11 - Pear and Toast

Hello hello!

It's Kana here, and I wanted to tell the story for a bit before things got out of hand!

As I'm sure you know, I've already been through so much getting here. I met a strange boy who I thought was the hero, but wasn't. But then he sort of was? He saved me despite being a weakling and we started an adventure together and he's been really nice to me... I think I have feelings for him? Eek! Did I just say that?! 

We've only known each other for a month but we've been getting closer recently. Just the other day at the guild he picked me up and I felt like my heart was going to burst! Gosh. I find myself staring at him when we all drink tea together, and my face gets hot when he looks at me. Is that love? I can't say I've ever been in love before so I'm not sure. Miss Pinnea seems to think so, and she's strangely wise. I'll have to think about it more carefully from now on.

In any case, I think we've become good friends. Oh, I've become good friends with Miss Maja too! We're not close enough yet for me to touch her tail, but maybe someday! Although I wanted to die when she said Mitsuta only had eyes for me. Was she making fun of me? I confided in her just last week that I was feeling confused about my relationship with Mitsuta! She can be really coy sometimes, surprisingly.

I mean... I think he might like me too. Is that too brazen of me? The people from my village always used that word to describe me. I tried my best to be quiet and obedient and helpful, but I would have gone mad if I didn't speak up once in a while! I don't think it's right to keep your feelings bottled up, so I don't! But... With this it's different. I'm a little embarrassed to talk about things like love openly. With Maja it's okay. She's such a great listener!

Maja is a kind and soft-spoken lady. I think she's about 10 years older than me, but every time I ask she seems nervous and doesn't give me a straight answer. We talk all the time, especially on days where Mitsuta is out training with Toast. Maja and I got into a routine of meeting for lunch in the town square, and would have a lovely meal and chat while we sat on the fountain. I hope we can still have lunch together from now on too, even if it's in this dirty place. I also want to touch her ears and tail someday. I wonder if they're softer than Toast? Maybe it would be rude to ask for such a thing.

Oh right! I forgot what I was doing. Today is just me and Toast! Mitsuta went to go get some supplies so we can repair the shop, and Maja is still working at the front gates healing adventurers. Her income is the most steady, and she said her allergies couldn't handle all this dust anyways, so she'll keep healing for money until we get this place sorted.

I started the day taking care of Toast. Over the last month Mitsuta has taught me a lot about taking care of a daug. Toast is soooo adorable, I'm happy to help, and I think Mitsuta has been so busy lately that Toast could use some extra attention. We stayed in a nearby inn last night because the rooms above the shop weren't suitable for sleeping, so I took Toast in the alley behind it to 'do his business'. What a funny way to say he's pooping. Who could make a business out of that?

After he finished I picked up the item boxes with a rag, because I simply can't bring myself to touch them directly with my fingers. Maybe because they're brown and came from his butt? It feels dirty. I'm sorry Toast!

Next I brushed him for at least a quarter of the morning. He has so much hair! I insisted Mitsuta let me buy him a brush with some of our money. In our old room his hair would end up on everything, even in our tea! I brushed and brushed and brushed him, until a pile of fur as big as him had formed next to us. I almost made a joke about it being a Moroza Toast, but that would have made me sad. Mitsuta said Toast will lose his fur every summer, and it is that time of year, but I'd hate to see him bald. I don't think he would be as cute.

Toast makes funny noises when you brush him. He's got a bit of an attitude you know! He goes "aaaa, aaaaa" with each stroke, and sometimes he tries to nip at my hands. It was scary at first, because we don't have daugs here you know, but now I know he's 'all bark and no bite'. I saved his fur in a cloth, I can probably make another toy for him with it. We've got to do what we can to save money, you know!

I talk to Toast often. I tell him things I couldn't tell Mitsuta because he might leave me. I told Toast about my past and my parents and he just listened and let me hug him and cry. But you know, it really feels like he understands what I'm saying sometimes! Just this morning I asked if he had any goblin meat left over so I could make him a meal, and he took it out of his inventory right then! What a smart boy!

Mitsuta always says the same thing after Toast eats, so I copied him.

"Did you eat? Was it yummy?"

He tries to hide how affectionate he is towards Toast, but I've caught him in the act so many times! The baby voice he uses is so cute, I like that side of him too.

We shouldn't spoil Toast too much though. He needs a more balanced meal, he can't just eat Goblin every day! Today I made him something proper with vegetables Mitsuta told me were safe. I didn't know there were so many things a daug can't eat! Luckily I have a special skill where if I've made something before and have the ingredients for it, I can recreate it in my status screen, so making quick meals is easy for me! Even though I have that skill, I prefer to put my heart and time into cooking. I think food tastes different when you do. If only I had a kitchen! I love cooking for others so much, I hope one day I can make a proper home cooked meal for Mitsuta. A-and Maja too of course! 

I think I was born to be a housewife, but my dream is to be a mama. It's nice that I can practice with Toast. He loves being held like a baby after all. I need more life experience before I can be a mama, but at least I've mastered being a housewife to start! The things I'm best at after all are making meals, and mending clothes, and cleaning. And I want to do all of those things for Mitsuta forever! Eh? I guess I am in love after all? Oh gosh, I can't stop myself from smiling. My cheeks are burning! I wonder if I should tell him.

I sang a little and danced with a mop. How silly and fun.

Oh yes! I forgot what I was doing again! Today I was in charge of Toast, and cleaning!

I tied my apron tight, and fastened a handkerchief around my nose and mouth. I rolled up my sleeves and looked around at the dinge and gross everywhere, and felt a fire burn in my tummy.

"I will defeat you, dirt!"