World 2.5

Kaoru sets the mugs down on the convenient coffee table with a sheepish sort of smile. "I thought I'd surprise you," he admits.

Yuri takes the mug closest to her. Though its contents (hot chocolate, she thinks, though it could just as likely be coffee) are steaming, the mug itself is cool enough (that is, warm instead of scalding) for her to hold it comfortably in both hands.

"Ah. Thank you- you really didn't have to..."

Yeah, he really didn’t have to, Andromeda quips. And maybe it's that; he made something for you even after you said you didn’t want anything- that kinda makes me irritated for you.

It's fine. Yuri decides. It's not like he's hurting me. And it does smell delicious.

"I know," Kaoru concedes as he lifts his mug to his lips. "But I wanted to. Gloomy days call for hot drinks, right?"

Her Kaoru said that, too.

Yuri looks down at her hot beverage. "Mm. That's true," she agrees with a soft smile. She blows lightly, watching the brown liquid ripple with her breath, then takes a cautious, tiny sip.

It's sweet and creamy, and the warmth spreads through her body as she swallows.

"It's delicious!" Yuri can't help but exclaim.

Kaoru sips at his own mug. "It is, isn't it? I'm glad."

Yuri contemplates for a moment. Should she ask...?

But he hasn’t hurt me- and I don't think he ever would.

"Um...Kaoru-san...?" Yuri sets her mug down so she can wring her hands together.

"Yes, Yuri-chan?"

"Would you...happen to know where the nearest shrine is from here?"

Kaoru sets his mug down, too, and hums.

"Mm....I don't." He says. "My family was never especially religious," he explains, "so I never paid attention to that kind of thing."

"Oh...I see..." Yuri hopes she doesn’t look as crestfallen as she feels.

"Why do you need to go to a shrine? Is it related to how you fell out of the sky?"

She hesitates. Should I tell him about the interface windows? He might think I'm crazy though. Except he apparently saw me enter this world, so maybe he would take it seriously? She sees Andromeda shake her head. No, Yuri. We can't risk it.

.....yes, I guess you're right.

"Well.....something like that." She says, then, realizing being too vague wouldn’t help, clarifies, "As you said, I fell out of the sky; so I'd like to leave an offering to thank the gods for sending you to make sure I didn't get hurt!" She finishes with a smile.

Kaoru nods his head slowly. "So that's it...in that case," he declares, "tomorrow, when the weather's nicer, we can go out and see what we can find."

As she processes this bit of dialogue, something makes Yuri pause.

"W-wait a sec- "we"? Did I hear that right?"

"Of course." Kaoru's smile has yet to really drop, though it does lessen slightly. "Since you said you don't have anywhere to stay," he begins, running a hand through his hair as his smile turns sheepish, "I thought maybe you'd stay with me for the time being."

"No, no, no!" Yuri exclaims, shaking her head. "I couldn’t possibly impose on you like that! I can-"

"Please stay," Kaoru interrupts her protests, "please. I insist." She opens her mouth to insist otherwise, and he cuts her off before she can even get a word out. "If you don't, I would be left worrying about you for who knows how long, so it would actually trouble me even more, you see."

He reaches across the table to take her hands in his.

"So, please, stay with me."

A moment of silence passes before Yuri sighs.

"Okay. I'll be in your care."