completely adorable. Something about the cute little thing reminded her of the friend she had found him with.

"I think I'll name you Kiku, since you bear such a strong resemblance," she murmured to the kitten quietly. Its temperament was so like his...

"Mingxia..." Mingxia blinked and looked up from Kiku-kitten. Kiku was blushing again- Oh. The look on his face wasn't one she'd seen before. "Y-yes...?" she asked.